Data ready for Planning Commission to make estimates of povert

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) The 61st round of the National Sample Survey which the Planning Commission will use for latest estimates of the extent of poverty in the country has been completed, Minister of State for Urban Employment&Poverty Alleviation Ms Selja said here today.

She said the survey was being done at an interval of about five years. The results of the latest survey were yet to be published.

As per the last survey, the incidence of poverty declined from 56.4 per cent in 1973-74 to 27.1 per cent in 1999-2000.

The criterion adopted by the Planning Commission to define poverty is based on the per capita expenditure needed to meet the basic requirements of clothing, shelter, transportation etc.

This definition of poverty line is in tune with the recommendation made by the Expert Group of Estimation of Proportion of Number of Poor (Lakdawala Committee). This is widely acknowledged to be one of the most sophisticated methodology in defining the poverty line, Ms Selja said in a written reply, in Rajya Sabha.

UNI NAZ YA KN1811