Significant Reduction in Multidimensional Poverty in India

Overview:

A recent NITI Aayog report highlights a substantial decline in multidimensional poverty in India over nine years, ending in 2022-23.

Key Findings:

Poverty Decline: Multidimensional poverty in India dropped from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23.
People Uplifted: Approximately 24.82 crore individuals moved out of multidimensional poverty during this period.
State-Level Progress: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh recorded the largest decreases in poverty rates.
Poverty Metrics: The National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) focuses on health, education, and standard of living, encompassing 12 indicators aligned with sustainable development goals.

The Alkire Foster Methodology:

Methodology Used: The National MPI adopts the Alkire Foster methodology, which is a comprehensive approach to assess poverty across multiple dimensions.
Indicator Comparison: While the global MPI covers 10 indicators, India’s National MPI includes 12 indicators for a more detailed analysis.

State Achievements:

Leading States: Uttar Pradesh saw 5.94 crore people move out of poverty, followed by Bihar (3.77 crore) and Madhya Pradesh (2.30 crore).
Indicator Improvements: All 12 indicators showed notable enhancements, contributing to the overall reduction in poverty.

Government’s Role and Goals:

Annual Reduction Rate: The report indicates that on average, 2.75 crore people escaped multidimensional poverty each year.
Future Goals: The government aims to reduce multidimensional poverty to below 1%.
Single-Digit Poverty Levels: India is on track to reach single-digit poverty levels by 2024.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

SDG Achievement: India is likely to achieve the SDG 1.2 (reducing multidimensional poverty by at least half) well before the 2030 deadline.
Data Sources: The National MPI was based on data from National Family Health Surveys 4 (2015-16) and 5 (2019-21).

Conclusion:

India’s marked reduction in multidimensional poverty, driven by improvements across various social and economic indicators, reflects significant progress towards sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

SRIRAM’s