On 16th July 2020, The United Nations’ “The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index(MPI) 2020: Charting pathways out of multidimensional poverty: Achieving the SDGs” states that India records the largest reduction in the number of People living in poverty as around 273 million people moved out of the multidimensional poverty over 10 years (2005/2006 – 2015/2016).
The report released by the Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) focuses on how multidimensional poverty has declined.
Multidimensional Poverty:
The multidimensional poverty encloses various deprivations experienced by the poor people like poor heath, lack of education, inadequate standard of living, poor quality of work, threat of violence and hazardous living environments.
Features of the Report:
i.The data of the reports shows that out of 75 countries studied, 65 countries have reduced multidimensional poverty levels between 2000 and 2019.
ii.Among the 65 countries, 50 countries have reduced the number of people living in poverty.
Armenia (2010–2015/2016), India (2005/2006–2015/2016), Nicaragua (2001–2011/2012) and North Macedonia (2005/2006–2011) have reduced their global MPI value by half in 5.5 to 10.5 years, these countries accounts one fifth of the world’s population.
iii.The information related to the 273 million people moving out of poverty in India was based on the population data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
iv.The report states that both India and Nicaragua have halved the MPI value among children in 10 and 10.5 years respectively.
Impacts of COVID-19:
i.The report accounts the data before the COVID-19 pandemic.
ii.With no available data to measure the rise of global poverty after the pandemic, simulations based on the expected impacts of Covid on nutrition and school attendance suggest that progress across 70 developing countries is expected to experience a setback.
iii.Around 50% of the 1.3 billion (644 million) are under the age of 18, and 107 million are 60 or above 60 who are vulnerable to COVID-19.
Impacts on Children:
i.The report states that around 1.3 billion people i.e 22% of the population across 107 developing countries lives in multidimensional poverty which burdens the children.
ii.Around 10 countries accounted for more than 60% of the unvaccinated children and 40% of the children are unvaccinated for DTP3(diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) lives in Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Indonesia.
iii.Around 2.6 million children in India are undervaccinated.
About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
Administrator– Achim Steiner
Headquarters– New York, United States of America
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