Poverty Estimates
This section analyzes the poverty trends in India using statistics from various years, illustrating a positive trajectory in poverty reduction. The proportion of people living below the poverty line has decreased significantly, from approximately 45% in 1993-94 to 37.2% in 2004-05, and further down to about 22% in 2011-12. This decline in poverty is notable, as it reflects not only a drop in the percentage of individuals living in poverty but also a reduction in the overall number of poor people from 407 million in 2004-05 to 270 million in 2011-12. The average annual decline during this period was 2.2 percentage points.
Despite these positive trends, the section underscores that the dynamics of poverty reduction are not uniform across urban and rural India, nor among different social groups. Vulnerable groups, such as those from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, continue to face higher poverty rates. The data indicates important disparities among various states, with states like Madhya Pradesh and Odisha having higher poverty ratios compared to others with successful poverty reduction strategies. Additionally, international contexts are presented, noting that while global poverty has seen declines, notable regional inequalities persist, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. The section concludes with insights on the need for continued efforts and targeted strategies to further reduce poverty levels and achieve broader socio-economic equity.