Poverty Eradication in India: a Study of National Policies, Plans and Programs

In almost all underdeveloped countries where per capita income is very low, income inequality has resulted in a number of evils, of which poverty is certainly the most serious one. Poverty infact is a socio-economic phenomenon that is intimately associated with inequality. It adversely affects human health, efficiency and productivity which in turn affect their income. It deprives a segment of society of bare necessities of lifefood, clothing, housing, education and health. Poverty is more of social marginalization of an individual, household or group in the community/society rather than inadequacy of income to fulfill the basic needs. Indeed, inadequate income is therefore one of the factors of marginalization but not the sole factor. The goal of poverty alleviation programme should aim merely increasing the income level of individual, household or group but mainstreaming marginalized in the development process of the country. The country cannot claim economic growth when sections of the people are marginalized to the periphery of the society. The rapid economic growth process should accelerate the access to services like education and health services for all, especially the marginalized citizens. In India, even now in spite of all the development during the past five and a half decades, 34.3% of the population was getting less than $ 1 (PPP) a day. This percentage of population was considered to be poor on an international criterion suggested by World Development Report. So this paper is an attempt to study national policies, plans and programs for poverty eradication.