Zero Poverty Uttar Pradesh Campaign

1. On Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's birth anniversary (14 April, 2025) , the Uttar Pradesh (U.P) government officially renamed the Zero Poverty Uttar Pradesh campaign as:"Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Zero Poverty Programme"
2. Reason for Renaming:

1. Dr. Ambedkar symbolized educational, social, and economic upliftment of the marginalized.
2. As the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, first Law Minister of India, and a Dalit icon, the naming is seen as a tribute to his legacy of social justice.

Background and Launch

1. On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (October 2, 2024), the U.P Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) announced a bold and time-bound mission to eliminate extreme poverty from the state within one year.
2. This historic move reflects:
   1. The government’s strong resolve and commitment to inclusive development.
   2. Its confidence in the successful execution of the campaign.
   3. The presence of a methodologically sound and tech-driven strategy.

Objective of the Campaign

1. To ensure no individual in Uttar Pradesh is deprived of basic amenities.
2. To link the poorest and most marginalized communities to all relevant government welfare schemes.
3. To uphold the philosophy of “no person left behind” by focusing on last-mile delivery.

Strategy and Implementation

1. Three-Tier, Technology-Driven Identification Process

1. A transparent and disciplined methodology has been adopted using end-to-end digitized systems.
2. Automated vulnerability-rating systems will finalize the identification of extremely poor families in each Gram Panchayat based on tangible socio-economic indicators.

2. Village-Level Committees for Onsite Verification: Committees will be formed to:

1. 1. Verify the selected families.
   2. Recommend genuine cases for inclusion.
   3. Ensure community participation and transparency in the process.

Targeted Households and Beneficiaries

1. In each Gram Panchayat, around 20–25 ultra-poor families will be identified who are still deprived of basic government facilities.
2. In the first phase, the campaign aims to cover 14–15 lakh families across the state.

Priority Communities

The scheme gives special focus to: Musahar, Tharu, Vantangiya, Kol, Buksa, Chero, God and Saharia

These are among the most marginalized tribal and vulnerable communities in Uttar Pradesh.

Benefits to Be Provided

Each identified family will be linked to the following government schemes and facilities:

1. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Housing)
2. Toilets (under Swachh Bharat Mission)
3. Drinking water and electricity
4. LPG gas connections (under Ujjwala Yojana)
5. Ayushman Bharat health insurance cards
6. Old age, widow, and disability pensions

Community Engagement and Institutional Strengthening

1. The programme promotes collaborative participation from:
   1. Private sector
   2. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives
   3. Banks and financial institutions
   4. Civil society organizations
2. The aim is to mobilize partnerships across all sectors to support the state's vision of inclusive and sustainable poverty eradication.

Data and Relevance According to NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (2021): UP had the second-highest number of multidimensionally poor people in India, after Bihar. The State's efforts to fast-track poverty elimination is key to India's overall SDG performance. Uttar Pradesh is home to ~240 million people—any impactful policy here has national implications.

 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Alignment

This campaign directly contributes to several United Nations SDGs:

SDGs No.	Goal	Alignment
1	No Poverty	Elimination of extreme poverty within one year
2	Zero Hunger	Linking with food and nutrition security schemes
3	Good Health and Well-being	Ayushman Bharat for universal health coverage
4	Quality Education	Indirectly supports access through stability and basic security
6	Clean Water and Sanitation	Access to toilets and drinking water
7	Affordable and Clean Energy	LPG gas and electricity for every household
10	Reduced Inequality	Focus on most marginalized communities
17	Partnerships for the Goals	Multi-stakeholder collaboration encouraged