SDG 1
No Poverty
A Future Where Everyone Thrives
Poverty is not destiny. It’s a challenge we can — and must — overcome with courage, creativity, and collective will.
Why Ending Poverty is the First Step to Everything Else
More than 1 in 10 people globally still live in extreme poverty.
In India, despite progress, millions struggle daily for food, shelter, and opportunity.
Poverty is not just lack of income — it’s lack of choices, dignity, and hope.
💬 “Poverty is not just absence of money, it is the absence of possibility. Ending it is the foundation of every other dream.”
A Nation Rising, Yet Divided
India has lifted over 400 million people out of poverty in recent decades.
But disparities remain — rural communities, marginalized groups, and urban slums still carry the heaviest burdens.
Emerging solutions — microfinance, rural entrepreneurship, digital skilling, and women-led self-help groups — are already reshaping the story.
💬 This is not just a challenge for governments — it’s a calling for every young mind ready to innovate, build, and serve.
Your Journey of Contribution
Awakening (14–18 years): Learn about inequality. Volunteer at food banks, tutoring centers, or local NGOs. Start small — one act of service can open your eyes.
Becoming (19–24 years): Explore fields like social work, microfinance, rural development, or data-driven policymaking. Intern with impact-driven organizations.
💬 “Your career isn’t just about what you get — it’s about what you give back.”
Impacting (25–40 years): Build scalable ventures, design inclusive policies, or lead corporate initiatives that create jobs with dignity.
Stories of What’s Possible
🧩 Journey 1: Aarav, 16 — “Awakening to Inequality”
📍 Jaipur | High School StudentCause: Child education in slums
Action: Started teaching evening classes to kids near his colony
Next Step: Wants to pursue social sciences to study inequality
💬 “I realized I don’t have to wait for adulthood to make a difference.”
🧩 Journey 2: Kavya, 21 — “Becoming a Bridge”
📍 Lucknow | Economics UndergraduateCause: Rural entrepreneurship
Action: Interned with a microfinance startup supporting women-led businesses
Next Step: Plans to pursue master’s in development economics
💬 “Numbers became faces. Poverty became possibility.”
🧩 Journey 3: Rohan, 32 — “Impacting at Scale”
📍 Bengaluru | Tech ProfessionalCause: Financial inclusion
Action: Left corporate job to co-found a fintech platform connecting small farmers with credit
Impact: Enabled 25,000+ farmers to access loans without middlemen
💬 “Purpose turned my career into a movement.”
Poverty Is the Root. The 5 Pillars Are the Framework.
People: No poverty means dignity and security for all.
Planet: Poverty drives unsustainable exploitation of resources.
Prosperity: Inclusive growth starts by lifting the bottom.
Peace: Reducing poverty lowers conflict and inequality.
Partnership: Ending poverty requires governments, businesses, NGOs, and citizens acting together.
💬 “A world without poverty isn’t charity. It’s justice.”
Beyond Careers —Small Actions, Big Ripples
Mentor a child in your community.
Support local self-help groups or small businesses.
Volunteer with NGOs focused on housing, food security, or literacy.
Use digital platforms to raise awareness and resources for those in need.
💬 “Contribution is not about scale, but about sincerity.”
Systemic Shifts Are Non-Negotiable
Governments: Expand social safety nets, invest in rural infrastructure, enforce labor rights.
Private Sector: Create jobs with dignity, not just efficiency. Commit to living wages and inclusive hiring.
Both Together: Build ecosystems for entrepreneurship in underserved communities.
💬“Leadership is measured not by profits or politics, but by how many lives you lift.”
