India Cut Poverty Sharply; Beti Bachao, Mid Day Meal Schemes Helped Children: UNICEF

UN agency UNICEF on Thursday said India made significant progress in reducing poverty and flagship programmes like Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao have supported investments in children.

“India has made significant

progress in poverty reduction, and the flagship programmes have supported investments in children, steering India to be on track for SDG 1.2 ahead of the 2030 endline,” said Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India representative, as the UN agency released The State of the World’s Children 2025 report.

The report highlighted that flagship programmes like Poshan Abhiyaan, Samagra Shiksha, PM-KISAN, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat, Jal Jeevan Missions, and world-leading digital public infrastructure, converged to deliver nutrition, education, income support, sanitation, and financial inclusion at scale.

“The report reminds us that ending child poverty is achievable with the tools and knowledge we have. There is no greater return on investment than investing in children. India’s progress shows that further acceleration of effective programmes can help reach the last mile and India’s Vision 2047. Improving children’s wellbeing isn’t just about resources, it’s about the collective will and leadership to prioritise children in every decision we make,” said McCaffrey.

The report also said that India is on course to meet its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of halving multidimensional poverty ahead of the 2030 deadline.

However, it also pointed out that about 206 million children in India or nearly half the country’s child population, lack access to at least one of six essential services, including education, health, housing, nutrition, clean water and sanitation.

“Out of this, less than a third (62 million) lack access to two or more basic services and still need support to escape two or more deprivations,” the report said.

The report, released on World Children’s Day, noted that while more than half of India’s 460 million children now have access to basic services, progress remains uneven.

“India has made strides in the reduction of poverty – a powerful progress indicator of being on track to achieve SDG 1.2 ahead of the 2030 endline – while investment in child wellbeing has plateaued in most parts of the world,” UNICEF said, adding that India’s advances in poverty reduction have been “pivotal” in driving down child poverty.