According to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, What was the percentage of population living below the poverty line in Chhattisgarh in the year 2004-05?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. 40.9%.
According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, 40.9% of Chhattisgarh's population was living below the poverty line (BPL) in 2004-05. This statistic was derived from estimates by the Planning Commission of India, using the Tendulkar Committee methodology, which measured poverty based on monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE).
Significance: In 2004-05, Chhattisgarh was one of India's poorest states, with a high BPL population due to factors like low industrialization, inadequate infrastructure, and reliance on agriculture. To address this, various government initiatives such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and food security programs have been introduced over the years to alleviate poverty in the state.