Government Pledges to Tackle Climate Change, Poverty

The Center is steadfast in its commitment to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and poverty by providing inclusive livelihoods and reaching out to those at the farthest end of social stratification. This was stated by Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, Rural Livelihoods in the Ministry of Rural Development, during an exclusive roundtable on "Reimagining Poverty Alleviation in India." The event, organized by Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) South Asia, was held in New Delhi last Thursday. 
 
"No one should be left behind" as we strive towards achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047", asserted Mr. Singh. He accented on the urgency to address distinctive challenges faced, particularly by impoverished women whose struggles often differ from state to state. It is here that he emphasized that understanding local community dynamics becomes crucial for identifying and resolving such hurdles. 
 
Mr. Singh also highlighted innovative partnerships under the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), emphasizing multi-stakeholder collaborations' significance for ending poverty through comprehensive outreach efforts. He said, "If we work collectively, we can make a significant difference." 
 
He shared that DAY-NRLM has successfully mobilized over 10.04 crore women into more than 90.76 lakh self-help groups, promoting financial inclusion, digital literacy, sustainable livelihoods, and social development interventions amongst them. A holistic approach focusing on inclusiveness has been a hallmark feature of DAY-NRLM when it comes to women's livelihood development. 
 
Joining him at this event was Ms. Smriti Sharan, Joint Secretary, Rural Livelihoods with the Ministry of Rural Development, who spoke about how her ministry collaborates closely with various state governments to ensure effective implementation of innovative projects adapted from the 'Graduation Approach'. These initiatives aim at empowering rural women towards self-sufficiency while allowing states flexibility based on their specific priorities. The states are also focused on integrating impoverished households under other social protection programs. 
 
Ms. Sharan stressed the importance of scientific evidence, data, and technology in combating poverty's multidimensional nature, saying, "We must move beyond just defining poverty in monetary terms." 
 
The roundtable served as a platform for these top officials to share valuable insights into India's approach to poverty alleviation. It highlighted the government’s commitment to creating inclusive livelihood opportunities for women and marginalized communities while tackling climate change. 
 
While acknowledging the complexity of poverty and its many dimensions, Mr. Singh and Ms. Sharan underscored that multi-stakeholder collaborations combined with innovative programs backed by data could make a significant difference. They emphasized that reaching out to every individual is essential if India is to realize PM Modi's vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047. 
 
In conclusion, it was clear from this event that reimagining poverty alleviation requires not only policy changes but also collaboration across sectors, local knowledge inputs, and technological innovation.