why is poverty a main challenge for india?

Dear Student,

Poverty is challenging because of the issues related to it which if not controlled cause vicious circle, for example:

* Landlessness

* Unemployment

* Illiteracy

* Poor health/malnutrition

* Child labour

* Helplessness

@Aadhavan: Correct answer, thumbs up!

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India has about 160 million family units, and a large portion of India's population is very young. The line between an infant, child and teenager or young adult is extremely thin. To be born in India is a big challenge, especially for kids whose parents can't afford even the basics, like housing, food and education. Today, unfortunately, India has one of the highest numbers of children working for meager wages, just help their families to survive. When children work, they have much less time at home with their families, or to attend primary school and learn basic skills, such as the abilities to read, write, or solve math problems. In India, there are children living in slums and on the streets, child labourers, and child construction workers. Over 50,000 children are abandoned in the country every year. 11 million children live on the streets and there are more than 44 million child labourers in India in all. India does have about 200 million people who are classified by the government as middle class, yet India also has about 500 million people who do live quite under poverty line. The experience of poverty means not having the basics: food, nutrition, clean water, adequate housing, adequate clothing, adequate working conditions, etc. Children in poverty were most likely born into poverty. They will labor from a very young age, and also, will most likely not receive an adequate education. Families reproduce very quickly in order to survive: they reproduce children who will assist in generating income for the family, and they reproduce the culture that keeps them in poverty. Children often feel hopeless, exploited, and because of socio-economic sentiments of inferiority, perhaps that they cannot even ask for better. Still, we have found that Indian children are agents who persist in their struggle: they work, some attend school, and they develop strong ties to their families and communities. Perhaps over time, organizations will empower Indian mothers, fathers, and children to attain more land, a better standard of living, and the vision of a better future.

India is on track to become a global power. However, poverty seems to be increasing, despite economic miracles, many Indians still live in abject poverty. It is time to wake up and take emergency steps to usher in changePOVERTY IS a monumental crisis and the biggest challenge facing India today. It should be dealt at an emergency level, acclaimed Indo-American leader Rajan Zed said today.

In a statement in Nevada (USA), Zed said although India is on track to become a global power, but her new prosperity has remained evasive for many. Despite economic miracles, many Indians still live in abject poverty. Inequalities in opportunities block poor people from participating in the growth process and they remain trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, argues that income gaps are widening fast in India, where about one third of world's poor live. Wealth distribution and growth have been uneven across various economic and social groups, urban and rural populations, and geographical regions. A large population of India works in the informal labor sector, with no steady jobs and no social security. The number of poor living on less than $1.25 a day has increased. It is blight on the country, which prides herself on having joined the league of hottest growth economies.

Zed further said that problems like severe malnutrition; spiralling food prices; ineffectual government programmes; lack of access to medical facilities, potable water, energy sources, sanitation; illiteracy; among others need to be immediately dealt with. Poverty has led to many other societal problems, which the country faces today. Basic inequalities need to be addressed if India wants all her people to be able to share the fruits of the growth.

Religions should also put their share in poverty eradication programmes in the communities. Large corporations, which have enormously benefitted from India's economic growth, are also obligated to cater to social and environmental concerns and should take responsibility in poverty eradication, Zed pointed out.

Zed warned that India should wake up to the magnitude of the emergence of poverty. Raising people above the poverty line is an achievable task. It just needs strong political and social will. Make it a policy pPOVERTY IS a monumental crisis and the biggest challenge facing India today. It should be dealt at an emergency level, acclaimed Indo-American leader Rajan Zed said today.

riority; treat it as a crisis, he added.

POVERTY IS a monumental crisis and the biggest challenge facing India today. It should be dealt at an emergency level, acclaimed Indo-American leader Rajan Zed said today.

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