IS POVERTY A BIGGEST HURDLE IN A ROAD TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT
According to the Cambridge dictionary, poverty is defined as a lack of something or when the quality of something is deficient.’ When we usually refer to the term poverty, we refer to the low quality of living standards. In India, poverty is almost everywhere. In the rural areas as well as in urban areas where there are slums.
It seems to be so embedded in our country that though it is a matter of discussion, it is not given the due attention it deserves. Poor people have to work hard every day to earn enough to make somehow ends meet. Most of them are also daily wage workers who have to search for jobs now and then.
It is easy for the politicians and people to blame each other and say that it is poverty that is causing hindrance to the country’s development. This is undoubtedly true as poverty has a direct impact on the economic growth of any nation. But it is more important to focus on what is causing poverty rather than just claiming it to be the reason for slow economic growth.
Focusing on and improving the reasons for poverty will automatically lead to improvement in development. So what exactly are the causing factors? They are poor infrastructure, lack of education, and limited access to markets for an essential start.
As per survey done by top schools in India, one of the primary reasons why many state governments and the central government are providing education at low cost, free books and uniforms, midday meal facilities, and admissions under RTE is because as people become more educated, they open up various possibilities for themselves.
There have been cases of village transformations because some educated person(s) had an idea, devised a plan, and worked on it. But it all started with education being provided. Though the government runs many schemes, the ground implementation can hardly be noticed.
Most of the students are still kept at home by the family members to earn extra income. In many cases, even if the children are going to school, uneducated teachers are incompetent or too lazy to teach.
Another research done by a top international school in India shows that another reason for poverty is the lack of infrastructure. This could be due to many reasons, but one of the main reasons is geographical barriers. Areas such as islands and mountains often tend to have inadequate infrastructure facilities.
Sites that have less population are also often neglected by the authorities. When it comes to development, infrastructure cannot be left behind. Lack of proper roads, electricity, and even regular supply of clean drinking water.
These essential development leads to empowerment and thus creates better living conditions. Such facilities also attract investors and hence lead to the creation of employment opportunities.
The last aspect pointed out is the poor access to the market. Due to poor infrastructure or low productivity, it becomes difficult for poverty-stricken people to access the market. This also leads to them being entrapped as they cannot directly bring their stuff to the market and hence have to depend on a mediator and often do not get the deserving price for their product.
Apart from that, they seldom get any media coverage. Our country’s media is usually focused on showing anything and everything that gives TRP rather than offering real problems of the country and gathering the focus of the public and the government.
All these are significant factors why the rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. It is high time that we stop blaming poverty and focus on the factors that cause it.