20.6 ndian onom
(i) Total poverty declined from 37.2 to 21.9 Kamao (Learn and Earn), USTTAD (Upgrading
per cent. Skill and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for
(ii) Rural poverty declined from 41.8 to 25.7 Development) and Nai Manzil.
per cent. Other than implementing programmes aimed
(iii) Urban poverty declined from 25.7 to at inclusive growth, enhancing economic growth
13.7 per cent and efficiency of market, as per the Economic
Looking at the controversy and confusion Survey 2017-18, governments need to assure
related to per day monetary estimates of poverty equitable accessibility of these benefits to all
line criteria, late 2015, the GoI did set up a task citizens in this regard.
force under the vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog
(Arvind Panagariya) to suggest a new method Accessible inDiA cAmPAign
for poverty estimates. The report the task force is The number of persons with disabilities in India
awaited (March 2017). constituted 2.2 per cent of the population (Census
2011). It is imperative to promote, protect and
ProMotInG InclusIVe GrowtH ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human
rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons
The focus of the Indian development planning with disabilities, and to promote respect for
has been on formulation of programmes and their inherent dignity (UN Convention on rights
policies aimed at bringing the ‘marginalised and of Persons with Disabilities). In this direction,
poor sections’ of society into the mainstream. The the Department of Empowerment of Persons
government has been implementing many such with Disabilities (DEPwD) launched Accessible
programmes for social and financial inclusion. India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) as a
The disbursement of benefits needs a systematic nation-wide Campaign for achieving “universal
channel which will provide for financial accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)”
empowerment and make monitoring easier and with a focus on three verticals—Built Environment,
the local bodies more accountable. The Pradhan Public Transportation and ICT (Information and
Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY) launched in Communication Technologies).
August 2014 and the RuPay Card (a payment The Government has launched an Inclusiveness
solution), are important schemes in this regard. and Accessibility Index as part of this campaign.
These two schemes are complementary and will The index helps the industries and corporates
enable achievement of multiple objectives such to participate in the campaign by voluntarily
as financial inclusion, insurance penetration, and evaluating their readiness for making the
digitalisation. workplace accessible for PwDs. The index enables
We find an increased Government emphasis the organisations to introspect over their inclusive
on the socio-economic empowerment of the policies and organisational culture in aid of PwDs,
minorities. In this regard several new schemes employment of such workforce and adaptations
have been launched in recent times—the ‘Nai to meet the needs of PwDs. Further, the Rights
roshni’ scheme for leadership development of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 has been
of minority women; Padho Pardesh, a scheme enacted by the Government aimed at securing
of interest subsidy on educational loans for and enhancing the rights and entitlements of
overseas studies for the students belonging to PwDs (it includes the provision of increasing the
the minority communities; for skill development reservation in government vacancies from 3 per
and of the minorities, schemes like Seekho Aur cent to 4 per cent).