13.5 crore people moved out of poverty in 5 years, UP leads with 3.4 crore alone: Niti Aayog

New Delhi: Close to 13.5 crore people were moved out of multi-dimensional poverty in the country in 5 years, starting from 2015-16 to 2019-21 with fastest reduction in poverty recorded in Uttar Pradesh, said Niti Aayog on Tuesday.

The report implies that after Modi government took charge in 2014, the subsequent years saw significant decline in multi-dimensional poverty, measured on scales of education, health & standard of living.

The data collated for the years shows that as compared to year 2015, India saw 13.5 crore less poorer by 2021. And, those who saw fastest poverty reduction included Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, Odisha & Rajasthan.

India registered decline of 9.89% in the number of country’s multi-dimensionally poor from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96 per cent in 2019-2021, according to the second edition of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).

In 5 years, an unprecedented sustained developmental focus on health, nutrition and education helped 13.5 crore people escape multidimensional poverty as per National #MPI review 2023.

Uttar Pradesh takes lead in terms of poverty reduction with 34.27 million people exiting… pic.twitter.com/nAl7pnVAeU

— NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) July 17, 2023

Uttar Pradesh was the leader in pack, with the state alone accounting for poverty reduction of 3.4 crore population.

“Uttar Pradesh takes lead in terms of poverty reduction with 34.27 million people exiting poverty,” the Niti Aayog said in its tweet.

According to the global MPI released by UNDP and OPHI, about 415 million people moved out of poverty in India, from 2005/2006 to 2019/2021.

The Niti Aayog attributed the decline to govt’s consistent focus on improving basic essentials of life including drinking water, electricity, cooking fuel, nutrition, sanitation & also financial inclusion. It says that all 12 parameters of MPI have shown considerable improvement.

It further said that many public welfare schemes, apparently launched during Modi govt tenure, worked wonders in uplifting the quality of life & lifting them out of poverty.

Initiatives like Saubhagya, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), and Samagra Shiksha played key role in reducing multidimensional poverty.

Initiatives like Poshan Abhiyan and Anaemia Mukt Bharat addressed poor health in deprived society while Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission worked towards improving sanitation in the country.