India’s Fight Against Poverty: What’s Being Done?
India is known for its rich culture, heritage and diversity, but it’s also known for its high poverty rate. In a country of 1.3 billion people, more than 364 million Indians live below the poverty line. However, India is taking strides to alleviate poverty and work towards an inclusive economy. In this article, we’ll be discussing what’s being done to fight poverty in India, its impact and the top tourist attractions in India that are contributing to this fight.
Impact of Poverty in India:
Poverty in India affects a vast number of people, especially in rural areas. It’s an issue that needs to be addressed due to its impact on health, education, and employment opportunities. One of the significant effects of poverty is malnutrition. According to the World Bank, about 25% of Indian children under five are undernourished, which is the highest in the world. Poverty also leads to an inadequate education system, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty. Lack of education leads to low-paying jobs, which, in turn, keeps them in poverty. Inequality, gender discrimination and lack of access to healthcare are other issues faced by the poor in India.
What’s Being Done to Fight Poverty in India?
India is taking several measures to reduce poverty and work towards an inclusive economy. Here are some of the initiatives:
1. Jan Dhan Yojana: The scheme aimed at financial inclusion for all is one of the government’s flagship programmes. It aims to provide access to banking facilities to all households in India.
2. PMJDY: Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana has been launched to provide banking services to all parts of the rural and urban population who are financially excluded.
3. Ujjwala Yojana: The scheme aims to provide cooking gas (LPG) connections to the women from BPL households.
4. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: The movement aims to improve public health and hygiene by building toilets and promoting cleanliness.
5. Skill India: The aim of Skill India is to train over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022.
6. Digital India: It is an ambitious programme of the Government of India with an aim to transform India into a digital economy.
7. Make in India: The programme aims to encourage domestic manufacturing in India to increase employment opportunities and reduce dependency on imported goods.
8. National Food Security Act: The act aims to provide legal entitlements to the people in India for subsidised food grains.
9. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act: MGNREGA is a scheme for rural employment generation. It guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household.
10. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: It aims to provide affordable housing to the homeless and the poor in India.
FAQs:
Q. What is the poverty line in India?
A. The poverty line in India is defined as the minimum level of income that is necessary to meet the basic living standards.
Q. How can I help reduce poverty in India?
A. You can help reduce poverty in India by contributing to local charity organisations or volunteering at local NGOs that are working towards poverty reduction.
Q. What are the main causes of poverty in India?
A. The main causes of poverty in India are lack of education, inadequate healthcare facilities, low-paying jobs, farmer suicides, and inequality.
Q. Is India’s middle class growing?
A. Yes, India’s middle class is growing. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, the Indian middle class is projected to increase from 28% in 2007 to 56% by 2027.
Top 10 Tourist Attractions located in India’s Fight Against Poverty: What’s Being Done?
1. Dharavi, Mumbai: Dharavi is one of the largest slums in Asia and is also an important hub for small-scale industries. Various non-profit organisations run tours to showcase the lives of the inhabitants and their enterprising spirit.
2. Chetna Organic Farmers Association, Mumbai: Chetna Organic is an association of farmers who produce organic cotton. Tourists can visit their farms, talk to the farmers and learn about organic farming.
3. The Indian Grameen Services, Lucknow: The Indian Grameen Services provide training and support to rural entrepreneurs. Tourists can visit their centres and learn about their training programmes and initiatives.
4. Vandemataram Foundation, Hyderabad: The Vandemataram Foundation provides education and healthcare services for underprivileged children. Tourists can visit their schools to interact with the children and donate to the foundation.
5. Navdanya, Dehradun: Navdanya is a non-profit organisation that advocates for and promotes organic farming. Tourists can visit their farms, participate in the cultivation process and learn about biodiversity.
6. Jaipur Rugs, Jaipur: Jaipur Rugs is a social enterprise that works with rural artisans to create handmade carpets. Tourists can visit their centres, learn about the weaving process and buy carpets.
7. Janalakshmi Social Services, Bangalore: Janalakshmi Social Services is a microfinance institution that provides credit and savings services to women in urban areas. Tourists can visit their centres and learn about microfinance initiatives.
8. I Support Foundation, Pondicherry: The I Support Foundation provides education and healthcare services to underprivileged children. Tourists can volunteer at their centres and donate to the foundation.
9. Mana Hotels, Ranakpur: Mana Hotels is a social enterprise that works with the local community to provide employment opportunities. Tourists can visit their hotels, learn about their business model and stay at their resorts.
10. SORAI, Coimbatore: SORAI is a social enterprise that produces eco-friendly products made from natural fibres. Tourists can visit their centres, learn about their products and buy them.
Conclusion:
India’s fight against poverty is a long-term process, but the government, NGOs and social enterprises are taking steps to reduce poverty and create employment opportunities. As tourists, we can contribute to this fight by visiting social enterprises, donating to NGOs and supporting the local community. We hope this article has helped you to understand what’s being done to fight poverty in India and the top tourist attractions that are contributing to this fight.