The Chhattisgarh government, with assistance from the World Bank, will spend Rs.6.17 billion during the next four years to help the poorest in the state improve their lives.

"As many as 80 development blocks of the state's total 146 blocks have a majority of below poverty line (BPL) families and the fund will be used to improve their quality of life," Panchayat Minister Ajay Chandrakar said.

According to official statistics, some 240 million people, or nearly a quarter of India's population, live below BPL.

Experts say at this line, people have just enough money to provide themselves with food converting to 2,200 calories and nothing else. In reality, it is the line of destitution.

The minister said: "We have identified 40 blocks where Rs.400 million ($9 million) will be made available this year for infrastructure development besides providing financial back up to BPL groups for employment generation."

He said the World Bank would provide Rs.5.58 billion ($127.5 million) of the total fund.

The government says poverty is linked to the increasing influence of Maoist guerrillas on youths in rural areas.

The government has suggested that if five BPL families formed a group to avail themselves of the assistance, each member would receive Rs.30,000 ($685) for self-employment schemes.

Chandrakar said nearly 2,000 BPL families in 40 blocks had been identified under the project and the government was targeting to bring at least 50 percent of BPL families to above the poverty line by the end of the year.

Chhattisgarh has more than 100,000 BPL families. The majority live in Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Sarguja, Balrampur, Koriya and Jashpur districts.