[GS1 & GS2] Issues relating to poverty, hunger & development

Member of Parliament Local Area Development scheme (MPLADS) – Issues, Suspension, Criticism

Rural Development / Schemes/Welfare Initiatives

Reading Time: 4 mins Recently, the Central government decided to suspend the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme for two years in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. It sought to garner around 7,900 crores by suspending the scheme for the fight against the corona crisis. Following this, few state governments decided to suspend their MLALAD schemes too. This decision attracted diverse commentary by media and civil society.

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Self Help Groups (SHGs) in India – Functions, Advantages & Disadvantages

Rural Development / Self Help Groups (SHGs) / Women

Reading Time: 6 mins

According to the latest statistics, about 25% of the Indian population belongs to the rural poor. Women make up one-third of the Indian labour force. However, social constraints have prevented them from having access to and making use of the available resources that may help them improve their living conditions. Self Help Group is seen by many as the catalyst for rural development, women and social empowerment. Its importance in the Indian economy is seen through many success stories like production of 13 different bioagents to support organic farming by Sabari Swasraya Sanghom of Nellarachal tribal hamlet, Kudumbashree SHG, etc. They are not only inspirational but also the obvious solutions to the existing socio-economic problems of India.

PM Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) – How did it Contribute to Rural Development?

Inclusive growth / Rural Development / Schemes/Welfare Initiatives

Reading Time: 6 mins The Union Budget allotted over Rs.80,000 crore for the up-gradation of 1.25 lakh km roads under the phase III of the PMGSY. This government initiative has greatly enhanced India’s rural population’s standard of living and is one of the significant steps towards inclusive economic growth. Not only is this scheme intending to promote inclusive growth but is also taking into account the need for sustainability of the environment by making use of green technology while constructing the road. Under the first two phases of PMGSY, a total of 1.25 lakh km of rural roads have been built across various villages in the country. The government has set a target to construct 7, 000 km of roads under this initiative during 2019-20. This scheme as a whole, until now, has brought in a significant improvement in ease of living for India’s very large rural population.

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Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana PMAY (Gramin & Urban) – Features, Challenges & Solutions

Rural Development / Schemes/Welfare Initiatives / Urbanization & their problems

Reading Time: 8 mins Housing is one of the basic requirements of human survival. Normal citizen owning a house provides significant economic and social security status in society. For a shelter-less person, a house with basic necessity brings about a profound change in his existence, endowing him with an identity, thus integrating him with his immediate social milieu. With this in mind, the government had launched Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in 2015 to provide housing for all by 2022. Numerous challenges are faced by the government while undertaking this momentous scheme. These need to be addressed for this vision to be implemented within the deadline.

Digital India Programme – How successful is it?

Inclusive growth / Internet / Right to privacy / Rural Development

Reading Time: 7 mins In recent years, India has charted a unique path to digitization, the impact of which is inclusive, empowering and transformative. It is amongst the top two countries globally, only after China on many dimensions of digital adoption. By 2022, India’s digital economy may cross $1 trillion. This was the focus of India Digital Summit 2019 that was held in New Delhi. Since its launch, it has transformed India significantly. However, it is facing numerous challenges in the current times and the government needs to take steps to make it successful for the inclusiveness and empowerment of all Indian citizens.

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Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Critical Analysis

Employment/Human Resources / Important Legislation (Bills & Acts) / Labour Rights / Rural Development / Schemes/Welfare Initiatives

Reading Time: 6 mins

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is a labour law that provides “Right to Work” to the rural population. It not only provides work but also has the potential to improve the infrastructure of rural India and standard of living of the rural population. However, in recent times, this Act is facing numerous issues at the ground-level. This is also contributing to India’s current economic slowdown and unemployment crisis. Therefore, the government must take measures to promote this scheme for the overall economic development of the nation.

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Food Fortification in India – Why is it Necessary?

[GS1 & GS2] Issues relating to poverty, hunger & development / [GS3] Food processing and related industries in India / [GS3] Public Distribution System (PDS) and Food Security / Nutrition

Reading Time: 6 mins

The Union Budget 2019-20 saw an increased focus on food fortification. India is currently suffering from nutrition insecurity despite the progress made in food production capacity and food security. Regardless of all the poverty alleviation and food security schemes, currently, 38% of children under 5 years are stunted, 36% are underweight and 21% are wasted (too thin for their height). This is a sign of acute under-nutrition. Furthermore, 59% of women and 53% of children are anaemic. The government’s intervention to address this issue is a need of the hour.

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Food & Nutrition Security in India: Issues, Challenges & Government Policies

[GS1 & GS2] Issues relating to poverty, hunger & development / [GS3] Public Distribution System (PDS) and Food Security / Nutrition / Schemes/Welfare Initiatives

Reading Time: 10 mins

Food and Nutrition Security Analysis, 2019 – report that was recently published showed the bleak picture of the hunger and malnutrition amongst children in India. Regardless of all measures taken by the Indian government to ensure economic growth, implementation of numerous government schemes to eradicate poverty and malnutrition, undernourishment remains high among the poor in Indian society. If the situation is not addressed soon, the aspiration to achieve SDG-2 may become far more difficult.

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Poverty in India – Reasons and Responses

[GS1 & GS2] Issues relating to poverty, hunger & development / GS1 / GS2 / GS3

Reading Time: 8 mins

India, being one of the fastest-growing economies, despite the international tensions like Trade war and rising isolationism in the current times, is reducing the poverty ratio of its population at a rapid pace.

However, several of the Indians are still suffering due to extreme poverty. According to the Brooking report, about 3% of the Indian population is suffering due to extreme poverty.

With enormous resources and skills, India has the potential to help its entire population overcome poverty. This is of essence as it indirectly slows down the economic growth of the country and hinders the government’s ambition to become $5 Trillion economy by 2024.