Different dimensions of poverty
Reviewed by M.M. Goel

Poverty in India
Edited by Dr Indu Varshney & Dr Nitu Saini,
Kunal Books. Pages 220 Rs 750.

To understand, analyse and interpret the problem of poverty, we are required to know various concepts of poverty categorised as absolute, relative, rural, urban, primary, secondary and voluntary poverty. The government has made efforts in the form of different programmes to alleviate the poverty in India over a period of time. The problems of poverty and unemployment are twin sisters which call for a concrete plan of action. The book under review is necessary and sufficient to grasp the various dimensions of poverty in India, with its measurement for developing a strategy to alleviate as suggested by the 20 writers, excluding the editors. The latter are credited with writing the preface. The book is an outcome of a national seminar on "Poverty in India: Issues and Challenges." This is not mentioned by the editors anywhere.

We looked at poverty as relative poverty and expected to tackle it through trickle-down benefits of the growth ensured automatically by the percolation effect but it did not happen. Absolute poverty is in terms of minimum physical quantities of cereals, pulses, milk, and butter in terms of nutrition value for subsistence level. The price quotations convert into monetary terms and the physical quantities are expressed in per capita consumer expenditure. The population with the level of income or expenditure below the figure is considered to be below the poverty line (BPL). The average calories requirement of less than 2,400 are termed as rural poor and average calories requirement of less than is 2,100 are termed as urban poor. Poverty is termed primary poverty when the income base is insufficient for basic minimum needs. Secondary poverty is expenditure-related and when in spite of income, there is wasteful expenditure on intoxication of liquor etc. We can also conceptualise voluntary poverty also as Mahatma Gandhi lived with wishfully.

It is an accepted reality that measurement of poverty is a difficult task for the National Sample Survey organisation (NSSO) which is making sincere and serious efforts through its various surveys known as rounds. The latest 68th round during July 2011-June 2012 reveals that rural household consumption grew at a faster rate than urban consumption and led to reduce the gap between rural and urban incomes and the consumption of people. Most of the writers advocate alleviation of the poverty which calls for the investment in (a) human capital (health, education and nutrition), (b) infrastructure (roads, power, a conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems), (c) public institutional capital (a well-run public administration, judicial system, police force), and (d) knowledge capital (scientific research for health, energy, agriculture, climate, and ecology). These are to be considered with political will and determination for solving the problems of the poor in India. To provide ROTI (bread) and livelihood to the unemployed poor, we need to increase ROTI- Returns on Training Investment

To eradicate, eliminate and alleviate poverty in India, we need to learn from the South Korean development model called "Saemaeul Undong" (New Community Movement). The Saemaeul spirit included diligence, self-help and cooperation. Saemaeul operated projects of environment improvement, income augmentation and mental reform jointly. It was implemented from the grass-root village level under the combination of villagers, dedicated Saemaeul leaders and local government officials.

We are required to use Swan strategy for achieving our objective of inclusive growth. This calls for good governance, manpower planning and inflation targeting. The book is useful to all of us who have an appetite of understanding the various dimensions of poverty, including its alleviation if not eradication, in India.

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