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State's new poverty list poor indicator Ketaki Ghoge & Sweta Ramanujan-Dixit IN LESS than a month, when the state government releases its list of rural poor living Below Poverty Line (BPL), many families will want to know just how they got left out. Here's how: If the family of a daily wage earner owns five pairs of clothing, a fan and manages two meals a day, it's likely his family won't make it to the list of rural poor households. The latest survey by the state government - based on 13 indicators fixed by the Centre - points out that there are 45.19 lakh BPL families in Maharashtra. But, the state government's job was merely to identify the poorest of poor based on the estimate given by the Planning Commission of India, which had based its findings on the National Sample Survey population. "The same principle is followed across all the states," said rural development secretary K.S. Vatsa. "The surveyor will give one to four marks for each of the 13 indicators, depending on the condition of the household. Families scoring below 19.5 marks are considered to be living below the poverty line. Despite the criticism, this is a fair survey," he added. Rural development experts said there are loopholes in the survey, which leaves many deserving people out. "Are they considering health and social indicators in this survey? For instance, tribals may pool in to buy a TV but can't afford even two meals on days when there is no work," said Anjali Kanetkar, professor with Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work, which is currently doing projects with the rural poor in Thane district. Nearly 30 per cent of gram panchayats in the state also refused to accept the survey, saying it left out many deserving poor. Following the criticism, the state government did send a proposal to change the criteria and consider monthly income as sole criteria for the same. However, this was rejected by the Centre. The state will now incorporate this list of rural poor - who will benefit from poverty alleviation schemes - for the next 10 years. "If a state can convince the Planning Commission of a more scientific set of criteria, the Commission will look into it," said Commission member Bhalchandra Mungekar. Below Poverty Line criteria The number of pairs of clothing The kind of house the family lives in Whether the family can manage one or two meals in a day Whether the family has any land holdings Whether the family has access to a toilet Literacy levels in a family Migration URL : http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=14_09_2006_007_002&typ=0&pub=264 |
| Also see : Rural Development, Social / Rural Innovations |
