The three dimensional attack on poverty adopted by the govern-ment has not succeded in poverty alleviation in India. Comment.
In order to alleviate poverty, government has adopted the following three dimensional approaches:
(i) Trickle-down Approach- This approach is based on the expectation that the positive effects of economic growth will be trickled down or benefit all sections of the society and also the poor people.
(ii) Poverty Alleviation Approach- This approach aimed at the creation of income-earning assets and employment generation opportunities.
(iii) Providing Basic Amenities- This approach aimed at providing the basic amenities like proper medical and health care facilities, better education, proper sanitation etc. to the poor people. These basic amenities positively affect health, productivity, income-earning opportunities and, thereby, alleviate poverty.
A thorough analysis of the three dimensional approach yield the following conclusions:
1. Although there has been a reduction in the percentage of absolute poor in some of the states, still the poor people lack basic amenities, literacy, and nourishment.
2. Secondly, there has not been significant change in the ownership of income-earning assets and productive resources.
3. Thirdly, land reforms do not have high successful records (except West Bengal and Kerala) that further added to the inequality of income from land.
4. Fourthly, lack of capital and availability of easy credit, lack of modern technology and poor access to information and marketing became the major bottlenecks for the small productive houses like cottage industries and other small scale industries.
5. Fifthly, improper implementation of poverty alleviation programmes by ill-motivated and inadequately trained bureaucrats further worsened the situation.
6. Sixthly, corruption along with the inclination towards interest of elites led to an inefficient and misallocation of scarce resources.
Therefore, it can be summed up that although various poverty alleviation programmes were well planned on papers but these were not implemented properly.
Is there any relationship between unemployment and poverty? Explain.
Illustrate the difference between rural and urban poverty. Is it correct to say that poverty has shifted from rural to urban areas? Use the trends in poverty ratio to support your answer.
What programmes has the government adopted to help the elderly people and poor and destitute women?
Why are employment generation programmes important in poverty alleviation in India?
Why calorie-based norm is not adequate to identify the poor?
How can creation of income earning assets address the problem of poverty?
What is meant by ‘Food for Work’ programme?
Suppose you are a resident of a village, suggest a few measures to tackle the problem of poverty.
Suppose you are from a poor family and you wish to get help from the government to set up a petty shop. Under which scheme will you apply for assistance and why?
What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?
What are the two major sources of human capital in a country?
What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.
Define a plan?
Who is a worker?
Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
What is meant by environment?
Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
Why were reforms introduced in India?
Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period?
What are the main characteristics of health of the people of our country?
What are the indicators of educational achievement in a country?
Were there any positive contributions made by the British in India? Discuss.
Victor is able to get work only for two hours in a day. Rest of the day, he is looking for work. Is he unemployed? Why? What kind of jobs could persons like Victor be doing?
How has the consumption pattern of energy changed over the years?
What similar developmental strategies have India and Pakistan followed for their respective developmental paths?
Who is a casual wage labourer?
Though the public sector is very essential for industries, many public sector undertakings incur huge losses and are a drain on the economy’s resources. Discuss the usefulness of public sector undertakings in the light of this fact.
Discuss the reforms which have been initiated recently to meet the energy crisis in India.
What is meant by environment?