Despite recent spikes in the growth and increase in the per-capita income of the people of the state, the per capita expenditure of the state couldnot witness similar boom.Still we are at the bottom in the list of per-capita expenditure.
According to a report by National Sample Survey, rural Bihar with the per-capita expenditure of Rs. 780 lies at the bottom followed by Chattishgarh Rs.784 and Odisha Rs. 818. This is quite lower compared to our national average of Rs 1054 for rural India.The urban family per-capita expenditure of Bihar is Rs 1238 which is still much smaller vis-a-vis that of urban India i.e. Rs 1984.
These results pose a serious question mark over the tall claims by various state Governments regarding the rise in the income level and industrialization or other developmental activities.
The survey was conducted between July 2009 and June 2010. It ranked Bihar at the bottom. A similar survey conducted during July 2007 to June 2008 had put both Bihar and Orissa in the same positions as now, indicating that the condition of people in these states had remained unchanged.
The states at the apex of the list are Kerala, Punjab and Harayana with the highest average MPCE of Rs 1,835, Rs 1,649 and Rs 1,510 respectively in rural areas. Among urban areas, Maharashtra with Rs 2,437 is on top to be followed by Kerala Rs 2,413 and Haryana Rs 2,321.
This survey highlighted few key points which say that rural economy is not booming as hyped by media and Governments.Experts are deeply concerned over this rise in divide and say that it shows that the agriculture sector is simply collapsing in the country.The survey also says that average urban MPCE was 28 per cent higher than rural MPCE in Punjab, 31 per cent higher in Kerala, and 41 per cent higher in Rajasthan.
A similar report by the Late Arjun Sengupta, member Planning Commission, four years back stated thatt 77 per cent Indians spend just Rs 20 a day. In economic terms, nothing has changed since then, except the fall in the value of Rupee.