Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Poor Numbers
Change the figures when if the situation can8217;t be changed. This seems to be the motto of the Government. Total confusion reigns on the issue of poverty estimates in the country. First figure was offered by the Congress Government who said that poverty had reduced by 11 per cent between 1987-88 to 1993-94. But later when the United Front Government took over, the figures were revised to a mere 2.89 per cent fall.
But it appears that the truth lies somewhere in between. An independent study done by the Indian Statistical Institute shows that during the same period the actual fall was 6.26 per cent. More than what the UF said, but less than what Congress claimed. The estimates were arrived at by using the same data. So the question is whether the Government is deliberately offering wrong figures to prove its point.
