| The KBK+ region of Odisha comprising undivided Koraput (i.e., Koraput, Nawarangpur, and Malkanagiri & Rayagada), undivided Bolangir (i.e. Subarnapur and Bolangir) and undivided Kalahandi (i.e. Kalahandi & Nuapada) along with other three backward districts Gajapati, Boudh and Kandhamal is one of the poorest and most backward regions of the country. The region is popularly known in India for severe poverty with incidents like starvation deaths and baby sale for food etc. In this paper a special poverty line has been derived for this poorest region from the unit level data of National Sample Survey of India. Bridging the poverty gap is essential before thinking about any development for any backward region of the country. This study has estimated the poor population as well as a budget of money requirement scientifically to bridge the poverty gap of the rural sector of this region. This has suggested a lot to the policy makers and Government regarding the approximate amount of money required for the per capita poors of the poverty stricken region. |