SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 21: The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has proposed a household-level enumeration of vulnerable families to identify multidimensional deprivations and improve the targeting of welfare schemes. The proposal was discussed at a meeting chaired by Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to Chief Minister.
The review highlighted a significant decline in multidimensional poverty in Jammu & Kashmir. The poverty headcount ratio decreased from 12.56% in 2015–16 to 4.80% in 2019–21, while the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) score fell from 0.055 to 0.020. The national poverty headcount ratio declined from 24.8% to 14.96% during the same period.
The proposed enumeration, as per an official statement, will initially cover Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and old-age pension beneficiaries under NSAP and ISSS. Other households will remain outside its scope at this stage.
The exercise aims to identify household-specific deprivations, assess access to welfare schemes and essential services, and determine gaps requiring targeted interventions. The proposed survey will assess deprivation across the three MPI dimensions—health, education and living standards—while gathering additional information on factors such as nutrition, healthcare, drinking water, electricity and connectivity.
The methodology, beneficiary lists, manpower requirements, digital data collection arrangements and financial estimates will be finalised before the enumeration begins, subject to the requisite approvals and availability of resources.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary ; Commissioner Secretaries of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Housing & Urban Development, Health & Medical Education, and School Education Departments; and the Secretaries of the PD&MD, Information Technology and Social Welfare Departments.
The proposed exercise is expected to strengthen evidence-based planning, improve inter-departmental coordination and facilitate more focused welfare delivery to vulnerable households.
