Question

Why poverty reduction in india is big challenge

Answer 1

In India, the definition of the poverty line emphasizes a minimum level of living rather than a reasonable level of living. This attitude is borne out of realization that it would not be possible to provide millions of people even the minimum basic needs for some decades; therefore, to talk about a reasonable level of living or good life may appear to be wishful thinking at the present stage. Thus political considerations enter the definitions of poverty because programs of alleviating poverty may become prohibitive as the vision of a good life widens.The deprivation of a significant section of society of minimum basic needs in the face of a luxurious life for the elite classes makes poverty more glaring. More than 65 years have passed since we attained political independence; still most of the people lead a sub-human life, while a microscopic minority lives in excessive luxury.Even Gandhiji’s hopes have not been fulfilled. In spite of our Plans, “Garibi Hatao – oriented programs”, Green Revolution, etc., we have created only a few islands of prosperity in an ocean of poverty. In our cities, we are able to see skyscrapers and palatial buildings side by side with the ramshackle houses and huts of the poor. We are able to see a direct correlation between those getting poorer and those getting richer.But, in spite of overwhelming odds, by adopting planned development we have doubled our agricultural production and established and enlarged our industry. We have built a great network of dams and canals, powerhouses and steel mills and machine-building plants. We have increased the area of irrigation by millions of acres. This has involved vast investment and has helped to reduce poverty by providing employment to lakhs of people and providing more food, clothing and better housing.But the question arises why is it that the plans in India failed to eliminate even degradation, not to speak of removing poverty? This was due to the fact that the planners assumed that the “growth plus” strategy aiming at increase of national income, and supplemented by policies of progressive taxation and public expenditure, would lead to a rise in the level of living of the poor. But the production-oriented approach of planning, without altering the mode of production, resulted in the appropriation of the gains of development by the owners of the instruments of production – the richer class.No programme for removal of poverty can succeed in an economy plagued by inflation and plagued by inflation and spiraling prices.