To counter criticism of the Planning Commission's official poverty estimates in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court on September 20, its Deputy Chairman, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, has called a meeting of select persons on October 3.
The persons who have been invited for the meeting are the Rural Development Minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, and the Planning Commission members, Dr Abhijit Sen, Dr Saumitra Choudhuri and Mr Mihir Shah, sources said.
All four had reservations over the Plan panel's estimates which put a per capita expenditure cap of Rs 32 a day for urban and Rs 25 a day for rural folk to be eligible for below poverty line (BPL) benefits.
Sources said the Plan panel was in a spot after some of its members openly aired their differences over the estimates stated in the affidavit. The fire-fighting is being done to quell any misgivings on the issue.
The meeting will also discuss matters related to the National Development Council, whose meeting is now likely to be held on October 22, sources said. Earlier, the council was to meet on October 15.