India census exposes extent of poverty

[Menace2Society]

India's latest Socioeconomic and Caste Census (SECC) paints a stark picture of widespread rural poverty and deprivation.

Of the 300 million households surveyed, an overwhelming majority (73%) live in villages. Of this rural population, less than 5% earn enough to pay taxes, only 2.5% own a 4-wheeler vehicle and less than 10% have salaried jobs.

Not only does rural India have miserable statistics on income and asset ownership, its literacy rates are low. Only 3.5% of students graduate and around 35.7% of residents can't read or write.

It comes as no surprise that the bulk of the Indian population is still overwhelmingly poor.

Past surveys and experts have continued to emphasize the chasm between the two disparate pictures of India -- one that owns ambitious space and nuclear programs, and boasts of billionaires and information technology prowess, and the one in the villages, of which 92 million households (51%) earn their living by manual labor.

The self-reported data from the SECC survey will be used for targeting new and existing welfare schemes. Toeing the line taken by the previous administration, the government refrained from making caste data public.

What does it mean to be 'poor'?

India's definition of "poor" has been hotly debated by development economists and activists, with several finding the official poverty line too low and leaving out a number of people who might still need government assistance. In 2014, a report by the Indian government Planning Commissionestimated that 363 million Indians, making up 29.5% of the total population, were living below the poverty line in 2011-12. The report, by the Rangarajan Expert Group, also estimates that the India poverty ratio fell from 38.2% to 29.5% between 2009-10 and 2011-12, lifting 91.6 million individuals out of poverty.

According to a Pew Research Center report released this month, while people were able to move up the social ladder from poor to low income during the last decade, the actual number of people in the middle class (living on $10-20 a day) barely budged from 1% in 2001 to 3% in 2011. Most developing countries set poverty lines far below those of advanced country levels.

Living on double the Indian Planning Commission poverty line of $2.40 per day would still mean not meeting nutritional and other needs at developed economy levels. Many poor people "lifted out of poverty" are still living at levels closer to $2.40 than $10 per day. The Pew report estimates that at the proposed Rangarajan poverty line, food consumption alone would take up 57% of a rural family's budget and 47% of an urban family's budget.

India census shows extent of poverty - CNN.com

 

[Sheikh Rauf]

Lets help lill shine of india to world.

 

[SpArK]

Lets help lill shine of india to world.

Or you can provide aid and assistance to India in its fight against poverty or build an economic corridor to help India revive its economy and help its poor to come out low wages and food insecurity.

As a responsive developed world representative and a very capable neighbor it would be role model for other countries to emulate the feat in their respective regions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sheikh Rauf]

Or you can provide aid and assistance to India in its fight against poverty or build an economic corridor to help India revive its economy and help its poor to come out low wages and food insecurity.

As a responsive developed world representative and a very capable neighbor it would be role model for other countries to emulate the feat in their respective regions.

Exposing is a help in a way .. exactily how india is helping Pakistan to fight agains terrorism via Afg.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Menace2Society]

India needs a philanthropist in charge. All this war mongering with Pakistan, funding militancy there but they can't fund their own people out of poverty. How shameful.

 

[Areesh]

There is extreme poverty in Pakistan too and Pakistan itself needs to do a lot in this sector.

But then we Pakistani don't go to Indian forums to do drama of richie rich Pakistanis too. Something we see on every other thread on this forum.

 

[Indika]

Or you can provide aid and assistance to India in its fight against poverty or build an economic corridor to help India revive its economy and help its poor to come out low wages and food insecurity.
As a responsive developed world representative and a very capable neighbor it would be role model for other countries to emulate the feat in their respective regions.
Thanks in advance.

Oh,dont bother replying to trolls in the process waste your time ,bandwidth and effort. Ignorance is bliss,let it continue.

 

[guyhandz]

India's latest Socioeconomic and Caste Census (SECC) paints a stark picture of widespread rural poverty and deprivation.

Of the 300 million households surveyed, an overwhelming majority (73%) live in villages. Of this rural population, less than 5% earn enough to pay taxes, only 2.5% own a 4-wheeler vehicle and less than 10% have salaried jobs.

Not only does rural India have miserable statistics on income and asset ownership, its literacy rates are low. Only 3.5% of students graduate and around 35.7% of residents can't read or write.

It comes as no surprise that the bulk of the Indian population is still overwhelmingly poor.

Past surveys and experts have continued to emphasize the chasm between the two disparate pictures of India -- one that owns ambitious space and nuclear programs, and boasts of billionaires and information technology prowess, and the one in the villages, of which 92 million households (51%) earn their living by manual labor.

The self-reported data from the SECC survey will be used for targeting new and existing welfare schemes. Toeing the line taken by the previous administration, the government refrained from making caste data public.

What does it mean to be 'poor'?

India's definition of "poor" has been hotly debated by development economists and activists, with several finding the official poverty line too low and leaving out a number of people who might still need government assistance. In 2014, a report by the Indian government Planning Commissionestimated that 363 million Indians, making up 29.5% of the total population, were living below the poverty line in 2011-12. The report, by the Rangarajan Expert Group, also estimates that the India poverty ratio fell from 38.2% to 29.5% between 2009-10 and 2011-12, lifting 91.6 million individuals out of poverty.

According to a Pew Research Center report released this month, while people were able to move up the social ladder from poor to low income during the last decade, the actual number of people in the middle class (living on $10-20 a day) barely budged from 1% in 2001 to 3% in 2011. Most developing countries set poverty lines far below those of advanced country levels.

Living on double the Indian Planning Commission poverty line of $2.40 per day would still mean not meeting nutritional and other needs at developed economy levels. Many poor people "lifted out of poverty" are still living at levels closer to $2.40 than $10 per day. The Pew report estimates that at the proposed Rangarajan poverty line, food consumption alone would take up 57% of a rural family's budget and 47% of an urban family's budget.

India census shows extent of poverty - CNN.com

Thank you for your concern...

 

[Gibbs]

India's latest Socioeconomic and Caste Census (SECC) paints a stark picture of widespread rural poverty and deprivation.

Of the 300 million households surveyed, an overwhelming majority (73%) live in villages. Of this rural population, less than 5% earn enough to pay taxes, only 2.5% own a 4-wheeler vehicle and less than 10% have salaried jobs.

Not only does rural India have miserable statistics on income and asset ownership, its literacy rates are low. Only 3.5% of students graduate and around 35.7% of residents can't read or write.

It comes as no surprise that the bulk of the Indian population is still overwhelmingly poor.

Past surveys and experts have continued to emphasize the chasm between the two disparate pictures of India -- one that owns ambitious space and nuclear programs, and boasts of billionaires and information technology prowess, and the one in the villages, of which 92 million households (51%) earn their living by manual labor.

The self-reported data from the SECC survey will be used for targeting new and existing welfare schemes. Toeing the line taken by the previous administration, the government refrained from making caste data public.

What does it mean to be 'poor'?

India's definition of "poor" has been hotly debated by development economists and activists, with several finding the official poverty line too low and leaving out a number of people who might still need government assistance. In 2014, a report by the Indian government Planning Commissionestimated that 363 million Indians, making up 29.5% of the total population, were living below the poverty line in 2011-12. The report, by the Rangarajan Expert Group, also estimates that the India poverty ratio fell from 38.2% to 29.5% between 2009-10 and 2011-12, lifting 91.6 million individuals out of poverty.

According to a Pew Research Center report released this month, while people were able to move up the social ladder from poor to low income during the last decade, the actual number of people in the middle class (living on $10-20 a day) barely budged from 1% in 2001 to 3% in 2011. Most developing countries set poverty lines far below those of advanced country levels.

Living on double the Indian Planning Commission poverty line of $2.40 per day would still mean not meeting nutritional and other needs at developed economy levels. Many poor people "lifted out of poverty" are still living at levels closer to $2.40 than $10 per day. The Pew report estimates that at the proposed Rangarajan poverty line, food consumption alone would take up 57% of a rural family's budget and 47% of an urban family's budget.

India census shows extent of poverty - CNN.com

Quite shocking stats.. Despite much celebrated economic growth

 

[SarthakGanguly]

India's latest Socioeconomic and Caste Census (SECC) paints a stark picture of widespread rural poverty and deprivation.

Of the 300 million households surveyed, an overwhelming majority (73%) live in villages. Of this rural population, less than 5% earn enough to pay taxes, only 2.5% own a 4-wheeler vehicle and less than 10% have salaried jobs.

Not only does rural India have miserable statistics on income and asset ownership, its literacy rates are low. Only 3.5% of students graduate and around 35.7% of residents can't read or write.

It comes as no surprise that the bulk of the Indian population is still overwhelmingly poor.

Past surveys and experts have continued to emphasize the chasm between the two disparate pictures of India -- one that owns ambitious space and nuclear programs, and boasts of billionaires and information technology prowess, and the one in the villages, of which 92 million households (51%) earn their living by manual labor.

The self-reported data from the SECC survey will be used for targeting new and existing welfare schemes. Toeing the line taken by the previous administration, the government refrained from making caste data public.

What does it mean to be 'poor'?

India's definition of "poor" has been hotly debated by development economists and activists, with several finding the official poverty line too low and leaving out a number of people who might still need government assistance. In 2014, a report by the Indian government Planning Commissionestimated that 363 million Indians, making up 29.5% of the total population, were living below the poverty line in 2011-12. The report, by the Rangarajan Expert Group, also estimates that the India poverty ratio fell from 38.2% to 29.5% between 2009-10 and 2011-12, lifting 91.6 million individuals out of poverty.

According to a Pew Research Center report released this month, while people were able to move up the social ladder from poor to low income during the last decade, the actual number of people in the middle class (living on $10-20 a day) barely budged from 1% in 2001 to 3% in 2011. Most developing countries set poverty lines far below those of advanced country levels.

Living on double the Indian Planning Commission poverty line of $2.40 per day would still mean not meeting nutritional and other needs at developed economy levels. Many poor people "lifted out of poverty" are still living at levels closer to $2.40 than $10 per day. The Pew report estimates that at the proposed Rangarajan poverty line, food consumption alone would take up 57% of a rural family's budget and 47% of an urban family's budget.

India census shows extent of poverty - CNN.com

Out and out a Failed state.

 

[Viny]

There is extreme poverty in Pakistan too and Pakistan itself needs to do a lot in this sector.

But then we Pakistani don't go to Indian forums to do drama of richie rich Pakistanis too. Something we see on every other thread on this forum.

Many indians that you find on internet has not seen the rural or extreme poverty part of India, so they dont even know that if anything like that exits. With developments majorly happening in around cities most of the people have migrated to town and urban centers, thus who are left back in rural India are the ones who could not catch up with growth cycle happening in cities. Thus they are still stuck in poverty circle. Although Indian government has come up with many plans and incentives to bring them out of poverty, but the real impact of same would be seen only after a decade or two, not as of now.

Incidentally finding a labour in city has becoming very difficult, people complain that income at rural india has increased and hence people dont want to work in city, rather they are happy to be in villages, earn from govt schemes and various subsidies that they get.

Quite shocking stats.. Despite much celebrated economic growth

Economic growth engines are the urban areas which are powered by business man, rural area growth is powered majorly by govt schemes, which are generally not enough to match with economic growth of cities.

 

[Samudra Manthan]

Cost of living in Pakistan
Cost of Living in Pakistan. Prices in Pakistan. Updated Sep 2015

Look at the food prices and look at the income.

Cost of living in India
Cost of Living in India. Prices in India. Updated Sep 2015

Again, look at the food prices and look at the income.

Basically, seems like Pakistanis barely manage to feed themselves let alone have any money left for any other essentials of life.

Also let us see cost of living in Sri Lanka versus income.

Cost of Living in Sri Lanka. Prices in Sri Lanka. Updated Sep 2015

These indices are relative to New York City (NYC). Which means that for New York City, each index should be 100(%). If another city has, for example, rent index of 120, it means rents in average in that city are 20% more expensive than in New York City. If a city has rent index of 70, that means in the average in that city rents are 30% less expensive than in New York City.

Given this, local purchasing power of Sri Lankans is equivalent to 34.61% of a New Yorker. That of an Indian, it is 94.79%, and that of a Pakistani 46.83%.

 

[Gibbs]

Cost of living in Pakistan
Cost of Living in Pakistan. Prices in Pakistan. Updated Sep 2015

Look at the food prices and look at the income.

Cost of living in India
Cost of Living in India. Prices in India. Updated Sep 2015

Again, look at the food prices and look at the income.

Basically, seems like Pakistanis barely manage to feed themselves let alone have any money left for any other essentials of life.

Also let us see cost of living in Sri Lanka versus income.

Cost of Living in Sri Lanka. Prices in Sri Lanka. Updated Sep 2015

These indices are relative to New York City (NYC). Which means that for New York City, each index should be 100(%). If another city has, for example, rent index of 120, it means rents in average in that city are 20% more expensive than in New York City. If a city has rent index of 70, that means in the average in that city rents are 30% less expensive than in New York City.

Given this, local purchasing power of Sri Lankans is equivalent to 34.61% of a New Yorker. That of an Indian, it is 94.79%, and that of a Pakistani 46.83%.

Well the cost of living for a average Sri Lankan is way more higher than for an average Indian.. Even though the income of a average Sri Lankan is more than double that .. And It's population living under the globally specified poverty line is also significantly lower than that of India.. Is it because the trade deficit as in Sri Lanka imports most of it's food and other consumer durable's than India who produce locally so it ends up much cheaper ?

Note: You need to count in a common currency as oppose to local currency of each state to get a true pic of the cost of living

 

[Samudra Manthan]

Well the cost of living for a average Sri Lankan is way more higher than for an average Indian.. Even though the income of a average Sri Lankan is more than double that .. And It's population living under the globally specified poverty line is also significantly lower than that of India.. Is it because the trade deficit as in Sri Lanka imports most of it's food and other consumer durable's than India who produce locally so it ends up much cheaper ?

Note: You need to count in a common currency as oppose to local currency of each state to get a true pic of the cost of living

Sri Lankan rupee is 2.4 to 1 INR. Average Sri Lanka income is 37304.35 rupees whereas in India it is 30,307.01 rupee. So you calculate.

Sri Lanka's population living under globally specified poverty line may be lower than India given that its population is not much greater than the population of Mumbai. These are mere mindless statistics based on international trade deficits. The data I bring to you on the other hand measures lifestyle affordability across nations.

Does not matter whether Sri Lankans imports food or exports food, if they are barely able to put food on their plates and just about scrape through living then India is doing much much better than Sri Lanka as proved by its ability to match 94.79% of New Yorker's purchasing power index compared to a measly 34.61% that the supposedly poverty free Sri Lankans are doing.

So basically all the figures you bring to gloat about India's poverty and Sri Lankan's richness is all hogwash. Even a poor person in India can match Sri Lanka's middle classes lifestyle.

 

[Gibbs]

Sri Lankan rupee is 2.4 to 1 INR. Average Sri Lanka income is 37304.35 rupees whereas in India it is 30,307.01 rupee. So you calculate.

Sri Lanka's population living under globally specified poverty line may be lower than India given that its population is not much greater than the population of Mumbai. These are mere mindless statistics based on international trade deficits. The data I bring to you on the other hand measures lifestyle affordability across nations.

Does not matter whether Sri Lankans imports food or exports food, if they are barely able to put food on their plates and just about scrape through living then India is doing much much better than Sri Lanka as proved by its ability to match 94.79% of New Yorker's purchasing power index compared to a measly 34.61% that the supposedly poverty free Sri Lankans are doing.

So basically all the figures you bring to gloat about India's poverty and Sri Lankan's richness is all hogwash. Even a poor person in India can match Sri Lanka's middle classes lifestyle.

One.. Where did i gloat about India's poverty ? Two. If Sri Lankans are barely able to put food on the table how come the Lankans have much higher nutritional levels than Indians and much much less hungry, Malnourished people on average ? Basically the whole country has HDI rating of a developed nation not in pockets

Also given that Sri Lanka has a purchasing power parity per capita of $11,000 and India $5800 as of 2014, How does an average Sri Lankan struggle to make ends meet worse than a Indian ?

About the middle class in India according to the WB majority are living just close to the $2.40 dollars per day and given that 29% still live under the poverty line.. It's 6.4% in Sri Lanka.. Also Abject poverty exists in India one of the very few countries outside sub Saharan Africa that does.. In Sri Lanka it does'nt.. So how does that equate to your assumption that a poor person has a better lifestyle in India than an average middle class Sri Lankan ?

Is'nt that the stats you provided to prove your point backfired spectacularly since every country have different levels living expenses owing to many reasons ? And even with much lower expenses in India for an average person they still struggle with quite shocking poverty ?

Maybe one day you need to travel the world and see how starkly different it is to the one that you may have in your mind

Note: All numbers provided from WB 2014