Despite countless welfare schemes and allocations, poverty continues to be a serious issue. The 2024 multidimensional poverty index estimates that around 16.4% of India’s population remains multidimensionally poor. It is a major roadblock in the development of India. Why?
Often, the top-down approach to looking for solutions falls short of meeting the localised realities. The policies made in air-conditioned offices of the urban landscapes don’t usually percolate to the rural parts of India. Creating a divide in how to think and create policies about the eradication of poverty in India.
The difference in social, cultural and economic dynamics of the local communities needs to change. Although we see a shift in this regard happening, the local participation to fight poverty and its related issues has become a focal point in the discussion of poverty eradication. The participation of local communities can be a powerful tool against poverty eradication.
Understanding Poverty Eradication and Its Importance
Understanding poverty eradication is essential; the mere absence of income is not poverty. It has multidimensional aspects like denial of foundational literacy, access to health, etc. When we solve all these issues together, we move closer to solving the issue of poverty eradication. The multidimensional aspects of poverty are:
- Education: Denial of basic education hinders social mobility and maintains poverty.
- Healthcare: A proper healthcare system is essential for the function of a productive human.
- Nutrition: Malnutrition is the lack of proper nutrition and is a key factor that slows mental and physical development in children.
- Employment: Unemployment is an issue where everyone needs a job for a dignified life.
- Rights and protection: A society’s legal and social safeguards often work against vulnerable people.
Recognising all these interconnected issues attached to poverty, the solution not only lies in policy formulation but also in the active participation of the communities as well.
The Role of Community Participation in Poverty Eradication
The role of community participation in poverty eradication is an important one; the community should not be seen only as a beneficiary of the various programmes but also as a stakeholder. True change can only happen when we:
- Empower the grassroots for lasting change.
- Building ownership and accountability
- Strengthening local institutions
- Empowerment through Self-Help Groups (SHG)
- Capacity building and community training
- Fostering social workers and volunteers
Key Components of Community-Driven Poverty Eradication
A community driven approach towards poverty eradication involves localisation, empowerment, and a focus on participation. The community participants are the active agents of change and do not sit as passive aid recipients. They get involved in:
- Local Governance: Effective local institutions help ensure responsive governance.
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Enable microfinancing, generating economic activities
- Local entrepreneurship: Market linkages through self-sufficiency, crafts, and livestock businesses reduce migration and boost the local economy.
Role of Government Initiatives for Poverty Eradication
India has launched a lot of initiatives regarding poverty eradication; some of the missions have been continued for decades, and some have been launched within a few years.
Adopting multidimensional poverty metrics and implementing social protection systems like pensions are some of the key steps that the government has taken.
- Use of centrally funded and sponsored schemes like PMAY, MNREGA, etc.
- Social protection systems like pensions.
- Allocation of cross-sectional funds
- Focus on financial inclusion through e-banking and digital payments.
All these schemes from the government have provided a safety net against the removal of poverty from a multidimensional perspective, and this reflects a shift from a reactive to a proactive stance in the approach.
While they offer foundational support, the success of some of these initiatives is not achieved due to poor on-the-ground implementation.
Challenges in Community-Based Poverty Eradication
Despite so many efforts and progressive changes and the implementation of schemes, there is still a lot to be desired, and we still have many challenges in community-based poverty eradication, such as:
- Lack of awareness and literacy
- Political and social inequities
- Capacity of local institutions
- Overlapping Schemes
- Hidden Corruption
The challenges highlight that policies and schemes are important, but ultimately, the success of community-based poverty removal depends on the understanding and implementation at the local grassroots level. The capacity building and coordination of local bodies and transparency in the approach can only help in this regard.
Improving Livelihood Through Community Development
When communities are at the centre of development, they are equipped with an opportunity for development planning, strengths and weaknesses, and a plan for long-term ownership. Such as:
- Promoting Agro-based enterprises
- Skill development and training
- Micro entrepreneurs
- Developing the Value Chain
- Coordinating Government and CSR Projects
These measures of community development are not only for generating income. They also help reduce migration and encourage self-reliance at the community level. By giving people opportunities, we unlock a future where we move towards a more ground-up eradication of poverty.
Future of Poverty eradication in India: What needs to be done
Poverty eradication is not just a social and economic necessity but also a moral imperative of a just society. The efforts must go beyond the surface and become movements driven by empowered communities. Such as:
- Digital literacy and financial awareness.
- Capacity building of SHGs and NGOs
- Penetration of the CSR efforts in the rural and tribal belt.
- Encourage public-private partnerships in bridging funding.
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Author Bio: Priya Chaudhary is an expert in Social
Impact, CSR, and Gender & Development with a focus on gender equity,
social inclusion, and evidence-based change. With extensive experience
in project management, storytelling, and qualitative research, she has
worked on various NGO marketing and development projects.
Team Helplocal is a group of Good Samaritans that believe in the power of knowledge and awareness. We create blogs, guides, and videos to help people do good and change India in a good way. Contact us on hello@helplocal.in
