Aspirational districts fare better in poverty reduction

According to the latest Multidimensional Poverty Index released by Niti Aayog, aspirational districts are doing better in poverty alleviation. The average decline in number of multidimensionally poor was higher for aspirational districts between 2015-16 and 2019-21. However, they still lag the country in poverty ratio—the proportion of people who are multi-dimensionally poor or lacking access to basic facilities. ISHAAN GERA looks at the data:

MP AND HARYANA RECORD HIGHEST DECLINES

• Multidimensional poverty declined 22.6% points in MP between 2015-16 and 2019-21
• 21 out of 24 states recorded a decline in poverty ratio in aspirational districts faster than the state average
• Six states with less than 10% poor in aspirational districts in 2019-21 compared to 4 in 2015-16

SHARPER DECLINE

• Multidimensional poverty declines in aspirational districts to 26% from 41% earlier
• Decline for India to 15% in 2019-21 from 24.9% in 2015-16
• Only 3 aspirational districts have nearly half of the population multidimensionally poor in 2019-21
• In 2015-16, 37 of 106 districts had a poverty ratio of more than 50%