In order to pat itself on the back, the government may enumerate the measures it has introduced to reduce poverty in the state, but its own economic survey report has pointed out that there has been a steep rise in the percentage of people living below the poverty line (BPL).The economic survey report, which was tabled by Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra in the Legislative Council on Tuesday has quoted the figures of the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) which shows a quantitative leap.The latest survey report (the 61st) for 2004 to 2005 puts the percentage of BPL population at 5.49 per cent, while the 1999 (59th) survey places it at 3.48 per cent. Nearly a two per cent rise.Not everyone is ready to accept the survey report. Director of Economics and Statistics G A Qureshi said, “The figures of NSSO are doubtful as there should have shown a decline in the poverty figures given the number of developmental schemes started by the government. We have carried out special survey and the figures of the poverty will be released by Directorate of Economics and Statistics in the next two to three days.”In its defence, the state government said it has accorded great importance to poverty reduction in its developmental plans and policies and in line with the Central government’s poverty alleviation plan. The survey pointed out that a number of rural and urban poverty alleviation schemes like Swaran Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Sampoorn Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY), National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), Indra Awas Yojana (IAY), Swarna Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SGRSY), Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojana (VAMBAY) have been started to improve the standard of people living below poverty line. According to the economic survey report, the per capita income of the state at constant prices in 2004 to 2005 was estimated to be Rs 8,075 against the per capita income of Rs 13,471 for Himachal Pardesh, Rs 16,756 for Punjab and Rs 16,872 for Haryana. The report notes that the poor state income and per capita income were also responsible for poverty. The report says that the per capita income has not kept pace with the state income. The state income has shown a rise of 6518.5 per cent during 2004 to 2005 against the per capita income rise of 2609.85 per cent during the same period.As per the report even though poverty alleviation and employment generation programmes have been in operation, they have failed to beat the rapid population growth, which has doubled in the last sixty years.
