JAMMU, Mar 03: Contrary to the claims of state government of making all round development in Jammu and Kashmir, every fifth citizen of our state is falling under Below Poverty Line (BPL).

“21.63 percent population of J&K is falling under BPL category which includes 26.14 percent rural population and 7.96 percent urban. A total of 24.21 lakh people are living under BPL category which includes 22 lakhs in rural areas and 7.96 percent residing in urban areas of state,” the Economic Survey 2011-2012 revealed.
The report further disclosed that Jammu and Kashmir lagged behind the national average in reducing poverty in the span of one decade.  “From year 1993-94 to 2007-08 the all-India level of poverty has shown decline of 23.55 percent but Jammu and Kashmir has shown only decline by 14.06 percent in last 10 years,” the report revealed.
There is a meager difference in BPL population ratio if the BPL population of two regions- Kashmir and Jammu- is compared. “The total BPL estimated population ratio in Kashmir has been worked out as 21.37 percent (12.91 lakh persons) while Jammu division recorded 21.67 percent BPL population (10.59 persons). The Ladakh region has shown estimated population as highest and stood at 27.03 percent (0.71 lakh persons),” the report said.
The BPL population percentage was found highest in newly carved districts of state than other districts. “The highest estimated BPL population percentage in the state has been recorded in newly carved out district Reasi (37.93 %) followed by Ramban (37.73 percent), Kishtwar (37.72), Poonch and Kupwara stood at 4th and 5th rank and district Srinagar stood at bottom (6.51 percent),” the report revealed.
In Jammu division, district Reasi, Ramban, Kishtwar and Poonch have registered highest incidence of poverty while as in Kashmir division Kupwara, Bandipora, Kargil and Budgam districts have been observed to be the poorest districts.
The highest estimated BPL population has been recorded in district Baramulla with 2.37 lakh poor persons. “District Kupwara stood at rank 2nd with estimated BPL population 2.34 lakhs, Budgam stood at rank 3rd with estimated BPL population 1.78 lakh persons.” The lowest estimated BPL population was recorded in district Leh with 0.29 lakh persons followed by Shopian district with 0.38 lakh people,” the report revealed.
“The social group distribution of BPL population indicates the dispersion of 42.05 percent in case of Scheduled Tribes, 38.07 percent in case of Other Backward Classes (including Paharis), 22.77 percent in case of Scheduled Caste while as other categories show only 16.85 percent of population under BPL when compared with the respective population of a particular category,” the report disclosed.