Poverty reduction and redistribution in Sixth Plan : Population factor and rural-urban equity

The Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-85) aims to reduce the proportion of population below the 'poverty line' to 30% by its terminal year, by means of growth and redistribution of aggregate consumer expenditure. The far higher than expected rate of increase in population, revealed in the results of the 1981 census, however, would have an impact on this original aim. The implications of this unexpected change for the Plan objective are explored. The vital question of equity in redistribution across the rural-urban divide. (DÜI-Sen)