Poverty - In Depth Notes

9.1 Learning Objectives

  • Understand the concept of poverty.
  • Know the various components of poverty.
  • Learn about the various consequences of poverty.
  • Understand the various causes of poverty.

9.2 Introduction

  • Widespread poverty in India.
  • Official measures of poverty based on food security before 2005 focused on per capita expenditure for calories and essentials.
  • World Bank revised its poverty definition to $2 per day on purchasing power parity from 2005-2013.
  • Different definitions lead to varying poverty estimates:
    • 2012 Government estimate: 21.9% below poverty line.
    • World Bank's 2011 estimate: 23.6% living below $1.25 per day.
    • UN's MDG 2011: 21.9% below $1.25.

9.3 Concept of Poverty

  • Mass poverty exists in several regions, notably in India, due to various structural factors.
  • Poverty linked to feudalistic relations; leads to deprivation of food, housing, health, and education.
  • A divergence in economic development between industrial and developing nations leads to mass poverty in the latter.
  • Two concepts of poverty:
    • Absolute poverty: Based on defined minimum living standards.
    • Relative poverty: Related to societal conditions and requires context.

9.4 Definition of Poverty

  • Poverty defined as societal failure to meet basic necessities.
  • C.T. Kurien's definition:
    • Resources satisfy few while many are left without basic needs.
    • Manifested in low incomes, inadequate housing, health issues, and educational deprivation.
  • Oscar Lewis describes poverty as the inability to satisfy material wants.
  • Measurement issues in defining poverty and standardization; Rowntree and Orshansky's contributions noted in the UK and USA respectively.
  • Current debates around definitions and the necessity of encompassing the needs of the poor in growth metrics.

9.5 Types of Poverty

1. Biological/Subsistence Approach

  • Defined by minimum calorie intake essential for survival.
  • Critique: Oversimplifies nutritional requirements; ignores variations in diet and cultural aspects.

2. Inequality Approach

  • Concept of poverty closely linked to income inequality.
  • Focuses on societal comparison rather than absolute measures.

3. Relative and Absolute Poverty

  • Absolute poverty: Universal standard lacking biological necessities.
  • Relative poverty: Based on income relative to societal standards; varies with time and place.

9.6 Components of Poverty

Key dimensions of poverty impacting societies:

1. Occupation and Unemployment

  • Types of occupations and unemployment levels among the poor.

2. Income and Assets

  • Assessing income sources, land ownership, livestock, and indebtedness.

3. Food

  • Analysis of food types, consumption, and related expenditures.

4. Health

  • Treatment patterns, preventive measures, sanitation, and access to medical facilities.

5. Shelter

  • Housing quality, access to basic civic amenities, and possessions.

6. Education

  • Educational attainment levels and attitudes towards women's education.

7. Demographic Features

  • Family structure, marital status, migration patterns.

8. Values, Interests, and Activities

  • Community engagement, modern orientations, and religious practices.

9. Power and Politics

  • Political affiliations, organizational participation, and perceptions of governance.

9.7 Causes of Poverty

  • Poverty is complex, resulting from multiple intertwined factors rather than singular causes as proposed by earlier theorists.

1. Agriculture

  • Key sector needing focus for effective poverty alleviation strategies.

2. Economic Reforms

  • Current reforms favor urban over rural employment opportunities.

3. Market Liberalization

  • Growth may increase inequality, necessitating state intervention to protect vulnerable populations.

4. Land Inequality

  • Imbalances in land ownership leading to systemic poverty.

5. Social Discrimination

  • Caste and gender-based inequalities persisting post-independence.

9.8 Consequences of Poverty

  1. Illiteracy: High correlations between poverty and education levels.
  2. Child Labor: High prevalence in impoverished communities.
  3. Nutrition and Diet: Poor dietary quality impacts wellbeing.
  4. Living Conditions: Insufficient housing affecting general health.
  5. Unemployment: Migration in search of work leads to socio-economic instability.
  6. Hygiene and Sanitation: Lack of access to proper sanitation facilities.
  7. Feminization of Poverty: Affected more significantly among women.
  8. Social Tensions: Inequities can lead to unrest.

9.9 Poverty Alleviation Programmes in India

  • Programs focused on both economic growth and targeted support for vulnerable populations.

1. Integrated Rural Development Programme

  • Providing assistance for rural self-employment opportunities.

2. Wage Employment Programmes

  • Focused on generating employment and creating infrastructure.

3. Jawahar Rozgar Yojana

  • Aimed at generating rural employment through infrastructure creation.

4. Food for Work Programme

  • Combines food security with wage employment opportunities.

5. Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana

  • Merged previous initiatives to enhance rural employment and food security.

6. Drought Prone Area Programme

  • Manages the socio-economic impacts of drought in vulnerable areas.