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More than a third of India below poverty line now

The Outsider

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The Outsider

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704508904575191550764145376.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
NEW DELHI—India's top policy-planning body raised its estimate of the nation's official poverty rate to 37.2% of the population from 27.5%, a key development as the government drafts legislation to give the poorest Indians a right to state-subsidized food grains. The move by the country's Planning Commission, which wasn't announced formally but was confirmed by a senior government official, pegs the number of Indians in poverty at around 410 million—more than 100 million above the previous estimate. The change comes after critics said the earlier poverty estimate would leave too many destitute households out of the government's food-entitlement programs. But the new figure is unlikely to please food activists and politicians who feel it still vastly underestimates the number of people in need of assistance. "This is a very low, suppressed poverty line. We reject it," said Kavita Srivastava, an activist who has helped organize a "right to food" rally in the capital in recent days. The event has drawn more than 1,000 protesters from around the country. "As far as we're concerned, it still doesn't tell us the real number of poor." Though India's economy emerged from the global downturn with solid gross domestic product growth of 7.2% in the year ended March 31, the country's poor are struggling to deal with year-to-year food inflation that is hovering near 17%. Even before the impact of food prices, India was struggling with high malnutrition rates. The ruling Congress Party made food security a key plank in its platform in last year's national elections, in which it won a second term. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government has pushed for legislation that would provide 25 kilograms of wheat and rice per month to households deemed officially below the poverty line. They would pay a rate of about seven U.S. cents per kilogram. India already has a program in place to distribute about 35 kilograms of subsidized food grains to poor household but the rate is about 50% more expensive than what's being proposed now. Moreover, there is no law that guarantees food subsidies—they are given at the central government's discretion. And the current program is plagued by corruption, with one-third of grains pilfered or rotting before reaching needy households. Among the protesters at the rally in central New Delhi was 50-year-old Kesar Sahu, who lives in a slum in the city of Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, and supports herself and two daughters by sweeping floors and cutting vegetables at schools. The 1,000 rupees she earns in a good month isn't enough to make do, even with existing government subsidies, she said. "We're only getting 35 kilograms (of food grains) now. We really need 50 kilograms to get by," Ms. Sahu said. "Everyone should get that much." India calculates its poverty rate by estimating the percentage of households who can't afford to buy a basket of foodstuffs that would supply enough calories to meet basic nutritional needs. The new Planning Commission figure of 37.2%, which is based on recommendations submitted last year by a government-appointed panel, raises the poverty estimate in rural areas.
One drink of a single malt scotch costs Rs.1000 in a fancy bar, the amount a person makes doing manual labor for a month. India shining. :adore:
zen Grand Master

zen

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One of the drawbacks of capitalism is that there can be a wide disperity b/w rich and poor. Many would say that it's still better as in communism, its more abt how poor you are What India could do is have a system that tries to uplift the poor by providing them access to free schooling to say up to grade 7, subsidisized housing, subsidized health care and some minimum monthly payment to subsidize for the cost of living The cost of doing all that has to be passed on to the tax payers, which means that an effort needs to be done to turn the economy more white. In order to do away with excessive black money, proper tax laws have to be made wrt to making people pay taxes honestly and also having resonable taxes as if they are very high people would want to avoid paying them

Lurker Newbie

Lurker

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Though India's economy emerged from the global downturn with solid gross domestic product growth of 7.2% in the year ended March 31, the country's poor are struggling to deal with year-to-year food inflation that is hovering near 17%
The economic development, I dare say, is fast exposing Indians as citizens of a nation as compared to selfish islands who are simply interested in themselves. Forget poor people, the middle class is getting wiped out, specially the lower middle class. Housing is extremely expensive, thanks mainly to the greedy NRI brigade's propensity to live alongside 5 people in 1BHK abroad but save enough to buy 3 houses in Chennai (okay I needed to get that off my chest), education is extremely expensive, food/clothing/medicine are getting way out of control. People are delighted about mall and multi-plex culture without realizing its impact. xxx
Ram Newbie

Ram

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So much for the talk of all the superpower nonsense. What kind of superpower are we, if we cannot put food on the mouths of 1/3rd of our population? You judge a nation not by how well the top 5% are doing, but how the bottom 25% are getting by. And by that standard, India fails MISERABLY.

Guest Gunner

Guest Gunner

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So much for the talk of all the superpower nonsense. What kind of superpower are we, if we cannot put food on the mouths of 1/3rd of our population? You judge a nation not by how well the top 5% are doing, but how the bottom 25% are getting by. And by that standard, India fails MISERABLY.
I am surprised that its only 1/3rd. I have a strong suspicion that the number is greater. Personally I feel half of India or more lives below the poverty line. If someone told me that 1/3rd of India is in a respectable situation, I would find that more believable.
Lurker Newbie

Lurker

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Found this on youtube.classic one this
Such videos, unfortunately, have become so very common that it hardly raises an eyebrow. Kind of like Naxals killing Security forces everyday. It makes news when 80 are slaughtered in a day, but if 10 are slaughtered each day for 8 days it is considered a norm. Someone mentioned that it is due to MP/UP/Bihar. Really??? Granted the mentioned states are poor but how about this:
  • Farmers committing suicide in AP/Maharastra
  • AP, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand becoming Naxal infested
  • People dieing of hunger in Orissa.
  • West Bengal, Assam and all the North Eastern states suffering from xtreme poverty and lack of infrastructure.

I really can pull information about every state but I dont derive pleasure from showing my own country in bad light. We all, and not only Govt, need to play our role in avoiding this huge gap that seems to be increasing by the day. xxx

Ram Newbie

Ram

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I am surprised that its only 1/3rd. I have a strong suspicion that the number is greater. Personally I feel half of India or more lives below the poverty line. If someone told me that 1/3rd of India is in a respectable situation' date=' I would find that more believable.[/quote'] You're probably right. The number is almost certainly higher than what is being officially reported. Its such a shame really that here in 2010, we're having a debate on how big a proportion of India's population is struggling to make ends meet.
Clarke Mentor

Clarke

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The economic development, I dare say, is fast exposing Indians as citizens of a nation as compared to selfish islands who are simply interested in themselves. Forget poor people, the middle class is getting wiped out, specially the lower middle class. Housing is extremely expensive, thanks mainly to the greedy NRI brigade's propensity to live alongside 5 people in 1BHK abroad but save enough to buy 3 houses in Chennai (okay I needed to get that off my chest), education is extremely expensive, food/clothing/medicine are getting way out of control. People are delighted about mall and multi-plex culture without realizing its impact. xxx
Why blame NRIs ? They bring valuable foreign exchange and some sort of investment if they are buying property. If it werent for NRIs, we'd be like the padosi mulk, begging the IMF for a few billion dollars. On the contrary, the NRIs get duped and cheated on their own property since the local public knows how well our law and order functions with each case going on for years if not decades. Isnt the planning commission responsible for lack of urban centers commensurate with our population levels, because of which we have millions hogging to the same cities year after year, and hence the rapid rise in property prices ?
Lurker Newbie

Lurker

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Why blame NRIs ? They bring valuable foreign exchange and some sort of investment if they are buying property.
This subject has been beaten to death umpteen times, please feel free to do a search on this regard.
If it werent for NRIs, we'd be like the padosi mulk, begging the IMF for a few billion dollars.
WTF!! Dude you seriously need to give your country(if you have not exchanged your passport yet) some credit here. The reason India is different from Pakistan, or Bangaldesh for that matter, is because of freaking NRIs??? Really what kind of illogical statement is that?
On the contrary, the NRIs get duped and cheated on their own property since the local public knows how well our law and order functions with each case going on for years if not decades.
Oh yeah sure cry me a river!! That has nothing to do with NRI. If I go to Chennai tomorrow(I am a Bihari) I shall be cheated there as well if I dont watch my back. Nothing to do with NRI nonsense.
Isnt the planning commission responsible for lack of urban centers commensurate with our population levels, because of which we have millions hogging to the same cities year after year, and hence the rapid rise in property prices ?
And they should be doing a better job at it. Nobody is arguing against our institutions failing as such. xxx
Clarke Mentor

Clarke

Posted
Posted
Someone mentioned that it is due to MP/UP/Bihar. Really??? Granted the mentioned states are poor but how about this:
  • Farmers committing suicide in AP/Maharastra
  • AP, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand becoming Naxal infested
  • People dieing of hunger in Orissa.
  • West Bengal, Assam and all the North Eastern states suffering from xtreme poverty and lack of infrastructure.

I really can pull information about every state but I dont derive pleasure from showing my own country in bad light. We all, and not only Govt, need to play our role in avoiding this huge gap that seems to be increasing by the day. xxx

Oh please, certain states have poverty rate close to 10-15% while others have it around 40%. I didnt say some regions are perfect for crying out loud! You wanna run away from these facts, i dont care. Unless u focus more on whats wrong at the specific regions, how on earth are you going to solve the problem ?
Clarke Mentor

Clarke

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Posted
This subject has been beaten to death umpteen times, please feel free to do a search on this regard.
Can you provide links plz ?
WTF!! Dude you seriously need to give your country(if you have not exchanged your passport yet) some credit here. The reason India is different from Pakistan, or Bangaldesh for that matter, is because of freaking NRIs??? Really what kind of illogical statement is that?
Dude, u understand the concept of imports and the foreign exchange that is required in that ? I am NOT talking of overall condition but the huge import bill. I thought that was simple enough to understand when i mentioned the IMF. You do remember the crisis the our western neighbors had in 2008 was about balance of payments even though their economy as such has been growing ever since Mushie took the throne ? Even the RBI recognizes the contribution of remittances to foreign exchange reserves: Invisibles, in particular, private remittances have contributed significantly to the current account. Net invisibles inflows, comprising mainly of private transfer remittances and services increased from US$ 1.6 billion in 1991-92 to US$ 89.9 billion in 2008-09. During 2009-10 (April-September), the net invisible inflows stood at US$ 40.0 billion as against US$ 48.5 billion during 2008-09 (April-September). http://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/HYRMF190810.pdf
Oh yeah sure cry me a river!! That has nothing to do with NRI. If I go to Chennai tomorrow(I am a Bihari) I shall be cheated there as well if I dont watch my back. Nothing to do with NRI nonsense.
I just meant NRIs are vulnerable; your point is fair though.
zubinpepsi Proficient

zubinpepsi

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No country is as vulgar as India when it comes to flaunting wealth while the guy next to us is starving. Ambanis $2 Billion mansion overlooking slums is the sickest example. There simply is no culture of Philanthropy within our society.
i find tht utterly disgusting... im an average middle class guy.. when i goto India.. i find very sad and guilty seeing the poor people trying to meet their ends.. how can this guy built a house for 2 Billion $ and live alongside the slums.. doesnt he feel bad for the unfortunate people who r living in his neighbourhood?
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