Lok Sabha Question No. 1708 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: Eradication of Poverty
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1708 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2023

## ERADICATION OF POVERTY

## †1708. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched various new schemes for poverty eradication in the country during the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the said schemes are being implemented as per the target fixed in this regard, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether the number of families living below the poverty line has decreased in the country during the said period and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) to (c) The primary policy objective of the Government is development of all segments of the population.  Its  focus  on  inclusive  growth  is  reflected  in  commitment  to  'Sabka  Saath,  Sabka Vikas'  to  reduce  poverty  and  inequality,  provide  social  security,  income  generation  and livelihood options,  and improve the quality of life of the vulnerable sections of the population in the country.  In this regard, the Government is implementing a number of targeted programmes such as  Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee  Scheme (MGNREGS), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY  NRLM),  National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Deen Dayal

Upadhyaya Grameen  Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri  Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Stand Up India  Scheme, Umbrella Programmes for Development of Minorities and Other Vulnerable Groups;  Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna; fund transfer under PM-KISAN, PM Fasal  Bima  Yojana;  fertiliser  subsidies;  interest  subvention  for  dairy  cooperatives;  AgriInfrastructure Fund  for farm gate infrastructure, etc.

Further, the Government has implemented various programmes, including Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh  Bharat  Abhiyan,  PM  Ujjwala  Yojana,  PM  Saubhagya  Yojana,  Ayushman  Bharat, Pradhan    Mantri  Jan-Dhan  Yojana  (PMJDY),  etc.  to  bring  about  overall  improvement  in  the quality of life of  the people through universal access to basic amenities.  The details regarding some of the initiatives taken by the Government to eradicate poverty in the country are given at Annexure.

NITI Aayog has also released the National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review  2023  on  17 th July  2023  in  partnership  with  UNDP  and  Oxford  Poverty  and  Human Development Initiative (OPHI). As per this report 13.5 crore people escaped "Multidimensional Poverty"  between  2015-16  and  2019-21.  A  Steep  decline  has  been  reported  in  the  number  of multidimensionally poor from 24.85% to 14.96% between 2015-16 and 2019-21. The report is available in the public domain and can be accessed at the following website: https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-08/India-National-Multidimentional-Poverty-Index2023.pdf

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1708 FOR 13.12.2023 BY SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA: REGARDING ERADICATION OF POVERTY

## Initiatives taken by the Government to eradicate poverty in the country

i. Aspirational  Districts  Programme  (ADP) :  The  Government  has  also  implemented  the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) since 2018,  aimed at comprehensive development of identified districts across various States/UTs, in six areas:  (i) health & nutrition, (ii) education, (iii) agriculture & water resources, (iv) financial inclusion, (v)  skill development, and (vi) basic infrastructure.  To  further  strengthen  this  initiative,  the    Government  has  recently  launched  the Aspirational Blocks Programme covering 500 blocks for the  provision of essential government services across these six domains.

ii. Initiatives taken during Covid-19 :  During COVID-19, Government made several targeted interventions to mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on the lives and livelihoods of the people,  particularly  the  vulnerable  sections  of  the  society  through  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Garib Kalyan  Yojana  (PMGKY), implemented since  April  2020.  These  included,  inter  alia,  world's largest free food program, cash transfers to women Jan  Dhan account holders, insurance cover for health workers fighting COVID-19, increase in  MGNREGA wages, assistance to low wage earners in organised sectors, etc.

In keeping with the concern and sensitivity towards poor and vulnerable sections of society, the Cabinet led by Hon'ble Prime Minister has decided that the Central government will provide free food grains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries at an estimated  cost of Rs. 11.80 lakh crore under the  Pradhan  Mantri  Garib  Kalyan  Anna  Yojana  (PMGKAY)    for  a  period  of  five  years  with effect  from  1 st January,  2024.  Free  food  grains  (rice,  wheat  and  coarse  grains/millets)  under PMGKAY for 5 years from 1.1.2024 will strengthen food security  and  mitigate any financial hardship of the poor and vulnerable sections of the population. It will also enable ease of living, in terms of allowing beneficiaries to lift free of cost food-grains from any fair price shop in the country  under  the  ONORC-One  Nation  One  Ration  Card-  initiative.  This  initiative  is  of enormous benefit for migrants, facilitating both intra and inter State portability of entitlements as part of technology based reforms under Digital India.

iii. PM  Street Vendor's  AtmaNirbhar  Nidhi  (PM  SVANidhi) : The Government is implementing PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme since June 01, 2020 to facilitate micro-credit to street vendors, vending in urban areas so that they can restart their business which was adversely impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic. As of  December 7, 2023, 74.64 Iakh loans amounting to Rs. 9,820.46 Cr have been disbursed to 56.73 lakh street vendors across the country.

iv. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM): The Government  is  implementing  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  namely,  'Deendayal  Antyodaya Yojana-  National  Urban  Livelihoods  Mission  (DAY-NULM)'  since  2014-15  in  the  statutory towns  of  the  country,  to  reduce  poverty  and  vulnerability  of  urban  poor  households  on  a sustainable  basis.  The  Mission,  inter-alia,  aims  to  enable  urban  poor  to  access  gainful  selfemployment and skilled wage employment opportunities. Also, financial assistance is provided to  individuals/  groups/  Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs)  of  urban  poor  for  setting  up  gainful  selfemployment ventures or micro enterprises. The Physical Progress during last 3 years (2020-21 to 2022-23) is as follows:

Number of Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed      :   3,02,896

- Number of SHGs given Revolving Fund (RF)    :   2,40,938

- Number of persons imparted skill training       :   4,13,528

- Number of beneficiaries assisted in setting-up of I&G micro-enterprises :   3,00,167

- Number of loans given to SHGs under bank- linkage programme         :   2,91,893

v. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) :  Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana(PMUY)  was launched  on  01.05.2016  to  provide  deposit  free  LPG  connections  to  adult  women  from  poor households  across  the  country.  As  on  30.09.2023,  9.59  Crore  PMUY  connections  have  been released in the country. Recently, the Government has approved the release of additional 75 lakh connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for the period FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26,  with  Government   support  of  ₹  2,200  per  connection  for  14.2  Kg  Single  Bottle Connection/ 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection & ₹ 1,300 per connection for 5 Kg Single Bottle Connection.

vi. The Union Budget 2023-24 has prioritized inclusive development through various measures such    as  initiatives  for  the  agriculture  sector  (for  example:  digital  public  infrastructure  for

agriculture;  Agriculture Accelerator Fund; focus on cotton crop and horticulture; making India a global hub for  millets; enhanced agriculture credit target etc); skilling, health, and education. The  Budget  further  announced  the  Pradhan  Mantri  PVTG  Development  Mission  to  improve socio-economic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) to ensure basic facilities for PVTG families  and habitations. This has been launched recently as PM PRANAM. The outlay for PM Awas Yojana has also been enhanced by 66 per cent to over  Rs. 79,000 crore to achieve "Housing for all".

The details of the funds allocated and actually spent, for various years, for the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Central Sector Schemes are available in Statement 4A and Statement 4B,  respectively  in  the  'Expenditure  Profile'  document,  which  is  part  of  the  annual  Union Budget documents. The details can be accessed at the URL: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in.

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