THE Poverty Line Income (PLI) was substantially revised in 2005.

Two components make up the PLI -- food PLI and non-food PLI.

The PLI is defined separately for each household in the household income survey (HIS) based on size, demographic composition and its location (state and stratum).

A household is considered poor if its income is less than its own PLI, that is, it lacks the resources to meet the basic needs of its individual members.

A household is considered hardcore poor if its monthly household income is less than the food PLI.

Food PLI



The food component of the revised PLI is based on the advice of nutritionists, dieticians and medical professionals.

Individual daily kilocalorie requirements are met through a balanced diet, which include cereals and cereal products (uncooked rice, wheat flour), chicken, eggs and fish; milk, oil and fats, sugar, vegetables and fruits, and pulses (dhal, green peas).





Non-Food PLI



The expenditure pattern of non-food components of the PLI is based on the actual expenditure of the bottom 20 per cent expenditure group derived from the household expenditure survey (HES).

Non-food components comprise clothing, housing, transport and other items.