Poverty is a multi-dimensional concept that encompasses not only economic deprivation, but also deprivation of opportunities as well as deprivation of basic needs such as health, education, housing etc.
Liberating the poor from this deprivation is essential to eradicate poverty as:
- Holistic healthcare facilities will decrease mortality and morbidity >> lead to more productive workforce >> higher productivity and growth >> prosperity.
Healthy mothers >> healthy children >> better learning outcomes and avenues to flourish.
Several developed and developing economies (such as UK and Cuba respectively) have state-sponsored universal healthcare.
- Healthcare is intricately linked to nutrition. Food security and awareness about healthy eating and balanced diet ensures that the people get enough macro and micronutrients that lead to proper overall development of body and mind, creating spill-over effects in other dimensions such as education.
- Provision of education opens up new opportunities for the people and enables them to get gainful employment in various fields. Skilling and vocational training is an essential component of education. India has the Right to Education as a Fundamental Right under Article 21A of its constitution.
- Skilling and education cannot alone eradicate poverty without the presence of formal sector jobs in all the sectors of the economy. Formal sector jobs have provisions for proper wages and social security nets, which provide the people with the economic means necessary to live life with a decent standard of living.
- Liberating the poor from deprivation of knowledge – by increasing awareness about common diseases, political awareness, and engendering behavioural change in matters such as sanitation, savings and exercising regularly – will lead to better social indicators, eradication of poverty and a conscientious citizenry.
“Nudge units” are being established by various governments in order to devise methods to bring about behavioural change. - A major component of poverty eradication is economic growth. Reduction of inequality and redistribution of the fruits of growth is the work of the State and proper mechanisms for the same ensure that the poor get a share of the newly created wealth. The trickle-down effect ensures liberation from deprivation and gives adequate choices in all aspects to the poor.
Goal 1 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals is “Ending poverty in all forms, everywhere”. However, this is not a standalone goal, since poverty is a result of deprivation, and can be eradicated only by removing that deprivation.
