Urban Poverty In India Is On A Rise As The Gap Between The Masses Is Increasing
An initiative to reduce Poverty
It is rightly said that money cannot buy happiness but can render a level of a safe environment to reside in, comfortable life, and enhanced quality of life. Poverty refers to a situation wherein an individual or group lacks basic financial resources that are needed in order to live a minimum standard of life. Urban poverty in India is on a rise as the gap between the masses is increasing. The poverty-stricken people and families face certain challenges. The primary challenge being living without safe and decent housing, unavailability of clean water, lack of healthy food conditions, and no medical attention. There are various NGOs for poverty in India running in our country to aid these groups. “The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward.” Let us now administer some causes of urban poverty in India.
Causes of Poverty 1. Rapid increase in population In recent years, we have observed a steady rise in the population of our country. This creates pressure on the natural resources and economic commodities that are available in the country. 2. Unemployment and underemployment: Due to the continuous rise in population, there is chronic unemployment and under-employment in India. There is educated unemployment and disguised unemployment. Poverty is just the reflection of unemployment
3. Capital Deficiency Whenever we decide to set up an industry, transport, and various other projects. Therefore, a shortage of capital creates a level of hindrance in the development of the economy. This had been a factor for rural and urban poverty in India.
4. Under-developed economy While analyzing the economy of India, there had been a steady rise in the growth and business area, which has further opened numerous job prospects for people. But at the same time, the economy of India is still at the stage of development. It is the main reason for the low growth rate and increased poverty.
5. Increase in price Due to rapid technological advancements and the onset of globalization, there has been a dramatic increase in the price of goods and services that has affected the poor by a greater impact. They have become poorer and the gap between rich and poor has widened due to the same reason. 6. Lack of skilled labor A lack of skills further instigates a slower work pace and more use of resources overall. Individuals who are talented and expert in a field, provide better quality results in the designated department. Yes, we have looked at the causes of poverty but on the brighter side.. there enter the role of several NGOs for poverty in India. They work hard to assist groups and aid them with basic items of food and housing. Their donation drives and campaigns help the rural and urban poor substantially.
Government schemes to reduce poverty ● Rural Housing – Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) The Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) started from 1999-to 2000 is a wide enough scheme for the construction of proper houses for the poor, absolutely made free of cost. ● Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) REGP, launched in 1995 with the objective of creating self-employment opportunities for rural people, is being implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) ● Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) SGSY, launched in April 1999, aims at bringing the assisted poor families (Swarozgaris) above the poverty line by setting certain Self Help Groups (SHGs) for them through a combination of bank loans and government subsidies.
The above schemes work in accordance with rural and urban poverty in India.
Goal 1-Sustainable Development
Poverty is analyzed as an important and urgent concern in the eyes of the UN as well. It is therefore listed as the first sustainable development goal. According to reports, extreme poverty declined from 36 percent in 1990 to 10 percent in 2015. The fight against poverty is on a rise. They ensure that children are given social protection for all children and other helpless and vulnerable groups are taken care of in order to reduce poverty. UN tries its best to cover its problems and provide reasonable solutions over the period of time.
Small individual efforts to reduce poverty and help the needy Among NGOs for poverty in India, Apnaalya is a good example. “Go out into the world and do good until there is too much good in the world.” They have made an effort to reduce the scale of urban poverty in India. Not just this, they lay down the issues of people in front of the government so that needful steps could be taken. Apnalaya aims to help individuals to gain access to basic needs, necessary for survival, including basic services (such as water, electricity, sanitation), healthcare, education, and opportunities for livelihood. They are that path, that hand, and that blessing in disguise which helps an individual know the most basic right-the Right to Basic Civic Amenities. They have touched and supported. ● 600 million living in urban areas by 2030 ● 81 million number of urban poor in India ● 13.9 million households in Indian slums ● 42% of Mumbai’s population lives in slums In this puzzle of urban poor, The only way to fully understand and comprehend the complexity of urban poverty is to think of it as a three-dimensional puzzle. The puzzle not only features deprivation of all the basic human needs, system checks and insecurity. At the same time, it brings with it a lack of ‘identity’, a voiceless-ness within the system, to provide a remedy for severe exploitation, and discrimination.