Poverty line not to impact socio-economic census

The ongoing enumeration for a socio-economic census in the country will not be affected by the poverty line cut-off spelled out by the Planning Commission, according to a senior rural development ministry adviser.

The Planning Commission informed the Supreme Court Tuesday that poverty line could be provisionally placed at around Rs.32 a day per capita in urban areas and Rs.26 in rural areas.

Manjula Krishnan, chief economic adviser in the minstry, said the data collection was not "a BPL survey" but an exercise for ranking poor rural households. The ranking would be based on exclusion and inclusion criteria and deprivation indicators, she added.

"We are not identifying Below Poverty Line (BPL)," Krishnan said. "We are only collecting data. It will not be affected by (the Planning Commission's) poverty line cut-off."

The government had carried out "BPL census" in 1992, 1997 and 2002 but decided to go for a socio-economic survey this year in the face of complaints of discrepancies in the earlier lists.

The socio-economic and caste survey (SECC) will also help the government identify beneficiaries for the proposed food security bill.

The socio-economic census started from Tripura in June this year.

Krishnan said rank listing of rural households will be given to state governments and they will use the Planning Commission's estimate of poverty to determine which households will be classified as BPL.

The widespread criticism of the poverty line cut-off, from political parties and civil society groups, has forced a rethink in the panel.

Rural development ministry officials said the Planning Commission may revise its poverty line cut-off by the time state governments classify households as BPL, upon the completion of the socio-economic survey early next year.

"If the poverty cut-off is not revised by the Planning Commission, state governments are expected to take it up with the panel," a ministry official said. "We will also take it up separately."

He hoped the state governments would have completed the exercise of identifying BPL families before the 12th five-year plan begins in March 2012.

Ministry officials said that the socio-economic survey was "going a little behind schedule" as states had to make huge logistic efforts in terms of manpower and equipment.

However, they added, it may still be completed within the original timeline of December in most states.

Poverty line not to impact socio-economic census They said the SECC in Sikkim would be delayed in view of the recent earthquake. Besides, Uttar Pradesh had conveyed that the state would carry out the census in February next year.

Several large states will carry out SECC in the next three months, the officials added.

Ministry officials said care had been taken to ensure accuracy of data and independent agencies will be involved in the task.

The data is being collected on hand-held device to ensure greater accuracy and faster processing.

The socio-economic survey has seven deprivation indicators, apart from automatic inclusion and exclusion criteria.

India will not be getting Below Poverty Line: Planning Commission

The Planning Commission has told the Supreme Court that poverty line for urban and rural areas in India could be provisionally placed at Rs. 965 per capita per month and Rs. 781 per capita per month respectively.

This would mean those earning over Rs. 32 a day in urban areas and over Rs. 25 a day in rural India will no longer be getting Below Poverty Line (BPL) benefits.

The Commission has revised its BPL figures but has come in for sharp criticism from activists who say given today's prices, these kinds of limitations and yardsticks are totally inadequate.

Members of Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC) have also slammed the Commission for being insensitive.

"I don't agree with their view," said Harsh Mander, a member of NAC.

The Planning Commission's new yardstick to define poverty has also outraged UPA ally NCP.

"Apart from meeting, lunches and relaxing, the Planning Commission is not doing anything," said D P Tripathi, the chief spokesperson of NCP.

Planning Commission's new poverty definition came in the form of an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The court had asked the panel to spell out the criteria for getting a Below Poverty Line or BPL card.

Earlier, the plan panel had said anyone who could spend more than 20 rupees a day was not eligible for a BPL card. The cut-off was later revised.

Slamming the government, the BJP has called the move anti-poor.

"The government does not want to provide food security. They are shying away from their responsibility. The NAC has only announced need for food security, but in reality the government is not interested in offering food security to the poor. That is why the government has come up with such an affidavit, wherein poverty won't be removed, but the poor will be removed from the list. We vehemently oppose this move, we challenge the government that they should come forward and discuss the niceties and various points regarding the affidavit," BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said.

The Congress is, meanwhile, trying to play down the report.

"These are not final figures, so it is not right to make casual remarks. There can be genuine bona fide differences in opinion, but they should put their views before the Planning Commission. There is no question of treating any input lightly," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.