(a) whether there has been a fall in the number of Urban BPL families in the country over the years;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
(c) whether the said assessment has been confirmed by the National Sample Survey Organization and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Administrative Reforms Commission has also suggested a survey to
identify the urban poor; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard so far ?
THE MINISTER OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION
[DR. (MS.) GIRIJA VYAS]
(a) to (c): The poverty estimates prepared by Planning Commission are based on Large Sample Surveys on Household Consumer Expenditure carried out by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. These Surveys are normally conducted on quinquennial basis. After 2004-2005, this survey was conducted in 2009-10 (NSS 66th Round). However, since 2009-10 was not a normal year because of a severe drought, the NSSO repeated the large scale survey in 2011-12 through a Press Bite issued on 22nd July, 2013. The State-wise number of persons below poverty line in urban areas for 2004-05 and 2011-12 are at Annexure-I.
(d) & (e): Yes Madam. With a view to have authentic identification of those below poverty line, Government of India has launched the combined Rural0Urban Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in June, 2011 throughout the country. The States/UTs have initiated the survey work with financial and technical support of Government of India.