Question

Do you think that the present methodology of poverty estimation is appropriate?

Answer 1

The concept of human poverty must be broadened as per the opinions of many scholars. Only a small part of the meaning of poverty which is understood and experienced by the people is captured by the official definition of poverty.

• Eradication of poverty is a target that does not remain constant, it keeps moving.
• Although large numbers of people have been able to get food and feed themselves, it needs to be understood whether people have job security, whether people have adequate access to quality health care, whether people have good shelter to live in and whether they have access to quality education.
• We also need to find out whether the practice of child labor is common, understand whether people are free from gender and caste discrimination and whether people have vital self-confidence.
• With development, the experience across the globe shows that the definition of what comprises poverty also keeps changing.
• Sample surveys are conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) to estimate the poverty line, usually, this exercise is done once every five years.
• A poverty line that is standard and uniform is used by the World Bank and other international organizations while comparing developing countries.
• Wide differences in poverty are visible among different states, differences in poverty are also visible between urban and rural areas.