India has 234 million living below poverty line among highest globally: UN
New York, October 24 (KMS): A fresh United Nations report reveals that India ranks among the top five countries with the highest number of people living in poverty, with an estimated 234 million individuals below the poverty line.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this figure contributes to a staggering global total of 1.1 billion people enduring acute poverty, over half of whom are children.
The findings are part of the latest update of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford. The report underscores a critical issue: approximately 40 percent of those living in poverty reside in conflict-affected nations.
The report highlights that around 455 million of the world’s poor live in areas affected by violent conflict, which has stalled or reversed progress in poverty alleviation. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, emphasized the urgency for action, advocating for increased resources and tailored development initiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty and crisis.
The impact of poverty on children is particularly severe, with over half of the 1.1 billion individuals living in poverty being under 18 years old. The report indicates that 27.9 percent of children live in poverty, compared to 13.5 percent of adults.
The report also points out that nearly 218 million individuals live in war-torn countries, illustrating the critical link between conflict and poverty.
Analyzing data from 112 countries, the 2024 MPI report covers approximately 6.3 billion people and highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between conflict and poverty. The global MPI has been assessed over the past decade (2012-2023) to ensure comparability in poverty trends.
In conclusion, the UN report calls for concerted efforts to address the root causes of poverty and provide immediate support to the most vulnerable populations, particularly those residing in conflict-affected regions.
