A wake up call

The Planning Commission’s latest poverty estimate shows that poverty reduction has been fast during 2000-2005. But in absolute numbers, it still compares with the figures of the 1990s and to some extent of the 1980s. The estimate clearly brings out the fact that poverty is getting concentrated in areas where people depend more on natural resources for survival.

Therefore, ecological poverty -- the lack of access to natural resources or inability to use it for economic benefits -- is the major reason for poverty. Going by the Planning Commission estimate, around 115 million people are very poor or subsisting at 75 per cent below the poverty line. This section lives in resource rich areas like forests.

This trend is a poor reflection on the numerous anti-poverty programmes, which have failed to help people, and have not been able to recognise the nature of poverty in these areas.

To fix this, the government has to now rethink these programmes. Many Planning Commission officials admit that the time is right for a change because as poverty gets further concentrated in these areas, it will lead to a phenomenon called chronic poverty, escaping which will be difficult if not impossible. The government has to therefore take the poverty estimate as a warning call and not ignore it.