The Status of Multidimensional Poverty of Maharashtra State

The Multidimensional Poverty Index falls under three important components that are education, health and standard of living. This index was firstly developed in 2010 by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). This concept reflects on various sub-parameters like, years of schooling, attendance to school, female literacy rate, out of school children, child birth rate, child death rate, Infant mortality rate, what type of material is used for roof, wall and floor by households, drinking water, electricity, infrastructure facilities etc. Earlier poverty was measured based on consumption and income thereafter, long debate became and determined it needs to add more parameters to search out actual poverty status. Hence, at the end, the multidimensional poverty index is being used at present. Eradicating poverty means every household in the state must have fulfill in above parameters and there should be continuous survey for making proper policy to uplift all sections in the society.

In this connection, India is still facing regional disparities among various states in terms of poverty, per capita income, availability of infrastructure and socio-economic development. Eradicating poverty is big challenge in front of India. At the same time, it should have regional balance among states. Finance commission and five year plans always have been attempting to reduce disparities in states. Every five year plan keeps as objective to overcome on poverty. Large numbers of schemes are launched by government to reduce poverty; however, poverty has not fallen off. Education and Health are also an important part of Multidimensional Poverty Index. Indian government spends very less amount of money for education and health rather than other countries. India's gross enrollment ratio of higher education is very low, at the same time 97% Indians do not have health policy due to lack of awareness. Child mortality and malnutrition influence on health. The state is dealing with to make new indices and collecting data as per parameters, but the pity is that we are not thinking out to abolish poverty from society. The policy maker has to be identified issues and challenges of particular region and make proper policy; implementation also has to be done as soon as possible. For understanding the regional disparities, inequalities as well as determining issues in the area, overall scenario must be clear before making any policy implementation by government. Hence, this paper provides district-wise status of education, health and standard of living of Maharashtra State (which is one of the state contribute in India's GDP) by using the methodology of Multidimensional Poverty Index which is suggested by United Nations Development Programmer and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI). This paper is also reflects the regional inequalities by social groups, gender and standard of living. The research is based on secondary data which is collected from census 2011.