Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH RANKED fourth among eight Union Territories (UTs) with 5.97 percent of cityâs population under Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) â a new index that is based on health, education, standard of living. In case of states, the performance of Chandigarh is poorer than five states including Punjab (5.59 percent), Tamil Nadu (4.89 percent), Sikkim (3.82 percent), Goa (3.76 percent) and Kerala (0.71 percent). The findings were released yesterday in a survey, National Dimensional Poverty Index, by NITI Aayog.
Three other UTs besides Delhi, which performed better than Chandigarh, included Andaman and Nicobar Islands (4.30 percent), Lakshadweep (1.82percent) and Puducherry (1.72 percent). Delhi has recorded 4.97 percent of its population under MPI. The study was based on National Family Health Survey 4 (2015-16) report in consultation with 12 Line Ministries and in partnership with state governments and the index publishing agencies â Oxford Universityâs Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Adviser (UT) Dharam Pal expressed his surprise over findings of the survey. Talking to the Indian Express, Adviser Dharam Pal said, âI am surprised to hear about the findings of the survey. The per capita income of Chandigarh is better than many states and UTs. I will check the report. 5.97 percent of the total population of Chandigarh is huge. I will have to check the sources of these findings.â
Prof Aswini Nanda of Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID) said, âMultidimensional poverty includes many factors related to a person including literacy, income, health, age, house, living standards, etc. Under multidimensional surveys, we can not count only the annual/monthly income of the person. All other aspects are also included in the survey.â Prof Aswini Nanda has been working in National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 4 and 5.
Sources said, âThe MPI is based on the baseline report of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 4, which was conducted in 2015-16. The things were shown improved in the survey as per NFHS 5 conducted in 2019-20. There must be improvement in Chandigarh in the next report.â
The report precedes the full rollout of flagship schemes on housing, drinking water, sanitation, electricity, cooking fuel, financial inclusion, and other major efforts towards improving school attendance, nutrition, mother and child health, etc. Hence, it serves as a useful source for measuring the situation at baseline, which is before large-scale rollout of nationally important schemes. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), POSHAN Abhiyaan and Samagra Shiksha are some of the schemes and programmes.
