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Give an account of interstate disparities of Poverty in India

Last Updated : 12 Jul, 2023
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Over the past few years, India, a nation of more than 1.3 billion people, has significantly reduced poverty. Nevertheless, despite the overall drop in poverty rates, there are still considerable differences in poverty levels throughout the nation’s states.

The National Sample Survey (NSS)’s most recent data show that India’s poverty rate was 21.9% in 2011–12. However, there are considerable regional variations in this statistic, with some states having much greater rates of poverty than others. As an illustration, while the poverty rate is less than 10% in states like Goa and Kerala, it is over 40% in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.

The unequal distribution of natural resources is a factor in the differences in poverty levels. Natural resource-rich states have an edge over others that do not, such as Gujarat, which has sizable natural gas reserves, and Jharkhand, which has sizable coal deposits.

The below table is representing the various causes of Poverty:

Poverty Rate

States with much greater rates of poverty than others have percentages of their populations who are below the poverty line.

Social Characteristic

Social factors like caste, religion, and gender can also affect poverty rates differently, with certain groups experiencing more discrimination and obstacles to work and education than others.

 

Economic Growth

Some states’ economies have grown more quickly than others’, leading to more jobs being created and higher wealth accumulation.

 

Natural Resources

ones with abundant natural resources like coal, oil, or natural gas typically have more promising economic futures than ones without these resources.

 

The unequal distribution of economic growth across the states is one of the key causes of these imbalances. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have lagged behind while several states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, have had tremendous economic growth in recent years. As a result, some states have seen an increase in wealth and economic prospects, while others have lagged behind.

There are substantial differences across states in terms of infrastructural development. While some states have well-developed electricity, telecommunications, and transportation infrastructure, others lag behind, making it more challenging for them to draw investment and generate jobs.

The variations in poverty rates between states are also influenced by social characteristics including caste, religion, and gender. For instance, people from lower castes and minority groups frequently encounter discrimination while trying to access chances for work and education, which can lead to greater rates of poverty.
 

In conclusion, despite India’s recent achievement in decreasing poverty, there are still large differences in the levels of poverty in the various states. Uneven economic growth, resource distribution, infrastructural development, and social variables including caste, religion, and gender are some of the causes of these discrepancies. Government, civic society, and the corporate sector will need to work together to promote inclusive and sustainable development in all of India’s states in order to address these gaps.


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