Poverty test - 4

India's current official poverty rates are based on its Planning Commission's data derived from so-called Tendulkar methodology. It defines poverty not in terms of annual income, but in terms of consumption or spending per individual over a certain period for a basket of essential goods. Further, this methodology sets different poverty lines for rural and urban areas.

Transient poverty is cyclical or temporary. The transient poor can move out of poverty once the exogenous shock has passed. It might be related to seasonally; or to losing a job.

The poverty rate is the ratio of the number of people (in a given age group) whose income falls below the poverty line; taken as half the median household income of the total population.

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Government of India that provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions.

The Food For Work Programme was restructured and renamed as National Rural Employment Programme in October 1980 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and it became a regular Programme from April 1981 . The Programme was launched during the Sixth Five Year Plan. It aims the implementation of additional employment to under employed persons. Central-state contribution was on the basis of 50:50 ratio. In 1989 NREP was merged with Jawahar Rozgar Yojana.

Rural poverty is often a product of poor infrastructure that hinders development and mobility. Rural areas tend to lack sufficient roads that would increase access to agricultural inputs and markets.

PMGY was launched in 2000-2001 in all States and Union Territories (UTs) in order to achieve the objective of sustainable human development at the village level. The PMGY envisages allocation of Additional Central Assistance to the States and UTs for selected basic minimum services in order to focus on certain priority areas. PMGY initially had five components viz., primary health, primary education, rural shelter, rural drinking water and nutrition.

The main reason for this is :

Lack of infrastructure, Insufficient access to markets, Lack of non-motorised load-carrying wheeled vehicles, Rural versus Urban Poverty--United States, Opening up of economies to international trade etc

The nine important measures which should be taken to reduce poverty in India are as follows: 1. Accelerating Economic Growth 2. Agricultural Growth and Poverty Alleviation 3. Speedy Development of Infrastructure 4. Accelerating Human Resource Development 5. Growth of Non-Farm Employment 6. Access to Assets 7. Access to Credit 8. Public Distribution System (PDS) 9. Direct Attack on Poverty: Special Employment Schemes for the Poor.

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Government of India that provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions.