Chapter 3: Poverty as a Challenge

Economics • Class 9

Download PDF

Loading PDF...

Chapter Analysis

Intermediate13 pages • English

Quick Summary

The chapter 'Poverty as a Challenge' discusses the multifaceted nature of poverty in India, highlighting various dimensions such as hunger, lack of shelter, and vulnerability. It explains the poverty line concept used for measuring poverty and the trends in poverty levels over time. The chapter also reviews the causes of poverty and evaluates various anti-poverty measures undertaken by the government. Lastly, it expands on the idea of human poverty, considering factors beyond income to include lack of education and health facilities.

Key Topics

  • Poverty and its dimensions
  • Poverty line concept
  • Causes of poverty in India
  • Anti-poverty measures
  • Human poverty
  • Social exclusion and vulnerability
  • Multidimensional Poverty Index
  • Global poverty trends

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the concept of poverty and its measurements
  • Analyze the causes and impacts of poverty in India
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of anti-poverty measures
  • Recognize the importance of sustainable development in poverty alleviation
  • Identify vulnerable populations prone to poverty
  • Compare global poverty trends with those in India

Questions in Chapter

How is the poverty line estimated in India?

Page 41

Do you think that the present methodology of poverty estimation is appropriate?

Page 41

Describe poverty trends in India since 1993.

Page 41

Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India.

Page 41

Identify the social and economic groups which are most vulnerable to poverty in India.

Page 41

Give an account of interstate disparities of poverty in India.

Page 41

Describe global poverty trends.

Page 41

Describe the role of government in reducing poverty in India?

Page 41

What do you understand by human poverty?

Page 41

Who are the poorest of the poor?

Page 41

What are the main features of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005?

Page 41

Differentiate between consumption based poverty line and NMP Index based poverty estimates.

Page 41

List the indicators used to estimate multidimensional poor in India.

Page 41

Additional Practice Questions

Explain the impact of the Green Revolution on poverty in India.

medium

Answer: The Green Revolution led to increased agricultural productivity, creating jobs and income opportunities in rural areas. However, its benefits were limited to certain regions, leaving many parts of India still afflicted by poverty.

What factors contribute to the persistence of poverty in rural areas of India?

medium

Answer: Factors include lack of infrastructure, limited access to quality education and healthcare, reliance on agriculture, and socio-economic inequalities.

Discuss how social exclusion perpetuates poverty.

medium

Answer: Social exclusion prevents certain groups from accessing opportunities for education and employment, thus trapping them in a cycle of poverty.

How does the National Multidimensional Poverty Index differ from traditional poverty measurements?

hard

Answer: The NMPI considers multiple factors such as education, health, and living standards, whereas traditional methods focus on income and consumption levels.

What role do international organizations play in poverty alleviation?

medium

Answer: International organizations like the UN provide funding, set global standards, and facilitate cooperation among countries to develop comprehensive poverty reduction strategies.

Describe the challenges faced by urban poor compared to rural poor.

medium

Answer: Urban poor often deal with overcrowding, inadequate housing, and lack of sanitation, while rural poor face limited access to services and infrastructure.

Analyze the effectiveness of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in reducing poverty.

medium

Answer: While MGNREGA has provided employment opportunities to many rural households, it faces challenges like delays in wage payments and inadequate infrastructure development.

How has economic growth in India impacted poverty reduction?

medium

Answer: Economic growth has led to poverty reduction by creating jobs and improving living standards, though the effects are unevenly distributed across regions.

What is human poverty and how does it differ from income poverty?

easy

Answer: Human poverty encompasses lack of access to education, healthcare, and employment, whereas income poverty focuses solely on financial earnings below a certain threshold.

Examine the relationship between poverty and child labor.

easy

Answer: Poverty forces families to rely on child labor for additional income, which hinders children's education and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.