Poverty as a Challenge

In our daily, we come across many people who we think are poor. . Poverty in this sense may be understand as a condition in which a person or community is lacking in the basic needs for a minimum standard of well-being and life, particularly as a result of a persistent lack of income. The increase in poverty runs parallel sides with unemployment, hunger, and higher crime rate. 

They could be daily wage workers at construction sites or child workers in dhabas, rickshaw pullers, domestic, servants, cobblers, beggars, etc.

Roughly 260 million {or 26 crores} people in India live in poverty. India has the largest single concentration of the poor in the world. This illustrates the seriousness of the challenge.

Following issues are related to poverty:

•   Unemployment
•   Size of families
•   Illiteracy
•   Poor health/malnutrition
•   Child labour
•   Helplessness

Causes of Poverty

1. Less job opportunity 

2. High growth rate of population

3. Huge income inequalities

4. Unequal distribution of land and other resources

5. Lack of skilled labour
6. Growing Indebtedness

Steps taken by the Government for Poverty Alleviation:

1} Prime Minister Rojgar: The aim of this programme was to create self -employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns.

2} Rural Employment Generation Programme: REGP was launched in 1995 to self -employment opportunities in rural areas.

3} Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana was launched in 2000

4} Antyodaya Anna Yojana for the poorest of poor’s’ and elders

5} National Food for Work Programme was launched in 2004

In India poverty line is measured or calculated considering the following factors required for subsistence.

1. Minimum level of food requirement,

2. Clothing

3. Footwear

4. Fuel and Light

5. Educated

6. Medical requirement etc.

Poverty has become a great issue in our world. Though many organizations have been created to find solutions for this matter nobody could not save world completely from poverty. The common fact which we can realize when we consider on information about poverty is mostly occurring in developing countries.

REFERENCE: http://ncertbooks.prashanthellina.com/class_9.SocialScience.Economics/Chapter%203.pdf