United Nations Praises India as 415 Million People Exit Poverty in 15 Years

The United Nations (UN) has commended India for its remarkable achievement in poverty reduction, with a staggering 415 million people lifting themselves out of poverty within just 15 years. According to the latest update of the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford, India is among the 25 countries that successfully halved their global MPI values within the same timeframe.

The report highlights that rapid progress in poverty reduction is attainable, as evidenced by these countries, which include Cambodia, China, Congo, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Serbia, and Vietnam. This achievement is even more remarkable considering that India surpassed China in April to become the world’s most populous nation with 1.4286 billion people, according to UN data.

The report specifically recognizes India’s significant reduction in poverty, stating that 415 million people were lifted out of poverty from 2005/2006 to 2019/2021. The incidence of poverty in India decreased from 55.1 percent in 2005/2006 to 16.4 percent in 2019/2021. In 2005/2006, approximately 645 million people in India were living in multidimensional poverty, a number that declined to about 370 million in 2015/2016 and further to 230 million in 2019/2021.

The report also highlights that deprivation in various indicators declined in India, with the poorest states and disadvantaged groups, including children and people from marginalized caste groups, experiencing the fastest progress. The percentage of people in India who were multidimensionally poor and deprived of nutrition decreased from 44.3 percent in 2005/2006 to 11.8 percent in 2019/2021. Similarly, child mortality fell from 4.5 percent to 1.5 percent, and deprivation of cooking fuel and sanitation also declined significantly.

The data presented in the report demonstrates that countries with different levels of poverty incidence were able to halve their global MPI values. While some countries had an initial poverty incidence under 25 percent, India and Congo began with incidences above 50 percent. This highlights the feasibility of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of halving poverty according to national definitions within 15 years.

However, the report acknowledges that the lack of comprehensive data during the COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges in assessing immediate prospects and understanding the pandemic’s impact on poverty reduction. The UNDP emphasizes the need for intensified efforts to collect data and implement policies to get poverty reduction back on track, particularly considering the negative effects of the pandemic on dimensions such as education.

In conclusion, the UN’s recognition of India’s achievement in poverty reduction is a testament to the significant progress made within a relatively short period. The report underscores the importance of continued efforts to address multidimensional poverty and calls for a comprehensive understanding of the pandemic’s impact on poverty rates. With a renewed focus on data collection, policymakers can make informed decisions to alleviate poverty and improve the well-being of vulnerable populations.