CBSE Class 9 Economics Notes Chapter 3 Poverty as a Challenge

CBSE Class 9 Economics Chapter 3 Notes Poverty as a Challenge explains one of the most serious problems faced by independent India. These class 9 economics chapter 3 notes help students understand what poverty is, why it exists, and how it affects people’s lives. In poverty as a challenge class 9 notes, poverty is not only defined as lack of income but also as lack of basic needs like food, shelter, education, healthcare, and employment.

The chapter introduces the concept of the poverty line, which is used to identify poor people based on minimum income and consumption levels. According to economics chapter 3 class 9 notes, poverty can be seen differently in rural and urban areas. The chapter also explains the main causes of poverty such as unemployment, low agricultural productivity, population growth, illiteracy, and unequal distribution of resources.

These poverty as challenge class 9 notes also discuss global poverty and compare India’s situation with other countries. Special focus is given to social groups that are more affected by poverty, like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and casual labourers. The notes of poverty as a challenge highlight how poverty is linked with hunger, malnutrition, and poor living conditions.

The government’s efforts to reduce poverty are clearly explained in chapter 3 economics class 9 notes, including programs like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), self-employment schemes, and food security measures. In class 9th poverty as a challenge notes, the concept of human poverty is introduced, which focuses on education, health, and standard of living.

Overall, these ch 3 eco class 9 notes are very useful for quick revision, exam preparation, and understanding key concepts in a clear and structured way.

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CBSE Class 9 Economics Notes Chapter 3

Here we have provided CBSE Class 9 Economics Notes Chapter 3 for the ease of students so that they can prepare better for their exams. Everywhere we look in our daily lives, we witness poverty. They could be child laborers in dhabas, daily wage workers, people living in crammed jhuggis in cities, or landless laborers in the countryside. Facts state that one in four people in India lives in poverty.

Two Typical Cases of Poverty

Poverty is defined as not having access to clean water, sanitary facilities, adequate shelter, food, or stable employment that pays at least a reasonable wage. One of the main issues facing India after independence is poverty. Only when the poorest citizens of India are free from human misery will the country be considered truly independent.

Poverty as Seen by Social Scientists

Social scientists use a range of measures to examine poverty. The indicators are typically used to relate consumption and income levels. Today, however, poverty is measured by various social variables such as the degree of illiteracy, the absence of general resistance brought on by malnutrition, the lack of access to healthcare, the lack of employment prospects, the lack of access to sanitary facilities, and safe drinking water, etc.

Poverty Line

One way to quantify poverty based on levels of consumption or income is to use the poverty line. The definition of poverty varies by location and period. The basic standards for food, clothing, footwear, fuel and light, education and medical needs, etc. are used in India to calculate the poverty line. The prices of these physical quantities in rupees are multiplied. In India, the ideal calorie requirement is used to calculate poverty. In India, it is generally accepted that an individual needs 2400 calories per day in rural areas and 2100 calories per day in urban areas. These computations were used to determine the poverty line for the 2011–12 year, which was set at Rs. 1000 for urban areas and Rs. 816 for rural regions each month. The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) conducts sample surveys to determine the poverty line regularly, usually every five years.

Poverty Estimates

The poverty rate in India has significantly decreased, going from almost 45 percent in 1993–1994 to 37.2% in 2004–2005. In 2011–12, the percentage of those living below the poverty line decreased even further, to almost 22%.

Vulnerable Groups

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are social groups that are susceptible to poverty. Similar to this, the most susceptible economic groupings are urban casual labor households and rural agricultural labor households. A recent study found that all three groups—scheduled castes, rural agricultural laborers, and urban casual labor households—saw a decrease in poverty in the 1990s, except scheduled tribes.

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Inter-State Disparities

The percentage of the impoverished varies by state in India. The two poorest states, Bihar and Odisha, remained so with respective poverty levels of 33.7 and 32.6 percent. Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh have high rates of urban poverty. Poverty decreased in Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and West Bengal. Punjab and Haryana have a history of decreasing poverty through high rates of agricultural expansion. Kerala has prioritized the development of its human resources more. Land reform initiatives in West Bengal have contributed to a decrease in poverty. The improvement in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu can be attributed to the public distribution of food grains.

Global Poverty Scenario

Rapid economic expansion and significant investments in the development of human resources have led to a significant drop in poverty in China and other Southeast Asian nations. Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa decreased from 51% in 2005 to 41% in 2015. The percentage of people living in poverty in Latin America decreased from 10% in 2005 to 4% in 2015.

Causes of Poverty

There are various reasons for widespread poverty in India. 1. During the British colonial era, India's economy developed slowly. Traditional handicrafts were destroyed by new colonial government policies, which also hindered the growth of industries like textiles. The growth rate of per capita income is extremely low when combined with a low rate of growth and population expansion. Numerous job opportunities in the agriculture sector were generated by the Green Revolution and the expansion of irrigation. These, however, were insufficient to accommodate every job candidate. 2. The stark disparities in income have been another aspect of high rates of poverty. The unequal distribution of land and other resources is one of the main causes of this. One of the main causes of poverty in India has been a lack of land resources, yet millions of rural poor people's lives may have been improved by properly implementing policies. 3. Small farmers needed money to buy agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, etc. So, they used to borrow money and were unable to repay the loan because of poverty.

Anti-Poverty Measures

The current anti-poverty scheme is divided into two parts. 1 Promotion of economic growth 2 Targeted anti-poverty programmes India's economy has grown at one of the quickest rates in the world since the 1980s. Economic expansion and the decrease of poverty are closely related. Several programs have been developed to address poverty either directly or indirectly, including: 1. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act of Mahatma Gandhi, 2005 To guarantee the security of livelihood in rural areas, sought to give every household 100 days of paid work. To address the causes of soil erosion, deforestation, and drought, it also aimed at sustainable development. Women have been given preference for one-third of the suggested positions. 2. The Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) was initiated in 1993. The program's primary goal is to provide educated unemployed adolescents in rural and small-town regions with chances for self-employment. 3. The Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) was introduced in 1995. The program's objective is to provide opportunities for self-employment in small towns and rural areas. 4. Swarnajayanti Gramme Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) was introduced in 1999. The program's goal is to raise the helped low-income families' standard of living at the poverty line by forming self-help groups and providing a combination of government subsidies and bank credit. 5. The Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) was introduced in 2000. Additional central funding is provided to states under this scheme for essential services like basic healthcare, basic education, rural housing, rural drinking water, and rural electricity.

The Challenges Ahead

Although poverty has decreased in India, it still presents the country with its greatest obstacle. Over the next ten to fifteen years, there should be further progress made in reducing poverty. This can be accomplished through accelerating economic growth, putting more emphasis on free elementary education for all, slowing population growth, and empowering women and other economically disadvantaged groups in society.

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Benefits of CBSE Class 9 Economics Notes

1. Easy to Understand Concepts
   CBSE Class 9 Economics notes explain topics in simple language, making difficult concepts like poverty, unemployment, and development easy to understand.

2. Quick Revision Before Exams
   These CBSE Class 9 notes are perfect for last-minute revision as they cover all important points in a short and structured format.

3. Based on Latest CBSE Syllabus
   The notes are prepared strictly according to the latest CBSE syllabus and exam pattern, helping students focus on relevant topics only.

4. Covers Important Definitions and Keywords
   Important terms, definitions, and keywords are clearly highlighted, which helps in writing better answers in exams.

5. Helpful for Writing Answers
   Well-structured points and explanations help students learn how to write clear and scoring answers in board and school exams.

6. Saves Time
   Instead of reading the full textbook again, students can revise the chapter quickly using these notes.

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CBSE Class 9 Economics Chapter 3 Poverty as a Challenge Notes FAQs

Q1. What is poverty according to Class 9 Economics?
Poverty means a situation in which people are unable to meet basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, education, and healthcare.

Q2. What is the poverty line?
The poverty line is a minimum level of income or consumption fixed by the government to identify people living in poverty.

Q3. How is poverty different in rural and urban areas?
In rural areas, poverty is mainly due to unemployment and low agricultural income. In urban areas, it is linked with job insecurity, slums, and lack of basic services.

Q4. What are the main causes of poverty in India?
Major causes include unemployment, population growth, low productivity in agriculture, illiteracy, and unequal distribution of resources.

Q5. Which social groups are more vulnerable to poverty?
Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), casual labourers, and landless agricultural workers are more vulnerable to poverty.