Reinventing the methodology of poverty line in India is crucial for the development of the country. Discuss (200 Words)
Refer - Indian Express
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· Existing poverty line on the basis of Suresh Tendulkar committee heavily relies on month per capita income of the individual.
· But poverty not only has economic dimension but also other dimnesions like social dimensions, infrastructure facilties, accessibility etc.
· So it is now crucial for Government to update its poverty line by including the relevant dimensions according to the present situation.
Reasons for updating poverty line
· We are not a poor country any more, not with just 4.5 per cent of the population classified as poor (the Tendulkar poverty line of Rs 44 per person per day in 2017-18 prices).
· Given that there has been very low inflation since then, consider this as the poverty line today.
· We have always considered food consumption as the ultimate criterion of poverty. Hence, we have built up an elaborate (too elaborate) ecosystem of food production, consumption, and distribution.
· Time has come to dismantle this ecosystem an ecosystem that is biased against the poor farmer, against climate change mitigation and also against efficient use of water and energy.
· The rethink has to be about defining poverty in relative, not absolute terms. Most European nations have a relative definition of poverty that is, a fixed proportion of the median income.
· We should move towards that by the end of 2024, when India will likely be a $5 trillion economy with a per capita income of around $3,500-$4,000.
· India should forthwith move towards an updated poverty line, a poverty line consistent with our income status today as a lower-middle income country note, no longer a poor economy.
· Poverty is now not just about food but living standards — sanitation, housing, piped water, electricity, education, health, and jobs, each of these elements, the focus should shift to quality, not quantity.
· Poverty is no longer about food, so free up the food producers rather than keeping them as prisoners of policy (and politicians and bureaucrats).
· Therefore, the new approach towards poverty alleviation should involve targeted income transfers.
· The direct benefit transfer mechanism of the government has been able to resolve targeting problems for a bulk of the 430 government schemes and subsidies.
· Such a policy is likely to help the government in rationalising and consolidating its poverty reduction programmes, thereby freeing up resources for other sectors in the economy.
Nandadeep 6 years
Kindly review.Thanks
IAS Parliament 6 years
Good answer. Keep Writing.
Santosh kulkarni 6 years
Kindly review. Thanks.
IAS Parliament 6 years
Need better understanding. Try to include reasons to create better poverty line, also include some criticisms in existing poverty line. Keep Writing.
Shivang Sharma 6 years
Review please
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IAS Parliament 6 years
Try to add the reasons for including various dimensions in poverty line. Keep Writing.
K. V. A 6 years
Pls review
IAS Parliament 6 years
Try to include the reasons for adding various dimensions to update the poverty line, also include few criticism in exisiting poverty line. Keep Writing.
