Question

Assess various measures undertaken to eradicate poverty.

Answer 1

Various measures undertaken to eradicate poverty are as follows:

1. Control of population: Family Welfare Programme and population policies have been introduced to keep a check over the population growth.
2. Agriculture: Farmers are provided with cheap credit facilities to purchase agricultural inputs. The Government also announces Minimum Support Prices for selected crops to ensure stable agricultural income.
3. Rural Works: Employment opportunities are provided to the poor through construction of rural roads, irrigation projects, rural electrification, etc.
4. Rural industrialization: To promote employment in rural areas, emphasis has been laid on setting up of small-scale and cottage industries.
5. Minimum Wages: Minimum Wages Act was passed in 1948 to provide fair wages to agricultural and industrial workers. It has been revised from time to time. This has helped in the reduction of poverty.
6. Public Distribution System: To ensure food security, food-grains are made available to the poor people at highly subsidized rates through ration shops under the public distribution system.
7. Nationalization of banks: To ensure financial inclusion, credit facilities are made available to the poor people at low rates of interest. For this purpose, the nationalization of banks was undertaken in 1969 and 1980.
8. Progressive tax measures: To reduce inequalities in the distribution of income, the progressive income tax system has been introduced in India.
9. Education: To increase the enrolment ratio, primary education has been made free and compulsory for all. Free education for girls, mid-day meal programmes, sanitation and safe drinking water, etc. have also been provided.
10. Affordable housing: Slum rehabilitation programmes and affordable housing facilities are provided to the rural and urban poor.
11. Health facilities: Primary health centres, government hospitals have been established to provide medical treatment at subsidized rates to the poor people.
12. Skill development and self-employment: Skill development is considered one of the important aspects for job creation in India. For this purpose, opportunities need to be provided for skill-based training. This will inspire people towards entrepreneurship or self-employment.