India : 95% people are above the poverty line, so who are the 81 crore people who get free grains?

According to the CEO of NITI Aayog, if we take the poverty line and look at it on the Consumer Price Index, then the average consumption of this lowest class remains the same as before.

New Delhi : The Government of India (Modi Government) claims that poverty has reduced by 95 percent in the country. Only 5 percent people now remain below the poverty line. NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subramaniam has done this on the basis of the analysis of National Sample Survey Office i.e. NSSO. The survey was conducted among 2,61,746 families from August 2022 to July 2023. On the other hand, the Government of India is giving free food grains to 81 crore 35 lakh people of the country. Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PM Gramin Kalyan Anna Yojana), the Central Government extended this scheme in January itself for the next 5 years at a cost of Rs 11 lakh 80 thousand crores. In such a situation, the big question is that if 95 percent people have come out of the poverty line, then who are the 81 crore people who are getting free food grains from the government?

NSSO had placed people in 20 different categories for its survey regarding poverty line. According to the CEO of NITI Aayog, the average per capita and monthly consumption expenditure across all categories in rural areas stood at Rs 3,773. In urban areas it was Rs 6,459. If we look at the bottom 5 percent category, the average per capita and monthly expenditure in rural areas was Rs 1,373. In urban areas of this category this expenditure was Rs 2,001.

Modi government will provide free ration to the poor till December 2023, 81.3 crore people will benefit.

 

According to the CEO of NITI Aayog, if we take the poverty line and look at it on the Consumer Price Index, then the average consumption of this lowest class remains the same as before. This means that poverty in the country remains in this category of zero to 5 percent only. However, he called this his assessment and left further assessment to economists.

Per capita monthly household consumption expenditure doubled in 10 years.

Meanwhile, let us look at some more data of NSSO survey for 2022-23, which are pointing towards many important changes in the Indian society. First of all, let's talk about per capita monthly household consumption expenditure. This has doubled in the last 10 years. This means that people living in rural areas have now started spending more on themselves.

In 2011-12, this expenditure in rural areas was Rs 1430 per month per person, which has increased to Rs 3860 per person in 2022-23. This means that our ability to spend on ourselves has more than doubled in 10 years. Whereas in 2011-12, this per capita expenditure in urban areas was Rs 2660, which has now become Rs 6521 per month.

Where did this expenditure increase? 

An interesting thing that has come to light in the NSSO data is that the proportion of expenditure on food items has now decreased in both villages and cities. That is, people are now spending less of their earnings on food and drinks in proportion to what they used to spend earlier. Now an average of Rs 1750 per person per month is spent on food in villages, which is 46% of the total expenditure per person. Whereas in cities, people spend Rs 3,950 per month on food, which is 39% of the total expenditure.

Free ration scheme for the poor will continue for the next five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced

Changing eating patterns:

People in villages spend Rs 2023 on items other than food, which is 54%. In cities, Rs 3939 is spent on items other than food, which is 61%. According to this survey, eating habits are changing. People are now spending less on grains and more on fruits, milk and eggs. (All figures are average expenditure per person, per month) 

If we look at monthly per capita consumption, the expenditure on grains in villages is Rs 185. i.e. 4.91% whereas in cities it is Rs 235 i.e. 3.6%. Rs 314 is being spent on milk and milk products in villages i.e. 8.33%. In cities Rs 466 i.e. 7.22%. In villages, Rs 185 is being spent on eggs, fish and mutton, which is 4.91%. Whereas in cities it is Rs 231 i.e. 3.57%. Interestingly, people are spending the most on soft drinks, snacks, and processed food.

Delhi CM Kejriwal launched 'Ghar-Ghar Free Ration' scheme in Punjab, CM agrees too

Free grain scheme could also be the reason

for the decrease in expenditure on grains. The reason for the decline in expenditure on grains could also be the effect of the Central Government's free grain scheme for more than 81 crore people. The thing to note is that people in villages are spending more on betel-tobacco and less on education.

Monthly per capita consumption expenditure on betel-tobacco in villages is Rs 143 (3.79%), while in cities this expenditure is Rs 157 (2.43%). Rs 125 is spent on education in villages, whereas Rs 374 is spent in cities. Two important things are emerging from this survey. One thing is that our agricultural families are able to spend the least.

People engaged in agriculture are spending Rs 3702 on monthly per capita consumption. People engaged in non-agricultural sectors are spending Rs 4074 more than this. That means the income of people engaged in agriculture sector is less than that of people engaged in non-agriculture. Regular workers in the agricultural sector are spending Rs 3597 per person per month. Regular workers in non-agricultural sector are spending Rs 4533.

This survey also gives an idea of ​​the condition of the states. It is clearly visible that the states of the Hindi belt are still backward. The ratio of expenditure to monthly per capita consumption is the lowest there. 

The result of the condition of the states is also found

According to the survey, Chhattisgarh has the lowest household expenditure of Rs 2466. In Jharkhand this expenditure is Rs 2763. Odisha spends Rs 2950 per month. Madhya Pradesh spends Rs 3113 per month, whereas in UP this expenditure is Rs 3191. Rs 3239 is spent in West Bengal. The expenditure in Bihar is Rs 3384. In Assam it costs Rs 3432. Monthly per capita consumption expenditure in Gujarat was Rs 3798.

Modi government will provide free ration to the poor till December 2023, 81.3 crore people will benefit.

In which states or union territories is the maximum expenditure incurred?

-People of Sikkim spend an average of Rs 7731 per person per month.

-This expenditure in Chandigarh is Rs 7467.

-This expenditure in Goa is Rs 7367.

-In Andaman and Nicobar it is Rs 7332.

-Rs 6576 is spent in Delhi.

Let us tell you that Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana was started in 2020. Now it has been extended till 2029. Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, about 81.35 crore people of the country are given free food grains. In this scheme, every member of the family gets 5 kg of wheat or rice every month. Also one kilogram of whole gram is given.

"How will they survive": Supreme Court expresses concern over pension of retired district judges

India : CJI DY Chandrachud said that retired district judges are getting a pension of Rs 19000-20000. After long service, how will they survive this?

New Delhi:The Supreme Court has expressed concern about the pension of retired district judges. The court said that despite years of dedicated service, he is getting a pension of less than Rs 19,000-20,000. How will these judges survive? The court has asked the Center to find a solution and has sought assistance from the AG.

During the hearing, CJI DY Chandrachud said that retired district judges are getting a pension of Rs 19000-20000. After long service, how will they survive? This is the kind of office where you become completely incompetent. You cannot suddenly jump into practice and start practicing in the High Court at the age of 61-62.

The Chief Justice requested Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the association in the matter, to provide assistance in bringing about an "equitable solution" for retired judicial officers over such disproportionate pension policy.

CJI said that we want a proper solution to this. You know the District Judge is really suffering. On this the AG said that he will definitely look into this issue. The CJI also said that some High Court judges have approached the Supreme Court over non-payment of salaries as new GPF accounts were not allotted to them after their promotion from the district judiciary.