Class 9 Economics Chapter 3 Poverty as a Challenge Notes

Class 9 Economics Notes Chapter 3 – Poverty as a Challenge

Poverty Definition

Poverty is a condition where people do not have enough financial resources to meet their basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. It means living under circumstances where obtaining these basic needs becomes a struggle, making it hard for individuals or families to maintain a healthy and secure life. Poverty is not just about not having enough money; it also includes lack of access to education, healthcare, clean water, and opportunities for improvement.

Typical Two Cases Of Poverty

The following cases shoes different aspects of poverty, such as not having enough food, a proper place to live, healthcare, education, clean water, sanitation, and stable income.

Urban Case Poverty

Ram Saran works as a laborer at a flour mill near Ranchi, Jharkhand. He earns about Rs. 1500 per month when he can find work. He has a family of six to support, including his elderly parents. His wife and son also work, but they struggle to make ends meet. Sadly, none of their four children can go to school. They live in a small rented room on the outskirts of the city, where the children are malnourished and lack proper clothing and healthcare.

Rural Case Poverty

Lakha Singh is a landless laborer in a small village near Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He earns Rs. 50 per day by doing odd jobs for farmers, sometimes receiving food instead of cash. He can’t read or write, and he lives in a makeshift hut on the outskirts of the village with his family of eight. They have no access to healthcare and struggle to afford basic necessities like new clothes, soap, or oil.

Poverty Analysis by Social Scientists

Social scientists study poverty using various factors beyond just income and spending. These include:

Low literacy levels
Poor nutrition, which weakens immunity to illness
Limited healthcare access
Few job prospects
Inadequate sanitation and clean water access, and more.

The main indicators commonly used to analyze poverty are social exclusion and vulnerability.

Social Exclusion

Social exclusion related to poverty is when people who don’t have much money are also left out from opportunities and resources that others enjoy. This means they might not have the same access to good jobs, education, nice places to live, or healthcare. Being poor can lead to being excluded from important parts of society, making it even harder to improve their situation. It’s not just about not having enough money, but also about not being able to join in on what the rest of society does.

In India, the caste system leads to social exclusion. Individuals from specific castes face barriers to accessing the same facilities, benefits, and opportunities as others. This results in higher levels of poverty among those with lower incomes.

Vulnerability

Vulnerability to poverty refers to the higher chance that certain groups, like those from backward castes or individuals such as widows or people with disabilities, have of staying poor or becoming poor in the future. It’s determined by factors like access to assets, education, employment, and healthcare, which affect their ability to cope with risks like natural disasters. When a group is more at risk during natural calamities, they’re called vulnerable groups.

Poverty Line

The poverty line is a measure used to define the minimum amount of income a person or family needs to afford basic living expenses like food, clothing, and shelter. If someone earns less than this amount, they are considered to be living in poverty. This line can vary from country to country because it depends on how much things cost in different places. Governments use the poverty line to understand how many people are living in poverty and to plan how to help them.

Poverty Line Estimation in India

In India, we calculate the poverty line based on the minimum needs for food, clothing, footwear, fuel, lighting, education, and medical care. This includes how much energy (calories) is needed. Because life in rural and urban areas is different, with different types of jobs and costs of goods, the required calories and spending per person also vary.

The amount of money needed to buy the calories listed in the last column is adjusted regularly according to the increasing prices of food and other goods. In cities, essential items are more expensive compared to rural areas. Therefore, the poverty line is higher even though the daily calorie requirement is lower.

Causes of Poverty

Poverty continues in India for a variety of reasons:

Historically, there was a low level of economic development under the British colonial administration prior to 1947. They discouraged traditional handicrafts and also industrial development, reducing job opportunities and income growth.
The low level of economic development persisted for many years after independence and due to population increase, per capita income growth was low, increasing poverty.
The Green Revolution improved opportunities in agriculture, only in certain areas of the country.
The growth in the population increased the number of job seekers, who had to be content with low paying jobs in urban areas, leading to poverty spreading to towns and cities.
Sociocultural (i.e. traditions) and economic factors lead to extra expenditure, which ultimately increases poverty.
There is an unequal distribution of land and other resources, that is why there are large income inequalities also.
Land reforms have not been properly implemented and lack of adequate land resources is also a reason for many people to be poor.
Small farmers borrow money for seeds, fertilisers and pesticides, etc and later on fail to pay landing in debt trap. This high level of indebtedness is both the cause and effect of poverty.

Challenges to Reduce Poverty

Poverty reduction is still a major challenge in India, due to the wide differences between regions as well as rural and urban areas. Further, poverty should include not only the matter of the adequate amount of food but other factors like education, healthcare, shelter, job security, gender, equality, dignity and so on.
These give us the concept of human poverty. Poverty reduction is expected to be lower in the next 10-15 years.
In addition to anti-poverty measures, the government should focus on the following to reduce poverty.

Higher economic growth.
Universal free elementary education.
The decrease in population growth.
Empowerment of women and weaker sections.

Measures to Reduce Poverty

Reducing poverty is important for creating a fair and equal society where everyone has the chance to succeed. Here are some measures that can help reduce poverty:

Education and Training: Providing quality education and skills training helps people secure better jobs and higher incomes, breaking the cycle of poverty.
Job Creation: Encouraging the development of new jobs through investment and support for small and medium enterprises gives more people the chance to work and earn a living.
Access to Healthcare: Ensuring everyone has access to affordable healthcare prevents illness from pushing families into poverty and helps them stay healthy and productive.
Social Welfare Programs: Offering financial assistance, food support, and housing to those in need can help families overcome difficult periods without falling deeper into poverty.
Affordable Housing: Making housing more affordable prevents homelessness and allows people to allocate more of their budget to other essentials.
Fair Wages: Ensuring workers receive a fair wage for their labor helps them afford a basic standard of living and reduces poverty.
Financial Inclusion: Providing access to financial services, like banking and credit, enables people to start businesses, invest in education, or buy homes, fostering economic independence.
Empowering Women: Supporting women’s education, training, and workforce participation can lift entire families out of poverty.
Promotion of Economic Growth: Fostering a strong and inclusive economy can create jobs, increase incomes, and reduce poverty. Economic growth should benefit all segments of society, including the poor.
Targeted Anti-Poverty Programs: Implementing programs specifically designed to address the needs of the poorest individuals can help ensure that aid reaches those who need it most. These programs may focus on direct c

Group Vulnerable to Poverty

Certain groups in India are more likely to be poor than others. These include Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), rural landless laborers, and urban casual laborers. Recently, poverty has decreased for all these groups except the Scheduled Tribes.

Inter-State Disparities

Inter-state disparities mean that some states in a country are richer and have better living conditions, like good jobs, schools, and hospitals, while others are poorer with fewer resources and opportunities. This happens because of differences in things like natural resources, industries, government policies, and history.

For example, one state might have lots of factories and businesses that create jobs and money, while another state might not have as many industries, leading to fewer jobs and lower incomes. These differences can make it harder for people in poorer states to get a good education, healthcare, and overall quality of life.

Understanding inter-state disparities is important because it shows us where help is needed the most. Governments can use this information to make better plans to ensure that all states have the resources and opportunities for people to live well and succeed.

Global Poverty Scenario

The global poverty situation means that many people worldwide don’t have enough money for basic needs like food, housing, and clothes. Even though there’s been some progress, poverty is still a big problem, especially in poorer countries.

Lots of folks in different parts of the world survive on less than $1.90 per day, which is the poverty line. Living like this makes it tough to get food, clean water, a safe place to live, or go to school. Poverty doesn’t just affect one person; it hurts families and whole communities, making it hard for them to escape poverty.

Countries worldwide are teaming up to reduce poverty by creating jobs, improving education, and giving healthcare. Big organizations like the United Nations have set goals to end poverty by 2030. But challenges like wars, climate change, and diseases make it even harder to fight poverty.

Knowing about global poverty shows us why it’s important to work together to make a world where everyone can live a healthy, productive life. It reminds us that poverty isn’t just a local problem but a global one that needs all countries to cooperate for real change.

FAQs on Poverty as a Challenge

What is poverty as a challenge?

Poverty as a challenge means it's a big problem for the world because it stops people from having basic things like food, a home, and education. Fighting poverty is important to help everyone live better lives.

What is poverty examples?

Examples of poverty include living in a home that's not safe, not having enough food to eat every day, and children not being able to go to school because their families can't afford it.

How is poverty a challenge to the world?

Poverty is a challenge to the world because it affects millions of people, making it hard for them to live healthy, productive lives. It stops countries from growing strong and makes it tougher to solve other big problems.

Which country is no 1 poorest country?

As of my last update, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was often cited as one of the poorest countries based on income per capita. However, poverty levels can change, so it's important to look at the latest data for the most accurate information.

What are the challenges of poverty?

The challenges of poverty include not having enough money for food, education, or a safe place to live. It can also lead to poor health because people can't afford medical care. Poverty makes it hard for people and communities to grow and improve their lives.