NEW DELHI: The higher the number of households with a minimum Rs 10,000 in their savings account, better will be a panchayat's prospects of being rated positively on the poverty index, the government has decided in a bid to devise measures to evaluate neediness.The government has planned a set of parameters to assess poverty in a gram panchayat and the criteria to determine "economic development" will look at bank deposits of households. As reported by TOI in May, the ministry initially considered a depositof Rs 20,000. To assess the progress made by a GP, the government's stress appears to be on nonfarm work and employment.Key parameters are number of households with "bank loans for diversified livelihood", families "employed in dairy and animal resources" and those in "non-farm employment with skills, markets and bank linkage". The statewise list of GPs under Mission Antyodaya has already been finalised.Among the parameters, a village will be judged by "all weather roads", "internet connectivity and banking correspondent" and if it is "open defecation free" with "community waste disposal system". The number of families living a "safe houses" will also determine the GP's health.

Source: Times of India November 16, 2017 19:51 UTC