Poverty refers to being unable to afford basic needs , which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live in absolute poverty today.
Poverty line is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country. Poverty is widespread in India, with the nation estimated to have a third of the world’s poor. According to a 2005World Bank estimate, 41.6% of the total Indian population falls below the international poverty line of US$ 1.25 a day (PPP, in nominal terms Rs 21.6 a day in urban areas and Rs 14.3 in rural areas).
Courtesy- The Hindu
Recently Planning Commission filed an affidavit in which Commision suggested that an indivisual income of Rs 25 a day constituted adequate “private expenditure on food, education and health,” at a time when even the minimum wage was pegged at over Rs 100 a day, the exact figure differing from state to state.
First of all in my brain, a question arises If Rs 25 per day is enough according to the affidavit then why do our MP’s and other administrators need Rs1000 a day as allowance and subsidized food in the canteen.Obviously based on the affidavit there is a clear need to reduce the allowance and perks in line with the common man on whose votes they get elected and represent.
Supreme Court should direct the members of Planning Commission to live for one month on Rs 40 (more than its own estimation of Rs 25) per day per member in urban area then asks them Rs 25 a day is enough for them for living a decent life which is envisaged in our constitution and which was the goal of our freedom fighters. A nearly double digit inflation has been going on since last 2 years. Prices of all essential commodities are on the rise. How can a family survive in this price escalating era.
The Planning Commission suggests that spending Rs 5.5 on cereals per day is good enough to keep people healthy. Similarly, a daily spend of Rs 1.02 on pulses, Rs 2.33 on milk and Rs 1.55 on edible oil should be enough to provide adequate nutrition and keep people above the poverty line without the need of subsidized rations from the government. It further suggests that just Rs 1.95 on vegetables a day would be adequate. A bit more, and one might end up outside the social security net.
People should be spending less than 44 paise on fruits, 70 paise on sugar, 78 paise on salt and spices and another Rs 1.51 on other foods per day to qualify for the BPL list and for subsidy under various government schemes. A person using more than Rs 3.75 per day on fuel to run the kitchen is doing well as per these figures. Forget about the fuel price hike and sky-rocketing rents, if anyone living in the city is spending over Rs 49.10 a month on rent and conveyance, he or she could miss out on the BPL tag.
As for healthcare, according to the Planning Commission, Rs 39.70 per month is sufficient to stay healthy. On education, the plan panel feels those spending 99 paise a day or Rs 29.60 a month in cities are doing well enough not to need any help. Similarly, one could be considered not poor if he or she spends more than Rs 61.30 a month on clothing, Rs 9.6 on footwear and another Rs 28.80 on other personal items.
After observing all figures given above I can say with my sea of confidence that everyone is living above poverty line because if anyone is spending below Rs 25 a day then I am very curious to meet that person how can he live on Rs 25 a day because in my observation he can’t survive in metro cities in just Rs 25 a day. (Please leave those who are on fast-unto-death because they can survive for at least 20-25 days without spending a penny).
This is Incredible India! Where some are adding lakhs a day in his salary and on other hand some are living on just Rs 25 a day. If any one is spending more than Rs 25 a day but less than Rs 40 a day will not fall in the ambit of BPL so for avoiding this he/she should avoid one time breakfast or should cut the pie from his/her food plate so that he/she can avail the benefit of BPL relating schemes.
How to eradicate poverty in rural areas-
1- Promote agriculture and farming which are the main sources of income in rural areas.
2- Educate people regarding how to save and this may be done through organising seminars and conferences.
3- Promote infrastructural development by constructing good roads to make transport and communication easy.
4- Create market opportunities to enable the rural population sell their goods at favourable prices.
5- Create employment opportunities by constructing small scale industries to enable people get access on jobs.
6- Create credit facilities to enable the rural population get access on finance through loans and grants.
7- Avoid corruption which is the most cause of poverty mainly in rural areas.
In my next column I will write on How to stop poverty!
Thanking You and leave comment please!
Pavan Tiwari 