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Stop TB-Fight poverty : An Indian Perspective
Poverty in India
Statistics as provided Government of India show that about 240 million people live below the poverty line. (The poverty line is really the line of destitution. At this line, people just enough money to provide them with food, converting to 2,200 calories and with nothing else. No roof, no clothes, no security, no minimal comforts, let alone schools, medicines and any fruits of industrial revolution.)
Poverty alleviation remains pronounced challenge before the Government. Though there ahs been a steady decline in poverty over the last two decades, the total number of poor people has remained more or less constant due to growth in population. The inter-regional disparities in poverty levels are quite alarming. According to National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) the poverty situation ins several states in India is appalling: Orissa 47.15%, Bihar 42.6 %, Madhya Pardesh 37.4%, Sikkim 36.55% and Tripura 34.44%. In terms of numbers Uttar Pardesh has 53 million, Bihar 43 million, Madhya Pardesh 30 million, Maharashtra 22 million, West Bengal 21 million, Orissa 17 million and Andhra Pardesh 12 million people below the poverty line. (Economic Survey 200-2001)
Poverty alleviation programmes are still ineffective because they have not reached the poor.
Surveys by the NCAER (National Council of Applied Economic Research) reveal that almost 59% of all households, accounting for 526 million people, have an annual income of less than Rs. 12500. This means a monthly household income of Rs.1000 or about Rs. 200 per head. This by any yardstick is abysmally low income.
Households with incomes between Rs.12500 and Rs.40, 000 per year account for 331 million people.
Only 4.1 percent, accounting for 37 million have an income of over Rs 40,000 a year.
(Life above poverty line: Rs 264 per month is all you need –Mohan Guruswamy,
Courtesy www.tehelka.com)
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