ABSTRACT
Introduction The South Asian experience with respect to changes in poverty and hunger in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is positive. Notably, it is forecasted that extreme poverty and hunger will halve by 2015 (World Bank, 2011). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) follow and expand on the MDGs. The goals and principles embodied in the MDGs and the SDGs have been reflected in India’s development priorities, which are inculcated in the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans. The 11th Five Year Plan (2006-11) and the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) have adopted several monitorable targets as key features of an inclusive growth strategy. These targets are designed to capture the economic and social objectives of an inclusive approach to growth. In all, 25 targets have been identified at the national level which have been placed in six major categories: (1) income and poverty, (2) education, (3) health, (4) women and children, (5) infrastructure and (6) environment.
