Poverty debate: Now, Digvijaya Singh questions Planning Commission's method

New Delhi: The battle over price of meals and poverty seems far from over. In what seems to be a damage control measure for the ruling Congress, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh has joined Law Minister Kapil Sibal in questioning the way poverty is calculated in India.

Digvijaya Singh tweeted this morning, "I have always failed to understand the Planning Commission criteria for fixing poverty line. It is too abstract, can't be same for all areas."

"First indicator of poverty is malnourishment and anaemia in the family which is easily measurable. Can't we have that as a criteria?" said another tweet from Mr Singh.

Digvijaya Singh's statements come a day after Kapil Sibal challenged the Planning Commission's method of calculating poverty, saying a family of five cannot live on Rs 5000 a month.

The controversy began with Congress MP and spokesperson Raj Babbar earlier saying a full meal would cost Rs 12 in Mumbai, toppled soon by fellow MP Rasheed Masood who said it's Rs 5 in Delhi.

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While both the leaders withdrew their remarks and apologised after media reports termed them as outrageous, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken went on the offensive, "BJP criticizing Rs 33.30 Poverty Line should explain why it was Rs 16.73 in 59th NSSO survey of 2003 and accepted by BJP/NDA Govt?"

Earlier in the week, the Planning Commission said the percentage of Indians living below the poverty line fell to 22 per cent in seven years (from 2004-05 to 2011-12). It also said anyone with more than Rs 33 to spend a day in urban areas and Rs 27 a day in rural areas is counted as above the poverty line.

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Such a definition came under sharp criticism from the Opposition which alleged that the government was keen to "dress up" the poverty figure in an election year.