Question

Describe poverty trends in India since 1973.

Answer 1

• There was a substantial decrease in poverty in India from about 55% in 1973 to 36% in 1993.
• The proportion of people below the poverty line further came down to about 26% in 2000.
• If the current trend continues then people below poverty line may come below 20% in the next few years.
• Although the percentage of people below the poverty line is decreasing from 1973 the number of people living below the poverty line remain the same(about 320 million(
• The latest estimate indicates a significant reduction in the number of poor to about 260 million.