In News
- Recently, the Union Finance Minister stated that Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) was of great success, citing a study by an Indian School of Business professor.
- PMGKY was announced in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
More about the study
- PMGKY has reduced the probability of people consuming less food by 76% and pared their usage of utilities by 75%.
- Overall, the study showed that assistance under the PMGKY reduced the probability of borrowing money for 67% of all the respondents.
- It concludes that the scheme helped people to live with dignity.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)
- About:
- It is a comprehensive relief package of Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against CoronaVirus.
- This was announced to reach out to the poorest of the poor, with food and money in hands, so that they do not face difficulties in buying essential supplies and meeting essential needs.
- The package included (In effect from 30th March 2020):
- Insurance cover of Rs 50 Lakh per health worker fighting COVID-19 provided under Insurance Scheme.
- 80 crore poor people get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the three months.
- The foodgrains were distributed to all the beneficiaries under the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority household (PHH) ration cardholders.
- 20 crore women Jan Dhan account holders to get Rs 500 per month for three months.
Challenges
- Poverty alleviation has always been accepted as one of India’s main challenges by the policy makers, regardless of which government was in power.
- Government policies have failed to address a majority of vulnerable people who are living on or just above the poverty line.
- High growth alone is not sufficient to reduce poverty.
- It remains among middle-income countries that are home to over half the world’s poor.
- Progress in poverty alleviation has also been affected by shocks like demonetisation and the pandemic.
- The pandemic is the biggest setback to poverty reduction worldwide and it will stretch out targets for countries like India.
The Public Distribution System (PDS)
National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013
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Way ahead
- Need-based approach:
- Policymakers often struggle to promote improvements in the well-being of the poorest individuals and families.
- People living in extreme poverty frequently have multiple needs that require a range of services.
- Targeted delivery:
- When the government looks at targeted approach of providing assistance instead of splashing money and takes input from the ground and does so quickly, in a timely and very open manner, the impact is there for all of us to see
- Bottom-up participation:
- An alternative bottom-up strategy and well-planned implementation mechanism would allow bottlenecks to be identified and rectified at the local level.
- This is possible through a process of social mobilisation, encouraging poor people to participate and get them empowered.
- Employment generation:
- Moreover, it is necessary to identify poverty-stricken areas and provide infrastructure such as schools, roads, power, telecom, IT services, training institutions etc.
- This will also help create employment opportunities, which may increase income, skill development, health and literacy.
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