SDG 1: END POVERTY
Goal: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Overview: Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) aims to eradicate extreme poverty globally by 2030. This goal is important in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted in 2015.
Extreme poverty is defined as living on less than $1.25 per day.
SET OF GOALS UNDER SDG 1
- Eradicate Extreme Poverty: Eliminate extreme poverty for all people, defined as living on less than USD 1.25 per day.
- Reduce Poverty Proportions: Halve the proportion of people living in poverty in all its dimensions, according to national definitions.
- Implement Social Protection Systems: Establish comprehensive social protection systems and achieve substantial coverage for the poor and vulnerable.
- Equal Access to Economic Resources: Ensure equal rights to economic resources and access to basic services, land ownership, and financial services, including microfinance.
- Build Resilience: Enhance the resilience of the poor and vulnerable to climate-related extreme events and other shocks.
- Mobilize Resources: Increase resources from various sources, including development cooperation, to support poverty eradication efforts in developing countries.
- Create Pro-Poor Policy Frameworks: Develop sound policy frameworks that are pro-poor and gender-sensitive to accelerate investments in poverty eradication.
GLOBAL POVERTY
- Globally, around 800 million people endure extreme poverty, living on less than USD 1.25 per day.
- Despite significant progress in reducing extreme poverty since 1990, challenges persist.
- As of 2015, 2% of all working adults and 16% of young people aged 15-24 live below the global poverty line of USD 1.90 per day.
- Additionally, 18,000 children die daily from poverty-related causes. This reality highlights the urgency of addressing extreme poverty.
INDIA & SDG 1:
Reduction in Poverty: Between 2012 and 2013, significant reductions in extreme poverty were observed in Asia, particularly in China and India. Despite this progress, as of 2011-2012, 21% of India’s population remained in poverty, with nearly 80% residing in rural areas.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Provides 100 days of wage employment per household per year, generating over 7 billion person-days of employment in 2018-19.
- Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Opened 377 million bank accounts with deposits totaling INR 1079 billion, facilitating direct benefit transfers and social security provisions.
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY): Aims to universalize primary healthcare, with nearly 5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres by 2022 and insurance coverage of up to INR 5 lakh per family per year.
- National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): Distributed INR 200 billion to 243 million beneficiaries in 2018-19, including pensions for the elderly, widows, and disabled.
Access to Basic Services:
- Housing for All by 2022: Provides financial assistance for building houses with basic amenities.
- Saubhagya Scheme: Ensures access to electricity for all households.
Building Resilience:
- Natural Disasters: India faces vulnerability to earthquakes, floods, cyclones, and droughts.
- National Policy on Disaster Management (2009): Focuses on prevention, mitigation, and preparedness, aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and SDGs.
CHALLENGES
Implementation Challenges:
- Coordination: Effective poverty eradication requires coordination between national, state, and local initiatives.
- Regional Disparities: Significant socioeconomic disparities exist between states. For example, Chhattisgarh has 93% of its population in poverty, compared to just 1% in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Rapid Urbanization:
- Issues: Urbanization has led to challenges in housing, infrastructure, and employment opportunities.
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