India Poverty Alleviation

Poverty can be alleviated through two types of approaches:

1. Growth-oriented approach – With growth, income level rises which pulls people out of poverty.
2. Poverty Alleviation programmes.
   1. Employment generation programs
   2. Food Security programs
   3. Direct Benefit Transfer

Growth-oriented approach

Since the 1990s it has become clear that there is a strong link between economic growth and poverty reduction. For example,  Agricultural sector growth is much lower and we find most poor in villages depend on agriculture.

Therefore, the government has tried to invest in infrastructure to pump growth.

Criticism

1. Such growth benefits substantially only in the long run, whereas poverty is an immediate issue.
2. Growth might benefit only a few sections of society creating inequality.
3. Jobless growth: Such an approach might create a situation in which only the less labour-intensive sectors benefit.

Therefore, strategies are needed that directly benefit the fight against poverty.

Anti-Poverty strategies:

The Government Programmes targeting Poverty can generally be either employment generation programs or Food security (consumption-based programs).

Consumption-based programs

Poverty alleviation Programs can directly address the issue of deprivation.

Food security programs

The government has created a public distribution system through which several schemes and policies are executed. For example, the National Food Security Act, 2013 and Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY).

Social Security-based services:

• Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) – 2000: Additional central assistance is given to states for basic services such as primary health, primary education, rural shelter, rural drinking water and rural electrification.
• Ayushman Bharat: Health insurance of up to ₹5L is provided to 10 Crore of poorest families in India.
• Education: For example, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

Direct Benefit Transfer

Those strategies in which the government transfers subsidies directly to the public are known as the Direct Benefit transfer schemes.

• These transfers can be unconditional such as in the recently government launched the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana.
• Or these can be conditional PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Important schemes

Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan

It was launched to empower and provide livelihood opportunities in areas/ villages witnessing a large number of returnee migrant workers affected by the devastating COVID-19.

• Implementation: It is being undertaken in 116 districts of 6 states.
  • Time Period: The Abhiyaan will continue for 125 days, and 25 works have been identified which will be taken up for completion. As a result, employment will be rapidly generated. It is an important step towards providing employment to the people on a mission mode.

Convergence: It will be implemented at the grassroots level with active coordination between 11 ministries of the Central Government to expedite the implementation of 25 public infrastructure works in close cooperation with state governments.

Objectives:

• Provide livelihood opportunities in the rural areas, and ensure that each worker is able to get an opportunity of employment according to his skill.
• Saturate villages with public infrastructure viz. Roads, Housing, Anganwadis, Panchayat Bhavans, various livelihood assets and Community Complexes among others.

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