poverty in india essay 120 words

Poverty in India Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on poverty in india.

Poverty refers to a situation in which a person remain underprivileged from the basic necessities of life. In addition, the person does not have an inadequate supply of food, shelter, and clothes. In India, most of the people who are suffering from poverty cannot afford to pay for a single meal a day. Also, they sleep on the roadside; wear dirty old clothes. In addition, they do not get proper healthy and nutritious food, neither medicine nor any other necessary thing.

Causes of Poverty

The rate of poverty in India is increasing because of the increase in the urban population. The rural people are migrating to cities to find better employment. Most of these people find an underpaid job or an activity that pays only for their food. Most importantly, around crores of urban people are below the poverty line and many of the people are on the borderline of poverty.

Besides, a huge number of people live in low-lying areas or slums. These people are mostly illiterate and in spite of efforts their condition remains the same and there is no satisfactory result.

Furthermore, there are many reasons that we can say are the major cause of poverty in India. These causes include corruption, growing population, poor agriculture , the wide gap of rich and poor, old customs, illiteracy, unemployment and few more. A large section of people are engaged in an agricultural activity but the activity pays very less in comparison to the work done by employees.

Also, more population needs more food, houses and money and in the lack of these facilities the poverty grows very quickly. In addition, being extra poor and extra rich also widens the gap between the rich and poor.

Moreover, the rich are growing richer and the poor are getting poorer creating an economic gap that is difficult to fill up.

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Effects of Poverty

It affects people living in a lot of ways. Also, it has various effects that include illiteracy, reduced nutrition and diet, poor housing, child labor, unemployment , poor hygiene and lifestyle, and feminization of poverty, etc. Besides, this poor people cannot afford a healthy and balanced diet, nice clothes, proper education , a stable and clean house, etc. because all these facilities require money and they don’t even have money to feed two meals a day then how can they afford to pay for these facilities.

The Solutions for Ending Poverty

For solving the problem of poverty it is necessary for us to act quickly and correctly. Some of the ways of solving these problems are to provide proper facilities to farmers . So, that they can make agriculture profitable and do not migrate to cities in search of employment.

Also, illiterate people should be given the required training so that they can live a better life. To check the rising population, family planning should be followed. Besides, measures should be taken to end corruption, so that we can deal with the gap between rich and poor.

In conclusion, poverty is not the problem of a person but of the whole nation. Also, it should be deal with on an urgent basis by the implementation of effective measures. In addition, eradication of poverty has become necessary for the sustainable and inclusive growth of people, society, country, and economy .

FAQs about Poverty in India Essay

Q.1 List some ways to end poverty in India. A.1 Some ways to end poverty in India are:

• Develop a national poverty reduction plan
• Equal access to healthcare and education
• Sanitation facility
• Food, water, shelter, and clothing facility
• Enhance economic growth with targeted action

Q.2 Which is the poorest state in India? A.2 Chhattisgarh is the poorest state of the country.

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• Poverty in India Essay for Students in English

Essay on Poverty In India

People living in poverty do not have enough money for basic necessities such as food and shelter. An example of poverty is the state a person is in when he is homeless and does not have enough money. The rate of poverty in India is increasing because of the population in the urban areas. Most importantly, crores of peoples are below the poverty line and most of the people are on the borderline of poverty. Poverty in India is seen mainly in the rural areas because of the uneducated and unemployed and increased population. Many people do not afford to get proper foods for their daily life and even they don’t have their own homes, they sleep on the footpath or road, more populations need more food, money, and for staying houses but due to lack of this poverty grows very quickly, thus in addition rich are growing richer and the poor becoming more poorer which becomes difficult to fill the gap. Poverty has many effects like it reduces poor housing, illiteracy, increase the rate of child labour and unemployment, poor hygiene hence these poor people can not afford a balanced diet, nice clothes, well education etc. reason only because they don’t have much money to afford this. Poverty can be controlled by giving them proper education and also providing the proper facilities to the farmers so that those farmers get more profitable and do not migrate to cities in search of employment. Also, the illiterate people should get proper education to make their life better. Family planning is also essential for coming out of poverty. Poverty in our country is from ancient times. Even earlier times the poor people were not given the place that rich people used to get even if they were not allowed to enter religious places. Main causes of poverty are like unemployment, lack of education, poor utilization of resources, corruption and poor government policy.

How You Can Improve or Solve Poverty in India?

Poverty can be solved by improving food security by providing three meals a day and making them healthy and providing houses for those people at low cost and giving them proper education and facilities so that they can earn well and take care of their family and live a peaceful life. Awareness on population so that once the population is under control, the economy of the country will improve and move towards development and decrease in the poverty line. Poverty is becoming a complex problem for the people and for the government. How to overcome this, in India the poverty is high compared to other countries because the growth rate of per capita income per person is very low.

With lack of job opportunities many people move as a rickshaw puller, construction workers, domestic servants etc, with irregular small incomes hence they live in slum areas. Also, lack of land resources has been one of the major causes of poverty in India, even the small farmers of our country lead to poverty because they cultivate but do not get proper money in terms of profit and leads to poverty.

Population of India

The population has been increasing in India at a rapid speed, India’s population in 1991 was around 84.3 crores where was poverty at a high rate but now the current population of our country is around 130 crores whereas the population is almost doubled in last three decades but still not enough done for controlling the poverty in our country. Due to an increase in population, there is more unemployment, hence poverty is just the reflection of unemployment. More capital is required for making industry, giving proper transport facilities and other projects, hence the deficiency of its country is still underdeveloped and causes more poverty. Lack of skilled labor also leads to poverty because less-skilled labor have insufficient industrial education and training. Lack of infrastructure means that transport and communication have not been properly developed so that the farmers are not getting fertilizers for cultivation on time and industries do not get power supply and raw materials on time and thus end products are not marketed properly and not reachable on time. Because of poverty sometimes we don’t get those things for what we actually are. Hence to come out of poverty our government has to be more serious and also the citizens should take equal responsibilities. Remove the poverty from country governments has started many steps, in last 2-3 years we have seen that they become more serious by bringing GST in the action, demonetization so because of GST all the businessman can pay full tax and which will help to develop the country and the poverty ratio can be reduced. Steps of demonetization were taken so that black money can be utilized for the poor people and poverty can be reduced. We can overcome poverty by following all the guidelines of the government and can be free from poverty.

India's Poverty Factors

One of the biggest problems of poverty in India is the country's rapid population growth. As a result, there is a high rate of illiteracy, poor health-care facilities, and a lack of financial resources. Furthermore, the high population growth rate has an impact on individual income, making individual income much lower. By 2026, India's population is predicted to surpass 1.5 billion, making it the world's largest country. However, Economic growth is not rising at the same rate as the rest of the world. This indicates a labor shortage. About 20 million new jobs will be required to accommodate this big population. If such a vast number of people are poor, the number of poor will keep rising.

How Much Research is Important for Students to Write Good Essays?

The students must realize that brainstorming and a mind map of the essay will take them in the direction of their research. With the advent of the internet, the days are numbered for students who rely on a well-tipped encyclopedia from the school library as their only authoritative source for their story. If there is any real problem for our readers today is reducing their resources to a manageable number. At this stage, it is important to:

Make sure the research material is directly related to the essay work

Record detailed sources of information that they will use in their story

Communicate in person by asking questions and challenging their own bias

Identify the main points that will be highlighted in the story

Gather ideas, arguments, and opinions together

Identify the major issue they will discuss in their case.

Once these stages have been completed by the student, the student will be ready to make his points in a logical order and prepare an essay.

Therefore, the topic discussed on this page is poverty and poverty is not a human problem but a national one. Also, it should be addressed immediately with the implementation of effective measures. In addition, the eradication of poverty has been a prerequisite for sustainable and inclusive growth for individuals, communities, the country and the economy.

Paragraph Tips on Essay Writing

Each paragraph should focus on one main idea

The Paragraphs should follow a logical sequence, students should collect similar ideas together to avoid collisions

Paragraphs should be stated consistently, learners should be able to choose which line to reverse or skip.

Transition words and similar phrases, as a result, should instead be used to provide flow and provide a bridge between Paragraphs.

General Structure of an Essay

Introduction: Give the reader the essence of the essay. It sets out the broader argument that the story will make and informs the reader of the author's general opinion and method of questioning.

Body Paragraphs: These are the ‘flesh’ of the essay and outline the point made in the introduction by a point with supporting evidence.

Conclusion: Usually the conclusion will repeat the middle argument while providing a summary of the main reasons supporting the story even before linking everything back to the first question.

FAQs on Poverty in India Essay for Students in English

1. What are the Causes of Poverty in India?

The cause of poverty is very obvious in a country like India. The people in India are very careless about the population growth and due to which there is a lot of hassle and unnecessary elevation in population growth rate. This is automatically leading to poverty as there are fewer resources and more people to be served in each state in India. Various causes affect poverty:

Unemployment.

The intensity of population.

The high rate of inflation.

Lack of skilled labor

2. What are the Types of Poverty?

Although there are only two main types of poverty existing in India we will be learning all of them as mentioned in the following lines. The two main classifications of poverty are relative poverty and absolute poverty and both of them emphasize income and consumption. Sometimes, poverty cannot be blamed or associated with economic problems but also it must be associated with society and politics.

There are six types of poverty which are listed below:

Situational poverty.

Generation poverty.

Absolute poverty.

Relative poverty.

Urban poverty.

Rural poverty.

3. How to Reduce the Poverty Line in India?

India is a country that has been under the radar of poverty for centuries. The people of India are making efforts to take themselves out of the poverty line but there are a lot of hindrances. The lack of resources and limited alternatives have thrown the rural and urban residents below the poverty line making life unhealthy and miserable for them. 

Here are some measures listed below

Provide food, shelter and clothes facilities to poor people.

Encourage them for education either male or female. 

Give employment.

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Students should refer to Vedantu for downloading as these solutions will be filling you with the basic knowledge of writing essays. There are loads of vocabulary words and phrases which will enable the students to write high-class essays. The Vedantu website provides 100% authentic content which will lead to additional accuracy of the student’s essay. Basic concepts of writing an essay are available free of cost on the Vedantu website. Avoid problems and enjoy hassle-free preparation with the help of Vedantu.

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Vedantu not only provides comprehensive and detailed knowledge to the students but also imparts the ability to study on their own without any hassle to the students. The concept of Poverty in India Essay for Students in English is so beautifully explained in the Vedantu website that anyone who is reading the content and the rules will understand in one instance whatever that person is searching for. The students must know how to write good essays from a very young age and hence the experts at Vedantu are fulfilling that request of the students.

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Poverty In India Essay

Poverty is a situation in which people do not have enough money for basic necessities or survival, such as food and shelter. Due to the poor income of the people, they cannot even meet their basic needs. Here are a few sample essays on the topic of ‘poverty’.

• 100 Word Essay On Poverty In India

Poverty is the financial state of the individual or family in which they are unable to meet their basic needs in life. A poor person does not earn enough to buy basic necessities such as a 2-time meal, water, shelter, cloth, the right education, and many more. In India, overpopulation and underdevelopment is the main cause of poverty. India's poverty can be decreased with a few effective programs, in which the government should focus on developing the rural areas by providing primary education, implementing population control policies, creating jobs, and providing basic necessities at subsidized rates. Poverty is a very serious problem in the whole world and many efforts are being made to eradicate poverty.

200 Word Essay On Poverty In India

500 word essay on poverty in india, causes of poverty, poverty situation in india, how to solve poverty in india.

Poverty is defined as a situation wherein a person or family lacks the money to fulfil basic needs. Poor people don’t have good enough money to make a decent living; they don't have the funds for housing, nutrition, and schooling which are vital for survival. So, poverty can be understood absolutely as a lack of money, or extra extensive, obstacles to everyday human life.

Mahatma Gandhi once said that poverty is the worst form of violence. Poverty has been proven as the biggest hurdle in the development of India. Since 1970, the Indian government has made eradicating poverty a priority in its 5-year plans. Policies are made to ensure food security, housing, and employment through more access to increasing salary employment and enhancing access to simple social services. The Indian authorities and non-governmental corporations have initiated numerous new programs to relieve poverty, like easy entry to loans, enhancing agricultural techniques and price supports, and providing vocational skill training to people so they can get jobs. These measures have helped eliminate famines, reduce absolute poverty ranges, and decreased illiteracy and malnutrition.

The occurrence of rural poverty has declined in the past years because of rural-to-city migration. A severe limit on population growth is necessary to address the issue of poverty.

Poverty is a condition in which a person lacks basic necessities of life. This consists of food, water, clothes, and shelter. Moreover, people living on or below the poverty line don’t have enough money to buy even a single meal a day. They somehow survive with whatever they could discover on the street – salvaging food from the trash, sleeping on park benches or the roadside and depending on the charity of those with more resources.

There are many factors that are responsible for poverty. The principal causes are unemployment, illiteracy, increasing population, and lack of proper schooling and training. Humans are no longer able to earn a livelihood since they are unable to find and obtain employment. They're not able to feed their family. The other causes of poverty include war, natural disasters, political instability, and many others.

India is undoubtedly one of the most populous democracies, and its economic structure is rapidly increasing. India is still considered a developing country as opposed to a developed one. Poverty is one such issue, which creates hurdles in the development of India. A good sized portion of the population in India lives in poverty. Even 75 years after gaining our freedom, we still have problems, and poverty has troubled our country. India has a very excessive rate of poverty, which affects its progress.

Many business and public region organizations have effectively labored with the federal and state governments to cope with this difficulty. Their principal aim is to abolish poverty in India completely. Together, they have been able to put into effect some effective policies to partly eliminate this intense issue and maintain the happiness of their people.

If you want to make an actual change and a difference in society, then some measures should be taken that assist the population living beneath the poverty line. The main two reasons for poverty in India are illiteracy and unemployment. Only with appropriate education and monetary aid can this hassle be solved. In India, education and population control is the strongest weapon against poverty. The best way to eradicate poverty is through educating the masses.

Moreover, actions taken by the government can help in eradicating the situation of poverty in India to a greater extent. Some of the options available are—

Increasing the variety of jobs available in India

The employees who lack literacy should receive advanced schooling.

The public distribution system needs to carry out its responsibilities adequately.

The underprivileged should receive free food and water.

Controlling population growth is necessary and also introducing birth control promotion plans is important.

Farmers should have access to appropriate agricultural resources. They can also improve their profit with this technique. They won't migrate to metropolitan regions looking for food as a result.

Poverty is a major problem of the country and it must be addressed on an urgent basis through the implementation of powerful measures. In addition, the eradication of poverty has turned out to be important for the sustainable and inclusive boom of people, society and the economy.

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Remote Sensing Technician

Individuals who opt for a career as a remote sensing technician possess unique personalities. Remote sensing analysts seem to be rational human beings, they are strong, independent, persistent, sincere, realistic and resourceful. Some of them are analytical as well, which means they are intelligent, introspective and inquisitive. 

Remote sensing scientists use remote sensing technology to support scientists in fields such as community planning, flight planning or the management of natural resources. Analysing data collected from aircraft, satellites or ground-based platforms using statistical analysis software, image analysis software or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a significant part of their work. Do you want to learn how to become remote sensing technician? There's no need to be concerned; we've devised a simple remote sensing technician career path for you. Scroll through the pages and read.

Budget Analyst

Budget analysis, in a nutshell, entails thoroughly analyzing the details of a financial budget. The budget analysis aims to better understand and manage revenue. Budget analysts assist in the achievement of financial targets, the preservation of profitability, and the pursuit of long-term growth for a business. Budget analysts generally have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, or a closely related field. Knowledge of Financial Management is of prime importance in this career.

Underwriter

An underwriter is a person who assesses and evaluates the risk of insurance in his or her field like mortgage, loan, health policy, investment, and so on and so forth. The underwriter career path does involve risks as analysing the risks means finding out if there is a way for the insurance underwriter jobs to recover the money from its clients. If the risk turns out to be too much for the company then in the future it is an underwriter who will be held accountable for it. Therefore, one must carry out his or her job with a lot of attention and diligence.

Finance Executive

Product manager.

A Product Manager is a professional responsible for product planning and marketing. He or she manages the product throughout the Product Life Cycle, gathering and prioritising the product. A product manager job description includes defining the product vision and working closely with team members of other departments to deliver winning products.  

Operations Manager

Individuals in the operations manager jobs are responsible for ensuring the efficiency of each department to acquire its optimal goal. They plan the use of resources and distribution of materials. The operations manager's job description includes managing budgets, negotiating contracts, and performing administrative tasks.

Stock Analyst

Individuals who opt for a career as a stock analyst examine the company's investments makes decisions and keep track of financial securities. The nature of such investments will differ from one business to the next. Individuals in the stock analyst career use data mining to forecast a company's profits and revenues, advise clients on whether to buy or sell, participate in seminars, and discussing financial matters with executives and evaluate annual reports.

A Researcher is a professional who is responsible for collecting data and information by reviewing the literature and conducting experiments and surveys. He or she uses various methodological processes to provide accurate data and information that is utilised by academicians and other industry professionals. Here, we will discuss what is a researcher, the researcher's salary, types of researchers.

Welding Engineer

Welding Engineer Job Description: A Welding Engineer work involves managing welding projects and supervising welding teams. He or she is responsible for reviewing welding procedures, processes and documentation. A career as Welding Engineer involves conducting failure analyses and causes on welding issues. 

Transportation Planner

A career as Transportation Planner requires technical application of science and technology in engineering, particularly the concepts, equipment and technologies involved in the production of products and services. In fields like land use, infrastructure review, ecological standards and street design, he or she considers issues of health, environment and performance. A Transportation Planner assigns resources for implementing and designing programmes. He or she is responsible for assessing needs, preparing plans and forecasts and compliance with regulations.

Environmental Engineer

Individuals who opt for a career as an environmental engineer are construction professionals who utilise the skills and knowledge of biology, soil science, chemistry and the concept of engineering to design and develop projects that serve as solutions to various environmental problems. 

Safety Manager

A Safety Manager is a professional responsible for employee’s safety at work. He or she plans, implements and oversees the company’s employee safety. A Safety Manager ensures compliance and adherence to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines.

Conservation Architect

A Conservation Architect is a professional responsible for conserving and restoring buildings or monuments having a historic value. He or she applies techniques to document and stabilise the object’s state without any further damage. A Conservation Architect restores the monuments and heritage buildings to bring them back to their original state.

Structural Engineer

A Structural Engineer designs buildings, bridges, and other related structures. He or she analyzes the structures and makes sure the structures are strong enough to be used by the people. A career as a Structural Engineer requires working in the construction process. It comes under the civil engineering discipline. A Structure Engineer creates structural models with the help of computer-aided design software. 

Highway Engineer

Highway Engineer Job Description:  A Highway Engineer is a civil engineer who specialises in planning and building thousands of miles of roads that support connectivity and allow transportation across the country. He or she ensures that traffic management schemes are effectively planned concerning economic sustainability and successful implementation.

Field Surveyor

Are you searching for a Field Surveyor Job Description? A Field Surveyor is a professional responsible for conducting field surveys for various places or geographical conditions. He or she collects the required data and information as per the instructions given by senior officials. 

Orthotist and Prosthetist

Orthotists and Prosthetists are professionals who provide aid to patients with disabilities. They fix them to artificial limbs (prosthetics) and help them to regain stability. There are times when people lose their limbs in an accident. In some other occasions, they are born without a limb or orthopaedic impairment. Orthotists and prosthetists play a crucial role in their lives with fixing them to assistive devices and provide mobility.

Pathologist

A career in pathology in India is filled with several responsibilities as it is a medical branch and affects human lives. The demand for pathologists has been increasing over the past few years as people are getting more aware of different diseases. Not only that, but an increase in population and lifestyle changes have also contributed to the increase in a pathologist’s demand. The pathology careers provide an extremely huge number of opportunities and if you want to be a part of the medical field you can consider being a pathologist. If you want to know more about a career in pathology in India then continue reading this article.

Veterinary Doctor

Speech therapist, gynaecologist.

Gynaecology can be defined as the study of the female body. The job outlook for gynaecology is excellent since there is evergreen demand for one because of their responsibility of dealing with not only women’s health but also fertility and pregnancy issues. Although most women prefer to have a women obstetrician gynaecologist as their doctor, men also explore a career as a gynaecologist and there are ample amounts of male doctors in the field who are gynaecologists and aid women during delivery and childbirth. 

Audiologist

The audiologist career involves audiology professionals who are responsible to treat hearing loss and proactively preventing the relevant damage. Individuals who opt for a career as an audiologist use various testing strategies with the aim to determine if someone has a normal sensitivity to sounds or not. After the identification of hearing loss, a hearing doctor is required to determine which sections of the hearing are affected, to what extent they are affected, and where the wound causing the hearing loss is found. As soon as the hearing loss is identified, the patients are provided with recommendations for interventions and rehabilitation such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, and appropriate medical referrals. While audiology is a branch of science that studies and researches hearing, balance, and related disorders.

An oncologist is a specialised doctor responsible for providing medical care to patients diagnosed with cancer. He or she uses several therapies to control the cancer and its effect on the human body such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and biopsy. An oncologist designs a treatment plan based on a pathology report after diagnosing the type of cancer and where it is spreading inside the body.

Are you searching for an ‘Anatomist job description’? An Anatomist is a research professional who applies the laws of biological science to determine the ability of bodies of various living organisms including animals and humans to regenerate the damaged or destroyed organs. If you want to know what does an anatomist do, then read the entire article, where we will answer all your questions.

For an individual who opts for a career as an actor, the primary responsibility is to completely speak to the character he or she is playing and to persuade the crowd that the character is genuine by connecting with them and bringing them into the story. This applies to significant roles and littler parts, as all roles join to make an effective creation. Here in this article, we will discuss how to become an actor in India, actor exams, actor salary in India, and actor jobs. 

Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats create and direct original routines for themselves, in addition to developing interpretations of existing routines. The work of circus acrobats can be seen in a variety of performance settings, including circus, reality shows, sports events like the Olympics, movies and commercials. Individuals who opt for a career as acrobats must be prepared to face rejections and intermittent periods of work. The creativity of acrobats may extend to other aspects of the performance. For example, acrobats in the circus may work with gym trainers, celebrities or collaborate with other professionals to enhance such performance elements as costume and or maybe at the teaching end of the career.

Video Game Designer

Career as a video game designer is filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. A video game designer is someone who is involved in the process of creating a game from day one. He or she is responsible for fulfilling duties like designing the character of the game, the several levels involved, plot, art and similar other elements. Individuals who opt for a career as a video game designer may also write the codes for the game using different programming languages.

Depending on the video game designer job description and experience they may also have to lead a team and do the early testing of the game in order to suggest changes and find loopholes.

Radio Jockey

Radio Jockey is an exciting, promising career and a great challenge for music lovers. If you are really interested in a career as radio jockey, then it is very important for an RJ to have an automatic, fun, and friendly personality. If you want to get a job done in this field, a strong command of the language and a good voice are always good things. Apart from this, in order to be a good radio jockey, you will also listen to good radio jockeys so that you can understand their style and later make your own by practicing.

A career as radio jockey has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. If you want to know more about a career as radio jockey, and how to become a radio jockey then continue reading the article.

Choreographer

The word “choreography" actually comes from Greek words that mean “dance writing." Individuals who opt for a career as a choreographer create and direct original dances, in addition to developing interpretations of existing dances. A Choreographer dances and utilises his or her creativity in other aspects of dance performance. For example, he or she may work with the music director to select music or collaborate with other famous choreographers to enhance such performance elements as lighting, costume and set design.

Social Media Manager

A career as social media manager involves implementing the company’s or brand’s marketing plan across all social media channels. Social media managers help in building or improving a brand’s or a company’s website traffic, build brand awareness, create and implement marketing and brand strategy. Social media managers are key to important social communication as well.

Photographer

Photography is considered both a science and an art, an artistic means of expression in which the camera replaces the pen. In a career as a photographer, an individual is hired to capture the moments of public and private events, such as press conferences or weddings, or may also work inside a studio, where people go to get their picture clicked. Photography is divided into many streams each generating numerous career opportunities in photography. With the boom in advertising, media, and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option for many Indian youths.

An individual who is pursuing a career as a producer is responsible for managing the business aspects of production. They are involved in each aspect of production from its inception to deception. Famous movie producers review the script, recommend changes and visualise the story. 

They are responsible for overseeing the finance involved in the project and distributing the film for broadcasting on various platforms. A career as a producer is quite fulfilling as well as exhaustive in terms of playing different roles in order for a production to be successful. Famous movie producers are responsible for hiring creative and technical personnel on contract basis.

Copy Writer

In a career as a copywriter, one has to consult with the client and understand the brief well. A career as a copywriter has a lot to offer to deserving candidates. Several new mediums of advertising are opening therefore making it a lucrative career choice. Students can pursue various copywriter courses such as Journalism , Advertising , Marketing Management . Here, we have discussed how to become a freelance copywriter, copywriter career path, how to become a copywriter in India, and copywriting career outlook. 

In a career as a vlogger, one generally works for himself or herself. However, once an individual has gained viewership there are several brands and companies that approach them for paid collaboration. It is one of those fields where an individual can earn well while following his or her passion. 

Ever since internet costs got reduced the viewership for these types of content has increased on a large scale. Therefore, a career as a vlogger has a lot to offer. If you want to know more about the Vlogger eligibility, roles and responsibilities then continue reading the article. 

For publishing books, newspapers, magazines and digital material, editorial and commercial strategies are set by publishers. Individuals in publishing career paths make choices about the markets their businesses will reach and the type of content that their audience will be served. Individuals in book publisher careers collaborate with editorial staff, designers, authors, and freelance contributors who develop and manage the creation of content.

Careers in journalism are filled with excitement as well as responsibilities. One cannot afford to miss out on the details. As it is the small details that provide insights into a story. Depending on those insights a journalist goes about writing a news article. A journalism career can be stressful at times but if you are someone who is passionate about it then it is the right choice for you. If you want to know more about the media field and journalist career then continue reading this article.

Individuals in the editor career path is an unsung hero of the news industry who polishes the language of the news stories provided by stringers, reporters, copywriters and content writers and also news agencies. Individuals who opt for a career as an editor make it more persuasive, concise and clear for readers. In this article, we will discuss the details of the editor's career path such as how to become an editor in India, editor salary in India and editor skills and qualities.

Individuals who opt for a career as a reporter may often be at work on national holidays and festivities. He or she pitches various story ideas and covers news stories in risky situations. Students can pursue a BMC (Bachelor of Mass Communication) , B.M.M. (Bachelor of Mass Media) , or  MAJMC (MA in Journalism and Mass Communication) to become a reporter. While we sit at home reporters travel to locations to collect information that carries a news value.  

Corporate Executive

Are you searching for a Corporate Executive job description? A Corporate Executive role comes with administrative duties. He or she provides support to the leadership of the organisation. A Corporate Executive fulfils the business purpose and ensures its financial stability. In this article, we are going to discuss how to become corporate executive.

Multimedia Specialist

A multimedia specialist is a media professional who creates, audio, videos, graphic image files, computer animations for multimedia applications. He or she is responsible for planning, producing, and maintaining websites and applications. 

Quality Controller

A quality controller plays a crucial role in an organisation. He or she is responsible for performing quality checks on manufactured products. He or she identifies the defects in a product and rejects the product. 

A quality controller records detailed information about products with defects and sends it to the supervisor or plant manager to take necessary actions to improve the production process.

Production Manager

A QA Lead is in charge of the QA Team. The role of QA Lead comes with the responsibility of assessing services and products in order to determine that he or she meets the quality standards. He or she develops, implements and manages test plans. 

Process Development Engineer

The Process Development Engineers design, implement, manufacture, mine, and other production systems using technical knowledge and expertise in the industry. They use computer modeling software to test technologies and machinery. An individual who is opting career as Process Development Engineer is responsible for developing cost-effective and efficient processes. They also monitor the production process and ensure it functions smoothly and efficiently.

AWS Solution Architect

An AWS Solution Architect is someone who specializes in developing and implementing cloud computing systems. He or she has a good understanding of the various aspects of cloud computing and can confidently deploy and manage their systems. He or she troubleshoots the issues and evaluates the risk from the third party. 

Azure Administrator

An Azure Administrator is a professional responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Azure Solutions. He or she manages cloud infrastructure service instances and various cloud servers as well as sets up public and private cloud systems. 

Computer Programmer

Careers in computer programming primarily refer to the systematic act of writing code and moreover include wider computer science areas. The word 'programmer' or 'coder' has entered into practice with the growing number of newly self-taught tech enthusiasts. Computer programming careers involve the use of designs created by software developers and engineers and transforming them into commands that can be implemented by computers. These commands result in regular usage of social media sites, word-processing applications and browsers.

Information Security Manager

Individuals in the information security manager career path involves in overseeing and controlling all aspects of computer security. The IT security manager job description includes planning and carrying out security measures to protect the business data and information from corruption, theft, unauthorised access, and deliberate attack 

ITSM Manager

Automation test engineer.

An Automation Test Engineer job involves executing automated test scripts. He or she identifies the project’s problems and troubleshoots them. The role involves documenting the defect using management tools. He or she works with the application team in order to resolve any issues arising during the testing process. 

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Essay on Poverty in india 100, 200, 300, 500 words

Essay on poverty in india.

Essay on Poverty in India : Poverty is one of the major challenges that India has been grappling with for many decades. Despite the significant economic growth that India has seen in recent years, a large proportion of its population continues to live in abject poverty. Poverty is not just an economic issue but a social and cultural issue which affects the lives of people in many ways. In this essay, we will examine the causes and consequences of poverty in India and some of the measures taken to remove it.

1. lack of access to basic resources

2. unequal distribution of wealth., 3. lack of access to education, 4. overcome the issues of poverty, 5. significant challenge, affects of poverty, how to reduce it, essay on poverty in india 500 words, causes of poverty:, consequences of poverty:, essay on poverty in india 200 words, essay on poverty in india 100 words, causes of poverty in india.

Poverty in India is a complex issue for many reasons. One of the primary causes of poverty is lack of access to basic resources such as food, clean water, health care, and education. India is a country with a high population density, and a large proportion of its population lives in rural areas where access to these basic resources is limited. Additionally, India has a high rate of illiteracy and unemployment, which further adds to the problem of poverty.

Another important reason for poverty in India is the unequal distribution of wealth. A small fraction of the population has access to wealth and resources, while a vast majority live in poverty. This inequality is mainly due to historical and social factors that have led to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few.

The consequences of poverty in India are serious and far-reaching. Poverty leads to malnutrition, disease and premature death, especially among children. It also results in lack of access to education, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Poverty also leads to social exclusion and discrimination, which further marginalises vulnerable communities.

To overcome the issue of poverty in India, the government has implemented several measures. One of the most important measures is the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), which guarantees 100 days of employment to rural households. The government has also implemented various poverty alleviation programs such as the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

However, despite these measures, poverty remains a significant challenge in India. More investment is needed in basic resources such as education, health care and infrastructure. The government needs to address the issue of income inequality by implementing policies that promote equitable distribution of resources. Additionally, greater awareness and social action is needed to address the cultural and social factors that perpetuate poverty.

Conclusion : poverty in India is a complex and multidimensional issue that requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders. While the government has taken several measures to address poverty, more investment is needed in basic resources and policies that promote equitable distribution of wealth. Additionally, greater awareness and social action is needed to address the cultural and social factors that perpetuate poverty. Only through a concerted effort can India tackle the issue of poverty and achieve a more equitable and just society.

Definitely! Poverty in India is a vast and multidimensional problem affecting various aspects of people’s lives. Here are some additional facts and information on poverty in India:

1.Poverty rate: According to the World Bank, more than 134 million people in India live below the poverty line, which is defined as living on less than $1.90 per day. The poverty rate in India has decreased over the years, but it remains a significant challenge, especially in rural areas.

2. Rural-urban divide: Poverty in India is concentrated in rural areas, where access to basic resources is limited. According to a report by the National Sample Survey Office, rural poverty in India is twice that of urban poverty.

3. Education and Poverty: Education is an important factor in reducing poverty, as it helps individuals acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to secure better jobs and improve their standard of living. However, India has a high rate of illiteracy, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

4. Health and poverty: Poverty in India is associated with poor health outcomes, especially among children. Malnutrition is a widespread problem, with 34% of children under the age of five being underweight. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation also leads to the spread of diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid.

5. Women and poverty: Women are more likely to live in poverty than men in India, mainly due to cultural and social factors that limit their access to education, health care and employment opportunities.

6. Social Safety Net: The Government of India has implemented various social safety net programs to address poverty, such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), which provides subsidized food grains to low-income households.

However, these programs have been criticized for their inefficiency and corruption.

7. Sustainable Development Goals: India is committed to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and promote sustainable development. To achieve these goals, the government has implemented various initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which aims to provide access to clean water and sanitation.

In short, poverty in India is a vast and complex issue that requires a multi-pronged approach to address it. While progress has been made, more needs to be done to achieve a more equitable and just society

Alleviating poverty in India requires a concerted effort by various stakeholders including the government, civil society organisations, the private sector and individuals. Here are some measures that can help reduce poverty in India:

1.Investment in basic resources: Investment in basic resources such as education, health care, water and sanitation is necessary to reduce poverty. Ensuring that all citizens have access to these resources will help break the cycle of poverty.

2. Promotion of employment opportunities: Creating employment opportunities especially in rural areas will help in reducing poverty. The government can implement policies that promote the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the primary sources of employment in India.

3. Promoting Entrepreneurship: Encouraging entrepreneurship can help reduce poverty by creating more employment opportunities and promoting economic growth. The government can provide support to entrepreneurs through funding, training and other resources.

4. Promoting gender equality: Promoting gender equality will help reduce poverty, as women are more likely to live in poverty than men. The government can implement policies that promote women’s education, employment and participation in decision making.

5. Strengthening social safety net: The government may strengthen social safety net programs such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.

6. Strengthening Governance: Corruption and inefficiency in governance are major barriers to poverty reduction. Government can strengthen governance by implementing policies that promote transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

7. Promote sustainable development: Promoting sustainable development can help reduce poverty in the long run. The government can implement policies that promote sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and environmental protection.

In conclusion, reducing poverty in India requires a multi-pronged approach involving various stakeholders. Ensuring access to basic resources, promoting employment and entrepreneurship, promoting gender equality, strengthening social safety nets, strengthening governance and promoting sustainable development are some of the measures that can do help reduce poverty in India.

Poverty in India is a widespread issue that affects a significant portion of the population. Despite economic growth in recent years, a large proportion of the population still lives in poverty, with inadequate access to basic necessities such as food, shelter and health care. Poverty in India is a complex problem caused by various factors such as caste discrimination, lack of education, unemployment and inadequate infrastructure.

Caste discrimination is one of the major causes of poverty in India. The caste system has existed in India for centuries and is deeply rooted in the social fabric of the country. People from lower castes are often discriminated against and denied access to basic resources and opportunities. This often leads to a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.

Lack of education is another factor that contributes to poverty in India. Without access to education, people are unable to acquire the skills necessary to secure well-paying jobs. This keeps them stuck in low paying jobs with little hope of upward mobility. Apart from this, lack of education also leads to lack of awareness about basic health and hygiene practices, which leads to more diseases.

Unemployment is also an important contributor to poverty in India. Despite the government’s efforts to create jobs, the unemployment rate remains high, especially among the youth. This leads to a reduction in income, making it difficult for people to afford basic needs such as food, shelter and health care.

Inadequate infrastructure is another factor that increases poverty in India. Poor road network, inadequate health facilities and lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are some of the basic infrastructure problems that affect people living in poverty. These problems make it difficult for people to access basic necessities and increase their vulnerability to diseases and other health problems.

Poverty in India is a complex problem that requires a multidimensional solution. Addressing issues such as caste discrimination, lack of education, unemployment and inadequate infrastructure can go a long way in reducing poverty in India. Additionally, the government needs to focus on creating more jobs and providing a better social safety net for those living in poverty. Only by adopting a comprehensive approach to reducing poverty can India hope to lift its citizens out of poverty and move towards a better future and their vulnerability to diseases and other health problems.

In conclusion, poverty in India is a complex problem that requires a multi-pronged solution. Addressing issues such as caste discrimination, lack of education, unemployment and inadequate infrastructure can go a long way in reducing poverty in India. The government needs to focus on creating more jobs and providing a better social safety net for those living in poverty. Only by adopting a comprehensive approach to poverty reduction can India hope to lift its citizens out of poverty and move towards a better future.

Essay on Poverty in India 300 words

Introduction:

Poverty is a multifaceted issue that has plagued India for centuries. Despite remarkable economic growth and development in recent decades, a significant portion of India’s population continues to grapple with poverty. This essay aims to shed light on the persistent problem of poverty in India, its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

• Income Inequality: Income inequality is a major driver of poverty in India. The rich-poor divide is stark, with a small elite accumulating enormous wealth while a large section of the population struggles to make ends meet.
• Unemployment: High levels of unemployment, particularly in rural areas, contribute to poverty. Lack of access to quality education and skills training perpetuates this problem.
• Agricultural Dependence: A significant portion of the Indian population relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. Fluctuating crop yields, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of modern farming techniques make agriculture a precarious source of income.
• Social Factors: Caste-based discrimination and social exclusion continue to marginalize certain groups, making it difficult for them to escape the cycle of poverty.
• Healthcare: Poverty leads to inadequate access to healthcare, resulting in higher mortality rates and increased susceptibility to diseases.
• Education: Impoverished families often cannot afford education for their children, perpetuating a cycle of illiteracy and limited opportunities.
• Malnutrition: Poverty contributes to malnutrition, affecting physical and cognitive development, particularly in children.
• Crime and Social Unrest: High levels of poverty can foster crime and social unrest, as individuals may resort to illegal means for survival.
• Education and Skill Development: Investing in quality education and skill development programs can empower individuals to break free from the cycle of poverty.
• Rural Development: Improving infrastructure, agricultural techniques, and providing alternative livelihood options in rural areas can alleviate poverty.
• Social Welfare Programs: Expanding and improving social welfare programs, such as food subsidies, healthcare access, and direct cash transfers, can provide immediate relief to those in need.
• Reducing Income Inequality: Implementing progressive taxation and wealth redistribution policies can help bridge the income gap.
• Addressing Social Discrimination: Stricter enforcement of anti-discrimination laws and promoting social inclusion can reduce the impact of caste-based discrimination.

Conclusion:

Poverty remains a formidable challenge in India, affecting millions of people across the country. To eradicate poverty, it is essential to address its root causes, including income inequality, lack of education, and unemployment. A multi-pronged approach that combines economic development with social welfare programs and efforts to reduce discrimination is crucial to uplift the impoverished sections of society. Only through sustained efforts can India hope to overcome the scourge of poverty and provide a better future for all its citizens.

India, a country known for its rich cultural heritage and economic potential, also grapples with a severe and persistent issue – poverty. With a population of over 1.3 billion, India is home to one-third of the world’s poor. Poverty in India is a complex problem that has deep-rooted causes and far-reaching consequences.

One of the primary causes of poverty in India is the vast income inequality. While India has witnessed significant economic growth over the past few decades, this growth has not been inclusive. A small section of the population has reaped the benefits of economic progress, leaving a large majority of people behind. This inequality is exacerbated by factors such as lack of access to education, healthcare and job opportunities, especially in rural areas.

Furthermore, India’s high population density and limited resources make poverty a persistent challenge. The lack of basic infrastructure, inadequate sanitation facilities and unreliable access to clean drinking water further perpetuate poverty cycles.

Poverty in India has multifaceted consequences, affecting not only the economic well-being of individuals but also their health, education and overall quality of life. It also hinders the country’s overall development and social progress.

Addressing poverty in India requires a comprehensive approach that includes equitable economic policies, improved access to education and healthcare, rural development initiatives and social safety nets. Empowering marginalized communities, investing in skill development and promoting job creation can help break the cycle of poverty.

In conclusion, poverty remains a pressing issue in India, impacting millions of lives. It is essential for the government, civil society and international organizations to work collaboratively to address the root causes of poverty and uplift the disadvantaged populations, ensuring a brighter and more equitable future for all Indians.

Poverty in India remains a pressing issue with multifaceted challenges. Despite economic growth, a significant portion of the population still lives below the poverty line. Factors contributing to this include unequal distribution of wealth, limited access to quality education and healthcare, and a lack of employment opportunities, especially in rural areas. Additionally, social disparities, such as caste and gender discrimination, exacerbate the problem. Addressing poverty requires comprehensive strategies encompassing economic reforms, social programs, and inclusive development initiatives. By tackling these root causes, India can strive towards a more equitable society, improving the lives of millions and fostering sustainable growth.

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Poverty in India Essay for School Students in English [Easy Words]

January 13, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Poverty in India: People who are unable to satisfy basic necessities of life like food, water, shelter and education are considered unprivileged and face poverty. They may not be able to afford even a single square meal for their families. They are deprived of healthy and nutritious food. Population increase, migration to cities and rampant unemployment are some of the reasons for growing poverty in India. Increasing literacy and providing sustainable living conditions for the poor can curtail poverty.

Essay on Poverty in India 500 Words in English

We have provided Poverty in India Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10. This essay is useful for UPSC aspirants too!

India is the world’s largest democracy and fastest-growing economy. It is one of the chief developing nations with an international level of influence. Yet, it is still viewed as a poor man’s country. This is because a large population of our country is still living below the poverty line. Even after almost seventy-two years of independence, poverty has plagued our nation. Our Union, as well as State governments, have collaborated with many private and public sector institutions. Together they have been able to roll out successful schemes to keep their citizens satisfied.

They are trying their best to provide us with our daily requirements. Yet this task has not helped remove poverty at all. The situation of poverty in India cannot be solved by judging it by its face value. It is essential to understand the nature of polity in India through a historical context. That way, we would be able to find reforms that can be implemented to curb this social evil.

Origin of Poverty in India

From the earliest kingdoms to the Mughal era, India has always had a rich history. Historians had given the Indian sub-continent the title ‘Golden Bird’. The vast reserves of gold and resources were the major indicators of a prospering economy during that era. Over time, invaders plundered these resources, and the economical health of this golden bird rapidly deteriorated. The most significant damage was done by the colonials. They entered our land as traders but slowly established their monopoly over various regions and services, and the entire sub-continent was then in their control.

Around the 19th and the 20th century, poverty bloomed under the British Raj. Industrial expansion and agricultural exports were increasing day by day. Farming was forced upon every labourer in India even when they were not farmers by profession. Though employment existed in the form of farming, farmers were being underpaid. While Nawabs and Maharajas enjoyed wealth and privileges, most of these workers could not even buy one proper meal a day. By 1943, poverty had reached a point where millions of people died of starvation, disease, and destitution (during the Bengal famine). Sir Antony MacDonnell, a civil servant of British India, quoted in the 1900’s “people died like flies”.

Poverty in Free India

Post-independence, India was divided into two different countries. This caused an inflow of refugees along the western border. This further aggravated the condition of poverty prevailing in the nation, according to B.S. Minhas, an economist, about 65% of the Indian population was living in poverty during the 1950’s. In the 1960’s, a new poverty line was set for the country to be at ₹ 20 a month. The estimated percentage of the population below this line was found to be 44%. The following decades noticed the common man’s frustration about the nation’s poor economic condition.

Slogans like ‘Garibi Hatao’ were being raised, and people were desperate to improve society’s condition. Over the years, many committees redefined the poverty line as per the changing dynamics of the Indian economy. At present, as per the World Bank estimates, 5.4% of our population is still suffering from extreme poverty. The figures have improved since the last century. Poverty can only be abolished if the developmental schemes keep evolving according to the country’s needs.

Causes of Poverty in India

Many factors directly contribute to the continual rise of poverty in India. To address and solve them, we need first to identify these factors. Here we have listed down some of these causes:

• Demography of a country plays a vital role in its state of poverty. Rural areas have larger families who owe to a lower per capita income. Ultimately, this results in a low standard of living.
• The increasing urban population has raised the rate of poverty in our country. The migration of rural people to urban areas has diluted out the wages. People eventually get closer to the poverty line.
• One of the major economic causes includes the surge in unemployment. The survey reports of 2015 say that 77% of Indian families lack a regular source of income.
• India is marked for its unequal distribution of assets. These assets and shares are disproportionately distributed among masses having different economic levels. 20 % of our population is reaping the seeds of 80 % of the total wealth.
• Maximum economic value cannot be attained when we have an abundance of the unskilled labour force in our country. Moreover, the caste system has caused marginalization and discrimination of specific portions of our society. Some places still exist where lower caste people are treated as untouchables.
• Besides, corruption is one of the leading causes of poverty. The poor are being neglected, whereas the wealthy can bribe their way to get their jobs done.

Effects of Poverty in India

The effects of poverty are far-fetched. One of its most disturbing effects includes the overall health conditions. Poor people are often malnourished. Children are devoid of a balanced and nutritious diet. Their poor immune system makes them prone to several ailments. Poverty makes them susceptible to anaemia, impaired vision, cardiac issues, etc. This is why 38 out of every 1000 infants die before turning 1.

India’s economy is correlated to its poverty rate. Poverty determines the possibility of rendering adequate amenities to our society’s underprivileged people. A poverty-ridden society is vulnerable to violence and crimes. Poor people indulge in criminal activities to feed themselves. Apart from that, homelessness is a typical outcome of poverty. This risks the safety of women and promotes child labour. It also increases terrorism.

Solutions for Eradicating Poverty in India

The following measures will help us fight against poverty in India:

• Increasing employment opportunities in India is a beneficial option.
• Farmers must be provided with proper agricultural resources. It will help them make a profit and will control their migration to urban regions (in search of jobs).
• Growing population must be checked. Schemes promoting birth control must be implemented.
• The Government must invest in the poverty-stricken states of India.
• Free education and healthcare units must be set up.
• Public Distribution System must be effective in its duty. People below the poverty line must be able to access free food and fresh water.
• Illiterate labourers must be provided with skill-based training so that they can make a better living out of it.

Essay on Poverty and Unemployment in India

Students are often asked to write an essay on Poverty and Unemployment in India in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on Poverty and Unemployment in India

Introduction.

India, a country with a rich culture and history, faces significant challenges. Two of the most critical are poverty and unemployment.

Poverty in India

Poverty is a widespread issue in India. Despite economic growth, many people live below the poverty line, struggling to meet basic needs.

Unemployment in India

Unemployment is another major issue. Many individuals, particularly the youth, are unable to find jobs, leading to economic instability.

Connection between Poverty and Unemployment

Poverty and unemployment in India are interconnected. Unemployment leads to poverty, and poverty, in turn, hampers the ability to find or create jobs.

Addressing poverty and unemployment is vital for India’s development. Through education, skill development, and economic policies, India can overcome these challenges.

250 Words Essay on Poverty and Unemployment in India

India, a country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse economy, faces significant challenges in poverty and unemployment. These two issues are intertwined, each feeding into the other, creating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break.

Poverty in India is a multifaceted issue. Despite India’s impressive economic growth, a significant portion of the population still lives below the poverty line. The World Bank reports that 22% of India’s population lives below the international poverty line of $1.90 per day. The poor lack access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare, which hampers their ability to break out of the poverty cycle.

Unemployment is another critical issue plaguing India. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) reported an unemployment rate of 7.11% in December 2020. The lack of job opportunities, coupled with a rapidly growing population, exacerbates the issue. The absence of stable income sources pushes families into poverty, thereby increasing the poverty rate.

The Interconnection

Poverty and unemployment are intrinsically linked. Unemployment leads to a lack of income, pushing people into poverty. Conversely, poverty can lead to unemployment as those in poverty often lack the resources to gain the necessary skills or education for employment.

Addressing poverty and unemployment in India requires a multifaceted approach. This includes improving access to education, creating more job opportunities, and implementing social safety nets for the most vulnerable. Only through a comprehensive strategy can India hope to break the cycle of poverty and unemployment.

500 Words Essay on Poverty and Unemployment in India

India, a country known for its diverse culture and rich heritage, has been grappling with two significant socio-economic challenges: poverty and unemployment. These twin issues have been persistent, hampering the nation’s growth and development, and affecting millions of lives.

Despite the economic growth India has witnessed over the past few decades, poverty remains a pervasive issue. According to the World Bank, around 22% of India’s population lives below the poverty line. The reasons for such extensive poverty are manifold.

The country’s vast population exacerbates its poverty problem. With limited resources and high population density, it becomes challenging to provide adequate facilities to everyone. Furthermore, the unequal distribution of wealth is a significant contributor. The rich continue to amass wealth, while the poor struggle to meet their basic needs.

India’s rural areas bear the brunt of poverty. Lack of infrastructure, inadequate access to education and healthcare, and limited job opportunities contribute to rural poverty. The agriculture sector, which employs a significant portion of the rural population, is often unstable due to unpredictable weather patterns and lack of modern technology, leading to financial instability.

Unemployment, closely linked with poverty, is another pressing issue. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) reported that the unemployment rate in India was 7.11% in 2020. The problem is not just the lack of jobs, but also the quality of jobs available. A significant portion of the employed population is engaged in low-paying jobs, often in the informal sector, without any job security or benefits.

The education system plays a role in the unemployment issue. Despite having a large number of graduates every year, many are not employable due to a gap in skills and industry requirements. The rapid advancement in technology also threatens job security, as automation may render many traditional jobs obsolete.

Combating Poverty and Unemployment

Addressing poverty and unemployment requires comprehensive and long-term strategies. Improving the quality of education and aligning it with industry needs can enhance employability. Skill development programs targeting the youth can equip them with the necessary skills for the job market.

Investing in rural infrastructure can alleviate rural poverty. Providing access to quality healthcare, education, and creating job opportunities in rural areas can improve living conditions and reduce poverty.

Social security schemes can offer a safety net for the economically vulnerable population. Direct cash transfers, food security schemes, and pension schemes for the elderly and the disabled can provide immediate relief to those living in poverty.

India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation requires addressing its poverty and unemployment issues. With targeted policies, investments in education and infrastructure, and social security schemes, India can hope to alleviate these problems. The road is long and challenging, but with concerted efforts, a poverty and unemployment-free India is an achievable goal.

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Essay on Poverty in India 

Essay on Poverty in India

What is Poverty? Poverty is defined as the lack of sufficient money to meet basic needs such as food and shelter. Poverty is a situation in which a person is homeless and has very little money. Due to the growing population in urban areas, India’s poverty rate is rising. The most important fact is that huge numbers of people live in poverty, with the majority living on the edge of it. Poverty in India is mostly observed in rural regions due to a large number of uneducated and unemployed people within the growing population.

Many people cannot afford proper food for their daily lives, and because they do not have their own homes, they sleep on streets or footpaths. As a result, more people require more food, money, and shelter, but poverty grows rapidly due to a lack of these resources. This is why the rich become richer and the poor become poorer, making it difficult to bridge the gap. Poverty has several consequences, including poor housing, illiteracy, increased child labor and unemployment, and poor hygiene. As a result, these poor individuals cannot afford a balanced diet, decent clothes, or a good education for the simple reason that they do not have enough money.

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Ways to Reduce Poverty :

Poverty may be reduced by providing sufficient education and facilities to farmers, allowing them to become more profitable and not feel the need to migrate to cities in search of work. Also, uneducated individuals should receive a good education to improve their lives, and family planning is also necessary for getting out of poverty. Poverty in our country dates back to ancient times, when the poor were not given the same privileges as the wealthy, and they were even denied access to religious places. Unemployment, a lack of education, poor resource utilization, corruption, and poor government policy are all major causes of poverty.

In India, poverty is high when compared to other nations due to the poor growth rate of per capita income per person. Due to a lack of career prospects, many individuals work as rickshaw pullers, construction laborers, domestic servants, and other low-wage jobs, which leads them to live in slum areas.

In addition, lack of land resources has been one of the key reasons for poverty in India; even small farmers in our nation are poor since they cultivate but do not receive fair pay in terms of profit, resulting in poverty.

The population of India as a Major Cause of Poverty :

Since the beginning of time, poverty has been an unavoidable problem. Under British colonial authority, poverty in India worsened from the late 19th century through the early 20th century, peaking in the 1920s. During this time, the colonial government de-industrialized India by restricting the production of finished garments and other goods by Indian craftsmen.

From then till recent times, the situation has been quite the same or has even worsened in many places. In 2013, the Indian government reported that 21.9% of the country’s population lived below the official poverty line. In other words, India, which accounted for 17.5% of the world population, had 20.6% of the world’s poorest people in 2013. Rural areas are home to a huge number of poor people. Poverty is more severe among members of scheduled castes and tribes in the country’s rural areas.

Population Trends in India :

India’s population has been rapidly increasing. In 1991, India’s population was around 84.3 crores, with a high rate of poverty; now, our country’s population is around 130 crores, with the population nearly doubling in the last three decades, but not enough has been done to control poverty in our country. As the population grows, so does unemployment, and poverty is just a reflection of unemployment. More capital is necessary for developing industry, providing adequate transportation, and other projects, as a result of which the country’s deficiency is underdeveloped and more people live in poverty. Lack of skilled labor also contributes to poverty since less-skilled workers lack industrial training and education and miss out on opportunities that more skilled workers can avail. Lack of infrastructure means that transportation and communication have not been properly developed, resulting in farmers receiving fertilisers for cultivation late and industries receiving power and raw materials not on time and thus, end products not being properly marketed and reaching customers on time. Hence, to escape poverty, our government must be more serious, and citizens must share equal responsibility.

Conclusion : Remarkably, as a result of rural-to-urban migration, the incidence of rural poverty has fallen steadily. First and foremost, population growth should be strictly controlled to tackle the serious problem of poverty. Other approaches to fight this problem include expanding work possibilities, educating people, eliminating black money, decentralized planning, and assisting women and youth in becoming self-sufficient. Empowering the weaker and most backward sections of society is also expected to help reduce poverty. We are not failing to achieve our goals owing to a lack of resources or technical support, but rather due to a lack of execution of our plans and programs.

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I.  Introduction

Ii.  the expenditure surveys, iii.  nsso versus nas expenditure estimates, iv.  the official poverty lines, v.  controversies regarding poverty lines 3, vi.  poverty at the national level, vii.  poverty in the states: rural and urban, viii.  poverty in the states by social group, ix.  poverty in the states by religious group, x.  inequality, xi.  concluding remarks, a comprehensive analysis of poverty in india.

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Arvind Panagariya , Megha Mukim; A Comprehensive Analysis of Poverty in India. Asian Development Review 2014; 31 (1): 1–52. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/ADEV_a_00021

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This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of poverty in India. It shows that regardless of which of the two official poverty lines we use, we see a steady decline in poverty in all states and for all social and religious groups. Accelerated growth between fiscal years 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 also led to an accelerated decline in poverty rates. Moreover, the decline in poverty rates during these years has been sharper for the socially disadvantaged groups relative to upper caste groups so that we now observe a narrowing of the gap in the poverty rates between the two sets of social groups. The paper also provides a discussion of the recent controversies in India regarding the choice of poverty lines.

This paper provides comprehensive up-to-date estimates of poverty by social and religious groups in the rural and urban areas of the largest 17 states in India. The specific measure of poverty reported in the paper is the poverty rate or headcount ratio (HCR), which is the proportion of the population with expenditure or income below a pre-specified level referred to as the poverty line. In the context of most developing countries, the poverty line usually relates to a pre-specified basket of goods presumed to be necessary for above-subsistence existence.

In so far as prices vary across states and between rural and urban regions within the same state, the poverty line also varies in nominal rupees across states and between urban and rural regions within the same state. 1 Similarly, since prices rise over time due to inflation, the poverty line in nominal rupees in a given location is also adjusted upwards over time.

The original official poverty estimates in India, provided by the Planning Commission, were based on the Lakdawala poverty lines, so named after Professor D. T. Lakdawala who headed a 1993 expert group that recommended these lines. Recommendations of a 2009 expert committee headed by Professor Suresh Tendulkar led to an upward adjustment in the rural poverty line relative to its Lakdawala counterpart. Therefore, while the official estimates for earlier years were based on the lines and methodology recommended by the expert group headed by Lakdawala, those for more recent years were based on the line and methodology recommended by the Tendulkar Committee. Official estimates based on both methodologies exist for only two years, 1993–1994 and 2004–2005. These estimates are provided for the overall population, for rural and urban regions of each state, and for the country as a whole. The Planning Commission does not provide estimates by social or religious groups.

In this paper, we provide estimates using Lakdawala and Tendulkar lines for different social and religious groups in rural and urban areas in all major states and at the national level. Our estimates based on Lakdawala lines are computed for all years beginning in 1983 for which large or “thick” expenditure surveys have been conducted. Estimates based on the Tendulkar line and methodology are provided for the three latest large expenditure surveys, 1993–1994, 2004–2005, and 2009–2010.

Our objective in writing the paper is twofold. First, much confusion has arisen in the policy debates in India around certain issues regarding poverty in the country—for instance, whether or not growth has helped the poor (if yes, how much and over which time period) and whether growth is leaving certain social or religious groups behind. We hope that by providing poverty estimates for various time periods, social groups, religious groups, states, and urban and rural areas, this paper will help ensure that future policy debates are based on fact. Second, researchers interested in explaining how various policy measures impact poverty might find it useful to have the poverty lines and the associated poverty estimates for various social and religious groups and across India's largest states in rural and urban areas readily available in one place.

The literature on poverty in India is vast and many of the contributions or references to the contributions can be found in Srinivasan and Bardhan ( 1974 , 1988 ), Fields ( 1980 ), Tendulkar ( 1998 ), Deaton and Drèze ( 2002 ), Bhalla ( 2002 ), and Deaton and Kozel ( 2005 ). Panagariya ( 2008 ) provides a comprehensive treatment of the subject until the mid-2000s including the debates on whether or not poverty had declined in the post-reform era and whether or not reforms had been behind the acceleration in growth rates and the decline in poverty. Finally, several of the contributions in Bhagwati and Panagariya ( 2012a , 2012b ) analyze various aspects of poverty in India using the expenditures surveys up to 2004–2005. In particular, Cain, Hasan, and Mitra ( 2012 ) study the impact of openness on poverty; Mukim and Panagariya ( 2012 ) document the decline in poverty across social groups; Dehejia and Panagariya ( 2012 ) provide evidence on the growth in entrepreneurship in services sectors among the socially disadvantaged groups; and Hnatkovska and Lahiri ( 2012 ) provide evidence on and reasons for narrowing wage inequality between the socially disadvantaged groups and the upper castes.

To our knowledge, this is the first paper to systematically and comprehensively exploit the expenditure survey conducted in 2009–2010. This is important because growth was 2–3 percentage points higher between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 surveys than between any other prior surveys. As such, we are able to study the differential impact accelerated growth has had on poverty alleviation both directly, through improved employment and wage prospects for the poor, and indirectly, through the large-scale redistribution program known as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which enhanced revenues made possible. In addition, ours is also the first paper to comprehensively analyze poverty across religious groups. In studying the progress in combating poverty across social groups, the paper complements our previous work, Mukim and Panagariya ( 2012 ).

The paper is organized as follows. In Section II , we discuss the history and design of the expenditure surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), which form the backbone of all poverty analysis in India. In Section III , we discuss the rising discrepancy between average expenditures as reported by the NSSO surveys and by the National Accounts Statistics (NAS) of the Central Statistical Office (CSO). In Section IV , we describe in detail the evolution of official poverty lines in India, while in Section V we discuss some recent controversies regarding the level of the official poverty line. In Sections VI to Section IX , we present the poverty estimates. In Section X , we discuss inequality over time in rural and urban areas of the 17 states. In Section XI , we offer our conclusions.

The main source of data for estimating poverty in India is the expenditure survey conducted by the NSSO. India is perhaps the only developing country that began conducting such surveys on a regular basis as early as 1950–1951. The surveys have been conducted at least once a year since 1950–1951. However, the sample had been too small to permit reliable estimates of poverty at the level of the state until 1973–1974. A decision was made in the early 1970s to replace the smaller annual surveys by large-size expenditure (and employment–unemployment) surveys to be conducted every 5 years.

This decision led to the birth of “thick” quinquennial (5-yearly) surveys. Accordingly, the following 8 rounds of large-size surveys have been conducted: 27 (1973–1974), 32 (1978), 38 (1983), 43 (1987–1988), 50 (1993–1994), 55 (1999–2000), 61 (2004–2005), and 66 (2009–2010). Starting from the 42nd round in 1986–1987, a smaller expenditure survey was reintroduced. This was conducted annually except during the years in which the quinquennial survey was to take place. Therefore, with the exception of the 65th and 67th rounds in 2008–2009 and 2010–2011, respectively, an expenditure survey exists for each year beginning 1986–1987.

While the NSSO collects the data and produces reports providing information on monthly per-capita expenditures, it is the Planning Commission that computes the poverty lines and provides official estimates of poverty. The official estimates are strictly limited to quinquennial surveys. While they cover rural, urban, and total populations in different states and at the national level, estimates are not provided for specific social or religious groups. These can be calculated selectively for specific groups or specific years by researchers. With rare exceptions, discussions and debates on poverty have been framed around the quinquennial surveys even though the other survey samples are large enough to allow reliable estimates at the national level.

For each household interviewed, the survey collects data on the quantity of and expenditure on a large number of items purchased. For items such as education and health services, where quantity cannot be meaningfully defined, only expenditure data are collected. The list of items is elaborate. For example, the 66th round collected data on 142 items under the food category; 15 items under energy; 28 items under clothing, bedding, and footwear; 19 items under educational and medical expenses; 51 items under durable goods; and 89 in the other items category.

It turns out that household responses vary systematically according to the length of the reference period to which the expenditures are related. For example, a household could be asked about its expenditures on durable goods during the preceding 30 days or the preceding year. When the information provided in the first case is converted into annual expenditures, it is found to be systematically lower than when the survey directly asks households to report their annual spending. Therefore, estimates of poverty vary depending on the reference period chosen in the questionnaire.

Most quinquennial surveys have collected information on certain categories of relatively infrequently purchased items including clothing and consumer durables on the basis of both 30-day and 365-day reference periods. For other categories, including all food and fuel and consumer services, they have used a 30-day reference period. The data allow us to estimate two alternative measures of monthly per-capita expenditures that refer to the following: (i) a uniform reference period (URP) where all expenditure data used to estimate monthly per-capita expenditure are based on the 30-day reference period, and (ii) a mixed reference period (MRP) where expenditure data used to estimate the monthly per-capita expenditure are based on the 365-day reference period in the case of clothing and consumer durables and the 30-day reference period in the case of other items.

With rare exceptions, monthly per-capita expenditure associated with the MRP turns out to be higher than that associated with the URP. The Planning Commission's original estimate of poverty that employed the Lakdawala poverty lines had relied on the URP monthly per-capita expenditures. At some time prior to the Tendulkar Committee report, however, the Planning Commission decided to shift to the MRP estimates. Therefore, while recommending revisions that led to an upward adjustment in the rural poverty line, the Tendulkar Committee also shifted to the MRP monthly per-capita expenditures in its poverty calculations. Therefore, the revised poverty estimates available for 1993–1994, 2004–2005, and 2009–2010 are based on the Tendulkar lines and the MRP estimates of monthly per-capita expenditures.

We note an important feature of the NSSO expenditure surveys at the outset. The average monthly per-capita expenditure based on the surveys falls well short of the average private consumption expenditure separately available from the NAS of the CSO. Moreover, the proportionate shortfall has been progressively rising over successive surveys. These two observations hold regardless of whether we use the URP or MRP estimate of monthly per-capita expenditure available from the NSSO. Figure 1 graphically depicts this phenomenon in the case of URP monthly per-capita expenditure, which is more readily available for all quinquennial surveys since 1983.

NSSO Household Total URP Expenditure Estimate as % of NAS Total Private Consumption Expenditure

Precisely what explains the gap between the NSSO and NAS expenditures has important implications for poverty estimates. For example, if the gap in any given year is uniformly distributed across all expenditure classes as Bhalla ( 2002 ) assumes in his work, true expenditure in 2009–2010 is uniformly more than twice of what the survey finds. This would imply that many individuals currently classified as falling below the poverty line are actually above it. Moreover, a recognition that the proportionate gap between NSSO and NAS private expenditures has been rising over time implies that the poverty ratio is being overestimated by progressively larger margins over time. At the other extreme, if the gap between NSSO and NAS expenditures is explained entirely by underreporting of the expenditures by households classified as non-poor, poverty levels will not be biased upwards.

There are good reasons to believe, however, that the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes. The survey underrepresents wealthy consumers. For instance, it is unlikely that any of the billionaires, or most of the millionaires, are covered by the survey. Likewise, the total absence of error among households below the poverty line is highly unlikely. For example, recall that the expenditures on durables are systematically underreported for the 30-day reference period relative to that for 365-day reference period. Thus, in all probability, households classified as poor account for part of the gap so that there is some overestimation of the poverty ratio at any given poverty line. 2

The 1993 expert group headed by Lakdawala defined all-India rural and urban poverty lines in terms of per-capita total consumption expenditure at 1973–1974 market prices. The underlying consumption baskets were anchored to the per-capita calorie norms of 2,400 and 2,100 in rural and urban areas, respectively. The rural and urban poverty line baskets were based on different underlying baskets, which meant that the two poverty lines represented different levels of real expenditures.

State-level rural poverty lines were derived from the national rural poverty line by adjusting the latter for price differences between national and state-level consumer price indices for agricultural laborers. Likewise, state-level urban poverty lines were derived from the national urban poverty line by adjusting the latter for price differences between the national and state-level consumer price indices for industrial laborers. National and state-level rural poverty lines were adjusted over time by applying the national and state-level price indices for agricultural workers, respectively. Urban poverty lines were adjusted similarly over time.

Lakdawala lines served as the official poverty lines until 2004–2005. The Planning Commission applied them to URP-based expenditures in the quinquennial surveys to calculate official poverty ratios. Criticisms of these estimates on various grounds led the Planning Commission to appoint an expert group under the chairmanship of Suresh Tendulkar in December 2005 with the directive to recommend appropriate changes in methodology for computing poverty estimates. The group submitted its report in 2009.

In its report, the Tendulkar committee noted three deficiencies of the Lakdawala poverty lines (Government of India 2009 ). First, the poverty line baskets remained tied to consumption patterns observed in 1973–1974. But more than 3 decades later, these baskets had shifted, even for the poor. Second, the consumer price index for agricultural workers understated the true price increase. This meant that over time the upward adjustment in the rural poverty lines was less than necessary so that the estimated poverty ratios understated rural poverty. Finally, the assumption underlying Lakdawala lines that health and education would be largely provided by the government did not hold any longer. Private expenditures on these services had risen considerably, even for the poor. This change was not adequately reflected in the Lakdawala poverty lines.

To remedy these deficiencies, the Tendulkar committee began by noting that the NSSO had already decided to shift from URP-based expenditures to MRP-based expenditures to measure poverty. With this in view, the committee's first step was to situate the revised poverty lines in terms of MRP expenditures in some generally acceptable aspect of the existing practice. To this end, it observed that since the nationwide urban poverty ratio of 25.7%, calculated from URP-based expenditures in the 2004–2005 survey, was broadly accepted as a good approximation of prevailing urban poverty, the revised urban poverty line could be anchored to yield this same estimate using MRP-based per-capita consumption expenditure from the 2004–2005 survey. This decision led to MRP-based per-capita expenditure of the individual at the 25.7 percentile in the national distribution of per-capita MRP expenditures becoming the national urban poverty line.

The Tendulkar committee further argued that the consumption basket associated with the national urban poverty line also be accepted as the rural poverty line consumption basket. This implied the translation of the new urban poverty line using the appropriate price index to obtain the nationwide rural poverty line. Under this approach, rural and urban poverty lines became fully aligned. Applying MRP-based expenditures, the new rural poverty line yielded a rural poverty ratio of 41.8% in 2004–2005 compared with 28.3% under the old methodology.

It is important to note that even though the method of pegging the national urban poverty line in the manner done by the Tendulkar committee left the national urban poverty in 2004–2005 originally measured at the Lakdawala urban poverty line unchanged, it did impact state-level urban poverty estimates. The methodology required that the state-level rural and urban poverty lines be derived from the national urban poverty line by applying the appropriate price indices derived from the price information within the sample surveys. In some cases, the state-level shift was sufficiently large to significantly alter the estimate of urban poverty. For example, Lakdawala urban poverty line in Gujarat in 2004–2005 was Rs541.16 per-capita per month. The corresponding Tendulkar line turned out to be Rs659.18. This change led the urban poverty estimate in 2004–2005 to jump from 13.3% based on the Lakdawala line to 20.1% based on the Tendulkar line.

An important final point concerns the treatment of health and education spending by the Tendulkar Committee in recommending the revised poverty lines. On this issue, it is best to directly quote the Tendulkar Committee report (Government of India 2009 , p. 2):

Even while moving away from the calorie norms, the proposed poverty lines have been validated by checking the adequacy of actual private expenditure per capita near the poverty lines on food, education, and health by comparing them with normative expenditures consistent with nutritional, educational, and health outcomes. Actual private expenditures reported by households near the new poverty lines on these items were found to be adequate at the all-India level in both the rural and the urban areas and for most of the states. It may be noted that while the new poverty lines have been arrived at after assessing the adequacy of private household expenditure on education and health, the earlier calorie-anchored poverty lines did not explicitly account for these. The proposed poverty lines are in that sense broader in scope.

We address here the two rounds of controversies over the poverty line that broke out in the media in September 2011 and March 2012. The first round of controversy began with the Planning Commission filing an affidavit with the Supreme Court stating that the poverty line at the time had been on average Rs32 and Rs26 per person per day in urban and rural India, respectively. Being based on the Tendulkar methodology, these lines were actually higher than the Lakdawala lines on which the official poverty estimates had been based until 2004–2005. However, the media and civil society groups pounced on the Planning Commission for diluting the poverty lines so as to inflate poverty reduction numbers and to deprive many potential beneficiaries of entitlements. For its part, the Planning Commission did a poor job of explaining to the public precisely what it had done and why.

The controversy resurfaced in March 2012 when the Planning Commission released the poverty estimates based on the 2009–2010 expenditure survey. The Planning Commission reported that these estimates were based on average poverty lines of Rs28.26 and Rs22.2 per person per day in urban and rural areas, respectively. Comparing these lines to those previously reported to the Supreme Court, the media once again accused the Planning Commission of lowering the poverty lines. 4 The truth of the matter was that whereas the poverty lines reported to the Supreme Court were meant to reflect the price level prevailing in mid-2011, those underlying poverty estimates for 2009–2010 were based on the mid-point of 2009–2010. The latter poverty lines were lower because the price level at the mid-point of 2009–2010 was lower than that in mid-2011. In real terms, the two sets of poverty lines were identical.

While there was no basis to the accusations that the Planning Commission had lowered the poverty lines, the issue of whether the poverty lines remain excessively low despite having been raised does require further examination. In addressing this issue, it is important to be clear about the objectives behind the poverty line.

Potentially, there are two main objectives behind poverty lines: to track the progress made in combating poverty and to identify the poor towards whom redistribution programs can be directed. The level of the poverty line must be evaluated separately against each objective. In principle, we may want separate poverty lines for the two objectives.

With regard to the first objective, the poverty line should be set at a level that allows us to track the progress made in helping the truly destitute or those living in abject poverty, often referred to as extreme poverty. Much of the media debate during the two episodes focused on what could or could not be bought with the poverty-line expenditure. 5 There was no mention of the basket of goods that was used by the Tendulkar Committee to define the poverty line.

In Annex E of its report (Government of India 2009 ), the Tendulkar Committee gave a detailed itemized list of the expenditures of those “around poverty line class for urban areas in all India.” Unfortunately, it did not report the corresponding quantities purchased of various commodities. In this paper, we now compute these quantities from unit-level data where feasible and report them in Table 1 for a household consisting of five members. 6 Our implicit per-person expenditures on individual items are within Rs3 of their corresponding expenditures reported in Annex E of the report of the Tendulkar Committee.

Source: Authors’ calculations using unit-level data (supplied by Rahul).

We report quantities wherever the relevant data are available. In the survey, the quantities are not always reported in weights. For example, lemons and oranges are reported in numbers and not in kilograms. In these cases, we have converted the quantities into kilograms using the appropriate conversion factors. The main point to note is that while the quantities associated with the poverty line basket may not permit a comfortable existence, including a balanced diet, they allow above-subsistence existence. The consumption of cereals and pulses at 50.9 kilograms (kg) and 3.5 kg compared with 48 kg and 5.5 kg, respectively, for the mean consumption of the top 30% of the population. Likewise, the consumption of edible oils and vegetables at 2.7 kg and 23.9 kg for the poor compared with 4.5 kg and 35.5 kg, respectively, for the top 30% of the population. 7 This comparison shows that, at least in terms of the provision of two square meals a day, the poverty line consumption basket is compatible with above-subsistence level consumption.

We reiterate our point as follows. In 2009–2010, the urban poverty line in Delhi was Rs1,040.3 per person per month (Rs34.2 per day). For a family of five, this amount would translate to Rs5,201.5 per month. Assuming that each family member consumes 10 kg per month of cereal and 1 kg per month of pulses and the prices of the two grains are Rs15 and Rs80 per kilogram, respectively, the total expenditure on grain would be Rs1,150. 8 This would leave Rs4,051.5 for milk, edible oils, fuel, clothing, rent, education, health, and other expenditures. While this amount may not allow a fully balanced diet, comfortable living, and access to good education and health, it is consistent with an above-subsistence level of existence. Additionally, if we take into account access to public education and health, and subsidized grain and fuel from the public distribution system, the poverty line is scarcely out of line with the one that would allow exit from extreme poverty.

But what about the role of the poverty line in identifying the poor for purposes of redistribution? Ideally, this exercise should be carried out at the local level in light of resources available for redistribution, since the poor must ultimately be identified locally. Nevertheless, if the national poverty line is used to identify the poor, could we still defend the Tendulkar line as adequate? We argue in the affirmative.

Going by the urban and rural population weights of 0.298 and 0.702 implicit in the population projections for 1 January 2010, the average countrywide per-capita MRP expenditure during 2009–2010 amounts to Rs40.2 per person per day. Therefore, going by the expenditure survey data, equal distribution across the entire country would allow barely Rs40.2 per person per day in expenditures. Raising the poverty line significantly above the current level must confront this limit with regard to the scope for redistribution.

It could be argued that this discussion is based on data in the expenditure survey, which underestimates true expenditures. The scope for redistribution might be significantly greater if we go by expenditures as measured in the NAS. The response to this criticism is that the surveys underestimate not just the average national expenditure but also the expenditures of those identified as poor. Depending on the extent of this underestimation, the need for redistribution itself would be overestimated.

Even so, it is useful to test the limits of redistribution by considering the average expenditure according to the NAS. The total private final consumption expenditure at current prices in 2009–2010 was Rs37,959.01 billion. Applying the population figure of 1.174 billion as of 1 January 2010 in the NSSO 2009–2010 expenditure survey, this total annual expenditure translates to daily spending of Rs88.58 per person. This figure includes certain items such as imputed rent on owner-occupied housing and expenditures other than those by households such as the spending of civil society groups, which would not be available for redistribution. Thus, per-capita expenditures achievable through equal distribution, even when we consider the expenditures as per the NAS, is likely to be modest.

To appreciate further the folly of setting too high a poverty line for the purpose of identifying the poor, recall that the national average poverty line was Rs22.2 per person per day in rural areas and Rs28.26 in urban areas in 2009–2010. Going by the expenditure estimates for different spending classes in Government of India ( 2011a ), raising these lines to just Rs33.3 and Rs45.4, respectively, would place 70% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population in poverty in 2009–2010. If we went a little further and set the rural poverty line at Rs39 per day and the urban poverty line at Rs81 per day in 2009–2010, we would place 80% of the population in each region below the poverty line. Will the fate of the destitute not be compromised if the meager tax revenues available for redistribution were thinly spread on this much larger population?

Before we turn to reporting the poverty estimates, we should clarify that while we have defended the current poverty line in India for both purposes—tracking abject poverty and redistribution—in general, we believe a case exists for two separate poverty lines to satisfy the two objectives. The poverty line to track abject poverty must be drawn independently of the availability of revenues for redistribution purposes and should be uniform nationally. The poverty line for redistribution purposes would in general differ from this line and, indeed, vary in different jurisdictions of the same nation depending on the availability of revenues. This should be evident from the fact that redistribution remains an issue even in countries that have entirely eradicated abject poverty. 9

Official poverty estimates are available at the national and state levels for the entire population, but not by social or religious groups, for all years during which the NSSO conducted quinquennial surveys. These years include 1973–1974, 1977–1978, 1983, 1987–1988, 1993–1994, 2004–2005, and 2009–2010, but not 1999–2000, as that year's survey became noncomparable to other quinquennial surveys due to a change in sample design. The Planning Commission has published poverty ratios for the first six of these surveys based on the Lakdawala lines and for the last three based on the Tendulkar lines. These ratios were estimated for rural and urban areas at the national and state levels.

In this paper, we provide comparable poverty rates for all of the last five quinquennial surveys including 2009–2010 derived from Lakdawala lines. For this purpose, we update the 2004–2005 Lakdawala lines to 2009–2010 using the price indices implicit in the official Tendulkar lines for 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 at the national and state levels. We provide estimates categorized by social as well as religious groups for all quinquennial surveys beginning in 1983 based on the Lakdawala lines and for the years relating to the last three such surveys based on the Tendulkar lines at the national and state levels.

While we focus mainly on the evolution of poverty since 1983 in this paper, it is useful to begin with a brief look at the poverty profile in the early years. This is done in Figure 2 using the estimates in Datt ( 1998 ) for years 1951–1952 to 1973–1974. The key message of the graph is that the poverty ratio hovered between 50% and 60% with a mildly rising trend.

The Poverty Ratio in India, 1951–1952 to 1973–1974 (%)

This is not surprising, as India had been extremely poor at independence. Unlike economies such as Taipei, China; the Republic of Korea; Singapore; and Hong Kong, China, the country then grew very slowly. Growth in per-capita income during these years had been a mere 1.5% per year. Such low growth coupled with a very low starting per-capita income meant at best limited scope for achieving poverty reduction even through redistribution. As argued above, even today, after more than 2 decades of almost 5% growth in per-capita income, the scope for redistribution remains limited. 10

We are now in a position to provide the poverty rates for the major social groups based on the quinquennial expenditure surveys beginning 1983. The social groups identified in the surveys are scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST), other backward castes (OBC), and the rest, which we refer to as forward castes (FC). In addition, we define the nonscheduled castes as consisting of the OBC, and FC. The NSSO began identifying the OBC beginning 1999–2000. Since we are excluding this particular survey due to its lack of comparability with other surveys, the OBC as a separate group begins appearing in our estimates from 2004–2005 only.

In Table 2 , we provide the poverty rates based on the Lakdawala lines in rural and urban areas and at the national level. Four features of this table are worthy of note. First, poverty rates have continuously declined for every single social group in both the rural and urban areas. Contrary to common claims, growth has been steadily helping the poor from every broad social group escape poverty rather than leaving the socially disadvantaged behind.

FC = forward castes, NS = non-scheduled, OBC = other backward castes, SC = scheduled castes, ST = scheduled tribes.

Source: Authors’ calculations.

Second, the rates in rural India have consistently been the highest for the ST followed by the SC, OBC, and FC in that order. This pattern also holds in urban areas but with some exceptions. In particular, in some years, poverty rates of scheduled tribes are lower than that of scheduled castes, but this is not of great significance since more than 90% of the scheduled tribe population live in rural areas.

Third, with growth accelerating to above 8% beginning 2003–2004, poverty reduction between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 has also accelerated. The percentage point reduction during this period has been larger than during any other 5-year period. Most importantly, the acceleration has been the greatest for the ST and SC in that order so that at last, the gap in poverty rates between the scheduled and nonscheduled groups has declined significantly.

Finally, while the rural poverty rates were slightly higher than the urban poverty rates for all groups in 1983, the order switched for one or more groups in several of the subsequent years. Indeed, in 2009–2010, the urban rates turned out to be uniformly higher for every single group. This largely reflects progressive misalignment of the rural and urban poverty lines with the former becoming lower than the latter. It was this misalignment that led the Tendulkar Committee to revise the rural poverty line and realign it to the higher, urban line.

Table 3 reports the poverty estimates based on the Tendulkar lines. Recall that the Tendulkar line holds the urban poverty ratio at 25.7% in 2004–2005 when measuring poverty at MRP expenditures. Our urban poverty ratio in Table 3 reproduces this estimate within 0.1 of a percentage point.

The steady decline in poverty rates for the various social groups in rural as well as urban areas, which we noted based on the Lakdawala lines in Table 2 , remains valid at the Tendulkar lines. Moreover, rural poverty ratios turn out to be higher than their urban counterparts for each group in each year. As in Table 2 , the decline had been sharpest during the high-growth period between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010.

Finally and most importantly, the largest percentage-point decline between these years in rural and urban areas combined had been for the ST followed by the SC, OBC, and FC in that order. Given that scheduled tribes also had the highest poverty rates followed by scheduled castes and other backward castes in 2004–2005, the pattern implies that the socially disadvantaged groups have achieved significant catching up with the better-off groups. This is a major break with past trends.

Next, we report the national poverty rates by religious groups. In Table 4 , we show the poverty rates based on Lakdawala lines of rural and urban India and of the country taken as a whole. Three observations follow. First, at the aggregate level (rural plus urban), poverty rates show a steady decline for Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains, and Sikhs. Poverty among the Buddhists also consistently declined except for 1983 and 1987–1988. With one exception (Muslims in rural India between 1987–1988 and 1993–1994), the pattern of declining poverty rates between any two successive surveys also extends to the rural and urban poverty rates in the case of the two largest religious communities, Hindus and Muslims.

Second, going by the poverty rates in 2009–2010 in rural and urban areas combined, Jains have the lowest poverty rates followed by Sikhs, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists. Prosperity among Jains and Sikhs is well known, but not the lower level of poverty among Christians relative to Hindus. Also interesting is the relatively small gap of just 5.8 percentage points between poverty rates among Hindus and Muslims.

Finally, the impact of accelerated growth on poverty between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 that we observed across social groups can also be seen across religious groups. Once again, we see a sharper decline in the poverty rate for the largest minority, the Muslims, relative to Hindus who form the majority of the population.

This broad pattern holds when we consider poverty rates by religious groups based on the Tendulkar line, as seen in Table 5 . Jains have the lowest poverty rates followed by Sikhs, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists. With one exception (Sikhs in rural India between 1993–1994 and 2004–2005), poverty had declined steadily for all religious groups in rural as well as urban India. The only difference is that the decline in poverty among Muslims in rural and urban areas combined between the periods 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 had not been as sharp as that estimated from the Lakdawala lines. As a result, we do not see a narrowing of the difference in poverty between Hindus and Muslims. We do see a narrowing of the difference in urban poverty but this gain is neutralized by the opposite movement in the rural areas due to a very sharp decline in poverty among Hindus, perhaps due to the rapid decline in poverty among scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Before we turn to poverty estimates by state, we should note that in this paper, we largely confine ourselves to reporting the extent of poverty measured based on the two poverty lines. Other than occasional references to the determinants of poverty such as growth and caste composition, we make no systematic effort to identify them. Evidently, many factors influence the decline in poverty. For instance, the acceleration in growth between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 also led to increased revenue that made it possible for the government to introduce the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme under which one adult member of each rural household is guaranteed 100 days per year of employment at a pre-specified wage. The employment guarantee scheme may well have been a factor in the recent acceleration in poverty reduction.

In a similar vein, rural–urban migration may also impact the speed of decline of poverty. Once again, rapid growth, which inevitably concentrates disproportionately in urban areas, may lead to some acceleration in rural-to-urban migration. If, in addition, the rural poor migrate in proportionately larger numbers in search of jobs, poverty ratios could fall in both rural and urban areas. In the rural areas, the ratio could fall because proportionately more numerous poor than in the existing rural population migrate. In the urban areas, the decline may result from these individuals being gainfully employed at wages exceeding the urban poverty line. Migration may also reinforce the reduction in rural poverty by generating extra rural income through remittances. Evidence suggests that this effect may have been particularly important in the state of Kerala.

We now turn to the progress made in poverty alleviation in different states. Though our focus in this paper is on poverty by social and religious groups, we first consider poverty at the aggregate level in rural and urban areas. India has 28 states and 7 union territories. To keep the analysis manageable, we limit ourselves to the 17 largest states. 11 Together, these states account for 95% of the total population. We exclude all seven union territories including Delhi; the smallest six of the seven northeastern states (retaining only Assam); and the states of Sikkim, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttaranchal. Going by the expenditure survey of 2009–2010, each of the included states has a population exceeding 20 million while each of the excluded states has a population less than 10 million. Among the union territories, only Delhi has a population exceeding 10 million.

A.  Rural and Urban Populations

We begin by presenting the total population in each of the 17 largest states and the distribution between rural and urban areas as revealed by the NSSO expenditure survey of 2009–2010 (Table 6 ). 12 The population totals in the expenditure survey are lower than the corresponding population projections by the registrar general and census commissioner of India (2006) as well as those implied by Census 2011. 13 Our choice is dictated by the principle that poverty estimates should be evaluated with reference to the population underlying the survey design instead of those suggested by external sources. For example, the urban poverty estimate in Kerala in 2009–2010 must be related to the urban population in the state covered by the expenditure survey in 2009–2010 instead of projections based on the censuses in 2001 and 2011. 14

As shown in Table 6 , 27% of the national population lived in urban areas, while the remaining 73% resided in rural areas in 2009–2010. This composition understates the true share of the urban population, revealed to be 31.2% in the 2011 census. The table shows 10 states having populations of more than 50 million (60 million according to the 2011 census). We will refer to these 10 states as the “large” states. They account for a little more than three-fourths of the total population of India. At the other extreme, eleven “small” states (excluded from our analysis and therefore not shown in Table 6 ) have populations of less than ten million (13 million according to the Census 2011) each. The remaining seven states, which we call “medium-size” states, have populations ranging from 36 million in Orissa to 22 million in Chhattisgarh (42 million in Orissa to 25.4 million in Chhattisgarh, according to the 2011 census).

Among the large states, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka, in that order, are the most urbanized with a rate of urbanization of 35% or higher. Bihar is the least urbanized among the large states, with an urbanization rate of just 10%. Among the medium-size states, only Punjab has an urban population of 35%. The rest have urbanization rates of 30% or less. Assam and Orissa, with an urban population of just 10% and 14%, respectively, are the least urbanized medium-size states.

B.  Rural and Urban Poverty

We now turn to the estimates of rural and urban poverty in the 17 largest states. To conserve space, we confine ourselves to presenting the estimates based on the Tendulkar line. We report the estimates based on the Lakdawala lines in the Appendix. Recall that the estimates derived from the Tendulkar line are available for 3 years: 1993–1994, 2004–2005, and 2009–2010. Disregarding 1973–1974 and 1977–1978, which are outside the scope of our paper, estimates based on the Lakdawala lines are available for an additional 2 years: 1983 and 1987–1988.

Table 7 reports the poverty estimates with the states arranged in descending order of their populations. Several observations follow. First, taken as a whole, poverty fell in each of the 17 states between 1993–1994 and 2009–2010. When we disaggregate rural and urban areas within each state, we still find a decline in poverty in all states in each region over this period. Indeed, if we take the 10 largest states, which account for three-fourths of India's population, every state except Madhya Pradesh experienced a consistent decline in both rural and urban poverty. The reduction in poverty with rising incomes is a steady and nationwide phenomenon and not driven by the gains made in a few specific states or certain rural or urban areas of a given state.

Second, acceleration in poverty reduction in percentage points per year during the highest growth period (2004–2005 to 2009–2010) over that in 1993–1994 to 2004–2005 can be observed in 13 out of the total 17 states. The exceptions are Uttar Pradesh and Bihar among the large states and Assam and Haryana among medium-size states. Of these, Uttar Pradesh and Assam had experienced at best modest acceleration in gross state domestic product (GSDP) during the second period while Haryana had already achieved a relatively low level of poverty by 2004–2005. The most surprising had been the negligible decline in poverty in Bihar between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010, as GSDP in this state had grown at double-digit rates during this period.

Finally, among the large states, Tamil Nadu had the lowest poverty ratio followed by Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh—all of them from the south—made the largest percentage-point improvements in poverty reduction among the large states between 1993–1994 and 2009–2010. Among the medium-size states, Kerala and Haryana had the lowest poverty rates while Orissa and Jharkhand made the largest percentage-point gains during 1993–1994 to 2009–2010.

It is useful to relate poverty levels to per-capita spending. In Table 8 , we present per-capita expenditures in current rupees in the 17 states in the 3 years for which we have poverty ratios, with the states ranked in descending order of population. Ideally, we should have the MRP expenditures for all 3 years, but since they are available for only the last 2 years, we report the URP expenditures for 1993–1994. Several observations follow from a comparison of Tables 7 and 8 .

MRP = mixed reference period, URP = uniform reference period.

First, high per-capita expenditures are associated with low poverty ratios. Consider, for example, rural poverty in 2009–2010. Kerala, Punjab, and Haryana, in that order, have the highest rural per-capita expenditures. They also have the lowest poverty ratios, in the same order. At the other extreme, Chhattisgarh and Bihar have the lowest rural per-capita expenditures and also the highest rural poverty ratios. More broadly, the top nine states by rural per-capita expenditure are also the top nine states in terms of low poverty ratios. A similar pattern can also be found for urban per-capita expenditures and urban poverty. Once again, Kerala ranks at the top and Bihar at the bottom in terms of each indicator. Figure 3 offers a graphical representation of the relationship in rural and urban India in 2009–2010 using state level data.

Poverty and Per-capita MRP Expenditure in Rural and Urban Areas in Indian States, 2009–2010

One state that stands out in terms of low poverty ratios despite a relatively modest ranking in terms of per-capita expenditure is Tamil Nadu. It ranked eighth in terms of rural per-capita expenditure but fourth in terms of rural poverty in 2009–2010. In terms of urban poverty, it did even better, ranking a close second despite its ninth rank in urban per-capita expenditure. Gujarat also did very well in terms of urban poverty, ranking third in spite of the seventh rank in urban per-capita expenditure.

Finally, there is widespread belief that Kerala achieved the lowest rate of poverty despite its low per-capita income through more effective redistribution. Table 8 entirely repudiates this thesis. In 1993–1994, Kerala already had the lowest rural and urban poverty ratios and enjoyed the second highest rural per-capita expenditure and third highest urban per-capita expenditure among the 17 states. Moreover, in terms of percentage-point reduction in poverty, all other southern states dominate Kerala. For example, between 1993–1994 and 2004–2005, Tamil Nadu achieved a 27.4 percentage-point reduction in poverty compared to just 19.3 for Kerala. We may also add that Kerala experienced very high inequality of expenditures. In 2009–2010, the Gini coefficient associated with spending in the state was by far the highest among all states in rural as well as urban areas.

In this section we decompose population and poverty by social group. As previously mentioned, the expenditure surveys traditionally identified the social group of the households using a three-way classification: scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and nonscheduled castes. However, beginning with the 1999–2000 survey, the last category had been further subdivided into other backward castes and the rest, the latter sometimes referred to as forward castes, a label that we use in this paper.

We begin by describing the shares of the four social groups in the total population of the 17 states.

A.  Population Distribution by Social Group within the States

Table 9 reports the shares of various social groups in the 17 largest states according to the expenditure survey of 2009–2010. We continue to rank the states according to population from the largest to the smallest.

Source: Authors’ calculations from the NSSO expenditure survey conducted in 2009–2010.

Nationally, the Scheduled Tribes constitute 9% of the total population of India according to the expenditure survey of 2009–2010. In past surveys and the Census 2001, this proportion was 8%. The scheduled castes form 20% of the total population according to the NSSO expenditure surveys, though the Census 2001 placed this proportion at 16%. The OBC are not identified as a separate group in the censuses so that their proportion can be obtained from the NSSO surveys only. The figure has varied from 36% to 42% across the three quinquennial expenditure surveys since the OBC began to be recorded as a separate group.

The scheduled tribes are more unevenly divided across states than the remaining social groups. In so far as these groups had been very poor at independence and happened to be outside the mainstream of the economy, ceteris paribus, states with high proportions of ST population may be at a disadvantage in combating poverty. From this perspective, the four southern states enjoy a clear advantage: Kerala and Tamil Nadu have virtually no tribal populations while Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have proportionately smaller tribal populations (5% and 9% of the total, respectively) than some of the northern states which had high concentrations.

Among the large states, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan have proportionately the largest concentrations of ST populations. The ST constitute 20%, 17%, and 14% of their respective populations. Some of the medium-size states, of course, have proportionately even larger concentrations. These include Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa with the ST forming 30%, 29%, and 22% of their populations, respectively.

Since the traditional exclusion of the SC has meant they began with a very high incidence of abject poverty and low levels of literacy, states with high proportions of these groups also face an uphill task in combating poverty. Even so, since the SC populations are not physically isolated from the mainstream of the economy, there is greater potential for the benefits of growth reaching them than the ST. This is illustrated, for example, by the emergence of some rupee millionaires among the SC but not the ST during the recent high-growth phase (Dehejia and Panagariya 2012 ).

Once again, at 9%, Kerala has proportionately the smallest SC population among the 17 states listed in Table 9 . Among the largest 10 states, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh have the highest concentrations. Among the medium-size states, Punjab, Haryana, and Orissa in that order have proportionately the largest SC populations.

The SC and ST populations together account for as much as 40% and 35%, respectively, of the total state population in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. At the other extreme, in Kerala, these groups together account for only 10% of the population. These differences mean that, ceteris paribus, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan face a significantly more difficult battle in terms of combating poverty than Kerala.

The ST populations also differ from the SC in that they are far more heavily concentrated in rural areas than in urban areas. Table 10 illustrates this point. In 2009–2010, 89% of the ST population was classified as rural. The corresponding figure was 80% for the SC, 75% for the OBC, and 60% for FC.

An implication of the small ST population in the urban areas in all states and in both rural and urban areas in a large number of states is that the random selection of households results in a relatively small number of ST households being sampled. The problem is especially severe in many of the smallest states where the total sample size is small in the first place. A small sample translates into a large error in the associated estimate of the poverty ratio. We will present the poverty estimates in all states and regions as long as a positive group is sampled. Nevertheless, we caution the reader on the possibility of errors in Table 11 that may be associated with the number of ST households in the 2009–2010 survey.

B.  Poverty by Social Group

We now turn to poverty estimates by social groups. We present statewide poverty ratios based on the Tendulkar line for the ST, SC, and nonscheduled castes in Table 12 . We present the ratios for the OBC and FC in Table 13 . As before, we arrange the states from the largest to the smallest according to population. Separate rural and urban poverty estimates derived from the Tendulkar lines and Lakdawala lines are relegated to the Appendix.

NS = non-scheduled, SC = scheduled castes, ST = scheduled tribes.

FC = forward castes, OBC = other backward castes.

With one exception, Chhattisgarh, the poverty ratio declines for each group in each state between 1993–1994 and 2009–1010. There is little doubt that rising incomes have helped all social groups nearly everywhere. In the vast majority of the states, we also observe acceleration in the decline in poverty between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 compared to between 1993–94 and 2004–2005. Reassuringly, the decline in ST poverty among scheduled tribes and scheduled castes and SC poverty has sped up recently with the gap in poverty rates between these groups and the nonscheduled castes narrowing.

The negative relationship between poverty ratios and per-capita expenditures that we depicted in Figure 3 can also be observed for the social groups taken separately. Using rural poverty estimates by social group in the Appendix, we show this relationship between SC poverty and per capita rural expenditures in the left panel of Figure 4 and that between the ST poverty and per capita rural expenditures in the right panel. Figure 4 closely resembles Figure 3 . The fit in the right panel is poorer than that in the left panel as well as those in Figure 3 . This is partially because the ST are often outside the mainstream of the economy and therefore less responsive to rising per-capita incomes. This factor is presumably exacerbated by the fact that the number of observations in the case of the ST has been reduced to 11 due to the number of ST households in the sample dropping to below 100 in six of the 17 states.

Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Poverty Rates and Per-capita MRP Expenditures in Rural Areas, 2009–2010

For years 2004–2005 and 2009–2010, we disaggregate the nonscheduled castes into the OBC and FC. The resulting poverty estimates are provided in Table 13 . Taking the estimates in Tables 12 and 13 , one can see that on average poverty rates are at their highest for the ST followed by SC, OBC, and FC in that order. At the level of individual states, ranking of the poverty rates of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes is not clear-cut, but with rare exceptions, poverty rates of these two groups exceed systematically those of other backward castes, which in turn exceed rates of forward castes.

An interesting feature of the poverty rates of forward castes is their low level in all but a handful of the states. For example, in 2009–2010, the statistic computed to just 3.9% in Punjab, 5.9% in Kerala, 6.5% in Haryana, 6.9% in Tamil Nadu, and 10.5% even in Rajasthan. In 14 out of the largest 17 states, it fell below 25%. The states with low FC poverty rates generally also have low OBC poverty rates making the proportion of the SC and ST population the key determinant of the statewide rate.

This point is best illustrated by a comparison of poverty rates of Punjab and Kerala. Poverty rates for the nonscheduled caste population in 2009–2010 was 7.3% in Punjab and 10.4% in Kerala, while those for scheduled castes stood at 29.2% and 27.4%, respectively, in the two states. But since scheduled castes constitute 39% of the population in Punjab but only 9% in Kerala, statewide poverty rate turned out to be 15.8% in the former and 12% in the latter.

The caste composition also helps explain the differences in poverty rates between Maharashtra and Gujarat on the one hand and Kerala on the other. In 2009–2010, statewide poverty rates were 24.8% and 23.2%, respectively, in the former and 12% in the latter (Table 10 ). In part, the differences follow from the significantly higher per-capita expenditures in Kerala, as seen from Table 11 . 15 But Maharashtra and Gujarat also face a steeper uphill task in combating poverty on account of significantly higher proportions of the scheduled tribe and scheduled caste populations. These groups account for 17% and 11%, respectively, of the total population in Gujarat, and 10% and 15% in Maharashtra. In comparison, only 1% of the population comprises scheduled tribes in Kerala, while just 9% comprise scheduled castes (Table 9 ).

Finally, we turn to poverty estimates by religious group in the states. India is home to many different religious communities including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Zoroastrians. Additionally, tribes follow their own religious practices. Though tribal religions often have some affinity with Hinduism, many are independent in their own right.

Table 14 provides the composition of population by religious group as well as the rural–urban split of each religious group based on the expenditure survey of 2009–2010. Hindus comprise 82% of the population, Muslims 12.8%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Jains 0.3%, and Zoroastrians 0.016%. The remaining comprises just 0.3%.

Together, Hindus and Muslims account for almost 95% of India's total population. With 34% of the population in urban areas compared with 26% in the case of Hindus, Muslims are more urbanized than Hindus. Among the other communities, Jains and Zoroastrians are largely an urban phenomenon. Moreover, while Muslims can be found in virtually all parts of India, other smaller minority communities tend to be geographically concentrated. Sikhs cluster principally in Punjab, Christians in Kerala and adjoining southern states, Zoroastrians in Maharashtra and Gujarat, and Jains in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Given their small shares in the total population and their geographical concentration, random sampling of households in the expenditure surveys yields less than 100 observations for minority religious communities other than Muslims in the vast majority of the states. Indeed, as Table 15 indicates, only 13 out of the 17 largest states had a sufficiently large number of households even for Muslims to allow poverty to be reliably estimated. Orissa, Haryana, Punjab, and Chhattisgarh each had fewer than 100 Muslim households in the survey. Thus, we attempt poverty estimates by religious groups in the states separately for Hindus and Muslims only. We do provide estimates for the catch-all “other” category but caution that, in many cases, these estimates are based on less than 100 observations and therefore subject to large statistical errors.

As before, we present the estimates for statewide poverty of the religious groups using the Tendulkar line, placing the more detailed estimates for rural and urban areas and estimates based on the Lakdawala lines in the Appendix. Table 15 reports the estimates for Hindus, Muslims, and other minority religion groups for the years 1993–1994, 2004–2005, and 2009–2010.

Religious groups replicate the broad pattern seen in the context of poverty by social group. Poverty has fallen in every single state between 1993–1994 and 2009–2010 for Hindus as well as for Muslims, though the change is not always monotonic. While the level of poverty in 2009–2010 is higher for Muslims than Hindus in the majority of the states, the reverse is true in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. An anomaly is the marginal increase in the poverty rate between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 in Bihar for Hindus and in Gujarat for Muslims. The observation is particularly surprising since we simultaneously observe a significant decline in poverty during the same period for Muslims in Bihar and for Hindus in Gujarat. Interestingly, as documented in the Appendix, poverty rates for both Hindus and Muslims decline in both states based on the Lakdawala lines between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010.

Although the focus of this paper is on poverty, we find it useful to briefly report the evolution of inequality at the state and national levels in rural and urban areas. At the outset, it is important to note that the issue of inequality is complex partly because it can be measured in numerous ways. 16 The potential list of measures is almost endless, and there is no guarantee that these different measures will move in the same direction. Therefore, it is quite easy to show simultaneously that inequality has risen as well as fallen depending on the choice of measure.

In this paper, we use one measure of overall inequality based on the same expenditure survey data we used to report poverty measures in the previous sections: specifically, the Gini coefficient of household expenditures in rural and urban areas in the 17 states and in India as a whole using URP expenditures in 1983, 1993–1994, 1999–2000, 2004–2005, and 2009–2010. Table 17 and Table 18 report the Gini coefficient in rural and urban areas, respectively. As before, we arrange the states in descending order of population size.

Source: Planning Commission website (accessed 4 February 2013).

An immediate observation from Tables 17 and 18 is that, with rare exceptions, rural inequality tends to be lower than urban inequality. At the national level in 2009–2010, the Gini coefficient was 0.291 in rural areas and 0.382 in urban areas. These values reflect a difference of 9 percentage points. This is not surprising. The vast majority of the villagers are small farmers or wage laborers. As a result, variation in their incomes and therefore expenditures are not large. In contrast, cities serve as home to much of the industry and formal sector services as well as to a large informal sector which attracts migrant workers. This results in greater variation in incomes and expenditures.

The tables show no clear trend in the Gini in rural areas but do show a tendency for it to rise in urban areas. At the national level, rural Gini fell between 1983 and 1999–2000, rose between 1999–2000 and 2004–2005, and fell again between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010, with a small net decline over the entire period. In contrast, the urban Gini has climbed steadily.

This is hardly surprising since rapid growth, which can produce increased inequality, is concentrated in urban areas. In the Indian case, a dualism of sorts exists within urban areas. Output growth has been concentrated in the formal sector, while employment has been disproportionately concentrated in the informal sector. Unlike the Republic of Korea and Taipei, China in the 1960s and 1970s and the People's Republic of China more recently, employment in the formal sector has not grown in India due to the poor performance of labor-intensive sectors. Growth in India has been concentrated in skilled labor and capital-intensive sectors.

The data do not support the hypothesis that high levels of poverty reflect high levels of inequality. At least in the Indian case, the two outcomes are at best unrelated and at worst negatively associated. For example, at the national level, rural inequality has remained more or less unchanged and urban inequality has risen, while both rural and urban poverty have steadily and significantly declined over time.

Looking at a cross section of the data, Kerala offers the most dramatic example. In 2009–2010, it had the lowest levels of rural and urban poverty and by far the highest rural and urban Gini coefficients. At the other extreme, Bihar had the second lowest rural Gini coefficient but the highest rural poverty ratio during the same period.

At a more aggregate level, the left panel in Figure 5 plots the rural Gini against the rural poverty ratio, while the right panel plots the urban Gini against the urban poverty ratio. The exponential trend line has a negative slope in each case, though the fit is poor. In other words, there is no evidence of a positive relationship between poverty and inequality, but there is some evidence of a negative relationship.

Gini Coefficients and Poverty Ratios in Rural and Urban Areas in Indian States, 2009–2010

In this paper, we have provided a comprehensive analysis of poverty in India along six different dimensions: across time, across states, between rural and urban areas, across social and religious groups, and based on two different poverty lines (Lakdawala and Tendulkar). To keep the exposition manageable, we have concentrated on estimates based on the Tendulkar line except when we discuss poverty at the national level. In the latter case, we report estimates in rural and urban India derived from both the Lakdawala and Tendulkar lines. Our detailed estimates by social and religious groups, by rural and urban areas, and by state based on both the Lakdawala and Tendulkar lines are provided in the Appendix.

The following are some of the key conclusions of the paper. First, poverty has declined between 1993–1994 and 2009–2010 along every dimension. Indeed, poverty has fallen for every social and religious group in every state and in rural and urban areas, separately as well as jointly. Estimates based on the Lakdawala line show that the decline can be observed steadily since 1983 for all social and religious groups in all 17 large states.

Second, acceleration in growth rates between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 has been accompanied by acceleration in poverty reduction. Poverty rates have fallen rapidly for all major social and religious groups at the national level. This phenomenon also holds true for most states across various social and religious groups.

Third, for the first time, poverty reduction between 2004–2005 and 2009–2010 has been larger for the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes than the upper caste groups. Thus, the gap in poverty rates between the socially disadvantaged and upper caste groups has narrowed over time. This pattern provides clear evidence to refute the claim that reforms and growth have failed to help the socially disadvantaged or that they are leaving these groups behind. A continuation of this trend, bolstered by further reforms and higher growth rates, would help eliminate the difference in poverty rates between the historically disadvantaged and the privileged.

Fourth, interstate comparisons reveal that the states with large scheduled castes and scheduled tribe populations face a steeper climb in combating poverty. The point is most forcefully brought out by a comparison of Punjab and Kerala. When we compare poverty rates in 2009–2010 by social group, the two states have very similar poverty rates. But because the poverty rates for the scheduled castes are higher than those for the nonscheduled castes in both states and the scheduled castes account for a much larger proportion of the population, the aggregate poverty rate in Punjab turns out to be significantly higher.

Finally, we find that in the case of India, there is no robust relationship between inequality and poverty. Indeed, to the extent that such a relationship exists, this would suggest that more unequal states enjoy lower levels of poverty. Kerala offers the most dramatic example. It has had one of the highest Gini coefficients for rural as well as urban areas and also one of the lowest poverty ratios for both regions. In 2009–2010, its Gini coefficients were by far the highest among the large states in both rural and urban areas, while its poverty ratios were the smallest.

Given space limitations, we have deliberately limited ourselves to providing one specific indicator of poverty—the headcount ratio—in different states and for different social and religious groups based on the two official poverty lines. There are at least two broad complementary directions in which the work in this paper can be extended.

First, it may be desirable for certain purposes to estimate alternative indicators of poverty such as the poverty gap or its close cousin, the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke index. Such an index allows one to gauge the resources needed to bring all those below the poverty line to a level above it. In a similar vein, we have focused on progress in combating poverty among social and religious groups that are more vulnerable. Alternatively, we could focus on a different dimension of vulnerability such as male-headed versus female-headed households and evaluate the progress in combating poverty among female-headed households.

The second direction in which the work of this paper could be extended is towards explaining the determinants of poverty. Within this broad category, we have left many questions unanswered. For instance, it would be useful to separate the contributions of growth and redistribution policies in explaining the decline in poverty. Likewise, we may want to know what role, if any, rural-to-urban migration may have played—directly as well as through remittances. Similarly, we might ask what role the division of population among various social and religious groups plays in determining the progress in combating poverty. Finally, we might also wish to study the role that education plays in bringing down poverty. The recent work by Hnatkovska and Lahiri ( 2012 ) shows that education has indeed been pivotal in bridging the wage gap between scheduled castes and scheduled tribes on the one hand and nonscheduled castes on the other. This suggests an important role for education in eradicating poverty.

a Calculated by adjusting the 2004–2005 lines using the index implicit in the official Tendulkar lines for 2004–2005 and 2009–2010.

Source: Planning Commission, Government of India, Data Tables.

SC = scheduled castes, ST = scheduled tribes, URP = uniform reference period.

a Delhi is 95% urban. The SC and ST estimates in this case are based on too few households and therefore subject to substantial sampling errors.

FC = forward castes, NC = nonscheduled castes, OBC = other backward castes.

a Only 5% of Delhi by population is rural. SC and ST estimates in this case are based on too few households and therefore subject to substantial sampling errors.

FC = forward castes, NS = nonscheduled castes, OBC = other backward castes, URP = uniform reference period.

MRP = mixed reference period, SC = scheduled castes, ST = scheduled tribes.

Source: Authors’ calculations

FC = forward castes, MRP = mixed reference period, NS = nonscheduled castes, OBC = other backward castes.

URP = uniform reference period.

MRP = mixed reference period.

The views expressed in the paper are those of the authors and not of the World Bank. We thank an anonymous referee, P. V. Srinivasan, and participants of the first 2013 Asian Development Review conference held on 25–26 March 2013 at the Asian Development Bank headquarters in Manila, Philippines.

Prices could vary not just between urban and rural regions within a state but also across subregions within rural and subregions within urban regions of a state. Therefore, in principle, we could envision many different poverty lines within rural and within urban regions in each state. To keep the analysis manageable, we do not make such finer distinctions in the paper.

We do not go into the sources of underestimation of expenditures in NSSO surveys. These are analyzed in detail in Government of India ( 2008 ). According to the report (Government of India 2008 , p. 56), “The NSS estimates suffer from difference in coverage, underreporting, recall lapse in case of nonfood items or for the items which are less frequently consumed and increase in nonresponse particularly from affluent section of population. It is suspected that the household expenditure on durables is not fully captured in the NSS estimates, as the expensive durables are purchased more by the relatively affluent households, which do not respond accurately to the NSS surveys.” Two items, imputed rentals of owner-occupied dwellings and financial intermediation services indirectly measured, which are included in the NAS estimate, are incorporated into the NSSO expenditure surveys. But these account for only 7–9 percentage points of the discrepancy.

This section is partially based on Panagariya ( 2011 ).

See, for example, the report by the NDTV entitled “Planning Commission further lowers poverty line to Rs28 per day.” Available: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/planning-commission-further-lowers-poverty-line-to-rs-28-per-day-187729

For instance, one commentator argued in a heated television debate that since bananas in Jor Bagh (an upmarket part of Delhi) cost Rs60 a dozen, an individual could barely afford two bananas per meal per day at poverty line expenditure of Rs32 per person per day.

We thank Rahul Ahluwalia for supplying us with Table 1 . The expenditures in the table represent the average of the urban decile class including the urban poverty line. Since the urban poverty line is at 25.7% of the population, the table takes the average over those between the 20th and 30th percentile of the urban population.

The consumption figures for the top 30% of the population are from Ganesh-Kumar et al. ( 2012 ).

These amounts of cereal and pulses equal or exceed their mean consumption levels according to the 2004–2005 NSSO expenditure survey.

Recently, Panagariya ( 2013 ) has suggested that if political pressures necessitate shifting up the poverty line, the government should opt for two poverty lines in India—the Tendulkar line, which allows it to track those in extreme poverty, and a higher one that is politically more acceptable in view of the rising aspirations of the people.

The issue is discussed at length in Bhagwati and Panagariya ( 2013 ).

Although Delhi has its own elected legislature and chief minister, it remains a union territory. For example, central home ministry has the effective control of the Delhi police through the lieutenant governor who is the de jure head of the Delhi government and appointed by the Government of India.

Our absolute totals for rural and urban areas of the states and India in Table 6 match those in Tables 1A-R and 1A-U, respectively, in Government of India ( 2011b ).

The Planning Commission derives the absolute number of poor from poverty ratios using census-based population projections. Therefore, the population figure underlying the absolute number of poor estimated by the Planning Commission are higher than those in Table 6 , which are based on the expenditure survey of 2009–2010.

This distinction is a substantive one in the case of states in which the censuses reveal the degree of urbanization to be very different from that underlying the design of the expenditure surveys. For example, the expenditure survey of 2009–2010 places the urban population in Kerala at 26% of the total in 2009–2010, but the census in 2011 finds the rate of urbanization in the state to be 47.7%.

This is true in spite of significantly higher per-capita GSDP in Maharashtra presumably due to large remittances flowing into Kerala. According to the Government of India ( 2011a ), one in every three households in both rural and urban Kerala reports at least one member of the household living abroad.

For instance, inequality could be measured as the ratio of the top 10% to bottom 10% of the population, the ratio of rural to urban per-capita incomes, the ratio of skilled to unskilled wages (or formal and informal sector wages), and through the Gini coefficient (nationally or across states).

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• Poverty Essay

Poverty in India Essay

500+ words poverty in india essay.

Poverty is defined as a condition in which a person or family lacks the financial resources to afford a basic, minimum standard of living. Poor people don’t have adequate income; they can’t afford housing, health facilities and education which are essential for basic survival. So, poverty can be understood simply as a lack of money, or more broadly, barriers to everyday human life. With the help of this poverty essay, students will understand the meaning of poverty, the major causes of poverty and the efforts taken to eliminate poverty in India. So, students must go through this poverty in India essay in depth to get ideas on how to write effective essays and score high marks in exams.

What Causes Poverty?

There are various factors that are responsible for poverty. The major causes are unemployment, illiteracy, increasing population, and lack of proper education and training. As people are not able to find work for themselves, they are not able to earn their livelihood. Due to this, they lack access to basic education, health care, drinking water and sanitation. They are unable to feed their families and children. The other causes of poverty include war, natural disasters, political instability, etc. For example, World War II impacted many countries and they had to suffer from poverty for a long time. It took a lot of effort for such countries to recover their normal state. Similarly, natural disasters affect some areas so badly that poverty and hunger arise.

How is Poverty Measured in India?

The minimum expenditure (or income) required to purchase a basket of goods and services necessary to satisfy basic human needs is called the Poverty Line. Poverty can be measured in terms of the number of people living below this line. It is measured by the State Governments and information is provided by Below Poverty Line (BPL) censuses. Different countries use different measures for measuring poverty but the basic concept remains the same. The definition of the poverty line remains the same, i.e, consumption required for maintaining the minimum standard of living in a country.

Efforts to Eliminate Poverty

Earning income is the first step towards poverty eradication. Poverty can be eliminated by empowering people, and by giving them a good education that will prepare them to have a better career and future. With the help of education, people can get good jobs which allow them to earn a good living. In this way, they will be able to provide their children with a better life. People should be given easy access to transportation, information, communication, technologies, and other public facilities and services to help remove poverty.

The government has also taken several steps to eradicate poverty in India. It has launched various programmes and schemes such as the Five Years Programme, Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana etc. These programmes help to generate wage employment for the poor, unskilled people living in rural areas. The government also has social security programmes to help a few specific groups such as poor women, elder people, and widows. Apart from these government initiatives, citizens of India have to take an active part in eliminating poverty because it can’t be achieved by just a few people. It needs the support of everyone.

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Frequently asked Questions on Poverty in India Essay

How can poverty in india be abolished completely.

Abolishing poverty in India completely can be challenging. Steps should be taken to ensure equality in education so that everyone gets equal opportunities to find better livelihoods. Proper sanitation and water facility 3. Economic security and development

When was the first plan implemented for Poverty abolition?

The fifth five-year plan was first implemented in the year 1974-79 and since then the government has taken several steps and made many reservations to take this plan forward.

What is the relation between Poverty abolition and economic development?

Poverty abolition and economic development go hand in hand with each other and they are interlinked to each other. Eradication of poverty automatically improves the overall economic situation of a country.

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Essay on Poverty in India

Poverty is the inability to secure the minimum human needs of food, clothing, housing, education, and health. When a person is unable to fulfil these basic needs, it leads to pain and distress.

Even after 74 years of Independence, India is still struggling with the problem of poverty. After going through this ‘ Essay on Poverty in India’ you will learn about the Features of Poverty in India, the Causes of Poverty in India, and Anti-poverty measures taken by the government of India to reduce the poverty in India.

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Features of Poverty in India

Variations:  In the mid-seventies, the poverty ratio (which was more than 50%) got reduced to 22% by the end.

Trend:  There has been a secular decline in the poverty ratio. Because of the increase in population, the number of poor people remained stable for a long period of time.

Interstate variations:  More than 90% of India’s poor are living in Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. Gujarat, Kerala, Haryana, Goa, and Punjab have a low poverty ratio.

Vulnerable groups:  Among the economic groups, the most vulnerable groups are the rural agricultural labour households and the urban casual labour households. On the other hand, among the social groups, the most vulnerable groups are scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Inequality of income within a family:  Women, female infants, and elder people suffer more than other members of the family. They are the poorest of the poor.

Rural and urban poverty:  Nearly 75% of poor people live in rural areas. Many poor people from rural areas migrate to urban areas in search of jobs. However, the industrial and service sectors cannot provide sufficient jobs to these poor people.

Causes of Poverty in India

Inequality in the distribution of income and wealth:  During the plan periods, the national income of India has been increasing, but it has not been distributed properly among the different sections of people. The majority of the income of the economy has been enjoyed by the rich. These inequalities in the distribution of wealth and income have worsened the problem of poverty in India.

Underdevelopment of an economy:  Physical and natural resources are underutilized because of a lack of technology, capital, and entrepreneurial ability. Therefore, the productive capacity and gross domestic product of the economy are low. Primitive technology of production occurs in the agricultural sector. They lack irrigation facilities, fertilizers, and a high-yielding variety of seeds. This backwardness in agriculture has given rise to rural poverty.

Price inflation:  Upward trends in the consumer price index during the plan periods led to a fall in the real income of fixed and low-income earners. It decreases purchasing power and hence a lower standard of living and a higher incidence of poverty.

High rate of population growth:  Because of the increase in population, the dependency burden has increased. Hence, the provision for their minimum needs becomes a crucial problem. This high growth rate of the population also signifies lesser availability of health facilities and other amenities and therefore a lower standard of living.

Illiteracy:  Because of a lack of literacy, Indian farmers fail to learn new methods of cultivation, and adopt new tools and implements. Also, the village moneylenders succeed in cheating them more easily. On the other hand, urban people are employed as unskilled workers and receive very low wages in return. They mostly live in slums and they lead miserable lives.

Social causes:  Many social factors such as the caste system, religious faith and beliefs, and joint family system have hindered the process of economic growth.

Political causes:  The policies of the colonial government have ruined traditional handicrafts and discouraged the development of textile industries. Even after Independence , the government failed to protect the interest of the poor.

Anti-Poverty Measures in India

The anti-poverty strategy of the government is based on the promotion of economic growth and targeted anti-poverty programs.

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), September 2005

• 100 days assured employment every year to every household in 200 districts; will be extended to 600 districts later.
• One-third of jobs are reserved for women.
• The Central Government will establish National Employment Guarantee Funds.

National Food for Work Programme (NFWP), 2004

• Launched in 150 most backward districts.
• Open to all rural poor who are in need of wage employment and manual skilled labour.
• 100% centrally sponsored scheme and food grains free of cost. Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY), 2000
• Additional central assistance to states for basic services.

Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), 1999

• To assist poor families above the poverty line by organizing them into self-help groups through a mix of bank credit and government subsidy.

Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP), 1995

• To create self-employment opportunities in rural areas and small towns.
• To create 25 lakh jobs for the program under the Tenth Five-Year Plan.

Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), 1993

• To create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns.
• To help set up small businesses and industries

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Poverty in India Essay: Poverty is when you lack basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing. Check Poverty in India Essay in 800, 500 and 250 words

October 10, 2023

Table of Contents

Poverty in India Essay: Poverty means not having enough money to afford basic things like a home, healthcare, and education. It’s a tough situation where people struggle to meet their basic needs because they lack money. This essay explains what poverty is, why it happens, and what is being done to fight it in India. It’s helpful for students who want to write good essays and do well in exams.

Poverty in India Essay 800 Words

Below we are covering Poverty in India Essay in 800 Words.

Poverty is the condition where a person lacks enough money to meet their basic needs, such as food and shelter. In India, poverty is becoming more widespread, particularly in urban areas due to the increasing population. Many people live on the brink of poverty, especially in rural regions, where there are numerous uneducated and unemployed individuals.

People in poverty struggle to afford proper food and often have no homes, forcing them to sleep on streets or sidewalks. This situation leads to a growing demand for food, money, and shelter, but unfortunately, poverty continues to increase due to the scarcity of these resources. This wealth gap between the rich and the poor widens, making it challenging to reduce poverty. The consequences of poverty are numerous and include inadequate housing, illiteracy, a rise in child labor and unemployment, and poor hygiene.

Because of these challenges, impoverished individuals cannot afford nutritious meals, decent clothing, or a quality education simply because they lack the necessary funds.

Understanding Poverty in India

Poverty in India is a complex issue with various dimensions. It is not merely about inadequate income but encompasses a lack of access to basic necessities such as food, clean water, education, healthcare, and sanitation. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) highlights the multi-dimensional nature of poverty in India.

Causes of Poverty

India’s population growth, while considered a demographic dividend in certain aspects, has placed substantial pressure on the country’s resources and infrastructure, creating formidable challenges in ensuring adequate provisions for all its citizens. Economic inequality exacerbates the issue, with a considerable portion of the population enjoying substantial economic prosperity while a significant majority grapples with financial instability.

Moreover, the prevalence of unemployment and underemployment, particularly in the informal sector, exacerbates poverty levels by limiting income-earning opportunities for a substantial portion of the population. Additionally, the scarcity of accessible quality education further perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as it constrains individuals’ capacity to secure well-paying jobs and break free from the clutches of economic hardship.

Inadequate healthcare infrastructure and a lack of affordable healthcare services compound these issues, contributing to the persistence of poverty, as health-related problems often result in both reduced income and heightened expenses. Furthermore, the pronounced disparities between rural and urban areas, encompassing disparities in infrastructure, educational access, and employment prospects, significantly contribute to the prevalence of poverty in rural regions, deepening the rural-urban divide and amplifying socioeconomic disparities across the nation.

The Problems Poverty Creates

Malnutrition is a pressing concern intricately linked with poverty in India. This dire situation often results in inadequate nutrition, thereby precipitating issues like stunted growth and developmental impediments, with children being especially vulnerable to its detrimental effects.

Furthermore, the adverse impact of poverty is acutely felt in the realm of education, where limited access to quality learning opportunities becomes a pervasive impediment. This restriction not only hampers personal growth but also undermines the potential for professional advancement, perpetuating the cycle of poverty for many individuals.

Moreover, the challenges posed by subpar healthcare infrastructure and unsatisfactory sanitation conditions disproportionately afflict impoverished communities. This unfortunate reality translates into elevated morbidity and mortality rates, compounding the already dire circumstances of those living in poverty.

Additionally, poverty acts as a catalyst for social inequality, further accentuating the divide between the privileged and the marginalized. This growing chasm between the haves and the have-nots not only fosters disparities in wealth and access but also engenders social unrest and instability, posing a formidable challenge to societal harmony.

Furthermore, poverty in India has a regrettably enduring quality, often taking on the form of generational poverty. This means that the limited access to opportunities for improvement faced by one generation frequently extends its grip to the next, creating a cycle of impoverishment that is difficult to break, unless comprehensive measures are undertaken to address its underlying causes.

Also Check – Durga Puja Essay

Solutions to Remove Poverty

Investment in education and skill development initiatives holds the potential to empower individuals, equipping them with the knowledge and capabilities needed to access improved employment prospects and elevate their socioeconomic status.

Moreover, the government’s commitment to job creation, particularly in rural regions, through targeted initiatives can play a pivotal role in mitigating the pervasive challenges of unemployment and underemployment, offering hope to those seeking livelihood opportunities.

Furthermore, the expansion of social safety net programs, encompassing essential provisions such as food subsidies, healthcare access, and unemployment benefits, can serve as a critical safety cushion for marginalized and economically vulnerable populations, ameliorating their struggles and enhancing their overall well-being.

In addition, fostering rural development via dedicated efforts geared toward enhancing infrastructure, which includes the provision of clean water and sanitation facilities, can bridge the rural-urban gap by improving living conditions and boosting economic opportunities in traditionally underserved areas.

Similarly, instituting policies that prioritize progressive taxation and advocate for equitable wealth distribution is essential in addressing the issue of economic inequality, effectively reducing the wealth gap and promoting a fairer, more just society.

Lastly, the promotion of women’s empowerment, through the facilitation of educational and employment opportunities, stands as a potent strategy to combat poverty. This approach not only enhances women’s personal and financial autonomy but also contributes significantly to overall poverty reduction efforts.

Poverty in India is a big problem that has been around for a long time, and it causes many problems. To solve it, we need to use different ways and ideas. India has made progress, but we need to keep working hard, have good leadership, and make fair rules to help many people escape poverty and make society fairer. It’s not just the right thing to do; it’s also essential for India’s future growth and peace.

Poverty in India Essay 500 Words

Below we are covering Poverty in India Essay in 500 Words.

Poverty remains a daunting challenge in India, despite its remarkable economic growth. This essay explores the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to poverty in India essay in 500 words.

Causes of Poverty 

Several factors contribute to the persistence of poverty in India. Population growth, often considered a demographic dividend, exerts immense pressure on resources and infrastructure. Economic inequality widens the gap between the rich and poor, while unemployment and underemployment limit income opportunities. Inadequate access to quality education restricts job prospects, especially in rural areas. Additionally, the lack of affordable healthcare services amplifies the financial burden on impoverished individuals. Rural-urban disparities in infrastructure and opportunities further deepen the problem.

Consequences of Poverty 

Poverty in India manifests in various detrimental ways. Malnutrition is a pressing concern, particularly affecting children, leading to stunted growth and developmental challenges. Limited access to quality education hampers personal growth and economic mobility. Subpar healthcare infrastructure and sanitation conditions result in higher morbidity and mortality rates among impoverished communities. Social inequality widens, fostering disparities in wealth and access while fueling social unrest. The intergenerational nature of poverty perpetuates its grip, making it challenging to break free from its cycle.

Solutions to Remove Poverty 

Addressing poverty in India requires a multifaceted approach. Investment in education and skill development initiatives can empower individuals, enabling them to access better job opportunities and improve their socioeconomic status. The government’s commitment to job creation, particularly in rural areas, is vital for alleviating unemployment and underemployment.

Expanding social safety net programs, including food subsidies, healthcare access, and unemployment benefits, serves as a critical safety cushion for marginalized populations. Rural development efforts, including infrastructure improvements, can bridge the rural-urban gap and enhance economic opportunities in underserved areas.

Implementing policies that promote progressive taxation and equitable wealth distribution can reduce economic inequality and foster a fairer society. Additionally, empowering women through education and employment contributes significantly to poverty reduction efforts.

Conclusion 

Poverty in India remains a persistent challenge, but it is not insurmountable. Addressing poverty requires a concerted effort, including investment in education, job creation, social safety nets, rural development, and equitable policies. By tackling poverty comprehensively, India can work toward a fairer and more prosperous future for all its citizens.

Poverty in India Essay 250 Words

Below we are covering Poverty in India Essay in 250 Words.

Poverty is an enduring issue in India, coexisting alongside its economic growth. It signifies the inability to access basic necessities due to financial constraints. This Poverty in India Essay in 250 word covering poverty causes, consequences, and solutions.

Population Growth: Rapid population growth strains resources, making it hard to provide for all.

Economic Inequality: Uneven wealth distribution widens the gap between rich and poor.

Unemployment: High unemployment and underemployment rates limit income opportunities.

Education Gap: Limited access to quality education restricts job prospects, particularly in rural areas.

Healthcare Access: Lack of affordable healthcare leads to reduced income and increased expenses.

R ural-Urban Disparities: Disparities in infrastructure, education, and jobs deepen poverty.

Consequences

Malnutrition: Particularly among children, leading to stunted growth and developmental challenges.

Limited Education: Restricts personal growth and economic mobility.

Health Issues: Subpar healthcare and sanitation lead to higher morbidity and mortality.

Social Inequality: Amplifies wealth and access disparities, potentially leading to social unrest.

Education and Skills: Invest in education and vocational training to enhance employability.

Job Creation: Government-led job initiatives, especially in rural areas, can reduce unemployment.

Social Safety Nets: Expand food subsidies and healthcare access for marginalized populations.

Rural Development: Bridge the rural-urban gap through development and infrastructure investments.

Equitable Policies: Implement progressive taxation and wealth distribution policies.

Women’s Empowerment: Promote women’s education and employment for poverty reduction.

Poverty persists in India despite economic growth. Its causes include population growth, economic inequality, unemployment, limited education, healthcare access, and rural-urban disparities. Consequences range from malnutrition to social inequality. Poverty need not be a permanent feature of India’s landscape, and determined efforts can lead to a brighter and more inclusive future.

Poverty in India Essay FAQs

Poverty in India refers to a condition where individuals lack the financial means to meet basic necessities like food, shelter, education, and healthcare.

Urban poverty in India is increasing due to the rising population in cities, which strains resources and job opportunities, leading to more people living on the brink of poverty.

Consequences of poverty in India include inadequate housing, illiteracy, child labor, unemployment, poor hygiene, malnutrition, and a widening wealth gap.

The MPI, developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), measures poverty in India by considering various dimensions, including income, access to food, clean water, education, healthcare, and sanitation.

Causes of poverty in India include population growth, economic inequality, unemployment, limited access to quality education, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and rural-urban disparities.

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Essay on Poverty: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

• Updated on  
• Oct 14, 2023

Poverty is a deep-rooted problem that continues to affect a large portion of the world’s population today. It touches on several aspects of human life including but not limited to political, economic, and social elements. Even though there are several methods to escape poverty, still issues arise due to a lack of adequate unity among the country’s citizens. Here are some essays on poverty which will give you insights about this topic.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Poverty in 100 words
• 2 Essay on Poverty in 200 words
• 3.1 Reasons Behind Poverty
• 3.2 World Poverty Conditions
• 3.3 Role of NGOs to Eradicate Poverty
• 3.4 What Can be Done by Us?

Essay on Poverty in 100 words

Poverty is defined as a state of scarcity, and the lack of material possessions to such an extreme extent that people have difficulties in fulfilling their basic needs. Robert McNamara, a former World Bank President, states that extreme poverty is limited by illiteracy, malnutrition, disease, high infant mortality rate, squalid conditions of living, and low life expectancy.

In order to eradicate poverty in a country, strict measures need to be taken on all levels. The political system needs to address this issue with utmost sincerity and strategic implementation in such a way that it improves the lives of people, especially the ones living below the poverty line. 

Also Read: Speech on Made in India

Essay on Poverty in 200 words

Poverty is like a parasite that degrades its host and eventually causes a lot of damage to the host. It is basically the scarcity of basic needs that leads to an extremely degraded life and even low life expectancy. It includes a lack of food, shelter, medication, education, and other basic necessities. Poverty is a more serious circumstance where people are forced to starve. It can be caused by a variety of factors depending upon the country. 

Every country that is hit with pandemic diseases, experiences an increase in poverty rates. This is because of the fact that poor people are unable to receive adequate medical care and hence are unable to maintain their health. This renders the people powerless and even puts their liberty in jeopardy. This is because of the fact that poor people can become trapped in a vicious cycle of servitude. The condition of poverty is a distressing one that causes pain, despair, and grief in the lives of the ones it affects. 

This is also a negative scenario that prevents a child from attending basic education. It’s the lack of money that prevents people from living sufficiently. Also, it is the cause of more serious social concerns such as slavery, child labour, etc. Hence action is needed on the same with utmost sincerity. 

Essay on Poverty in 300 words

Poverty is a multifaceted concept that includes several aspects such as social aspects, political elements, economic aspects, etc. It is basically associated with undermining a variety of essential human attributes such as health, education, etc. Despite the growth and development of the economies of countries, poverty still exists in almost every one of them. 

Reasons Behind Poverty

There are several contributing reasons behind poverty in a nation. Some of them are mentioned below:-

• Lack of literacy among citizens
• Lack of Capital in the country
• Large families and a rapidly growing population
• Limited employment opportunities

There are even urban areas where the slum population is increasing. These are deprived of many basic amenities such as sanitation, drainage systems, and low-cost water supply, etc. 

World Poverty Conditions

According to UNICEF , around 22000 children lose their lives each day due to poverty. There are approximately 1.9 billion children in developing countries in the world and India is also among them. Out of these, approximately 640 million don’t have a proper shelter, 270 million are living without medical facilities, and approximately 400 million don’t have access to safe water. This worldwide situation is growing at a fast pace. 

Role of NGOs to Eradicate Poverty

The approaches by NGOs basically include helping the poor by providing various public services such as medical services etc.

They also play a major role in mobilizing the services recommended by the government. They have various approaches and strategies that directly help the poor in various ways.

What Can be Done by Us?

We help in eradicating poverty by increasing employment opportunities.

Ensuring financial services and providing the same is another such measure that can be taken.

Recognizing social entrepreneurs as people of influence, conveying to them the seriousness of this situation, and then eventually making people aware of the same is another thing that can be done. 

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Writing an essay on poverty in 200 words requires you to describe various aspects of this topic such as what causes poverty, how it affects individuals and society as a whole, etc. The condition of poverty is a distressing one that causes pain, despair, and grief in the lives of the ones it affects.

An essay on poverty may be started as follows:- Poverty is a deep-rooted problem that continues to affect a large portion of the world’s population today. It touches on several aspects of human life including but not limited to political, economic, and social elements. Even though there are several methods to escape poverty, still issues arise due to a lack of adequate unity among the country’s citizens.

Poverty in 100 words: Poverty is defined as a state of scarcity, and the lack of material possessions to such an extreme extent that people have difficulties in fulfilling their basic needs. Robert McNamara, a former World Bank President, states that extreme poverty is limited by illiteracy, malnutrition, disease, high infant mortality rate, squalid conditions of living, and low life expectancy. In order to eradicate poverty in a country, strict measures need to be taken on all levels. The political system needs to address this issue with utmost sincerity and strategic implementation in such a way that it improves the lives of people, especially the ones living below the poverty line.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay writing page and follow Leverage Edu .

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Poverty Essay in English For Students & Children in 1000 Words

In this article, you will read a poverty essay for students and children in 1000 words. This includes meaning, situation in India, causes, effects, reducing ideas, and 10 lines about poverty.

Let’s start this Poverty Essay…

Table of Contents

Poverty Essay in English (1000 Words)

Poverty is a state or condition in which an individual or the entire community doesn’t have the financial resources and the basic essentials required for a standard of living. 

The essentials for a minimum standard of living are absent in this case. In this state, the income level of the individual is so low that their basic human needs can’t be met. 

Many reasons are there for this huge amount of poverty in India, but in short, the population explosion, the increase in prices, the debt trap, lower agricultural productivity, and the lack of proper government development are the sole reasons for it. 

These factors have increased the poverty level and have also increased the gap between the rich and poor. The poor keep getting poorer, whereas the rich become more prosperous.

This has further caused the problem in the Indian economy. Poverty not only affects a single individual, their family , or their community, but it overall affects the economy of the country. 

Overall, the Indian economy depends on the output produced, and poverty decreases efficiency in such cases. 

What is Poverty?

Poverty is the condition of being extremely poor for a human being. In this condition, the individual starts to lack the basic important things in their life: a roof over their heads, necessary food, medicine, clothes, etc., to continue their life. Several reasons for the cause of poverty are possible. 

Poverty in India comprises low income and the inability of an individual to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for his survival with dignity. It also encompasses the low levels of health and education . 

It also encompasses poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, insufficient capacity, and the opportunity to have a better life. 

Poverty has become one of the biggest social issues in India . It severely affects a significant part of the Indian population. Population booms, migration to cities in search of work, and rampant unemployment are some of the major reasons for the growth of poverty in India. 

An increase in the literacy rate and providing sustainable living conditions for the poor are some of the ways in which poverty can be curtailed to some extent. 

Poverty Situation in India

India is one of the world’s largest democratic countries, and its economy is growing at a faster rate. It’s one of the chief developing nations with an international level of influence. 

Yet, still, it is seen as a poor country. Poverty in India is one of the major issues that every country faces. 

India has a large population that is below the poverty line. That’s the reason that makes it a poor country. Even after 74 years of independence, we are still struggling , and poverty has plagued our nation. The poverty level in India is very high, and it affects the development of the country. 

Central and state governments have successfully collaborated with many of the private and public sector organisations to deal with this situation. Their main agenda is to eradicate poverty in India completely. 

Together, they have been able to roll out some successful schemes to eradicate this major problem to a certain extent and keep their citizens satisfied. 

They are trying their best to provide every individual with basic requirements. This task has not helped remove poverty in India. This is India’s worst situation ever, and it can’t be solved by judging it by its face value. 

Therefore, it becomes very essential to understand the nature of polity in India through a historical context. That is why we can find reforms that could be implemented to curb this social evil.  

Cause of Poverty in India

Poverty is a dreadful problem in human life. Poverty is just like that of an enslaved person who cannot do the things he wants. Poverty has many faces, which keep on changing according to place, time, and person. 

A person defines it in many ways as they live and feel in their life. It’s a condition that no one would like to experience, although it has to be carried out due to nature , custom, lack of proper education, and natural disasters . 

India has always had a rich history, from ancient times to the Mughal era. Historians call this place the “Golden Sparrow.” It has a vast reserve of gold and other resources.

But over time, the invaders plundered these resources, and the economic health of this country slowly started deteriorating.

The Colonials are solely responsible for the major and significant damage done to this country. They entered as traders and slowly started to occupy a monopoly on various sectors. 

Poverty in India bloomed in the British Raj during the 19th and 20th centuries. The expansion of industries and agricultural exports are increasing day by day. Farming was forced on most individuals who were not farmers by profession. 

Due to British exploitation, workers could not afford a proper meal for the day. By 1943, poverty had reached such a stage that people were starting to die due to starvation. According to Sir Antony MacDonnell, people die like flies due to starvation. 

Effects of Poverty in India

Its effects are far-fetched. Overall health condition is merely affected due to this. Further, these people are even malnourished. Balanced and nutritio us diets are absent from much of the food children eat. 

As a result, their immune systems are merely affected, making them prone to several ailments. It makes them susceptible to anaemia, cardiac issues, poor vision, etc. 

A recent study reveals that nearly 40 out of every 1000 infants die within a year of age. A poverty-ridden society is more vulnerable to violence and crime. Poor people indulge themselves in criminal activities to feed themselves. 

Homelessness is a typical issue associated with poverty in India. This ultimately risks the safety of the woman, and it also promotes child labour in India . It also led to the development of terrorism . 

How to Reduce Poverty in India?

It’s not a problem that can be resolved in a week or a year. The eradication of poverty requires careful planning from the country’s government to implement some of the policies that cater to the population falling below the poverty line. 

Illiteracy and unemployment are the other two factors contributing to poverty in India. This issue can only be tackled with proper education and financial support. 

Access to education can promote higher education, and higher education can increase the employability of such individuals. In this way, poverty can be elevated as the individual starts earning. Education is the most effective way to combat poverty in India. 

Following features must be taken to eradicate poverty in India-

• GOI should invest in the poverty-stricken area.
• Increasing the employment opportunities in India.
• Skilled training must be provided to the illiterate labourers.
• Free education and health care should be provided.
• The public distribution system must be effective in its duties. People who are below the poverty line must be able to access free food and fresh water. 
• The growing population must be checked. Several schemes that promote birth control must be implemented. 
• Proper agricultural resources must be provided to farmers . In this way, their profit can also be increased. As a result, they will not migrate to the urban regions in search of food. 

10 Lines on Poverty Essay in Hindi

• It’s a situation in which a person is unable to fulfil their basic needs. 
• There are six types of poverty: situational, generational, absolute, relative, rural, and urban. Situational poverty is temporary in nature and is due to a loss or crisis.
• Poverty is linked with negative conditions such as homelessness, food insecurity, inadequate child care, etc.
• A rapidly rising population is the sole reason for this poverty. 
• India is a country with the highest population living below the poverty line.
• According to the Niti Aayog report, 25% of the population of India is poor. 
• States like Jharkhand, Bihar, and UP have the highest poverty in India.
• Twelve indicators are used for the national MPI measurement.
• 7% of the Indian population is living in extremely poor conditions.
• A small percentage of Indians, i.e., 0.6%, are escaping the extremely poor conditions every minute. 

Poverty is that problem of human life, in which those suffering from it are unable to get even the basic facilities in life. The government and various NGOs have taken many measures to reduce poverty. So, the standard of living around India can be improved.

I hope you liked this informative poverty essay for students.

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Paragraph On Poverty [In 100, 150, 200 Words]

Paragraph On Poverty: Poverty is a condition when a family is unable to meet its basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and education due to lack of money. Today, no country is exempt from the catch of poverty. Although various steps are taken to reduce poverty, the gap between the rich and the poor is continuously widening.

Poverty is not only a weakness for low-income families but it also represents the weakness of a nation. No nation wants poverty but due to a lot of reasons, it remains to exist. India is one of those countries currently fighting to reduce poverty from the country.

100 Words Paragraph On Poverty In India

India is a developing country. Two-thirds of people in India live in poverty. Around one-third of people in India lives in extreme poverty. The major causes of poverty in India are unemployment, illiteracy, increasing population, and lack of proper education and training.

The government of India has taken many steps to eradicate Poverty. It started many schemes under which unemployed individuals have been ensured to get employment. Apart from this, there is provided free education for children. Moreover, poor families are provided with houses, toilets and affordable food.

But there is a lot of work is needed to be done. Individuals also can help in reducing poverty in India. For example; they can adopt the concept of “each one teach one”. Apart from this, they can donate unused clothes and other things to the poor.

150 Words Paragraph On Poverty In India

Poverty is not only a weakness for low-income families but it also represents the feebleness of a nation. No country wants poverty but due to a lot of reasons, it remains to exist. India is one of those nations currently fighting to decrease poverty from the country.

India is a developing nation. 65% of the population in India lives in poverty. Around one-third of people in India lives in extreme poverty. The primary causes of poverty in India are illiteracy, unemployment, increasing population, and lack of proper education and training.

Poverty in India can be solved by providing three meals a day and making them healthy and by providing houses to those people at a low cost and giving them proper education and facilities so that they can earn well and take care of their families and live a peaceful life.

200 Words Paragraph On Poverty In India

Poverty is a condition when a family is unable to meet its basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and education due to lack of money. Today, no country is exempt from the catch of poverty. India is one of those countries that are continuously fighting against poverty.

There was a time in History when India was called “the golden bird”. It is because India was a wealthy nation in the past. Every person was doing well and heading ahead towards progress and prosperity. But with time there developed some negative aspects that causes the country’s economic decline.

Today, Two-thirds of people in India live in poverty. Around 33% of people in India live in extreme poverty. The major causes of poverty in India are unemployment, illiteracy, increasing population, and lack of proper education and training.

With a lack of job opportunities, many people move as rickshaw pullers, construction workers, domestic servants etc, with irregular small incomes hence they live in slum areas. Poverty in India can be solved by providing three meals a day and making them healthy and by providing houses to those people at a low cost and giving them proper education and facilities so that they can earn well and take care of their families and live a peaceful life.

Read A Long Article Here >>> 500+ Words Essay on Poverty

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Essay on Poverty | UPSC in 1000+ Words

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of the issue of poverty in India. The essay is divided into several sections, each focusing on different aspects of poverty in India.

The first section examines the causes of poverty in India, including lack of access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities. The second section discusses the impact of poverty on various aspects of society, such as health, education, and gender inequality. The third section of the essay focuses on government initiatives aimed at addressing poverty in India. It highlights various poverty alleviation programs and schemes such as MGNREGA, PMAY, and NFSA.

The fourth section examines the impact of these initiatives on poverty reduction in India, highlighting the success stories and challenges faced. The final section discusses the challenges that persist in addressing poverty in India, such as corruption, limited resources, inadequate implementation, and lack of political will.

Overall, the essay provides a comprehensive understanding of poverty in India, the government’s efforts to alleviate it, and the challenges that remain in the fight against poverty.

Poverty is one of the most pressing and pervasive issues facing the world today. It is a multifaceted and complex problem that affects millions of people worldwide, including India. Poverty is defined as a lack of access to basic human needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare. It is often accompanied by social exclusion, low educational attainment, and limited job opportunities.

The Extent of Poverty in India

India is a developing country with a population of over 1.3 billion people, and poverty is a significant challenge facing the nation. According to the World Bank, around 60% of India’s population lives on less than $3.20 a day, making it one of the world’s poorest countries. Poverty is particularly acute in rural areas, where almost 80% of the country’s poor live.

Causes of Poverty

Poverty in India is caused by a combination of factors, including:

Lack of access to education: A lack of education is a significant contributor to poverty in India. Without education, individuals lack the necessary skills and knowledge to obtain well-paying jobs or start businesses.

Limited job opportunities: Job opportunities in India are limited, particularly in rural areas. This limits individuals’ ability to earn a decent income and leads to high levels of unemployment.

Income inequality: Income inequality is a significant contributor to poverty in India. Wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small number of individuals, while the majority of the population struggles to make ends meet.

Gender inequality: Gender inequality is a significant contributor to poverty in India. Women face discrimination in many areas of life, including education, employment, and healthcare, which limits their ability to earn a decent income and improve their living standards.

Poor healthcare: Poor healthcare is a significant contributor to poverty in India. Without access to quality healthcare, individuals are more likely to fall ill and suffer from chronic diseases, which can limit their ability to work and earn a decent income.

Lack of access to basic infrastructure: A lack of access to basic infrastructure, such as electricity, water, and sanitation, is a significant contributor to poverty in India. Without these essential services, individuals are less productive, and their quality of life is reduced.

Government Initiatives to Address Poverty

The Indian government has implemented several initiatives to address poverty, including:

• National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA): The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household in India. This initiative has helped to provide job opportunities to millions of individuals in rural areas and has reduced poverty.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is a government initiative aimed at providing access to financial services to all households in India. This initiative has helped to provide financial assistance to millions of individuals and has reduced poverty.
• Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a government initiative aimed at improving the cleanliness and sanitation of India’s cities and rural areas. This initiative has helped to improve the quality of life of millions of individuals and has reduced poverty.
• National Health Mission (NHM): The National Health Mission (NHM) is a government initiative aimed at providing affordable and accessible healthcare to all individuals in India. This initiative has helped to improve the health and well-being of millions of individuals and has reduced poverty.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is a government initiative aimed at providing crop insurance to farmers in India. This initiative has helped to improve the financial stability of farmers and has reduced poverty in rural areas.

Challenges in Addressing Poverty

Despite the government’s efforts to address poverty, several challenges persist, including:

• Corruption: Corruption is a significant challenge facing India and undermines the effectiveness of government initiatives aimed at addressing poverty. Corruption reduces the effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs by diverting funds away from their intended purpose.
• Limited resources: India is a developing country with limited resources, and addressing poverty requires significant investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation. Limited resources can constrain the government’s ability to address poverty effectively.
• Inadequate implementation: The success of government initiatives to address poverty is heavily dependent on their effective implementation. Inadequate implementation can limit the effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs and prevent them from reaching their intended beneficiaries.
• Lack of political will: Addressing poverty requires sustained political will and commitment from government officials. Without this commitment, poverty alleviation programs may be underfunded or abandoned altogether.

Poverty is a significant challenge facing India, and addressing it requires a sustained and comprehensive effort. The government has implemented several initiatives aimed at addressing poverty, including job creation, financial assistance, improved healthcare, and sanitation. However, several challenges persist, including corruption, limited resources, inadequate implementation, and a lack of political will.

Addressing these challenges requires sustained political will and a commitment to addressing poverty at all levels of government. Only then can India achieve its goal of reducing poverty and improving the quality of life for all its citizens.

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