V. R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of Niti Aayog, recently commented on India’s poverty levels and claimed that India’s rate is low, falling below 5% of the entire population. The comment of B. V. R. Subrahmanyam came after a survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), where NSSO surveyed consumer expenditure and other issues.
The National Sample Survey Office survey claimed that India’s poverty levels declined and people are spending more than before, which means people’s purchasing power is increasing better than before.
On the other hand, people criticised Mr Subrahmanyam and claimed the report was blunt and senseless, the survey was biassed, and many critics claimed that if poverty is less than 5% in India, the prime minister claimed that their government distributed free food grains to more than 81 crore people in the last five years.
And other people talked about multi-dimensional poverty. Multi-dimensional poverty does not only affect people’s earnings and income like poverty surveys do; it also focuses on many things like healthcare, education, quality of work, the threat of violence, etc.
People claim that the government might have overcome poverty, but still, in India, many people suffer from multi-dimensional poverty. Even some so-called middle-class families live in multi-dimensional poverty.
Many people believe the survey is just propaganda to gain votes in the upcoming election. The survey and comment of Mr Subrahmanyam will help the current government get some votes from people by telecasting fake ads about poor people and poverty in India.