Various government schemes
| Scheme Name | Target Population | Key Features |
| Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) | Rural poor and unemployed | Guaranteed 100 days of wage employment to every household in rural areas |
| National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) | Rural poor and marginalized | Aims to create sustainable livelihood opportunities and improve access to financial services for rural poor |
| Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) | Rural poor | Aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages in rural areas |
| Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) | Urban poor and homeless | Aims to provide affordable housing to urban poor and homeless |
| National Health Mission (NHM) | Poor and marginalized communities | Aims to improve access to healthcare services for poor and marginalized communities |
| Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) | Poor and unbanked population | Aims to promote financial inclusion by providing bank accounts, debit cards, and insurance to poor and unbanked populations |
| National Food Security Act (NFSA) | Poor and vulnerable households | Provides subsidized food grains to poor and vulnerable households |
| Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) | Rural youth and poor | Aims to provide skills training and employment opportunities for rural youth and poor |
Sectoral Development
Accelerating economic growth
- Benefits of economic growth should trickle down to the poor through employment opportunities, productivity, and higher wages.
- Avoid the use of capital-intensive technologies imported from Western countries.
- Pursue a labor-intensive path of economic growth.
- Adopt monetary and fiscal policies that provide incentives for using labor-intensive techniques.
Agricultural Growth and Poverty Alleviation:
- Agricultural growth contributes to marked reduction in poverty.
- Public investment in irrigation and other infrastructure should be increased to accelerate the rate of agricultural growth.
- Access to credit should be ensured to small farmers in semi-arid and rain-fed areas to achieve higher agricultural growth.
Rural Road Connectivity:
- Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) provides connectivity to unconnected habitations as part of a poverty-reduction strategy.
- High and uniform technical and management standards are set to ensure sustainable management of the rural roads network.
- This programme covers all villages with population more than 1,000 and villages in hilly and tribal areas with population more than 500.
Accelerating Human Resource Development:
- Investment in educational facilities, technical training institutes, and vocational colleges should be increased to promote literacy and skills development.
- Public investment in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), dispensaries, and hospitals is necessary for human resource development.
Access to Institutional Credit:
- Availability of credit on easy terms can create the conditions for small farmers to adopt high-yielding technology to raise their productivity.
- Expansion of network of rural branches of commercial banks, compulsory lending to priority sectors, and lower interest rates have been introduced in the credit delivery system in India.
Public Distribution System (PDS):
- A properly functioning PDS targeted to poor households is important for poverty reduction.
- Assured supply of adequate quantity of food-grains and other essential commodities at subsidized prices can raise rural incomes and ensure food security to the poor households.
Irrigation:
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana was introduced to extend the coverage of irrigation and reduce poverty in rural areas.
- The basic theme of the PMKSY is ‘More Crop Per Drop’.
Housing:
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (Rural) were introduced to build houses for the poor.
- The mission will be implemented during 2015-2022 and will provide central assistance for in situ rehabilitation, credit-linked subsidy, affordable housing in partnership, and subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancement.
Rural Electrification:
- ‘Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana’ was launched for rural electrification.
- The Ministry of Power has sanctioned projects to electrify un-electrified and partially electrified villages and provide free electricity connections to BPL rural households.
Self-Employment Schemes:
- Swaran Jayanti Grameen Sah-rozgar Yogana (SGSY) in the rural areas and Swaran Jayanti Shahri Rozgar Yogana (SJSRY) in the urban areas provide self-employment opportunities.
Skill Development:
- Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojna was introduced to engage rural youth, especially BPL and SC/ ST segments, in gainful employment through skill training programs.
SDGs and Poverty
| Indicator | Baseline (Year) | Target Goal 2030 |
| Poverty Rate | 21.9% (2011-12) | End extreme poverty and reduce poverty by at least half |
| Extreme Poverty Rate | 5.3% (2011-12) | End extreme poverty and reduce poverty by at least half |
| Proportion of Population Living Below National Poverty Line | 21.9% (2011-12) | End extreme poverty and reduce poverty by at least half |
| Poverty Gap Ratio | 5.7% (2011-12) | End extreme poverty and reduce poverty by at least half |
| Gini Coefficient | 33.9 (2011-12) | Reduce inequality, including through fiscal, wage, and social protection policies |
| Labor Force Participation Rate | 50.3% (2011-12) | Increase the share of women and men who participate in the labor market and have access to jobs, entrepreneurship, and training |
| Youth Not in Education, Employment, or Training | 30.2% (2012) | Increase the share of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship |
| Social Protection Coverage | Not available | Ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and vulnerable, have access to social protection, including social protection floors |
| Multidimensional Poverty Index | Not available | Ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance |
Note: Data for some indicators may not be available for the latest year.
Role of SHGs in Poverty Alleviation
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are community-based organizations that are formed and managed by women who come together to address common issues related to poverty, financial inclusion, and social empowerment. The SHGs play a crucial role in poverty alleviation in India by empowering women through financial inclusion, skill-building, and access to credit.
Here are some ways in which SHGs contribute to poverty alleviation:
- Financial Inclusion: SHGs help women to open bank accounts and save money regularly. This not only promotes a culture of saving but also provides them with a safety net during emergencies. By having a bank account, women also gain access to various financial services, including loans and insurance, which can help them to overcome financial difficulties.
- Access to Credit: SHGs act as a platform for women to access credit, which they can use to start their own businesses or invest in other income-generating activities. As a group, women can pool their savings and take loans from banks or other financial institutions, which they can then distribute among themselves. This ensures that even those women who do not have collateral or a credit history can access credit.
- Skill-building: SHGs provide women with training and support to develop skills and knowledge in areas such as financial management, entrepreneurship, and leadership. This equips them with the tools they need to start their own businesses or take up jobs, which can help to increase their income and lift them out of poverty.
- Social Empowerment: SHGs provide a platform for women to come together, share their experiences, and support each other. This not only builds a sense of community but also helps to increase their confidence and self-esteem. This, in turn, helps to break down social barriers and gives them a greater voice in decision-making processes at the household and community levels.
FAQs
1. What are poverty alleviation programs in India?
- Poverty alleviation programs in India are government initiatives aimed at reducing poverty by providing financial assistance, social services, and skill development to impoverished individuals and communities.
2. How does poverty alleviation differ from poverty eradication?
- Poverty alleviation aims to reduce poverty and improve conditions for those living in poverty, whereas poverty eradication seeks to eliminate poverty entirely.
3. What is the definition of “poverty reduction”?
- Poverty reduction refers to a systematic and sustained effort to decrease the number of people living in poverty, improve their standard of living, and ensure they have access to basic needs such as food, shelter, education, and healthcare.
4. What is the Hindi translation of “poverty alleviation”?
- The Hindi translation of “poverty alleviation” is “गरीबी उपशमन” (garibi upashaman).
5. What are poverty alleviation schemes, and how do they operate?
- Poverty alleviation schemes are government programs designed to provide financial support, skill development, education, and healthcare to impoverished individuals and communities, ultimately improving their economic conditions and quality of life.
6. How can individuals or communities access poverty alleviation schemes in India?
- Eligible individuals or communities can typically access poverty alleviation schemes through application processes facilitated by government agencies or local authorities.\
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