59 pc of PDS grains do not reach households: WB report

Despite India spending over two per cent of GDP in social protection schemes, their returns in terms of poverty reduction are yet to reach full potential, a World Bank report has said, pointing to “high leakages” in PDS and “uneven implementation” of MNREGA across states.The report, the first comprehensive review of India’s social welfare and anti-poverty initiatives, said about 60 per cent of grains released by government under public distribution system did not reach households in 2004-05.

Poverty declines by 5% in 2009-10 says Planning Commission

Poverty in the country has declined by five percent to 32 per cent in 2009-10.Disclosing this in New Delhi yesterday Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said poverty has shown declining trend from 2004-05 as per the preliminary data available with the Commission.