poverty as a challenge cbse 9

Poverty as a challenge cbse 9

Poverty is a condition in which a person lacks the financial resources and essentials things to enjoy minimum standards of life. 

Vulnerability

Vulnerability to poverty is a measure, which describes the greater probability of certain communities e.g. members of a backward caste or individuals e.g. widow, physically handicapped person of becoming or remaining poor in the coming time.

Vulnerability is determined by various options available to different communities in terms of assets, education, job, health, etc and analyse their ability to face various risks like natural disasters. The group which face greater risk at the time of natural calamity are called vulnerable groups.

Poverty and India

• Poverty Line

  Poverty line is an imaginary line used by any country to determine its poverty.

• Poverty Line Estimation in India

•  Since in rural and urban areas, the nature of work and the prices of goods are different, the calorific requirement and expenditure per capita are also different

Anti-Poverty Measures

• (i) Promotion of Economic Growth

• (ii) Targeted Anti-Poverty Programmes

• Poverty reduction is still a major challenge in India, due to the wide differences between regions as well as rural and urban areas.

Global Poverty Scenario

The Millenium Development Goals of the United Nations formulated in 2000, call for reducing the proportion of people living on less than $ 1 a day to half the 1990 level by 2015.

There is decline in poverty in South-East Asia and China due to rapid economic growth and massive investment in human resource development.

Inter-State Disparities

• Bihar and Odisha continue to be the two poorest states with poverty ratios of 33.7% and 37.6% respectively.

  In states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, there is significant decline in poverty

• West Bengal has reduced poverty by implementing land reforms. Public distribution of foodgrains at subsidised prices in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu has helped in poverty reduction. Jammu and Kashmir have generated wide-ranging economic activities.

• Kerala has developed its human resources by investing more in education.

The Challenges to Poverty Reduction

Poverty reduction is still a major challenge due to the wide differences between regions as well as rural and urban areas.

Further, poverty should include not only the matter of the adequate amount of food but other factors like education, healthcare, shelter, job security, gender, equality, dignity and so on. These give us the concept of human poverty.