GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, July 15, said that the state's multidimensional poverty rate had dropped from 32.67% in 2015 to 14.47% at present, attributing the improvement largely to direct cash benefit transfers (DBT) and welfare schemes.
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Speaking in the Assam Assembly during the discussion on the state budget, the chief minister said that direct cash benefit transfers have played a significant role in reducing poverty by ensuring financial assistance reaches beneficiaries directly.
“The most important role has been played by direct cash benefit transfers, which means depositing money directly into the bank accounts of poor people,” Sarma said.
The chief minister also said that welfare initiatives such as the Orunodoi scheme have contributed substantially to the decline in poverty.
“It’s not my study. Several academic papers have come out stating that Orunodoi has played the biggest role in reducing poverty in Assam,” he said.