Lok Sabha Question No. 14 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-16
Subject: Task Force for Estimation of Poverty
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: M. K. RAGHAVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *14 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.11.2016

## TASK FORCE FOR ESTIMATION OF POVERTY

*14. SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN:

- Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state: (a)  the  estimated  number  of  people  living  below  poverty  line  along  with  methodologies  in vogue to determine such numbers; (b) whether any task force was constituted under the Vice-Chairman of the NITI Ayog to study and estimate the number of people below poverty; (c) if so, the terms of reference of the Committee and the status of the report of the Committee; (d) whether the task force has not yet been able to define the poverty line and, if so, the details
- thereof; and
- (e) the reaction of the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT & MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION

(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 14* REGARDING 'TASK FORCE FOR ESTIMATION OF POVERTY' RAISED BY SHRI M.K. RAGHAVAN DUE FOR ANSWER ON 16 th NOVEMBER, 2016.

- (a) The official poverty estimates are based on the recommendations made by the experts in the  field  from  time  to  time.  The  present  poverty  estimates  are  based  on  the  methodology recommended by the Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar in 2009.  For  the  year  2011-12,  the  erstwhile  Planning  Commission,  using  the  poverty  line recommended  by  the  Tendulkar  Committee  for  2004-05  and  updating  it  to  2011-12  had estimated the poverty and released through a Press Note issued on 22 nd July 2013. According to this Press Note, the number of persons living below poverty line in India has been estimated as 27 crore in 2011-12.
- (b) 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.
- (c) Terms of Reference of the Task Force were as follows:
- (i). To coordinate and develop synergy with the Central Ministries and State Governments Task Forces.
- (ii). To develop working definition of poverty.
- (iii). To prepare a roadmap for elimination of poverty.
- (iv). To suggest strategies and anti-poverty programmes including reform of the existing ones.
- (v). To identify successful anti-poverty programmes from which all states and UTs can learn,
- (vi). Any other relevant measures.

The report of the Task Force was submitted to Hon'ble Prime Minister on 11 th July, 2016.

(d) & (e): The Task Force in its report has inter-alia, stated that 'a consensus in favour of either the Tendulkar or a higher poverty line did not emerge. Therefore, the Task Force has concluded that the matter be considered in greater depth by the country's top experts on poverty before a final decision is made. Accordingly, it is 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.' The report of the Task Force is under consideration.

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