Question

Who is considered as poor in rural area

Answer 1

the landless labourer are considered poor in rural areas

Answer 2

Rural societies are diverse, with a greater proportion of both people in higher socioeconomic groups and those with low pay than in urban populations.1,2 Scattered among the relatively wealthy landowners, commuters, and professionals are rural dwellers living on very low incomes.3,4 A recent BMJ editorial exhorted doctors to “combat the damage” of poverty.5 In doing so, doctors should look beyond the rural idyll and recognise that, as elsewhere in the world, poverty in Britain is not confined to cities.

Carr-Hill et al emphasised the importance of looking at very small units—individuals and their families—when considering health needs.6This is particularly important in rural areas. In cities generalised observations about a street or electoral ward may be reasonably accurate, but in the country an affluent landowner and his socially isolated and underprivileged neighbour may be the only people for miles around.

Twenty per cent of the rural population of England and 25% of rural households live in “absolute poverty” (on an income of less than 140% of supplementary benefit entitlement).2,7 In rural Scotland in 1994, 49% of heads of households had annual incomes below £7800 (half the median Scottish wage). In remote areas such as the Outer Hebrides the situation was worse, with almost the whole population on “poverty” incomes.3 Elderly people are worst affected: 35% of poor rural households are elderly people living alone.