INTRODUCTION

Poverty is a problem that impacts billions of individuals worldwide hindering their potential and restricting access to fundamental human rights. Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 1 seeks to eliminate poverty in all its manifestations by 2030 showcasing a worldwide dedication to fostering a fairer society. Although advancements have been made recently the challenge remains formidable as millions continue to endure circumstances worsened by economic inequalities, social injustices and crises such, as the COVID 19 pandemic. Tackling these issues necessitates a strategy that not only promotes growth but also guarantees access to quality education, healthcare and social protection systems.

India has made progress in reducing poverty through government initiatives and social programs. However, there are still challenges to address, such as economic inequalities, access to services and the effects of global crises like the COVID 19 pandemic. To achieve its poverty eradication objectives India will need to maintain efforts and implement targeted actions. The importance of this goal is evident considering the significant percentage of the population living in poverty. Sustainable Development Goal 1 aligns with India’s policies and initiatives aimed at building a fair and just society.

In this piece of article, we will delve into the root causes of poverty effective approaches for its eradication and the significance of collective efforts, in attaining this crucial objective.

UNDERSTANDING POVERTY

Poverty can be categorized into two types, poverty and relative poverty. Absolute poverty refers to the situation where people do not have the necessities for survival like food, clean water and shelter. Relative poverty on the hand looks at a person’s economic situation compared to the community’s standards of living.

Despite advancements in recent years poverty continues to be a challenge in India. According to official data around 21% of the population still lives below the national poverty line with rural areas being more severely impacted. In the past few decades India has made progress by lifting millions out of poverty, although the rate of progress has not been consistent. Reports from the World Bank and government sources show varying poverty levels, across states and between urban and rural areas highlighting the need for interventions.

CAUSES OF POVERTY

Understanding the root causes of poverty is crucial in crafting effective solutions. Key factors include:

1. Rapid Population Growth: With rapid growth in the population, related resources and services grow concurrently, thus stretching the available infrastructure and depleting economic opportunities. This adds complexities to the provision of adequate employment, education, and health.
2. Economic and Social Inequality: Poverty finds its sinister dimensions in economic and social inequality. Poor access to education and healthcare remains an afflicting issue in the consciousness of people, mostly among the socially backward sector of the society.
3. Unemployment and Underemployment: The total shortage of jobs and job seekers results in chronic unemployment and under-employment. Youths and women are the worst victims of this scenario. Poor tend to have low incomes or unstable incomes of a character that defines them.
4. Low Agricultural Productivity: Agricultures are dominant in the economies. Inefficient agriculture due to small fragmented farm holdings, primitive farming practices, and climatic factors makes rural people stuck in poverty.
5. Infrastructure: Lousy infrastructure, including poor sanitation, housing, and access to clean drinking water, slows economic development and sustains cycles of poverty. When basic services are absent, not much else can be done to improve standards of living.
6. Social and Political Instability: Conflict and weak governance disappoint economic activities and reduce the effect of poverty relief. Instability is a situation in which progress is hard to attain and poverty is entrenched.

KEY REMEDIES

Social Protection and Employment Initiatives: MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005) is another similar initiative whereby employment will be guaranteed to a rural household for financial stability while effective safety nets would also include unemployment benefits, food assistance through the Public Distribution System, and so forth.

Skill Development and Education: PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana) is a program on employability-enhancing initiative via vocational training. Quality education and skills rearm the empowered individual with power and help the individual acquire better employment opportunities and economic mobility.

For example, economic growth and community development-the allocation of jobs and the support of small businesses-help lift more people out of poverty. Sustainable economic policies that ensure fair wages and labor rights help lead toward an inclusive economy. Grassroots efforts where local decision-making and community involvement are active help tailor solutions to address local needs-resulting in better outcomes.

Access to Basic Services: Availability for adequate access to safe water, sanitation, and electricity is a fundamental service that lifts living conditions. Financial services like microloans plus Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana bring financial literacy directly to the poor’s doorstep and offer accessibility to banking services to initiate businesses and enhance livelihoods.

Targeted Development Programs: A number of state-specific schemes address the particular problems that have been identified with different population groups, thus promoting localized solutions that are critical to effective poverty alleviation.

SUCCESS STORIES

India’s efforts in poverty reduction have yielded notable success:

Multidimensional Poverty: Preliminary estimates indicate that the headcount of multidimensional poverty has declined to almost half from 24.8% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-21; it serves as an effective indicator of policy measures and program implementations.

Rural Employment: MGNREGA has augmented rural household consumption and improved quality of living. The resultant implication is that almost 99.7 percent of the persons demanding employment are provided with work under MGNREGA.

Of these, notable amongst them are programs like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana that brought housing to millions of people through more than 4 crore homes under this particular initiative.

Health and Nutrition: The National Food Security Act is said to have prevented hunger for more than 80 crore people, checked malnutrition, and ensured better health outcomes.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

Despite significant gains, much remains to be achieved. Climate change remains a near-threat, and natural disasters are increasing to further threaten the vulnerable population. It is also an issue with political instability and economic downfall that reverses the benefits and hence resilient strategies that can withstand such pressures.

Economic inequalities persist as the rural- urban poverty gap remains wide because the rural area cannot achieve any pace of growth that is similar to that of the urban area. The COVID-19 pandemic had only dug a deeper hole in this already sinking situation, as it reversed all the ground initially lost and made people revert to living from hand to mouth after losing their jobs and experiencing economic shocks. It makes evaluation of the actual levels of poverty complicated by improper data collection and methodology in measurement, further complicates the design of interventions. Another challenge is that when short-term needs of the population are immediately satisfied, at the same time ensuring sustainability for the long run, it should seek to achieve a balance between economic growth and ecological considerations. In addition, a proper setup of welfare schemes inconsistent across states and bureaucratic hurdles can hinder anti-poverty programs to make adequate headway in the fight against poverty.

CONCLUSION

Eradicating poverty is not just a moral imperative; it is essential for achieving sustainable development. Collective action from governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals is crucial in addressing the multifaceted nature of poverty. By implementing comprehensive strategies that promote economic growth, education, and social protection, we can work towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can make significant strides toward achieving SDG 1 and creating a world free from poverty.

​Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1): No Poverty aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030, reflecting a global commitment to address one of humanity’s most pressing challenges.​ India has made commendable strides in this direction, alleviating poverty significantly through various government initiatives and social programs. Nevertheless, challenges remain, particularly concerning economic disparities, access to services, and the impact of global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued efforts and targeted actions will be essential for India to meet its poverty eradication goals.

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