'India's poverty lies in the eyes of the beholder.' In light of this statement, examine the need for a credible and periodically updated poverty estimation framework in the country.
Main Body
Poverty measurement in India is subjective and lacks standardized framework:
Problems with existing approaches:
1. Different methodologies give different poverty figures
2. Inability to capture multi-dimensional aspects of poverty
3. Data collection intervals create temporal gaps
4. Regional variations not adequately reflected
5. Informal economy and informal workers excluded
Need for credible framework:
1. Unified poverty line across states
2. Periodic updates (annual or biennial)
3. Multi-dimensional poverty index (includes health, education, living standards)
4. Real-time data collection using technology
5. Disaggregated data by gender, caste, region
6. Transparent methodology accessible to public
Benefits:
1. Better targeting of welfare schemes
2. Evidence-based policy making
3. Accountability in development programs
4. International comparison
5. Monitoring of SDG targets
Conclusion: Need for systematic, transparent, periodically updated poverty framework for inclusive development
— Harshdeep Sagar · AIR 299
Conclusion
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Harshdeep Sagar
Issues relating to Poverty and Hunger
Poverty and Malnutrition
Poverty and Malnutrition
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