Hunger&lack of shelter

Sick people cannot afford treatment..

Situation when parents are not able to send their children to school.

Lack of clean water

Lack of regular jobs

Year Rural Urban Combined

1973-74 56.4 49 55

1993-94 37.3 32.4 36

1999-00 27.1 23.6 26

2004-05 28.3 25.7 27

2009-10 34 27 30

Poverty Ratio (%)

Vulnerable Groups

Causes of poverty

• Unemployment and underemployment, arising in part from protectionist policies pursued till 1991 that prevented high foreign investment.

• About 60% of the population depends on agriculture whereas the contribution of agriculture to the GDP is about 18%.

• High population growth rate, although demographers generally agree that this is a symptom rather than cause of poverty.

• The caste system, under which hundreds of millions of Indians were kept away from educational, ownership, and employment opportunities, and subjected to violence for "getting out of line." British rulers encouraged caste privileges and customs, at least before the 20th century.