Reality check on the poor

Despite severe weather challenges, farmers' per capita income in counties certified as "poor" by the State Council Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (OPAD) rose almost 10 percent in the first three quarters. More importantly, the growth surpassed the national average for all rural residents.

The OPAD deserves compliment for such impressive achievement. Considering the very low bases of per capita income, high growth might not mean substantial improvements in local lives. Yet we must at the same time be aware of a basic truth - even this would not have been possible were it not for the increased government input in poverty relief. Nearly 20 billion yuan ($2.94 billion) has been earmarked in the passing year for aid programs, 3 billion more than in 2008.

OPAD sources made no mention of whether there was any change in the official figure of people defined as "poor". In its latest statement, the office said there are 40.07 million people living under the poverty line. That was the figure Premier Wen Jiabao gave, in March, in his report on government work.