Synopsis
On March 10, 2023, in New Delhi, it was reported that the Centre's various initiatives have significantly reduced the gap in living standards between rural and urban areas, as indicated by the latest household consumption surveys conducted by MOSPI.Key Takeaways
- Rural-urban gap in consumption has decreased.
- Numerous government schemes have contributed to this reduction.
- Average monthly per capita consumption expenditure has grown.
- Continued momentum in rural consumption is evident.
- Surveys show a positive trend in living standards.
New Delhi, March 10 (NationPress) Numerous initiatives and schemes launched by the Centre have effectively diminished the gap in spending and quality of life between rural and urban settings. This is evident from the household consumption expenditure surveys conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), as shared in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The ongoing growth in rural consumption in India persists, with the rural-urban divide further contracting in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23 across all states and Union Territories, as indicated by the household consumption survey.
Key programmes that have contributed to this reduction in the rural-urban divide include the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY), and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), as noted by Minister of State for MOSPI Rao Inderjit Singh in a written response.
The disparity in the monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) between urban and rural areas has decreased to 71 percent in 2022-23, down from 84 percent in 2011-12.
This figure has further declined to 70 percent in 2023-24, confirming the ongoing growth in consumption in rural regions, according to the survey.
The average MPCE in rural areas and urban India for 2023-24 is projected to be Rs. 4,122 and Rs. 6,996, respectively, excluding the value of items received at no cost through various social welfare initiatives.
When considering the imputed values of these items, the estimates rise to Rs. 4,247 and Rs. 7,078 for rural and urban regions, respectively, as highlighted by the survey.
In nominal terms, the average MPCE (excluding imputation) in 2023-24 has increased by about 9 percent in rural areas and 8 percent in urban areas compared to 2022-23, according to the findings of the survey.
