Poverty alleviation schemes(Rural & Urban)

Dimension of analysis

Theoretical analysis

Guided by the principal of eradication of culture of poverty.
Guided by the principal of improvement in unequal stratification system.

Reasons for the failure of these schemes

Issues with the scheme
Social determinants of failure

Poverty alleviation programs were initiated in India from 5th five year plan and expanded to all India level with IRDP in 1978-79. In 6th FYP the scope was further increased to include both self employment and wage employment program and then introduced social and nutrition support to it. However, all these programs had followings problems

inclusion error, that is resources wastage due to inclusion of population which did not need these benefits and was already capable.
exclusion error, that is Mis-allocation of resource by leaving the real impoverished out of the scheme.
gradual dominance of non plan components which results in ad hoc expenditure without long term impact.
less focus on capacity enhancement and more on achieving quantitative targets.
large scale corruption which compromised and more on achieving quantitative targets.
large scale corruption which compromised delivery mechanism.

in the last decade, govt has introduced several programs to achieve better inclusion and growth possibilities for poor. They are-

employment guarantee through MNREGS, to remove rural distress.
improving PDS delivery with passage of NFSA
focus on education development with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan which has been upgraded to Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan.
introducting PMKVY and DDUGKVY to improve skill development with employment orientation.
PMJAY to supplement preventive healthcare policies like INDRADHANUSH, NHM, SBY etc.
PMGSY and PMAWAS Yojana to support rural and semi rural infrastructure.
JDY PMFBY and PMKISAN to promote financial inclusion for poors.
PMGKY with provision for street hawkers through Sannidhi Yojana, Provision for landless workers, urban unemployed etc to alleviate distress due to pandemic.