This was a joke told by the Planning Commission of India but they lacked the timing, best they could have told this in the 1st of April so that they would have the alibi of "April Fool's Day".
But as always the Indian punctuality factor came into existence which delayed the declaration.
We took that joke way too seriously ....................... JOKERS ARE WORKING and WORKERS ARE JOKING..................... GOD can only save our India.......  

yes its happens always, Montek`s bad luck, he was caught.Brittish ruled India with Zamindars,after that our tahsildars sworn in instead of them, Now our Ruling Party members are our Zamins`.All the polices are said for poor. 100 days job guarantee program  for landless farmers is a sample. In JANATA period it was introduced as NRLEGP (National Rural  Employment Guarantee program with 32 rupees means 16 rs salary+2kg wheat+1 kg rice for those work in PWD percolation  ponds(rual water supply source).But the officers and Govt felt difficulty in selling rice and wheat in market, because technology improved, Why it wont be  direct cash.So ward counxillors, ward members, rural ruling party members  will sat around the rural ponds for one or two hrs  and got the employment,and salary also for their WORK DONE.So what ever the policies ,the poor will be the poor, the dead line 32 or 62 is not point to be discussed,Who are the beneficiaries ,or they really benefited, if they benefited once why they are ready for catching fish in the next season.WHERE IS THE SERVICE RECORD.
Even in HINDU temple we  are seeing ,for darshan, people are using their powers,money,relations, and MEDIATORS (POOJARI,PANDITS) for quick darshan,SO PUBLIC wont change the ir, attitude even in their grave yard.

there is huge differences in target and achievements and here lots of lackness prevails.

India is a poor country indeed. Yet we are so mindful of the line that divides the poor from the not so poor. Why can't we accept the fact that we are a poor country. The development front is so lopsided that it is disgusting. All that the media do is present a rosy picture so that none from the west get the darker side of the facts. The way Slum Dog Millionaire was criticised for picturizing an scene, shows our double speak. Secondly why should be not accept this fact that there are slums bigger and more populated than some of the cities or towns in the west? Nobody is going to foresake us for being what we are, so why this sham of lying? Government has to address these issues rather than backtracking on the hard realities.

i d'nt think so that , these welfare schemes  will be proved as beneficial for the people of rural areas as well as of urban areas. 

As long as there is corruption, nothing can be done. 

govt must see the ground level :)

i agree with you sir. Really Govt. statistics are not reliable but i dnt know much about this matter, but really it is matter of concern. thanks for sharing sir.

i agree with you sir. Really Govt. statistics are not reliable but i dnt know much about this matter, but really it is matter of concern. thanks for sharing sir.

What is all the fuss about the poverty line. The government has taken a conscious decision to de-link subsidies etc from the poverty line. As it should have rightly being doing so much yearly. For in Economics the poverty line or similar other line are arrived at to act as a yardstick for the purpose of future monitoring of the process ( in this case financial enhancement). The lower the poverty line the tougher th task for the government for they have to arrive at a higher goal. 

Kavitha, You are not alone even we were not counted and I know of many friends and their families who are known to be in same boat. I have not changed my residence in two decades yet my name and as also of many old residents has been struck off electoral rolls. So while we have a genuine electoral card we can can not vote!!!!! And the icing on cake is that Govt is not prepared to correct their mistake they want residents to obtain fresh election cards thereby ensuring national security threats remain in place with double and triple card holders..it so appears that in last two decades the Government is just not interested in doing anything SANE.

What else can be expected from this govt? They have become adept at dropping the hammer on their own feet. If it was not for the public outcry on the Rs. 32 BPL figure, they would have quietly applied it. 

Tch , Tch another ploy of the government babus to make laughing stock of India's poor, give them 32 Rs and ask to spend on Roti , Kapda & Makan's rent.

If "The Supreme court of India" clearly indicate the division of 32 Rupees expenditure of a individual, it is appreciated by each and every citizen of India,but so many ministries and central govt officers/officials doesn't know the exact price of petrol/diesel due to they are travelling in Government vehicles.If they are go by walk for a day they will clearly know the expenses of a individual per day in India

Yes Kavita,

I do agree with you the govt.statistics are not reliable & dependable having said that it is the duty of every citizen to voluntarily provide the genuine data s during survey so that the govt. can actually plan for poverty eradication program.

It is amusing to note that even a few people who have answered the query was hide certain details like two wheeler/4 wheeler owner ship,property ownership etc., fearing they may be removed from the Govt.assistance.  whats the use of such data s, these are leading to wrong & outdated  prediction & create such a mess & outcry of the public & media.

Here the Govt. is eager to show statistically they have elevated people above poverty line, by resorting to such statistical manipulation without proper check.
     

Which minister is poor? Which planning comision member is poor? Which MP OR MLA is poor?Which political party is poor? How their property increased in one year? What are the parameters of poverty? Montek Ahlluwaliya is worst and useless posting for estimating and accounting of entire nation maths of poverty.Wrong person always takes wrong decision without fail.If govt. wants to find about poverty,govt must be become poor.Means they should realise poverty first.Dear national brother and sisters all these actions in govt and supreme court are simple drama not for your welfare.

The question arises, can Montek Singh Ahluwalia feed his family by buying 250 grams (quarter KG) of peas or half KG of cabbage for Rs.32 per day?

VICIOUS CYCLE OF POVERTY CAN ELIMINATED ONLY WITH THE HELP OF CAPITAL FORMATION AND NONEOTHER MEASURES. BUT THE SADEST POINT IS THAT OUR PRESENT GOVT IS RUNNING SHELTER HELTER TO COVER UP THE CORRUPTION MESS AND THE ONLY WAY TO COME OUT IS TO DO WRONG PROJECTION ISSUES RELATED TO KEY AREAS ECONOMY, POVERTY ETC. IT IS UR UNFORTUNATE THAT THE REQUIRED CAPITAL FOR ELIMINATING POVERTY IS LYING WITH OUR POLITCIANS. OUR HUE AND CRY WON"T DO MUCH AND THANKS KAVITHA FOR SHARING.

From international representation like Slumdog Millionaire, to our own perception, poverty in India is a joke. Unless someone from their own cadres does somehting, it will continue to be a tragic joke. Ppl in poverty have to analyse the situation and look for solutions without using short cuts or phoney liaisons.  

This only shows our government's indifference towards the poor. Government feels that poverty or poor is some kind of joke. It is a serious issue government has to identify the poor, define poverty in proper terms that the common man can understand. And come out with such measures so that the live and quality of life of such people improves. We can not be a stable and strong economic power if there is poverty.

Here we can smell the difference between the Govt. run by a popular leader and by a bureaucrat.  Bureaucrat can be a good administrator under some specific conditions.  

A popular leader  who maintains a good liaison with the people can understand the ground realities clearly when compared to a bureaucrat who acts on the reports received from his lieutenants.   The missing link is the people here.  So, this administration cant understand the realities.  But, the good thing here is they could able to hear the voices received from outside the glassed cabin.  A good gesture.

These are all fooling tactics adopted by all politicians.They always ignore the facts in every case same is with beaurocrates.They always support to increase their salaries within seconds in parliament.No other financial decisions are taken so rapidly.This is a serious matter and public must now think over thier selection of leaders.

The way things work it really does not work.. I have stooped believing in govt statistics where they claim that they would be counting even the homeless and miss counting me and my neighbors and do not answer the hotline at the time of population counting. For every other thing there is another joint council to resolve the matter and then begins the blame game. What are we going to get out of all this?  

Nothing can happen untill we solve the biggest issue of our country...Corruption!! If we look at the implementation of the UPA'S MOST AMBITIOUS EMPLOYMENT GENERATION SCHEME FOR POOR PEOPLE IN INDIA NREGA.....we can clearly see that due to corrupt people managing such funds....are not properly distributed.I really appreciate Gov. initiative on poverty issue in INDIA. 

Government has filed an Affidavit in the Supreme Court.  To file an "affidavit", they used the yardsticks of Suresh Tendulkar Comittee's recommendation that was made in 2004.  When they felt the heat from all the quarters, from media, civil societies, etc., they have backtracked.  They have once again proved that the Policy Makers of this country have no fundamental knowledge of ground reality of this country. 

This was done in order to take away majority of the beneficiaries from various central schemes, and to show to the world on record a different projection about the poverty status of this country.