Multidimensional Poverty in Odisha: Some Recent Evidence

NITI Aayog has published ‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index – A Progress Review 2023’. As per the progress review report, the share of India’s population who are multidimensionally poor has declined from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-21. Among states, Kerala has lowest poverty (0.55%) and Bihar has highest poverty (33.76%). This index is based on the NFHS Round 5 data (2019-21). As per the report, Odisha multidimensionally poor has declined from 29.34% in 2015-16 to 15.68% in 2019-21. Though there is significant reduction in multidimensional poverty still low nutrition, less access to safe cooking fuel, less sanitation coverage and less housing coverage are contributing towards 15.68% multidimensional poverty. Odisha’s performance is noteworthy in comparison to neighbouring and comparable states. Though Odisha has performed well between NFHS – 4 and NFHS – 5, due to historical incidence of backwardness, there is broad gap to catch up with lowest MPI states. Odisha’s poverty has precipitously decreased by 24.61 percentage points from 57.20% (2004-05) to 32.59% (2011-12). Average annual decline in poverty is 3.52 percentage points. This was highest reduction in poverty among major states in the country. The state has performed way better than nation and major states in terms of elimination of poverty over last two decades. The state has been largely successful in multidimensional development and eliminating poverty at a faster level than nation. Among other accomplishment in SDG, the achievements of the state is remarkable in the domain of elimination of poverty in lass two decades. Several welfare measures with targeted interventions have lead to achievement of fastest poverty reduction and state is targeting to reduce poverty to 10% by the end of 2025 and end multidimensional poverty by 2030. Improvement in social sector indicators, elimination of all forms of poverty, hunger, malnutrition and provision of basic standards of living will lead to achievement of 2030 agenda of Sustainable Development in Odisha.