Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The United Nations' adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 marked a global commitment to address pressing challenges, with SDG 1 specifically aiming to "End poverty in all its forms everywhere." India, a signatory to this declaration, integrated these goals into its national development agenda, intensifying its efforts to eradicate poverty. While India has a long history of anti-poverty programs, the post-2015 period saw the launch of new initiatives and the strengthening of existing ones, aligning them more closely with the multidimensional aspects of poverty outlined in the SDGs. These schemes reflect a comprehensive approach, addressing various facets of poverty including income generation, access to basic services, financial inclusion, and social protection.
Key Poverty Alleviation Schemes Post-2015
The government's strategy for poverty alleviation post-2015 focuses on a multi-pronged approach:1. Employment Generation and Livelihood Enhancement
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005 (Expanded Focus Post-SDGs): While launched earlier, MGNREGA continues to be a cornerstone of rural poverty alleviation. Post-2015, there has been an increased emphasis on its convergence with SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). It guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do unskilled manual work. Studies indicate a significant reduction in rural poverty rates in districts where MGNREGA was implemented.
- Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), 2011 (Renamed and Strengthened in 2015): Originally launched in 2011 as Aajeevika, it was renamed in November 2015. DAY-NRLM aims to reduce poverty by organizing rural poor households into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. It provides financial and skill support for sustainable livelihoods, facilitating access to affordable credit and financial literacy.
2. Housing and Basic Services
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), 2015: Launched on June 25, 2015, PMAY aims to provide "Housing for All" by ensuring a "pucca" (all-weather) house to all eligible urban and rural households. It has two components:
- PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U): Administered by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, it addresses urban housing shortages, including for slum dwellers. It provides interest subsidies on home loans and direct financial assistance for construction.
- PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G): Administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, it provides financial assistance for the construction of houses in rural areas, often converging with other schemes to ensure basic amenities like toilets and electricity.
3. Financial Inclusion and Social Security
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), 2014 (Continued Impact Post-SDGs): Launched in August 2014, PMJDY aimed to provide universal access to banking facilities, ensuring basic savings bank accounts, access to credit, remittances, insurance, and pensions. While pre-dating SDGs, its massive scale and continued implementation post-2015 have been crucial for financial inclusion, forming the "JAM trinity" (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) for efficient Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of government schemes.
- Atal Pension Yojana (APY), 2015: Launched in May 2015, APY provides social security to workers in the unorganized sector by enabling them to save for their retirement. It offers a guaranteed pension ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per month after 60 years of age, depending on their contributions.
- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), 2015: Launched in May 2015, this scheme provides life insurance coverage to individuals aged 18-50 years, offering a sum assured of ₹2 lakh upon death due to any cause.
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), 2015: Launched in May 2015, PMSBY offers accidental death and disability insurance coverage to individuals aged 18-70 years for a nominal premium, providing a sum assured of ₹2 lakh for accidental death or total permanent disability.
4. Food and Nutrition Security
- National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 (Strengthened Post-SDGs): The NFSA, enacted in 2013, legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Post-2015, its effective implementation has been critical in ensuring food security, particularly for vulnerable populations, directly contributing to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and indirectly to poverty alleviation.
5. Entrepreneurship and Skill Development
- Stand-Up India Scheme, 2016: Launched on April 5, 2016, this scheme promotes entrepreneurship among women and Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) by facilitating bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services, or trading.
- Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), 2015: Launched in April 2015, PMMY provides collateral-free loans up to ₹10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises. This scheme empowers individuals to start or expand their businesses, fostering self-employment and income generation.
- PM SVANidhi (Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi), 2020: Launched in June 2020, this scheme provides affordable working capital loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods, which were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers collateral-free loans up to ₹50,000 with interest subsidies.
Table of Select Schemes and their SDG Alignment
| Scheme Name | Launch Year | Primary Objective for Poverty Alleviation | Key SDG Alignment (Beyond SDG 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGNREGA | 2005 | Guaranteed wage employment in rural areas | SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) |
| DAY-NRLM | 2011 (renamed 2015) | Promoting self-employment and skilled wage employment through SHGs | SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) |
| PMAY | 2015 | Affordable housing for all | SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities) |
| PMJDY | 2014 | Universal financial inclusion | SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) |
| NFSA | 2013 | Legal entitlement to subsidized food grains | SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) |
| Stand-Up India | 2016 | Promoting entrepreneurship among women, SC/ST | SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) |
| PMMY | 2015 | Providing credit for micro-enterprises | SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) |
| PM SVANidhi | 2020 | Working capital loans for street vendors | SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities) |
Conclusion
The Indian government, in response to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals 2015, has significantly bolstered its poverty alleviation efforts through a diverse array of schemes. These initiatives, spanning employment generation, housing, food security, financial inclusion, and entrepreneurship, demonstrate a holistic and rights-based approach to tackling multidimensional poverty. While challenges such as implementation efficiency, regional disparities, and sustainable funding persist, the continued emphasis on social protection, empowerment, and direct benefit transfers reflects a strong commitment to achieving SDG 1: 'No Poverty' by 2030, aiming to uplift the most vulnerable sections of society and foster inclusive growth.
Answer Length
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