Context: India has registered a significant decline of 9.89 percentage points in the number of multidimensionally poor, from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-2021, says the “National multidimensional poverty index: a progress review, 2023”, released by NITI Aayog recently.
Findings of the report
- The study says nearly 13.5 crore people came out of multidimensional poverty during the period, assessed by identifying “acute deprivations in health, education and standard of living” using United Nations-approved parameters.
- The report said rural areas witnessed the fastest decline in poverty from 32.59% to 19.28%, mainly due to a decrease in the number of multi-dimensionally poor in States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
- Delhi, Kerala, Goa, and Tamil Nadu have the least number of people facing multidimensional poverty, along with the Union Territories.
- Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh top the chart where the percentage of the population which is multidimensionally poor is high.
- Multidimensional poverty in urban areas, during the same period, saw a decrease from 8.65% to 5.27%.
- Uttar Pradesh registered the largest decline in the number of poor with 3.43 crore people escaping multidimensional poverty.
About National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
- The report has been prepared based on the latest National Family Heath Survey of 2019-21 and is the second edition of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
- The broad methodology followed is in consonance with the global methodology.
- It said 12 parameters of health, education, and standard of living are examined in the report.
