Discrepancy in data led to low poverty line: Montek

Facing flak over latest poverty numbers, the Planning Commission today admitted that there is serious discrepancy in NSSO data and national accounts which led to pegging poverty line at Rs 28.65 per capita daily consumption in cities.

"I do believe that the discrepancy between the consumer survey and national accounts, is a serious statistical problem," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said while answering questions on the quality of NSSO data.

The Commission yesterday released poverty data based on the 66th round of the National Sample Survey (2009-10) data on household consumer expenditure survey. The national accounts, which provide data for national income, is prepared by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO).

As per the estimates the poverty ratio has been pegged at 29.8% in 2009-10, down from 37.2% in 2004-05. These are based on the daily per capita consumption of Rs 28.65 in urban cities and Rs 22.42 in rural areas.

The Commission's estimates faced criticism in Parliament for its description of poor and resultant fall in people below the poverty line.

The Opposition parties, including BJP, blamed the government for making a "dishonest" attempt to conceal reality through "fraudulent" estimates.