Some major schemes for poverty alleviation by the Government of India that you should know – Muktacare Foundation

The Indian government has implemented various schemes aimed at poverty alleviation and uplifting the socio-economic status of disadvantaged sections of society. Some key schemes for poverty upliftment in India include:

1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Objective: Financial inclusion for all, especially the poor and unbanked population.
Features: Provides access to financial services like banking, savings, credit, insurance, and pensions for every household.
Impact: More than 40 crore bank accounts were opened under this scheme, bringing the poor into the formal financial system.

2. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

Objective: Ensure wage employment to rural households and enhance livelihood security.
Features: Guarantees 100 days of wage employment to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
Impact: Provides employment, improves rural infrastructure, and enhances the economic resilience of the poor.

3. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

Objective: Provide affordable housing for the rural and urban poor.
Features: It aims to construct 2 crore affordable houses for the homeless and those living in inadequate housing by 2022.
Impact: Millions of families have been provided with secure homes, improving their living conditions.

4. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)

Objective: Improve the employability of rural youth through skill development.
Features: Provides training for youth in rural areas to enhance their skills and make them employable.
Impact: Skilled youth can secure employment and contribute to the economy, helping break the cycle of poverty.

5. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

Objective: Provide financial assistance to the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities.
Features: Offers monthly cash benefits to vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, widows, and differently-abled persons.
Impact: It provides a safety net for some of the most vulnerable groups in society.

6. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

Objective: Improve urban infrastructure and provide basic services to urban poor communities.
Features: Focuses on providing water supply, sewage, urban transportation, and green spaces in cities.
Impact: Enhances the quality of life for urban poor residents and helps in poverty reduction by improving living standards.

7. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM)

Objective: Provide financial security to unorganized sector workers.
Features: Offers a pension scheme for workers in the unorganized sector, ensuring income security after retirement.
Impact: Improves the financial security of workers from sectors like construction, street vending, etc.

8. Stand Up India Scheme

Objective: Promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and women entrepreneurs.
Features: Provides financial assistance for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services, or the trading sector.
Impact: Facilitates entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities, empowering marginalized groups.

9. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)

Objective: Empower women and ensure equal access to education and opportunities for girls.
Features: Promotes the education of girls and ensures the survival, protection, and education of the girl child.
Impact: Increased awareness about gender equality, improving access to education and healthcare for girls.

10. Swanidhi Scheme (PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi)

Objective: Provide financial support to street vendors affected by the pandemic.
Features: Offers micro-credit facilities to street vendors, helping them resume their businesses and improve their livelihood.
Impact: Supports small vendors, many of whom belong to economically marginalized sections, in improving their economic condition.

11. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)

Objective: Provide health insurance coverage to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
Features: Provides financial protection against hospitalization costs for poor families.
Impact: Reduces out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare and improves the health of poor families.

12. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Objective: Provide crop insurance to farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers.
Features: Insures crops against natural calamities, ensuring a safety net for farmers in case of crop failure.
Impact: Helps safeguard the income of farmers, especially in rural areas, reducing the economic vulnerability caused by crop failures.

These schemes, among others, are designed to empower the underprivileged, improve their quality of life, and help them escape the cycle of poverty through financial inclusion, education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.