Understanding the Dynamics of Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index: BIMARU States: An Econometrics Approach

The research study analyzes multidimensional poverty in seven states of India, namely Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The study focuses on three key dimensions of poverty: infant mortality rate, birth rate, and educational dropout rates at both primary and upper primary levels. Additionally, the study examines the availability of basic amenities such as clean cooking fuel, improved sanitation facilities, and safe drinking water. By calculating the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), the study ranks the states based on their performance in these dimensions. Madhya Pradesh emerges as the top-performing state with the lowest MPI score of 0.310745, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand. The study reveals that despite having relatively low MPI scores, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh still struggle with high infant mortality rates and birth rates. This indicates the need for targeted interventions to improve healthcare and family planning services in these states. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of education in poverty reduction. It identifies Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh as states with the highest primary and upper primary education dropout rates. This emphasizes the need for improving the quality of education and implementing strategies to encourage school completion. It also states the importance of addressing issues related to healthcare, education, and basic amenities in order to reduce poverty and improve overall well-being. The normalized index approach used in this study provides a comprehensive and objective measure of poverty, enabling policymakers and stakeholders to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.