Indian middle class leading a selfish life: Aruna Roy

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April 02, 2008 14:33 IST
She felt disempowered by the ‘selfish’ and ‘worthless’ ways of India’s burgeoning urban middle class. It were the rural and urban poor, who taught her the true meaning of life.
Unlike the upwardly mobile upper middle class, the much neglected Indian backward class which struggles for a daily living knows better how to lead an enriched and harmonious life, believes Magsaysay awardee and eminent RTI activist Aruna Roy.
“India is today running on two different tracks followed by the backward class and the middle class. The former made me understood how to make your life better enriched and harmonised, while the latter only taught me how to make life worthless and selfish,” Roy told PTI.
“India’s backward class, which has always been neglected and considered as socially irrelevant has empowered me and taught me how to struggle in life, while the middle class disempowered me with its urbanised thoughts,” she adds.
Roy, who is known as one of the pioneer figures to have advocated that RTI and NREGA be made a law, reiterated her view that women in India have always been subjudicated and urged the government to immediately bring in the “Women’s Reservation Bill”.
“In our country, women have always been devoid of rights. All political parties should make a consensus to pass the ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’ in the parliament so as to strengthen women power and to redefine democracy in India,” she says.
She also added that society needs to change its perspective on women, which is still under the grip of gender discrimination and considers woman as a liability.
Roy has recently been conferred with National ‘Panna Dhai Award’ by Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation for her noted efforts as a social activist.
Roy, who left elite job of IAS in 1974 to join the Social Work and Research Center in Tilonia, Rajasthan, set up by her husband Sanjit Roy strongly, opposes government’s policy in dealing with the Naxal violence.
“Naxal violence is not one, which we have imported from some other country but it is home made. It is all due to government’s failure, not been able to make developments reach out to the people,” she says adding that failure in enforcing law and order also added fuel to extremist violence.
Roy also lashes out on the government’s SEZ policies, which she considers totally unacceptable.
“Our SEZ policy is totally wrong, which needs to be reviewed. Government should convene an all party meeting and reconsider evils of this act,” she says.
“Corporate houses want SEZ zones, which is totally unacceptable and against democracy. Orissa, Chattisgarh and Nandigram had earlier witnessed violence on the issue and now even the people of Goa have set aside SEZs,” she adds.
Roy these days is actively working in Rajasmund district of Rajasthan with the rural poors.

 

Uprooted, Abondoned.

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The ruthless economics of development ensures that displacement is defined in the narrowest terms possible, says GLADSON DUNGDUNG

Satish Kishku at a public rally

Everything has changed in the last 60 years of independence in India but the unending pain of “displacement” has become as part and partial of the life of 50 years old Satish Kishku of Takkipur village, situated near Canada Dam widely known as Mayurakshi Dam of Dumka district in Jharkhand. Kishku’s family was displaced for the first time when he was merely 10 years old. The family had more than enough land for sustaining their generation for years. But their land was acquired for the Dam and the family was given merely 2 acres of land with little money in the name of rehabilitation. The remaining amount of compensation is still hanging in the government office. Now Satish Kishku lives in a small hut with 10 members of his family including his grandchildren and earns livelihood from daily wages.

Satish Kishku had lost his mental balance in February last year when the government officials had gone to conduct survey in his village as the state government of Jharkhand has proposed a Steel Plant in the areas, where 12 villages including Satish Kishku’s village Takipur, Kulvanti, Ektala, Sukhjoda and Naraungi village of Raneswar block will face the agony of displacement once again. All these 12 villages were rehabilitated out of 144 villages, which submerged in the Mayurakshi Dam in 1967. The irony is that the Dam was constructed for the irrigation purposes but water does not reach to the rehabilitated villages because water supply has been stopped since1993 but at the same time, the water has regularly been supplied to the state of West Bengal. The electricity, health and sanitation facilities are not available in these villages.

Most of the displaced families across the country have more or less the same pathetic story as Satish Kishku has. Those who surrendered their land, forest, water, culture and identity for the Dam, Industry, Mining and development projects are struggling for survival today. Their children are with bare back, empty stomach, malnourished, illiterate and without shelter today. And those who resisted against it were coined as the “Anti National” or “Naxalites” so that the ruling elites can get a license to kill them and nobody can question about their cruel and inhuman acts. In both the cases tribals, Dalits and Poor are the losers. But does it mean that these people will stop claiming their ownership rights over land, forest and water which their ancestors have protected for them?

The 60 years of independence has taught many lessons to the displaced people about the politics of development, displacement and rehabilitation therefore this time they are determined not to surrender their livelihood resources at any cost for the sake of development though the governments promise them for a rehabilitation package. According to Shatish Kishku, the “rehabilitation package” is the most dangerous weapon to betray the poor. He questions that how can trees, culture and identity be rehabilitated from place one to another? Now he is putting hard work to mobilized people under the banner of “Krishi Bhumi Raksha Samity” and fighting against the displacement proposed by the state government of Jharkhand at Raneswar.
He was one among those 10 thousand displaced people of Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur, gathered at Rourkela on 9 March, 2008 to raise their voices, share the agony of displacement and chock out their strategy for the struggle against displacement, SEZ Policy and communal fascism. Their core slogans are “Stop displacement in the name of development”, “Jindal, Mittal, Tata and Bata go back”, “Withdraw the unjust SEZ policy”, “We will neither give our life nor land” and “Don’t kill people in the name of religion”. These people have taken pledge not to give even one inch of land for Industry, Dam, Mining, Power Plant and any other development project. The three leading alliances Crej Jan Mukti Andolan, Voice for Child Rights and Nafre Jan Andolan are facilitating the whole processes to unite villagers, People’s Organizations and people’s movements in a platform to challenge the unjust policies of the state and central governments. The Convener of Crej Jan Mukti Andolan K.C. Mardi who played a crucial role in throwing out Jindal Steel, Bhushan Steel and Essar Steel from the Kolhan areas of Jharkhand last year says that the 60 years of Independence has only given tears to the tribals and local inhabitants. They are betrayed in the name of development therefore we have taken pledge for not giving even an inch of land for Industry, Dam and Mining. The member of Nafre Jan Andolam Lakhi Das says, “We oppose the corporate development model and SEZ policy, which induce displacement, destroy the livelihood resources, culture and identity of tribal and poor therefore now we are determined not to lose our remaining livelihood resources for the sake of development”.
But the fundamental questions are that why people do not want to give their land for the Industries, Dam and development projects? Why they are throwing out Jindal, Bhushan and Essar Steels from their land, who can provide them job? And why people are raising their voices everywhere against displacement and SEZ policy in the country? One must have to go back to the history of displacement to understand that why these people are against of development projects today. One would be shocked to see the data which suggests that after the independence, approximately 3 crore people were displaced for setting up the Power Plants, Irrigation Projects, Mining Companies, Steel Industries and many more development projects in the country. Among them, 40 percent displaced people are tribals and 20 percent are Dalits, which means the 60 percent displaced people are from the marginalized communities, who sacrificed everything for the sake of the “development” but they are still untouched of the development.
The data of Jharkhand shows that 24,15,698 acres of land were acquired in the name of development, where 17,10,787 people were displaced. In every project approximately 80 to 90 percent tribals and local people were displaced. Merely 25 percent people were halfway rehabilitated but there are also in the miserable conditions and no one has any idea about the rest of 75 percent displaced people. The benefits of all these development projects were only enjoyed by the Landlords, Project Officers, Engineers, Contractors, Beaurocrats, Politicians and outsiders.
Another thing is that there are numerous laws made for protection of the rights of underprivileged people but these were never enacted honestly. The Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act 1908 and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act prohibit the sale and transfer of tribal land to non tribals but the land were snatched from tribals in the name of development. The constitutional rights, provisions for the sixth scheduled Areas and the Extension of Panchayat Act 1996 were never been implemented with the true spirit in the tribal regions. The ruling elites always misused these laws for their benefits.
The government of India is unable to make the rehabilitation policy even after the 60 years of independence but SEZ policy was introduced. Similarly, when the Jharkhand state was created the first chief minister Babula Marandi brought the Industrial Policy and his successor Arjun Munda even went two steps forward and created history in signing MoU but at the same time, the same state is not able to make a rehabilitation policy even after 7 years. This is why the intention of the state was always questioned and the people are resisting against displacement eveywhere. The people were displaced from one place to another in the name of development but they were not rehabilitated. Hence they feel that they are betrayed in the welfare state in the name of “development”. The marginalized people of this country have lost their faith on the governance that is the major shift, where they are firmly decided not to allow laying down the foundation of the corporate development model over their graves.
The displacement is not just shifting people from one place to another but it is destruction of their livelihood resources, culture and identity which they develop by nourishing for the ages. The resources are sold at market rate and production power of the poor has been changed into service providers. Those who were engaged in producing grains now work as domestic workers, care takers of bigwigs and daily wage labourers therefore it is indeed need of the hour to rethink on the present development model because the “state” is duty bound to create atmosphere where people can enjoy their rights and privilege guaranteed by the constitution of India.
Gladson Dungdung is a Human Rights Activist associated with “Child Rights and You”

 

Press Statement of CPG (m-l).

recieved via mail
Murderers of the People out of the Balkans!

The Communist Party of Greece (marxist-leninist) condemns the creation of the American-NATO protectorate of Kosovo. We believe that this act is the continuation of the attempt to conquer the Balkans by the American and European imperialists. It is an expression of the assault of imperialist capital in order to re-conquer and re-colonize the world. This was realized by the hacking into pieces of Yugoslavia, the bombardment with uranium bombs, and the bloodshed of its people.
It has the objective of the formation of a political-military base for the American and European domination in the Balkans. The creation of yet another military base, yet another foothold of American imperialism in European ground.
At the same time this act exacerbates the contradictions between American, European and Russian imperialists.
Against these grindstones of the imperialist contradictions, that threaten to squash them, the people of the Balkans have one and only choice:
To seek those things that can unite them.
To organize a unified front of struggle against their common enemies, the imperialists and their local puppets.
To be the masters of their own lives and future.

Athens, February 2007.

 

Thousand small mutinies .

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WORDS WITHIN BY FIRDOUS SAYED
What about these helpless, hapless hungry souls On 16th of Feb, a horde of Naxilite militants attacked Nayagarh, in Orissa, and killed fifteen policemen and a civilian. In a well-coordinated operation, Naxilites, numbering about four hundred, simultaneously attacked, police station, police training school, and the district armory and decamped with large number of weapons. Orissa’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the state assembly said that the “security personnel were overwhelmed by the numerical strength of the armed naxals”. Huge contingent of CRPF personnel with two Indian Air Force helicopters was deployed to track down the fleeing militants. Deployment of Air Force in an internal conflict amply indicates the magnitude of the problem.

39-year-old Naxal leader, Sabyasachi Panda, “who gave up a career in politics, to realise the dream of revolution” is believed to be responsible for the violent act. For some people who are privy to the antics of Naxal leader, “Last week’s Nayagarh attack is just one stride in what he believes is a march for a communist social order”. Sabyasachi Panda, the most wanted Naxal leader in Orissa, has many admirers in the State, However most astonishing is the statement of the deputy leader of opposition in Orissa, Mr. Narsingha Mishra, “His voice is the voice of 57 per cent people in Orissa who have only Rs 12 to spend per day. It’s this injustice against poor, which made him a Naxal. I admire his ideas but disapprove of his violence.”

In Orissa, forty-four percent (according to some 57%) of the population is staggering below poverty line (BPL) “an average rural family in western Orissa survives on an annual income of less than Rs5000”. Few years ago there was uproar allover for starvation deaths in Kalahandi, a western district of Orissa where eighty-seven percent of the population reels under BPL.

‘Naxalite movement’, extends to thirteen out of thirty districts of Orissa. Incidentally these areas also happen to be the most backward and impoverished in the state. This only lead’s one to the conclusion that the growing Naxilite violence in India reflects the deep cleavages in rural Indian – it is a class war, a conflict between ‘haves and have-nots. When deputy leader of opposition in Orissa, Mr. Narsingha Mishra refers to Sabyasachi Panda’s popularity, “His voice is the voice of 57 per cent people in Orissa”, in very tactful way he concedes the very reality of a ‘class war’.

When BBC’s Jill McGivering, (who spent three days traveling with Maoist fighters in the jungles of Chhattisgarh) asked Maoist commander, Gopanna Markam, a veteran of 25 years with the guerrilla force, how he would describe what he was fighting for. “We are fighting for a new democratic revolution in this country,” he said. “People are hungry, there’s nothing to eat. They have no clothes. They have no jobs. We want development for the people. That’s why people are coming to this fight”.

India is a vast country having a massive resource base but equally faced with enormous problems. Spread of the Naxalism and lawlessness in the length and breadth of the country seems to be getting worse and worse with each passing year. (“Naxalism, a euphemism for the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist revolutionary movement in India, drawing the nomenclature from an unheard of village, Naxalbari in West Bengal that became the epicenter of tribal-peasant revolt in the spring of 1967.”) Out of total 604 revenue Districts, 160 Districts spread over thirteen states across India, are effected with the Naxilite violence, even though with a varied degree of effect.

In recent years, Maoists have successfully broadened their base in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. “Security analysts now a day talk about a great swathe of Maoist militancy which stretches all the way from the border with Nepal, south through India to the sea”. Though government of India is more and more inclined to identify Naxaal violence as terrorism and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has even stated some time back that growing Naxal violence is greatest threat to Indian security. Evidently, menace of Naxalite violence poses a grave threat to the public order; nonetheless, it is purely born out of poverty and asymmetrical distribution of the resources. It is only after (not the opposite) when violence and lawlessness gets firmly ingrained in impoverished society then only divisive ideologies and politicking carves way in. National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, headed by noted economist Arjun Sengupta, recently published a report ‘Conditions of Work and Promotion of Livelihood in the Unorganised Sector.’ The report brings to fore a startling fact that in India “70% of the population has to live on less than Rs20 a day”. Rs20 a day, 600 a month, seems to be ludicrous, particularly in a situation where, a mound of rice or wheat cost around four hundred (through PDS), a sack of potatoes not less then Rs200, a kg of chickpeas more then Rs50. And forget items like oil, tomatoes onions, and milk. Will there still be anything left for these ‘luxurious items’? Rupees Six hundred for a month are barely enough to save one, literally from starvation. Food with proper nutritional value and requisite calorie intake is completely out of reach of over-whelming majority of the population in India. That is the reason why in India, more than 500 women die per 100,000 out of live deliveries due to anemia, and deficiencies of iron and other vitamins, while, as the ratio in America is 7 per 100,000. Perhaps, Arjun Sengupta, rightly peruse the current state of affairs, ‘‘we welcome the around 9 per cent growth rate, but unfortunately it has not touched, infact bypassed, 77 per cent of the population”. The phenomenon of ‘Thousand small mutinies’ in nook and corner of India although perturbing but is not inexplicable. India has been spending over the years tens of billion dollars to acquire new weapon systems and weapon of mass destruction, but at the same time, neglecting its rural areas that is the reason why the rural economy is in complete shambles. Agriculture sector stands totally neglected; thousands of farmers are committing suicide and millions missing a meal a day. The trend in India today is to invest in national security apparatuses, rather then in the social sector. This echoes the macho mentality of ruling, urban middle class. The middle class discourse has pushed away the social issues of paramount importance from the public arena. However, a simple rule of thumb is overlooked at a risk; if great majority of people stand alienated with the system, any strength of security will prove to be inadequate in the end. It is very difficult to describe India of today? India’s case study bewilders an average scholar of economics. Whereas there is buzz around the world Capitals about India’s up-and-coming super power status and still, in India, seventy percent of its population lives on mere Rs20 a day. What is authentic, a trillion dollar economy, a nuclear power with million strong army and 10 billion dollars defense procurement budget for next few years? And with more than “100 Indian companies now with the market capitalization of over a billion dollars.” Or according to United Nations human development report, 2005, where India ranks 127, “just two rungs above Myanmar and more than 70 below Cuba and Mexico”. India’s $728 per capita gross domestic product is just slightly higher than that of sub-Saharan Africa. And last but not the least, to whom free and modern India belongs? Tatas, Birlas Ambanis, Mittals, Murthys and Premjis, or 320 million hungry and poor, unable to buy food “despite food stocks piling up to unmanageable levels.”

 

People’s March Banned by District Magistrate on 14-02-2008

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Proceedings of the District Collector & District Magistrate,
Ernakulam
(Present: Sri A.P.M.Mohammed Hanish. I.A.S.M6.7364/08
Date 14-02-2008
Sub: Publication of “People’s March” – Prohibitory orders issued- Reg.
Read: 1. Report No: 324/T/2008/TS dated 6-2-2008 of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Thrikkakkara2. Order dated 1.2.2008 in Bail application No: 265/2008 of the Hon. High Court of Kerala.As per the reference read as 1st above, it has been requested to cancel the registration of “People’s March”, since the said magazine (RNI No: KER/ENG/2000/2051), edited, owned, printed and published by Sri Govindan kutty S/o Sangunny Menon, Peroor house, Vadakkekkota bhagom, Tripunithura, contained materials that are seditious in nature, bringing about contempt and disaffection against the Government of India by projecting ideologies and activities of CPI (Maoist), banned in many states. It has been reported that a case (Cr.780/07 of Thrikkakkara Police Station) was registered against Sri Govindan kutty, on the basis of the report of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Govt. of India, relating to the blocking of the website http//:peoplesmarch.com for hosting anti national contents. The bail application moved by Sri Govindan kutty has been rejected by the Sessions Court, Ernakulam on 5.1.2008 in Crl. MC.2/08 and by the Hon. High Court of Kerala on 1.2.2008 in B.A.265/2008.Further, in its order, as per the reference read as 2nd above, the Hon. High Court of Kerala has observed that a reading of “People’s March” published and edited by Sri Govindan kutty is sufficient to prima facie drive home the allegations against him.In these circumstances, the publication, sale, distribution and circulation of the magazine named “People’s March” is hereby prohibited in the district of Ernakulam, since the said magazine is found to be containing materials that are seditious subversive in nature, bringing about contempt and disaffection against the Government of India.The Commissioner of Police, Kochi city and Superintendent of Police, Ernakulam Rural,, Aluva, shall implement this order forthwith.The Additional District Magistrate, Ernakulam shall take immediate necessary steps to take up the matter with the Registrar of Newspapers of India, New Delhi, so as to get the registration of the said magazine, cancelled.Dated this the 14th day of February, 2008.
Signed
District Magistrate.

To
All Concerned.

 

`MP’s finishing Democracy’!!

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New Delhi: Speaker Somnath Chatterjee accused MPs disrupting the proceedings of “working overtime to finish democracy in this country” as he adjourned the Lok Sabha until noon on Thursday. “You are all working overtime to finish democracy in this country. It is a matter of great sorrow,” a visibly upset Chatterjee said after opposition MPs gathered near his podium shouting slogans. “With great sorrow and sadness… I am forced to adjourn the house. Let the country decide what is to be done,” he added. Similar uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha with BJP-led NDA leading the protest inside the House. The Upper House was also adjourned till noon.

 

Peoples March Editor released.

At last the fasict government released our People’s March Editor Govindan Kutty.
Here is what Govindan Kutty hada to say:-
Dear friends,I was released from prison today around noon.I thank the print and mass media in extending their support for my struggle in prison.I thank the civil and democratic rights orgonisations, Kerala Working journalists union, Advocates P.A. Paura, Madhusudan in extending legal assistance, Arundati Roy, Girish Karnad, Maheshwata Devi in exposing my cause.People’s March publication will be resumed as early as possible.Normally police seize only the hard disks of any computer. In My case they seized the whole C.P.U., Monitor, Key Board, Mouse, Speekers everything. I have to buy everything as the seized items will be returned only after the closure of the case by court.Normally police seize only the SIM card. In my case police seized the mobile itself.That means I have to spend money for a computer and mobile.The owners of the printing press which prints People’s March were threatened by police. They refuse to print People’s March. These are he problems before the People’s March. Eventough People’s March is a Registered Newspaper registered under the Registrar of Newspapers for India.Liberal financial assistance is the ned of the hour to resume People’s March publication.P.Govindan kuttyEditor, People’s March

 

Terrorism Un-Islamic.

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New Delhi – The Darul-Uloom Deoband in India, considered the most influential school for Islamic law in Asia, Monday denounced terrorism as against the teachings of Islam at a conference of clerics from India and abroad, news reports and officials said. The head of the powerful seminary, Maulana Marghoobur Rahman, said terrorism was completely wrong and thoughtless and contradicted Islam’s concept of peace, the NDTV network reported.
It was quoting from his address to 10,000 participants from religious schools – known as madrassas – and foreign delegates.
Speaking at the institution, some 150 kilometres north of New Delhi, Rahman also criticized the Indian government, saying that policing of madrassas and students was unjustified and went against the secular character of the country.
Although the conference did not see a fatwa being issued against terrorism, as news reports earlier indicated, observers said it was significant that Muslim groups adopted a declaration calling terrorism “un-Islamic” at the conclave.
“Islam is a religion of mercy for all humanity. Islam sternly condemns all kinds of oppression, violence and terrorism. It has regarded oppression, mischief, rioting and murder among severest sins and crimes,” the declaration stated.
“Islam prohibits killing of innocent people,” said the document adopted by the 10,000 participants.
Although the declaration would not be as binding as a fatwa, it was an important one – a “strong signal” against terrorism from an institution that has been blamed for inspiring conservative and radical Islamic movements.
The Deoband school was established in the late 19th century and has adherents from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the whole of South- East Asia. The Taliban have often claimed adherence to the Deoband seminary, which has been strongly denied by the scholars there.
The declaration at Deoband also criticized attempts to link Muslims and madrassas with terrorist acts. It noted with concern the present situation across the world in which a majority of a nations were adopting an adverse attitude towards Muslims.
“The disease (terrorism) has been diagnosed in a wrong way. Whenever any incident of terrorism happens, there is an effort to link it to Muslims or those studying in madrassas,” Deoband spokesman Adil Siddique told reporters.
“This is totally wrong. I must emphasize that the real disease must be diagnosed, then only is the cure possible,” Siddique said.

 

I began revolution with 82 men.

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New Delhi: Cuban President and Commander-in-chief Fidel Castro has resigned.
“I began revolution with 82 men. If I had to do it again, I had to do it with 10 or 15 and absolute faith. It does not matter how small you are if you have faith and plan of action,” says Castro.
Fidel Elahandro Castro had both and a third attribute and perseverance.
On January 6, 1959, Castro walked into Havana, the Cuban capital unopposed. Hundreds had assembled there to hear him speak. It was the beginning of a long inning.
Two years later, Castro declared himself to be a Marxist/Lennonist.
The Soviet Union soon started deploying nuclear missiles on Cuban soil. This brought the world to the brink of a Nuclear War.
The crisis ended only after Soviet leader Nikita Cruz Chev agreed to withdraw the missiles.
By now his belligerently anti US stunts made him the number one enemy of the USA. The hate was mutual.
According to the Cuban government, the CIA has tried to assassinate Castro, no less than 600 times.
With the loss of Castro’s old trading partners and the continued US trade embargo, the Cuban economy went into a steep decline.
Cuba under Castro’s rule however, has made many impressive strides.
The country has 98 per cent literacy. In the last few years, Castro’s health had become an issue.
In 2001, Castro fell ill during the two-hour nationally broadcast speech. Shortly after the incident, Castro appointed his brother Raoul as his successor.
History might ask the question if he overstayed in power. But all said Castro will be remembered forever for his struggle against the capitalist US and as some might say, his long speeches and cigars.

 

One-fifth of rural households live on Rs 365 a month

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Amid the euphoria of India growing at 9 per cent a year it may appear strange that nearly 19 per cent of the Indian rural households live on less than Rs 365 a month , spending less than Rs 12 on the consumption of each person per day.
The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) said the average monthly per capita consumer expenditure (average MPCE) in 2005-06 was Rs 625 in rural India and Rs 1171 in urban India at 2005-06 prices.
”Out of every rupee spent in 2005-06 by the average rural Indian on consumption, 53 paise was spent on food. Of this, 17 paise was spent on cereals and cereal substitutes, 8 paise on milk and milk products, 6 paise on vegetables, 5 paise on sugar, salt and spices, and 4 paise on beverages, refreshments, processed food and purchased meals,” said NSSO in its report on ”Household Consumer Expenditure in India 2005-06.” ”Of every rupee spent by the average urban Indian on consumption, 40 paise was spent on food. Of this, 9 paise was spent on cereals and cereal substitutes, 7 paise on milk and milk products, 6 paise on beverages, refreshments and processed food, and 4 paise on vegetables,” the report said.
Value of average food consumption per person in urban areas was within a range of Rs 451-Rs 500 per month in 7 out of 17 major States. In respect of rural food consumption, 13 major states belonged to the range Rs.251-400.
Average quantity of cereals consumed per person per month in 2005-06 was 11.9 kg in rural areas and 9.8 kg in urban areas.
About 19 per cent of rural households lived in katcha structures (both roof and walls made of katcha materials). About 50 per cent lived in pucca structures (both roof and walls made of pucca materials). The remaining 31 per cent of rural households lived in semi-pucca structures, that is, structures of which either the roof or the walls (but not both) were made of pucca materials. In urban India, the percentage of households using LPG as the major fuel for cooking was in the range of 40-75 per cent in all the major States. In rural India, 74 per cent of households continued to depend on firewood and chips as their major cooking fuel. About 9 per cent used dung cake and another 9 per cent used LPG.
About 56 per cent of households in rural India used electricity for lighting while 42 per cent used kerosene. Kerala tops the Indian states with per capita monthly consumption of Rs 1056 in rurtal areas and Rs 1566 in urban areas. It is followed by Punjab with marginally low consumption at Rs 1010 and Rs 1520 for rural and urban areas respectively.
The All India average for rural areas is Rs 625 a month and Rs 1171 per month for urban areas. The field work of the survey was carried out during July 2005- June 2006. Data collected included commodity-specific information on 148 items of food, 13 items of fuel, 28 items of clothing, bedding and footwear, 18 items of educational and medical expenses, 52 items of durable goods, and about 85 other items. The report contains the information on distribution of households and persons by 12 classes of household monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE), average MPCE , composition of MPCE by item category (cereals, pulses, clothing, etc), quantity and value of per capita consumption of different cereals, distributions of households or persons by other characteristics such as educational level, structure and area of dwelling unit, and energy sources used for cooking and lighting etc.
The survey was spread over a randomly drawn sample of 39436 households spread over 4750 villages and 5120 urban blocks,