New Delhi: The United Nations (UN) reported that India saw a significant plunge into poverty in India as 415 million people quitting the category.
In the latest update of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) evaluation was done based on the estimates of 110 countries.
“..India saw a remarkable reduction in poverty, with 415 million people exiting poverty within a span of just 15 years (2005/6–19/21). Large numbers of people were lifted out of poverty in China (2010–14, 69 million) and Indonesia (2012–17, 8 million)…” read a report published by the UNDP.
As many as 25 countries, including India, have successfully cut half their global MPI values within 15 years. These countries include Cambodia, China, Congo, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Serbia, and Vietnam.
This comes after India became the most populous country in the world, surpassing China with 142.86 crore people, according to UN data.
The incidence fell from 55.1 percent in 2005/2006 to 16.4 per cent in 2019/2021. The report further said that deprivation in all indicators declined in India, and “the poorest states and groups, including children and people in disadvantaged caste groups, had the fastest absolute progress.”
Number of those who are multidimensionally poor and deprived under the nutrition indicator in India have reduced to 11.8 per cent in 2019/2021 that used to be 44.3 per cent in 2005/2006. Meanwhile, the child mortality fell from 4.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent.
However, the percentage of those under multidimensionally poor and deprived fell from 16.4 in 2005/2006 to 2.7 in 2019/2021.
The report suggested that the reduction in poverty is achievable. However, the report added, the lack of comprehensive data over the COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges in assesing immediate prospects.