Shame that we are still debating poverty: M.J. Akbar

Commenting on the C. Rangarajan Committee report on new poverty lines, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M.J. Akbar on Monday said that it is a matter of shame that even after six decades of independence, the country is still debating on poverty.

"The debate over the number can continue, but what saddens me is that even after six decades since achieving freedom, we are still discussing poverty. It is a shame," said Akbar.

"The Modi Government has taken this extraordinary step that for the first time our programmes will not work towards poverty alleviation. They will work towards poverty elimination. India should be free of this curse," he added.

A panel headed by former Economic Advisor to Prime Minister C.Rangarajan sets the poverty line at RS.32 per day in rural areas and Rs.47 in urban areas.

The panel has dismissed the Tendulkar Committee Report on estimating poverty, which had suggested persons spending below Rs.33 per day in urban areas are to be considered poor.

As per the report submitted by Rangarajan to Minister of State, Statistics and Programme Implementation, Rao Inderjit Singh, it said the poverty stood at 38.2 per cent in 2009-10 and had slid to 29.5 per cent in 2011-12.

The Rangarajan Committee was set up last year to review the Tendulkar Committee methodology for estimating poverty and clear the ambiguity over the number of poor in the country.