Causes of Poverty and Anti-Poverty Measures – Long Answer Questions
Medium Level (Application & Explanation)
Q1. Explain the main causes of poverty in India with examples.
Answer:
- Poverty has economic, social, and political causes.
- Unemployment and lack of jobs reduce income.
- Low education and poor skills limit opportunities.
- Ineffective governance and corruption reduce the reach of help.
- For example, a skilled job needs training. Many youths do not have it.
- Weak implementation also blocks the benefits from reaching the poor.
Q2. How do state subsidies and employment schemes try to reduce poverty? Explain their role and limits.
Answer:
- Subsidies reduce the cost of basic services like food and power.
- Employment schemes create jobs and support self-employment.
- Together, they improve income and basic needs.
- But many programs face leakages and delays.
- Targeting is weak, so some needy people are left out.
- Without good monitoring, impact remains mixed.
Q3. Describe the aims and support under the Prime Minister Rozgar Yozana (PMRY). How does it help youth?
Answer:
- PMRY started in 1993 for educated unemployed youth.
- It promotes self-employment in rural and small towns.
- It helps set up small businesses and industries.
- Youth get support to start shops, services, or units.
- This creates jobs for themselves and others.
- It builds confidence and reduces migration for work.
Q4. What is SGSY? Explain how Self-Help Groups (SHGs), bank credit, and subsidy work together.
Answer:
- SGSY began in 1999 to organize poor families into SHGs.
- SHGs save money and learn basic finance skills.
- They then get bank credit with a government subsidy.
- The mix reduces risk and boosts small businesses.
- It aims to lift families above the poverty line.
- It builds collective strength and sustainable income.
Q5. Explain the goals of PMGY and AAY. Why are they important for poor households?
Answer:
- PMGY (2000) funds basic services in villages.
- It supports primary health, education, shelter, water, and power.
- These services build human development and dignity.
- AAY ensures food security for the poorest.
- It gives food at very low prices to reduce hunger.
- Together, they protect nutrition and basic needs.
High Complexity (Analysis & Scenario-Based)
Q6. A village has high unemployment and low awareness of schemes. Design a combined plan using PMRY, SGSY, PMGY, and AAY.
Answer:
- Start with awareness camps in schools and panchayats.
- Identify the poorest households for AAY ration cards.
- Form SHGs under SGSY and train them in skills.
- Link SHGs to bank credit and subsidy for small units.
- Support educated youth through PMRY for startups.
- Use PMGY funds to improve water, power, and health.
Q7. Why has the impact of anti-poverty measures been mixed? Analyse with key reasons.
Answer:
- Many programs face implementation issues.
- Targeting is weak, so benefits miss the poorest.
- Corruption and leakages reduce funds on the ground.
- Lack of awareness keeps people from applying.
- Jobs created are sometimes temporary or low-paid.
- Monitoring is weak, so course correction is slow.
Q8. Propose a simple monitoring plan to improve implementation and targeting of schemes.
Answer:
- Use village registers and updated beneficiary lists.
- Do social audits with the community every quarter.
- Set up a grievance helpline and a drop box.
- Track deliveries like ration and payments in public.
- Involve local teachers and ASHA workers in checks.
- Publish results on notice boards for transparency.
Q9. Compare short-term relief with long-term solutions in poverty reduction. Use examples from the schemes.
Answer:
- Subsidies give short-term relief like cheap food.
- They prevent hunger and protect the vulnerable.
- But they do not create lasting income.
- Employment and self-employment give long-term gains.
- Programs like PMRY and SGSY build skills and assets.
- The best plan balances relief with sustainable jobs.
Q10. Suggest ways to make anti-poverty programs more sustainable and reduce dependence on subsidies.
Answer:
- Focus on education and skill training for youth.
- Support local industries and rural enterprises.
- Improve market access and digital inclusion.
- Encourage savings and credit discipline in SHGs.
- Strengthen implementation, targeting, and monitoring.
- Build awareness so people can claim their rights.