Govt. report says poverty declines in India by 7.3%

The overall poverty has declined in India by 7.3% points to 29.8% of the total population, said Planning Commission today in its released report of "Poverty estimation for 2009-10."

This statistics was based on a comprehensive survey conducted by a commission headed by Suresh D Tendulkar, former Chief of National Statistical Commission and former Chairman of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council on PAN India basis.

The Tendulkar Committee had developed a methodology named fisher price index in which spends on calorie intake, education and health were included and calculated on state-wise.

Based on the Tedulkar Committee's recommendation, India's head count ratio (HCR) has declined by 7.3% points from 37.2% in 2004-05 to 29.8% in 2009-10.

In rural areas, poverty has declined to by 8% points from 41.8% to 33.8% while in urban areas, poverty has declining by 4.8% point form 25.7% to 20.9%.

If we see the statewise data, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttarakhand have seen sharp declination in poverty by over 10% while North-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland have become poorer.

Chhattishgarh has been estimated the highest number of destitute people (56.1%) while Jammu & Kashmir has the lowest number of destitutes.

Bigger populous states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have shown marginal decline in poverty ratio.

In religion wise, the conditions of Muslims are worst and they are estimated the poorest in all religion in both urban and rural areas while Sikhs in rural areas and Christians in urban areas are estimated as the least poor peoples.

From occupational points of view, Nearly 50% of agricultural labourers and 40% of other labourers are below the poverty line in rural areas, whereas in urban areas, the poverty ratio for casual labourers is 47.1%.

The condition of casual labourers are worse, as it is 86% in the urban areas of Bihar, 89% in Assam, 58.8% in Orissa, 56.3% in Punjab, 67.6% in Uttar Pradesh and 53.7% in West Bengal.

Nearly two third households with 'primary level & lower' education in rural areas of Bihar and Chhattisgarh are poor, whereas it is 46.8% for UP and 47.5% for Orissa.