Anti-Poverty measures - Concepts - Chapter 3 Class 9 Economics - Poverty as a Challenge - Economics

Anti-Poverty Measures

• Removal of poverty has been one of the major objectives of Indian developmental strategy.
  
  
• The current anti-poverty strategy of the government is based broadly on two planks
  (1) promotion of economic growth
  (2) targeted anti-poverty programs.
  
  
• There is a strong link between economic growth and poverty reduction.
  
  
• Economic growth widens opportunities and provides the resources needed to invest in human development.
  
  
• This also encourages people to send their children, including the girl child, to schools in the hope of getting better economic returns from investing in education.
  
  
• However, the poor may not be able to take direct advantage of the opportunities created by economic growth.
  
  
• In these circumstances, there is a clear need for targeted anti-poverty programs.
  
  
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 aims to provide 100 days of wage employment to every household to ensure livelihood security in rural areas.
  
  
• It also aimed at sustainable development to address the cause of drought, deforestation, and soil erosion.
  
  
• One-third of the proposed jobs have been reserved for women. The scheme provided employment for 220 crore person days of employment to 4.78 crore households.
  
  
• Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) is another scheme that was started in 1993.
  
  
• The aim of the program is to create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns.
  
  
• Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) was launched in 1995. The aim of the program is to create self-employment opportunities in rural areas and small towns.
  
  
• Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) was launched in 1999.
  The program aims at bringing the assisted poor families above the poverty line by organizing them into self-help groups through a mix of bank credit and government subsidy.
  
  
• Under the Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) launched in 2000, additional central assistance is given to states for basic services such as primary health, primary education, rural shelter, rural drinking water, and rural electrification.
  
  
• The results of these programs have been mixed. One of the major reasons for less effectiveness is the lack of proper implementation and the right targeting.
  
  
• Despite good intentions, the benefits of these schemes are not fully reached to the deserving poor.