Context:

• Recent data from the Aadhaar-enabled Public Distribution System indicates that over two-thirds of Haryana’s population lives below the poverty line (BPL).
• Specifically, approximately 1.98 crore people, or 70% of the state's estimated 2.8 crore population, are categorized as BPL as per the official records.

Key Points:

• The state offers certain benefits to those on the list, including 5 kg grain (wheat/bajra) per person free of cost, besides two litres of mustard oil at subsidised Rs 40 and 1 kg sugar at Rs 13.5 per BPL card every month.
• Various departments run other schemes catering to the BPL families. The state government had recently announced 100 square yard plots for such families living in the rural areas. The state distributes an estimated 10 lakh quintals of grain free of cost, apart from mustard oil and sugar at concessional rates, every month.
• This alarming statistic reveals a significant increase in poverty levels, with around 75 lakh individuals added to this category in just the past two years.
• In December 2022, the count was about 1.24 crore, which represented 44% of the total population, highlighting a 26% rise in poverty over the last two years.

Government claims vs. Ground Realities

• The stark contrast between these figures and the Haryana Government's claims of rapid development raises questions about the effectiveness of its policies.
• The then Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar has previously stated that the poverty rate dropped from 11.88% in 2015-16 to 7.07% in 2019-21, attributing this decline to government initiatives. However, current statistics suggest that the situation may not be as favorable as presented.

Economic context

• Haryana's economy has shown growth in various sectors, including agriculture, industry, and services.
• The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected to grow at rates of 11.3% for 2023-24, following a growth of 13.3% in 2022-23. Despite this growth, the increase in the number of people living below the poverty line suggests that economic benefits are not being equitably distributed among the population.

GSDP and Per Capita Income

• The GSDP at current prices is estimated at ?10,95,535 crore for 2023-24, with per capita income expected to reach ?3,25,759.
• While these figures indicate economic progress, they do not necessarily reflect improvements in living standards for a significant portion of the population