Is there any relationship between unemployment and poverty? Explain.
Yes, there does exist a direct and positive relationship between unemployment and poverty. Unemployment leads to poverty and poverty in turn leads to unemployment. An unemployed person has no means to earn money and cannot fulfill his own and his family's basic needs. He and his family cannot avail quality education, medical facilities and have no means to create income-earning assets. Such circumstances often compel indebtedness. Consequently, an unemployed person exaggerates poverty for his family due to indebtedness. This confirms the positive relationship between unemployment and poverty. If the government wants to alleviate poverty, then it should aim at creating new employment opportunities. As a result, more people will get employed and perhaps their income will rise. This rise in income will improve their access to quality education, better health care and other basic amenities. Further, these newly employed people will experience appreciation in their living standards and can create income-earning assets. The combined result of all these factors leads to alleviation of poverty. Hence, there exists a positive (but a negative) relationship between unemployment (employment) and poverty.
The three dimensional attack on poverty adopted by the govern-ment has not succeded in poverty alleviation in India. Comment.
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 calorie-based norm is not adequate to identify the poor?
Why are employment generation programmes important in poverty alleviation in India?
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?
Mention the salient demographic indicators of China, Pakistan and India.
Argue in favour of the need for different forms of government intervention in education and health sectors.
You are residing in a village. If you are asked to advice the village panchayat, what kinds of activities would you suggest for the improvement of your village which would also generate employment.
While subsidies encourage farmers to use new technology, they are a huge burden on government finances. Discuss the usefulness of subsidies in the light of this fact.
Explain ‘growth with equity’ as a planning objective.
The traditional handicrafts industries were ruined under the British rule. Do you agree with this view? Give reasons in support of your answer.
What similar developmental strategies have India and Pakistan followed for their respective developmental paths?
Group the following features pertaining to the economies of India, China and Pakistan under three heads
• One-child norm
• Low fertility rate
• High degree of urbanisation
• Mixed economy
• Very high fertility rate
• Large population
• High density of population
• Growth due to manufacturing sector
• Growth due to service sector.
Those public sector undertakings which are making profits should be privatised. Do you agree with this view? Why?
What are the various means by which countries are trying to strengthen their own domestic economies?