Answer The Following Question.
1. Describe how the poverty line is estimated in India.
Ans: The poverty line in India is determined by calculating the minimum income or consumption level required to fulfill basic needs such as food, clothing, footwear, fuel, light, education, and healthcare. These physical quantities are converted into monetary terms. The poverty line varies for rural and urban areas due to differences in lifestyles, work, and expenses.
2. Do you think the present methodology of poverty estimation is appropriate?
Ans: No, the current methodology of poverty estimation is not completely appropriate because it focuses solely on economic factors and considers a minimum subsistence level rather than a reasonable living standard. Modern poverty includes factors like education, health, shelter, job security, and dignity. Thus, a broader approach is needed to estimate poverty and eliminate it effectively.
3. Describe poverty trends in India since 1973.
Ans: Poverty in India has declined since 1973. In 1993-94, the poverty ratio was 45%, which reduced to 22% by 2011-12. However, the absolute number of poor people remains high. In 1993-94, there were 404 million poor, which declined to 270 million in 2011-12. While poverty has reduced, significant efforts are still required to eradicate it.
4. Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India.
Ans: Major reasons for poverty in India include:
Colonial policies that ruined traditional industries and handicrafts.
Insufficient job creation despite the Green Revolution.
Unequal distribution of land and resources.
High expenditures on social obligations and ceremonies.
Income inequality among people.
5. Identify the social and economic groups most vulnerable to poverty in India.
Ans: Social groups: Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) households.
Economic groups: Rural agricultural laborers and urban casual laborers.
6. Give an account of interstate disparities in poverty in India.
Ans: Poverty levels differ across states in India. States like Odisha, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh have high poverty levels (47%, 42%, and 37%, respectively). In contrast, states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir have significantly lower poverty rates. Factors such as unequal development and resource distribution contribute to these disparities.
7. Describe global poverty trends.
Ans: Global poverty has reduced significantly in some regions:
Rapid economic growth and investment in human resources reduced poverty in China and Southeast Asia.
In Latin America, poverty levels remained stagnant.
Sub-Saharan Africa saw an increase in poverty, rising from 41% in 1981 to 46% in 2001.
Former socialist countries like Russia, where poverty was previously non-existent, now face poverty.
8. Describe the current government strategy of poverty alleviation.
Ans: The government’s poverty alleviation strategy focuses on:
Promoting economic growth: By improving literacy and job opportunities.
Targeted anti-poverty programs: Such as:
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005
Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY)
Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY)
9. Answer the following questions briefly:
(i) What do you understand by human poverty?
Ans: Human poverty refers to the lack of essential elements beyond income, such as education, healthcare, shelter, job security, and dignity. It highlights the broader aspects of deprivation in society.
(ii) Who are the poorest of the poor?
Ans: Women, female infants, and the elderly are considered the poorest of the poor, as they suffer the most in poor households and are often deprived of basic necessities.
(iii) What are the main features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005?
Ans: Provides 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households for livelihood security.
Focuses on sustainable development to combat drought, deforestation, and soil erosion.
Reserves one-third of the jobs for women under the scheme.