CBSE Class 9 Social Science: Economics - Poverty As a Challenge NCERT Solutions

Different countries employ distinct poverty lines because the definition of basic needs and the cost of living vary significantly across nations. These variations are influenced by a country's unique social and economic circumstances. For instance, what is considered a basic necessity in one country might be a luxury in another. An example illustrating this is the difference in perceived needs: in a country like America, a car might be considered essential for daily life, whereas in India, a car is still largely viewed as a luxury item. Therefore, the income required to live above the poverty line in one nation may be considerably lower or higher than in another.

In my locality, the minimum necessary level for a month could be considered around two thousand rupees. This estimation is based on the fact that many residents belong to economically disadvantaged sections of society, which limits their earning potential and, consequently, their spending capacity. The focus is primarily on meeting essential needs rather than accumulating resources for luxuries or non-essential items, as even securing basic necessities presents a significant challenge for many families.

1. Reason for stagnant number of poor despite declining ratio:

Although the poverty ratio (percentage of poor people) decreased between 1993-94 and 2004-05, the absolute number of poor individuals remained around 407 million primarily due to rapid population growth during that period. A growing population means that even if a smaller proportion of people are poor, the total count of poor individuals can remain high or even increase. This demographic trend puts pressure on the government to provide employment opportunities and ensure adequate food supply for a larger populace. Until basic amenities are sufficiently provided to every citizen, the number of people living in poverty is likely to remain a significant concern.

2. Dynamics of poverty reduction in rural vs. urban India:

The dynamics of poverty reduction are not uniform across rural and urban India. This is because the rural poor and the urban poor face distinct challenges. For example, landlessness is a major contributing factor to poverty in rural areas, affecting agricultural laborers and small farmers. In contrast, unemployment and underemployment are often the primary drivers of poverty in urban settings, where people migrate seeking work but may not find stable or adequate employment.

(i) Social and Economic Group Affiliation:

Observations of poor families around us reveal that they often belong to specific social groups such as Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs). Economically, many fall into categories like rural agricultural labor households or urban informal sector workers. Some families may also belong to other marginalized social communities.

(ii) Earning Members in the Family:

In most of these poor families, typically, multiple able-bodied members contribute to earning. This is a necessity because the wages earned by just one or two individuals are often insufficient to cover the basic needs and sustain the entire household. Therefore, every possible earner in the family engages in some form of labor or economic activity.

(iii) Condition of Old People:

The elderly members in these families often face the most challenging circumstances. They may suffer from various health issues but lack adequate access to medical care due to financial constraints. Furthermore, they are sometimes perceived as a burden by the family, as they may not be able to contribute economically and require care and resources.

(iv) School Attendance of Children:

It is observed that school attendance among children in these families is generally low. Even when parents are willing to send their children to school, there's often a preference for educating the male children. Female children are frequently kept at home to assist with household chores, childcare, or to contribute in other ways to the family's survival.