15. The Government of India says that 24% of India’s population is below the poverty line.* * Planning Commission of India, 1999-2000, Government of India
16. Despite such abysmal figures on India’s development, how can the government claim that only 24% of India is poor? Clearly something is amiss…
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18. “ I have learnt to seek my happiness by limiting my desires rather than attempting to satisfy them.” John Stuart Mill
19. Table 1: Percentage and Number of Poor in India since 1973 * Year Percentage of Poor Number of Poor (crores) Annual Real Rate of Decline in the Number of Poor ^ 1973-74 54.9 % 32.13 - 1977-78 51.3 % 32.89 ( 0.59 %) 1983 44.5 % 32.29 0.31 % 1987-88 38.9 % 30.71 1.25 % 1993-94 36.0 % 32.03 ( 0.70 %) 1999-00 26.1 % 26.02 3.40 % 2004** 23.6 % 24.97 0.82 % * As per the Expert Group Methodology ^ A negative rate of decline means the number of poor increased ** Based on the estimated population of 2004 and poverty ratio calculated using the latest National Sample Survey in 2004. Source: National Institute of Rural Development (2004): Rural Development Statistics, 2002-03 .
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22. Incidence of Poverty Interventions - Program, Technology Natural Resources Institutional/ Social Factor Labour & Capital Flow/Mobility Spatial Integration of Economic activities New Lively hood opportunities ECOLOGICAL AND INCOME POVERTY - DYNAMICS Databases on relationship to examine the direction of policies/interventions? Powerlessness of poor to gain access or use available natural resources Role of economic policies and interventions in altering the relationship Inequitable access land, Information, market and credit
23. He and She are poor; Not because they are borne so; In fact, it is the failure of the institutions, polices and programme that they continue to be poor and marginalized. - A Perception
31. MAIN ISSUES There are primarily two main issues namely:- Issue no-1 How to provide employment to the new entrant to the labour force and to the unemployed. That is how to create additional employment opportunities needed. Issue no-2 How to improve quality of employment so that productivity and income level of the workforce increases.