✅ Introduction to Poverty in India
Poverty is one of the most critical challenges faced by India today. Despite progress in various sectors, a large population still lives below the poverty line. Poverty is not just about the lack of income, but also the inability to access basic necessities like food, clean drinking water, shelter, education, and health services.
In this chapter, students learn about the meaning of poverty, its causes, indicators, and steps taken by the government to reduce it. Understanding this topic helps us connect with real-life issues affecting millions.
📌 What is Poverty?
- Poverty refers to a condition where a person is unable to meet the minimum level of living standards.
- It includes not just economic deprivation, but also social exclusion and lack of dignity.
- The poor often suffer from hunger, illiteracy, unemployment, and poor health.
📊 Indicators of Poverty
Earlier, poverty was measured only based on income and consumption levels, but now we consider multiple factors:
- Lack of proper housing
- Illiteracy and low education levels
- Poor health and malnutrition
- Unemployment or underemployment
- Lack of access to sanitation and clean drinking water
- Social exclusion due to caste, religion, or gender
📈 Poverty Line in India
- The poverty line is a benchmark used to identify who is poor.
- It is based on minimum required calories and income.
- According to the Planning Commission:
🔸 Rural areas: A person spending less than ₹816 per month is considered poor.
🔸 Urban areas: A person spending less than ₹1,000 per month is considered poor. - These figures are based on NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) data.
🌐 Global Poverty
- Poverty is a global issue, not just in India.
- The World Bank defines the international poverty line as people living on less than $1.90 per day.
- Countries like Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and others face similar challenges.
🧑🌾 Who are the Poor?
In rural India:
- Landless labourers, small and marginal farmers, and weavers form the largest group of poor.
- They often depend on seasonal work and face irregular income.
In urban India:
- Casual workers, rickshaw pullers, street vendors, construction workers, and people living in slums face poverty due to low wages and no job security.
🔍 Causes of Poverty in India
1️⃣ Historical Factors
- Colonial rule destroyed traditional Indian industries and caused economic backwardness.
2️⃣ Low Economic Growth
- Even after independence, growth was slow and uneven, especially in agriculture.
3️⃣ Unemployment and Underemployment
- Many people are jobless or work in jobs that don’t pay enough to meet basic needs.
4️⃣ Unequal Distribution of Wealth
- Wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few; most people own very little land or property.
5️⃣ High Population Growth
- More people means higher demand and less availability of jobs and resources.
6️⃣ Lack of Education and Skills
- The poor often do not have access to quality education, reducing job opportunities.
7️⃣ Social Inequality and Discrimination
- Caste system, gender bias, and religious discrimination prevent equal access to resources.
📉 Effects of Poverty
- Malnutrition and hunger
- Child labour and school dropouts
- Diseases and high mortality rates
- Crimes and social unrest
- Loss of human dignity
- Slum development in cities
🧾 Poverty Alleviation Programs
The Government of India has taken various steps to reduce poverty through welfare schemes and development programs.
🔹 Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)
Started in 1978–79 to provide employment, training, credit, and infrastructure to the rural poor.
🔹 Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY)
Launched in 1989 to provide wage employment in rural areas.
🔹 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) – 2005
- Provides 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in rural areas.
- Focuses on poverty reduction through employment.
🔹 Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
Promotes self-employment through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
🔹 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
Helps the poor to build pucca houses in rural and urban areas.
🔹 National Food Security Act (NFSA)
Ensures subsidized food grains to around two-thirds of the population.
📚 Role of Education in Reducing Poverty
- Education improves skills and opens up better job opportunities.
- It helps break the cycle of poverty across generations.
- Government initiatives like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan promote universal education.
🏙️ Urban Poverty vs Rural Poverty
Rural Poverty
- Caused by agricultural underdevelopment
- Poor irrigation, low productivity, and seasonal unemployment
Urban Poverty
- Caused by migration from villages, leading to overpopulation in cities
- Lack of affordable housing, jobs, and infrastructure
📅 Poverty Trends in India (Data-Based Insight)
- In 1973, over 55% of Indians lived below the poverty line.
- In 2011–12, it reduced to around 22%.
- Poverty is decreasing but at a slow pace, especially in some states like Bihar, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh.
🗺️ Poverty and State-wise Variation
- Highest poverty levels: Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh
- Lowest poverty levels: Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana
- Kerala: High literacy and health indicators
- Punjab: High agricultural productivity
- West Bengal: Effective land reform programs
🛠️ Need for a Multidimensional Approach
- Poverty cannot be solved by income support alone.
- We need to address:
🔸 Education
🔸 Healthcare
🔸 Employment
🔸 Social equality
🔸 Access to resources
💡 How Can We Help Fight Poverty?
- Support skill development programs
- Spread awareness about government schemes
- Encourage education and digital literacy
- Promote self-help groups and small businesses
- Advocate for equal rights and opportunities
✍️ Conclusion
Poverty is not just a lack of money but a denial of opportunity and dignity. India has made progress, but the road ahead is long. Tackling poverty requires government effort, community support, and youth involvement. Through education, employment, and equality, we can move towards a poverty-free India.