Patterns, processes of reproduction, and Policy Imperatives for Poverty in Remote Rural Areas: A Case Study Southern Orissa in India

Given the vast geographical area, ecological-cultural diversity, and deep-rooted social stratification, spatial inequality is one of the important features of poverty scenario in India. Not only that there are significant inter-regional variations, but there exist a large number of spatial poverty traps characterised by the four major categories of regions: remote, low potential or marginal, less favoured, and weakly integrated. In fact, there is often a significant overlap among these categories of spatial poverty traps. The multiple and mutually reinforcing disadvantages or deprivation faced by most of the spatial poverty traps has lead to reproduction of poverty as manifested by the fact that incidence of poverty in these regions continue to remain significantly high in terms of absolute levels as well as comparative ranking.