How many Indians live below poverty line? 27.5%!

As per the latest available estimates based on large sample survey data on household consumer expenditure, 27.5 per cent people lived below poverty line in the country based on Urban Rural Population Consumption in 2004-05.

In rural areas, the poverty ratio was estimated at 28.3 per cent whereas in urban areas it was 25.7 per cent, stated V Narayanswamy, Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, in response to a question by independent member Parimal Nathwani.

Nathwani is also the group president, corporate affairs for Reliance Industries Limited. In accordance with the comparative state-wise statement of poverty estimates put up with the reply to the house, Orissa had the highest 46.37 per cent of people lived below poverty line while Jammu and Kashmir figured with the lowest 5.43 per cent below poverty line.

The percentage population below poverty line in Jharkhand was 40.35, while that of Gujarat was 16.75 per cent, according to the data released.

Narayanswamy also stated that a number of poverty alleviation programs were implemented by the central ministries and departments and their implementation was being closely monitored.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Swarnjayanti Gram Swaraj Yojana, the Indira Awas Yojana, the Swarnjayanti Shehri Rozgar Yojana are the government schemes under implementation to alleviate rural and urban poverty.