The debate over poverty levels in the country found resonance in the Economic Survey with the report stating that 60.5% of the population was capable of spending only Rs 20 a day as per the latest National Sample Survey.

A wide range of poverty numbers have been floating around from different government agencies with the N C Saxena committee being the latest. The Planning Commission's estimate has been the most conservative at 27.5% while the National Commission on Enterprises in the unorganized sector, in its report, had suggested that 77% of the total population in 2004-05 could spend less than Rs 20 a day per person. The poverty figures are drawn on the basis of the minimal nutrition required per person for a healthy living and the ability to purchase the nutrition in terms of a food basket.

The debate got stronger with the UPA's ambitious Food Security Act on the anvil. The proposed scheme is meant to provide food grain at Rs 3 per kg to households below the poverty line. Redefining of the poverty line is bound to have a profound effect on the spread of the social security net as well as the subsidy bill of the government.

While the food ministry had recommended curtailing the scheme to merely 5.91 crore people, the N C Saxena committee has suggested that half the households in the country should avail BPL schemes.

The Economic Survey said poverty levels had gone down over the years of liberalization but pointed out that malnutrition rates had been stuck at a serious level.