That the UPA Government's penultimate Budget would have a pro-poor tilt is obvious. But what is obscure is that the same Government is significantly behind schedule on important poverty-alleviation programmes. In fact, it is yet to identify those below the poverty line who can be the rightful beneficiaries of targeted schemes such as those carried out by the Rural Development Ministry (MoRD).

Even two years after it was appointed by the Planning Commission, an expert group headed by National Statistical Commission chairman Suresh Tendulkar is yet to submit its report on the criteria to be adopted to determine those below the poverty line. At the National Development Council meeting in December, many Chief Ministers had raised the issue of poverty estimation and were assured that the group's report was expected “shortly”. But a member of the group told The Indian Express that they would need at least another six months before finalising their views.

Meanwhile, the survey to identify people below poverty line, normally conducted by the MoRD in the first year of every Plan period, may only begin in 2009, the 11th Plan’s third year.

In the last three Plans, different criteria have been used to identify the poor — while income was used as the basis in 1992, rate of consumption was used in 1997.

The 10th Plan used a door-to-door census with a 13-point questionnaire that graded households on a scale. For instance, if the daughter of a household went to school, it was considered a sign of “not being poor”.

... contd.