Poverty as a Challenge: Overview

This chapter on Poverty as a Challenge addresses the multifaceted issue of poverty in India, exploring its various dimensions. It begins by illustrating the severity of poverty through real-life examples, highlighting the challenges faced by the poor in both urban and rural settings.

The chapter then delves into how social scientists view poverty, using indicators like income, consumption, and social exclusion. It discusses the concept of the poverty line, how it is calculated, and the trends in poverty reduction over the years.

The chapter also examines the causes of poverty, including historical factors, unequal distribution of resources, and socio-cultural practices. It outlines the government’s anti-poverty measures, such as employment guarantee schemes and self-employment programs, and concludes by broadening the concept of poverty to include human poverty, which encompasses education, health, and social equality.

NCERT Class 9 Economics Chapter 3 – Poverty as a Challenge

 Poverty as a Challenge : Key Topics

1. Introduction to Poverty:
   • Definition and examples of poverty in India.
   • The scale of poverty in India, with approximately 270 million people living in poverty (2011-12).
2. Two Typical Cases of Poverty:
   • Urban case: Ram Saran, a daily-wage laborer struggling to support his family.
   • Rural case: Lakha Singh, a landless laborer facing unemployment and poor health.
3. Poverty as Seen by Social Scientists:
   • Indicators of poverty: income, consumption, illiteracy, malnutrition, lack of healthcare, and job opportunities.
   • Concepts of social exclusion and vulnerability in understanding poverty.
4. Poverty Line:
   • Definition and calculation of the poverty line in India.
   • Calorie requirements and monetary thresholds for rural and urban areas.
   • Poverty line estimates for 2011-12: ₹816 per month for rural areas and ₹1000 for urban areas.
5. Poverty Trends in India:
   • Decline in poverty ratios from 45% in 1993-94 to 22% in 2011-12.
   • Vulnerable groups: Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and casual laborers.
6. Inter-State Disparities in Poverty:
   • Variations in poverty levels across Indian states.
   • States with the highest poverty ratios: Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.
   • States with significant poverty reduction: Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
7. Global Poverty Scenario:
   • Decline in global poverty, especially in China and Southeast Asia.
   • Persistent poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
8. Causes of Poverty:
   • Historical reasons: Colonial policies and low economic growth.
   • Unequal distribution of resources and high population growth.
   • Socio-cultural factors: Social obligations, indebtedness, and lack of access to resources.
9. Anti-Poverty Measures:
   • Government strategies: Promotion of economic growth and targeted anti-poverty programs.
   • Key schemes: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY), and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).
10. Challenges Ahead:
    • Disparities in poverty reduction between rural and urban areas.
    • Broadening the concept of poverty to include human poverty (education, health, job security, and social equality).
11. Conclusion:
    • Poverty is a multidimensional challenge that requires more than just income-based solutions.
    • The need for addressing broader issues like education, healthcare, and social equality to eradicate poverty fully.

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