Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a significant decline in multidimensional poverty, with the poverty headcount ratio dropping from 12.56 percent in 2015-16 to 4.80 percent during 2019-21, according to figures reviewed by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo during a high-level meeting on Wednesday.
The decline has enabled more than 10.45 lakh people to move out of multidimensional poverty over the period, placing the Union Territory on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.2 target of reducing multidimensional poverty by at least half before 2030.
Chairing a review meeting on the status of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), Dulloo emphasized the need for targeted interventions, district-specific planning and convergence of welfare schemes to further reduce poverty levels across Jammu and Kashmir.
Focus on Vulnerable Households
The Chief Secretary directed the Planning Department to identify vulnerable households across all districts, beginning with families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).
He instructed officials to undertake outcome-based interventions aimed at improving socio-economic conditions and ensuring that the benefits of government welfare schemes reach the most deprived sections of society.
Dulloo also asked the department to analyse data from the upcoming National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) and prepare district-specific action plans focused on improving indicators related to:
- Health
- Education
- Standard of Living
Greater Convergence of Welfare Schemes Needed
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary noted that several flagship Central government schemes are already contributing significantly to poverty reduction in Jammu and Kashmir.
These include:
- National Food Security Act (NFSA)
- Ayushman Bharat
- Housing Schemes
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
- Financial Inclusion Programmes
- Social Welfare Initiatives
He stressed the need for stronger convergence among these schemes and called for additional support through capital expenditure wherever required to maximise their impact.
Survey Format to Identify Deprivation Gaps
To strengthen poverty-targeted interventions, Dulloo directed the Planning Department to develop a standardized survey format for district-level assessment of vulnerable households.
The department has been asked to coordinate closely with district administrations to identify:
- Household-level deprivation indicators
- Service delivery gaps
- Priority intervention areas
- Welfare scheme coverage deficiencies
Finance Department Calls for Poverty-Focused Development Planning
Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Shailendra Kumar advised district administrations to integrate poverty reduction measures into their annual development plans.
He emphasized that AAY beneficiary families should remain the primary focus of future interventions to ensure targeted resource allocation and measurable outcomes.
MPI Serves as Key Policy Tool
Commissioner Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, R. Alice Vaz, informed the meeting that the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures deprivation beyond income and provides a comprehensive assessment of poverty.
Unlike conventional poverty measures, MPI evaluates deprivation across multiple dimensions including:
Health
Nutrition
Child mortality
Education
Years of schooling
School attendance
Standard of Living
- Housing
- Sanitation
- Drinking water
- Electricity
- Cooking fuel
- Assets
She noted that the current estimates are based on NFHS-5 data released in 2023, while NFHS-6 is currently under finalisation and is expected to provide updated insights into poverty levels.
Significant Improvement Across All Indicators
Officials informed the meeting that Jammu and Kashmir has registered improvements across all 12 indicators used to measure multidimensional poverty.
The reduction in poverty has been supported by sustained investments in:
- Healthcare services
- Educational infrastructure
- Housing development
- Livelihood generation
- Social protection programmes
- Financial inclusion initiatives
Rural Areas Witness Major Gains
The review revealed that rural areas have recorded some of the most significant improvements.
Rural Poverty
2015-16: 16.37%
2019-21: 6.10%
Urban Poverty
- 2015-16: 3.51%
- 2019-21: 1.09%
The figures indicate a broad-based improvement in living conditions and access to essential services across both rural and urban regions.
Intensity of Poverty Also Declines
Beyond reducing the number of poor people, Jammu and Kashmir has also succeeded in reducing the intensity of poverty.
The intensity of deprivation among poor households declined from:
- 44.17% in 2015-16
- 42.11% in 2019-21
This suggests that even households still classified as poor have experienced better access to services and improved living standards.
Around 6.39 Lakh People Still Living in Multidimensional Poverty
Despite the progress, officials informed the meeting that according to NFHS-5 estimates for 2019-21, approximately:
- 6.39 lakh people
- Belonging to around 1.28 lakh families
continue to live in multidimensional poverty across Jammu and Kashmir.
Districts Showing Highest Reduction in Poverty
The steepest declines in multidimensional poverty were recorded in:
- Doda
- Ramban
- Rajouri
- Poonch
- Udhampur
Officials described these improvements as evidence of the positive impact of focused development interventions and welfare programmes.
Districts with Highest Poverty Ratios
The district-wise analysis showed considerable variation in poverty levels across Jammu and Kashmir.
Highest MPI Ratios
| District | Poverty Ratio |
|---|---|
| Ramban | 14.86% |
| Reasi | 11.40% |
| Kishtwar | 10.59% |
| Udhampur | 10.23% |
| Rajouri | 8.07% |
Officials emphasized that these districts will require focused policy attention and targeted developmental interventions in the coming years.
Districts with Lowest Poverty Ratios
The districts recording the lowest levels of multidimensional poverty were:
| District | Poverty Ratio |
|---|---|
| Jammu | 0.49% |
| Srinagar | 1.34% |
| Shopian | 1.54% |
| Pulwama | 2.09% |
| Samba | 2.30% |
Baramulla Has Highest Number of Poor People
While Ramban recorded the highest poverty ratio, the district-wise analysis showed that Baramulla accounts for the largest absolute number of multidimensionally poor people in the Union Territory.
It is followed by:
- Udhampur
- Rajouri
- Kupwara
- Ramban
Officials noted that this highlights the importance of designing poverty reduction strategies based not only on percentages but also on the actual number of affected households.
Government Targets Further Reduction Before 2030
Concluding the review, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo called for a whole-of-government approach to poverty alleviation and directed all departments to work in close coordination to ensure that welfare programmes produce measurable outcomes.
With Jammu and Kashmir already recording a substantial reduction in multidimensional poverty and improvements across health, education and living standards, the administration now aims to accelerate progress through targeted interventions and district-specific planning to meet and potentially exceed the SDG poverty reduction targets before 2030.
