Why in the news?
The National Sample Survey Office has released the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) report for 2022-23, along with public access to unit-level data on household expenditures.
What does the recent NSSO Report tell us?
- The report utilizes various definitions of poverty established by past committees, with the poverty line (PL) being anchored to calorie norms of 2,400 kcal for rural and 2,100 kcal for urban areas as per the Lakdawala Committee. The Rangarajan Committee’s approach considers broader normative levels, including non-food expenses.
- The average per capita calorie requirement (PCCR) is estimated at 2,172 kcal for rural and 2,135 kcal for urban populations. The report highlights that the average per capita calorie intake (PCCI) for the poorest segments falls significantly below these requirements, indicating nutritional deficiencies.
- The total monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) thresholds are set at ₹2,197 for rural and ₹3,077 for urban areas, with proportions of the population identified as ‘poor’ being 17.1% in rural and 14% in urban contexts. If non-food expenditures for the poorest 10% are considered, these thresholds rise, increasing the proportion of the deprived.
|
Approach for measurement is the Issue:
- Defining Poverty: The report defines the poor based on MPCE, which is linked to the ability to purchase essential food and non-food items.
- The reliance on MPCE does not adequately address nutritional needs. While the poverty line is linked to the ability to purchase food and non-food items.
- Caloric Requirement Calculation: The PCCR is derived from the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition’s latest recommendations, weighted by the population distribution across age-sex-activity categories.
- The ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition’s (ICMR-NIN) recommendations for caloric requirements in India are derived from the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Indians.
- The RDA does not adequately account for regional and cultural differences in dietary habits and food availability.
- Fractile Class Analysis: Households are categorized into 20 fractile classes based on MPCE, allowing for the calculation of average PCCI and MPCE for each class.
- Each fractile class represents 5% of the population, allowing for a detailed understanding of expenditure distribution and nutritional intake variations within the population
- MPCE reflects consumption patterns but does not capture the full spectrum of economic well-being or deprivation.
- State-Specific Adjustments: The all-India thresholds are adjusted for regional price differences to derive state-specific MPCE thresholds.
- The methodology for deriving state-specific MPCE thresholds relies on regional price indexes, which can vary significantly in their construction and accuracy.
Recommendations for Improving Nutritional Levels (Way Forward)
- Nutritional Schemes: Govt. needs to develop and expand schemes specifically aimed at improving the nutritional intake of the poorest households.
- Awareness and Education: Govt. should increase awareness about nutrition and healthy eating practices among low-income households.
- Subsidized Food Programs: Need to enhance access to subsidised food items to ensure that households can meet their caloric and nutritional needs.
- Monitoring and evaluation: Govt. should establish robust mechanisms to monitor the effectiveness of nutritional interventions and adjust strategies as necessary.
Conclusion: The NSSO HCES 2022-23 report reveals significant nutritional deficiencies among the poorest. To align with SDG goals, expanding targeted nutritional schemes, subsidized food programs, and robust monitoring is essential.
Mains PYQ:
Q How far do you agree with the view that the focus on the lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India? (2013)
