Download - Presentation done by Tamal Sarkar
Poverty in India
Study Region% initially
poor% movers % fallers
% reduction in poverty
Uttar Pradesh 66.7 12.8 5.5 -7.3
Andhra Pradesh 63.8 10.6 3.2 -7.4
Narayan, D. et al. (2009)Poverty Study by the World Bank (Data 1995-2005)
Andhra Pradesh 63.8 10.6 3.2 -7.4
West Bengal 63.3 18.8 7.7 -11.1
Assam 71.5 7.0 5.5 -1.5
Jobs and povertyNon-farm activities such as jobs were the primary triggers for moving out of poverty
Narayan, D. et al. (2009)Poverty Study by the World Bank (Data 1995-2005)
Governance and PovertyWell-functioning local democratic structures such as rural Panchayats were critical for reducing poverty
Where these institutions were captured by groups based on caste, political affiliations,
or economic power, benefits reached only a chosen few.
In Uttar Pradesh people said caste affiliations determined who benefited and who lost –
business licenses, jobs or support - while in West Bengal, they felt membership of the business licenses, jobs or support - while in West Bengal, they felt membership of the
ruling party was critical.
Regular and fair elections, availability of information particularly about local
government programs, and some form of civic participation was found to strengthen
local democracy. In Andhra Pradesh, for instance, self-help groups of rural
entrepreneurs were found to have strengthened the voice of otherwise marginalized
groups in Panchayat meetings and broken down age-old caste and gender barriers.