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It will be nice if we look back and see See the picture given below.
where we are after 60 years of What do you understand from this
Independence. picture?
Tremandous changes are taking place
in many fields. Some reports show that
India is one of the leading countries
having high economic growth. Some
countries and international
organisations see India as a big
economic power of the future.
The following changes happened here
during the period 1950 - 2007.
• The production of food grains
increased fourfold.
• Population increased three times.
• Realised self sufficiency in food
production.
• Started exporting rice, wheat and
other food grains.
• Universalised public distribution
Fig 7.1
system.
• Implemented many poverty This is also a reality of the present day.
eradication programmes. Even when we are advanced in terms
Even while these claims are being made, of economic growth, poverty still
the Planning Commission estimated continues to be a big problem. The
that more than 30 crores of people were picture shows the existence of large-
poor in the country in 2004. The World scale poverty. This contrast of
Bank reported that India had the largest prosperity of a few and poverty of the
number of poor people in the world in masses is one of the challenges that
2005. India faces today. As a result of the
94 Social Science - II
Chapter - 7
East Asia -
Pacific 23.02%
28.28 %
Sub-Saharan
Europe 1.26% Africa
Central Asia
Latin America 3.28%
Caribbean
Middle East Asia - 0.8 %
North Africa
96 Social Science - II
Chapter - 7
scientifically calculated the poverty in Are the changes in the number and
India. After independence, many the percentage of the poor in In-
attempts were made to calculate dia at different points of time
poverty. similar? Compare.
Examine Table 7.1 and figures 7.3 A and
7.3 B
Poverty ratio in India
Poverty Ratio (%)
Year
Fig. 7.3 A
Number of the Poor in India (crores)
Number of people below poverty line (Crores)
Year
98 Social Science - II Fig. 7.3 B
Chapter - 7
50
46.4
45 41.4 40.9 40.3
39.6 38.3
40
35 32.8 30.7
Poverty ratio (%)
30 27.5
25 24.7
25 22.5 22.1
20 16.8 15.8
15 14
15
10 8.4
5.4
5
0
West Bengal
Bihar
Chattisgarh
Jharkhand
Uttarakhand
Uttar Pradesh
Maharashtra
India
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Rajastan
Gujarat
Kerala
Haryana
Punjab
Madhya Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
States
Source: Govt of India, 2008, Poverty Estimates for 2004 - 05
Fig 7.4
the urban areas intensisity of poverty Discuss and write about the
is concentrated among those employed causes of poverty
in informal sectors. See table 7.2 • Unemployment
Percentage of people below poverty • Exploitation
line-different classes
• Inequality in wealth and income.
Class Below poverty Total
line (%) population (%) •
Scheduled •
Castes 19 9.81
Scheduled Observe the flow chart 7.1 and show
Tribes 3 1.14 how unemployment leads to poverty
Others 78 89.05
You have understood how
Total 100 100
unemployment causes
Source: Economic Review 2008 poverty. In the same way, find out how
Kerala State Planning Board. illiteracy leads to poverty and prepare a chart.
Table 7.2
What can you deduce from the We can eradicate poverty only
Table7.2? by removing the factors
causing poverty. Discuss
• In Kerala, Schedule Castes constitute
9.81% of the total population , but among Inequality in wealth leads to
the poor they constitute 19% . poverty. This problem also has
• to be solved to eradicate poverty. How can
this be done in India? Discuss.
Eradication of poverty
Reasons for poverty
Poverty is not only the problem of the
More than 30 crores of people in India person who faces it. It is also the
are poor, according to the statistics 2004 problem of the society. So the
for the year. Have you ever thought of government has to play a major role in
the reasons for this? eradicating it. Along with that, social
interventions are inevitable for
elimination of poverty.
for education →
→ Less opportunity
→
Unemployment
→ Low income →
Low purchasing
power → Low consumption →
Poverty
Flow chart 7.1 Low nutrition →
→
Illnesses →
→
→
Low capacity to
work
Eradication of poverty is essential for necessities, since it reduces purchasing
the growth of a country. One of the power. Hence, poverty increases. FAO
prime objectives of our plan has been pointed out that , in 2007, the number
the eradication of poverty. of poor people increased by 7.5 crores.
It is mainly due to increase in food
How can the government prices. This would have made you
intervene in the eradication of understand that problems like price rise
poverty? would affect the poor most. Let us see
• By creating employment what can be done to reduce poverty and
to protect the poor people.
• By making educational opportunities
available to all • Strengthen the Public Distribution
System.
• By making drinking water available to
all • Make available basic amenities like
good roads, water supply, education
• facilities and medical facilities to the
• poor. Let us see how good roads can
• help in eradicating poverty.
Transport facility generates job
opportunities and helps the poor
The adverse effects of price rise, natural people find markets for their
calamities, diseases, pollution etc are products. This helps to earn more.
more severely felt by the poor. For • Make available land, house and
example, price rise makes it more other assets to the poor.
difficult for the poor to buy their basic
→ →
eradication of poverty
→
of living
→ better job
opportunities → more income → morecapacity
purchasing
→
Flow chart 7.2
More
Creates assets like
→ irrigation facilities
employment
Poverty Eradication
Ensure 100 days of
employment
More
→ → →
NREGS
Income
→ Generates
employment
→
→
Development of
Expenditure of rural economy
→
Generates
income income
Flowchart - 7.3
distribution system functions efficiently additional branches are opened and this
in Kerala. It has a special place in help to control the price in the open
Kerala, since we have shortage of more market. The Co-operative sector also
than 75% of food grains. The public actively involves in the distribution of
distribution system has three facets. commodities for daily needs.
• Distribution of grains through ration Poverty Eradication Programmes
shops. in India- An Evaluation
• Mid-day meal scheme in schools. The poverty alleviation programmes in
• Distribution of nutritious food to India have contributed greatly to the
children below 5 and pregnant reduction of poverty. The public
women through Anganwadis. distribution system, generation of
employment in rural areas, building
Visit a ration shop near your basic facilities like roads, buildings etc.
house and collect relevant are the achievements of the
data to evaluate the ration system. Points programmes. But, these programmes
given below may be considered. have many limitations.
Points
Follow up Activities.... • Short term measures for
eradication of poverty
1. To eradicate poverty, the poor get
• Long term measures for
Rice at a cheaper rate through ration eradication of poverty
shops.
2. As a student, what is your role in
Jobs through programmes like the eradicating poverty? Discuss and
NREGS. write a note.
Education and technical skills are Points
imparted to students.
• Education and eradication of poverty
• Which of the above measure is the
most suitable to eradicate • Poverty as a social issue
poverty? Why? • Helping your classmates
• Are all the measures given above • Social intervention
necessary for the eradication of
•
poverty? If so, why?
•
Discuss and prepare a note.