Page 29 - NIS English 16-31 August 2023

Empowering Rural India Cover Story

According to a report by NITI
Aayog, between 2015-16 to 2019-
21, more than 13.5 crore people
have come out of poverty.

The village culture, rituals and the
struggles associated with us have
have all contributed significantly to poverty shaped many people like us and
reduction. This second edition of the National
Multidimensional Poverty Index based on the strengthened our values. This is the
latest National Family Health Survey NFHS-5 strength of our democracy. In India even
(2019-21) captures India's progress in reducing the poorest person born in a village
multidimensional poverty between the two can reach the post of President-Prime
surveys, NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019- Minister-Governor-Chief Minister.
21). The National Multidimensional Poverty Index
measures all three dimensions - health, education -Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
and standard of living. The 12 parameters include
nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal
health, years of schooling, school attendance,
kitchen non-availability, sanitation, drinking water, leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the
electricity, housing, assets and bank accounts all-inclusive development of the country is taking
All of these have seen remarkable improvements place and a new story is being written. Work is being
in the last few years. All 12 parameters of the done for the welfare and upliftment of villages, the
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) have poor, farmers, Dalits, backward, deprived, tribals,
improved significantly. Flagship programmes like youth, and women, so that all sections of society
POSHAN Abhiyaan and Anaemia Mukt Bharat get an opportunity to move forward.
have helped to close health gaps, while initiatives The Central Government's schemes have given
like the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and Jal even the poorest of the poor in the country a sense
Jeevan Mission (JJM) have helped to improve of respect and security. For the first time in the
sanitation across the country. The Pradhan Mantri country, the poor have safety and dignity. Those
Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which provides subsidised who were made to realise for decades that they
cooking gas, has positively impacted people's were a burden on the country's development are
lives. Initiatives such as Saubhagya, Pradhan now speeding up the country's development. That is
Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Jan why, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "When the
Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), and Samagra Shiksha have government was launching these schemes, some
also contributed significantly to the reduction of people mocked us. However, these schemes have
multidimensional poverty. now given impetus to India's rapid development;
they have become the basis for building a developed
A contemporary and futuristic India." Poor, dalit, underprivileged, backward, tribal,
vision of development general class, middle class—everyone's lives
The present government at the Centre is a new have changed dramatically in the last nine years.
energy-driven triumvirate, which has created an Certainly, in the country today, work is being done
atmosphere of trust in the country through its with a holistic approach and in mission mode.
policies, programmes, and schemes for a new India, During this time, the government's thinking has
for a developed nation, and for fulfilling the regional changed, and the principle of service is being
aspirations of the people. Its resolve, agenda, spirit, reflected on the ground. Rural India, known as the
and path are also positive. When there is a stable soul of India, is now the charioteer of a developed
government in the country, the country takes India's resolution because this journey of change is
timeless decisions. In the true sense, under the both contemporary and futuristic.

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