Poverty Alleviation

Various government schemes 

Sectoral Development 

1. 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. 

2. 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. 

3. 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. 

4. 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. 

5. 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. 

6. 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. 

7. 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’. 

8. 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. 

9. 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. 

10. 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. 

11. 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 

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.