CBSE Class 9 Social Science Poverty as a Challenge Worksheet Set A

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. “In poor families, all suffer, but some suffer more than others.” Explain the statement.
Answer : Women, elderly people and Female infants are systematically denied equal access to Resources available to the Family.

Question. How is Poverty seen by Social Scientists? Explain. U (Board Term II, 2016) OR List the Indicators of Poverty.
Answer : Social Scientists use different types of Indicators to understand their consumption of goods. Poverty is also observed using other Social Indicators like lack of Education, Healthcare, Sanitation, Job Opportunity, Illiteracy level and Safe drinking Water. Now Poverty is looked through other Indicators like Illiteracy Level, Lack of access to Health Care, lack of Job Opportunities, lack of access to Safe Drinking Water, Sanitation, etc. Nowadays, the concept of Social Exclusion is becoming very common in the analysis of Poverty.

Question. Differentiate between ‘Minimum Subsistence Level of Living‘ and a ‘Reasonable Level of Living‘.
Answer : (i) A “Minimum” Subsistence Level of Living contains food, cloth and shelter (the basic needs). (ii) A ‘Reasonable‘ Level of Living means not only food, cloth and shelter but also Health care, Education, Job Security and Self-confidence.

Question. How is the regular growth of population a major cause of Poverty in India ? Explain.
Answer : (i) Pressure on Resources has increased. (ii) Unemployment has increased. (iii) Led to increase in the rate of depletion of Resources. (iv) The people belonging to below Poverty Line has increased. (v) Growth rate of Per Capita Income has become low.

Question. “Poverty reduction is expected to mark better progress in the next ten to fifteen years.” Justify the statement.
Answer : (i) This is sure to happen. (ii) This would be possible mainly due to higher economic growth, increasing stress on Universal Free Elementary Education. (iii) Declining Population growth, increasing Empowerment of the Women and the economically weaker section of the society.

Question. Explain the Principal measures taken in Punjab, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh to reduce Poverty.
Answer : (i) The Principal measures taken in Punjab to reduce Poverty is increasing the Agricultural Growth Rates. (ii) Kerala focussed more on Human Resource Development to reduce Poverty. (iii) Andhra Pradesh focussed on Public Distribution of food grains to reduce Poverty.

Question. Discuss the trend of Poverty in India since 1973. U (Board Term II, 2016, KVS) OR Describe Poverty trends in India since 1973.
Answer : There has been a substantial decline in Poverty ratios in India from about 45 per cent in 1993-94 to 37.2 per cent in 2004-05. The proportion of people Below the Poverty Line further came down to about 22 per cent in 2011-12. If the trend continues, people below the Poverty line may come down to less than 20 per cent in the next few years. Although, the percentage of People living Under Poverty Line declined in the earlier two decades, yet the number of poor remained stable around 320 million for a fairly long period. The latest estimate indicates a significant reduction in the number of poor to about 26 million.

Question. Mention the statistics related to Poverty problem of the Vulnerable Groups.
Answer : (i) Although the average people below the Poverty Line for all groups in India is 26 percent, yet 51 out of 100 people belonging to Scheduled Tribes are not able to meet their basic needs. (ii) About 50 percent of casual workers in Urban areas are below Poverty line. (iii) About 50 percent of Landless Agricultural Workers and 43 percent of SCs are poor.

Question. What is poverty line? Give the Income for Poverty Line fixed for the Rural and Urban areas in India according to 2000.
Answer : A person is said to be poor if his or her Income or Consumption Level falls below a given minimum level necessary to fulfil basic needs. Each Country uses an imaginary Line that is considered appropriate for its existing level of Development and its accepted minimum social norms. In the year 2000, a Family of five Members living in Rural areas and earning less than about ` 1,640 per month were below the Poverty Line, whereas in Urban areas earning less than about ` 2,270 per month in the similar Family were considered Living below the Poverty Line. 

Question. Which social and economic groups are more vulnerable to Poverty?
Answer : (i) Social groups which are most vulnerable to Poverty are Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Households.
(ii) Among the economic groups the most vulnerable group are the Rural Agricultural Labour Households.
(iii) In Urban areas the Casual Labour Households.

Short/Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Do you think that present methodology of poverty estimation is appropriate?
Answer : No, according to me the present methodology of poverty determination is not appropriate because the present poverty estimation techniques are based on the minimum sustenance standards. The human life is far more valuable and complicated than to be weighed in the light of mere sustenance. So, the appropriation should also take into consideration important human development features like education, job security, health care etc.

Question. Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India.
Answer : 1. Illiteracy: Independent India had very high rates of illiteracy just after independence. This was due to the fact that the Britishers did not spend commensurately on education and rather discouraged educational reforms. Over the years, the literacy rates rose but still as nearly 30 per cent of the Indians are illiterate, they find it difficult to engage in well-paying economic activities and thus remain poor.
2. Unemployment: It is the second major reason for poverty. The people who don’t get work sit idle. Unemployment is basically because of the unavailability of education which plays a vital role in the social as well as economic development of an individual.
3. Inequalities of Incomes: The unequal distribution of income is the other reason for poverty. Money has been rendered in a few people’s hands and then they distribute it.
One of the major reasons for this is the unequal distribution of land and other resources.
Despite many policies, we have not been able to tackle the issue in a meaningful manner. Land reforms which aimed at the redistribution of assets in rural areas have not been implemented properly.
4. Slow Growth of Employment Opportunities: There is a slow growth of employment opportunities, especially in industrial sectors. On the other hand, the population is growing day by day leading to the growth of the labour force without sufficient job opportunities. The failure at both the fronts: promotion of economic growth and population control has perpetuated the cycle of poverty.

Question. Give an account of inter-state disparities of poverty in India.
Answer : In India one of the aspects of poverty is inter-state disparities. Every state has different quantities of poor people. Although state level poverty has started to witness a regular decline from the early seventies, the success rate varies from state to state.
Following are few facts related to inter-state disparities of poverty.
1. In Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, have shown a significant decline in poverty.
2. In Orissa and Bihar, poverty is still an earnest issue and these states have the highest poverty ratios in the country.
3. The percentage of urban poverty is also very high in the states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
4. The disparity is due to the variable social and political scenarios of different states.
5. The factors like success in population control, availability of resources and tourist destinations has also led to this disparity as all these factors are variable.

Question. Describe current government strategy of poverty alleviation.
Answer :Current Government strategy of poverty alleviation: To eliminate the poverty many schemes and programmes have been launched by the government.
Some of them have been mentioned below:
1. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005) [MNREGA]: It was launched in 2005 and was implemented in 200 districts on 2nd February, 2006.
This scheme provides 100 days assured employment every year to every rural household in 200 districts. If an applicant is not provided employment within 15 days then s/he will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.
2. Prime-Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY): This programme was started in 1993 which aims at creating self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns by helping them set up small business and factories.
3. Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY): This was launched in 1999 aiming to bring the assisted poor families who are not below the poverty line by organizing them into self-help groups. In this yojana people below poverty line are not targeted; here the aim of government is to avail self-help groups for people who are above poverty line so that they can improve their conditions and fulfill their other basic requirements.
4. Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY): This was launched in 2000 and aims at improving the standard of living of rural people by developing aspects like health, drinking water, housing, roads and primary education.
5. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): Its launching year was December 2000. Under this yojana, one crore of the poorest families were identified. Food grains of 25 kilograms were made available to each family at a highly subsidized rate of Rs. 2 per kilogram for wheat and for rice for Rs. 3 per kilogram. The quantity is subject to be improvised to improve the efficacy of the program

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Social exclusion can be both a cause as well as consequence of Poverty. Explain.
Answer : Social exclusion can be seen in the terms of poors who have to live only in a poor surrounding with other poor people. Poor people are excluded from better surroundings with better-off people. For example, in India, people belonging to certain lower castes (i.e., Scheduled Castes) are excluded from equal Opportunities. Poor people of certain castes have to live in a separate locality and are excluded from mixing with better-off people. Due to such discrimination, there comes a prevalent scene of inequality which leads to Poverty and can cause more damage than having a very low Income.

Question. Do you think that Present Methodology of Poverty Estimation is appropriate?
Answer : The Present Methodology of Poverty Estimation does not look appropriate. It only takes one factor in view and that is the economic factor. Moreover, it considers about a “Minimum” Subsistence level of living rather than a “Reasonable” level of living. Poverty has many dimensions. It is no longer confined to economic factors alone. With Development, the definitions of what constitutes Poverty also changes. Its concept has broadened to Human Poverty. A few persons may have been able to feed themselves but if they are without Education, without Shelter, without Health-care, without Job security, without Self-confidence, without Social equality, they are considered Poor. If Poverty is to be removed in real sense and the people are to be brought above the Poverty line, not only that we need to increase their Income but also, we have to provide the people with Education, Shelter, Healthcare, Job-security, Respect and Dignity.

Question. Give the main features of REGP.
Answer : The Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (REGP), is implemented through the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), to help Eligible Entrepreneurs to set up Village Industry Units and thus create Employment Opportunities in villages including small towns with population up to 20,000. Under this Programme, Entrepreneurs can establish Village Industries by availing of marginal money assistance from KVIC and Loans from Public sector Scheduled Commercial Banks, Selected Regional Cooperative Banks, etc., for projects with a maximum costs of ` 25 lakh.

Question. Describe the Global Poverty Trends.
Answer : (i) The proportion of people living in extreme Poverty has fallen from 25 percent in the year 1990 to 21 percent in the year 2001. (ii) Poverty has declined substantially in China and South East Asian countries as a result of rapid economic growth. (iii) The number of poor has fallen from 606 million in 1981 to 212 million in 2001. (iv) However, in some countries of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan), the fall has been marginal. (v) In Sub-Saharan Africa, Poverty actually rose from 41 percent in 1981 to 46 percent in 2001.

Question. Give a brief account of Inter-state disparities of Poverty in India.
Answer : (i) Proportion of poor people is not the same in every State. (ii) In 20 States and Union Territories, the Poverty Ratio is less than National Average. (iii) In the states of Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh, Poverty is a serious problem. Along with Rural Poverty, Urban Poverty is also high in these States. (iv) While in the states like Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, there is a significant decline in Poverty. (v) States like Punjab and Haryana have succeeded in reducing Poverty with the help of high Agricultural growth rates. (vi) In West Bengal, land reform measures have helped in Reducing Poverty.

Question. Describe Current Government Strategy of Poverty Alleviation. OR Explain any five Anti-poverty measures taken by the Government of India. OR Describe in brief the important Poverty Alleviation Programmes undertaken by the Government of India.
Answer : The current Anti-poverty Strategy of the Government is based broadly on two planks : (i) Promotion of economic growth. (ii) Targeted Anti-poverty Programmes. Important anti-Poverty programmes which are in operation in Rural and Urban areas are : (i) Prime Minister Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) : PMRY, was launched on 2nd October, 1993. The aim of this programme is to create self-Employment Opportunities for educated youth in Rural areas and small towns. They are helped in setting up Small Businesses and Industries. (ii) Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) : SGSY was launched on 1st April, 1999. It aims at promoting enterprises at the village level. It helps the Rural people to organise themselves into self-help groups. The objective of SGSY is to bring the existing poor families above the Poverty Line by providing them Income generating assets through Bank Credit and Government Subsidy. (iii) Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) : PMGY was introduced in 2000. Its objective is to focus on Village Level Development in five critical areas, that is, Primary Health, Primary Education, Rural Shelter, Rural Drinking Water and Rural Roads. As a result of this, the Quality of Life of Rural People will improve. (iv) National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) : NREGA was passed in August 2005. The Act provides for 100 days assured Employment to every Rural Household in 200 Districts. Later, the Scheme will be extended to 600 Districts. (v) National Food for Work Programme (NFWP) : This was launched in 2004 in 150 most Backward Districts of the Country. The Programme is open to all Rural Poor who are in need of Wage Employment and desire to do manual unskilled work. Once the NREGA is in force, the NWFP will be subsumed within this Programme.

Question. Describe the major reasons of Poverty in India. OR Discuss the major reasons for Poverty in India.
Answer : The major reasons for Poverty in India can be grouped as follows : (i) Inequalities in Income distribution : Huge Income inequalities make it difficult for the Government Policies to implement properly for Poverty Elimination. (ii) British Colonial Administration : Exploitation of Traditional Indian Handicrafts and Textile Industries by British Colonial Administration. The Policies of the Colonial Government ruined Traditional Handicrafts and discouraged Development of Industries like Textiles. (iii) Population explosion : The low rate of growth of Industries persisted until the 1980s. This resulted in less job Opportunities and low growth rate of Incomes. This was accompanied by a high growth rate of population. (iv) Slow growth in Agriculture and Industry : With the spread of irrigation and the Green Revolution, many job Opportunities were created in the agriculture sector. But the effects were very limited in India. (v) Extravagance and Indebtedness : In order to fulfil Social Obligations and observe Religious Ceremonies, the poor spend a lot of money. Poor people borrow money for different reasons and become the Victims of Indebtedness.

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