Poverty in India
EXERCISE
Q. 1. Assertion and Reasoning Questions
1. Assertion (A): Poverty level declines with a rise in agricultural output.
Reasoning (R): Agricultural incomes have declined due to wide fluctuations in climatic conditions.
Options:
(A) is True, but (R) is False.
(A) is False, but (R) is True.
Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Both (A) and (R) are True, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Answer: 1) (A) is True, but (R) is False.
Explanation: Poverty levels often decline with increased agricultural output because it boosts income for farmers and rural communities. However, the reasoning is false because declining agricultural incomes due to climatic fluctuations do not directly explain why poverty declines with higher output. Instead, stable or increased output would typically raise incomes.
2. Assertion (A): Urban poverty is attributed mainly to spillover effects of migration among the rural poor.
Reasoning (R): Poor rural infrastructure, lack of alternative jobs results in forced migration.
Options:
(A) is True, but (R) is False.
(A) is False, but (R) is True.
Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Both (A) and (R) are True, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Answer: 3) Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Urban poverty is largely caused by rural-to-urban migration due to lack of jobs and poor infrastructure in rural areas, which forces people to move to cities where they often face poverty due to lack of opportunities. The reasoning correctly explains the assertion.
3. Assertion (A): Relative poverty is found in all the countries of the world.
Reasoning (R): Differences in the levels of income is the only criteria for judging relative poverty.
Options:
(A) is True, but (R) is False.
(A) is False, but (R) is True.
Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Both (A) and (R) are True, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Answer: 1) (A) is True, but (R) is False.
Explanation: Relative poverty exists in all countries as it is based on comparing living standards within a society. However, the reasoning is false because relative poverty is not judged solely by income differences but also by disparities in wealth, consumption, and economic inactivity.
4. Assertion (A): Poverty is not just lack of money but also lack of capabilities.
Reasoning (R): Lack of freedom to satisfy hunger, lack of health care facilities, denial of political freedom leads to poverty.
Options:
(A) is True, but (R) is False.
(A) is False, but (R) is True.
Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Both (A) and (R) are True, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Answer: 3) Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: As per Amartya Sen’s view, poverty is not only about insufficient income but also about lacking capabilities to achieve full potential. The reasoning correctly explains this by highlighting deprivations like hunger, healthcare, and political freedom as contributors to poverty.
5. Assertion (A): Food security, credit facilities guarantee social protection to the poor.
Reasoning (R): Leakages in the administrative system perpetuates poverty.
Options:
(A) is True, but (R) is False.
(A) is False, but (R) is True.
Both (A) and (R) are True and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Both (A) and (R) are True, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Answer: 4) Both (A) and (R) are True, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Food security and credit facilities help provide social protection to the poor by ensuring access to basic needs and financial support. Leakages in administrative systems do perpetuate poverty, but this does not explain how food security and credit facilities guarantee social protection.
Q. 2. Find the Odd Word Out
1. Colours of Ration Card: White, Green, Saffron, Yellow
Answer: Green
Explanation: In the context of the document (and specifically the Maharashtra ration card system mentioned in the “Try this” section), the ration card colors are White, Saffron, and Yellow. Green is not a standard color for ration cards in this system.
2. High Poverty Ratio: Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Kerala
Answer: Kerala
Explanation: According to Table 8.2, Chhatisgarh (39.9%), Jharkhand (36.9%), and Bihar (33.7%) have high poverty ratios, while Kerala has a low poverty ratio (7.1%), making it the odd one out.
3. Calories: 2400, 1800, 2100, 2250
Answer: 1800
Explanation: The document mentions calorie requirements for poverty estimation as 2400 (rural), 2100 (urban), and 2250 (average). The value 1800 is not referenced in the context of poverty line calorie requirements.
Q. 3. Give Economic Terms
1. Denial of opportunities to certain section of the people in the society.
Answer: Social Exclusion
Explanation: Social exclusion refers to the process where certain groups are denied access to opportunities, resources, and participation in society, leading to poverty.
2. Concept of poverty that covers material and non-material dimensions.
Answer: Multi-dimensional Poverty
Explanation: Multi-dimensional poverty includes deprivations in material aspects (e.g., food, shelter, health) and non-material aspects (e.g., social discrimination, lack of freedom).
3. Poverty judged on the basis of relative standards of living of the people.
Answer: Relative Poverty
Explanation: Relative poverty is assessed by comparing the living standards, income, or wealth of different sections of society within a country.
4. Poverty that can be completely eradicated.
Answer: Absolute Poverty
Explanation: Absolute poverty, based on the inability to meet basic needs (e.g., minimum calorie intake), can be eradicated through effective poverty alleviation measures.
5. Threshold expenditure needed to satisfy basic human needs at socially acceptable levels.
Answer: Poverty Line
Explanation: The poverty line is the minimum expenditure required to afford a basket of goods and services necessary for basic human needs, as defined by NITI Aayog.
Q. 4. Identify and Explain the Concepts from the Given Illustrations
1. Illustration: Baban’s daughter had to be hospitalized due to weakness caused by undernourishment or lack of minimum calorie requirement in the intake of food.
Concept: Absolute Poverty
Explanation: Absolute poverty is defined by the inability to afford the minimum calorie intake required for survival (e.g., 2250 calories daily on average). Baban’s daughter’s undernourishment reflects this deprivation, leading to health issues.
2. Illustration: Dhanajirao is a wealthy landlord, but his annual income is relatively less in comparison to entrepreneur Raobahadur.
Concept: Relative Poverty
Explanation: Relative poverty is based on comparing income or living standards within a society. Dhanajirao, despite being wealthy, has a lower income compared to Raobahadur, illustrating relative poverty.
3. Illustration: Urmi’s family live in a situation whereby they are not able to fulfil even the basic needs of life such as food, clothing, and shelter.
Concept: Absolute Poverty
Explanation: Absolute poverty refers to the inability to meet basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter due to insufficient income, which describes Urmi’s family’s situation.
4. Illustration: Sanjay’s family receives food grains on the basis of yellow ration card through public distribution system.
Concept: Poverty Alleviation (Public Distribution System)
Explanation: The yellow ration card is issued to families below the poverty line (BPL) to provide subsidized food grains through the public distribution system, a measure to alleviate poverty.
5. Illustration: In certain parts of the State, starvation-related deaths have been observed whereas in certain areas gross wastage of food has been reported.
Concept: Economic Inequality
Explanation: This illustrates economic inequality, where some regions face extreme poverty leading to starvation, while others have surplus food leading to wastage, highlighting disparities in resource distribution.
Q. 5. State with Reasons Whether You Agree or Disagree with the Following Statements
1. Statement: Population control is the only measure to eradicate poverty.
Answer: Disagree
Reason: While population control is an important measure to reduce pressure on resources, it is not the only measure to eradicate poverty. Other measures like improving agriculture, providing employment, education, health facilities, and infrastructure development are equally critical, as outlined in the document’s general measures to eradicate poverty.
2. Statement: Relative poverty is universal by nature.
Answer: Agree
Reason: Relative poverty exists in all countries because it is based on comparing living standards within a society. Even in developed nations, disparities in income, wealth, and consumption create relative poverty, as stated in the document.
3. Statement: Regional imbalance is the only cause of poverty.
Answer: Disagree
Reason: Regional imbalance is one of the causes of poverty, as some states like Bihar and Jharkhand have higher poverty ratios due to less economic development. However, other factors like population explosion, unemployment, inflation, and economic inequalities also contribute significantly to poverty, as listed in the document.
Q. 6. Answer in Detail
1. Assess various measures undertaken to eradicate poverty.
Answer: The Indian government has implemented several measures to eradicate poverty, focusing on economic, social, and infrastructural development. These measures are designed to address both absolute and relative poverty and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG1: No Poverty). Below is an assessment of key measures:
Control of Population:
Measure: Family welfare programs and population policies aim to reduce population growth.
Assessment: Controlling population growth reduces pressure on resources, allowing better distribution of income and services. However, implementation faces challenges due to cultural and awareness issues in rural areas.
Agricultural Development:
Measure: Farmers receive cheap credit, subsidies, and Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops to ensure stable income.
Assessment: These measures improve rural incomes and reduce rural poverty. However, dependence on monsoons and lack of modern technology limit their effectiveness in some regions.
Rural Works and Employment:
Measure: Programs like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) provide wage employment through rural infrastructure projects like roads and irrigation.
Assessment: These create jobs for the rural poor, reducing unemployment. However, leakages and delays in wage payments can reduce impact.
Rural Industrialization:
Measure: Promotion of small-scale and cottage industries to generate employment.
Assessment: This diversifies income sources for rural communities, but lack of market access and infrastructure hinders scalability.
Minimum Wages:
Measure: The Minimum Wages Act ensures fair wages for agricultural and industrial workers.
Assessment: This protects workers from exploitation, but enforcement is weak in the informal sector, where many poor work.
Public Distribution System (PDS):
Measure: Subsidized food grains are provided through ration shops (e.g., Antyodaya Anna Yojana).
Assessment: PDS ensures food security for the poor, but inefficiencies like leakages and corruption reduce its reach.
Nationalization of Banks:
Measure: Banks were nationalized to provide low-interest credit to the poor (e.g., Jan Dhan Yojana).
Assessment: Financial inclusion has improved access to credit, but many poor still rely on informal moneylenders due to bureaucratic hurdles.
Progressive Taxation:
Measure: Progressive income tax reduces income inequalities.
Assessment: This redistributes wealth to fund welfare programs, but tax evasion and limited tax base reduce its effectiveness.
Education:
Measure: Free and compulsory primary education, mid-day meals, and programs like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
Assessment: These increase literacy and employability, but quality of education and dropout rates remain concerns.
Affordable Housing:
Measure: Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) provide housing for rural and urban poor.
Assessment: These improve living conditions, but delays in implementation and insufficient coverage limit impact.
Health Facilities:
Measure: Primary health centers and National Health Mission (NHM) provide subsidized healthcare.
Assessment: These reduce healthcare costs for the poor, but inadequate facilities in rural areas remain a challenge.
Skill Development and Self-Employment:
Measure: Skill-based training programs encourage entrepreneurship (e.g., Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana).
Assessment: These empower individuals to start businesses, but lack of sustained support and market linkages can limit success.
Overall Assessment: These measures have reduced poverty significantly since Independence, as seen in declining poverty ratios (e.g., 29.5% in 2011-12 per Rangarajan Committee). However, challenges like administrative inefficiencies, corruption, and regional disparities persist. Continuous monitoring, better implementation, and addressing bottlenecks are essential to achieve SDG1 by 2030.
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