International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Tags: International News

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed annually around the world on 17 October to highlight the issues of poverty, hunger and violence.

Important facts

• The day intends to find ways to reduce and eradicate poverty.

• Every year on this day people from all backgrounds, social origins and beliefs gather together to show their solidarity with the poor.

• Its aim is to raise awareness about the struggles of people living in poverty.

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) believes that the lasting fight against poverty can be fought through education, science and the support of a creative economy.

Theme of 2022

• The theme of International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2022 - ‘Dignity for all in practice.’

• This year's theme is based on the dignity of man, which is not only a fundamental right but is the basis of all other fundamental rights.

Background of the day

• On 17 October 1987, more than a million people gathered at the Trocadero in Paris.

• He declared that poverty is a violation of human rights of an individual and there is a need to ensure that these rights are respected.

• Trocadéro is the place where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948.

• On 22 December 1992, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Global scenario of poverty

• Around 689 million people worldwide live in extreme poverty and live on less than $1.9 each day.

• About 1.3 billion people in 107 developing countries live in multidimensional poverty. They account for 22 percent of the global population.

• About 84.3 percent of multidimensionally poor individuals live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Poverty in India

• According to the National Poverty Line in 2011, about 21.9% of the population in India is below the poverty line.

• Presently the poverty line is INR 1,059.42 per month in rural areas and INR 1,286 per month in urban areas.

• Poverty in India is estimated by the Task Force of NITI Aayog under the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation through the calculation of the poverty line on the basis of data obtained by the National Sample Survey Office.