The poverty line is the minimum income level required to meet the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. It is an important measure used to assess poverty and to determine eligibility for various government programs.

In India, the poverty line is determined by the Planning Commission, which calculates it based on the cost of a basket of essential goods and services. The poverty line varies by region and is adjusted annually for inflation.

For the year 2011-12, the poverty line for a person in rural areas in India was fixed at Rs. 816 per month. This means that a person earning less than Rs. 816 per month is considered to be living below the poverty line.

Some key points to note about the poverty line in India are:

- The poverty line varies by region and is higher in urban areas than in rural areas.
- The poverty line is based on a consumption basket that includes food, clothing, and shelter, as well as some other basic needs like fuel and light.
- The poverty line is adjusted annually for inflation, but some experts argue that it is still too low and does not accurately reflect the true cost of living for most people in India.
- The poverty line is used to determine eligibility for various government programs like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) and the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) that provide food, employment, and other support to people living below the poverty line.

In conclusion, the poverty line for a person in rural areas in India was fixed at Rs. 816 per month for the year 2011-12. This is an important measure used to assess poverty and to determine eligibility for various government programs.