The Department of Census and Statistics reports significant reduction in poverty and improvements in quality of life indicators in the estate sector, according to the Planters Association of Ceylon (PA).
The PA said in a press release that the latest data from the Department of Census and Statistics show a marked improvement in estate sector living conditions.
“Although the urban sector shows no significant reduction in poverty since 2006/07 to 2009, the estate sector has reported an unprecedented two third reduction of poverty,” the PA has quoted the Department of Census and Statistics as saying in its preliminary Household Income and Expenditure Survey report 2009/2010.
Lalith Obeyesekere, PA Chairman of the PA said this was good news coming from the Department of Census and Statistics. “This shows the improvements that have taken place within the estate sector over the last decade. We are very encouraged by these results and we will continue to work towards improving the quality of life in estates,” he said in the PA press release.
The poverty head count ratio, which is the count of persons below the poverty line as a percentage of the total population in the domain, indicated a sharp reduction in the estate sector in 2009/2010. At time of privatisation of plantation management the poverty head count ratio in the estate sector was 38.4% [1995/6]. This moved to 30% by 2002 and by 2006/7 the poverty head count in the estate sector was reported as 32%. However, the 2009/2010 census data shows that the poverty head count ratio in the estate sector had reduced to 9.2%.
Income levels in the estate sector also show improvements. While the average monthly household income was Rs 4,059 in 1995/96, the average household income had increased to Rs. 25,649 by 2009/2010 an increase of Rs 21,590 or 531% over a period of 14 years.
The average income of a income receiver in the estate sector was Rs.1,923 per month in 1995/96, according to the PA statement. This had increased to Rs. 12,408 by 2009/2010. “This shows that wage increases in the estate sector have been substantial and have transferred to individuals and households.
Under the current wage structure, an employee has the potential to earn even more than Rs 12,408. We are hoping for more productivity linked wage increases in the future to ensure a win-win situation for the industry and the employees,” said Mr. Obeyesekere.
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