As reported yesterday, an exclusive study done for FE by NCAER-CMCR provides really interesting shades to the 400-million strong mass that has been classified as BPL?a Planning Commission estimate of 37.2% of India?s total population. This estimate was made for the purposes of the proposed Food Security Act and in accordance with the methodology recommended by the Suresh Tendulkar committee. The study finds that around a fourth of urban BPL households own a two-wheeler, a third own a colour TV and almost two-thirds a pressure cooker. Findings from rural India also throw stereotypes into the waste basket, with every one in ten BPL persons having a two-wheeler, every fifth BPL village kitchen having a pressure cooker and around 6% owning a colour TV. There is also interesting and upbeat news on the education and employment front. Almost one in five urban BPL households has at least one well-educated?graduate or above!?member and over 13% of them are led by a salaried chief wage earner (CWE). Only under a tenth of rural BPL households have an illiterate CWE. While these findings throw established formulas into a spin, others are along expected lines. For instance, BIMARU states account for around 60% of India?s BPL population. The bottom-line takeaway from the huge diversity in disparity thrown up by the NCAER-CMCR study is that the government cannot deliver on its development mandate without more nuancing. The upcoming BPL Census 2011 will have to take careful note of such nuances. As for the endgame, the study provides increased impetus for more carefully targeted BPL support, whether it is via food or kerosene or the like.
As the Food Security Bill gathers momentum while winding its way through the NAC and the government, these columns have consistently and repeatedly made the case for improving the mechanisms intended for extending entitlements to vulnerable groups. There is no question that an emerging global power has to show substantive commitment for compensating its poor. It is equally imperative that such a commitment should not endanger India?s fiscal stability. This means efficiencies are essential. The NCAER-CMCR study gives us food for thought; it demands that we reconsider all the BPL numbers floating around. Without properly nuanced statistics, there cannot be proper targeting. And in the absence of the latter, we will be looking at more wastage, more fake claims and more inappropriate dole-outs. Nobody could be unhappy that a fourth of urban BPL households possess a two-wheeler, but everybody has the right to wonder how much subsidised grains or kerosene these households are getting. India can redefine its BPL standards to include two-wheelers, but then let?s at least be upfront about doing this.
