Standard - IX

Social Science - II94

It will be nice if we look back and seewhere we are after 60 years ofIndependence.

Tremandous changes are taking placein many fields. Some reports show thatIndia is one of the leading countrieshaving high economic growth. Somecountries and internationalorganisations see India as a bigeconomic power of the future.

The following changes happened hereduring the period 1950 - 2007.

• The production of food grainsincreased fourfold.

• Population increased three times.

• Realised self sufficiency in foodproduction.

• Started exporting rice, wheat andother food grains.

• Universalised public distributionsystem.

• Implemented many povertyeradication programmes.

Even while these claims are being made,the Planning Commission estimatedthat more than 30 crores of people werepoor in the country in 2004. The WorldBank reported that India had the largestnumber of poor people in the world in2005.

See the picture given below.

What do you understand from thispicture?

Fig 7.1

This is also a reality of the present day.Even when we are advanced in termsof economic growth, poverty stillcontinues to be a big problem. Thepicture shows the existence of large-scale poverty. This contrast ofprosperity of a few and poverty of themasses is one of the challenges thatIndia faces today. As a result of the

Chapter - 7

POVERTY AND FOOD SECURITY 95

development of science andtechnology, we have the capacity toproduce enough food for us as well asto provide basic facilities for all. Still,the existence of poverty remains aserious social problem.

In India the social and economiccondition of the people is not uniform.When some people live verycomfortably, the condition of themajority is bad. But, it is the duty of allto see that the basic needs of everyoneare met.

What are the basic needs of a family?

• Clothing

• Shelter

• Food

•

•

•

Rank the basic needs you haveindentified in the order of priority.

As noticed, food, clothing, shelter,drinking water, medical care, educationetc are the basic needs of all humanbeings.

What is poverty? Explain.Evaluate the description

given below.

Poverty is a situation where people failto satisfy their basic needs.

Can you say whether a familyis experiencing poverty by

looking at the life style? Discuss.

Given below is a chart prepared by astudent as part of the class work:

Poverty - a Multi-dimensionalProblem

Poverty means a situation where humanbeings

Experience hunger

Do not have enough clothes

Do not have a house

Do not have access to drinking water

Do not have access to medical facilities

Do not have access to education

Are not able to get a job

Are denied opportunities

Are denied freedom

How suitable is the title given to thechart? Can you give a better title?

Poverty is a situation that cannot beexplained in a single word. Why?

Do you agree with the contents ofthe chart? Do you want to addanything? Why?

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Social Science - II96

Poverty - Hunger - Famine

Poverty is the situation where the basicneeds are not met. When people do notget enough to eat, it is hunger.When allthe people or majority of them do not getfood and consequently a sizable numberof people die, it is described as famine.In the last century, the biggest faminereported in 20th Century was in Bengal in1943 in which 30 lakh people died.

To fulfill the basic needs,income is necessary. But the

income of all families is not the same. Whensome people have very high income, someothers have very little. This causes poverty.How relevant is this in the case of India?Discuss.

0.8

3.28

1.26

43.36

23.0228.28

Sub-SaharanAfrica

South Asia

%East Asia -Pacific

EuropeCentral Asia

%

%

%

%

%

The distribution of poverty in developing countries (2005)World Bank 2009

Fig 7.2

Source: World Bank 2009, Global Economic Prospects,Commodities at the cross roads

Latin AmericaCaribbeanMiddle East Asia -North Africa

Measuring Poverty - Interna-tional levelAs per the World Bank estimate, aperson who earns income of less than$ 1.25 per day at 2005 prices isconsidered below the poverty line. Forexample, when a dollar is equivalent toRs.48, people who do not have Rs.60 tobuy their daily requirements areconsidered to be poor. Accordingly, 140crores of people were considered poorin 2005. Of this 137.35 crores of peoplebelonged to the developing countrieslike India, China, Pakistan, Brazil Iraqetc. The distribution of the poverty indeveloping countries is given below infigure 7.2.

Chapter - 7

POVERTY AND FOOD SECURITY 97

Sub Saharan Africa:

The African countries which are situatedon the south of the Sahara desert likeCameroon, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa,Zambia, Nigeria, Mauritius, Senegal,Somalia.

South Asia

India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal,Bangladesh etc which lie in the southernpart of the Asian continent.

Middle East Asia - North Africa

Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia,Yemen, Morocco, Algeria etc

Latin America -Caribbean

Brazil, Argentina, Jamaica, Bolivia,Colombia, Cuba etc

Europe - Central Asia

Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Russia,Turkey, Romania etc

East Asia - Pacific

China, Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia,Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnametc

Which developing countries had alot of poor people in 2005?

On the map mark thedeveloping countries that had

the largest number of poor people.

In 2005, 43.36% of the poor people werefrom South Asian countries like Indiaand Pakistan. Among the developingcountries, one third of the poor live inIndia.

Measuring Poverty in IndiaThe poor are identified using ayardstick of expenditure needed tofulfill the basic needs. The amountrequired for this has to be determinedand those who earn less than this levelis considered to be living belowpoverty line.

The first stage to identify the poor is tofix the poverty line. This is an imaginaryline. Deciding the physical energyrequirement of an individual for hisdaily life is the first phase. Physicalenergy is calculated in calories. In India,a person in the rural area needs 2400calories and in the urban area 2100calories for his daily needs. Foodarticles required to obtain that amountof energy have to be ascertained. Then,the income required to buy the amountof food articles has to be calculated.The usual procedure in India is todecide the poverty line keeping that asthe yardstick. On the basis of this, in2004-2005, it was decided that a personearning less than Rs. 356.30 in ruralareas and Rs.538.60 in urban areas, in amonth, falls below the poverty line.

Poverty ratio can be found out bydividing the number of poor by thetotal population.

Standard - IX

Social Science - II98

Poverty ratio =

×No of people below the poverty line 100Total population

Poverty ratio shows the percentage ofpeople living below the poverty line.In 2004, the poverty ratio in India was27.5. It means that out of the totalpopulation 27.5% were living belowthe poverty line.

Poverty in IndiaDadabhai Naoroji, who was one of theimportant leaders of our nationalmovement, was the person who firstscientifically calculated the poverty inIndia. After independence, manyattempts were made to calculatepoverty.

Examine Table 7.1 and figures 7.3 A and7.3 B

Poverty in India (1973 - 2004)

Year Below poverty line

Percentage Number (crore)

1973 54.88 32.13

1983 44.48 32.29

1993 35.97 32.04

2004 27.5 30.17

Source: Govt. of India (2008), PressInformation Bureau, PovertyEstimates for 2004 - 05

Table 7.1

Are the changes in the number andthe percentage of the poor in In-dia at different points of timesimilar? Compare.

Fig. 7.3 B

Numb

er of

peop

le belo

w po

verty

line (

Crore

s)

Year

Number of the Poor in India (crores)

Year

Poverty ratio in India

Fig. 7.3 A

Pove

rty Ra

tio (%

)

Chapter - 7

POVERTY AND FOOD SECURITY 99

Between 1973 and 2004, the povertyratio decreased by half but there wasno substantial change in the number.

You have understood what is meant bypoverty ratio. Figure7.4 shows thepoverty estimates in the importantstates.

Is the poverty ratio same in all thestates of India?

Mark the states that havehigher and lower poverty ratio

than the Indian average (27.5) on the mapusing different colours.

Poverty is more among landlessagricultural labourers, fishermen, traditionalindustrial workers, Schedule Castes andScheduled Tribes. Discuss the reasons for this.

Poverty in KeralaKerala is known all over the world forits acheivements in humandevelopment. Even though the percapita income in Kerala is not high ourachievements in human developmentindicators are very high. Kerala standsfirst in India in the field of humandevelopment. Low infant mortality, lowmortality rate, high life expectancy andhigh literacy rate are the achievementsof Kerala. Although Kerala has madeprogress in all these areas, poverty hasnot been completely eradicated.According to the Planning Commission,15 % of the people are poor in 2004-05.In urban areas, 20.6% are poor. Povertyin rural areas is severe among theagricultural labourers and craftsmen. In

05

101520253035404550

Oris

sa

Biha

r

Cha

ttisg

arh

Jhar

khan

d

Utta

rakh

and

Mad

hya

Prad

esh

Utta

r Pra

desh

Mah

aras

htra

Indi

a

Kar

nata

ka

Wes

t Ben

gal

Tam

il N

adu

Raj

asta

n

Guj

arat

And

hra

Prad

esh

Ker

ala

Har

yana

Punj

ab

Jam

mu

& K

ashm

ir

46.441.4 40.9 40.3 39.6 38.3

32.8 30.727.5

25 24.722.5 22.1

16.8 15.8 15 14

8.45.4

Poverty ratios in some states in India (2004 05)Po

verty

ratio

(%)

States

Source: Govt of India, 2008, Poverty Estimates for 2004 - 05Fig 7.4

Standard - IX

Social Science - II100

the urban areas intensisity of povertyis concentrated among those employedin informal sectors. See table 7.2

Percentage of people below povertyline-different classes

Class Below poverty Totalline (%) population (%)

ScheduledCastes 19 9.81

ScheduledTribes 3 1.14

Others 78 89.05

Total 100 100

Source: Economic Review 2008Kerala State Planning Board.

Table 7.2

What can you deduce from theTable7.2?

• In Kerala, Schedule Castes constitute9.81% of the total population , but amongthe poor they constitute 19% .

•

Reasons for povertyMore than 30 crores of people in Indiaare poor, according to the statistics 2004for the year. Have you ever thought ofthe reasons for this?

Discuss and write about thecauses of poverty

• Unemployment

• Exploitation

• Inequality in wealth and income.

•

•

Observe the flow chart 7.1 and showhow unemployment leads to poverty

You have understood howunemployment causes

poverty. In the same way, find out howilliteracy leads to poverty and prepare a chart.

We can eradicate poverty onlyby removing the factors

causing poverty. Discuss

Inequality in wealth leads topoverty. This problem also has

to be solved to eradicate poverty. How canthis be done in India? Discuss.

Eradication of povertyPoverty is not only the problem of theperson who faces it. It is also theproblem of the society. So thegovernment has to play a major role ineradicating it. Along with that, socialinterventions are inevitable forelimination of poverty.

Chapter - 7

POVERTY AND FOOD SECURITY 101

Eradication of poverty is essential forthe growth of a country. One of theprime objectives of our plan has beenthe eradication of poverty.

How can the governmentintervene in the eradication of

poverty?

• By creating employment

• By making educational opportunitiesavailable to all

• By making drinking water available toall

•

•

•

The adverse effects of price rise, naturalcalamities, diseases, pollution etc aremore severely felt by the poor. Forexample, price rise makes it moredifficult for the poor to buy their basic

necessities, since it reduces purchasingpower. Hence, poverty increases. FAOpointed out that , in 2007, the numberof poor people increased by 7.5 crores.It is mainly due to increase in foodprices. This would have made youunderstand that problems like price risewould affect the poor most. Let us seewhat can be done to reduce poverty andto protect the poor people.

• Strengthen the Public DistributionSystem.

• Make available basic amenities likegood roads, water supply, educationfacilities and medical facilities to thepoor. Let us see how good roads canhelp in eradicating poverty.Transport facility generates jobopportunities and helps the poorpeople find markets for theirproducts. This helps to earn more.

• Make available land, house andother assets to the poor.

→→ →Low purchasingpower

Less opportunityfor education

Low consumption →

Illnesses

Low nutrition→

→

→

→

Low income

Une

mpl

oym

ent

Low capacity towork

Pove

rty

→

→

→

→

→Flow chart 7.1

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Social Science - II102

Land reforms and eradication ofpoverty

Most of the poor do not have land or ahouse. As a result of land reforms, thelandless get land. This ownership right ofland provides opportunities for housing,better education and employment. Keralais one of the states that has implementedland reforms successfully.

Decentralisation

Decentralisation devolves more power,responsibility and finance to localgovernments (Panchayat, Municipality,Corporation). With people's participation,local development programmes areplanned, implemented and evaluated.Decentralisation facilitates the poor to getinvolved in planning, implementation andmonitoring. Hence the problems of thepoor get more attention. This facilitatesthe creation of assets for the poor. Keralahas implemented decentralised planningsuccessfully.

• Strengthen local self-governmentinstitutions.

• Provide universal free education.

From the flow chart 7.2, we can find outhow education helps in reducingpoverty.

Do you think that poverty ina family can be reduced if a

child studies well? Discuss.

Points:

• Education and employment

• Education and health care

• Education and social status

• Better standard of living

•

•

Food Security and Poverty Eradi-cationFood security is the first step toeradicate poverty. Food security meansavailability of quality food for all, at alltimes. It has three aspects.

• Availability of sufficient food for all

• Capacity for all to buy sufficient food

→

Educ

ation

better health care

better jobopportunities

more purchasingcapacity

bette

r sta

ndar

dof

living

erad

icat

ion o

f pov

erty

→→

→

→

→ →more income

→

Flow chart 7.2

Chapter - 7

POVERTY AND FOOD SECURITY 103

• Quality food available to all

The objective of food security is to freepeople from poverty and malnutrition.

Increased food production is importantto eradicate poverty. Equally importantis the distribution food. The notedeconomist and Nobel prize winner,Amartya Sen has stated that even whenthere is an increase in food production,hunger can take place. Equitabledistribution of food has an importantrole in eradicating poverty. So foodsecurity cannot be achieved withoutstrengthening the public distributionsystem.

In the modern world, health problems aredue to eating too much. This leads toobesity. Not only that, when one sectionof people have problem in finding food,another section calculate the calories tofind means to lose weight.

Poverty Eradication ProgrammesThe focus of the first three five-yearplans in India was eradication ofpoverty through economic growth. But,in the beginning of the 70s, it becameclear that it was not possible to eradicatepoverty through economic growthalone. So, it was decided to attackpoverty directly. As part of this, manyspecial programmes were launched. Inthe 11th five-year plan (2007 - 12),inclusive growth was made a majorobjective. Various poverty eradicationprogrammes were modified and reorganized to attain this objective.

The major poverty eradicationprogrammes of the union governmentare:

• National Rural EmploymentGuarantee Scheme (NREGS)

• Indira Avas Yojana(IAY)

• Swarnajayanthi Grama SwarosgarYojana (SGSY)

• Swarna Jayanthi Shahari RozgarYojana (SJSRY)

• Integrated Housing and SlumDevelopment Programme (IHSDP)

• Total Sanitation Mission (TSM)

NREGSThe Parliament passed the NationalRural Employment Guarantee Act inSeptember 2005. According to this law,each family in the rural areas is assuredof 100 days of work in a year. Thosewho are willing to do physical labourwould get jobs. As a part of thisprogramme, minor irrigation projects,road construction etc are taken up.Now, this porgramme is known asMahatma Gandhi National RuralEmployment Guarantee Scheme(MGNREGS).

See the flow chart (7.3) to know how thisscheme helps to eradicate poverty.

Organise a seminar on thetopic, 'A review of the main

poverty eradication programmes in India'

Standard - IX

Social Science - II104

→→→

→

NRE

GS

Expenditure ofincome

Ensu

re 1

00 d

ays o

fem

ploy

men

t

Creates assets likeirrigation facilities

Generatesemployment

Generatesincome

MoreIncome

Development ofrural economy

Moreemployment

Pove

rty E

radi

catio

n

→

→

→

→

→

Flowchart - 7.3

Public Distribution System inIndiaIt was at the time of the Second WorldWar that the ration system wasintroduced in India.

When the food scarcity was severely feltin 1960s, this system was strengthenedand spread to more areas. But, with theintroduction of liberalised economicpolicies in India, rationing was confinedto the poor. As part of this, TargetedPublic Distribution System wasintroduced in 1997. According to this,the families above the poverty line(APL) and those below the povertyline(BPL) have separate ration cardswith different colours. Food articles areavailable at different prices for BPL andAPL categories.

Poverty Eradication in KeralaTo reduce poverty, many povertyeradication programmes andemployment generation schemes havebeen implemented in Kerala. Manyprojects for providing infrastructuralfacilities have aslo been implemented.'Kudumbashree' has come into being

everywhere in Kerala. You have learntabout this earlier. The main objectiveof Kudumbasree is poverty reductionthrough empowerment. 'Ashraya' is acomprehensive development schemearrived at the rehabilitation ofdestitutes 'Mahilamandirams',Aftercare Homes and Rescue Homesfunction under the Social WelfareDepartment for the welfare of women.There are more than 40 pensionschemes in Kerala for the underprivileged like agricultural labourersand widows. For the workers in theunorganized sector, there are 24 welfarefund boards. There are also manyspecial welfare programs for theScheduled Castes and ScheduledTribes.

Prepare a table of the pensionschemes in Kerala. Choose one

from that and discuss how it eradicates povertyand provides social security.

Public Distribution System inKeralaUniversalisation of rationing came intoexistence in Kerala in 1966. The public

Chapter - 7

POVERTY AND FOOD SECURITY 105

distribution system functions efficientlyin Kerala. It has a special place inKerala, since we have shortage of morethan 75% of food grains. The publicdistribution system has three facets.

• Distribution of grains through rationshops.

• Mid-day meal scheme in schools.

• Distribution of nutritious food tochildren below 5 and pregnantwomen through Anganwadis.

Visit a ration shop near yourhouse and collect relevant

data to evaluate the ration system. Pointsgiven below may be considered.

• Helps to control the prices in the openmarket

• Ensuring food security

• Helps to eradicate poverty

• Number of families using the facilities ofthe ration shops

• Whether the weight, quality andavailability are satisfactory

• Difference of price for BPL and APL cardholders

• Compatability of the timings of the rationshops and those of the public.

Kerala State Civil Supplies Cor-poration (KSCSC)This was established in 1974. KSCSC haspresence all over the state. All necessarycommodities are sold at reasonableprices. During festival times like Onam

additional branches are opened and thishelp to control the price in the openmarket. The Co-operative sector alsoactively involves in the distribution ofcommodities for daily needs.

Poverty Eradication Programmesin India- An EvaluationThe poverty alleviation programmes inIndia have contributed greatly to thereduction of poverty. The publicdistribution system, generation ofemployment in rural areas, buildingbasic facilities like roads, buildings etc.are the achievements of theprogrammes. But, these programmeshave many limitations.

Important limitations are:

• All are not getting the benefitsequally

• Even those who are not poor also getthe benefit

• Insufficient allocation of fund for theschemes

• Corruption and inefficientimplementation

• Neglect of local conditions

The Indian constitution upholds theprinciples of equality and public wellbeing of all. Even now, a large sectionof the population is poor. This showsthat we still have not been able to attainthis goal. We have been able to reducethe poverty ratio in the post -independence period. But, povertyexists as a serious problem. We have along way to go to eradicate poverty.

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Social Science - II106

Follow up Activities....1. To eradicate poverty, the poor get

Rice at a cheaper rate through rationshops.

Jobs through programmes like theNREGS.

Education and technical skills areimparted to students.

• Which of the above measure is themost suitable to eradicatepoverty? Why?

• Are all the measures given abovenecessary for the eradication ofpoverty? If so, why?

Discuss and prepare a note.

Points• Short term measures for

eradication of poverty

• Long term measures foreradication of poverty

2. As a student, what is your role ineradicating poverty? Discuss andwrite a note.

Points• Education and eradication of poverty

• Poverty as a social issue

• Helping your classmates

• Social intervention

•

•