MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN ZAWLNUAM BLOCK OF MAMIT DISTRICT, MIZORAM

Abstract

Purpose: The study intends to examine the incidence and intensity of multidimensional poverty and inequality in Zawlnuam RD. Block of Mizoram, India. The core objective of the study is to compute Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and compare and contrast the result across the study area. We also examined the degree of inequality in deprivations among people using variance of the deprivation scores. Methodology: This study was based on primary data which was collected through a multi-stage sampling technique. At the first stage, Zawlnuam RD. Block was selected. The second stage involved random selection of 5 villages from the RD, Block. Requisite data were then collected randomly through structured questionnaires which was designed based on the requirement for computation of Multidimensional Poverty Index. From the collected data, the incidence of poverty (headcount ratio), the intensity of poverty, and MPI were computed using Alkire-Foster Method. The study follows the ‘Global MPI Brief Methodological Note, 2017’ (Alkire & Roble, 2017 ) in the choice of dimensions, indicators, thresholds and weights assigned to each indicator. Results: From the result of the analysis, the multidimensional poverty in the study area is moderate. Decomposition of MPI by population sub-group reveals that poverty is most severe in Kolalian village followed by Thinghlun village, while Decomposition of MPI by component indicators show malnutrition as the most prevailing deprivation in the study area. The degree of inequality measured by variance of deprivation score ranges between 0.03 and 0.12 indicating low degree of inequality. Applications of this study: The findings of the study can be based for formulation of government poverty reduction policies and can be used effectively in improving the existing poverty reduction strategies in the state. KEY WORDS: Multidimensional Poverty, Inequality, Zawlnuam RD Block, Mizoram.