Problem of poverty is deep rooted. Unless structural reforms happen to reduce the inequality of income distribution any kind of health, environmental, societal setback will push the poor to be poorer as well as add to their numbers !
Along with the duration of the pandemic, this resultant fallout is the matter of utmost concern; the final number of affected human lives is still a matter of speculation and as usual this is a commendable effort Anil, by you, to not only assess and anticipate the human misery but also to draw the attention of like minded individuals. Thought provoking !
Excellant analysis of poverty! Poverty line estimates in India are based on monthly per capita expenditure ( expense on per capita daily intake of 2400 calories in rural areas and 2100 calories in urban areas).The reason is the difficulties in assessing the incomes of self employed workers , daily wage earners etc.As you have mentioned nearly 95% of India's working population is employed in the informal sector.By this definition around 22% of our population lives in extreme poverty. But is poverty only about consumption?? It encompasses other factors also such as poor health , lack of clean drinking water, electricity, education, sanitation etc.A multi dimensional approach is required to study this complex issue.
You have mentioned social distancing but it is hard to apply or enforce in slums of many towns and cities of developing countries. Poverty does not allow people to stay at home without working and still feed their families. India and Nigeria have added maximum number of poor in 2020.The govt has many welfare schemes for the poor , but not enough for our huge population. People in cities with all comforts cannot even imagine the hardships faced by the poor in villages.
According to IMF forecasts the global downturn will raise the world poverty to levels seen in 2015.The number of poor has been rising steadily due to COVID impact and the "WORLD POVERTY CLOCK" will tick backwards!!
Thank you Vandana. As always an extremely informed intervention. Great point on social distancing--has its limits. But wearing a mask--PROPEERLY--is also a form of social distancing. Saw a post on Twitter where a surgeon working the casualty ward of a government hospital makes the case that the only thing that has stood between her and the covid-19 virus is the N-95 mask--as almost all her patients are also infected with covid.
And agree with you that addressing poverty is not an option but an imperative. And within this the problem of rising inequality where 1% controls 90% of the wealth.
Problem of poverty cannot be solved by bail outs or safety nets or schemes as has been amply demonstrated. The one and only means to solve it is ensure the cause for poverty is eradicated. The root cause of poverty is the lack of access to justice. Justice equals empowerment through enforcement of rights even those given by the state. If you need to do daily battle to access your rights to be paid fairly, for gender equality, to avail off benefits, to be safe, to ensure safety of your property to ensure your reproductive rights, etc you are going to remain poor.
Thank you for writing in. Not sure I can agree with you though I get the point you are making--teach people how to fish. To lift people out of poverty it has to be, in my view, a combination of entitlement and empowerment--this includes the point you make of delivering justice, which in turn is achievable if India makes a quicker transition to a rules-based, instead of an exceptions-based, regime.
Do keep reading and sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated.
Problem of poverty is deep rooted. Unless structural reforms happen to reduce the inequality of income distribution any kind of health, environmental, societal setback will push the poor to be poorer as well as add to their numbers !
Absolutely Balesh. We need inclusive growth so that no person is left behind
Reposting on behalf of Gautam Dasgupta:
Along with the duration of the pandemic, this resultant fallout is the matter of utmost concern; the final number of affected human lives is still a matter of speculation and as usual this is a commendable effort Anil, by you, to not only assess and anticipate the human misery but also to draw the attention of like minded individuals. Thought provoking !
Excellant analysis of poverty! Poverty line estimates in India are based on monthly per capita expenditure ( expense on per capita daily intake of 2400 calories in rural areas and 2100 calories in urban areas).The reason is the difficulties in assessing the incomes of self employed workers , daily wage earners etc.As you have mentioned nearly 95% of India's working population is employed in the informal sector.By this definition around 22% of our population lives in extreme poverty. But is poverty only about consumption?? It encompasses other factors also such as poor health , lack of clean drinking water, electricity, education, sanitation etc.A multi dimensional approach is required to study this complex issue.
You have mentioned social distancing but it is hard to apply or enforce in slums of many towns and cities of developing countries. Poverty does not allow people to stay at home without working and still feed their families. India and Nigeria have added maximum number of poor in 2020.The govt has many welfare schemes for the poor , but not enough for our huge population. People in cities with all comforts cannot even imagine the hardships faced by the poor in villages.
According to IMF forecasts the global downturn will raise the world poverty to levels seen in 2015.The number of poor has been rising steadily due to COVID impact and the "WORLD POVERTY CLOCK" will tick backwards!!
Looking forward to next monday.
Thank you Vandana. As always an extremely informed intervention. Great point on social distancing--has its limits. But wearing a mask--PROPEERLY--is also a form of social distancing. Saw a post on Twitter where a surgeon working the casualty ward of a government hospital makes the case that the only thing that has stood between her and the covid-19 virus is the N-95 mask--as almost all her patients are also infected with covid.
And agree with you that addressing poverty is not an option but an imperative. And within this the problem of rising inequality where 1% controls 90% of the wealth.
Keep reading and do keep writing in too.
Problem of poverty cannot be solved by bail outs or safety nets or schemes as has been amply demonstrated. The one and only means to solve it is ensure the cause for poverty is eradicated. The root cause of poverty is the lack of access to justice. Justice equals empowerment through enforcement of rights even those given by the state. If you need to do daily battle to access your rights to be paid fairly, for gender equality, to avail off benefits, to be safe, to ensure safety of your property to ensure your reproductive rights, etc you are going to remain poor.
Dear Sonal,
Thank you for writing in. Not sure I can agree with you though I get the point you are making--teach people how to fish. To lift people out of poverty it has to be, in my view, a combination of entitlement and empowerment--this includes the point you make of delivering justice, which in turn is achievable if India makes a quicker transition to a rules-based, instead of an exceptions-based, regime.
Do keep reading and sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated.