Types of Poverty

Poverty in India is diverse, and it’s often categorized into two main types: absolute poverty and relative poverty, each with its unique characteristics.

Absolute Poverty

Absolute poverty is about the basic necessities of life. It focuses on the minimum amount of money needed to cover fundamental requirements like food, clothing, housing, safe drinking water, education, and healthcare. Even if a nation is economically prosperous, individuals living below this poverty line struggle to meet these essential needs. However, this concept doesn’t consider broader quality of life issues or societal inequalities, overlooking essential social and cultural demands.

Relative Poverty

Relative poverty is about income insufficiency concerning the average living standards in a society. Individuals experiencing relative poverty may have some income, but it falls short of sustaining the average lifestyle around them. This type of poverty is dynamic, changing with the economic prosperity of the country. People in relative poverty may not be in absolute poverty, yet they can’t afford the same standard of living as the rest of society. This can manifest in various aspects like limited access to technology, clean clothes, quality housing, and education, creating obstacles that can persist throughout a lifetime.

Poverty means not having enough money to meet basic needs like food and shelter. People’s ability to participate in society, get a suitable education, and maintain good health are all impacted by severe financial hardships. Poverty has an effect on individuals as well as the larger social structures that offer assistance, reverberating across our communities. A contributing factor to economic difficulties is the burden on the judicial system, healthcare, and other aid programs.