Class 9
(Economics)
Chapter 3
(Poverty as a challenge)
Notes
1.
Overview of Poverty in India:
- India
faces significant poverty issues, with approximately 70% of its population
considered poor as of 2011-2012.
- Poverty
is characterized by hunger, lack of shelter, inadequate education for
children, malnutrition, and limited access to clean water and sanitation.
2. Causes of Poverty:
- Poverty
can arise from various factors such as landlessness, illiteracy,
unemployment, poor health, malnutrition, child labor, and large family
sizes.
3. Urban
Poverty Case:
- Example:
Ramsaran, a daily wage laborer in Ranchi, struggles to support his family
of six with his earnings, supplemented by his wife's part-time income and
his son's earnings from a tea shop.
- Despite
multiple sources of income, the family faces challenges accessing
education and healthcare due to financial constraints.
4. Rural
Poverty Case:
- Example:
Lakha Singh, a landless laborer in a village near Meerut, and his family
earn minimal wages working for landowners.
- Despite
their hard work, the family struggles to afford two meals a day, often
receiving compensation in kind rather than cash.
5. Metrics for
Measuring Poverty:
- Social
Exclusion: Poverty often entails living among
other impoverished individuals in marginalized communities, leading to
limited opportunities and social inequality.
- Vulnerability:
Certain groups, such as widows, handicapped individuals, and marginalized
communities, are more susceptible to remaining in poverty, especially
during natural disasters.
- Other
contributing factors include illiteracy, malnutrition, limited access to
healthcare, inadequate job opportunities, and lack of basic amenities.
6. Poverty Line:
- The
poverty line is determined based on consumption and income levels, varying
across countries and adjusted over time.
- Criteria
include food/calorie requirements, fuel, education, etc., with rural areas
typically requiring 2400 calories and urban areas 2100 calories.
- According
to the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), individuals with family
incomes below INR 4080 in rural areas and INR 5000 in urban areas are
considered below the poverty line.
7. Regional Disparities:
- Certain
marginalized groups, such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, are
disproportionately affected by poverty.
- Poverty
rates vary among states, with Bihar and Orissa having the highest poverty
rates and states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Gujarat, and West Bengal witnessing declines.
8. Historical
Context and Causes:
- Historical
factors, including colonial policies that hindered industrial development
and population control efforts, contributed to India's poverty.
- Economic
growth is crucial for poverty reduction, providing resources for human
capital investment and education, particularly for girls.
9. Anti-Poverty
Measures:
- The
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
provides rural households with 100 days of employment, benefiting millions
of households and increasing daily wages.
- Government
schemes like Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), Rural Employment
Generation Programme, and Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)
aim to promote self-employment and lift people out of poverty through
credit facilities and support from central banks and self-help groups.
Important Question Answers
Very Short Answer Questions
1.
What is the average daily calorie
requirement per person in rural areas of India?
Answer: The
average daily calorie requirement per person in rural areas of India is 2400.
2.
When was the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (NREGA) enacted?
Answer: The National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was enacted in September 2005.
3.
In which part of the world has poverty
remained constant from 1981 to 2001?
Answer: Poverty has remained
constant from 1981 to 2001 in Latin America and the Caribbean Nations.
4.
Who are the target groups for the REGP
and AAY anti-poverty programs?
Answer: The
target group for the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) is unemployed
rural youth, and for the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), it is rural and urban
poor families.
5.
Who are the target populations for the
SGSY and NREGA programs?
Answer: The
target population for the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) is rural
poor households, and for the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA),
it is rural households.
6.
Is India recognized for having the
largest concentration of poor people globally?
Answer: Yes, India is
estimated to have approximately 260 million people living in poverty as of
1999-2000.
7.
What does "vulnerability to
poverty" signify?
Answer: "Vulnerability
to poverty" refers to the likelihood of certain communities or individuals
becoming or remaining poor in the future.
8.
Which agency conducts periodic sample
surveys to estimate the poverty line in India?
Answer: The
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducts these surveys.
9.
What was the major anti-poverty program
launched in 2000?
Answer: The Pradhan Mantri
Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) was launched in 2000.
10. In
which year was the National Food for Work Programme (NFWP) initiated?
Answer: The
National Food for Work Programme (NFWP) was initiated in 2004.
11. What
method is used to calculate the poverty line in India?
Answer: The
daily income and consumption method are used to estimate the poverty line in
India.
12. Is
it accurate that Kerala reduced poverty through the distribution of highly subsidized
food grains?
Answer: No, Kerala focused on human resource development as a means to reduce poverty.
Short Answer Type Questions
- How
does population growth contribute significantly to poverty?
Answer: The
rapid growth of population intensifies the depletion rate of resources, leading
to increased pressure on available resources. Consequently, a larger populace
competes for a limited share of resources, thereby pushing more individuals
below the poverty threshold.
- What
accounts for the higher calorie requirements in rural areas compared to
urban regions?
Answer: The elevated calorie
needs in rural areas stem from the predominantly physical labor-intensive
occupations prevalent in rural settings, in contrast to the less physically
demanding work commonly found in urban environments.
- What
are the primary factors contributing to the inefficacy of anti-poverty initiatives
in India?
Answer: The
principal factors behind the inefficacy of anti-poverty measures in India
include inadequate program implementation, overlapping schemes, and the failure
to accurately target beneficiaries.
- Who
constitutes the impoverished demographic in India?
Answer: The
impoverished demographic in India comprises individuals such as landless
laborers in rural areas, inhabitants of overcrowded urban slums, daily wage
earners at construction sites, child laborers in roadside eateries, and destitute
beggars with scanty clothing.
- Define
the concept of "social exclusion."
Answer: Social
exclusion characterizes poverty as not merely an economic plight but also a
social phenomenon, whereby individuals or communities are relegated to
impoverished environments, excluded from social integration with more affluent
counterparts.
- How
does a nation determine its poverty threshold?
Answer: Each
country establishes its poverty threshold based on its developmental stage and
prevailing social norms. For instance, in the United States, lacking car
ownership might denote poverty, whereas in India, car ownership remains a
luxury status symbol.
- How
have China and South Eastern Asian countries managed to mitigate poverty?
Answer: China and South
Eastern Asian countries have successfully alleviated poverty through rapid
economic growth coupled with substantial investments in human capital
development.
- What
historical factors underpin poverty in India?
Answer: Poverty
in India is rooted in the low level of economic development fostered during
British colonial rule, characterized by policies detrimental to traditional
industries and job creation, coupled with a burgeoning population growth.
- What
was the objective of the National Food for Work Programme (NFWP)?
Answer: Launched
in 2004 across 150 underprivileged districts, the NFWP aimed to provide wage
employment opportunities to impoverished rural residents through manual
unskilled work, supported by the provision of free food grains.
- What
does PMRY stand for, and what was its purpose?
Answer: PMRY
stands for Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana, inaugurated in 1993 to foster
self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural and
small-town settings.
- What
were the objectives of the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)?
Answer: Launched in 1999,
SGSY aimed to elevate assisted impoverished families above the poverty line by
organizing them into self-help groups, facilitating access to bank credit and
government subsidies.
- What
was the essence of the Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY)?
Answer: Introduced
in 2000, PMGY aimed to bolster basic services such as primary health,
education, rural shelter, drinking water, and electrification through
additional central assistance to states.
- How
do income disparities manifest within families?
Answer: Income
disparities within families result in unequal suffering, particularly impacting
women, children, and the elderly, who are systematically denied equitable
access to family resources, rendering them the most impoverished within
familial units.
- Which
states have experienced notable reductions in poverty?
Answer: Kerala, Jammu and
Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and West Bengal have achieved
significant declines in poverty rates, attributed to various factors such as
human resource development, land reforms, and public distribution of food
grains.
- How
can poverty reduction be enhanced in the future?
Answer: Poverty
reduction can be bolstered through robust economic growth, universal access to
education, particularly for marginalized communities, and empowering women and
economically disadvantaged sections of society.
- What
are the key provisions of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act 2005?
Answer: MGNREGA
mandates 100 days of assured employment annually for rural households in
designated districts, with provisions for women's reservation and an
unemployment allowance if employment is not provided within 15 days.
- List
five indicators of poverty.
Answer: Landlessness,
unemployment, illiteracy, child labor, and malnutrition are prominent
indicators of poverty, highlighting socioeconomic vulnerabilities and
deprivation.
Long Answer Type questions
1.
What is the poverty status among
scheduled caste or scheduled tribe populations?
Answer:
Approximately 50% of casual workers in urban areas fall below the poverty line.
Similarly, about 50% of landless agricultural workers and 43% of scheduled
caste individuals are considered poor. The dual disadvantage faced by landless
casual wage labor households within socially disadvantaged groups like the
scheduled caste or scheduled tribe underscores the severity of this issue.
Recent studies indicate that, except for scheduled tribe
households, the other three groups – scheduled caste, rural agricultural labor,
and urban casual labor – have experienced a decline in poverty.
2. What is the global poverty scenario?
Answer: Although global poverty has substantially
decreased, it varies significantly across regions. (i) Poverty has notably
decreased in China and Southeast Asian nations due to rapid economic growth and
significant investments in human resource development. (ii) In South Asian
countries, the reduction in poverty has been less rapid. Despite a decline in
the percentage of poor, the absolute number of impoverished individuals
decreased from 475 million in 1981 to 428 million in 2001. (iii) Sub-Saharan
Africa witnessed an increase in poverty from 41% in 1981 to 46% in 2001. (iv)
Latin America's poverty ratio remained unchanged. (v) Poverty has reemerged in
some former socialist countries like Russia.
3.
What are the main causes of poverty?
Answer: The main causes of widespread poverty include:
(i) Low economic development during British colonial rule, which undermined
traditional handicrafts and discouraged industrial growth. (ii) High population
growth rates, leading to low per capita income growth. (iii) Limited spread of
benefits from irrigation and the Green Revolution, mainly benefiting specific
regions. (iv) The proliferation of informal sector jobs, such as rickshaw
pulling and domestic work, offering irregular and low incomes, particularly in
urban areas.
4.
State the various Poverty Alleviation
Programs introduced by the government to remove poverty.
Answer: Various Poverty Alleviation Programs introduced
by the government include:
(i) Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY): Facilitates
self-employment opportunities for unemployed youth in rural areas and small
towns.
(ii) Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP):
Creates self-employment opportunities in rural areas and small towns.
(iii) Swamajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY): Aims to
lift assisted poor families above the poverty line by organizing them into
self-help groups.
(iv) Pradhan
Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY): Provides additional central assistance to states
for basic services like primary health and education, rural shelter, drinking
water, and electrification.
5.
Which groups are most vulnerable to
poverty?
Answer: Vulnerable social groups include Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes, while economically, rural agricultural labor households
and urban casual laborers face heightened vulnerability. About 51 out of 100
people from Scheduled Tribes and 50% of urban casual workers fall below the
poverty line.
6.
Explain colonial rule and income
inequalities as causes of poverty.
Answer: Colonial rule significantly hindered economic
development, eroding traditional industries and discouraging new ones. Income
inequalities, exacerbated by limited land availability for rural laborers,
forced them into low-wage jobs, perpetuating poverty.
7.
State the most responsible factor for
the significant decline in poverty in the States of Kerala, West Bengal, and
Tamil Nadu.
Answer: Haryana, Kerala, and West Bengal achieved poverty
reduction through: (i) Haryana: High agricultural growth rates facilitated by
the Green Revolution. (ii) Kerala: Investment in human resource development,
resulting in high literacy rates. (iii) West Bengal: Land reform measures aimed
at reducing poverty.
8.
Describe one factor each for the success
of Haryana, Kerala, and West Bengal in reducing poverty.
Answer: Poverty reduction in these states can be
attributed to factors such as: (i) Haryana's agricultural growth rates, driven
by the Green Revolution. (ii) Kerala's emphasis on human resource development,
reflected in high literacy rates. (iii) West Bengal's implementation of land
reforms to address poverty.
9.
How far is it correct to say that social
exclusion can be both a cause as well as a consequence of poverty? Explain.
Answer: Social exclusion, besides its direct impact on
income, can lead to additional hardships, making poverty more challenging to
escape. For instance, caste-based discrimination in India deprives certain
groups of opportunities, exacerbating their poverty. Conversely, poverty often
leads to exclusion from essential services and opportunities, perpetuating the
cycle of deprivation.
10. Explain
any four important causes of poverty in India.
Answer: Key causes of poverty in India include: (i) Slow
economic growth and inadequate job creation, particularly in the industrial
sector. (ii) Urban migration, leading to a surplus workforce and increased
urban poverty. (iii) Unequal distribution of land, contributing to rural
poverty. (iv) Persistent informal sector employment, offering irregular incomes
and limited social protections.
11. Describe
the global poverty scenario as studied by the World Bank.
Answer: The World Bank's analysis emphasizes the role of
economic growth in poverty reduction. India experienced rapid economic growth
in the 1980s, leading to a decline in poverty rates. This growth created
opportunities for investment in human development, such as education, which
further contributed to poverty alleviation efforts.
12. How
can poverty be reduced in the future in India? Suggest any four points.
Answer: To combat poverty effectively, India can focus
on: (i) Accelerating economic growth through targeted policies and investments.
(ii) Expanding access to quality education and healthcare to empower
marginalized communities. (iii) Implementing land reforms to ensure equitable
distribution and access to resources. (iv) Strengthening social safety nets and
employment generation programs to provide support to vulnerable populations.
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