Govt Schemes Narrow Rural-Urban Living Standard Gap: Minister

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 10 March 2025, 04:58:20 PM IST

Govt Schemes Narrow Rural-Urban Living Standard Gap: Minister
The government’s welfare schemes and policies have significantly reduced the gap in living standards between rural and urban areas, as highlighted in household consumption expenditure surveys by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). Minister of State for MOSPI, Rao Inderjit Singh, shared the findings in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The latest survey reveals that the urban-rural gap in monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) narrowed to 70% in 2023-24, down from 71% in 2022-23 and a sharp decline from 84% in 2011-12. This steady progress indicates sustained growth in rural consumption across all states and Union Territories.
Key schemes contributing to this improvement include the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), and the Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs). Other impactful initiatives include the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), and Ayushman Bharat.
According to the survey, the average MPCE in 2023-24 stands at 4,122 in rural areas and 6,996 in urban areas, excluding the value of items received for free through welfare programmes. When accounting for these benefits, the figures rise to 4,247 and 7,078, respectively.
The data shows an annual increase of about 9% in rural MPCE and 8% in urban MPCE compared to 2022-23, signaling balanced growth across regions. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) have been instrumental in uplifting rural households and boosting consumption patterns.
These findings reflect the government’s commitment to inclusive development, bridging regional disparities, and enhancing the quality of life for rural citizens through targeted social welfare programmes.

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