International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2025: India’s Progress and Global Challenges

Every year on October 17, the world observes the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, as designated by the United Nations. It’s not just a day to reflect on income disparities but also a moment to emphasize dignity, justice, and inclusive development. In 2025, the day focuses on a compelling theme: “Ending social and institutional maltreatment by ensuring respect and effective support for families”. It calls attention to the real struggles of families in poverty and challenges policymakers to transform support systems into ones built on trust and dignity.

2025 Theme: Family-Centric Poverty Eradication

The 2025 theme emphasizes that poverty goes beyond material deprivation—it’s often accompanied by stigma, scrutiny, and punitive systems.

Families—particularly single mothers, Indigenous households, and historically marginalized communities—report daily judgment and control in institutions meant to help them, such as schools, health clinics, welfare offices, and child protection agencies.

The call to action,

• Build supportive institutions that respect family structures
• Prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable first
• Base reforms on consultations with people who have lived experiences of poverty

A Brief History of the Day

• 1987: First observed as the World Day to Overcome Poverty in Paris, France
• 1992: Officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
• Its aim: To raise awareness, honour the efforts of the poor, and promote dialogue between those living in poverty and society at large

Global and Indian Context: Key Facts and Figures

Global Progress

• Despite advances in technology and economic growth, millions still face extreme poverty, unsafe housing, poor nutrition, and lack of access to health care, justice, and political power.
• The UN’s Third Decade for Poverty Eradication (2018–2027) focuses on accelerating global actions, aligning with SDG Goal 1: End Poverty in all its forms everywhere.

India’s Significant Gains

• Extreme poverty (people living on less than $2.15/day) declined from 16.2% in 2011-12 to 2.3% in 2022-23, lifting 171 million people above this threshold
• Urban unemployment dropped to 6.6% in Q1 FY24-25, the lowest since 2017-18
• Employment growth has outpaced population growth since 2021
• Rural female employment in agriculture is rising
• India’s self-employment rate, especially among rural women, is growing

Ongoing Challenges

• Youth unemployment remains high at 13.3%, rising to 29% among graduates
• Only 23% of non-farm paid jobs are formal
• A 234 million gap exists between men and women in paid employment

Key Anti-Poverty Schemes in India

1. MGNREGA (2005)

Guarantees 100 days of paid work annually to rural households; one-third of jobs reserved for women.

2. DAY–NRLM (2011)

Aims to build sustainable livelihoods and self-help groups for rural poor, especially women.

3. PM Ujjwala Yojana (2016)

Provides LPG connections to Below Poverty Line women for clean cooking energy.

4. Indira Awaas Yojana / PM Awas Yojana

Provides free or subsidized housing to rural BPL families.

5. National Urban Livelihood Mission (2013)

Targets urban poor through skill development and self-employment ventures.

6. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)

Provides credit and subsidy for rural income generation.

7. Task Force on Poverty Elimination (2015)

Under NITI Aayog, it focuses on measurement strategies and employment-driven poverty reduction.

Poverty Measurement and Recent Data

NITI Aayog’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index (2023),

• 13.5 crore people exited multidimensional poverty between 2015–16 and 2019–21

Global MPI (2018)

• India reduced poverty from 55% to 28% between 2005–06 and 2015–16, impacting over 271 million people
• Continued success in areas like electricity access, bank accounts, safe drinking water, and education has helped reduce deprivations.