Subject: Social Justice

India's battle against hunger and poverty represents one of the most significant governance challenges, with recent data from NITI Aayog's National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2023 showing remarkable progress yet highlighting persistent concerns in addressing these fundamental issues.

Progress Made by Successive Governments

Poverty Reduction Initiatives:

• Implementation of MGNREGA with an allocation of ₹89,153.71 crore in 2023-24, providing guaranteed employment and income security to rural households.
• PM Kisan Scheme has disbursed over ₹3.46 lakh crore in 18 installments, supporting farmer incomes and agricultural sustainability.
• Social Security Programs have successfully lifted nearly 28 million people out of poverty in 2023.

Addressing Food Security:

• PM POSHAN scheme with an allocation of ₹8,457.74 crore in 2023-24, targeting nutritional security for school children.
• Significant reduction in child malnutrition as per NFHS-5 (2019-21) data:
  • Stunting decreased from 38.4% to 35.5%.
  • Wasting reduced from 21.0% to 19.3%.
  • Underweight prevalence declined from 35.8% to 32.1%.

Challenges and Measures for Improvement

Structural Reforms:

• Implementation of targeted poverty mapping using technology and real-time data analytics.
• Strengthening Public Distribution System (PDS) through digitalization and better monitoring.
• Enhanced focus on skill development and entrepreneurship programs for sustainable livelihood generation.

Policy Interventions:

• Integration of various welfare schemes through a single-window system.
• Increased allocation for nutrition-specific interventions under National Food Security Mission.
• Strengthening women-centric programs for economic empowerment and household food security.

The path to eliminating poverty and hunger requires a multi-pronged approach combining Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), robust social security measures, and sustainable livelihood opportunities, while leveraging technology and ensuring good governance through transparent and accountable implementation mechanisms like the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) trinity.