Poverty alleviation has been a key priority for the Indian government, given its widespread impact on the country's economic and social development. Over the years, several poverty alleviation programmes have been launched with a focus on improving the lives of marginalized and disadvantaged sections of society. These initiatives aim at providing economic assistance, employment opportunities, skill development, access to basic services like education and healthcare, and promoting social equity.

1. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

Launched in 2005, MGNREGA is one of the flagship poverty alleviation programmes of the Indian government. Its primary objective is to enhance the livelihood security of rural households by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of rural households who are willing to do unskilled manual labor. The programme aims at improving infrastructure in rural areas, thereby creating long-term employment opportunities while addressing rural poverty and unemployment. It also provides a safety net to poor families during lean agricultural seasons or periods of drought, thus helping reduce migration to urban areas.

MGNREGA has been successful in improving rural incomes, increasing access to basic services like water, roads, and irrigation, and empowering rural women who have benefited from equal wages for equal work.

2. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

Launched in 2015, PMAY aims to provide affordable housing to all by 2022, focusing on the economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG) of society. Under this programme, the government provides financial assistance to poor families for constructing or enhancing their homes. The scheme includes two components: PMAY-Gramin (rural) and PMAY-Urban (urban).

The primary objective of PMAY is to reduce the housing deficit by making home ownership accessible to the poor and ensuring that they live in safe and dignified conditions. The initiative has led to the construction of millions of houses across the country and has provided the poor with access to better living conditions and basic amenities.

3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Launched in 2014, PMJDY aims to ensure financial inclusion by providing access to banking services for the unbanked population, particularly the poor. Under this scheme, individuals, especially from rural areas and economically disadvantaged sections, are provided with a basic savings bank account, a RuPay debit card, and access to micro-insurance, pension, and credit products. The scheme also encourages direct benefit transfers (DBT) to eliminate middlemen and corruption.

PMJDY has significantly increased the number of bank accounts in India and empowered the poor to manage their finances better. It has also facilitated the transfer of government subsidies and welfare benefits directly to the beneficiaries,