The Food Security Act as proposed by the UPA government assures rice/wheat at Rs 3 a kg to BPL families as a matter of legal right.
The World Bank said improved infrastructure, specifically rural electrification, has had far-ranging effects
The government is also contemplating amendments to other two pension schemes to make widows eligible for it at 18 years instead of present age cap of 40, and disabled with 40 per cent disability qualify for it instead of 80 per cent.
The government will provide five crore LPG connections on concessional rates in the name of women from below poverty line.
The government is likely to give a legal right to food to both priority and general categories of the population under the proposed National Food Security Act, as suggested by the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council (NAC).
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said the government would follow an inclusive policy wherein both APL and below poverty line families will get foodgrains at cheaper rates. He added that the annual subsidy burden on the government would come around to Rs 50,000 crore.
There was such a rush that more counters were opened outside the GPO building, under the open sky, he added.
Urban households having five members with daily consumption basket of food and other items of more than Rs 161 will not be entitled to benefits provided to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, as per the Plan panel's latest definition of poverty.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his cabinet colleagues have started a 24-hour fast to protest the UPA government's alleged discriminatory attitude towards Madhya Pradesh.
Even the United Progressive Alliance constituent Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday rubbished the Planning Panel's claim that the number of poor people had declined to 21.9 per cent.
National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group.
"The tea is good but it is a little too sweet," Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Meera who was elated to host the surprise guest at her house near the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk here on Saturday.
The committee, to be constituted in a couple of months, would take a comprehensive view on the entire method of estimating poverty, including the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011.
Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Assam figure among the poorest states where over 40 per cent of people are below poverty line.
The prime minister said the country's economy was likely to grow by 7 per cent or a little more in the current financial year.
The finance ministry is expected to announce a life insurance package for below poverty line workers in the unorganised sector in the forthcoming Union Budget.
The finance ministry is expected to announce a life insurance package for below poverty line workers in the unorganised sector in the forthcoming Union Budget.
There is lack of scientific basis in computing the poverty line, says govt.
There is certainly something missing with the way poverty is measured in India.
While hearing a matter relating to encroachment on railway land in Gujarat, the apex court observed that when the Constitution recognises rule of law, it has to be adhered to by one and all.
The food security programme is not restricted to the poor and the population covered by it is about three times the number of people below the poverty line, Parliament was told on Thursday.
Stunning landscapes, natural beauty, clean beaches, cultural wealth, mouth-watering food, shopping options, safety for solo travellers, warm hospitality, easy visas, and connectivity make Vietnam a must-visit destination, discovers Ramesh Menon.
Karnataka minister Satish Jarkiholi on Wednesday said the guarantee schemes need to be reviewed so that only the economically weaker sections, and not the rich, benefit from them, sparking a debate on the ambitious programmes launched by the Congress government.
New census will include questions about religion and castes.
Angus Deaton's Nobel Prize should spark off more research on the measurement and usefulness of poverty percentages.
This is an increase of $1.1 billion over the previous year, the World Bank said on Thursday, adding that it invested $6.6 billion in 89 projects to promote economic growth, fight poverty and assist private businesses. This includes nearly $2 billion in infrastructure financing, a critical sector to provide the foundation for rapid recovery from the crisis and job creation.
He also charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi with being silent on price rise, unemployment and corruption in the state during his series of public meetings while campaigning for the elections taking place today.
To translate into more spending on education, health, and nutritious food.
'When so many young Baloch men and women are willingly volunteering as fighters and even suicide bombers.'
Figures of people living below the poverty line in India was being fudged by international agencies like the World Bank to paint a grim picture of the Indian economy, Planning Commission Member N K Singh said on Monday.
The multilateral lender, in its recently released report 'Global Economic Prospects for 2009', said a quarter of India's population will be living in extreme poverty, on less than $1.25 a day, in 2015. According to the World Bank's poverty forecast, China had 60.2 per cent of its population living on less than $1.25 a day in 1990, compared to India's 51.3 per cent.
The saffron party also pledged to provide financial assistance to high school students hailing from backward and poor families.
Concerned over the plight of 220 million people living below poverty line, President A P J Abdul Kalam on Friday suggested increasing of overall GDP growth rate to 10 per cent and maintaining it for a decade.
President A P J Abdul Kalam said on Friday that to completely eradicate poverty in the country, India would have to achieve a GDP growth of 10 per cent continuously for a decade at a stretch.
The country's present growth rate is 7.6% and its economy is $1.7 trillion.
With an aim to give pani puri a ststus, 3 MBA graduates have started Poochka & Co.
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