71% of population in Haryana lives below poverty line: Govt

Nearly 71 percent of Haryana's population remained below the poverty line (BPL) despite the state's per capita income standing at Rs 2,96,592, exceeding the national average of Rs 1,72,276.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

The state's economic survey report for the financial year 2023-24 revealed that a total of 19,890,964 people – around 71 percent of the state's 2.8 crore population – was under the BPL category.

The monthly household income of this population was below Rs 1.80 lakh annually, a benchmark set by the state government to define the BPL category.

The data further revealed that nearly 2.67 lakh people came under the BPL category in the first two weeks of November this year, with the new members joining the BPL list; the number reached 1.98 crore.

Even as the government has predicted that the per capita income may reach Rs 325,759 next financial year, nearly 20 lakh people have been added to the BPL list in 2024 so far.