POVERTY ON
A RISE IN SRI LANKA?
by Dr. D. Tennakoon
1. THE BIOLOGICAL OR SUBSISTENCE APPROACH TO POVERTY.
[In this context, Hon Prime Minister's vision on our development should be encouraged, praised and admired in future planning in development.]
NOTE:
THESE POVERTY ANALYSIS ARE BASED ON THE 2012-2013 HOUSEHOLD INCOME DATA AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED DATA FOR 2012-2013. IT INDICATES THE STATES OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF POOR INCOME RECEIVING HOUSEHOLDS THAT FALL IN THE POVERTY GROUP. THIS SEVERE STATE OF POVERTY IN ALL SECTORS WHICH INDICATES THAT NEARLY (MORE OR LESS) 45% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS HAD RECEIVED LESS INCOME COMPARED WITH THE STANDARD OF REQUIRED INCOME TO SATISFY THE HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION NEED IN THE NUTRITIONAL APPROACH MEASUREMENTS. THIS SITUATION MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MORE ACUTELY TO CHANGE THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN JANUARY 2015. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A NEW GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE POOR PEOPLE THEMSELVES IN SRI LANKA. NO ONE COULD HAD POWER TO CHANGE THE PREVIOUS STRONG POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, BUT ONLY THE POOR PEOPLE, THOSE WHO SUFFERED ECONOMICALLY, AS THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN LAGGED BEHIND SINCE 1995 - 2014, AND HAD NOT BEEN ENTERED IN TO A ECONOMIC PROGRESS/NEW PATH OF COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT, IN THE COMPETITIVE FREE TRADE ECONOMIC CONCEPTS. POLITICIANS, TRADE UNION LEADERS, STATE OFFICERS AND LEFTIST MOVEMENTS (IN THE GOVERNMENT PARTNERS) HAD BEEN HAD MISGUIDED THE THEN GOVERNMENT, THOUGH THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT HAD STRONG POWER TO RESTRUCTURE THE ECONOMY TO COMPETE WITH THE RISING WORLD COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC ORDER, SPECIALLY WHICH HIGHLY COMPETING IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTH-EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.
In consumption based measurements of poverty, the income
necessary to buy a minimum standard of nutrition is also a subject of controversy. Many countries have worked out a minimum
standard of per capita calorie requirements in respect of their own
countries. But, in economic analysis,
the main concern is not measuring the calorie intake, but cost and price of the
goods needed to satisfy the desired nutritional standard. This approach to measure poverty is known as
the biological or subsistence standard of poverty measurement, and many
scholars have accepted this approach in poverty studies[Sukhathme, 1965;
Dandekar and Rath, 1971; ILO, 1977; Rao, 1982; Lipton, 1983; Sarma, 1987;
Gaur,1988; Sagar,1988; Tennakoon, 2000]. See “Dimensions of Rural Poverty,
2000, HARTI/Ministry of Agriculture].
THESE POVERTY ANALYSIS ARE BASED ON THE 2012-2013 HOUSEHOLD INCOME DATA AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED DATA FOR 2012-2013. IT INDICATES THE STATES OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF POOR INCOME RECEIVING HOUSEHOLDS THAT FALL IN THE POVERTY GROUP. THIS SEVERE STATE OF POVERTY IN ALL SECTORS WHICH INDICATES THAT NEARLY (MORE OR LESS) 45% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS HAD RECEIVED LESS INCOME COMPARED WITH THE STANDARD OF REQUIRED INCOME TO SATISFY THE HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION NEED IN THE NUTRITIONAL APPROACH MEASUREMENTS. THIS SITUATION MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MORE ACUTELY TO CHANGE THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN JANUARY 2015. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A NEW GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE POOR PEOPLE THEMSELVES IN SRI LANKA. NO ONE COULD HAD POWER TO CHANGE THE PREVIOUS STRONG POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, BUT ONLY THE POOR PEOPLE, THOSE WHO SUFFERED ECONOMICALLY, AS THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN LAGGED BEHIND SINCE 1995 - 2014, AND HAD NOT BEEN ENTERED IN TO A ECONOMIC PROGRESS/NEW PATH OF COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT, IN THE COMPETITIVE FREE TRADE ECONOMIC CONCEPTS. POLITICIANS, TRADE UNION LEADERS, STATE OFFICERS AND LEFTIST MOVEMENTS (IN THE GOVERNMENT PARTNERS) HAD BEEN HAD MISGUIDED THE THEN GOVERNMENT, THOUGH THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT HAD STRONG POWER TO RESTRUCTURE THE ECONOMY TO COMPETE WITH THE RISING WORLD COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC ORDER, SPECIALLY WHICH HIGHLY COMPETING IN THE SOUTH AND SOUTH-EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.
 |
| Dr. D. Tennakoon |
In the “biological or subsistence approach” the bundle of
material requirements and services are determined to “consist of minimum
calorie intake essential to physical human existence”.Clearly this standard
will vary with situation and custom.
Sukhathme, in 1965 calculated that an average man in India requires
approximately 2250 calorie per capita per day to fulfill this biological or
subsistence requirement. In the case of
China, Prof. Remenyi, in 1992 reported that the poor are “… defined as those
unable to produce a “subsistence basket” of food [i.e., 2150 calories per day
per person] and non-food essentials, or not in receipt of sufficient income to
buy the equivalent …”. In the context of
Sri Lanka the equivalent is calculated at about 2200 calories per person per
day [MPPI, 1991-1992]. FAO in1974 and
World Bank in 1979, had adopted and accepted the nutrition based definitions of
the poverty line as the consumption norm.
2. OFFICIAL POVERTY LINES
In 1979, Government of Sri Lanka sought to introduce a “Food
Stamp Scheme”[FSS] as part of its commitment to establish a programme to ensure
that all families would be able to satisfy their nutritional requirement for an
acceptable standard of survival. In FSS
programme, government defined two levels of poverty. The first level recognized families in
immediate need of food subsidies and food relief. The income level was equated to an amount
needed to satisfy at least a calorie norm of 1800 per capita per day, which was
considered to be the level of “malnourished”.
These households were regarded as being in acute or absolute poverty
[MFP, 1979]. The second criterion
defined as a far more comprehensive standard that embraces concept of welfare
in to the definition of poverty.
The implementation of FSS, 1979, defined the cut-off point
for beneficiaries of the food stamp scheme to be an income level of Rs. 300 per
month per household of five persons. In 1980 this cut-off point has increased
to a household income of Rs. 400 per month. In 1985 it was adjusted to an
income of Rs. 700 per household per month.
Since 2000-2010 it has been floated over, not to mention. But, all these
official poverty lines are more lower compared with the needed income standard
sufficient income of households to meet normal nutritional standard of living. n 1994, official poverty was fixed at Rs. 1,200 .00 per family per month. Rational of fixing official poverty line was based on specific purpose of implementing poverty relief programmes.
3. INCIDENCE OF
POVERTY IN SRI LANKA AND IN SAARC
If we compare the incidence of poverty existed in the decade
of 1980s in in SAARC countries, poverty has been so acute state in all these
countries.
Table: 1 [Poverty
ratio: different analysis had given different ratio]
COUNTRY
|
YEAR
|
POOR AS A
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION
|
BANGLADESH
|
1985 -1989
|
48% -51%
|
INDIA
|
1985 -1988
|
40% -56%
|
NEPAL
|
1980 -1981
|
40%-71%[71= WB
estimates]
|
PAKISTAN
|
1980 -1988
|
21% -24%
|
SRI LANKA
|
1980 -1986
|
28% -40%
|
Many SAARC countries could reduced their poverty at least
below 20%. And some countries below 15%.
Official estimates show that Sri Lanka has reduced poverty to between,
7% - 12% from 2000 to up to date. But,
statistics are poorly existent with the actual income levels of households to
fulfill their basic nutritional requirement of 2250 calorie intake, per person
per day, and based on this, having calculated on the amount of food needed to meet that biological norm
of food consumption, at the current price of the food necessities. But, the official estimates of poverty has not adopted, that the FAO and WB recognized norms of food consumption in need of a healthy human being. These statistics will never help for us to
prepare our own policies for poverty eradication, but it helps us to satisfy
ourselves for a movement in the guise, that our development programmes are
“successful”. Politicians are very interested to see official report to show the every success of projects and programmes. Statistics are a set of art, could be managed with data that we use, in the way that we want to highlight to show what we desired..
Table: 2 Competing Estimates of Poverty in Sri Lanka[All
these calculations based, except MPI calculations, on income levels of official income surveys using expenditure
needed to meet nutritional level of food consumption]
ESTIMATED BY
|
YEAR
|
POOR AS A % OF POPULATION*
|
MPI [1]
|
1978-1979
|
19.0%
|
DOCS [2]
|
1980 -81
|
50.5%
|
DOCS [3]
|
1985 -86
|
40.0%
|
HLCO [4]
|
1988
|
44.5%
|
MPI [5]
|
1986 – 87
|
27.8%
|
Korale [6]
|
1985 -86
|
39.5%
|
Average
|
1980’S
|
36.9%
|
TENNAKOON
|
1994
|
48.8%
|
**[For details see Tennakoon, 2000, HARTI/Min. of ARI.]
BIOLOGICAL/SUBSISTENCE
APPROACH OF MEASURING POVERTY, (1994)
FOLLOWING HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION DATA WAS USED IN CALCULATING POVERTY LINE IN 1994, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FIELD SURVEY ANALYSIS.
TABLE: 1.
ESTIMATED COST FOR THREE MEALS A DAY – 1994 (HOUSEHOLD OF FOUR PERSONS)
THREE MEALS
|
*NORMAL DIET
COST
( RS.)
|
**ALTERNATIVE DIET COST (RS.)
|
BREAKFAST
|
2 LOAVES OF BREAD 9.00
1 COCONUT 8.50
250g OF DAL 11.00
SPICES 6.00
|
1kg. OF RICE 18.00
½ COCONUT 4.50
100g. OF DRY FISH 12.00
SPICES 6.00
|
LUNCH
|
1 kg. OF RICE 18.00
250g. OF VEGETABLE 6.50
150g, OF DRY FISH 18.00
GREEN LEAVES (BUNDLE) 3.00
½ COCONUT 4.50
COCONUT OIL (175mg.) 6.00
SPICES 6.00
|
2 LOVES OF BREAD 9.00
250g. OF DAL 11.00
500g OF VEGETABLE 14.00
1 COCONUT 8.50
200G. OF DRY FISH
22.50
SPICES 6.00
|
DINNER/SUPPER
|
1kg. OF RICE 20.00
250g. VEGETABLE 6.50
500g, FISH 18.00
250g. OF DAL 11.00
SPICES 6.00
½ COCONUT 4.50
|
1kg. OF RICE 18.00
500g OF FISH 20.00
GREEN LEAVES (ONE Bundle) 3.00
250g. VEGETABLE 8.50
COCONUT OIL, 175 ml.
6.00
½ COCONUT 4.50
SPICES 6.00
|
TOTAL
|
RS. 161.50
|
RS. 167.00
|
*For normal
diet a family needs an income of Rs. 4,845.00 Per month, for a household of four persons.
**For alternative diet Rs.5,010.00 per month, for household of four persons.
On Nutritional Approach Based
Poverty Line is Rs. 4,845.00 per
month per Household’
On Nutritional and Necessary
Amenities Based poverty Analysis, income for Necessary amenities should be
added: i.e., i. Children’s Education Rs.
120.00 ii. Health Rs. 80.00 iii. Cloths
Rs. 260.00 Total Rs. 460.00 (according to survey of 1994)
*** Thus, Nutrition and Necessary
Amenities based Poverty Line is Rs. 5,305.00 In 1994, official Poverty line was Rs.
1,200.00 per household of four
person per Month. This poverty line
seems to be very lower compared with the Nutritional Approach based Poverty
line. Then, a question can be asked, how about 40% of household were
eligible for benefit of ‘Poverty Relief Programmes. It was revealed that the people have reported
lower income to synchronize with the lower poverty line, to the “Implementing Authority”.
*QUANTITIES OF FOOD NEEDED TO
CONSUME TO OBTAIN 2,250 CALORIES PER DAY PER PERSON; ADOPTED USING THE
GUIDELINES PROVIDED BY INDIAN NUTRITION SURVEYS.
BIOLOGICAL/SUBSISTENCE
APPROACH OF MEASURING POVERTY, (2013)
I HAVE USED FOLLOWING FOOD CONSUMPTION DATA FOR ANALYZING THE POVERTY LINE, AND CALCULATING HOUSEHOLDS BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, USING HOUSEHOLD INCOME DATA OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS, THE DATA OF "THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND EXPENDITURES SURVEY (HIES) OF 2012 -2013.
Note: THESE COST OF SUBSISTENCE (EXPENDITURE) CAN BE USED FOR AVERAGE/NORMAL HOUSEHOLD FOOD EXPENDITURE MEASURES FOR 2015 AND 2016.
TABLE: 2.
ESTIMATED COST FOR THREE MEALS A DAY – 2012 – 2013 (HOUSEHOLD OF FOUR
PERSONS)
THREE MEALS
|
*NORMAL DIET
COST (RS.)
|
**ALTERNATIVE DIET
COST (RS.)
|
BREAKFAST
|
2 LOAVES OF BREAD
80.00
1 COCONUT 45.00
250g OF DAL 32.00
SPICES 12.00
|
1kg. OF RICE 65.00
½ COCONUT 24.00
100g. OF DRY FISH 70.00
SPICES
12.00
|
LUNCH
|
1 kg. OF RICE 70.00
250g. OF VEGETABLE 24.00
150g, OF DRY FISH 130.00
GREEN LEAVES (BUNDLE) 15.00
½ COCONUT 45.00
COCONUT OIL (175mg.) 40.00
SPICES 12.00
|
2 LOVES OF BREAD 80.00
250g. OF DAL 32.00
500g OF VEGETABLE 40.00
1 COCONUT 40.00
200G. OF DRY FISH 128.00
SPICES 12.00
|
DINNER/SUPPER
|
1kg. OF RICE 75.00
250g. VEGETABLE 24.00
500g, FISH 260.00
250g. OF DAL 32.00
SPICES 12.00
½ COCONUT 24.00
|
1kg. OF RICE 70.00
500g OF FISH 270.00
GREEN LEAVES (ONE Bundle) 15.00
250g. VEGETABLE 24.00
COCONUT OIL, 175 ml. 40.00
½ COCONUT 22.00
SPICES 12.00
|
TOTAL
|
TOTAL (RS.) 832.00
|
TOTAL (RS.)
956.00
|
*For
normal diet a family needs an income of Rs. 24,960.00 Per
month, for a household of four persons.
** For alternative diet Rs. 28,680.00 per month, for household of four persons.
Note: THESE COST OF SUBSISTENCE (EXPENDITURE) CAN
BE USED FOR AVERAGE/NORMAL HOUSEHOLD FOOD EXPENDITURE MEASURES FOR 2015 AND 2016. *QUANTITIES
OF FOOD NEEDED TO CONSUME TO OBTAIN 2,250 CALORIES PER DAY PER PERSON; ADOPTED
USING THE GUIDELINES PROVIDED BY INDIAN NUTRITION SURVEYS.
On Nutritional Approach Based
Poverty Line is Rs.24,960.00 per
month per Household’
On Nutritional and Necessary
Amenities Based poverty Analysis, income for Necessary amenities should be
added: i.e., i. Children’s Education Rs.
480.00 ii. Health Rs.1,200.00 iii. Cloths
Rs.750.00 Total Rs.2,430.00 (according to the market
price/based on field observations)
*** Thus, Nutrition and Necessary
Amenities based Poverty Line is Rs. 27,390.00 (2012 -2013)
4. CALCULATION OF
POVERTY BASED ON 2013 DOCS INCOME DATA
Table: 3 Percentages
of Households Below Poverty Line In 2012/2013
DECILE
GROUP
|
INCOME GROUP
|
PERCENTAGE
OF HOUSEHOLDS %
TOTAL[%] URBAN [%] RURAL [%] ESTATE [%]
|
ALL
GROUPS
|
100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
|
|
1
|
Less than 10,836
|
10.0 4.5 11.1 14.1
|
2
|
10,836 -16,531
|
10.0 6.3 10.6 13.8
|
3
|
16,532 – 21,286
|
10.0 6.3 10.6 13.8
|
4
|
21,287 – 25,903
|
10.0 7.5 10.4 13.0
|
--
|
% in poverty
|
40% -42% 24.6%-26.6% 42.6%-45.0% 54.7%-56.0%
|
5
|
25,904 – 30,814
|
10.0 8.1 10.3 12.2
|
6
|
30,815 -36,758
|
10.0 9.3 10.2 10.1
|
7
|
36,759 – 45,000
|
10.0 10.9 10.0 8.3
|
8
|
45,001 – 57,495
|
10.0 12.1 9.6 6.3
|
9
|
57,496 – 83,815
|
10.0 15.6 9.0 4.9
|
10
|
More than
83,815
|
10.0 19.4 8.3 3.5
|
---
|
Non- Poor
Population
|
60.0% 75.4% 57.4% 55.3%
|
*On Nutritional/Biological approach, s household of four persons needs to earn an income of Rs.24,960.00 to consume foods at nutritionally accepted standard, then poverty line should be fixed approximately around, an income of Rs, 25,000.00 per household per month.
** On the basis of Nutritional and necessary Amenities approach additional expenditure may be added to food consumption cost. On this approach, a household of four persons need to earn an income to satisfy cost of household subsistence and basic amenity, and thus a house hold should earn an income of Rs. 27,390.00 to meed these requirements.
NOTE:
THIS POVERTY ANALYSIS ARE BASED ON THE 2012-2013 HOUSEHOLD INCOME DATA AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED DATA FOR 2012-2013. IT INDICATES THE STATES OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF POOR INCOME RECEIVING HOUSEHOLDS THAT FALL IN THE POVERTY GROUP. THIS SEVERE STATE OF POVERTY IN ALL SECTORS WHICH INDICATES THAT NEARLY (MORE OR LESS) 45% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS HAD RECEIVED LESS INCOME COMPARED WITH THE STANDARD OF REQUIRED INCOME TO SATISFY THE HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION NEED IN THE NUTRITIONAL APPROACH MEASUREMENTS. THIS SITUATION MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MORE ACUTELY TO CHANGE THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN JANUARY 2015. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A NEW GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED BY POOR PEOPLE THEMSELVES IN SRI LANKA. NO ONE COULD HAD POWER TO CHANGE THE PREVIOUS STRONG POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, BUT ONLY THE POOR PEOPLE, THOSE WHO SUFFERED ECONOMICALLY, AS THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN LAGGED BEHIND, AND HAD NOT BEEN ENTERED IN TO A ECONOMIC PROGRESS/NEW PATH OF COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT, IN THE COMPETITIVE FREE TRADE ECONOMIC CONCEPTS.
According to the following analysis, the incidence of poverty in Sri Lnka during 2012-2013 is more higher than the headcount ratio of poverty declared by the Government Agencies.
** On the basis of Nutritional and necessary Amenities approach additional expenditure may be added to food consumption cost. On this approach, a household of four persons need to earn an income to satisfy cost of household subsistence and basic amenity, and thus a house hold should earn an income of Rs. 27,390.00 to meed these requirements.
NOTE:
THIS POVERTY ANALYSIS ARE BASED ON THE 2012-2013 HOUSEHOLD INCOME DATA AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED DATA FOR 2012-2013. IT INDICATES THE STATES OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF POOR INCOME RECEIVING HOUSEHOLDS THAT FALL IN THE POVERTY GROUP. THIS SEVERE STATE OF POVERTY IN ALL SECTORS WHICH INDICATES THAT NEARLY (MORE OR LESS) 45% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS HAD RECEIVED LESS INCOME COMPARED WITH THE STANDARD OF REQUIRED INCOME TO SATISFY THE HOUSEHOLD FOOD CONSUMPTION NEED IN THE NUTRITIONAL APPROACH MEASUREMENTS. THIS SITUATION MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED MORE ACUTELY TO CHANGE THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN JANUARY 2015. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT A NEW GOVERNMENT WAS ESTABLISHED BY POOR PEOPLE THEMSELVES IN SRI LANKA. NO ONE COULD HAD POWER TO CHANGE THE PREVIOUS STRONG POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, BUT ONLY THE POOR PEOPLE, THOSE WHO SUFFERED ECONOMICALLY, AS THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN LAGGED BEHIND, AND HAD NOT BEEN ENTERED IN TO A ECONOMIC PROGRESS/NEW PATH OF COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT, IN THE COMPETITIVE FREE TRADE ECONOMIC CONCEPTS.
According to the following analysis, the incidence of poverty in Sri Lnka during 2012-2013 is more higher than the headcount ratio of poverty declared by the Government Agencies.
 |
| A Woman Works as Housemaid |
This analysis of incidence of poverty used household income
data of the Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka, of “The Household
Income and Expenditure Survey [HIES] of 2012/2013. The “Poverty Line” is calculated using food
price data of 2012/2013 and household income required to buy food necessities
to maintain dietary intake equals to the standard of calorie requirement of
2250 per person per day. The quantities
of food requirements was adjusted to consist with the food consumption patterns
of lower 50% of the household income groups, which was adopted by a field
survey on rural food consumption in 1994 [for details see Tennakoon, 2000,
HARTI].
On this biological or subsistence approach, at least 40% of
households in Sri Lanka live below poverty line, in Urban sector: nearly 25%,
in Rural sector, nearly 43%, and in Estate sector, nearly 55% live in poverty.
The living standard of the poorest of the poor in Sri Lanka is appalling, and this state directly affect to the existence of malnutrition among elders, and it also burden heavy cost for the government to incure expenditure for free medical facilities for a substantial percentage of population.
Consider the statistics of following table on the food consumption patterns of the poorest of the poor in rural sector in Sri Lanka. I have observed this pattern of food consumption in rural areas, by most of the poorest of the poor, and expenditure was calculate using current market prices. Even for this type of lean food norm, a household need to earn an income of Rs. 17,760.00 per month. I analysed the households in this poorest income category by using income data of 'The Household Income and Expenditure Survey [HIES] of 2012 -2013, of The Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka, and I reveled a considerable percentage of poorest households in Urban, Rural and Estate Sectors. About 10.8 percent - 11.5 percent in the Urban Sector, about 21.7 percent - 22.5 per cent in the Rural Sector, and about 27.9 percent - 28.5 percent in the Estate Sector fall below the level of poorest consumption norm.
Table: 4 Consumption of Food by Poorest Households
The living standard of the poorest of the poor in Sri Lanka is appalling, and this state directly affect to the existence of malnutrition among elders, and it also burden heavy cost for the government to incure expenditure for free medical facilities for a substantial percentage of population.
 |
| A Man Working as a Casual Labourer in a Packing Industry |
Consider the statistics of following table on the food consumption patterns of the poorest of the poor in rural sector in Sri Lanka. I have observed this pattern of food consumption in rural areas, by most of the poorest of the poor, and expenditure was calculate using current market prices. Even for this type of lean food norm, a household need to earn an income of Rs. 17,760.00 per month. I analysed the households in this poorest income category by using income data of 'The Household Income and Expenditure Survey [HIES] of 2012 -2013, of The Department of Census and Statistics of Sri Lanka, and I reveled a considerable percentage of poorest households in Urban, Rural and Estate Sectors. About 10.8 percent - 11.5 percent in the Urban Sector, about 21.7 percent - 22.5 per cent in the Rural Sector, and about 27.9 percent - 28.5 percent in the Estate Sector fall below the level of poorest consumption norm.
Table: 4 Consumption of Food by Poorest Households
[Poorest Households Below an income of Rs. 17,760.00 Per Month]
Consumption of Food by a Household Per Day[A Household of Four
Persons]
Type Meals
|
Type of
Food and Quantity
|
Cost
[Rs.]
|
Breakfast
|
No f\Food
Taken for Breakfast
Tea
25g. of
Tea and 250g. of Sugar [per day use]
|
20.00
45.00
|
Lunch
|
1 kg. of
Rice
250g. Dal
½ Coconut
Cheap Fish
Spices
80ml. of
Coconut Oil
|
85.00
38.00
25.00
90.00
15.00
28.00
|
Dinner/Supper
|
2 Loves of
Bread
½ Coconut
Cheap Dry
Fish
250g. of
Vegetable
Spices
|
116.00
25.00
60.00
30.00
15.00
|
Total
|
Total for
Three Meals
|
592.00
|
*According to this food consumption pattern of a household fall in
poorest (poorest of the poor)category need an income of Rs.
17,760.00 per month for survival.
(During the last couple of decades, poor families could made a two bed room small houses with cement bricks, and thatched with asbestos sheets; as their young redundant members (of the agricultural households) had opportunity to work in army, garment factories, in construction works, in middle east. But, when that individuals marry and seperate, the question come again. Many policy makers see this as "development", and prepare reports based on statistics shaped with such visualizations, to show that poverty has decreased. Actually these families suffer from want of nutritional diet, and many of them suffer from malnutrition.)
(During the last couple of decades, poor families could made a two bed room small houses with cement bricks, and thatched with asbestos sheets; as their young redundant members (of the agricultural households) had opportunity to work in army, garment factories, in construction works, in middle east. But, when that individuals marry and seperate, the question come again. Many policy makers see this as "development", and prepare reports based on statistics shaped with such visualizations, to show that poverty has decreased. Actually these families suffer from want of nutritional diet, and many of them suffer from malnutrition.)
What are the implications of these
statistics. We have followed urban bias development approach, which lead, in
large scale, heavy constructions, both building, road construction, and private
housing construction. Poverty has increased.
Sri Lanka: The higher Level Committee of Officials, 1988, appointed by then President J.R. Jayawardena, has clearly stated, that, "... reduction of employment and malnutrition must be given the highest priority, and the urgency it deserves".
Robert S. McNamara, 1975, reviewed that "... How to raise the productivity of the rural poor in developing countries is one of the two or three most urgent questions confronting international development community today. .. the number of the absolute poor increases, .... despite more than two decades of extraordinary world wide economic growth, ... The problem is not merely the benefits of economic growth have been inequitably distributed, as they have, ... but that the poor themselves have been unable to contribute that growth. ... The solution, then, lies in raising the productivity of the poor, so that their own incomes can rise as those of others in their societies do. .. But how". How the access of poor to contribute to the national economic growth could be improved and strengthened. LEFTISTS DO NOT HAVE AN IDEA OTHER THAN DESTRUCTION, TO SEEK THE WAY ENTER TO POWER.
"...If we could not alter the situation, development will have failed." [McNamara, 1973].
"I consider it crime to tolerate poverty in any society, because poverty and misery are synonymous".
[Ranasinghe Premadasa, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka, 1988]
"... However, many more persons come under the category of the working poor. They require,... more productive and better paying sources of livelihood - better jobs. Thus, in the Sri Lankan Context, it seems inappropriate to focus policy intervention only on the unemployment problem alone". [Ronnie de Mel, Minister of Finance and Planning - Sri Lanka, 1988].
Under the lines of above guiding advice, we have to follow multiple approach to tackle the captioned question:
1. Programmes for employment generating in common, and employment generating for technically/professionally advanced youths for better/attractive salaries.
2. Remedies for under employment, to increase their productivity,
3. Upgrading technical/professional education with support of private sector, to compete in the international labour market,
4. Accelerated "regional Development Programmes" for backward districts, and
5. Overall economic development with international cooperation, and industrial development to produce substitutes to the Imported necessities.
The average daily wages of the labouring poor is very low, and a labour working in building construction sites receive about Rs. 1250 - 1350.00[equal to 9.00 US Dollars] per day, and a woman labour in construction sites receive about Rs.1000.00 [equal to 7.70 Us Dollars] per day.. Most of labours have work only for 5 1/2 days, except some urgent sites. The skilled workers/professional trained workers, and technical officers/foreman, like masons ans carpenters receive fairly good wages, about more or less Rs. 2500.00 [equal to about 17.00 Us dollars per day.
According to the information received from a recent field survey, the labour class employees dail wage rates are given below:
Item Price in Rs. Price in US$
1kg. Fish 600.00 - 800.00 4.40 - 5.80
1 kg of thalapath 900.00 - 1,100.00 6.20- 8.20
1kg. of Beef 900.00 - 1,000.00 6.50 - 7.20
1kg. of pork 650.00 - 700.00 4.40 - 5.20
Bottle of Arrack 1500.00 -1700.00 10.20 - 12.20
Bottle of Beer 360.00 - 400.00 2.80 - 3.80
Rising cost of living is a new phenomenon during last 12 months. The trend in increase of food items has become a passion, it cannot be, because of drought, there might be other reasons. There is no proper plan to increase meat production, and it cause for increase in meat prices.
The Households below the poorest line of the poverty rarely buy fish and meats, i.e, beef, pork and mutton, and use of licensed liquor due mainly to their lower income.e.
WE SHOULD NOT ENCOURAGE CREATION OF ETHNIC GOEGRAPHICAL AREAS IN THE ISLAND, BECAUSE IT WILL DISTORT THE ETHINIC INTEGRATION AND SOCAL DEVELOPMENT, AND WILL THREAT TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND KEEP LOR AND ORDER. BUT, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENCOURAGE AND INVEST FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AS IT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ERADICATION OF POVERTY, AND ALSO IT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ACCELERATING ACCESS FOR POOR COMMUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH.
In this context, Hon Prime Minister's vision on our development should be encouraged, praised and admired in future planning in development.
I appreciate, if readers would give their comments on these poverty calculations, so that I would be able to further improve my analysis. Readers' comments are welcome. I would more appreciate any one could give me guide lines and comments on my analysis. Please send your comments to my email:
ddtkonn48@yahoo.com
I was very glad to receive valuable comments from development economists, but response
I have observed this week, (14.02.2017 - 17.02.2017) buying of daily food stuffs by the daily waged labour families. The details of the goods they bought and expenses are given below:
(1). One person who is working as household worker in bungalows, on daily paid salary, bought goods for his day consumption;
Stuffs for three members in the family;
Stuffs Cost Rs.
1 1/2 Kg. of rice 120.00
500g. of small fish 250.00
Coconut oil 90ml. 30.00
Vege. Beet 250g. 35.00
Vege. pumpkin 30.00
One loaf of bread 60.00
Spices 50.00
Sugar 250g. 30.00
Tea pack 50g. 35.00
3 eggs 45.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Stuffs 670.00
_______________________________________________________________
The bulk of this food sack per day per three persons in a family is enough to meet the minimal food requirements of the family. The family needs to earn Rs.20,100. 00 (Rs. 670.00 x 30 days) per month to maintain the minimal food requirement.
(2). A person working in construction site as daily paid worker, bought following food stuffs for his four member family;
Food Stuffs Cost Rs.
2 kg. of rice 160.00
500g. fish (large variety of fish) 450.00
Coconut oil 90ml. 30.00
Vege. beans 250g. 40.00
green leaves (One Mitiyak) 30.00
One coconut 50.00
Spices 30.00
Sugar 250g. 30.00
tea pack 50g. 35.00
_________________________________________________________
All food stuffs 850.00
_________________________________________________________
This family [of four persons] needs an income of Rs. 25,500.00 (Rs. 850.00 x 30 days) per month to maintain their basic nutritional requirement per month.
(3). I observed a very low income group family of four person, fall in the vulnerable group of the poverty continuum.. The husband of this family has gone away, and the mother has to work as housemaid on a daily wage;
Food stuffs Cost Rs.
One loaf of bread 60.00
1 kg. of rice 80.00
dry fish 50g. 60.00
Vegetable pumpkin 30.00
coconut oil 90ml. 30.00
tea pack 50g. 35.00
Sugar 250g. 30.00
One Coconut 50.00
____________________________________________________________
All food stuffs 375.00
____________________________________________________________
This family needs an monthly income of Rs. 11,250.00 (Rs.375.00 x 30 days) to satisfy the family's food need, although the family food intake fall more below the nutritionally accepted level.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These two persons have migrated to a suburb area near Colombo city, and have rented a one bed room house, for each. He has three children. He receives a daily wage, about Rs. 1250.00 per day. He has work for 20-22 days per month.
Education is the Most powerful Tool in Eradication of poverty
Dr. D. Tennakoon
dingiri50@gmail.com
Sri Lanka: The higher Level Committee of Officials, 1988, appointed by then President J.R. Jayawardena, has clearly stated, that, "... reduction of employment and malnutrition must be given the highest priority, and the urgency it deserves".
 |
| A Woman Working as Casual labourer in a Tea Packing Industry |
"...If we could not alter the situation, development will have failed." [McNamara, 1973].
"I consider it crime to tolerate poverty in any society, because poverty and misery are synonymous".
[Ranasinghe Premadasa, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka, 1988]
"... However, many more persons come under the category of the working poor. They require,... more productive and better paying sources of livelihood - better jobs. Thus, in the Sri Lankan Context, it seems inappropriate to focus policy intervention only on the unemployment problem alone". [Ronnie de Mel, Minister of Finance and Planning - Sri Lanka, 1988].
Under the lines of above guiding advice, we have to follow multiple approach to tackle the captioned question:
1. Programmes for employment generating in common, and employment generating for technically/professionally advanced youths for better/attractive salaries.
2. Remedies for under employment, to increase their productivity,
3. Upgrading technical/professional education with support of private sector, to compete in the international labour market,
4. Accelerated "regional Development Programmes" for backward districts, and
5. Overall economic development with international cooperation, and industrial development to produce substitutes to the Imported necessities.
The average daily wages of the labouring poor is very low, and a labour working in building construction sites receive about Rs. 1250 - 1350.00[equal to 9.00 US Dollars] per day, and a woman labour in construction sites receive about Rs.1000.00 [equal to 7.70 Us Dollars] per day.. Most of labours have work only for 5 1/2 days, except some urgent sites. The skilled workers/professional trained workers, and technical officers/foreman, like masons ans carpenters receive fairly good wages, about more or less Rs. 2500.00 [equal to about 17.00 Us dollars per day.
According to the information received from a recent field survey, the labour class employees dail wage rates are given below:
LABOUR CLASS DAILY WAGE RATES
Skilled Labourer: 1. Masons Rs. 2,250.00 US$ 15.00
2. Carpenters Rs. 2,250.00 US$ 15.00
Other Casual labourers:
1. Labourer in Construction Rs. 1,500.00 US$ 10.75
2. Sundry labourer Rs. 1,250.00 US$ 9.00
3. House and Garden labourer Rs. 1,000.00 US$ 7.15
Woman Labourer:
1. Garment Factory Rs. 1,500.00 US$ 10.75
(skilled labourer)
2. Garment Factory Rs. 1,000.00 US$ 7.15
(other labourer)
3. Housemaids Rs. 750.00 US$ 5.35
4. Other woman casual labourer Rs. 500.00 US$ 3.70
In the state of food consumption and entertainment, poors have no access to meet requirements due mainly to daily salaries and retail prices. Compare the price statistics of required items with the normal wage rates of the poors. The labour class casual worker in construction fields (non-skilled worker) receives a daily wage of Rs. 1000.00 to 1,250.00 (US$: 7.00 - US $: 9.00). Compare with the retail prices of some necessaries:Item Price in Rs. Price in US$
1kg. Fish 600.00 - 800.00 4.40 - 5.80
1 kg of thalapath 900.00 - 1,100.00 6.20- 8.20
1kg. of Beef 900.00 - 1,000.00 6.50 - 7.20
1kg. of pork 650.00 - 700.00 4.40 - 5.20
Bottle of Arrack 1500.00 -1700.00 10.20 - 12.20
Bottle of Beer 360.00 - 400.00 2.80 - 3.80
Rising cost of living is a new phenomenon during last 12 months. The trend in increase of food items has become a passion, it cannot be, because of drought, there might be other reasons. There is no proper plan to increase meat production, and it cause for increase in meat prices.
The Households below the poorest line of the poverty rarely buy fish and meats, i.e, beef, pork and mutton, and use of licensed liquor due mainly to their lower income.e.
WE SHOULD NOT ENCOURAGE CREATION OF ETHNIC GOEGRAPHICAL AREAS IN THE ISLAND, BECAUSE IT WILL DISTORT THE ETHINIC INTEGRATION AND SOCAL DEVELOPMENT, AND WILL THREAT TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND KEEP LOR AND ORDER. BUT, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENCOURAGE AND INVEST FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AS IT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ERADICATION OF POVERTY, AND ALSO IT IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ACCELERATING ACCESS FOR POOR COMMUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH.
 |
| A Casual Labourer at a Construction Site |
I appreciate, if readers would give their comments on these poverty calculations, so that I would be able to further improve my analysis. Readers' comments are welcome. I would more appreciate any one could give me guide lines and comments on my analysis. Please send your comments to my email:
ddtkonn48@yahoo.com
I was very glad to receive valuable comments from development economists, but response
I have observed this week, (14.02.2017 - 17.02.2017) buying of daily food stuffs by the daily waged labour families. The details of the goods they bought and expenses are given below:
(1). One person who is working as household worker in bungalows, on daily paid salary, bought goods for his day consumption;
Stuffs for three members in the family;
Stuffs Cost Rs.
1 1/2 Kg. of rice 120.00
500g. of small fish 250.00
Coconut oil 90ml. 30.00
Vege. Beet 250g. 35.00
Vege. pumpkin 30.00
One loaf of bread 60.00
Spices 50.00
Sugar 250g. 30.00
Tea pack 50g. 35.00
3 eggs 45.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Stuffs 670.00
_______________________________________________________________
The bulk of this food sack per day per three persons in a family is enough to meet the minimal food requirements of the family. The family needs to earn Rs.20,100. 00 (Rs. 670.00 x 30 days) per month to maintain the minimal food requirement.
(2). A person working in construction site as daily paid worker, bought following food stuffs for his four member family;
Food Stuffs Cost Rs.
2 kg. of rice 160.00
500g. fish (large variety of fish) 450.00
Coconut oil 90ml. 30.00
Vege. beans 250g. 40.00
green leaves (One Mitiyak) 30.00
One coconut 50.00
Spices 30.00
Sugar 250g. 30.00
tea pack 50g. 35.00
_________________________________________________________
All food stuffs 850.00
_________________________________________________________
This family [of four persons] needs an income of Rs. 25,500.00 (Rs. 850.00 x 30 days) per month to maintain their basic nutritional requirement per month.
(3). I observed a very low income group family of four person, fall in the vulnerable group of the poverty continuum.. The husband of this family has gone away, and the mother has to work as housemaid on a daily wage;
Food stuffs Cost Rs.
One loaf of bread 60.00
1 kg. of rice 80.00
dry fish 50g. 60.00
Vegetable pumpkin 30.00
coconut oil 90ml. 30.00
tea pack 50g. 35.00
Sugar 250g. 30.00
One Coconut 50.00
____________________________________________________________
All food stuffs 375.00
____________________________________________________________
This family needs an monthly income of Rs. 11,250.00 (Rs.375.00 x 30 days) to satisfy the family's food need, although the family food intake fall more below the nutritionally accepted level.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
| Casual Labourer at a Contsuction Site THE POVERTY MEASURED ON NUTRITIONAL FOOD CONSUMPTION NORMS IS ON THE PACE OF RISING, AS 42% IN THE RURAL SECTOR AND 51% IN THE STATE SECTOR HOUSEHOLDS ARE LIVING BELOW POVERTY LINE, IN SRI LANKA. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE ACCELERATED REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IN OVERALL PROVINCES IN THE ISLAND. WE SHOULD NOT ENCOURAGE FOR CREATING GEOGRAPHICAL ETHNIC REGIONS IN THE ISLAND AS IT HAS BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1920S WITH THE BRITISH PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT IN SRI LANKA. MANY MIGRANTS BROUGHT TO PLANTATIONS WERE RESETTLED IN DRY ZONE AREAS BY BUINESS MERCHANTS TO CULTIVATE THEIR ENCROACHED CROWN LANDS IN THE DRY ZONE AREAS. ONLY WAY TO ESTABLISH ETHNICAL COHESION, COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT TOGETHER IS THE UNDERTAKING OF RAPID REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES. |
 |
| A Casual Labourer at a Construction Site |
 |
| CONSTRUCTION LABOURER |
Education is the Most powerful Tool in Eradication of poverty
It has been seen that Sri Lankan political parties and some civil organizations are being tangled in the misconceptions of so called leftism and so called capitalism, and are in rivalry each other without knowing virtue of meaning and neo-concepts and realities. They are deceiving poor people, but all their concepts are used only for their and their families' benefits and well-being. In our all political parties, the more powerful and old hands always restrain and resist the people, the more talented, educated, in best I.Q, proficient in social relations, proficient in neo-international economy, proficient in love and compassion and in good faith in God to come in to politics. This might has been one reason of our under development. The people of such qualities should come forward to politics, if they have genuine desire for getting rid of present adverse situation, and should kick old hands to go back.
In the neo context of re- awakening, many countries have developed their technological higher education with the partnership of private sector, through Affiliated University Colleges, in many fields of technology. They have affiliated to the National Universities. since we do not have such facilities, many Sri Lankan students, selling their parents' properties go to abroad for higher education. We should be shame of our laggard situation. If we can't attend to this type of very simple task, I don't know how these people can develop a country, can develop a economy, can restructure the economy, seek solutions to vast unemployment and poverty.
Dialogue
Between Ms. Maggiya and Mr. Maharala
Maggiya: O oh; Maharale, isn’t it true, that leagues
and gangs those who fired Lanka, demonstrated ‘harthal’, burned public
properties, protested and made loud voice against to Provincial Council Bill in
1987, were in wrong stand against your draft bill of proposals for transferring
powers to Central Parliament/Central Executive.
Maharala: O ho; ye, Maggiyo; Now we are in a season of turmoil. All they opposed to my proposals;
Have you heard this poem?
“Eat and Eat creates fond of
tasty,
Fond of tasty inspires with the
eagerness,
Eagerness intrigues with the
affection,
Affection misleads the direction
of the right path”
Maggiya: Is it correct?
Maharala: Can’t you
see?, where were you?
Maggiya:
Oh; Yeh.
Dr. D. Tennakoon
dingiri50@gmail.com
ddtkonn48@yahoo.com
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