Poverty: Scenario in Indian Subcontinent

All countries of the world suffer from poverty; developed countries with lesser degree and less developed countries with greater incidence.  Characteristic features, causes and profile of poverty appear to be almost the same in all countries and measures taken to alleviate poverty are also similar in almost all countries.  There are a number of research studies done independently in each of the countries.  However, a comparative study of the countries is conspicuously absent.  Present book- ‘Poverty- (Scenario in the Indian subcontinent)’ is an effort to present an analysis of poverty in the countries in Indian subcontinent.  Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, four major countries in the Indian subcontinent possess almost similar colonial background, geographical, economic, social and geo-environmental characteristic features, though they are ruled by different political ideologies.  Considering these similarities, a comprehensive comparative analysis of poverty situation is depicted in the present book.  First two chapters of the book, discuss theoretical background against which study of the four countries is based.  Four chapters following these, discuss, analyse and evaluate the concept of poverty as adopted in these four countries, poverty profile, causes of poverty and measures taken to alleviate poverty.  Successes and failures of these measures considering their causes are discussed.  Ample cross references from Latin American, African and Asian countries are cited to give an insight to the problem.  Innovative measures adopted in South-East Asian countries and Latin American countries to reduce poverty are discussed in the last chapter.  These four countries have lost the opportunity to reduce poverty by introducing economic reforms before reducing poverty as was successfully done by some South-East Asian countries.  The focus of the book is to present a comprehensive comparative analysis of scenario in these four countries.