Multidimensional Poverty Index: NITI Ayog
The NITI Aayog has released a Discussion Paper titled-‘Multidimensional Poverty in India since 2005-06’, stating that 24.82 crore people escaped Multidimensional Poverty in the last nine years.
Key Highlights of the Multidimensional Poverty Index in India Since 2005-2006:
- India has experienced a significant reduction in multidimensional poverty from 29.17% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23, marking a decrease of 17.89% points.
- Approximately 24.82 crore people have escaped multidimensional poverty in the last nine years (2013-14 to 2022-23). This positive change is attributed to various initiatives by the government.
- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have recorded the sharpest decline in the number of people classified as poor based on the MPI.
- Uttar Pradesh saw the largest decline with 5.94 crore people escaping multidimensional poverty, followed by Bihar at 3.77 crore, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
- All 12 indicators of the MPI have shown significant improvement, reflecting progress in Health, Education, and Standard of Living dimensions.
- The Severity of Deprivation (SoD) declined at a slightly lower rate between 2015-16 and 2019-21 compared to 2005-06 and 2013-14.
- SoD measures deprivations the average multidimensionally poor person suffers from.
- In 2005-06, the share of MPI poor in India’s total population was 55.34%
- India is likely to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Target 1.2, which aims to reduce “at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions” well before 2030.
- Indicators related to the standard of living dimension showed significant improvements, such as reduced deprivation in cooking fuel, sanitation facilities, and access to bank accounts.
