V M Dandekar and Neel Kanth Rath were well-known for their

V. M. Dandekar and Nilkanth Rath are renowned for their pioneering work in the systematic estimation of poverty in India. In 1971, they published the seminal study "Poverty in India," which utilized National Sample Survey (NSS) data to establish a more objective methodology for defining the poverty line [1]. Unlike earlier subjective interpretations, they defined the poverty line based on a minimum calorie intake of 2,250 calories per day, which required a specific level of consumer expenditure [1]. Their research highlighted that poverty was not just a rural phenomenon but also significantly affected urban areas. Their work is considered a landmark in Indian economic literature as it shifted the focus toward data-driven poverty measurement and influenced subsequent committees like the Lakdawala and Tendulkar committees [1]. Consequently, they are primarily associated with the study of poverty rather than the Green Revolution or liberalization [1].

Sources

1. [1] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 11: Contemporary Socio-Economic Issues > incidence of Poverty in india > p. 17