Poverty is one of the perennial and intractable problems facing governments and populations throughout the world. India is home to 22 per cent of the world’s poor. Thus, reducing and eventually eliminating poverty is vital if the country is to attain national and international goals of development and good governance. While various studies have drawn attention to the fact that some segments of the population find it especially hard to escape poverty, this book provides a holistic understanding of the problem. Discussing the extent, location and severity of chronic poverty in India, this volume suggests poverty reduction policies from that perspective. Based on new research, the contributors analyse both original and secondary data to demonstrate that a significant proportion of India’s population is chronically poor. By weaving together qualitative and quantitative data, the book provides an important understanding of the major causes and consequences of chronic poverty. Among the topics discussed are: The factors that help poor households to escape poverty. The condition of casual agricultural labourers–the largest group characterised by chronic poverty. The effect of involuntary displacement and relocation on forest dwellers. The impact on intra-household relationships in urban slums. The relationship between malnutrition and chronic poverty. The politics of putting persistent poverty on the agenda. The trends in dependency and in work participation among older people who are especially vulnerable to chronic poverty. The opportunities afforded by technology for empowerment of the poor. Possible ways and means to strengthen existing safety nets for the vulnerable. Addressing key policy issues from an entirely fresh perspective, this volume will attract the attention of students and scholars of the Indian economy, development economics, poverty, the sociology of development and rural development. It will also be of interest to policy makers, donor agencies and NGOs.
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