Poverty in India: concepts,measurement and status (original) (raw)
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Poverty in India: Concept, Measurement, Extent and Its Alleviation
The problem of poverty alleviation is still one of the biggest challenge before the world especially in underdeveloped and developing economies like India. Poverty means the denial of opportunities and choices most basic to human development such as long, healthy and creative life, decent standard of living, and enjoyment of dignity, self esteem and respect in life. Poverty is, therefore, multidimensional concept. The objective of planning in India has been to get rid of the mass poverty and to ensure at least minimum standard of living. Various programmes have been launched over the years by the central and state governments for achieving the objective of poverty alleviation. Despite the implementation of these programmes, the problem of vicious circle of poverty continue to persist in all most all the states in the country. Hence, most of the anti-poverty programmes have been strengthened, redesigned and restructured through special programmes to provide more
The issue of poverty has been long time debatable not only in terms of its alleviation but also in terms of defining it and ascertaining it. The problems associated with poverty alleviation somehow also falls in the problem of defining the poverty as till date there is no non-controversial definition or criteria of defining poverty in India or globally. The changing criteria's of defining poverty changes the headcount and the proportion of poor reflecting it as mere aspect which is somehow politically driven. The poverty issue has been so important not only for the political actors but in recent times as just been restricted for the academician debates and interest which is wide aloof of the actual ground realities. The poverty definition has been continuously changing with the changing criteria's of measuring it. The problem is not only of settling with the set criteria's but also with the method and dimensions of using them. The present paper based on secondary research highlights the changing pattern of defining and demarking poverty in context of India. The paper further surfaces the conflicts that have been raised with the various methodologies of ascertaining poverty line and its impact on the head count ratio. The paper also puts lights on the approaches of different leading economists in the manner poverty issue be treated to deal with the issue of development and social justice.
The Poverty in India-An Over View
IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2014
India is a country of continental proportions, and poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon. Not surprisingly, the debate over poverty in India-its extent, trends, causes, and cure-is complex and controversial. Fortunately, India also has a much higher quality and more substantial evidence base than most other countries for understanding poverty. Questions of poverty in India have engaged a large community of researchers over the years. But in recent decades, because difficult measurement issues have arisen, a disproportionate amount of attention has been devoted to assessments of the extent of poverty and the rate of poverty decline. Much less is known about how the rapidly changing economic landscape has altered the underlying profile of poverty-and how that affects the consequent search for its causes and cure. Fundamentally, the concept of poverty is associated with socially perceived deprivation with respect to basic human needs. As a result, social perceptions are taken to play a dominant role in ascertaining deprivation although self-perceptions cannot be ignored altogether and aggregated individual preferences may have to be respected in satisfying any given need in most cases as weargue below in the context of consumption poverty. These basic human needs are usually listed in the material dimension as the need to be adequately nourished, the need to be decently clothed, the need to be reasonably sheltered, the need to escape avoidable diseases, the need to be (at least) minimally educated and the need to be mobile for purposes of social interaction and participation in economic activity.
2020
This paper provides an overview of estimation of poverty by various expert groups in India. It also discusses the limitations of below poverty line (BPL) approach in India. It also provides an overview of other poverty measures at international level particularly Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and their assessment about India. The paper concludes by reviewing present approaches and options for poverty measurement. Disclaimer: Views expressed in this paper are exclusively of the author(s) and not of any other individual or the Ministry of Rural Development. It has been prepared in good faith on the basis of information available at the date of publication.
Growth is not the sole objective of economic policy. It is necessary to ensure that the benefits of growth accrue to all sections of the society. Eradication of poverty is thus an important objective. Human beings need a certain minimum consumption of food and nonfood items to survive. However the perception regarding what constitutes poverty varies over time and across countries. Nevertheless there is need for a measure of poverty. Only then, it will be possible to evaluate how the economy is performing in terms of providing a certain minimum standard of living to all its citizens. Measurement of Poverty has, therefore, important policy implications.
This paper is an attempt to explain how poverty is not directly an “economic” phenomenon but more of a “Social” Concept in case of India. The systematic exclusion of certain groups of people on several bases as they belong to certain caste, class, gender, race, region and religion actually driving us into the trap of penury. India has been experiencing untouchability, discrimination, caste segregation, gender inequality, deprivation and persisting poverty witnessing the evidence of the concepts. It is also responsible for creating a gap as one is discriminated against, could result in “Capabilities deprivation”. While attempting to understand the whole framework from the lens of social aspects I investigate whether the paradoxical contentment of these people could contribute to fill the gap or not? This paper is also an attempt to get into the regional dimension, caste dimension and gender dimension of society in order to find out the link between social exclusion and linger poverty in India and also a call for radical improvement, community participation and state involvement to make inclusive arrangements and less precarious conditions against excluded groups especially the women.
Status of Poverty in India – A State wise Analysis
International Journal of Advance Research and Innovative Ideas in Education, 2015
First millennium development goal is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Present study is an attempt to understand the existence and state wise changes in poverty in India and analyse changes in consumption expenditure pattern. Using the data collected from 68th round of NSSO Report and report of planning commission of India the study finds out that poverty ratio in rural India during the study period has been higher than that of urban areas. Percentage share of expenditure incurred on consumption of food has shown a constant decline. Huge variation in the number of people moving out of below poverty line to above poverty line amongst Indian states