Question

Write explanatory notes.

1. Poverty line

2. Absolute and relative poverty in India.

3. Nature of poverty.

4. Rural poverty

5. Urban poverty

Answer 1

1. Poverty line refers to the cut- off point or the imaginary line in terms of per capita expenditure incurred by the people to satisfy the basic necessities of life such as food and shelter. The people lying below this cut-off point are considered as poor. This cut-off point differs from country to country. In India, the poverty line is based on the calorie norms. The people who are unable to consume at least 2400 calories per day in rural areas and 2100 calories per day in urban areas are considered to be living below the poverty line. Thus, these two calorie limits define the cut-off point or the poverty line in India.

2. Absolute poverty refers to a situation wherein an individual is unable to fulfill even the basic necessities for the sustenance of life such as food, clothing and shelter. In India absolute poverty is defined on the basis of minimum calories needed to be consumed by a person per day. Those who are unable to earn sufficient income to consume such specified minimum calories are categorised as absolute poor. India, being a developing country, is characterized by absolute poverty. As per the findings of NSSO, the numbers of absolute poor in India in 2004-05 were 21.8% of the total population. On the other hand, relative poverty implies the comparison of one set of people having a low income with other set of people having a high income. The class of people having low standard of living are treated as poor (in relative terms) in comparison to the other class of people having high standard of living.

3. Poverty implies the inability of people to earn a livelihood and the basic needs of life such as food and shelter. In other words, poverty is a situation wherein, the individual fails to maintain a minimum subsistence. Poverty can be divided into two heads, relative poverty and absolute poverty. Here, relative poverty is based on relative comparison of different earning groups and absolute poverty is based on the calorie norms. In India, it is the absolute poverty that is a more serious problem

4. Rural poverty refers to the poverty prevailing in the rural areas. The rural people who consume less than 2400 calories per day are considered to be as rural poor. This kind of poverty is majorly found among village people, labourers, artisans, marginal farmers and so. These people live a miserable life with unhygienic environment, malnutrition, illiteracy, sickness and other factors highlighting their living conditions. Also, such rural poor often face exploitation at the hands of landlords and money lenders as due to less income, they are most of the time living in debts.

5. The poverty prevailing in urban areas is referred to as urban poverty. The urban people who consume less than 2100 calories per day are considered as urban poor. These people live in slums and are characterized by unhygienic environment, lack of sanitation and drainage system, illiteracy and much more. The lives of urban poor are more miserable than the rural poor as they are exposed to the harmful gases and pollution that are emitted by urban transportation. Often these people resolve to crimes and thefts to support their lives.