Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Rural Development

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

RAJYASABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2548
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.08.2010
Performance of schemes for eradication of poverty

 

2548. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
DR. K. V.P. RAMACHANDRA RAO:
SHRI SABIR ALI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is aware of the report from the recent United Nations-backed .Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative stating that poverty in at least eight States of the country is worse than in the 26 poorest countries of sub-Saharan Africa;

(b) If so, whether the various schemes implemented by Government to tackle poverty are not being well implemented and effectively monitored; and

(c) The steps or measures Government proposes to take in this regard to ensure eradication of poverty in the country?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI PRADEEP JAIN "ADITYA")

(a) to (c): Yes, Sir. The Government is aware that the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) of Oxford University with support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have conducted a research study to develop a new poverty index named Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). The study report indicates that eight Indian States namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa and West Bengal with poverty as acute as the 26 poorest African countries, are home to 421 million multidimensional poor persons, more than the 26 poorest African countries combined (410 million).

However, the official estimates of poverty in India are based on the data obtained from a large sample survey of household consumption expenditure carried out by the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) in the country including above eight States. As per the latest available official poverty ratios for the year 2004-05, the total number of persons living below poverty line in these eight States is estimated to be 193.8 million as against a total number of 30 1. 7 million poor people at the all India level.

The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing a number of poverty alleviation programmes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Indira Awas Yojana (IAY), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Drinking Water Supply (DWS) and Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC). The Ministry of Rural Development has put in place a system of monitoring the implementation of the programmes and utilization of funds through Periodical Progress Reports, Performance Review Committee, Area Officer's Scheme, Vigilance and Monitoring Committee at the State/District Level, and National Level Monitors.

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