What is Poverty Alleviation?
Poverty Alleviation refers to a set of measures, both economic and humanitarian, intended to permanently lift people out of poverty. It involves strategies to increase income, improve access to basic necessities like food, shelter, healthcare, and education, and enhance opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
Historical Background
Post-independence, India has consistently pursued poverty alleviation as a central goal. Early strategies included land reforms and community development. Later, targeted programs like Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP), Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, and subsequently MGNREGA and National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) were launched. The concept of poverty lines and measurement has also evolved over time (e.g., Lakdawala Committee, Tendulkar Committee, Rangarajan Committee).