Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Poverty, traditionally defined as a lack of income or consumption, is increasingly understood as a more complex phenomenon. Amartya Sen, in his seminal work on poverty and famine, shifted the focus from ‘resource possession’ to ‘capability deprivation’. This perspective views poverty not simply as a failure to have enough, but as a failure to *do* and *be* – to achieve valuable functionings. The Human Development Report (HDR) 2021-22, titled “Uncertain Times, Unsettled Futures”, highlights the reversal in human development progress, exacerbating capability deprivations globally. This answer will explore the assertion that poverty is fundamentally a ‘capability deprivation’, examining its theoretical underpinnings and practical implications.
The Capability Approach: A Paradigm Shift
The Capability Approach, developed by Amartya Sen and further elaborated by Martha Nussbaum, posits that individual well-being should be assessed based on their capabilities – the set of real opportunities a person has to achieve functionings. Functionings are the ‘beings and doings’ that a person values, such as being healthy, being educated, or participating in community life. Poverty, therefore, isn’t just about lacking income; it’s about lacking the capabilities to achieve these valued functionings.
Poverty as Capability Deprivation: Dimensions and Examples
This perspective highlights the multidimensionality of poverty. Consider these dimensions:
- Health: A person lacking access to healthcare or adequate nutrition suffers a capability deprivation in the functioning of ‘being healthy’.
- Education: Lack of access to quality education deprives individuals of the capability to ‘be knowledgeable’ and participate fully in society.
- Social Inclusion: Discrimination based on caste, gender, or religion restricts capabilities related to ‘participating in political life’ or ‘being treated with respect’.
- Economic Opportunities: Limited access to employment or credit restricts the capability to ‘be employed’ and ‘achieve economic security’.
Traditional income-based poverty measures, like the poverty line, often fail to capture these nuances. For example, two individuals with the same income might have vastly different capabilities due to differences in health, education, or social circumstances. A person with a disability, for instance, may require significantly more income to achieve the same level of functioning as an able-bodied person.
Contrasting with Traditional Poverty Measures
The World Bank’s international poverty line (currently $2.15 per day as of 2022) focuses on consumption. While useful for tracking absolute poverty, it doesn’t account for the qualitative aspects of well-being. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the UNDP in 2010, attempts to address this by incorporating indicators related to health, education, and living standards. However, even the MPI is limited in its ability to fully capture the subjective and contextual nature of capabilities.
Implications for Policy
Recognizing poverty as capability deprivation has significant implications for policy. It shifts the focus from simply increasing income to expanding people’s opportunities and freedoms. This requires:
- Investing in health and education: Improving access to quality healthcare and education is crucial for enhancing capabilities.
- Promoting social inclusion: Addressing discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all is essential.
- Empowering individuals: Providing people with the agency and resources to make choices about their own lives is vital.
- Strengthening social safety nets: Providing a minimum level of support to ensure basic capabilities are protected.
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) 2005, while primarily an employment scheme, also contributes to capability enhancement by providing income security and promoting rural infrastructure development. Similarly, the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 enhances the capability of ‘being nourished’ for a significant portion of the population.
Conclusion
In conclusion, framing poverty as ‘capability deprivation’ offers a more holistic and nuanced understanding of the phenomenon than traditional income-based measures. It acknowledges that poverty is not merely a lack of resources, but a lack of freedom to achieve valuable functionings. Addressing poverty effectively requires policies that focus on expanding people’s capabilities, empowering them to lead lives they have reason to value, and fostering inclusive and equitable development. Moving forward, poverty alleviation strategies must prioritize investments in human capital, social inclusion, and individual agency to truly break the cycle of deprivation.
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.