Lok Sabha Question No. 1766 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: New Poverty Line
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: SHYAMA CHARAN GUPTA, SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1766 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017

## NEW POVERTY LINE

## †1766. SHRI SHYAMA CHARAN GUPTA: SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of the Poverty Alleviation Schemes and other welfare initiatives and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(b) whether the NITI Aayog has proposed to constitute a panel of experts to ascertain and define new poverty line;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the terms of reference of the committee and the time by which the committee is likely to submit report;

(d) whether the Government proposes to invalidate the previous norms applied for determining the poverty line; and

(e) if so, the reasons therefor and the sectors from which the experts are proposed to be included as members in the said committee?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) The Government, inter alia, is implementing through State Governments and UT Administrations various poverty alleviation and welfare programmes viz., Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) and National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) etc. Studies have highlighted MGNREGA have a positive impact in terms of a rise in rural wages and reduction in distress migration from rural areas. Socio-economic impact assessment of PMGSY has revealed significant improvement in indicators like, per capita income of sample households, frequency of motor transport, reduction in mortality rate below 5 year age, attendance of teachers in school. In addition, other rural development programmes have significant impact on the targeted beneficiaries.  In  order  to  ensure  that  the  programme  benefits  reach  the  rural  poor  in  full  measure  a comprehensive multi-level and multi-tool system of monitoring has been evolved.

(b) to (e) Pursuant to the decision taken in the first meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog held under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Prime Minister on 8th February, 2015, a Task Force on Elimination of Poverty in India was constituted by NITI Aayog on 16th March, 2015 under the Chairmanship of Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog. The report of the Task Force was submitted to Hon'ble Prime Minister on 11 th July, 2016. The Task Force in its report has, inter-alia, recommended that an expert committee be  set  up  to  arrive  at  an  informed  decision  on  the  level  at  which  the  poverty  line  should  be  set.  In  its recommendations, the Task Force has not proposed the terms of reference or composition of the panel of experts. At present, the poverty line recommended by Expert Group under Chairmanship of Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar is the official poverty line. On the basis of it, the existing estimates relating to 2011-12 have been computed and released through a Press Note issued on 22 nd July 2013.