Poverty is on an exponential rise in Haryana, with the state seeing a six-fold rise in families under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, the data tabled by the Nayab Singh Saini government in the assembly stated on Wednesday.
According to the official figures, the number of families that are below poverty line (BPL) had shot up from around 8.67 lakh in 2020-21 to 51.83 lakh now, reported The Times of India.
On average, a family has four members which implies that in Haryana, over 2 crore people on average are in the BPL category.
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The estimated population of the state, as per the Economic Survey of Haryana 2023-24, was 2,53,51,465 of which 1,65,09,359 resides in urban locations while 88,42,103 is rural.
If the government data is accurate, it would mean that over two crore people out of the 2.53 crore population in the state is below the poverty line. The estimate would then contrast the claims by Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state that it has made Haryana one of the most prosperous states in the country.
Notably, the Economic Survey also states that the per capita income in Haryana is Rs 2,96,592 against the national average of Rs 1,72,276.
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Implementing Schemes For Upliftment: Govt
The data was shared in the Haryana assembly by the Minister for Social Justice, Empowerment, and Welfare of SCs and BCs, Krishan Bedi. He provided the figures in response to a question by Pooja Chaudhary, the Congress MLA from Mullana.
The Congress legislator had enquired about the year-wise number of BPL families in the state during the last five years. She also asked about the output of the steps taken by the government to upgrade the status of BPL families to Above the Poverty Line (APL).
Bedi responded by saying that the government is implementing several schemes for the upliftment of the downtrodden and improving their quality of life.
He listed the steps taken by the government including food security through the Right to Food Act, social security measures like financial assistance via Old Age Samman Allowance (Pension) Scheme, Pension to Widows and Destitute Women Scheme.
He also mentioned Divyang Pension Scheme and several other similar social security schemes, Mukyamantri Antyodaya Parivar Utthan Yojana for the upliftment of the poorest of the poor families and several scholarships for the needy students.
