Kerala Plus One Economics Chapter Wise Previous Questions Chapter 4 Poverty
Question 1.
The government introduced so many poverty alleviation programmes with an aim to reduce poverty in our nation. Do you think these programmes are capable of reducing poverty in your locality? Prepare a general discussion report on the effectiveness of the various poverty alleviation programmes. (March 2009)
Answer:
Poverty is the inability to secure the minimum consumption requirements like food, clothing, education, housing, health etc. The poverty line is the cut-off point which divides the population into poor and non-poor. Several poverty eradication programmes are being introduced by the government to reduce poverty in one locality. Some of them are:
- Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP)
- Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY)
- Swamajayanthi Gram Swarogar Yojana (SGSY)
- National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP)
The PMRY: GA was launched on 1st April 2000. The programme aims at providing the housing needs of rural people.
National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) 2005: In August 2005, the Parliament has passed a new Act known as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005. The act provides guaranteed wage employment to every household whose adult volunteer is to do unskilled manual work fora minimum of 100 days in a year. The act came into force from 2nd February 2006 and implemented in India’s 200 most backward districts. Later on, it was extended to all over the country in two phases. The programme was later on renamed as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGP) or commonly called the Employment Assurance Scheme.
Critical Assessment of Poverty Alleviation Programmes: Through the policy towards poverty alleviation has evolved in a progressive manner but over the last five and a half decades it has not undergone any radical transformation.
Scholars state three major areas of concern which prevent the successful implementation of the programs are
- Unequal distribution of land and other assets due to the benefits that have been availed by the non-poor.
- In comparison to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated for these programmes is not sufficient.
- These programs depend mainly on government and bank officials for their implementation since such officials are ill-motivated, inadequately trained, corruption-prone, and vulnerable to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted.
Question 2.
Compare and contrast the terms relative and absolute poverty. Do you think absolute poverty exists in your neighbourhood? (March 2009)
Answer:
Absolute poverty is customary to fix the minimum level of diet, which can provide 2250 calories per day. On the other hand, relative poverty is made by a comparison of the relative levels of income of the top 10 or 20 percent with the bottom 10 or 20 percent of the population. Yes, Absolute poverty exists in my neighbourhood.
Question 3.
Arun and Varun are intimate friends. Varun always speaks about poverty in his house and the poor condition of his parents. Define poverty. Distinguish between urban poverty and rural poverty. Give the factors, other than income and assets, associated with poverty. (March 2010)
Answer:
Poverty is defined as the situation in which people are unable to satisfy the basic necessities of life. Open unemployment and disguised unemployment are the features of urban unemployment. Urban people possess many assets. Whereas in rural areas, people possess few assets, and disguised unemployment is found.
Factors associated with poverty are:
- unemployment
- indebtedness
- unequal distribution of wealth
- low levels of education and skill
- ill health and sickness
- pressure of population
- low capital formation
- lack of infrastructure
Question 4.
Self-employment programmes play a major role in alleviating poverty in India. Discuss. (March 2011)
Answer:
Reducing poverty has been one of the major objectives of India’s Developmental strategies. The government’s approach to poverty reduction was of three dimensions. The first one is the growth-oriented approach. It is based on the expectation that the effects of economic growth — rapid increase in gross domestic product and per capita income — would spread to all sections of society and will trickle down to the poor sections also. With the view to reduce the magnitude of poverty, the government has undertaken a lot of programs from time to time. Some of them are Employment Generation Programme (REGP), Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) and Swarna Jayanti Shahari RozgarYojana (SJSRY) National Food for Work Programme (NFWP), and SampoornaGrameen RozgarYojana (SGRY).
Due to the unequal distribution of land and other assets, the benefits from direct poverty alleviation programmes have been appropriated by the non-poor. Compared to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated for these programmes is not sufficient. Moreover, these programmes depend mainly on government and bank officials for their implementation. Since such officials are ill-motivated, inadequately trained, corruption-prone and vulnerable to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted. There is also non-participation of local-level institutions in programme implementation.
Question 4.
You are asked to prepare a project report on the functioning of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Kerala. If so: (March 2013)
- Write two target groups from whom the data is to be collected.
- Write the two types of data collection for this purpose.
Answer:
- Kudumbashree and Janashree
- Personal interview and questionnaire send through enumerators.
Question 5.
The government has given prime importance to poverty alleviation since independence. Prepare a seminar report on the policies and programmes implemented in India for poverty eradication. State whether the following statements are true or false. (Say 2013)
Answer:
Reducing poverty has been one of the major objectives of India’s Developmental strategies. The government’s approach to poverty reduction was of three dimensions. The first one is the growth-oriented approach. It is based on the expectation that the effects of economic growth — rapid increase in gross domestic product and per capita income — would spread to all sections of society and will trickle down to the poor sections also. With the view to reduce the magnitude of poverty, the government has undertaken a lot of programs from time to time. Some of them are Employment Generation Programme (REGP), Prime Minister’s RozgarYojana (PMRY), and Swarna JayantiShahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) National Food for Work Programme (NFWP) and Sampooma Grameen RozgarYojana (SGRY).
Due to the unequal distribution of land and other assets, the benefits from direct poverty alleviation programmes have been appropriated by the non-poor. Compared to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated to forthese programmes is not sufficient. Moreover, these programmes depend mainly on government and bank officials for their implementation. Since such officials are ill-motivated, inadequately trained, corruption-prone, and vulnerable to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted. There is also non-participation of local-level institutions in programme implementation.
Government policies have also failed to address the vast majority of vulnerable people who are living on or just above the poverty line. It also reveals that high growth alone is not sufficient to reduce poverty. Without the active participation of the poor, successful implementation of any programme is not possible. However, the success of these programmes is negligible. They have not produced the expected results in reducing the poverty rate in India especially in the rural areas. Therefore, it can be concluded that the anti-poverty programmes being implemented by the government are not sufficient for reducing our country’s poverty.
Question 6.
Many poverty alleviation programmes are implemented in India but still, a large number of people are below the poverty line. Mention the shortcomings of poverty alleviation programmes. (March 2014)
Answer:
Through the policy towards poverty alleviation has evolved in a progressive manner but overthe last five and a half decades it has not undergone any radical transformation.
Scholars state three major areas of concern which prevent the successful implementation of the programs are
- Unequal distribution of land and other assets due to the benefits have been availed by the non-poor.
- In comparison to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated for these programmes is not sufficient.
- These programs depend mainly on government and bank officials for their implementation since such officials are ill-motivated, inadequately trained, corruption-prone, and vulnerable to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted.
Question 7.
After the discussion on poverty alleviation programmes in your class, your Economics teacher tells you to prepare a chart in the following format in order to exhibit it in the class. Can you do it? (Say 2014)
Answer:
Question 8.
Government introduced so many poverty alleviation programmes with an aim to reduce poverty in our nation. Mention the various poverty alleviation measures implemented in India. (March 2015)
Answer:
The poverty alleviation programmes in India can be categorized based on whether it is targeted for rural areas or urban areas. Most of the programmes are designed to target rural poverty as the prevalence of poverty is high in rural areas. Also targeting of the poor is challenging in rural areas due to various geographic and infrastructure limitations.
The programmes can be mainly grouped into
- Wage employment programmes
- Self-employment programmes
- Food security programmes
- Social security programmes and
- Urban poverty alleviation programmes.
The government has relied mainly on three approaches for reduction of poverty. The first entails pursuit of higher economic growth which will improve the levels of living of all groups of people in the society including the poor, the second involves direct antipoverty programmes and the third has stressed high priority to government expenditure on social sectors. After independence, the Government has launched several poverty alleviation programmes, the important among these are as follows:
- Legal elimination of bonded labourers.
- Preventing the centralisation of wealth by modifying the law.
- the Antyodaya plan.
- Small Farmers Development Programme (SFDP)
- Drought Area Development Programme (DADP)
- Twenty point programme
- Food for work programme
- Minimum needs programme (MNP)
- Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)
- National Rural Employment Programme (NREP)
- Rural Labour Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP)
- TRYSEM scheme
- Jawahar Rojgar Yojna (JRY)
- Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna.
- National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
- Rural Housing Programme.
- Indira Awas Yojana.
- Pradhan Mantri RojgarYojna.
- Nehru Rozgar Yojna (NRY)
- Self-Employment Programme for the Urban Poor, (SEPUP)
- Prime Minister’s Integrated Urban Poverty Eradication Programme (PMIUPEP)
Poverty, however, can be eradicated only when the various facilities and concessions for the upliftment of the downtrodden actually reach them. Then, there should be proper utilisation of these concessions and facilities.
The focus of attention should not be on individual households but on the group of households. The assets of the individual household should be pooled together to start occupation when are technically feasible and economically viable.
Question 9.
Classify the following as sources of human capital and causes of poverty. (Say 2015)
Investment in health, indebtedness, unemployment, investment in education, inequality, investment in job training.
Answer:
Sources of human capital
- Investment in health
- Investment in education
- Investment in job training
Causes of poverty
- Indebtedness
- Unemployment
- Inequality
Question 10.
Critically evaluate the poverty alleviation programmes in India. (March 2016)
Answer:
Through the policy towards poverty alleviation has evolved in a progressive manner but overthe last five and a half decades it has not undergone any radical transformation. Scholars state three major areas of concern which prevent the successful implementation of the programs are
- Unequal distribution of land and other assets due to the benefits that have been availed by the non-poor.
- In comparison to the magnitude of poverty, the amount of resources allocated for these programmes is not sufficient.
- These programs depend mainly on government and bank officials for their implementation since such officials are ill-motivated, inadequately trained, corruption-prone, and vulnerable to pressure from a variety of local elites, the resources are inefficiently used and wasted.
Question 11.
Prepare a seminar paper on “The poverty alleviation programmes” introduced by the Government of India. (Say 2016)
(Hint: Three-dimensional approach to poverty reduction)
Answer:
The poverty alleviation programmes of India has three approaches growth-oriented approach: This approach based on trickle-down was followed in the 1950s. But the benefits of development did not trickle down as expected and the problem of poverty persisted. An alternative approach was adopted which stressed providing employment to the poor and supplementing their income in order to pull them out of poverty. The third approach adopted in India to address the issue of poverty was through the provision of minimum basic amenities to the people.
1) Swamajayanti Grameen SwarogarYojana (SGSY) It was launched in 1999. This programme was introduced by merging some of the programmes prevailing before. They are following.
TRYSEM (1979): This programme aims at providing training to poor rural youth to enable them to take up self-employment.
IRDP(1980): Integrated Rural development programme.
This programme was assisting to find self-employment for farmers who live below poverty line, agricultural labourers and craftsmen in rural areas.
DWCRA(1982): Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas.
It was launched for the development of women and children in rural areas.
Million well scheme: It was mainly introduced through self-help groups.
2) Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) 2001
The programme aims at providing food security and employment to rural people. The related programmes are:
RLEGP(Rural handless Employment Guarantee Programme)
This programme provides employment to rural landless labour.
JRY(Jawahar Rozgar Yojana)
It provides employment to the rural poor.
NREP (National Rural Employment Programme) It was the new name given to the restructured food for work programme. Later all these programmes were integrated with SGRY.
JGSY(Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana)
It was launched in 1999. Its objective was the creation of social assets in rural areas.
3) Nehru Rozgar Yojana (NRY)
This programme aims at providing employment to the urban poor.
4) Swarna Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) The aim of this programme is to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful, self-employment and skilled employment opportunities.
5) Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY)
Under this programme, the educated unemployed from low-income families in rural and urban areas can get financial help to set up the enterprise.
6) MGNREGP (2006)
Govt promises 100 days of guaranteed wage em-ployment to all rural households who are willing to provide unskilled manual work.
Food security programmes
- Public distribution system (PPS)
- Integrated Child Devt Scheme (ICDS)
- Midday Meals at School (1995)
- Annapurna Scheme (2001)
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana
Social Security Programmes
- Janasree Bhima Yojana
- Rashtriya Swasthya Bhima Yojana (2007)
- Am Admi Bhima Yojana (2007)
Criticism
- The implementation of poverty alleviation programmes has several shortfalls. They are the following:
- The benefits of these programmes have been enjoyed mostly by the non-poor.
- The amount allocated for these programmes is insufficient.
- The insufficient use of resources has been adversely affected by the implementation of the programmes.
- The lack of active participation in these programmes does not lead to successful effects.
Question 12.
Prepare an essay on various policies and programs towards poverty alleviation in India. Do you find any faults in the implementation of these programs? Substantiate. (Your answer in three pages.) (March 2017)
Answer:
The poverty alleviation programmes of India has three approaches growth-oriented approach: This approach based on trickle-down was followed in the 1950s. But the benefits of development did not trickle down as expected and the problem of poverty persisted. An alternative approach was adopted which stressed on providing employment to the poor and supplementing their income in order to pull them out of poverty. The third approach adopted in India to address the issue of poverty was through the provision of minimum basic amenities to the people.
1) Swamajayanti Grameen SwarogarYojana (SGSY) It was launched in 1999. This programme was introduced by merging some of the programmes prevailing before. They are following.
TRYSEM (1979): This programme aims at providing training to poor rural youth to enable them to take up self-employment.
IRDP(1980): Integrated Rural development programme.
This programme was assisting to find self-employment for farmers who live below poverty line, agri-cultural labourers, and craftsmen in rural areas.
DWCRA(1982): Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas.
It was launched for the development of women and children in rural areas.
Million well scheme: It was mainly introduced through self-help groups.
2) Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY) 2001
The programme aims at providing food security and employment to rural people. The related programmes are:
RLEGP(Rural handless Employment Guarantee Programme)
This programme provides employment to rural landless labour.
JRY(Jawahar Rozgar Yojana)
It provides employment to the rural poor.
NREP (National Rural Employment Programme) It was the new name given to the restructured food for work programme. Later all these programmes were integrated with SGRY.
JGSY(Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana)
It was launched in 1999. It objective was the creation of social assets in rural areas.
3) Nehru Rozgar Yojana (NRY)
This programme aims at providing employment to the urban poor.
4) Swarna Jayanthi Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) The aim of this programme is to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful, self-employment, and skilled employment opportunities.
5) Prime Minister RozgarYojana (PMRY)
Under this programme, the educated unemployed from low-income families in rural and urban areas can get financial help to set up the enterprise.
6) MGNREGP (2006)
Govt promises 100 days of guaranteed wage employment to all rural households who are willing to provide unskilled manual work.
Food security programmes
- Public distribution system (PPS)
- Integrated Child Devt Scheme (ICDS)
- Midday Meals at School (1995)
- Annapurna Scheme (2001)
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana
Social Security Programmes
- Janasree Bhima Yojana
- Rashtriya Swasthya Bhima Yojana (2007)
- Am Admi Bhima Yojana (2007)
Criticism
- The implementation of poverty alleviation programmes has several shortfalls. They are the following:
- The benefits of these programmes have been enjoyed mostly by the non-poor.
- The amount allocated for this programme is insufficient.
- The insufficient use of resources has been adversely affected by the implementation of the programmes.
- The lack of active participation in these programmes does not lead to successful effects.