NITI Aayog's 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023': India's Remarkable Strides Towards Eradicating Poverty
A remarkable milestone has been achieved in India's fight against poverty, as NITI Aayog recently released its report titled 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Pragati Review 2023.' According to this report, an astounding 13.5 crore people emerged from the clutches of multi-faceted poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21, signifying an incredible transformation in the lives of millions.
A Beacon of Progress
The second edition of the 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index' (MPI) is based on two comprehensive surveys – NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019–21). Launched initially in November 2021, the national MPI serves as a powerful tool to measure the deprivation of health, education, and standard of living concurrently, equally weighing 12 SDG-monetary indicators.
These indicators encompass vital aspects of well-being, such as nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of school education, school attendance, access to clean cooking fuel, hygiene practices, safe drinking water, electricity, adequate housing, and financial inclusion through property and bank accounts. Encouragingly, notable improvements have been observed in all 12 indicators, underlining the transformative impact of well-targeted initiatives.
Progress and Success in States and Territories
The report brings forth some impressive headlines, reflecting the effectiveness of poverty alleviation efforts across different regions of India. Uttar Pradesh stands out as a shining example, witnessing the most significant decline in the number of poor, with 3.43 crore people transitioning out of multi-faceted poverty. Additionally, states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan recorded the fastest decrease in the ratio of multi-faceted poverty across 36 states, union territories, and 707 administrative districts.
A Decrease in Multidimensional Poverty
The comprehensive efforts by the Indian government have yielded fruitful outcomes, as evident in the significant decline of 9.89 percent in the number of multi-faceted poor in India. From 24.85 percent in 2015-16, the proportion of multi-dimensional poor has reduced to 14.96 percent in 2019-2021. The rural areas witnessed a noteworthy decline from 32.59 percent to 19.28 percent, while urban areas also saw a considerable decrease from 8.65 percent to 5.27 percent during the same period.
Progress in Multidimensional Poverty Index and Intensity of Poverty
The MPI price has shown promising progress, declining from 0.117 to 0.066 between 2015-16 and 2019-21, highlighting the nation's dedication to achieving SDG target 1.2 of reducing multidimensional poverty. Simultaneously, the intensity of poverty has decreased from 47 percent to 44 percent, underscoring India's steady strides towards uplifting vulnerable sections of society.
Key Initiatives Driving Change
India's journey towards alleviating multidimensional poverty has been driven by a host of impactful government initiatives. The nation's steadfast focus on improving hygiene, nutrition, access to clean cooking fuel, financial inclusion, drinking water, and electricity has yielded significant progress in these areas. Noteworthy programs like the Nutrition Campaign and Anemia Open India have made considerable contributions to enhance public health.
Furthermore, initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) have played pivotal roles in improving sanitation and providing safe drinking water across the country, essential elements in eradicating poverty.
A Path Towards an Inclusive India
The release of NITI Aayog's 'National Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023' heralds a momentous occasion in India's march towards prosperity and inclusivity. The extraordinary reduction in multi-faceted poverty underscores the collective commitment of policymakers, government bodies, and stakeholders to uplift the marginalized and empower the vulnerable.
With continued dedication to innovative and targeted policies, India remains resolute in its endeavor to achieve sustainable development goals, leaving no one behind on the path towards a prosperous and equitable nation.
