Q 8(c). भारत सरकार ने यूनाइटेड नेशन्स द्वारा 'सस्टेनेबिल डेवेलपमेंट गोल्स 2015' की घोषणा के पश्चात् निर्धनता उन्मूलन के लिए कौन सी योजनाएं प्रारम्भ की हैं? संक्षेप में वर्णन कीजिये।
(UPSC 2025,10 Marks,150 Words)
Theme:
Indian Government Schemes for Poverty Alleviation
Where in Syllabus:
(Indian Government Schemes for Poverty Alleviation)
What are the Indian government's schemes launched for poverty alleviation after the United Nation's Declaration of 'Sustainable Development Goals - 2015'? Briefly describe.
Q 8(c). भारत सरकार ने यूनाइटेड नेशन्स द्वारा 'सस्टेनेबिल डेवेलपमेंट गोल्स 2015' की घोषणा के पश्चात् निर्धनता उन्मूलन के लिए कौन सी योजनाएं प्रारम्भ की हैं? संक्षेप में वर्णन कीजिये।
(UPSC 2025,10 Marks,150 Words)
Theme:
Indian Government Schemes for Poverty Alleviation
Where in Syllabus:
(Indian Government Schemes for Poverty Alleviation)
What are the Indian government's schemes launched for poverty alleviation after the United Nation's Declaration of 'Sustainable Development Goals - 2015'? Briefly describe.
प्रस्तावना
The Indian government has implemented various schemes for poverty alleviation, aiming to uplift marginalized communities. Notable initiatives include the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), providing employment to millions, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), ensuring affordable housing. Economist Amartya Sen emphasized the importance of capability enhancement in poverty reduction. According to the World Bank, India's poverty rate fell from 21.6% in 2011 to 13.4% in 2015, showcasing the impact of these targeted interventions.
Indian Government Schemes for Poverty Alleviation
● Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
○ Launched in 2015, this scheme aims to provide affordable housing to the urban poor by 2022. It includes both urban and rural components, with a target of constructing 20 million affordable houses. The scheme offers subsidies on home loans for economically weaker sections.
● Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
○ Initiated in 2016, this scheme provides free LPG connections to women from below poverty line (BPL) households. It aims to replace traditional cooking fuels with cleaner alternatives, improving health and reducing indoor air pollution.
● Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY)
○ Launched in 2015, this scheme focuses on skill development and employment for the urban and rural poor. It includes the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), aiming to enhance livelihood opportunities through skill training and self-employment.
● Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
○ Although launched in 2014, it gained momentum post-2015. This financial inclusion program aims to provide universal access to banking facilities. As of 2023, over 480 million bank accounts have been opened under this scheme, promoting savings and financial literacy.
● Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
○ Launched in 2015, this scheme targets the unorganized sector, providing a pension scheme for workers. It encourages them to save for retirement, offering a guaranteed minimum pension after the age of 60.
● Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
○ Initiated in 2015, this skill development scheme aims to train youth in industry-relevant skills to enhance employability. It provides short-term training and certification, with a focus on improving the skill set of the workforce.
● National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan)
○ Launched in 2018, this mission aims to reduce malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, and women. It focuses on improving nutritional outcomes through a multi-sectoral approach, targeting stunting, undernutrition, and anemia.
● Saubhagya Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana)
○ Launched in 2017, this scheme aims to provide electricity connections to all households in rural and urban areas, ensuring energy access and improving quality of life.
● Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
○ Launched in 2018, this health insurance scheme provides coverage of up to INR 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. It targets economically vulnerable families, reducing the financial burden of healthcare.
These schemes collectively aim to address various dimensions of poverty, including housing, health, education, and financial inclusion, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
○ Launched in 2015, this scheme aims to provide affordable housing to the urban poor by 2022. It includes both urban and rural components, with a target of constructing 20 million affordable houses. The scheme offers subsidies on home loans for economically weaker sections.
● Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
○ Initiated in 2016, this scheme provides free LPG connections to women from below poverty line (BPL) households. It aims to replace traditional cooking fuels with cleaner alternatives, improving health and reducing indoor air pollution.
● Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY)
○ Launched in 2015, this scheme focuses on skill development and employment for the urban and rural poor. It includes the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), aiming to enhance livelihood opportunities through skill training and self-employment.
● Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
○ Although launched in 2014, it gained momentum post-2015. This financial inclusion program aims to provide universal access to banking facilities. As of 2023, over 480 million bank accounts have been opened under this scheme, promoting savings and financial literacy.
● Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
○ Launched in 2015, this scheme targets the unorganized sector, providing a pension scheme for workers. It encourages them to save for retirement, offering a guaranteed minimum pension after the age of 60.
● Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
○ Initiated in 2015, this skill development scheme aims to train youth in industry-relevant skills to enhance employability. It provides short-term training and certification, with a focus on improving the skill set of the workforce.
● National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan)
○ Launched in 2018, this mission aims to reduce malnutrition among children, adolescent girls, and women. It focuses on improving nutritional outcomes through a multi-sectoral approach, targeting stunting, undernutrition, and anemia.
● Saubhagya Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana)
○ Launched in 2017, this scheme aims to provide electricity connections to all households in rural and urban areas, ensuring energy access and improving quality of life.
● Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
○ Launched in 2018, this health insurance scheme provides coverage of up to INR 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. It targets economically vulnerable families, reducing the financial burden of healthcare.
These schemes collectively aim to address various dimensions of poverty, including housing, health, education, and financial inclusion, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
निष्कर्ष
The Indian Government's poverty alleviation schemes, such as MGNREGA, PMAY, and NSAP, have significantly impacted poverty reduction. According to the World Bank, India's poverty rate fell from 21.6% in 2011 to 13.4% in 2015. However, challenges remain in implementation and targeting. Economist Amartya Sen emphasizes the need for inclusive growth and social equity. A way forward involves enhancing transparency, leveraging technology, and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure sustainable poverty reduction and economic empowerment for all citizens.