Major committees on poverty play a pivotal role in addressing one of society’s most pressing challenges: the alleviation of poverty and its multifaceted consequences. These committees are often established by governments, international organizations, or non-governmental entities with the aim of formulating policies, strategies, and initiatives to combat poverty and promote socioeconomic development. Their mandates typically involve research, analysis, advocacy, and the coordination of resources to target the root causes of poverty, enhance access to essential services, and empower marginalized communities. Through collaboration with stakeholders from diverse sectors, these committees strive to foster innovation, equity, and sustainable solutions to uplift individuals and families out of poverty, fostering a more just and inclusive society.
Pre-Independence Poverty Estimation
Dadabhai Naoroji, in his book “Poverty and Unbritish Rule in India,” provided the earliest estimation of the poverty line, ranging from ₹16 to ₹35 per capita per year. This estimation was based on the cost of a subsistence diet including rice or flour, dal, mutton, vegetables, ghee, vegetable oil, and salt.
The National Planning Committee (1938) also proposed a poverty line, ranging from ₹15 to ₹20 per capita per month. This perspective was rooted in ensuring a minimum standard of living, with implicit nutritional requirements.
Formed in 1938 by Subhash Chandra Bose under the chairmanship of Jawaharlal Nehru, the National Planning Committee aimed to draft an economic plan focused on securing an adequate standard of living for the masses.
Additionally, proponents of the Bombay Plan (1944) suggested a poverty line of ₹75 per capita per year. The Bombay Plan was a collection of proposals by a select group of influential business leaders in Bombay, aiming to guide the economic development of post-independence India.
Post-Independence Poverty Estimation
India established various committees post-independence to gauge poverty through different lenses. The details of these committees are outlined below:
The Planning Commission Expert Group in 1962, established by the Planning Commission, devised distinct poverty lines for rural and urban regions, setting them at ₹20 and ₹25 per capita per year, respectively.
VM Dandekar and N Rath Poverty Committee:
- Before 1971, India’s poverty line was defined based on minimal necessities or subsistence living.
- In 1971, VM Dandekar and N Rath analyzed data from the National Sample Survey Organisation and proposed setting the poverty line according to spending values in rural and urban areas, providing 2250 calories per day.
Alagh Committee (1979):
- Established by the Planning Commission and led by YK Alagh.
- Developed a poverty line based on dietary needs and consumption expenditure for both urban and rural areas.
Lakdawala Committee:
- Formed an expert group to estimate the proportion and number of poor.
- Headed by Prof DT Lakdawala, the committee recommended:
- Using a fixed consumption basket approach based on calorie consumption for poverty line determination.
- Construction of state-specific poverty lines, updated using CPI-AL for rural areas and CPI-IW for urban areas.
- Reliance on NSS data rather than National Accounts Statistics.
- Government of India accepted these recommendations in 1997 with minor adjustments.
C Rangarajan Committee on Poverty:
- Established by the Planning Commission to:
- Review international poverty estimation methods.
- Propose an alternative method for estimating poverty.
- Suggest linking these methods with Indian government poverty elimination schemes.
- Final report submitted in 2014 dismissed Tendulkar Committee’s poverty estimation in India, indicating a 29.5% increase in poverty levels in 2011-2012.
Tendulkar Committee of Poverty Estimation (2009):
- Headed by Suresh Tendulkar.
- Recommendations included:
- Shifting from calorie consumption-based poverty estimation.
- Establishing a uniform poverty line basket for rural and urban India.
- Updating price adjustment methods to address temporal and spatial issues.
- Incorporating private expenditure in education and health into poverty level estimations.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of major committees on poverty?
Major committees on poverty are typically established to address the multifaceted issues surrounding poverty within a specific region or at a national level. Their purpose is to analyze the root causes of poverty, propose policy solutions, and oversee the implementation of programs aimed at alleviating poverty and improving the well-being of affected populations.
Q: How do major committees on poverty identify and prioritize areas of intervention?
These committees often conduct comprehensive research, gather data, and engage with experts, stakeholders, and affected communities to identify key areas of intervention. They prioritize issues based on factors such as the severity of poverty, demographic trends, socioeconomic disparities, and the availability of resources for intervention.
Q: What strategies do major committees on poverty employ to address poverty effectively?
Major committees on poverty employ a range of strategies, including but not limited to:
- Implementing social welfare programs such as income support, food assistance, and healthcare access.
- Investing in education and vocational training to enhance skills and employability.
- Promoting economic development through job creation, small business support, and infrastructure investment.
- Addressing systemic inequalities and barriers to social mobility.
- Fostering community development initiatives and strengthening social support networks.
Q: How are major committees on poverty funded?
Funding for major committees on poverty often comes from government allocations, grants from philanthropic organizations, private donations, and partnerships with businesses and non-profit organizations. The allocation of funds may vary depending on the scope of the committee’s mandate, the scale of poverty in the region, and the available resources.
Q: What are some examples of successful initiatives led by major committees on poverty?
Successful initiatives led by major committees on poverty may include:
- Implementation of targeted social assistance programs that effectively reduce poverty rates and improve living standards for vulnerable populations.
- Development of innovative economic empowerment programs that provide marginalized communities with the tools and resources to lift themselves out of poverty.
- Adoption of inclusive policies that address structural inequalities and promote social justice.
- Establishment of partnerships between government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector to leverage resources and expertise in combating poverty.
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