Despite economic growth, multidimensional poverty continues to persist in India. Analyse the underlying causes and discuss the measures taken by the government to address them. (Answer in 250 words)

As per IMF 2024 Update: India is the fastest growing and will become 4th largest economy by end 2025 Yet | multidimensional poverty persists: - As per UNDP, 234 million multidimensional poor people in India - highest in the world. Underlying Causes: 1) Jobless growth - displacement by neo-technologies, high unemployment (7.4-22% of income between top 1% → 22% of income bottom 50% → 13% of income) 2) Low social security coverage - only 64% of people covered by social security schemes 3) Inequitable growth - rise in income inequality. Top 1% → 22% of income. Bottom 50% → 13% of income 4) Poor policy planning - Absence of recent deprivation data due to unavailability of census b Non-inclusion of poor in PDS due to data deficit 5) Gaps in targeting - Corruption, red-tapism, exclusionary errors b Denial of MNREGA wages for ADHAAR mismatches 6) Low public spending on human capital - only 1.3% on health, 3.7% on education % GDP 7) Inadequate climate resilience - Extreme weather events exacerbate poverty

Measures adopted by Government: 1) Economic empowerment - through: a PM Tan Dhan - Financial Inclusion (e.g. PM Jan Dhan plan) 2) Women empowerment - (e.g. PM Ujjwala, Yoga, Swaach Bharat mission) 3) Saturation of policy reach - PM Jarmaan - free tribal welfare 4) Comprehensive social security - (e.g. PM JAY, PM Izeaan Ishta Beema, comprehensive family schemes) 5) Rural transformation - through self-help groups (NRLM mission), PM Gram Sadak, MNREGA 6) Affordable housing - (PM Awas), energy (PM Ujala), drinking water (Tal Shakti mission), digital inclusion This has lifted 250 million out of poverty in last 10 years as per NITI Aayog survey, so a long way in meeting UNSDG target by 2030.

Continuation of measures adopted by Government to address multidimensional poverty: 1) Economic empowerment - through PM Tan Dhan (Financial Inclusion via PM Jan Dhan plan) 2) Women empowerment - (e.g. PM Ujjwala, Yoga, Swaach Bharat mission) 3) Saturation of policy reach - PM Jarmaan - free tribal welfare 4) Comprehensive social security - (e.g. PM JAY, PM Izeaan Ishta Beema) 5) Rural transformation - through self-help groups (NRLM mission), PM Gram Sadak, MNREGA 6) Affordable housing - (PM Awas), energy (PM Ujala), drinking water (Tal Shakti mission), digital inclusion This has lifted 250 million out of poverty in last 10 years as per NITI Aayog survey, helping meet UNSDG target by 2030.

— SAURABH SHARMA · AIR 146