Poverty: A Social Challenge

Poverty is defined as a lack of essential necessities such as clothes, shelter, food, and health care. Poverty is defined as a lack of resources and a low level of life that prevents fundamental human needs from being met. Poverty is presently a major socio economic problem in India and other countries across the world. Poverty may both cause and contribute to corruption, bribery, disease, a lack of education, spousal abuse, parental problems, unemployment, drug addiction, and other undesirable behaviours.

How Poverty is Challenge for Society

India has largely agricultural traditions, and the people’s social lives are simply tied to their culture and resources. The resources we have at our disposal and have found up to this point have not been deployed to the advanced stage. As it is found in developed countries, which use oil, gas, and water resources for human happiness.

The difficulties that Indians face emerge from the fact that some of the world’s most valuable resources have yet to be found. Metals such as gold, silver, copper, and iron have yet to be properly identified and employed. Experts have not uncovered all of the gas and oil deposits.

Man comes from three sources when living as a member of society. Time, money, and effort are all valuable resources at our disposal. Time is a period of life and age that is underutilised since our culture is not industrial and most of us are not schooled in the technique of utilising available resources. We have had a lot of success in training our young men in technological sectors.

Due to a lack of economy, our medical and engineering capabilities have been saturated in Indian culture, and they are looking for work in foreign nations. This has given rise to the notion that our culture is unable to absorb technical skills owing to a lack of technology resources. Our culture is traditional, and physical labour is more important than technological labour. Weightlifters, road builders, and menders of damaged goods are all needed.

The fundamental root of this societal problem is that most human resources are gifted but lack technical expertise. What we need is a tractor, vehicle, bus, and motorcycle mechanic. The most crucial necessity of technical work is this. Because these services are required by our culture.

Causes of Poverty

1. Demographics – Overpopulation is a major cause of poverty in India. India has a large population. In India, population growth has outpaced economic growth, and the net consequence has been that poverty levels have stayed relatively stable.
2. Low productivity in Agriculture – There is a lot of evidence that agriculture may help reduce poverty in ways other than directly affecting farmer income. Agricultural development has the potential to encourage economic development outside of the agricultural sector, resulting in increased employment and growth creation.
3. Economic – Due to India’s poor agricultural infrastructure, agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. India is mostly an agricultural country. The one area where India falls short is in agricultural infrastructure, which includes outdated and ancient farming techniques, outmoded technology, and a lack of formal agricultural education among farmers. A farmer’s income is insufficient to support his or her family’s economic demands.
4. Socialization – The following are some of the major societal concerns that contribute significantly to poverty:
5. Education and illiteracy – Poverty in India is mostly due to a lack of education and rising illiteracy. As illiteracy rates grow, so does unemployment, and as a result, poverty rates climb.
6. Outdated Social Norms – Social customs such as the caste system generate isolation and marginalisation of some segments of society, and they also play a significant role in the expansion of poverty.
7. Gender inequality– India is still a country where there is gender discrimination. The low status of women is a major contributor to their bad state.
8. Unemployment – Because of unemployment there is no income source for many people in India, and because of this they are forced to go in the wrong direction. And most of them start robbery, murder for feeeding their family.

Programs in India to Reduce Poverty

1. MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) of 2005: Every rural household receives 100 days of guaranteed work each year under the Act. Women would be given one-third of the planned employment. In addition, the federal government will establish National Employment Guarantee Funds. Similarly, state governments would create State Employment Guarantee Funds to carry out the plan. If an applicant is not hired within 15 days, he or she will be entitled to a daily unemployment stipend under the programme.
2. The Annapurna Scheme was established by the government in 1999–2000 to offer meals to older individuals who are unable to care for themselves, are not covered by the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), and have no one to care for them in their community. This programme will supply qualified older folks with 10 kg of free food grains per month. They primarily target the ‘poorest of the poor’ and ‘indigent older persons.’

Conclusion 

Poverty is defined as a lack of resources and a low level of life that prevents fundamental human needs from being met. Poverty is currently a serious socio economic concern in India, Pakistan, and other nations throughout the world. The resources we have at our disposal and have found up to this point have not been deployed to the advanced stage. The difficulties that Indians face emerge from the fact that some of the world’s most valuable resources have yet to be found. Due to a lack of economic riches, our medical and engineering capabilities have been saturated in Indian culture, and they are looking for work in foreign nations.