New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Nearly 25 crore people have escaped multidimensional poverty over the past 12 years through expanded welfare delivery and social protection measures, the government said on Monday.

The government highlighted advancements in tap water coverage, open defecation status, health security, food security and female primary school enrolment.

Rural tap water coverage rose from 3.23 crore households in August 2019 to 15.84 crore by May 2026, and 2.77 lakh villages have achieved 100 per cent tap water coverage under the Har Ghar Jal campaign, bringing household coverage to 81.87 per cent, an official statement said.

Over 12.11 crore household toilets were built, lifting rural sanitation from 39 per cent in 2014 to universal coverage.

PM Ujjwala Yojana provided over 10.57 crore free LPG connections, improving women’s health and reducing indoor pollution, the government said.

Multidimensional poverty declined sharply from 29.17 per cent in 2013–14 to 11.28 per cent in 2022–23, marking a 17.89 percentage‑point reduction.

Meanwhile average inflation declined from 8.1 per cent during 2004–2014 to 5.1 per cent during 2014–2025, improving household purchasing power.

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched in 2019, facilitated significant advancements in health, educational attainment, and socio-economic status for rural populations.

Fiscal allocations for the scheme expanded about 488 per cent between 2020–21 and 2026–27, reaching Rs. 67,670 crore.

On health and food security, the government said Ayushman Bharat expanded affordable healthcare access for economically vulnerable families, while Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) ensured free food grains for over 81 crore beneficiaries.

Female primary school dropout rates declined sharply from 4.6 per cent in 2013-14 to 0.3 per cent in 2024-25. Digital governance reforms enabled Aadhaar-based ration delivery. Welfare delivery also expanded in Aspirational Districts and tribal regions through targeted water, sanitation, and livelihood interventions.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative was designed to address the declining Child Sex Ratio and combat gender-biased sex-selective practices. The sex ratio improved from 943 (Census 2011) to 1,020 females per 1,000 males by 2021 and secondary school enrolment for girls expanded from 75.51 per cent in 2014–15 to 80.2 per cent by 2024–25.

—IANS

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