Casteism in India
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
It is only in the twentieth century that poverty and the poor have come to be matters of our concern and obligation. After a long neglect of the poor during the British Rule, the measures adopted after Independence signify the recognition of poverty and the social responsibility for alleviating and reducing it. How did this happen? What have we done? How far have we succeeded? Before attempting to answer these question, let us first take up the question of the concept of poverty.
The Concept
Three precepts are often used to define poverty: (1) the amount of money required by a person to subsist, (ii) the life below a ‘minimum subsistence level’ and ‘living standard’ prevalent at a given time in a given place, and (iii) the comparative state of well-being of a few and the ill-being of the majority in society. The last approach explains poverty in terms of relativity and inequality. Whereas the first two definitions refer to the economic concept of absolute poverty, the third definition views it as a social concept, that is, in terms of the share of the total national income received by those at the bottom. We will explain each of the three views separately.
The First View
In terms of a minimum income required for subsistence, poverty has been defined as an inability to gratify the physiological need, that is, need for survival, safety and security. These physiological needs are different from the social needs (ego- satisfaction and self- esteem), the need for autonomy, need for independence and the need for self-actualization. The minimum requirements for fulfilling the physiological needs are food and nutrition, shelter, and preventive and protective health care. This requires ‘minimum’ income (varying from society to society) to buy necessities and avail of facilities.
Here ‘poverty’ is perceived in terms of poverty line which is determined by the prevailing standards of what is needed for health efficiency, nurturing of
It is only in the twentieth century that poverty and the poor have come to be matters of our concern and obligation. After a long neglect of the poor during the British Rule, the measures adopted after Independence signify the recognition of poverty and the social responsibility for alleviating and reducing it. How did this happen? What have we done? How far have we succeeded? Before attempting to answer these question, let us first take up the question of the concept of poverty.
The Concept
Three precepts are often used to define poverty: (1) the amount of money required by a person to subsist, (ii) the life below a ‘minimum subsistence level’ and ‘living standard’ prevalent at a given time in a given place, and (iii) the comparative state of well-being of a few and the ill-being of the majority in society. The last approach explains poverty in terms of relativity and inequality. Whereas the first two definitions refer to the economic concept of absolute poverty, the third definition views it as a social concept, that is, in terms of the share of the total national income received by those at the bottom. We will explain each of the three views separately.
The First View
In terms of a minimum income required for subsistence, poverty has been defined as an inability to gratify the physiological need, that is, need for survival, safety and security. These physiological needs are different from the social needs (ego- satisfaction and self- esteem), the need for autonomy, need for independence and the need for self-actualization. The minimum requirements for fulfilling the physiological needs are food and nutrition, shelter, and preventive and protective health care. This requires ‘minimum’ income (varying from society to society) to buy necessities and avail of facilities.
Here ‘poverty’ is perceived in terms of poverty line which is determined by the prevailing standards of what is needed for health efficiency, nurturing of