Poverty

Our world is dealing with many social issues that need the government's immediate attention. Poverty is one of those major social issues.

So what is poverty?

Poverty is the state or condition in which a person is unable to meet its basic standard of living. A person does not have an adequate supply of food, shelter, and clothes. People do not even have two miles a day."Some can afford space travel, but for some, managing the one-time meal is a rocket science."

Why? What is the reason for this situation?

Causes of poverty:

1. Population Explosion

Population explosion is one of the major causes of poverty. Population growth leads to decrease in per capita income growth which tends to increase poverty. Due to the large population, many people are below the poverty line.

2. Lack of Education 

Education is the one tool that helps to eradicate poverty. It will open new doors of Life but people do not even have a basic knowledge. It is the root cause of poverty.

According to UNESCO one year of education is associated with a 10% increase in wages and also a one-step toward the eradication of poverty but in many areas of the world, people aren't getting an education because their families send them to do child labor and other works.

3. Unemployment

Unemployment creates poverty. When a person does not have any job then he /she is not able to meet his / her basic needs.

4. Climatic conditions

Climatic conditions also affect poverty.

Gradually, shifting weather, pattern rising sea levels, flood, drought, and much more extreme weather events have a huge impact on people who are dealing with poverty.

According to some reports by 2030 more than 100 million people could fall back into extreme poverty due to climatic changes.

5. Inflation

Inflation leads to poverty. Inflation refers to an increase in the prices of goods and services. When a country is dealing with high inflation then its poverty will also rise.

6. Pandemic

In today's current scenario the impact of COVID-19 on poverty is devastating. According to the world bank, the COVID-19 crisis has pushed between 88 and 115 million people into poverty.

7. Poor health facilities

People who are poor are more likely to suffer from bad health because health care is either too expensive or inaccessible for them. And also working sites/factories will only employ those who are fit and that's why people with bad health had to bear this loss and results in poverty. 

Poverty before and after COVID-19

Before

According to a World Bank report 

Global extreme poverty rose in 2020 for the first time in over 20 years as the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• In 2018 4 out of 5 people live in rural areas.

• Almost half of the poor people live in Sub-Saharian Africa in just 5 countries

Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo

Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.

After

• Poverty is more found in urban areas. (migrant workers)

• people below the poverty line are more engaged in informal services and manufacturing and less in agriculture.

• Middle-income countries such as India and Nigeria are more affected.

 Poverty eradication in the world:

Various poverty reduction strategies are introduced to eradicate poverty.

In 2015 all UN members States adopted the 17 sustainable development as a part of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

Goal 1 is to "end poverty in all its form everywhere"

It aims to eradicate poverty for all people, measured by daily wages less than $1.25.

Another initiative was to reduce at least half the total number of men, women and children living in poverty.

In order to eradicate poverty, several other measures should be taken: 

1. Employment Opportunities need to be generated.

2. The majority of the rural poor are smallholders Farmers who are responsible for food production. Helping them to improve farm productivity by providing them with better resources, technologies, and other input.

3. Diversification of employment opportunities into non-agricultural activities will help to alleviate poverty.

4. Investment in education, health, and infrastructure is essential.

5. Better roads and electricity improve connectivity to the market.

Last but not the least :"Its a high time to end poverty"

Thankyou

Sangam Sharma