“Poverty in India is increasingly a reflection of capability deprivation rather than income scarcity”. Elucidate this shift and highlight its policy implications.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger
Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger
Q3. “Poverty in India is increasingly a reflection of capability deprivation rather than income scarcity”. Elucidate this shift and highlight its policy implications. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question: To assess how India’s poverty profile is evolving from income-centric to capability-based deprivation and its implications for welfare and governance policy design. Key Demand of the question: The question asks to elucidate the shift from income scarcity to capability deprivation and highlight how this transformation influences India’s poverty alleviation strategy and policy orientation. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Briefly define the changing nature of poverty in India, citing MPI or HDI to show the move toward multidimensional deprivation. Body: Explain the meaning of capability deprivation with examples from health, education, gender, and digital divides. Describe the key drivers behind this shift—economic growth without inclusion, informality, and intergenerational poverty. Highlight policy implications—rights-based welfare, capability-building programmes, and data-driven multidimensional targeting. Conclusion: Emphasize that true poverty eradication lies in expanding freedoms and human capabilities, not merely raising incomes.
Why the question: To assess how India’s poverty profile is evolving from income-centric to capability-based deprivation and its implications for welfare and governance policy design.
Key Demand of the question: The question asks to elucidate the shift from income scarcity to capability deprivation and highlight how this transformation influences India’s poverty alleviation strategy and policy orientation.
Structure of the Answer: Introduction:
Briefly define the changing nature of poverty in India, citing MPI or HDI to show the move toward multidimensional deprivation. Body:
• Explain the meaning of capability deprivation with examples from health, education, gender, and digital divides.
• Describe the key drivers behind this shift—economic growth without inclusion, informality, and intergenerational poverty.
• Highlight policy implications—rights-based welfare, capability-building programmes, and data-driven multidimensional targeting.
Conclusion:
Emphasize that true poverty eradication lies in expanding freedoms and human capabilities, not merely raising incomes.