The NITI Aayog’s latest report, “National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023,” shows that 13.5 crore people in India have successfully overcome multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.
The report builds upon India’s National MPI, which assesses multiple deprivations simultaneously across health, education, and standard of living. It encompasses 12 SDG-aligned indicators, including nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts.
The report highlights significant progress across all 12 indicators, with rural areas experiencing the most rapid decline in poverty, while urban areas saw poverty levels decline from 8.65% to 5.27%. Uttar Pradesh recorded the largest decline, with 3.43 crore individuals escaping multidimensional poverty.
The MPI value nearly halved from 0.117 to 0.066 during the period, while poverty intensity reduced from 47% to 44%, demonstrating India’s progress towards achieving SDG Target 1.2 ahead of the 2030 timeline. The government’s efforts to improve access to sanitation, nutrition, cooking fuel, financial inclusion, drinking water, and electricity have contributed significantly to these advancements.
Programs such as the Poshan Abhiyan and Anaemia Mukt Bharat have played a crucial role in reducing health-related deprivations. Initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission have led to significant improvements in sanitation across the country, with a notable 21.8 percentage points improvement in sanitation deprivations. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) has transformed lives, with a 14.6 percentage points improvement in cooking fuel deprivations.
The report highlights the government’s unwavering commitment to improving citizens’ lives and creating a brighter future for all. By implementing a diverse range of interconnected programs and initiatives, substantial reductions in deprivations across multiple indicators have been achieved, particularly in areas of electricity, access to bank accounts, and drinking water.
Stay Update with fela news.