In the post-independent period, the government attempted to work out a mechanism to indentify a study group. In 1979, a task force on projections of minimum needs and effective consumption demands was formed. In 1989, an 'Expert Group' was constituted for the same purpose. Individual economists have also attempted to develop the mechanism and estimated the number of poor.

These mechanisms do not satisfactorily identify the poor households in the country. These mechanisms have taken consumption expenditure on food and a few select items as proxy for income. This mechanism is helpful in identifying the poor as a group to be taken care of by the government. There are factors other than income and assets which are associated with poverty. It does not help in identifying factors that cause and sustain poverty.