Executive Summary:
This document responds to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 496 regarding Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, addressing the details of families benefitted from government schemes, plans to enhance employability through skill development, revisions to BPL criteria, and the development of a single digital portal. It references data from the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) reports of 2021 and 2023, and a NITI Aayog discussion paper to demonstrate poverty reduction. The document also outlines skill development programs available under the Skill India Mission (SIM).
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Poverty Measurement and Reduction:**
* The government uses the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which includes health, education, and standard of living indicators, to measure poverty.
* India's National MPI Report 2023 showed a decrease in multidimensional poverty from 24.85 in 2015-16 to 14.96 in 2019-21, with approximately 13.55 crore people escaping poverty.
* A NITI Aayog discussion paper estimates a reduction in multidimensional poverty from 29.17 in 2013-14 to 11.28 in 2022-23, with 24.82 crore people escaping poverty.
* MPI data for all States and Union Territories, including Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Maharashtra, is publicly accessible.
* **Government Schemes and Programs:**
* The government implements various welfare schemes to uplift BPL households.
* Data on these schemes is available on the official websites of the respective Ministries and Departments.
* **Skill Development Initiatives:**
* The Skill India Mission (SIM) provides skilling, reskilling, and upskilling training through skill development centers and institutes.
* Various schemes under SIM, such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), are available to all sections of society, including those from BPL families.
Impact Analysis:
* **BPL Families:**
* Impact: Benefit from government schemes and skill development programs aimed at improving their standard of living and employability.
* Action Required: Access information on available schemes and enroll in relevant skill development programs through the appropriate channels.
* **Government Ministries and Departments:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing and monitoring welfare schemes and providing data on their impact.
* Action Required: Maintain updated information on their respective websites and ensure the effective implementation of their programs.
* **NITI Aayog:**
* Impact: Conducts studies and publishes reports on poverty reduction trends.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor poverty levels and provide data-driven recommendations to the government.
* **Skill Development Centers/Institutes:**
* Impact: Provide training and skill development opportunities to individuals, including those from BPL families.
* Action Required: Deliver quality training programs and ensure accessibility for all sections of society.
Key Entities Referenced
Below Poverty Line: A category of households defined by the Government, used for targeting welfare schemes and development programs.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli: A Union Territory in India, specifically mentioned in the context of data collection and scheme implementation for BPL families.
Maharashtra: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of potential revision of criteria for identification of BPL families.
Multidimensional Poverty Index: A comprehensive index developed by the Government to measure poverty based on health, education, and standard of living.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India, responsible for publishing a discussion paper on multidimensional poverty in India.
Skill India Mission: A Government of India initiative focused on skill development and vocational training programs.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: A skill development scheme under the Skill India Mission, aimed at providing vocational training to various sections of society.
Ministry of Planning: A ministry of the Government of India.
GOVERNMEN T OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PLANNING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 496
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2025
BELOW POVERTY LINE HOUSEHOLDS
†496. SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:
(a) the details of families benefitted from Government schemes targeting to improve the lives
of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in different States of the country along with
the number of families whose living standard have improved by 2025, State and UT-wise
including that of in Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli;
(b) the details of plans to enhance the employability of BPL family members through skill
development programmes;
(c) whether the Government is considering to revise the criteria for identification of BPL
families;
(d) if so, the details thereof, particularly in respect of Maharashtra;
(e) whether the Government is considering to develop a single digital portal to consolidate
and streamline access to benefits and welfare schemes target for BPL families;
(f) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including that of Dadra and Nagar Haveli; and
(g) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS
AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT
CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
(RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) , (c), (d), (e), (f) & (g) In 2021, Government developed a comprehensive index known as
Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) to measure poverty that captures overlapping
deprivations in dimensions such as health, education and standard of living, covering 12
Page 1 of 2indicators. The second edition of the index was released in 2023. As per the latest
National MPI Report 2023, the proportion of population in multidimensional poverty
declined from 24.85% to 14.96% between 2015-16 and 2019-21, indicating that about
13.55 crore persons have escaped poverty during the period. Further, as per the
discussion paper ‘Multidimensional Poverty in India since 2005- 06’ published by NITI
Aayog, multidimensional poverty in India is estimated to have declined from 29.17% in
2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23 indicating that 24.82 crore people have escaped poverty
during this period.
The MPI data for all States and Union Territories—including Dadra and Nagar Haveli
and Maharashtra—covering the three core dimensions of health, education, and standard
of living are in public domain and can be accessed at
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-08/India-National-Multidimentional-
Poverty-Index-2023.pdf
This significant reduction in poverty aligns with the Government's ongoing efforts to
uplift Below Poverty Line (BPL) households through various welfare schemes and
programs. These initiatives, implemented by different Ministries and Departments, aim to
address the socio-economic needs of vulnerable groups. The relevant data on these
schemes are available on the official websites of the respective Ministries and
Departments, where each ministry oversees specific programs and provides detailed
information through dedicated portals.
(b) Under the Government of India’s Skill India Mission (SIM), the Government delivers
skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling training through an extensive network of skill
development centres/institutes etc. under various schemes viz. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal
Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship
Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through Industrial
Training Institutes (ITIs), to all the sections of the society including those from Below
Poverty Line (BPL) category across the country.
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