ABSTRACT
Poverty is multi-dimensional and requires a simultaneous intervention in many sectors to really make a difference. High rates of economic growth are required to generate the resources needed to improve the ease of living of the poor through better education, health, housing, sanitation, skills, livelihood, and a range of other infrastructure and income generating initiatives. Unemployment and incomes have been a challenge for many households and increased demand for work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a proxy indicator for the distress. The only way of tackling multi-dimensional poverty is through inter-sectoral interventions and convergence to create powerful local institutions with vibrant community organizations to hold elected representatives accountable for guaranteed public services and economic opportunities. The success in poverty reduction in many southern Indian States has been emulated by a large number of States and Union Territories in other parts of the country.
