Demands PM's assurance that measures will not be used to deny BPL cards to the poor
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday condemned the “efforts” of the Planning Commission to use “fraudulent” methods to deliberately underestimate the level of poverty in the country.
In a statement, the Polit Bureau said that in spite of the national outrage when the Planning Commission had given its earlier estimates to the Supreme Court, it has retained the same poverty measure suggested by the Tendulkar Committee.
This has meant an “absurdly low” national poverty line of Rs. 22.40 per day for an adult in rural areas and Rs. 28.65 per day for an adult in urban areas in 2009-10. Anyone spending more than this is being categorised non-poor. On the basis of these flawed figures, the Planning Commission claims that the proportion of below poverty line (BPL) persons has gone down by 7 per cent between 2004-05 and 2009-10.
“This shows the huge gap between the members of the Planning Commission and the reality lived by crores of people in this country who have been burdened by relentless price rise amid meagre incomes. It hardly needs to be stated that these are destitution lines and it is a shame that an institution chaired by the Prime Minister should produce such absurd figures,” the statement said. It said what was “shocking” is that even with these gross under-estimates, large proportions of our population are shown to continue living in destitution. The proportion ranges from 37-39 per cent in States like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha to around 50 per cent in Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
“Shockingly, the north-eastern States of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland are showing an increase in destitution levels. This calls the bluff of ‘inclusive growth' under the UPA government,” the statement said.
Referring to the recently released Household Amenities and Assets Census 2011, it said the figures show the extent of poverty in different spheres in India. The CPI(M) considers the Planning Commission's poverty estimates to be a “dishonest attempt” to conceal the reality of glaring inequalities and increasing poverty in India.
It demanded that the Prime Minister make a categorical statement that these measures would not be used to deny poor people of their right to BPL cards or be used as a benchmark for allocating funds to the States or for welfare programmes.
Earlier, members in the Rajya Sabha raised the issue as soon as the House assembled for the day. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal said the issue could be raised when the House discusses the general budget and that the government would request the Minister concerned to inform the House on the issue.
Keywords: Indian poverty
Government and Planning commission is defining slavery. Only a slave survives with that income of Rs. 22.40 per day in rural areas and Rs. 28.65 per day in urban areas. In actual practice one who earns Rs.200 or less per day is poor, lives in sub-humane conditions and deprived of his rights.
Why is the most important stone to a foundation for a thriving civilization and economy is the last stone to be given attention? The research, structure and experience are already available for success, yet governments look around as if they need to start from scratch at reinventing the wheel. Quality and consistent food production are critical to a thriving society not oil. It cost me 600k to setup every acre on this system and I have my cost back plus a healthy premium at the end of the first year. We produce over 260 tons per acre with our system. It employs people, it feeds people and it eliminates the need for high long term capital investment. Google the poster. The need and the demand are there and can be fulfilled with the redirection of focus. The focus must be on a grass root agricultural base first and build from there. You leave out the grass root base and you malnourish and starve the people.
Poor with their minimal current consumption levels they can become rich easily and they only need self help rather than that of most careless governance. All underprivileged persons of India should use free infinite solar heat and light without converting the same in electricity as one gets 1800 kWh of solar heat and light of Rs 10000 each year on one square meter or Rs 28 per day. They should use free infinite rain water available directly at their door step and free air waves like cheap phones and massages mobile to propagate information to fellow poor. For example instead of wasting money and for water , fuel and food they can harvest free rain water , free solar heat available right at their doorstep and ample open to air space near them. Rain water of 100 square meters can give one family of 50 liters of water per person per day. Any open to sky space held by them or near them can provide them enough food if they grow vegetables there. Sky is the limit of these free resources e
Poor with their minimal current consumption levels they can become rich easily and they only need self help rather than that of most careless governance. All underprivileged persons of India should use free infinite solar heat and light without converting the same in electricity as one gets 1800 kWh of solar heat and light of Rs 10000 each year on one square meter or Rs 28 per day. They should use free infinite rain water available directly at their door step and free air waves like cheap phones and massages mobile to propagate information to fellow poor. For example instead of wasting money and for water , fuel and food they can harvest free rain water , free solar heat available right at their doorstep and ample open to air space near them. Rain water of 100 square meters can give one family of 50 liters of water per person per day. Any open to sky space held by them or near them can provide them enough food if they grow vegetables there. Sky is the limit of these free resources especially for poor who have got enough time to do these small works.
I would love to see how P.M and his associates in planning commission would live with Rs 28.65 a day.This shows the insensibility of a govt.One's heart should feel the pain of helplessness when one sees such reports.
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