GUWAHATI, March 23 � Both the urban and rural population in Assam continue to live on a monthly per capita expenditure lower than the national average.
As per the �Level and Pattern of Consumer Expenditure 2011-12� of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) released earlier this month, the average monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE) was estimated at Rs 1,219 in rural Assam and Rs 2,189 in urban Assam during July 2011-June 2012. It was less than the average national MPCE of Rs 1,430 in rural areas of India and Rs 2,630 in urban India.
Among the 17 big States across India, Assam was ranked 11th in both rural and urban MPCE. Of the 17 major States, nine had rural MPCE higher than the national average of Rs 1,430, while six had urban MPCE higher than the national average of Rs 2,630.
Kerala (Rs 2,669) had the highest rural MPCE and it was followed by Punjab (Rs 2,345) and Haryana (Rs 2,176). In Narendra Modi-ruled Gujarat, it was Rs 1,536, with the State securing the ninth position. Average rural MPCE was lowest in Odisha (Rs 1,003), Jharkhand (Rs 1,006) and Chhattisgarh (Rs 1,027).
The survey also showed that the average household size in rural Assam was 4.8 persons and in urban Assam 4.2 persons, compared to a national average of 4.6 and 4, respectively.�
