Poverty as a Challenge - Long Answer Questions
A state where a person cannot satisfy minimum requirements of life (food, clothing, footwear, fuel, light, education, medical).
Poor have to live in a poor surrounding with other poor people, excluded from enjoying social equality of better-off people (e.g., Caste system). Both a cause and consequence of poverty.
A measure describing the greater probability of certain communities (backward castes, widows, handicapped) becoming or remaining poor.
Based on calorie requirement (2400 rural, 2100 urban) and monetary expenditure. In 2011-12, Rs 816 (Rural) and Rs 1000 (Urban) per person per month.
Because people engage in more physical manual labour.
Because prices of essential goods are higher in cities.
Women, elderly people, and female infants. They are systematically denied equal access to resources available to the family.
1. Historical (British ruin of handicrafts). 2. High population growth. 3. Lack of job opportunities vs job seekers. 4. Unequal distribution of land. 5. Social/Cultural factors.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005). Guarantees 100 days of wage employment to every household to ensure livelihood. 1/3rd jobs reserved for women.
Started in 1993. Aim to create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural/small towns.
Declined from 45% in 1993 to 22% in 2011. But number of poor remains high.
Bihar and Odisha.
Punjab/Haryana (Agri growth), Kerala (Human resource), West Bengal (Land reform), Andhra/Tamil Nadu (Public distribution).
Living on less than $1.90 per day (PPP).
When a large section of people are poor. India has the largest concentration of poor in the world.
Launched in 1999 to assist poor families (organized into Self Help Groups) with bank credit.
1. Promotion of economic growth. 2. Targeted anti-poverty programmes.
Growth widens opportunities and provides resources for human development. But benefits may not trickle down directly.
Not just lack of money, but lack of education, shelter, health, job security, and dignity.
Scheme for the poorest of the poor (provides subsidized grain).
Poverty as a Challenge - Important Facts
Every 4th person in India is poor.
270 million poor in 2011.
Poverty line varies by time and place.
2400 calories for rural.
2100 calories for urban.
Rural poverty line Rs 816 (2011).
Urban poverty line Rs 1000 (2011).
NSSO (National Sample Survey Org) estimates poverty.
SCs and STs are most vulnerable.
Casual labourers are most vulnerable.
Shivraman (cobbler) story illustrates vulnerability.
Inter-state disparities exist.
Bihar poverty ratio: 33.7%.
Global poverty fell from 36% (1990) to 10% (2015).
Sub-Saharan Africa still has high poverty.
MDGs called for halving poverty.
British policies ruined textiles.
Green Revolution was limited to some parts.
Income inequality is a major issue.
Land redistribution failed in many states.
Small farmers are often in debt.
Social obligations (weddings) cause debt.
MGNREGA provides 100 days work.
Average wage in MGNREGA rose from 65 to 132.
PMGY (Gramodaya Yojana) for basic services.
Growth rate jumped to 6% in 1980s/90s.
Poverty as a Challenge - Important Dates/Terms
MGNREGA passed
PMRY started
SGSY started
PMGY started