Letters: Poverty of estimates - II

This refers to Sreelatha Menon’s article “Plan panel to eat its words on poor definition” (October 1). Through an affidavit, the Planning Commission has told the Supreme Court that Rs 25 a day in rural areas and Rs 32 a day in urban areas is “adequate” for an individual to get 1,200 calories of food, good health care and education. Such a cruel joke on the poor has correctly generated widespread anger across the country.

The deputy chairman and members in the Planning Commission take home a monthly salary of around Rs 1 lakh besides perks and free facilities. Assuming each of them have a family of five, at this salary level, they and their family members are living on Rs 666 per individual per day!

The view of some of the Commission members that poverty should be seen as a multi-dimensional phenomenon requiring a multi-dimensional approach, rather than a blanket division of society is quite reasoned. There is certainly a need to decide on a realistic criterion for identifying the poor.

M C Joshi, Lucknow

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