New Delhi [India], Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) to the Prime Minister, Bibek Debroy stressed the need for a new poverty line at a data users conference organized by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MOSPI) in Delhi. on Wednesday.
In his address, Debroy highlighted that India still depends on the poverty line established by the decades-old Tendulkar Committee. He said that although the Rangarajan Committee had proposed a separate poverty line, it was never officially adopted. Additionally, he pointed out that the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MDPI) is not a poverty line.Debroy questioned, "Should we now have a new poverty line to which Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) data can be applied?"
Debroy stressed that HCES data is important not only for assessing inequality and poverty but also as a key input to inform various plans and actions.
National Statistical Commission Chairman Rajiv Laxman Karandikar told ANI that changing the poverty line will not have any significant impact on the lives of the poor.
He said, "If there is a change in the poverty line, what will the man say who considers himself poor? Or the man who is not poor but is within the new poverty line becomes poor? In either case his life It doesn't make any difference." But I am not denying its importance in the overall decision.
Earlier at the conference, Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, emphasized on the ongoing focus on leveraging technology."Many of these surveys, which come on a quarterly basis, are being looked at for possible monthly releases. Timely availability of data is important for informed decision making," Garg said. He also mentioned the ministry's commitment to use innovative mechanisms to create data innovation hubs.
The conference also released the HCES 2022-23 report, which highlighted significant changes in spending patterns. Rural expenditure increased to Rs. 3,773 and urban expenditure Rs. 6,459 in 2022-23, which represents an increase of 164 per cent and 146 per cent respectively since 2011-12 at current prices.The report noted changes in spending habits, with rural food expenditure falling by 46 per cent and urban food expenditure falling by 39 per cent. Additionally, the monthly per capita consumption expenditure gap between urban and rural areas is decreasing.
The Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, declined from 0.283 to 0.266 for the rural sector and from 0.363 to 0.314 for the urban sector, indicating a decline in inequality since 2011-12.
In his address, Debroy highlighted that India still depends on the poverty line established by the decades-old Tendulkar Committee. He said that although the Rangarajan Committee had proposed a separate poverty line, it was never officially adopted. Additionally, he pointed out that the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MDPI) is not a poverty line.Debroy questioned, "Should we now have a new poverty line to which Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) data can be applied?"
Debroy stressed that HCES data is important not only for assessing inequality and poverty but also as a key input to inform various plans and actions.
National Statistical Commission Chairman Rajiv Laxman Karandikar told ANI that changing the poverty line will not have any significant impact on the lives of the poor.
He said, "If there is a change in the poverty line, what will the man say who considers himself poor? Or the man who is not poor but is within the new poverty line becomes poor? In either case his life It doesn't make any difference." But I am not denying its importance in the overall decision.
Earlier at the conference, Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, emphasized on the ongoing focus on leveraging technology."Many of these surveys, which come on a quarterly basis, are being looked at for possible monthly releases. Timely availability of data is important for informed decision making," Garg said. He also mentioned the ministry's commitment to use innovative mechanisms to create data innovation hubs.
The conference also released the HCES 2022-23 report, which highlighted significant changes in spending patterns. Rural expenditure increased to Rs. 3,773 and urban expenditure Rs. 6,459 in 2022-23, which represents an increase of 164 per cent and 146 per cent respectively since 2011-12 at current prices.The report noted changes in spending habits, with rural food expenditure falling by 46 per cent and urban food expenditure falling by 39 per cent. Additionally, the monthly per capita consumption expenditure gap between urban and rural areas is decreasing.
The Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, declined from 0.283 to 0.266 for the rural sector and from 0.363 to 0.314 for the urban sector, indicating a decline in inequality since 2011-12.