(a) whether all countries resolved in the United Nations General Assembly to work
towards eradication of extreme poverty and hunger;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has formulated and implemented any plan as per the UN
resolution to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(f) the steps taken by the Government to eradicate poverty and hunger?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING (SHRI M.V. RAJASEKHARAN)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. In September 2000, the General Assembly of the United Nations
adopted the `United Nations Millennium Declaration`. As per para 12 of the Declaration,
`We` (Heads of State and Government) `resolve therefore to create an environment – at
the national and global levels alike – which is conducive to development and to the
elimination of poverty.` The declaration raised a number of other issues that culminated
in the inclusion of several development objectives in the `Millennium Development
Goals` that has 8 goals and 18 targets. Goal 1 and targets 1 and 2 are concerned with
eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. Target 1 states, `Halve, between 1990 and
2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than $ 1 a day`. Target 2 states,
`Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger`.
(c)& (d): The Tenth Five Year Plan aims at reducing the proportion of people living
below the poverty line from 26 percent in 1999-2000 to 11 percent by the end of 2011-12.
This is clearly more ambitious, than what is being aimed by the Millennium Development
Goals.
(e): Does not arise.
(f): The policy for alleviation of poverty in the country revolves around three-pronged
strategy. This includes:
(i) acceleration of economic growth,
(ii) human and social
development through literacy, education, health, nutrition, meeting of the minimum
needs, elevation of social and economic status of the weaker sections of the society, etc;
and
(iii) direct attack on poverty through employment and income generating
programmes and assets-building for the poor including subsidized foodgrains to the poor.
The major schemes and programmes targeted to reduce poverty include Sampoorna
Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY), Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), Indira
Awaas Yojana (IAY), National Food for Works Programme (NFFWP), Swaran Jayanti
Shahri Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).