Poverty shows declining trend since 2004-05; Planning Commission says that India aims to achieve 9.5 per cent growth in 12th plan

Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said poverty has shown a declining trend from 2004-05 as per the preliminary data available with the Commission. Speaking in New Delhi yesterday, he said the  Commission has considered the Tendulkar Committee recommendations which had suggested that poverty should be estimated on the basis of consumption based on cost of living index instead of caloric intake. Mr. Ahluwalia said that in every area, there has been progress.

"If you take a look at what has been happening over time, whether it is in literacy, whether it is in this or that, health indicator, Education indicator, gender gaps, in every one of these, there is progress.  But I would say that the progress is less than we would have wanted in many areas." 

Mr. Ahluwalia said India is targetting  9.5 per cent GDP growth for the 12th five year plan period.  He  said looking at the conditions of international markets, India will achieve this growth without much difficulty. He said that the focus of the 12th plan will be more inclusive and sustainable growth. Ahluwalia also said that the government is keen to increase the agricultural productivity to meet the demand. He said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wanted the Commission to aim at a higher growth target for 10 per cent during the 12th Plan, as against 8.2 per cent estimated in the current plan. 

"In the 10th Plan, it was around 2 percent, in the 11th Plan, it looks as if it will be 3 percent.  It won't be 4 percent that is we are targeting and for example my view would be that in the 12th Plan we must make sure that we can get to four percent."