Poverty in India

Study Region% initially

poor% movers % fallers

% reduction in poverty

Uttar Pradesh 66.7 12.8 5.5 -7.3

Andhra Pradesh 63.8 10.6 3.2 -7.4

Narayan, D. et al. (2009)Poverty Study by the World Bank (Data 1995-2005)

Andhra Pradesh 63.8 10.6 3.2 -7.4

West Bengal 63.3 18.8 7.7 -11.1

Assam 71.5 7.0 5.5 -1.5

Jobs and povertyNon-farm activities such as jobs were the primary triggers for moving out of poverty

Narayan, D. et al. (2009)Poverty Study by the World Bank (Data 1995-2005)

Governance and PovertyWell-functioning local democratic structures such as rural Panchayats were critical for reducing poverty

Where these institutions were captured by groups based on caste, political affiliations,

or economic power, benefits reached only a chosen few.

In Uttar Pradesh people said caste affiliations determined who benefited and who lost –

business licenses, jobs or support - while in West Bengal, they felt membership of the business licenses, jobs or support - while in West Bengal, they felt membership of the

ruling party was critical.

Regular and fair elections, availability of information particularly about local

government programs, and some form of civic participation was found to strengthen

local democracy. In Andhra Pradesh, for instance, self-help groups of rural

entrepreneurs were found to have strengthened the voice of otherwise marginalized

groups in Panchayat meetings and broken down age-old caste and gender barriers.

Shocks and povertyHow do industrial clusters help the poor about the various shocks that often trigger descend to poverty?

Narayan, D. et al. (2009)Poverty Study by the World Bank (Data 1995-2005)