Removal of poverty has one of the major objectives of Indian developmental strategy. The current government strategy of poverty alleviation is based on two planks:
(1) Promotion of Economic Growth
(2) Targeted Anti-poverty Programmes
Some of the anti-poverty programmes undertaken by government at present are discussed below:
→ Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY):Started in 1993, this programme aims to create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns.
→ Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY):Launched in 2000, this aims to create and improve basic services like primary health, primary education, rural shelter, rural drinking water and rural electrification.
→ National Food for Work programme (NFWP):Launched in 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country, this programme is open to all rural poor who are in need of wage employment and desired to do manual unskilled work.
→ National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA):This act was passed in September 2005. The act provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household in 200 districts. Later, the scheme will be extended to 600 districts and also one third to the proposed jobs would be reserved for women.
