Zero Poverty Uttar Pradesh Campaign

File:Percentage of population who are multidimensionally poor by State and Union Territory.svg of population who are multidimensionally poor by state and union territory. Uttar Pradesh currently has one of the highest multidimensional poverty in India.]]

Uttar Pradesh has one of the highest poverty rates in India, ranked 25th out of 28 states in 2023 in terms of multidimensional poverty by the NITI Aayog.{{Cite web |date=1 January 2024 |title=MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY IN INDIA SINCE 2005-06 |url=https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-01/MPI-22_NITI-Aayog20254.pdf |website=Niti Aayog}} From 2018 to 2023, 13.5 crore Indians moved out of multidimensional poverty in India,{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=D. T. E. |date=2023-07-18 |title=135 million Indians moved out of multidimensional poverty in last 5 years: Niti Aayog report |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/governance/135-million-indians-moved-out-of-multidimensional-poverty-in-last-5-years-niti-aayog-report-90692 |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Down To Earth |language=en}} of which Uttar Pradesh alone had 3.44 crore people, the highest in the country.{{Cite news |date=2023-07-19 |title=U.P. leads in poverty reduction, Yogi says BIMARU tag gone |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/uttar-pradesh-emerges-as-saksham-rajya-in-poverty-reduction-sheds-bimaru-tag-niti-aayog-101689707207414.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230923171642/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/uttar-pradesh-emerges-as-saksham-rajya-in-poverty-reduction-sheds-bimaru-tag-niti-aayog-101689707207414.html |archive-date=2023-09-23 |access-date=2025-03-02 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us}} It has witnessed one of the steepest declines in poverty alongside states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan.{{Cite news |last=Ranjan |first=Rahul |title=In National Multidimensional Poverty Index, 2023, Bihar recorded the steepest decline in number of MPI poor |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/blackslate-corner/in-national-multidimensional-poverty-index-2023-bihar-recorded-the-steepest-decline-in-number-of-mpi-poor/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} Yogi Adityanath, the current chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has stated that with the current rate of investment, by 2029, the nominal GDP of the state shall reach $1 trillion.{{Cite web |title=UP Budget session: सीएम योगी का दावा- यूपी में छह करोड़ लोगों को गरीबी रेखा से निकाला गया |url=https://www.amarujala.com/lucknow/up-budget-session-2025-cm-yogi-adityanath-addressed-the-house-2025-02-21 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}{{Cite news |date=2025-01-24 |title=UP to become USD 1 trillion economy in four years, moving towards zero poverty: CM Adityanath |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/up-to-become-usd-1-trillion-economy-in-four-years-moving-towards-zero-poverty-cm-adityanath/articleshow/117527570.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-03-29 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}} Since 2017, Uttar Pradesh has experienced a significant economic turnaround, with the unemployment rate dropping from 19% to less than 3%, and per capita income rising from {{INRConvert|46|k|lk=on|year=2017}} to {{INRConvert|1.24|l|lk=on|year=2025}}.{{Cite web |title=Unemployment down, per capita GDP up since 2017: UP CM on 8 yrs of govt |url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/unemployment-down-per-capita-gdp-up-since-2017-up-cm-on-8-yrs-of-govt-125032400686_1.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250326055045/https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/unemployment-down-per-capita-gdp-up-since-2017-up-cm-on-8-yrs-of-govt-125032400686_1.html |archive-date=2025-03-26 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.business-standard.com |language=en-US |agency=Press Trust of India}}

File:GDP of Uttar Pradesh districts February 2025.png of the districts of Uttar Pradesh, March 2025. The western regions have greater income than the rest of the state.]]

The disparity between the western region of Uttar Pradesh compared to the rest of the state has been significant.{{Cite web |last=India |first=Ideas For |title=Historical land policies and socioeconomic development: The case of Uttar Pradesh |url=https://www.ideasforindia.in/topics/human-development/historical-land-policies-and-socioeconomic-development-the-case-of-uttar-pradesh.html |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Ideas For India |language=en}} Among the ten richest districts of the state by GDP per capita, seven are from west Uttar Pradesh - Gautam Buddha Nagar, Meerut, Etah, Agra, Amroha, Ghaziabad and Hapur. On the other hand, all of the bottom ten districts are from east Uttar Pradesh - Chandauli, Siddharthnagar, Deoria, Ballia, Pratapgarh, Jaunpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bahraich and Balrampur.{{Cite news |date=2023-09-07 |title=Regional disparities persist, west U.P. far ahead of east |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/uttar-pradesh-s-regional-disparities-western-districts-lead-in-development-indicators-eastern-districts-lag-behind-101694030468889.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240914002723/https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/uttar-pradesh-s-regional-disparities-western-districts-lead-in-development-indicators-eastern-districts-lag-behind-101694030468889.html |archive-date=2024-09-14 |access-date=2025-03-02 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us}} In December 2023, the Gautam Buddha Nagar district contributed to 8.91% of the state's GDP, whereas the bottom 65 districts combined contributed to less than 4%.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=Resolving regional disparities |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/resolving-regional-disparities/3349241/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}

On {{Date|Oct 2, 2024}}, on the day of Gandhi Jayanti, Adityanath launched the Zero Poverty Program,{{Cite web |title=गांधी जयंती: प्रदेश में शुरू हुआ जीरो पॉवर्टी अभियान, हर गांव में चिह्नित किए जाएंगे सबसे निर्धन 10 से 25 परिवार |url=https://www.amarujala.com/lucknow/gandhi-jayanti-zero-poverty-campaign-started-in-the-state-10-to-25-poorest-families-will-be-identified-in-ev-2024-10-02 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}} with the aim to eradicate poverty in the state within one year.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-03 |title=Uttar Pradesh targets to achieve 'Zero Poverty' status in one year |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-aims-for-zero-poverty-in-one-year-a-bold-initiative-for-uplifting-families/articleshow/113885312.cms |access-date=2025-02-24 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} The initiative aimed to survey the rural poor households on four basic criteria:{{Cite web |last=Kunj |first=Shrishti |date=5 October 2024 |title=गरीबों का सर्वे करेगी योगी सकरार, जीरो पावर्टी की मुहिम के तहत करेगी निर्धनताका आकलन |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/up-yogi-adityanath-government-to-poor-survey-under-zero-poverty-campaign-to-eradicate-poverty-201728095287933.html |website=Hindustan}}

1. Families that are homeless or live in kutcha houses
2. Landless families who have no other option of livelihood except agriculture;
3. Families dependent on daily wages, agricultural labour and have uncertain and irregular income;
4. Families which lack financial resources; there is always a shortage of food and clothing in the family.

The government announced that it shall partner with corporations and leverage the corporate social responsibility fund for the same.{{Cite web |title=यूपी के 15 लाख गरीब परिवारों की नए साल में बदलेगी तकदीर, आठ महीने चलेगा महा अभियान |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/up-uttarakhand/lucknow/up-cm-yogi-adityanath-govt-start-zero-poverty-mission-for-15-lakh-poor-families/2583875 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Zee News Hindi |language=hi}} Overall, over 20 schemes run by the state government were to be provided to such families.{{Cite web |date=25 February 2025 |title=जीरो पावर्टी योजना के पात्रों को मिलेगा छूटी सभी योजनाओं का लाभ |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/etah/story-zero-poverty-scheme-government-benefits-for-extremely-poor-families-in-villages-201740422229454.amp.html |website=Hindustan}}

In February 2025, the ninth budget session under chief minister Yogi Adityanath and the sixth session under finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna took place. This was the first time Zero Poverty Program was discussed during a budget session.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-21 |title=Zero-poverty goal in budget will change state's scenario: UP finance minister |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/zero-poverty-goal-in-budget-will-change-states-scenario-up-finance-minister/articleshow/118430075.cms |access-date=2025-02-28 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} In this, the Uttar Pradesh government announced the allocation of {{INRConvert|250|c|year=2025}} towards the scheme, to ensure adequate availability of food and clothing, education, medicine, housing facilities and sustainable income to poor families.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=UP Budget: In new schemes, target zero poverty, clean air |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/up-budget-in-new-schemes-target-zero-poverty-clean-air-9847627/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-21 |title=New scheme push in UP budget: Chevening scholarship, cookery training, zero poverty & clean air campaigns |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/new-scheme-push-in-up-budget-chevening-scholarship-cookery-training-zero-poverty-clean-air-campaigns-9847645/ |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

The government had aimed to bring the annual income of such families to at least {{INRConvert|1.25|l|lk=l|year=2025}}.

File:Yogi Adityanath close-up shot.jpg, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh who launched the program]]

On {{Date|Oct 4, 2024}}, the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Manoj Kumar Singh, held a video conference with all the divisional commissioners and district magistrates of the state, urging them to identify the 25 poorest families from each gram panchayat.{{Cite web |last=Bharat |first=E. T. V. |date=2024-10-05 |title=यूपी में चलेगी जीरो पावर्टी मुहिम, प्रमुख सचिव ने अफसरों को दिए ये निर्देश - zero poverty campaign |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/hi/!state/assessment-of-poverty-at-two-levels-for-zero-poverty-campaign-uttar-pradesh-news-ups24100500559 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=ETV Bharat News |language=hi}}

Between {{Date|Dec 19, 2024}} to {{Date|Jan 15, 2025}}, the survey for 650 out of the targetted 1,037 villages had been completed, in which an average of 25 families per village were made part of the welfare schemes.{{Cite web |title=योगी सरकार की इस योजना के तहत एक गांव के 25 परिवारों को मिलेगा फायदा, 650 गांवों का सर्वे पूरा - Yogi government Zero Poverty Scheme 25 families of a village will get benefits survey of 650 villages completed in unnao |url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/unnao-yogi-government-zero-poverty-scheme-25-families-of-a-village-will-get-benefits-survey-of-650-villages-completed-in-unnao-23867162.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Jagran |language=hi}} In the Aligarh district, the government could identify 20,500 such families in the 12 blocks it had divided the district into for the program. Out of these, the forms for 18,526 were filled by {{Date|Jan 17, 2025}}.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-17 |title=UP में अब कोई नहीं रहेगा गरीब, बढ़ेगी इनकम, जानिए क्या है योगी सरकार का प्लान |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/aligarh-yogi-government-launches-zero-poverty-abhiyan-20500-families-identified-in-aligarh-8965525.html |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}} Similarly, over 15,000 families were also identified in the Varanasi district.{{Cite web |title=जीरो पॉवर्टी अभियान: काशी में तलाशे गए 15 हजार से ज्यादा गरीब, बढ़ेगी इनकी आय; इन योजनाओं का मिलेगा लाभ |url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/varanasi/zero-poverty-abhiyan-survey-more-than-15-thousand-poor-people-found-in-kashi-2025-01-07 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}} In the Barabanki district, around 22,578 people were identified, of which 4,751 did not even have a ration card.{{Cite web |title=Barabanki News: जीरो पावर्टी के तहत चिह्नित 22 हजार को मिलेगा आवास |url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/barabanki/22-thousand-people-identified-under-zero-poverty-will-get-housing-barabanki-news-c-315-1-slko1014-135928-2025-03-26 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}

On {{Date|Feb 18, 2025}}, in the Kushinagar district, a total of 23,963 families across 980 gram panchayats were identified, against the target of 24,500 families as stated by the district panchayati raj officer Alok Kumar Priyadarshi, bringing the progress of the identification progress to 97.81%.{{Cite web |date=18 February 2025 |title=जिले में जीरो पॉवर्टी वाले 23,963 परिवारों का हुआ चयन |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/kushinagar//story-fraudster-scams-youth-for-job-in-ssb-with-fake-documents-for-7-5-lakhs-201741061053300.amp.html?articleNo=1 |website=हिन्दुस्तान}} In the Lakhimpur Kheri district, it was found out during the survey that 22,573 families do not have a permanent house. These families were prioritised for housing assistance through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, aiming to provide them with permanent residences.{{Cite web |date=8 March 2025 |title=जीरो पावर्टी वाले 22,573 परिवारों के पास नहीं है आवास |trans-title=Zero Poverty Families Identified for Housing Assistance in District |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/lakhimpur-khiri/story-zero-poverty-families-identified-for-housing-assistance-in-district-201741446658621.amp.html |website=हिन्दुस्तान |language=hi |publication-place=Lakhimpur Kheri district}}

On {{Date|Feb 7, 2025}}, chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh mentioned that the data for approximately 13.57 lakh families{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=7 February 2025 |title=Zero Poverty scheme's first beneficiary secures job at Ashok Leyland |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/zero-poverty-scheme-s-first-beneficiary-secures-job-at-ashok-leyland-101738866921070.html |website=Hindustan Times}} had been collected, whereas 13.22 lakh of them had been verified. Of these, 11.1 lakh families were homeless and declared to be a top priority for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-07 |title=CS reviews progress in zero poverty campaign |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/cs-reviews-progress-in-zero-poverty-campaign/articleshow/118032928.cms |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

On {{Date|Mar 18, 2025}}, commissioner Roshan Jacob conducted a review meeting focusing on financial approvals, the progress of construction projects, and the Zero Poverty program. She emphasised timely completion of projects, adherence to quality standards, and warned of actions against delays or subpar work. Additionally, she directed officials to prioritise housing for families without homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and ensure these families received essential services like clothing, food, education and healthcare.{{Cite web |date=17 March 2025 |title=निर्माण कार्यों को समय से पूरा करने का कमिश्नर ने दिया संदेश |trans-title=Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob Reviews Financial Approvals and Zero Poverty Program Progress |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow/story-commissioner-dr-roshan-jacob-reviews-financial-approvals-and-zero-poverty-program-progress-201742312885641.html |website=हिंदुस्तान |place=लखनऊ |language=hi}}

On {{Date|Mar 27, 2025}}, while celebrating the eighth anniversary of the Yogi Adityanath government, the initiation of the Zero Poverty Survey was highlighted.{{Cite web |title=गरीब कल्याण के लिए सरकार ने जीरो पॉवर्टी सर्वे किया प्रारंभ : मनोहर लाल |url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/lalitpur/government-started-zero-poverty-survey-for-poor-welfare-manohar-lal-lalitpur-news-c-131-1-ltp1002-132277-2025-03-28 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}

In June 2025, chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh emphasised accelerating the campaign by linking over 13,57,772 identified ultra-poor families to key government schemes and livelihood opportunities. He stressed the need to empower eligible youth from these households through focused skill development across priority sectors like manufacturing, banking, information technology, education and hospitality with support from industry and banking partners.{{Cite web |date=7 June 2025 |title=CS: Speed up zero poverty campaign |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/cs-speed-up-zero-poverty-campaign/ar-AA1GeL3o |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=MSN}} A verified database of 13.5 lakh families was used to converge 17-20 welfare schemes and to ensure no household was left behind. The immediate focus was on training and placing a pilot cohort of 300 youth, aiming to generate sustainable incomes of {{Indian rupee|1.25-1.5 lakh}} annually through skill-linked employment.{{Cite news |date=2025-06-07 |title=CS: Speed up zero poverty campaign |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/cs-speed-up-zero-poverty-campaign/articleshow/121684188.cms |access-date=2025-07-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} Discussions highlighted the need to bridge soft skill gaps, improve training quality and duration, and strengthen partnerships with institutions already active in skilling, placement, and women-led enterprises. The campaign also planned targetted outreach to special groups like women and persons with disabilities, ensuring inclusivity in the poverty eradication effort.{{Cite web |date=7 June 2025 |title=जीरो पॉवर्टी में चिह्नित परिवारों को बनाएं आत्मनिर्भर: मुख्य सचिव |trans-title=Make the families marked under Zero Poverty self-dependent: Chief secretary |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow/story-zero-poverty-campaign-empowering-youth-for-sustainable-livelihood-in-uttar-pradesh-201749313120178.amp.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 July 2025 |website=Hindustan |publication-place=Lucknow}}

The website, zero-poverty.in, was launched as a compilation of subdomains of welfare departments on-boarded under the campaign.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-07 |title='Zero poverty': UP starts identification of families to be brought into mainstream |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/uttar-pradesh-aims-for-zero-poverty-digital-tools-transform-identification-of-poor-families/articleshow/113993409.cms |access-date=2025-02-24 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} In the first phase of the campaign, the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh, Manoj Kumar Singh, guided the block development officers to register the verified profile of the enumerators (village panchayat level employees and cadres) on the website in a time-bound manner.

Banking Correspondent (BC) Sakhi (Women Banking Agents) is a community cadre for providing banking and financial services at doorstep at rural areas in Uttar Pradesh.{{Cite web |title=UPSRLM |url=https://www.upsrlm.org/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.upsrlm.org}}{{Cite news |date=2024-07-29 |title=BC Sakhi: A workforce villagers bank on |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/bc-sakhi-a-workforce-villagers-bank-on/articleshow/112092531.cms |access-date=2025-03-06 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} A dedicated mobile app was designed to promote the BC Sakhi Yojana, which was made to assist with the banking requirements in the rural parts of the state.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-18 |title=उत्तर प्रदेश के गांवों के लिए वरदान बनी बीसी सखी, लोगों की इस जरूरत को कर रही है पूरा |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/jhansi-bc-sakhi-solving-villagers-banking-and-financial-problems-local18-9043071.html |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}} It is one of the primary apps being used to conduct the survey for the program, alongside the panchayats and self-help groups.{{Cite web |last=Farooqui |first=Sadaf |date=2025-01-02 |title=क्यों चल रहा है यूपी के गांवों का सर्वेक्षण, जानिए क्या है जीरो पॉवर्टी योजना |url=https://news1india.in/uttar-pradesh/utter-pradesh-government-zero-powerty-scheme-know-more-about-it/217211/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=news 1 india |language=en-US}}

The program provided an amount of {{INRConvert|4000|year=2025}} per month for six months to help the BC Sakhi users stabilise their banking service business.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-22 |title=BC Sakhi Yojana: यह सरकार महिलाओं को दे रही 4000 रुपए महीना, बैंक कमीशन अलग, जानिए पूरी योजना |url=https://www.naidunia.com/national-bc-sakhi-yojana-banking-correspondent-sakhi-all-you-need-to-know-about-scheme-5584179 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Nai Dunia |language=hi}} As their business proceeded, the users were paid a commission based on the amount of transactions they made, which was generally 0.20%-0.32% of the amount transacted.{{Cite web |last=Jaiswal |first=Pankaj |date=18 June 2020 |title=UP rolls out plan for BC Sakhis in gram panchayats |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/up-rolls-out-plan-for-bc-sakhis-in-gram-panchayats/story-ImGgCVxiPB6i1rX3iIxSmO.html |website=Hindustan Times |place=Lucknow}}

Rishta is a mobile app launched by the Government of Uttar Pradesh on the day the initiative was launched by Livelihood Mission under the rural development department. The app provides a platform to monitor all processes with details related to financial transactions.{{Cite web |date=7 October 2024 |title=UP prioritizes digital tech to realize 'Zero Poverty' vision |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/up-prioritizes-digital-tech-to-realize-zero-poverty-vision-101728242202559.html |website=Hindustan Times}} The app shall also display detailed information on the poorest families identified by the mission's digital platform, allowing for an easy Direct Benefit Transfer.

The poorest families were to be selected on the digital platform in a way that their profile can be easily verified. The concerned department officers and employees were to be in regular contact with them. The poorest families will be selected on the basis of four standards.

MoP-UP is a mobile app to collect data on the targetted poor families using a digital medium. The app was to be used by the members of the gram panchayats responsible for gathering information on such families to report to the state government. The registered users were able to use the video call feature provided by the chief minister's helpline and receive alerts, pop-up notifications and updates from the app.{{Cite web |date=6 October 2024 |title=जीरो पावर्टी अभियान के लिए डिजिटल तकनीक का होगा उपयोग |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow/story-up-launches-digital-initiative-to-identify-poorest-families-via-mobile-app-201728219321176.html |website=Hindustan}} To ensure transparency, all the records were accessible on MoP-UP and the website.{{Cite web |last=economypost |date=2024-12-31 |title=UP targets 'Zero Poverty' status by Oct 2 |url=https://www.economypost.in/uttar-pradesh/up-targets-zero-poverty-status-by-oct-2/ |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=(Xclusiv News) |language=en}}

On {{Date|Feb 6, 2025}} in the village of Silauli in Gosainganj, Ram Sagar was given a job at Ashok Leyland, a subsidiary of the Hinduja Group, as a truck maker.{{Cite web |last=www.ETHRWorld.com |title=Man who can't read lands job at Hinduja Group firm under Adityanath's poverty alleviation scheme - ETHRWorld |url=https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/man-who-cant-read-lands-job-at-hinduja-group-firm-under-adityanaths-poverty-alleviation-scheme/118009427?utm_source=latest_news&utm_medium=homepage |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=ETHRWorld.com |language=en}} He had previously been living under poverty. Chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh personally invited Ram Sagar and his wife Ruby{{Cite web |title=गोसाईंगंज की रूबी का परिवार बना पहला जीरो पॉवर्टी लाभार्थी, पत्नी के साथ मुख्य सचिव मनोज कुमार सिंह घर पहुंचे |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/metro/lucknow/other-news/ruby-family-of-gosainganj-became-first-beneficiary-of-zero-poverty-scheme-selected-by-chief-secretary-manoj-kumar-singh/articleshow/114899372.cms |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}}{{Cite web |last=Bhasha |date=2024-11-03 |title=उप्र : 'जीरो पॉवर्टी स्कीम' के लिए रूबी के परिवार को पहले लाभार्थी के रूप में चुना गया |url=https://www.ibc24.in/uttar-pradesh/up-rubys-family-selected-as-first-beneficiary-for-zero-poverty-scheme-2780718.html |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=IBC24 News : Chhattisgarh News, Madhya Pradesh News, Chhattisgarh News Live , Madhya Pradesh News Live, Chhattisgarh News In Hindi, Madhya Pradesh In Hindi |language=hi}} to hand him his offer letter.{{Cite web |last=डेस्क |first=एबीपी यूपी |date=2025-02-09 |title=इस स्कीम का फायदा मिलने के बाद परिवार ने सीएम योगी को माना भगवान, मिली नौकरी |url=https://www.abplive.com/states/up-uk/up-government-zero-poverty-scheme-beneficiary-got-job-under-in-lucknow-2880539 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.abplive.com |language=hi}} Ram Sagar was the first beneficiary of the scheme, at a time when around 13,57,000 more families had also been registered.{{Cite web |title=अशोक लीलैंड में ऑफर लेटर, जीरो पॉवर्टी के पहले लाभार्थी को मिली नौकरी, परिवार की खुशी तो देखिए |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/metro/lucknow/administration/uttar-pradesh-first-beneficiary-of-zero-poverty-ram-sagar-got-job-in-ashok-leyland-know-about-scheme/articleshow/118002506.cms |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=Navbharat Times |language=hi}}

In Sarojaninagar, the state government allocated the defunct land previously used by Scooters India Limited to the Hinduja Group to set up a factory for electric buses. The project head, Shakti Singh, signed a memorandum of understanding with the state government to create 12,000 jobs for the individuals whose families have been registered under the Zero Poverty Program. Ram Sagar was the first of the beneficiaries to work in the manufacturing plant.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-07 |title=Zero poverty plan's 1st beneficiary gets job with Hinduja Group |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/zero-poverty-plans-1st-beneficiary-gets-job-with-hinduja-group/articleshow/117993256.cms |access-date=2025-03-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} Ram Sagar, who could not read, was enrolled in an equivalency certification course to qualify for the position. He was also to undergo an apprenticeship under the state government with a stipend of {{INRConvert|1500|year=2025}} per month.{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2025-02-06 |title=India News {{!}} Man Who Can't Read Lands Job at Hinduja Group Firm Under Adityanath's Poverty Alleviation Scheme |url=https://www.latestly.com/agency-news/india-news-man-who-cant-read-lands-job-at-hinduja-group-firm-under-adityanaths-poverty-alleviation-scheme-6624135.html |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=LatestLY |language=en}} Hinduja Family Advisor S.K. Chaddha stated that Sagar's training shall last one year before he can go to the manufacturing plant. Until then, he was to work on-site.

On {{Date|Feb 27, 2025}}, minister Satish Chandra Sharma visited Belkhara gram panchayat in Dariyabad Assembly constituency to review the progress of the surveys. With the help of the progress done, he was able to include all the eligible people in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme.{{Cite web |last=कुमार |first=दिलीप |date=27 February 2025 |title=जीरो पॉवर्टी अभियान और PM आवास योजना की समीक्षा:राज्य मंत्री शर्मा ने बेलखरा में सर्वे सूची की प्रगति देखी, पात्र लोगों को बिना भेदभाव लाभ देने के निर्देश |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/uttar-pradesh/barabanki/belkhara/news/review-of-zero-poverty-campaign-and-pm-housing-scheme-134551671.html |website=Dainik Bhaskar}}

On {{Date|Mar 12, 2025}}, in a speech at the Shahi Qila in Jaunpur, Adityanath stated that from 1 April, the programmes under the Zero Poverty campaign shall be expanded upon to cover the poor and deprived who are yet to benefit from the schemes.{{Cite news |date=2025-03-13 |title=Yogi slams oppn for negative comments during Maha Kumbh |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/yogi-slams-oppn-for-negative-comments-during-maha-kumbh/articleshow/118947590.cms |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |title="Will provide Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to all brides under Mukhyamantri Samoohik Vivah Yojana": CM Yogi |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/will-provide-rs-1-lakh-financial-assistance-to-all-brides-under-mukhyamantri-samoohik-vivah-yojana-cm-yogi20250312180553/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=ANI News |language=en}} On {{Date|Mar 23, 2025}}, the president of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar addressed a rally in Basti district, claiming that 15 lakh families had benefitted from the government schemes.{{Cite web |title=Basti News: जीरो पावर्टी योजना में 15 लाख परिवारों को किया गया लाभान्वित |url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/basti/15-lakh-families-benefited-under-zero-poverty-scheme-basti-news-c-207-1-kld1003-133909-2025-03-24 |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}

Upon the direction of chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, families who were identified under the Zero Poverty program were prioritised for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme in the Jhansi district. All the block development officers were instructed to complete the verification of the families and provide their information on the scheme's official portal by {{Date|Mar 30, 2025}}.{{Cite web |date=8 March 2025 |title=पीएम आवास सर्वे में जीरो पॉवर्टी चिन्हित फेमिली को प्राथमिकता |trans-title=Zero Poverty Campaign Priority for Families Without Homes in Jhansi |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/jhansi/story-zero-poverty-campaign-priority-for-families-without-homes-in-jhansi-201741454945616.amp.html |website=हिंदुस्तान |language=hi |publication-place=झाँसी}}

On {{Date|Mar 30, 2025}}, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu launched Zero Poverty-P4, a public–private partnership program to alleviate poverty from Andhra Pradesh. As a part of the program, the top 10% economically prosperous members of the Telugu diaspora were to support mentor the bottom 20% underprivileged families to help them improve their economic condition.{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2025-03-21 |title=Andhra Pradesh reviews preps for 'Zero Poverty-P4' launch |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2025/Mar/21/andhra-pradesh-reviews-preps-for-zero-poverty-p4-launch |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}} The government of Andhra Pradesh aimed to achieve its target by 2029.{{Cite news |last=M |first=Sambasiva Rao |date=2025-03-30 |title=Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu launches ‘P4’ initiative to eradicate poverty by 2029 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-chief-minister-chandrababu-naidu-launches-zero-poverty-p4-initiative-to-eradicate-poverty-by-2029/article69394142.ece |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

While the Zero Poverty Program aimed to eradicate poverty from Uttar Pradesh within one year, 32,325 families from the Hardoi district identified were yet to be given any benefit five months after the conclusion of the survey. The district development officer of Hardoi stated that the second phase of the program was yet to be approved.{{Cite news |date=17 February 2025 |title=अधर में लटके, जीरो पॉवर्टी सर्वे में चिन्हित 30 हज़ार से अधिक परिवार |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/hardoi/story-zero-poverty-campaign-government-s-efforts-to-identify-poor-families-in-hardoi-201739731073835.html |work=हिन्दुस्तान |location=हरदोई}} The web portal for the District Panchayat Raj Department was yet to be opened even after the conclusion of the survey. On {{Date|Feb 10, 2025}}, around 25,925 families in the Unnao district were yet to receive an update, although the survey had been conducted on {{Date|Dec 19, 2024}} and was 99% completed.{{Cite news |date=10 February 2025 |title=निधन परिवारों को सामर्थ्यवान बनने में अभी इंतज़ार |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/unnao/story-zero-poverty-scheme-delay-in-verification-for-25925-families-in-unnao-201739190954231.html |work=हिन्दुस्तान |location=उन्नाव}}

Until January 2025, in the Hathras district, the survey was not conducted by 89 enumerators due to technical issues. When the Panchayat Raj Department conducted its review, the phone numbers of many panchayat assistants were found to be wrongly recorded. Many panchayat assistants had even left their posts, and the remaining employees were not taking interest in the survey.{{Cite web |title=Hathras News: 89 गणनाकारों ने शुरू नहीं किया जीरो पाॅवर्टी सर्वे |url=https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/hathras/89-enumerators-did-not-start-zero-poverty-survey-hathras-news-c-56-1-sali1016-125725-2025-01-18 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}

In the Kaushambi district, the Deputy Director of Agriculture Satyendra Kumar Tiwari withheld the salaries for March of two employees, Pankaj Patel and Ganesh Kumar, due to their negligence in the verification process of the Zero Poverty Initiative. Tiwari even warned them of further action being taken against them if the verification process was not completed immediately.{{Cite web |date=19 March 2025 |title=उप निदेशक कृषि ने दो कर्मचारियों का रोका वेतन |trans-title=Deputy director of agriculture stopped salary of two employees |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/kausambi/story-police-arrest-young-man-with-45-liters-of-mahua-alcohol-in-saraswan-201743341079744.amp.html |website=हिंदुस्तान |language=hi |publication-place=कौशांबी}}

On {{Date|Mar 29, 2025}}, the Chief Development Officer Diksha Jain reviewed the provision of housing to poor families under the Zero Poverty program. The budget under this scheme was to be returned after two days, despite the incomplete progress. The progress of MNREGA was 62% in Ghatampur, 47% in Kalyanpur and 71% in Bidhnu. Dissatisfaction was expressed over only 83 percent of the prescribed amount limit of National Rural Livelihood Mission being spent and the expected amount not being spent in startup, revolving fund and community investment fund.{{Cite web |date=30 March 2025 |title=दो दिन शेष, आवास देने के लिए नहीं मिले 458 गरीब |trans-title=CDO Diksha Jain Reviews Zero Poverty Housing Program Urgent Action Required for Poor Families |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/kanpur/story-cdo-diksha-jain-reviews-zero-poverty-housing-program-urgent-action-required-for-poor-families-201743291618551.amp.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 April 2025 |website=Hindustan |publication-place=Kanpur}}

• Fome Zero, a similar initiative taken by the Federal government of Brazil in 2003
• Targeted Poverty Alleviation, an anti-poverty campaign in China

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Category:Poverty in India