(a) whether it is true that the Task Force on Elimination of Poverty in India constituted by NITI Aayog has recommended to set up an expert committee to study the number of persons living below poverty line in India;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has considered the said recommendation to from an expert committee to decide the methodology to find out the actual poverty line in the country; and
(d) if so, the response of the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) to (d) Pursuant to the decision taken in the first meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog held under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister on 8th February, 2015, a Task Force on Elimination of Poverty in India was constituted by NITI Aayog on 16th March, 2015 under the Chairmanship of Dr. Arvind Panagariya, former Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog. The report of the Task Force was submitted to Prime Minister’s Office on 11th July, 2016. The Terms of Reference for the Task Force inter alia included to “Develop a working definition of poverty”. The report of the Task Force primarily focuses on issues of measurement of poverty and strategies to combat poverty. Regarding estimation of poverty, the report of the Task Force states that “a consensus in favour of either the Tendulkar or a higher poverty line did not emerge. Therefore, the Task Force has concluded that the matter be considered in greater depth by the country’s top experts on poverty before a final decision is made. Accordingly, it is recommended that an expert committee be set up to arrive at an informed decision on the level at which the poverty line should be set.” The Report of the Task Force is under consideration of the Government.
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