The Citizen Report (2007) attempted to analyze the...

The Citizen Report (2007) attempted to analyze the progress towards realization of MDGs in the Madhya Pradesh (MP). The study found that Madhya Pradesh had huge poverty especially the urban poverty. The decline in poverty was slow. Urban poverty was also the fall out of rural poverty as very and poor move to urban slums to eke out livelihood. The report revealed that the present situation did not reflect that poverty goals could be fulfilled by 2015. Efforts are required to enhance livelihood avenues in rural areas. Non-farm sector development and industrialization need to be given adequate attention. On the education front, the study suggested that efforts are required to make investments for schools so as to increase access†¦show more content†¦Forest produce usage should be in favour of tribal and locals as they can manage minor produce to generate income. Exclusion of people from forest would not help them. Employment guarantee scheme has to be implemented more properly . Labour market information has to be improved and migration controlled. Financing is a major problem. Funds need to be properly utilized for social sector. There has to be short-term, medium-term and long-term plans for financing health related projects. Finances have to be mobilized from both public and private sources. The inter- linkages of various sectors and linkage of economy with outside are important. Trade can work both ways, but efforts should be to use it effectively for betterment of poor. Tax structure requires a re-look to mobilize more resources for investment in social sector. Institutions delivering services are weak and they need to be strengthened and new one created to have greater efficiency. Costing of specific intervention also require attention as it would depend up on institutions and policy environment. Selecting the best delivery system/ mechanism will reduce costs. Most MDGs cost estimates use a one-size fit all approach, based on linear relationships, w hich may not be true always. The cost of expanding the coverage of a service in health and education by an extra ten percentage points, for instance would depend on