Rural poverty, which refers to poverty in rural areas, is characterised by various factors including poor living conditions, heavy reliance on agriculture, landlessness and limited access to basic services.
In addition, the rural poor are often affected by social constraints stemming from caste, gender, and ethnicity, which can limit social mobility and access to opportunities.
Do You Know
The terms ‘urban’ and ‘rural’ poor refer to two distinct groups of individuals experiencing poverty in different settings, namely, urban and rural areas.
Urban Poor: The urban poor are individuals and households residing in urban areas — including metros, cities and towns; who experience poverty. Urban poverty is often characterised by challenges such as high living costs, limited access to affordable housing, and inadequate sanitation and healthcare facilities. Employment in the informal sector is common among the urban poor, which may involve jobs in street vending, construction, domestic work, or small-scale trading.
Rural Poor: Rural poverty is often associated with factors such as landlessness, low agricultural productivity, limited access to education and healthcare, and a lack of infrastructure. The rural poor are more constrained by traditional restraints of caste, gender and ethnicity while trying to escape poverty; than the urban poor. The rural poor often face challenges related to limited access to formal financial services, which can hinder their ability to save, invest, and manage income effectively.
Multidimensional Poverty in India
Multidimensional Poverty in India since 2005-06 which claims that the country has seen a significant decline in multidimensional poverty from 29.17 per cent in 2013-14 to 11.28 per cent in 2022-23; and 24.82 crore people have “escaped” multidimensional poverty.
The paper also notes rural India has seen a larger decline in multidimensional poverty. Between 2015-16 and 2019-21,
Poverty in rural India decreased from 32.59 per cent to 19.28 per cent, while urban poverty fell from 8.65 per cent to 5.27 per cent.
Rural poverty: Disparities and deprivations
Literacy
The 2018 National Sample Survey (NSS) on education highlighted significant disparities, with rural literacy at 73.5 per cent compared to 87.7 per cent in urban areas.
Agriculture
Another way of understanding rural poverty is by looking at access to land and land ownership.
Data reveals that the small (1-2 hectares of land) and marginal (less than 1 hectare) farming households are the most affected and poor groups.
The Periodic Labour Force Survey data shows that around 59 per cent of the rural workers are engaged in agriculture and allied activities.
Among agricultural workers, there is a disparity in the incidence of poverty based on whether a worker is a cultivator or a casual wage worker.
The incidence of poverty is much higher among agricultural labourers than cultivators. For instance, as of 2004-05, 21.5 per cent of the cultivators are poor while 46.4 per cent of all agricultural casual workers are poor.
Among the rural non-agricultural workers, the type of non-agricultural work is important. Self-employment in non-farm work or precarious and casual non-farm work like in construction may not lead to poverty reduction.
Basic Amenities
Also, the 76th round of the NSS underlined notable differences in access to basic services. About 29 per cent of rural households lack access to toilets, in contrast to nearly 4 per cent in urban areas; and more than 40 per cent of rural households do not have drinking water facilities within the home, compared to 20 per cent in urban areas.
These statistics underline that understanding deprivation and multidimensional poverty in India requires a perspective that goes beyond the data.
Also, around 65 per cent of India’s population lives in rural areas, but a disproportionately high percentage – about 90 per cent – of the nation’s poor reside in rural areas.
India is also the only country in South Asia where poverty is significantly higher among female-headed households as compared to male-headed households.
Around 19.7 per cent of female-headed households are poor in India while 15.9 per cent of male-headed households are poor.
Hence, along with regional factors, gender, caste, and religion are also important determinants in understanding poverty in India.
For instance, studies have found that both Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes in India contribute more to multidimensional poverty than their population share.
Poverty is accompanied by a range of negative consequences and hardships. These consequences can affect various aspects of individuals’ lives, including their physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Here are some of the common pains of poverty that the poor experience:
Food Insecurity
Hunger and malnutrition are prevalent among the poor due to their limited access to nutritious food. This can lead to physical health issues, stunted growth, and cognitive impairments, especially in children.
Inadequate Healthcare
Poor individuals often lack access to quality healthcare, leading to untreated illnesses and chronic health problems. The cost of medical care can be a significant burden for them.
Limited Access to Education
Poverty can hinder access to education, limiting opportunities for personal and professional growth. Children from impoverished backgrounds may not receive a quality education, limiting their future prospects.
Housing Instability
Poor households may struggle to afford safe and stable housing. This can result in overcrowding, homelessness, and exposure to environmental hazards.
Economic Stress
The constant financial stress and uncertainty associated with poverty can lead to anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. Poor individuals may also experience a lack of control over their lives.
Urbanisation of poverty
While rural poverty has been a persistent issue for Indian policymakers, the country has also seen significant rural-urban migration. As of 2020-21, about one-third of India’s total population is migrants. Migrants form 34.6% of the total population in urban areas. This has led to growing debates on “urbanisation of poverty”.
As migration to urban centres grows, concerns around housing, water, sanitation, health, education, livelihood, and social security become important. Therefore, policies that prioritise health, nutrition, maternal health, and accessible medical facilities are crucial for poverty reduction across rural and urban areas.
Given the complex nature of poverty in India, which varies by state, region, caste, gender, and religion, it is clear that poverty cannot be fully understood or addressed without considering these spatial and social dimensions
In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because (UPSC CSE 2019)
(a) poverty rates vary from State to State
(b) price levels vary from State to State
(c) Gross State Product varies from State to State
(d) quality of public distribution varies from State to State
In a given year in India, official poverty lines are higher in some States than in others because (UPSC CSE 2019)
(a) poverty rates vary from State to State
(b) price levels vary from State to State
(c) Gross State Product varies from State to State
(d) quality of public distribution varies from State to State
Mains PYQ
‘Despite implementation of various programmes for eradication of poverty by the government in India, poverty is still existing’. Explain by giving reasons. (UPSC CSE 2018)