Poverty poses a multi-dimensional challenge in India that requires urgent attention. The government has implemented a three-dimensional poverty removal program, addressing economic growth, beneficiary-oriented programs, and the provision of basic amenities. The following measures have been taken:
Economic Growth: Increasing the rate of economic growth is seen as a strategy to alleviate poverty through the trickle-down effect, benefiting underdeveloped regions and marginalized sections of society.
Beneficiary-Oriented Programmes: Strengthening programs focused on beneficiaries by involving local institutions and organizing activities on a cooperative basis. Training programs are crucial to enhancing the skills of potential workers.
Basic Amenities: Providing essential services like water supply, sanitation, and nutrition to the population.
Price Stability: Maintaining stability in price levels is crucial for poverty alleviation, and measures include fair price shops, distribution of food grains through Public Distribution System (PDS), and other government agencies.
Labor-Intensive Production: Using labor-intensive techniques in production to address both poverty and unemployment.
Agricultural and Rural Development: Special efforts are directed towards developing agriculture and the rural sector, including mechanization, modernization, rural credit provision, land distribution, and establishing regulated markets.
Special Programmes to Fight Poverty and Unemployment
Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY): Launched in 1999, it focuses on creating durable productive assets and generating wage employment for rural unemployed poor.
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) – Aajeevika: Aims at promoting micro-enterprises and helping rural poor through self-help groups, covering various aspects of self-employment.
Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS): Initiated in 1993, it provides wage employment and was later restructured as a centrally sponsored scheme.
Sampooma Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY): Launched in 2001, it provides wage employment, food security, and creates durable community assets.
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): Introduced in 1995, it provides social assistance to poor households affected by old age, death, and maternity care.
Bharat Nirman: Launched in 2005-2006, it focuses on building infrastructure and basic amenities in rural areas.
Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM): Includes components for shelter and basic services for the urban poor.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Koushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY): A skill development scheme for rural youth, refocused to meet domestic and global skill requirements.
National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM): Aims at organizing urban poor in self-help groups, providing skill training, and supporting self-employment ventures.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): A flagship program providing 100 days of guaranteed wage employment, with a focus on natural resource management.
Evaluation of these poverty and unemployment alleviation programs reveals challenges such as ill-defined objectives, limited targeting, under-funding, complex administration, high administrative costs, leakages, and insufficient accountability and monitoring.
Objective Type Questions
1. What is the primary objective of using labor-intensive techniques in production for poverty alleviation?
A) To promote mechanization
B) To address inflation
C) To reduce unemployment
D) To stabilize price levels
Answer: C) To reduce unemployment
2. Which program focuses on creating durable productive assets and generating wage employment for rural unemployed poor?
A) National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) – Aajeevika
B) Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY)
C) Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS)
D) National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
Answer: B) Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana (JGSY)
3. What does the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) aim to do?
A) Provide rural credit
B) Organize urban poor in self-help groups
C) Create durable community assets
D) Focus on natural resource management
Answer: B) Organize urban poor in self-help groups
4. In the context of poverty alleviation, what is the purpose of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)?
A) Promote industrialization
B) Enhance livelihood security through wage employment
C) Provide subsidies to farmers
D) Improve urban infrastructure
Answer: B) Enhance livelihood security through wage employment
5. Which scheme is aimed at upgrading entrepreneurial skills of minority youth and providing training for digital literacy?
A) Sampooma Gramin Rozgar Yojana (SGRY)
B) MANAS
C) NaiManzil
D) National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) – Aajeevika
Answer: B) MANAS
6. What is the primary focus of Bharat Nirman, launched in 2005-2006?
A) Promoting micro-enterprises
B) Building infrastructure and basic amenities in rural areas
C) Providing food security in urban areas
D) Ensuring stability in price levels
Answer: B) Building infrastructure and basic amenities in rural areas
7. Which component of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) is dedicated to shelter and basic service needs of the poor?
A) Rural roads
B) Drinking water
C) Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP)
D) Rural telephony
Answer: C) Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP)
8. What is the primary purpose of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Koushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)?
A) Rural credit provision
B) Building infrastructure in urban areas
C) Upgrading skills of rural poor youth
D) Providing food security
Answer: C) Upgrading skills of rural poor youth
9. Which scheme focuses on conservation of traditional arts/crafts of minorities and building capacity of traditional artisans belonging to minority communities?
A) USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development)
B) National Food for Work Programme (NFWP)
C) National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM)
D) Support for Training and Employment Programme (STEP)
Answer: A) USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development)
10. What is the primary objective of the National Food for Work Programme (NFWP)?
A) Augmenting food security through wage employment in drought-affected rural areas
B) Providing financial assistance to farmers
C) Promoting micro-enterprises in urban areas
D) Ensuring stability in price levels
Answer: A) Augmenting food security through wage employment in drought-affected rural areas