Poor people's

Poverty Line The Health and Welfare ministry in an affidavit has said that one needs to earn only Rs 455 in urban areas and Rs 328 rural areas per month to ‘cross poverty line’. But the irony is that almost 25 percent population of India is living below poverty line. All these figure are ridiculously low and a slap on the face of poor. These figures are very low but with such a low figures if 26 crore people are living below poverty line then it is a shame for all the successive governments and the second fastest emerging economy of the world. During 80s ‘garibi hatao’ (poverty eradication) used to be the main motto of Congress during ‘election season’ but nothing has been done at ground level.

States Orissa and Bihar are the most poor states of India despite of there numerous rich natural resources. 47.15 percent population of Orissa has been classified as poor while 42.6 percent people of Bihar live below poverty line. Urban poor of Orissa earn Rs 374 per month while rural poor earn 324. The income figures of Bihar are Rs. 380 and Rs 333. India’s northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir is least affected by poverty as only 3.48 percent population of the state is poor. The percentage of poor is less even in its neighboring states Punjab, Haryan and Himachal Pradesh. An NGO named ‘Azadi Bachao Andolan’ had filed a petition in the Supreme Court and the health ministry had submitted this affidavit in answer to it.

Government Though eradication of urban and rural poverty has long been one of the objectives of various five year planning programs but it has remained only on papers while nothing has been done at the ground level. People had come to know about a ‘Kalawati’ during Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha but there are millions of ‘Kalawaties’ who are living even in the worse conditions. There are various government schemes that have been launched for the welfare of poor people of India to provide them employment and food but they too have not worked. This situation is becoming worse with the increase of population. By presenting low figures poverty can not be eradicated. To eradicate it government will have to strike at its root causes that are increasing population, illiteracy and unemployment