Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India

Poverty alleviation refers to strategies and actions aimed at reducing poverty levels in a country. It encompasses economic and humanitarian efforts. The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on $1.90 a day or less. In 2011, 268 million people in India were in this category.

About Below Poverty Line (BPL)

Below Poverty Line (BPL) is an economic benchmark used to identify economically weaker households. The Government of India sets this threshold based on income. Individuals earning below this threshold are classified as BPL.

Measuring BPL in India

The poverty line is determined by per capita income, not price levels. It represents the minimum income needed for basic goods and services. The poverty ratio indicates the proportion of the population below this line. The Y. K. Alagh Committee introduced the first national poverty lines in 1979.

Five-Year Plans in India

India has launched eleven Five-Year Plans since 1951 to address poverty. Each plan has specific goals aimed at poverty reduction. Here is a brief overview:

1. First Five-Year Plan (1951-1956): Focused on agriculture and irrigation.
2. Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1961): Emphasised industrial growth and employment.
3. Third Five-Year Plan (1961-1966): Disrupted by wars and drought; replaced by annual plans.
4. Fourth Five-Year Plan (1966-1974): Aimed for economic stability and social justice.
5. Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974-1979): Focused on poverty removal (Garibi Hatao).
6. Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-1985): Aimed at poverty removal and economic growth.
7. Seventh Five-Year Plan (1985-1990): Targeted improvement of living standards for the poor.
8. Eighth Five-Year Plan (1992-1997): Focused on employment generation.
9. Ninth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002): Addressed agriculture, employment, and infrastructure.
10. Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002-2007): Aimed to reduce poverty ratio from 26% to 21%.
11. Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-2012): Targeted a 10% reduction in poverty and job creation.

Major Poverty Alleviation Programmes

India has implemented numerous programmes to alleviate poverty. Here are key initiatives:

• Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) (1978): Aims to provide self-employment opportunities in rural areas.
• Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana (1985): Focuses on housing for rural populations.
• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (1995): Provides pensions to senior citizens below the poverty line.
• National Family Benefit Scheme (1995): Offers financial assistance to families after the death of the breadwinner.
• Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (1999): Develops rural infrastructure and provides wage employment.
• Annapurna Scheme (1999-2000): Supplies food grains to senior citizens not covered by pension schemes.
• Food for Work Programme (2000): Enhances food security through wage employment.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) (2005): Provides 100 days of assured employment to rural households.
• National Food Security Mission (2007): Aims to increase production of essential crops.
• National Rural Livelihood Mission (2011): Focuses on diversifying income sources for the rural poor.
• National Urban Livelihood Mission (2013): Aims to empower urban poor through skill development.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (2014): Targets financial inclusion for the unbanked poor.
• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (2015): Focuses on skill development for youth.
• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (2016): Distributes LPG connections to women below the poverty line.
• National Nutrition Mission (2018): Aims to reduce undernutrition and improve nutritional outcomes.
• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (2019): Provides social security for unorganised workers.
• Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (2020): Offers micro-credit to street vendors affected by COVID-19.

Challenges in Poverty Alleviation

Despite numerous programmes, challenges persist in poverty alleviation. These include:

• Inadequate infrastructure in rural areas.
• Poor access to education and healthcare.
• High unemployment rates.
• Corruption and inefficiency in programme implementation.
• Inflation affecting the purchasing power of the poor.

Impact of Poverty Alleviation Programmes

Poverty alleviation programmes have had impacts on Indian society. They have:

• Improved access to basic services.
• Increased employment opportunities.
• Enhanced living standards for many households.
• Empowered women through targeted initiatives.

Future Directions

Future poverty alleviation efforts must focus on:

• Strengthening infrastructure in rural and urban areas.
• Improving educational and health services.
• Fostering sustainable economic growth.
• Enhancing transparency and accountability in programme execution.