Mains Marathon

Approach :

• Begin with a definition of poverty.
• Discuss the economic dimensions of poverty.
• Highlight the social dimension of poverty.
• Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction :

Poverty in India is often understood through economic lenses such as income levels or consumption expenditure. However, its persistence is rooted in deeper social structures—caste, gender, religion, region, and education—which systematically deprive certain groups of access to opportunities, dignity, and social mobility.

Body

Economic Aspects of Poverty

• Low per capita income: India’s per capita income in 2023–24 (RE) stands at around ₹1.72 lakh, indicating a substantial section still living under low-income thresholds.
• Informal employment: Over 90% of India’s workforce is employed in the informal sector with minimal job security or benefits.
• Agrarian distress and rural stagnation have left large populations vulnerable to cyclical poverty.
• Inflation and underemployment further deepen consumption-based poverty metrics.

Social Roots of Persistent Poverty

• Caste-based Exclusion:
  • Dalits and Adivasis constitute a disproportionate share of India’s poor.
  • The India Exclusion Report (2022) highlights structural barriers in accessing land, education, and formal employment for SC/ST communities.
  • Manual scavenging, landlessness, and social stigma reflect the intergenerational transmission of poverty.
• Gendered Dimensions :
  • According to PLFS 2023–24, the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) for women aged 15+ stands at 41.7%, with most of the rise seen in agriculture and low-paid informal work.
  • Women bear the burden of unpaid domestic work, lack access to property, and suffer from gender wage gaps, contributing to feminization of poverty.
  • According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), only 31.7% of women in India aged 15-49 years reported owning land either independently or jointly
• Educational and Health Inequalities:
  • ASER Reports consistently show poor learning outcomes among marginalized children.
  • SC/ST and Muslim children face higher dropout rates due to social discrimination, child labour, and early marriage.
  • Low literacy, child malnutrition, and poor health outcomes form a vicious cycle.
  • NFHS-5 data shows that 35.5% of children under five are stunted and 57% of women aged 15-49 are anaemic.
• Religious and Regional Disparities:
  • Muslim households have significantly lower landholding and access to formal credit (Sachar Committee Report, 2006).
  • Some states (Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, UP) continue to lag in development indicators, reinforcing regional poverty cycles.
• Social Capital Deficit:
  • Marginalized groups often lack access to credit, networks, and legal redress due to social invisibility and low literacy, which further impedes upward mobility.
  • Slum dwellers and informal sector workers lack housing, healthcare, and job security, as starkly revealed during the COVID-19 migrant crisis.

Conclusion:

Thus, poverty in India is not merely an economic phenomenon but a structurally embedded social reality. As Amartya Sen rightly stated, “Poverty is not just lack of money; it is not having the capability to realize one's full potential.” Targeted interventions in education, employment, health, and affirmative action are essential to break the social reproduction of poverty.