MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. C.P. JOSHI)
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No.489 due for answer on 7th August, 2009
(a)&(b): Yes, Sir. The proportion and number of people living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) at the national and State
level is estimated by the Planning Commission from the large sample survey of Consumer Expenditure conducted by the
National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) after an interval of five years approximately. The Ministry of Rural
Development in association with the State Governments and the Union Territory (UT) administrations conducts the BPL
Census to identify the rural households living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) who could be assisted under its various
programmes. The total number of rural BPL households identified in the last BPL Census conducted in 2002 was based
on the Planning Commission poverty estimates of 1999-2000. Subsequently, to address the concerns raised by some States,
the States and UTs were given the option to identify the total number of BPL households equal to the poverty estimates
for 1999-2000 or the Adjusted Share worked out by the Planning Commission, whichever is higher. The States were also
given the flexibility of another 10% to account for the transient poor. This position continues.
(c): Yes, Sir.
(d): The Ministry of Rural Development in August 2008 has constituted an Expert Group to advise the Ministry of Rural
Development on the methodology for conducting the BPL census for the Eleventh Five Year Plan. The Terms of Reference
of the Expert Group include recommending a suitable methodology for conducting the next BPL Census to identify the BPL
households in the rural areas. The Expert Group has not submitted its final report.
