Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Urban poverty, distinct from its rural counterpart, is characterized by precarious employment, inadequate housing, limited access to basic services, and social exclusion. According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) 70th round (2015), approximately 25.7% of the urban population in India lived below the poverty line. Recognizing the growing challenge of urban poverty, the Government of India has launched numerous schemes aimed at providing livelihood support, affordable housing, and social security to the urban poor. These initiatives have evolved over time, reflecting changing socio-economic realities and policy priorities. This answer will comprehensively examine these poverty alleviation schemes, their impact, and the challenges they face.
Employment Generation Schemes
These schemes focus on providing wage employment opportunities to the urban poor.
- National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) (2013): Aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. It has two main components: Skill Development and Employment through Training and Placement (DDU-GKY) and Self-Employment Programme (SEP).
- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): While primarily a rural scheme, some states have extended its benefits to urban areas, providing a safety net for the urban unemployed.
- Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Promotes self-employment through the establishment of micro-enterprises. It provides subsidies for setting up small businesses.
Housing Schemes
Addressing the housing deficit is crucial for urban poverty alleviation.
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) (2015): This flagship scheme aims to provide “Housing for All” by 2022 (now extended). It has four components: In-situ Slum Redevelopment, Affordable Housing in Partnership, Subsidy for Beneficiary-led construction, and Model Housing.
- Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) (under JNNURM): Focused on providing basic amenities like water supply, sanitation, and solid waste management in urban slums.
- Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY): Aimed at providing affordable housing to slum dwellers with property rights. (Largely subsumed under PMAY-U)
Social Security and Welfare Schemes
These schemes provide a safety net for vulnerable urban populations.
- National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): Comprises various schemes like Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS).
- Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY): Provided health insurance coverage to BPL families. (Now replaced by Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY))
- Public Distribution System (PDS): Provides subsidized food grains to eligible households.
- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM): Focuses on skill development, self-employment, and shelter for the urban homeless.
Recent Developments and Initiatives
The government has been focusing on convergence and digitalization of these schemes.
- PM-SVANidhi (2020): Provides collateral-free loans to street vendors.
- Digital India Mission: Leveraging technology for efficient delivery of services and tracking the progress of schemes.
- One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): Enables portability of food security benefits across states.
Challenges in Implementation
Despite numerous schemes, several challenges hinder effective poverty alleviation.
- Lack of Awareness: Many eligible beneficiaries are unaware of the schemes and their benefits.
- Bureaucratic Delays: Complex procedures and bureaucratic hurdles often delay the disbursement of benefits.
- Corruption: Leakage of funds and corruption at various levels divert resources away from the intended beneficiaries.
- Inadequate Infrastructure: Lack of adequate infrastructure, particularly in slums, limits the effectiveness of schemes.
- Data Gaps: Accurate data on urban poverty is often lacking, hindering effective targeting of schemes.
- Migration: High levels of migration in urban areas make it difficult to identify and track beneficiaries.
| Scheme | Focus Area | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| NULM | Employment & Livelihoods | Skill development, self-employment, shelter for homeless |
| PMAY-U | Housing | Affordable housing, slum redevelopment, subsidy for construction |
| NSAP | Social Security | Pension schemes for old age, widowhood, and disability |
Conclusion
The Government of India has undertaken a wide range of poverty alleviation schemes for the urban poor, addressing critical areas like employment, housing, and social security. While these initiatives have yielded some positive results, significant challenges remain in terms of implementation, targeting, and ensuring effective delivery of benefits. A greater focus on convergence of schemes, leveraging technology, simplifying procedures, and addressing corruption is crucial. Furthermore, a holistic approach that considers the specific needs of different urban vulnerable groups and promotes inclusive urban development is essential for achieving sustainable poverty alleviation.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.