KATHMANDU: The National Planning Commission on Wednesday released its first Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report stating that around 28.5 percent of Nepali population is living in poverty.

The poverty indicators including malnutrition, minimum education, electricity facility, drinking water and sufficient sanitation conditions and others are measured in three dimensions - health, education and livelihood.

“MPI rate is higher in Province 6 and Province 2 where 50 per cent people are living in poverty. They have no access to basic facilities like cooking fuel, sanitation, electricity, education and health. This figure is 30 per cent in the Province 5 and 15 per cent in the Province 3, 1 and 4,” the report asserted.

According to the report, 41.6 per cent children are in multidimensional poverty.

Following the unveiling of the report,Vice Chairman of NPC Swarnim Wagle said, “MPI method was applied for the first-time to measure poverty in the Country from its roots and it would be helpful in mobilisation of resources for development.”