The average monthly per capita consumer expenditure in the country was Rs 554 for the rural areas, while for urban India it was Rs 1,022 according to the National Sample Survey, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
In a written reply to a query, Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes said the estimate of the per capita average expenditure, as revealed in the 59th round of the NSS conducted during January to December 2003 has been worked out by dividing the estimated total consumer expenditure by estimated total number of persons.
The estimates of average MPCE were based on a nationwide sample survey wherein 26,143 rural households spread over 6,553 villages and 14,870 urban households spread over 3,757 urban blocks were canvassed after selecting them scientifically in the NSS, he said.
In reply to another question, Fernandes said a national policy on dissemination of statistical data already existed.
Under the policy, the validated unit level data, after tabulation and release of report was supplied to the users both within the country and outside the nation on payment basis after they furnished an undertaking that the data would not be passed on to a third party.