[1]Rubbishing reports that the government was artificially reducing the number of people below the poverty line, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Saturday said that a new technical experts committee will be constituted to look into the issue.
“The criticism that the government is artificially reducing the number of BPL people is just rubbish. The Suresh Tendulkar Committee gave a factual report,” he remarked. Quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said the present poverty line was only linked to consumption, leaving aside other factors like provision of drinking water, pucca housing etc.
“The PM suggested a multi-dimensional study on the poverty line. The technical committee will be notified soon. It will also look into the criticisms,” he said. He also pointed out that the decline in the number of people below the poverty rate during UPA’s rule has been double compared to the pre-UPA period.
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