March 17, 2020
Manas Bhunia speaks on the efficacy of the Socio-Economic Survey, 2011
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Thank you Sir. I will draw the attention of the entire Cabinet, the Centre and the Honourable Members of this august House, through you. Sir, that the Socio-Economic Survey was conducted in 2011. The survey forms the basis for the economic help that needs to be provided to people in the rural and urban areas. Depending upon the results of the socio-economic survey, the parameters for the Prime Minister Awas Yojana and other benefits to the citizens of India are fixed.
However, unfortunately, many will definitely agree with me that the list has many faults. For example, a poor man in full honesty told the surveyor that he has two bicycles and one motorcycle but a person who had everything told the surveyor that he had nothing — there are many similar answers given to surveyors, as a result of which the poor have become rich and the rich have become poor. The entire country — all the State Governments and the Central Government — is duty-bound to follow the results of the survey, and if this survey is followed, the poor will be neglected in many cases. This is all the more important when we are in this critical economic situation, when the States and the Centre need to help the poor to enable their socio-economic upliftment by extending the benefits of all the relevant schemes and programmes, both in the urban and the rural areas.
It is my sincere request to this Government, and I’m sure many will agree, that the people should not suffer due to the results of the survey, and this will affect the entire country. I sincerely request the Government, through you, Sir, to review the data in the Socio-Economic Survey and give the order for a fresh survey so that benefits meant for the poor reach throughout the country. Thank You.
