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The latest round of survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on “Household Consumer Expenditure and Employment-unemployment situation says that at the all India level, three rural households per thousand and one urban household per thousand do not get enough to eat (by their own assessment) in any month of the year. 13 rural households per thousand and three urban household per thousand, however said they got enough to eat in some months of the year but not throughout.
The Sample Survey conducted by the NSSO during January- December 2003 also said that a decline was seen in the share of food in total expenditure as in the past several rounds of NSS. The share of food was 54 per cent in rural areas compared to 64 per cent in 1987-88 and 42 per cent in the urban areas compared to 56 per cent in the same period. The share of cereals in total consumption expenditure was 18 per cent in rural in 2003 compared to 26 per cent in 1987-88. In Urban India it was 10 per cent compared to 15 per cent.
The report also pointed out that the all India average monthly per capita consumer expenditure was Rs.554 in rural India while it was Rs.1022 in the urban sector during the period of the survey. Those with monthly per capita consumer expenditure below Rs. 470 constituted 50 per cent of the rural population, while below Rs.300 formed above 13 per cent. Among the urban population 80 per cent had consumer expenditure above Rs.500 and 16 per cent over Rs.1500.
Speaking about the living conditions, the report pointed out that the proportion of the rural house holds living in kaccha structures was 21 per cent in 2003 compared to 30 per cent in 2000-01. In case of urban, the households living in kaccha structures was 5 per cent compared to 7 per cent. The proportion of urban households using LPG as cooking fuel rose to 55 per cent in 2003 compared to 47, in 2001. Among the rural households the proportion increased to 9 per cent from 7.
The worker-population ratio i.e. proportion of persons employed was 54 per cent male, both rural and urban India. The females were 24 per cent rural and 12 per cent urban.
The random survey covered 41013 households, spread over 6553 villages and 3757 urban blocks, covering the entire geographical area of the country in accordance with a scientific sampling plan. The data collected included commodity specific information on items of food, clothing, bedding, footwear, fuel, consumer durables and other items. In addition, area and structure type of dwelling units, land possessed, fuel used and other aspects of standard of living were collected. Educational level and employment particulars also were obtained from each member of the households.
VKS/SR
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