The co-founder of Hotmail, Sabeer Bhatia, questioned the assertions that 250 million Indians are poorer, calling for the reference of $ 5 per “absurd” day and asking for how anyone’s basic needs on such a figure.
In an article on X, Bhatia challenged the idea that the exhaust of “extreme poverty” on paper results in a significant economic increase. “Really? Can you send your children to school, buy books, shoes, food, rent and public services on this? ” He wrote. “What world do these people live in?”
His comments arise among the growing criticism of the poverty line of $ 3 / day of the World Bank, which is often used to declare success in poverty reduction.
Even at a higher threshold of $ 4.20 / day, almost a quarter of the Indian population would still be considered poor – a neglected fact in celebration stories.
Bhatia’s remarks have sparked broader discussions on how poverty is defined and measured. An X user posted sarcastically: “If you don’t have to begged your next meal, you are middle class”, slamming the bureaucratic mentality behind “multidimensional poverty” indices which do not reflect real standards of living.
The cost of living surveys support these concerns. In cities like Delhi, even basic monthly survival far exceeds 415 ₹ – the equivalent of $ 5 / day. Analysts say that at this level, education, health care and worthy housing remain out of reach for the most part.
Critics argue that mass poverty reduction claims hide a more fragile reality: a huge population is moving just above the statistical thresholds, always dependent on the well-being of the state and very vulnerable to economic shocks such as disease or loss of employment.
Opposition leaders and economists have also questioned official accounts, pointing out slow consumption data and the continuous need for food subsidized to underline the disconnection between political demands and daily struggles.
As Bhatia noted, a technical upgrade from $ 3 to $ 5 per day can make a convincing title – but this does not result in a real lasting middle class.
