It is a tragedy that, despite the process and programmes of
economic growth, about fifty percent population of India cannot afford to have
food twice a day. It was believed that the process which was initiated in 1951
would result in profits. But it proved to be a misconception. The emphasis was
given to growth with social justice in fifth and sixth plans and the national
programme for Minimum Needs was given priority in these two plans.
Poverty can be expressed broadly either in absolute or in
relative terms. The former is based on some physical norms and standard of living
and the latter is based on the distribution of income or consumption
expenditure among different sections of society. The planning commission of
India redefined, in the sixth five year plan, the poverty on the ground of an
average daily food of 2400 calories per person in village areas and 2100
calories per person in towns or cities.
There have been commissions formed from time to time by the
government to measure the poverty. According to V.M.DANDEKAR and Rath
commission, the minimum desirable standard for village people is at Rs 180 per
capita per annum and for urban people it is at Rs 270, at 1960-1961 prices.
Many reasons can be assigned to poverty in India. These are:
a) tremendous growth of population, b) inequality in opportunities in
professional education and training, c) unemployment and underemployment to a
large extent, d) great inequalities in ownership of possessing valuables like
land, industry, buildings, etc.
The Government has endeavored to eliminate poverty under
five year plans. The emphasis has been given at raid economic development
besides continuous progress towards equality and social justice. The famous slogan”
GARIBI HATAO” was adopted in the fourth plan. Towards this direction, the government
has introduced the programmes like national rural development programme (NERP)
integrated rural development programme (IRDP)
and rural landless employment guarantee programme (RLEGP). These constitute the
main components of the anti- poverty drive in the seventh plan.
The Government has introduced eight components under Minimum
Needs programme- elementary, Education, Rural Health, Rural Electrification,
Rural Water supply, Rural Roads, Rural Housing, environmental Improvement of
Urban Slums and Nutrition. The Integrated Rural Energy programme (IREP) focused
on supplying energy to rural areas to meet their day to day needs like cooking,
heating, lighting and demand of power for economic development. This is
expected to generate employment, increase productivity and enhance income.