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NCERT Class 9 Social Science Chapter 21 Poverty As A Challenge
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Poverty As A Challenge
Chapter: 21
ECONOMICS
NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
LET US DISCUSS
Q. 1. Why do different countries use different poverty lines?
Ans. Different countries use different poverty lines because the basic needs of different countries are different. For example, car is basic need in America, whereas it is not in India. A person will be considered poor in America if he is not having car. On the other hand, car is still considered as luxury in India.
Q. 2. What do you think would be the ‘minimum necessary level’ in your locality?
Ans. I live in poor locality. Here minimum necessary level is three thousand rupees per month.
LET’S DISCUSS
Estimates of Poverty in India
Study the Table above and answer the following questions:
1. Even if poverty ratio declined between 1973-74 and 1993-94, why did the number of poor remain at about 320 million?
Ans. The number of poor remained at about 320 million due to rapid increase in population.
2. Are the dynamics of poverty reduction the same in rural and urban India?
Ans. No, the dynamics of poverty reduction are not the same in rural and urban India.
LET’S DISCUSS
Observe some of the poor families around you and try to find the following:
(i) Which social and economic group do they belong to?
Ans. They belong to social groups like scheduled tribes and scheduled castes households and economic group like rural agricultural labour household.
(ii) Who are the earning members in the family?
Ans. A few members are the earning members in the family.
(iii) What is the condition of the old people in the family?
Ans. The condition of the old people in the family is most vulnerable.
(iv) Are all the children (boys and girls) attending schools?
Ans. All the children (boys and girls) are not attending the schools. Some girls are still at home.
LET’S DISCUSS
Poverty Ratio in Selected Indian States, 1999-2000
Source: Economic Survey 2001-02, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Study the Graph above and do the following:
(i) Identify the three states where the poverty ratio is the highest.
Ans. The poverty ratio is the highest in states like Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) Identify the three states where poverty ratio is the lowest.
Ans. The poverty ratio is the lowest in the states like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
LET’S DISCUSS
Study the Graph and do the following:
Graph: Number of poor by region ($1 per day) in millions)
1. Identify the areas of world where poverty ratios have declined.
Ans. (i) Poverty ratios have declined in China, East Asia, and Sub-saharan Africa.
2. Identify the areas of globe which has the largest concentration of the poor.
Ans. The area of the globe-which has the largest concentration of the poor is sub-Saharan Africa.
EXERCISE
Q. 1. Describe how the poverty line is estimated in India.
Ans. Method of calculating poverty line in India: Following steps are involved in determining the poverty line in India:
1. All of first a minimum level of food requirement, clothing, foot-wear, fuel and light, educational and medical requirements etc. are determined for subsistence.
2. These physical quantities are multiplied by there respective prices in rupees to find out the total money required.
3. The present formula for food requirement, while estimating the poverty line is based on the desired calorie requirement.
4. The accepted average calorie requirement in India its 2400 calories per person per day in rural area and 2100 calories per person per day in urban area.
Q. 2. Do you think that present methodology of poverty estimation is appropriate?
Ans. Yes, I think that present methodology of poverty determination is appropriate.
Q. 3. Poverty trends in India since 1973:
Source: Economic Survey 2002-2003 Ministry of Finance Government of India.
Q. 4. Describe poverty trends in India since 1973.
Ans. From the table we come to know that
1. There is substantial decline in poverty ratio in India from about 55% in 1973 to about 16% in 1993.
2. The proportion of people below poverty line further came down to about 28% in 2000.
3. Although the percentage of people living below poverty line is about 26%, the numbers of poor remained stable around 320 million for a fairly long time.
4. In 1999-2000, the number of poor was 260 millions.
Q. 5. Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India.
Ans. 1. Illiteracy: Illiteracy is one of the main cause of poverty in our country. Because of their illiteracy, the peasants in the villages and workers in the towns are cheated by everybody and they roam about as a man in the wildness.
2. Unemployment: Unemployment is another cause of poverty. Those who remain employed for one reason or the other, both in the rural and the urban areas, are forced to lead the life of want and hunger.
3. Widening Inequalities of Incomes: As a result of unequaled distribution of the means of production, money has been concentrating in fewer hands, thus rendering a majority of the people poor.
4. Slow Growth of Employment Opportunities: Our economic growth has failed to generate new employment opportunities especially in the industrial sector. As a result, our growing labour force fails to find job opportunities, a majority of them live in a state of poverty.
Q. 5. Identify the social and economic groups which are most vulnerable to poverty in India.
Ans. Groups vulnerable to poverty: Groups vulnerable to poverty can be classified into groups –
(a) Social groups vulnerable to poverty. and
(b) economic groups vulnerable to poverty.
(a) Social groups: Following are social groups vulnerable to poverty:
1. Scheduled castes: 43% of scheduled castes are poor.
2. Scheduled tribe households: 51% of scheduled tribes are not able to meet their basic needs.
(b) Economic groups: Among the economic groups, the most vulnerable groups are-
1. The rural agricultural labour households.
2. The urban casual labour households.
Q. 6. Give an account of inter-state disparities of poverty in India.
Ans. Interstate disparities in India: One of the aspects of poverty in India is inter-state disparities in India. The proportion of poor people is not the same in every state. Although state level poverty has witness a regular declined from the levels of early seventies, the success rate of reducing poverty varies from state to state. Inter-state disparities of poverty in India is clear from the following facts:
1. There has been a significant decline in poverty in Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and West Bengal.
2. Kerala has focused more on human resource development for reducing poverty.
3. In West Bengal, land reforms have helped in reducing poverty.
4. In Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, public distribution of food grains helped in reducing poverty.
5. Green Revolution helped Punjab and Haryana in reducing poverty.
6. Poverty is still a serious problem in Orissa and Bihar.
Q. 7. Describe global poverty trends.
Ans. Global poverty trends:
1. The proportion of poor people is extremely high in developing countries.
2. According to international poverty line population living on less than 1 $ per day in India has fallen from 28% in 1991 to 21% in 2001.
3. Although there has been substantial reduction in global poverty, yet it is marked with great regional differences.
4. Poverty declined substantially in China and South East Asian countries as a result of economic growth and massive investments in human resources development.
5. Number of poors in China declined from 606 millions in 1981 to 212 million in 2001.
6. The decline in poverty has not been so rapid in South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh.
7. In sub-Saharan Africa, poverty rise from 41% in 1981 to 46% in 2001.
8. Despite decline in the percentage of poor, the numbers of poor have declined marginally from 475 million in 1981 to 428 millions in 2001.
Q. 8. Describe current government strategy of poverty alleviation.
Ans. Current Government strategy of poverty alleviation: Many schemes and programmes have been launched by the government to alleviate poverty. Some of them have been mentioned below:
1. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) [NREGA]: It was passed in Sept. 2005. It was implemented in 200 districts on 2nd Feb, 2006. It provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural households in 200 districts. Under this Act, if an applicant is not provided employment within fifteen days he/she will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
2. National Food for Work Programme (NFWP): This programme was launched in 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country. The programme is open to all rural poor who are in need of wage-employment and desire to do manual unskilled work. Once the NREGA is in force, this programme will be subsumed within this programme.
3. Prime-Minister Rozgar Yozana (PMRY): This scheme was started in 1993. It aims at creating self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns. This scheme will help the educated young men to set up small business and industries.
4. Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP): It was launched in 1995. It aims at creating self-employment opportunities in rural areas and small towns.
5. Swaranjyanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY): It was launched in 1999. It aims at bringing the assisted poor families above the poverty line by organizing them into self-help groups.
6. Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY): It was launched in 2000. It aims at improving the standard of living of rural people by developing five important areas
(i) Health.
(ii) Primary education.
(iii) Drinking water.
(iv) Housing.
(v) Roads.
7. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): This yojana was launched in December 2000. Under this programme, one crore of the poorest among the below poverty line families covered under the targeted public distribution system were identified. Twenty-five kilograms of food grains were made available to each eligible family at a higher subsidized rate of Rs. 2 per kg. for wheat and Rs. 3 per kg, for rice. This quantity has been enhanced from 25 to 35 kgs. with effect from April, 2002.
Q. 9. Answer the following questions briefly:
(i) What do you understand by human poverty?
Ans. Human poverty: It is a situation under which a human is inefficient to get minimum basic needs of life such as food, cloth and shelter.
(ii) Who are the poorest of the poor?
Ans. Women, children (especially the girl child) and old people are poorest of the poor.
(iii) What are the main features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005?
Ans. Main features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005: Following are main features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005:
1. This act provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household in 200 districts of the country.
2. Later the scheme will be extended to 600 districts.
3. One-third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for women.
4. Under the programme if an applicant is not provided employment within fifteen days, he/she will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
5. National employment guarantee funds and state employment guarantee funds will be established by the Central Government and state governments respectively for the implementation of this scheme.
6. Once the scheme NREGA is in force, National Food for Work Programme will be subsumed within this programme.
SOME OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Which of the following is responsible for high poverty rates?
(a) Huge income inequalities.
(b) Unequal distribution of land.
(c) Lack of effective implementation of land reforms.
(d) All the above.
Ans. (d) All the above.
Q. 2. Which of the following is not considered a social indicator of poverty?
(a) Less number of means of transport.
(b) Illiteracy level.
(c) Lack of access to health care.
(d) Lack of job opportunities.
Ans. (a) Less number of means of transport.
Q. 3. The current anti-poverty programme consists of two planks. They are:
(a) socio-economic and public reasons distribution system.
(b) promotion of economic growth and targeted anti-poverty programme.
(c) anti-poverty programme and public distribution system.
(d) none of the above.
Ans. (b) promotion of economic growth and targeted anti-poverty programme.
Q. 4. NFWP is stand for:
(a) National Federation for Work and Progress.
(b) National Forest for Wildlife Protection.
(c) National Food and Wheat Processing.
(d) National Food for Work Programme.
Ans. (d) National Food for Work Programme.
Q. 5. In Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu which of the following factors have helped in the decline in the poverty rates?
(a) Land reform measures.
(b) High agricultural growth.
(c) Public Distribution System.
(d) Decline in the population growth.
Ans. (c) Public Distribution System.
Q. 6. Which of the following is not an anti-poverty programme?
(a) NREGA.
(b) AAY.
(c) NSSO.
(d) PMGY.
Ans. (c) NSSO.
Q. 7. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion A and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): In poor families all suffer, but some suffer more than others.
Reason (R): The women, elderly people and female infants are denied equal access to minimum resources available to the family.
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Q. 8. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): The proportion of poor people is not the same in every state.
Reason (R): Along with rural poverty, urban poverty is also high in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Options:
(a) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(b) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (c) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Q. 9. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): One historical reason is the low level of economic development under the British colonial administration.
Reason (R): The policies of the colonial government ruined traditional handicrafts and encouraged development of industries like textiles.
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
Q. 10. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): With the spread of irrigation and the Green revolution, many job opportunities disappeared from the agriculture sector.
Reason (R): The effects of Green Revolution were limited to some parts of India like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Q. 11. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and chose the correct option.
Assertion (A): The growth in the agriculture sector is much above than expectations.
Reason (R): This has a direct bearing on poverty as a large number of poor people live in cities and are dependent on agriculture.
Options:
(a) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(b) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
(c) Both (A) and (R) are wrong.
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Ans. (c) Both (A) and (R) are wrong.
Fill in the Blanks:
(i) _________ is one of the main cause of poverty in our country.
Ans. Illiteracy.
(ii) Prime-Minister Rozgar Yozana was started in __________.
Ans. 1993.
(iiii) Antyodaya is a special programme introduced by the __________.
Ans. State government.
(iv) _________ is the country which has higher percentage of population living below poverty line.
Ans. Nigeria.
(v) Population growth at a faster pace increases labour supply which lowers the ___________.
Ans. wage rate.
True and False:
(i) Green revolution helped Punjab and Haryana in reducing poverty.
Ans. True.
(ii) National Food for Work Programme was launched in 2007.
Ans. False.
(iii) Human poverty is a situation under which a human is able to get minimum basic needs of life.
Ans. False.
(iv) Haryana has succeeded in reducing Poverty with the help of high agricultural growth rates.
Ans. True.
(v) NREGA provides 150 days of assured employment.
Ans. False.
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. State the various categories of poor.
Ans. The various categories of poor are given below:
(i) Very poor.
(ii) Poor. and
(iii) Absolutely poor.
Q. 2. State the two facts related to poverty in India.
Ans. The facts related to poverty in India are given below:
(i) Every fourth person in India is poor.
(ii) A majority of Indian population live below the poverty line.
Q. 3. What is the average calories requirement of per person per day in rural areas?
Ans. 2400 calories in the average calories requirement in India in the rural areas by per person per day.
Q. 4. What is the accepted average calories requirement of per person per day in urban areas in India?
Ans. 2100 calories in the accepted average calories requirement of per person per day in urban areas in India.
Q. 5. What is the minimum age below which no one can employ a child?
Ans. 14 years.
Q. 6. Write the two factors responsible for poverty in India.
Ans. The two factors responsible for poverty in India are given below:
(i) Big size family.
(ii) Illiteracy.
Q. 7. What do you understand by human poverty?
Ans. Human poverty means a situation under which a human is inefficient to get minimum basic needs of life such as food, cloth and shelter.
Q. 8. What does Gandhiji mean by true independence?
Ans. By true independence, Gandhiji means that the poorest of the poor should be free of human suffering.
Q. 9. Explain any three social indicators through which poverty is looked.
Ans. Three Social indicators through which poverty is looked are given below:
(i) Illiteracy level.
(ii) Lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation. and
(iii) Lack of job opportunities.
Q. 10. Explain any three features of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
Ans. Three features of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005:
(i) This act provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural households located in 600 districts.
(ii) One third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for women.
(iii) This act is formulated to attack on rural poverty directly.
Q. 11. Why is the concept of poverty being broadened into human poverty?
Ans. The concept of poverty is being broadened into human poverty as the challenge is becoming bigger and the analysis of poverty is becoming rich through a variety of new concepts like social exclusion.
Q. 12. State the factors which are taken into consideration while determining the poverty line in India.
Ans. There are three factors. They are taken into consideration while determining the poverty line in India. They are given below:
(i) Income method.
(ii) Consumption method. and
(iii) Expenditure method.
Q. 13. What led to the substantial decline in poverty in China?
Ans. Economic growth and massive investment led to the Substantial decline is poverty in China.
Q. 14. Write a short note on Antyodaya.
Ans. Antyodaya is a special programme introduced by the state government. The aim of this programme is to improve the living conditions of the poor people. Under this programme the poor families are given financial support to build houses and purchase animals.
Q. 15. How has Haryana reduced poverty?
Ans. Haryana has Succeeded in reducing Poverty with the help of high agricultural growth rates.
Q. 16. How has Kerala reduced poverty?
Ans. Kerala has focused more on human resource development. Thus, this state has reduced poverty.
Q. 17. How is regular growth of population one of the major causes of poverty?
Ans. High population growth rate increases the rate of depletion of resources. Due to this, pressure on resources increases. People will have to manage with a smaller share of resources, thus line. bringing more people below the poverty line.
Q. 18. Which two economic groups are vulnerable to poverty in India?
Ans. The economic groups vulnerable to poverty are:
(a) Rural agricultural labour households.
(b) Urban casual labour households.
Q. 19. Mention some bigger challenges that are coming in the way of poverty alleviation.
Ans. A big section of the society has failed to get health care, education and job, the tasks of achieving gender equality and dignity for the poor still remains unfulfilled. These are some bigger challenges.
Q. 20. Name any one country which has higher percentage of population living below poverty line?
Ans. Nigeria is the country which has higher percentage of population living below poverty line.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Name the targeted anti-poverty programmes.
Ans. Following are the targeted anti-poverty programmes:
1. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), 2005.
2. In 2004, the National Food for work programme launched.
3. Prime Minister Rozgar Yozana (PMRY).
4. Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP).
5. Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY).
6. Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY).
7. Antyodaya Anna Yozana (AAY).
Q. 2. Analyze poverty based on social exclusion.
Ans. Analysis of poverty based on social exclusion: According to social exclusion the poor are excluded from enjoying social equality of better off people in better surroundings. They live only in a poor surroundings with other people. Social exclusion can be both a cause as well as a consequence of poverty in the usual senses. It is a process through which individuals or groups are excluded from benefits, facilities and opportunities that other (their betters) enjoys.
Q. 3. Write down the various dimensions of poverty.
Ans. Various dimensions of poverty:
1. Poverty means hunger and lack of shelter.
2. It is a situation in which parents are not able to send their children to school.
3. It is a situation where sick people cannot afford treatment.
4. Poverty also means lack of clean water and sanitation facilities.
5. It also means lack of a regular job at a minimum decent level.
Q. 4. Explain poverty as seen by social scientists.
Ans. Social scientists look at poverty through a variety of indicators. Usually the indicators used to relate the levels of income and consumption. But now poverty is looked through other social indicators such as illiteracy level, lack of general resistance due to malnutrition, lack of access to health care, lack of job opportunities, lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation etc.
Q. 5. Why is it expected that poverty will decline in next 10-15 years due to some reasons? Write down these reasons.
Ans. It is expected that poverty will decline next 10-15 years due to following reasons:
1. Economic growth.
2. Check on the growth of population at increasing scale.
3. Empowerment of women and economically weaker sections of society.
4. Primary elementary education.
5. Expansion in infrastructure.
6. Industrialisation of the country.
7. Creation of new jobs.
Q. 6. There has been decline in poverty in the following states/countries due to some reasons. Write down these reasons.
1. Punjab and Haryana.
2. West Bengal.
3. China and Southeast Asian countries.
4. Kerala.
5. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Ans.
| Name of the state/country | Reasons for decline in poverty |
| 1. Punjab and Haryana | 1. High agricultural growth. |
| 2. West Bengal | 2. Land reforms. |
| 3. China and South east Asian Countrie | 3. Rapid economic growth and massive investments in human resource development. |
| 4. Kerala | 4. More focus on human resource development. |
| 5. Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu | 5. Improvement in Public distribution of foodgrains. |
Q. 7. What is poverty line? How many methods are there to determine poverty line? Which organization estimates (determines) periodically (normally every five years) by conducting sample surveys?
Ans. 1. Poverty line: It is a line which expresses per capita average monthly expenditure by which google can sanctify their minimum needs.
2. Methods of determining poverty line: There are two methods of determining poverty line. They are:
1. Income meshed. and
2. Expenditure method.
3. Organization estimating poverty line: It is National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) which estimates poverty line periodically by conducting sample surveys.
Q. 8. ‘The failure at both the fronte, promotion of economic growth and population control perpetuated the cycle of poverty.’ Comment on this statement.
Ans. (i) Unequal growth of states.
(ii) Industrial rate slower than population growth.
(iii) Migration towards cities.
(iv) Unequal distribution of land.
(iv) High-level of indebtedness.
(vi) Social obligations.
All leading to a cycle of poverty.
Q. 9. “In poor families all suffer, but some suffer more than others.” Justify the statement.
Ans. Apart from the social groups, there is also inequality of incomes within a family. In poor families all suffers, but some suffer more than others. Women, elderly people and female infants are systematically denied equal access to resources available to the family. Therefore women, children (especially the girl child), and old people are poorest of the poor. Unmarried girls are treated as burden. The old man is generally ill. Nobody is there to take care of him. He looses interest in life and just wait to die someday.
Q. 10. Explain vulnerability to poverty.
Ans. Vulnerability to poverty: It is a measure which describes the greater probability of certain communities or individuals of becoming or remaining poor in the coming years.
Vulnerability is determined by the options available to different communities for finding an alternative living in terms of assets, education, health and job opportunities. Further it is analyzed on the basis of greater risks these groups face at the time of natural disasters (such as earthquakes, tsunami), terrorism etc. Additional analysis is made of their social and economic ability to handle these risks.
Q. 11. Mention any three major challenges before India with respect to poverty alleviation.
Ans. (i) The government tried to promote the economic growth which has been one of the fastest in the world since the eighties. The growth rate jumped from the average of about 3.5 per cent a year in the 1970s to about 6 per cent during the 1980s and 1990s. This helped significantly in the reduction of poverty.
(ii) There is a strong link between economic growth and poverty reduction. Economic growth widens opportunities and provides the resources needed to invest in human development.
(iii) The above strategy of economic growth is not fully successful. The poor may not be able to take direct advantage from the opportunities created by economic growth. Moreover, growth in the agriculture sector is much below expectations. This has a direct bearing on poverty as a large number of poor people live in villages and are dependent on agriculture. The government thinks that the poor people have to be looked after directly if poverty is to be alleviated.
Q. 12. How did rural poverty caused urban poverty?
Ans. We know that with the spread of irrigation and the Green Revolution, many job opportunities were created. But the effects were limited to some parts of India. Unable to find work in villages, people came to cities in search of jobs. Some of them got jobs. The some of them could not find jobs. People who were not able to get job started working as rickshaw puller, vendors, construction workers, domestic servants etc. Their income was irregular and small. With irregular small incomes, these people could not afford expensive housing. They started living in slums on the outskirts of the cities. In this way they increased the urban problem. In this way rural poverty problem became urban poverty problem.
Q. 13. Which persons can identified as poor?
Ans. Following persons can be identified as poor:
1. Child labour working in dhabas.
2. Rickshaw pullers.
3. Vendors.
4. Construction workers.
5. Domestic servants.
6. People living in slums.
Q. 14. How is indebtedness both the caus and effect of poverty?
Ans. The poor people earn low income. So they hardly have any savings. They have to borrow to buy various agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. They borrow to meet the expenditure of marriage and other social and religious functions. Thus they become indebted.
Now the indebted people have to repay that loans with their incomes. So they have less income to meet their necessities. In order to purchase the necessaries, they again borrow and become more poor.
Q. 15. Name the plans on which the current anti-poverty strategy of the government is based broadly. Give outlines of each.
Ans. The current anti-poverty strategy is based on two plans-
1. Promotion of economic growth. and
2. Targeted anti-poverty programmes.
1. Promotion of economic growth: In India economic growth rates helped significantly in the reduction of poverty. However the poor were not able to take direct advantage from the opportunities created by economic growth.
2. Targeted anti-poverty programmes: These programmes were launched to effect poverty directly or indirectly. There are so many schemes which have been formulated. Some of them are National Rural Employment Guarantee, National Food for Work Programme, Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, Antyodaya Anna Yojana etc.
Q. 16. Answer the following questions:
(a) Write full name of NSSO.
Ans. Full name of NSSO is National Sample Survey Organisation.
(b) Who is poor according to UNO?
Ans. According to UNO, that the person living on less than $ per day is a poor.
(c) What is the condition of an old man in a poor family?
Ans. The condition of an old man is very pitiable. He looses interest in life. He just waits to die some day.
Q. 17. In 2000, which family was below poverty line and which was above poverty line?
(a) First Family: This family lives in rural areas. It has five members, total income of this family from all sources is less than Rs. 1640 monthly.
Ans. First Family: This family has five members. Hence its total monthly income-should be Rs. 1640 (328 x 5). So that its members may satisfy their minimum requirements. But to monthly income of this family is Rs. 1640 only. Hence this family lives below poverty line.
(b) Second Family: This family lives in a town. It has four members. Monthly income of this family is approximately Rs. 3000 from all sources.
Ans. Second Family: This family has four members. Minimum monthly income of this family should be Rs. 1816 (454 x 4). But monthly income of this family is Rs. 3000 approximately, which is more than minimum monthly income. Hence this family lives above poverty line.
Q. 18. Suppose there were 10 members in a family living in urban sectors. Total income of this family from all sources was Rs. 7500. Did this family live below poverty line or not?
Ans. Monthly income from all sources = Rs. 7500
Per capita monthly income = 7500/10 =Rs.750
This income per day per capita is more than Rs. 454. Hence this family did not live below poverty line.
Q. 19. How is vulnerability to poverty determined?
Ans. Determination of vulnerability: Vulnerability to poverty is determined by the options available to different communities for finding an alternative living in terms of assets, education, health and job opportunities. Further it is analyzed on the basis of greater risks these People face at the time of natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunami, terrorism etc. Additional analysis is made of their social and economic ability to handle these risks.
Q. 20. Study the picture given below and answer the following questions.
1. How many members are there in Sivaraman’s family?
Ans. There are eight members in Sivraman’s family.
2. What is the condition of old lady?
Ans. The old lady is very weak. She seems to be ill.
3. Who is the youngest member in the family?
Ans. The son is the youngest member in the family.
4. Which vulnerable groups to poverty does Sivraman belong to?
Ans. Sivraman belongs to social groups vulnerable to poverty.
5. Do you think that Sivraman’s children go to school? Why?
Ans. Sivraman’s children do not go to school as Sivraman is too poor to send them to school.
Q. 21. Below you are given two typical areas of poverty-Urban case and Rural case. Read these cases and discuss the topics related to poverty.
Urban Case
Thirty-three years old Ram Saran works as a daily wage labourer in a wheat flour mill near Ranchi in Jharkhand. He manages to earn around Rs. 1,500 a month when he finds employment which is not often. The money is not enough to sustain his family of six that includes his wife and four children aged between 12 years to six months. He has to send money home to his old parents who live in a village near Ram Garh. His father a landless labourer depends on Ram Saran and his brother who lives in Hazari Bagh for subsistence. Ram Saran lives in a one-room rented house in a crowded basti in the outskirts of the city. It is a temporary shack built of bricks and clay tiles. His wife Santa Devi, works as a part time maid in a few houses and manages to earn another Rs. 800. They manage a meagre meal of dal and rice twice a day, but there is never enough for all of them. His elder son works as a helper in a tea shop to supplement the family income and earns another Rs. 300, while his 10 year daughter takes of the younger siblings. None of the children go to school. They have only two pairs of hand made woven clothes each. New one are bought only when the old clothes become un-wearable. Shoes are luxury. The younger kids are under nourished. They have no access to health care when they fall ill.
Rural Case
Lakha Singh belongs to a small village near Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. His family does not own any land, so they do odd jobs for the big farms. Work is erratic and so is income. At times they get paid Rs. 50 for a hard day’s work. But often it is in kind like a few kilograms of wheat or dal or even vegetables for toiling in the farm through out the day. The family of eight cannot always manage two square meals a days. Lakha Singh lives in a Kuchha hut on the outskirts of the village. The women of the family spends the day chopping fodder and collecting fire-woods in the fields. His father, a TB patient passed away two years ago due to lack of medication. His mother now suffer from the same disease and life is slowly ebbing away. Although the village has a primary school, Lakha never went there, he had to start earning when he was 10 years old. New clothes happen once in a few years. Even soap and oil are a luxury for the family.
1. Unemployment.
Ans. Unemployment: Due to continuous rise in population there is chronic unemployment and under employment in India. Unemployment and under employment cause poverty of Ram Saran. Lakha Singh and their families are under employed. Ram Saran manage to earn around Rs. 1500 a month when he finds employment which is not often. His wife works as a part time maid in a few houses and manages to earn another Rs. 800 per month. Lakha Singh and his family do odd jobs for the big farmers. Sometimes they get cash and sometimes in kinds.
2. Size of families.
Ans. Size of Families: Generally the sizes of the poor families are very large. Ram Saran’s family has six members. Similarly there are eight members in Lakha Singh’s family.
3. Illiteracy.
Ans. Illiteracy: Poor persons are generally illiterate. They do not send their children even to primary school.
4. Poor health/malnutrition.
Ans. Poor health/Malnutrition: The poon have poor health. They are under nourished. They have no access to health care when they fall ill. Lakha Singh’s father-a T.B. patient passes away due to lack of medication.
5. Child labour.
Ans. Child labour: There exists child labour in the poor families. To supplement the income of their family, children work at dhabas, tea shops, at farm houses.
6. Helplessness.
Ans. Helplessness: The poor are helpless. The poor children have to work on other farms, shops, dhabas etc. They have to start earning when they are young.
Q. 22. Write down the causes of being less effective of anti-poverty programmes.
Ans. Causes of being less effective of anti-poverty programmes: Following are the reasons of being anti-poverty programmes less effective:
1. Lack of proper implementation of programmes.
2. Anti-poverty programmes lacked right targeting.
3. There has been a lot of overlapping of schemes.
4. The benefits of these schemes are not fully reached to the deserving poor.
Q. 23. How is economic growth helpful in reduction of poverty?
Ans. Economic growth is helpful in reduction of poverty in the following ways:
1. Economic growth widens job opportunities.
2. It provides resources needed to invest in human development.
3. It also encourages people to send their children to school in the hope of getting better economic returns from investing in education.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q. 1. Write down the main causes of poverty in India.
Ans. Main causes of poverty in India: Following are the main causes of poverty in India:
1. Low level of economic development under the British colonial administration: On the historical reason of wide spread poverty India is the low level of economic development under the British colonial administration. The policies of the colonial government ruined additional handicrafts and discouraged development of industries like textiles.
2. Widening inequaliteis of incomes: As a result of unequaled distribution of the means of production, money has been concentrating in fewer hands, thus rendering a majority of the ple poor.
3. Slow growth of employment opportunities: Our economic growth has failed to generate new employment opportunities especially in the industrial sector. As a result, our growing labour force fails to find job opportunities, a majority of them live in a state of poverty.
4. Illiteracy: Illiteracy is one of the main causes of poverty in our country. Because of their illiteracy, the peasants in the villages and workers in the towns are cheated by everybody and they roam about as a man in the wildness.
5. Unemployment: Unemployment is another cause of poverty. Those who remain unemployed for one reason or the other, both in the rural and the urban areas, are forced to lead the life of want and hunger.
Q. 2. When was National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) Passed? What does it provide? What rights can be enjoyed by the people living in the village under this act?
Ans. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was passed in September 2005.
It provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household in 200 districts, later the scheme will be extended to 600 districts.
Following rights can be enjoyed by the people of the village under this act:
1. Every adult has the right to apply for job.
2. 100 days assured employment.
3. If an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days, he/she will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
Q. 3. How has increasing population proved to be one of the main reasons of poverty? Explain in detail.
Ans. (i) Undoubtedly, increasing population has proved to be one of the main reasons of poverty in our country. As we know that our natural resources are limited and the pace of population has been steadily increasing.
(ii) Rapid and uncontrolled growth of population worsens the poverty of the people. Virtually, the growth of population exceeds the rate of growth in nation income.
(iii) Unrestricted population growth not only creats hurdles in the eradication of poverty but also lowers the per capita income which tends to enhance poverty.
(iv) On the other hand, population growth at a faster pace increases labour supply which lowers the wage rate. However the burden of this reduction in per capita income is borne by the poor of a country.
(v) Size of the family has an important bearing on rural and urban poverty. Consequently, the larger the size of the family, the lower is the per capita income. Generally, rapid growth of population lowers the standard of living.
Q. 4. What items are included in minimum human requirements in India? What are the ill-effects of these minimum human requirements?
Ans. A minimum level of food requirement, clothing, foot-wear, fuel and fire, educational and medical requirements are included in minimum human requirement,
Ill-effects: 1. A man suffers .
2. There is decrease in efficiency and health.
3. It becomes difficult to increase the production.
4. It becomes difficult to get rid of poverty in future.
Q. 5. When did the following schemes/programmes start? Also write their aims/objectives.
1. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
2. National Food for Work Programme.
3. Prime-Minister Rozgar Yojana.
4. Swaranjyanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna.
5. Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana.
6. Antyodaya Anna Yojan. and
7. Rural Employment Generation Programme.
Ans.
Q. 6. How is inequality of income reflected within family? Illustrate with an example.
Ans. Apart from the social groups, there is also inequality of incomes within a family. In poor families all suffers, but some suffer more than others. Women, elderly people and female infants are systematically denied equal access to resources available to the family. Therefore women, children (especially the girl child), and old people are poorest of the poor. Unmarried girls are treated as burden. The old man is generally ill. Nobody is there to take care of him. He looses interest in life and just wait to die someday.
Q. 7. Describe any three poverty alleviation programmes launched by the Government of India.
Ans. Following are the three poverty alleviation programmes launched by the Government of India:
(i) National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) [NREGA]: It was pass is Sept. 2005. It was implemented in 200 districts on 2nd Feb, 2006. It provides 100 days assured employment every years to every rural households in 200 districts. Under this Act, if an applicant is not provided employment within fifteen days he/she will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
(ii) National Food for Work Programme (NFWP): This programme was launched in 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country. The programme is open to all rural poor who are in need of wage-employment and desire to do manual unskilled work. Once the NREGA is in force, this programme will be subsumed within this programme.
(iii) Prime-Minister Rozgar Yozana (PMRY): This scheme was started in 1993. It aims at creating self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns. This scheme will help the educated young men to set up small business and industries.
PASSAGE BASED QUESTIONS
1. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
Since poverty has many facets, social scientists look at it through a variety of indicators. Usually the indicators used relate to the levels of income and consumption. But now poverty is looked through other social indicators like illiteracy level, lack of general resistance due to malnutrition, lack of access to healthcare, lack of job opportunities, lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation etc. Analysis of poverty based on social exclusion and vulnerability is now becoming very common.
(i) Social exclusion is a concept, where:
(a) poverty is seen as family based issue.
(b) poor people are sees as a liability.
(c) poor people are more vulnerable to danger of malnutrition.
(d) poverty is seen in terms of the poor living in a poor surrounding with other poor people, excluded from enjoying social equality of better-off people in better surroundings.
Ans.(d) poverty is seen in terms of the poor living in a poor surrounding with other poor people, excluded from enjoying social equality of better-off people in better surroundings.
(ii) Greater probability of being more adversely affected than other people during when bad time comes for everybody, like a flood or an earthquake, or simply a fall in he availability of jobs is termed as:
(a) poverty.
(b) unemployment.
(c) vulnerability.
(d) lack of general resistance due to malnutrition.
Ans. (c) vulnerability.
(iii) Vulnerability is determined by the:
(a) population size of an area.
(b) options available to different communities for finding an alternative living in terms of assets, education, health and job opportunities.
(c) availability of resources in an area.
(d) income level of the population living in an area.
Ans. (b) options available to different communities for finding an alternative living in terms of assets, education, health and job opportunities.
(iv) When can a person be considered poor?
(a) When his or her health level falls below the required level necessary to stay fit.
(b) When his or her needs exceed then the necessary requirements.
(c) When his or her income or consumption level falls below a given ‘minimum level’ necessary to fulfill the basic needs.
(d) When his or her social acceptance falls in the due course of time.
Ans. (c) When his or her income or consumption level falls below a given ‘minimum level’ necessary to fulfill the basic needs.
2. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
While determining the poverty line in India, a minimum level of food requirement, clothing, footwear, fuel and light, educational and medical requirement, etc., are determined for subsistence. These physical quantities are multiplied by their prices in rupees. The present formula for food requirement while estimating the poverty line is based on the desired calorie requirement. Food items, such as cereals, pulses, vegetable, milk, oil, sugar, etc., together provide these needed calories. The calorie needs vary depending on age, sex and the type of work that a person does.
(i) What is the accepted average calorie requirement in India in rural and urban areas?
(a) 2100 calorie per person per day in rural areas and 2400 calorie per person per day in urban areas.
(b) 1000 calorie per person per day in rural areas and 1500 calorie per person per day in urban areas.
(c) 2400 calorie per person per day in rural areas and 2100 calorie per person per day in urban areas.
(d) 3000 calorie per person per day in rural areas and 1500 calorie per person per day in urban areas.
Ans. (c) 2400 calorie per person per day in rural areas and 2100 calorie per person per day in urban areas.
(ii) Average calorie requirement in rural areas more than urban areas because:
(a) people in the rural areas do not enjoy as much as people in the urban areas.
(b) people in the rural areas are more prone to diseases.
(c) people in the rural areas are vulnerable to poverty.
(d) people living in rural areas engage themselves in more physical work.
Ans. (d) people living in rural areas engage themselves in more physical work.
(iii) National Sample Survey Organisation is a government organization that conducts:
(a) sample surveys to estimate the number of people living below or over poverty line.
(b) makes comparisons between developing countries in the world.
(c) makes comparisons between developed countries in the world.
(d) makes comparisons between developing and developed countries in the world.
Ans. (a) sample surveys to estimate the number of people living below or over poverty line.
(iv) Despite less calorie requirement, Rs 1000 per person per month has been fixed as a poverty line for urban areas because of:
(a) high income levels in the urban areas.
(b) high population in the urban areas.
(c) high prices of many essential products in urban centres.
(d) high risk of health related dangers in the urban areas.
Ans. (c) high prices of many essential products in urban centres.
3. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
Poverty has certainly declined in India. But despite the progress, poverty reduction remains India’s most compelling challenge. Wide disparities in poverty are visible between rural and urban areas and among different states. Certain social and economic groups are more vulnerable to poverty. Poverty reduction is expected to make better progress in the next ten to fifteen years. This would be possible mainly due to higher economic growth, increasing stress on universal free elementary education, declining population growth, increasing empowerment of the women and the economically weaker sections of society.
(i) The official definition of poverty, however, captures only a limited part of what poverty really means to people. It is just about:
(a) a “maximum” subsistence level of living rather than a “reasonable” level of living.
(b) lack of job opportunities.
(c) a “minimum” subsistence level of living rather than a “reasonable” level of living.
(d) lack of health related facilities.
Ans. (c) a “minimum” subsistence level of living rather than a “reasonable” level of living.
(ii) The results of the programmes initiated by the government in regards to poverty elimination have been less effective. Why so?
(a) Because of high growth rate in population in the country.
(b) Because of high levels of illiteracy among the people in the country.
(c) Because of high levels of ignorance among the people in the country.
(d) Because of lack of proper implementation and right targeting.
Ans. (d) Because of lack of proper implementation and right targeting.
(iii) One of the major reasons for high poverty rates in India is:
(a) lack of health facilities.
(b) unequal distribution of land and other resources.
(c) lack of housing facilities.
(d) low levels of income.
Ans. (b) unequal distribution of land and other resources.
(iv) Which of the following can be the cause and effect of poverty?
(a) High growth rate of population.
(b) Unequal distribution of land.
(c) Lack of effective implementation of reforms.
(d) High level of indebtedness.
Ans. (d) High level of indebtedness.
