More hands at work, but harvest wilting at farms
Relying on 2004-05 data, the Economic Survey says that only 1.9% households experience hunger compared to 4.2% households in 1993-94.
By Rajeev Jayaswal, TNN |
It���s a nice little statistical conundrum���hunger levels are down, but India has more hungry people than ever before. The UPA government seems to be in the dark about the results of its own efforts in reducing poverty over the last three years. Relying on 2004-05 data, the Economic Survey says that only 1.9% households experience hunger compared to 4.2% households in 1993-94.
The National Sample Survey carries out a detailed survey to estimate poverty levels in India. The next survey is due in 2009-10. Observers say that even if the percentage of households not getting adequate food declined to 1.9%, their numbers, in absolute terms, are still high. According to official data, the country���s population in 1991 was 846,302,688 which grew by about 22% in 2001 to 1,028,737,436.
The Survey points out that West Bengal (a Left-ruled state) followed by Orissa has ���an unusually high percentage of households reporting food inadequacy���. It said that the percentage of population below the poverty line is the highest in Orissa, followed by Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Punjab followed by Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have low poverty, it added.
The Survey, however, found an acceleration in employment growth in the country. ���Estimates on employment and unemployment on CDS (current daily status) basis indicate that employment growth during 1999-2000 to 2004-05 accelerated significantly compared to the growth witnessed during 1993-94 to 1999-2000,���.
It said that the decline in overall growth of employment during 1993-94 to 1999-00 was largely due to the lower absorption in agriculture. ���The share of agriculture in total employment dropped from 61% to 57%. This trend continued and the share of agriculture in total employment further dropped to 52% in 2004-05,��� it added.
���While the manufacturing sector���s share increased marginally during this period, trade, hotels and restaurants contributed significantly higher to overall employment than in earlier years,��� it said.
The other sectors whose employment share has increased are transport, storage and communications apart from the financial, insurance, real estate, business and community, social and personal services sectors. It said that that developmental schemes have been effective in reducing poverty.
The National Sample Survey carries out a detailed survey to estimate poverty levels in India. The next survey is due in 2009-10. Observers say that even if the percentage of households not getting adequate food declined to 1.9%, their numbers, in absolute terms, are still high. According to official data, the country���s population in 1991 was 846,302,688 which grew by about 22% in 2001 to 1,028,737,436.
The Survey points out that West Bengal (a Left-ruled state) followed by Orissa has ���an unusually high percentage of households reporting food inadequacy���. It said that the percentage of population below the poverty line is the highest in Orissa, followed by Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Punjab followed by Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have low poverty, it added.
The Survey, however, found an acceleration in employment growth in the country. ���Estimates on employment and unemployment on CDS (current daily status) basis indicate that employment growth during 1999-2000 to 2004-05 accelerated significantly compared to the growth witnessed during 1993-94 to 1999-2000,���.
It said that the decline in overall growth of employment during 1993-94 to 1999-00 was largely due to the lower absorption in agriculture. ���The share of agriculture in total employment dropped from 61% to 57%. This trend continued and the share of agriculture in total employment further dropped to 52% in 2004-05,��� it added.
���While the manufacturing sector���s share increased marginally during this period, trade, hotels and restaurants contributed significantly higher to overall employment than in earlier years,��� it said.
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The other sectors whose employment share has increased are transport, storage and communications apart from the financial, insurance, real estate, business and community, social and personal services sectors. It said that that developmental schemes have been effective in reducing poverty.
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