Condition where people's basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are

not being met. Poverty is generally of two types: (1) Absolute poverty is
synonymous with destitution and occurs when people
cannot obtain adequate resources (measured in terms of calories or
nutrition) to support a minimum level of physical health. Absolute
poverty means about the same everywhere, and can be eradicated as
demonstrated by some countries. (2) Relative poverty occurs when
people do not enjoy a certain minimum level of living standards as
determined by a government (and enjoyed by the bulk of the population)
that vary from country to country, sometimes within the same country.
Relative poverty occurs everywhere, is said to be increasing, and may
never be eradicated.

Read
Poverty is about not having enough money to meet basic needs including food,
clothing and shelter. However, poverty is more, much more than just not having
enough money.
The World Bank Organization describes poverty in this way:
Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being
able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how
to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time.

There is no one cause of poverty, and the results of it are different in every case.
Poverty varies considerably depending on the situation. Feeling poor in Canada is
different from living in poverty in Russia or Zimbabwe. The differences between
rich and poor within the borders of a country can also be great.
PoVERTY IMPACT ON EDUCATION
REASONS OF POVERTY.
1 Lack of knowledge and good skills in herding was widely given as a main cause of poverty. This
was often mentioned in conjunction with laziness, although not always. Lack of good skills was
often a cause related to life-cycle stage of a household, and a problem particularly associated
with young herders beginning their herding career, and those who had not been herders during
the negdel period. These were not necessarily seen to be lazy people.
2The lack of employment elsewhere and immigration of people without assets into the
sum was also seen as a cause of poverty in the area.
Another reason given as a cause of poverty was the distribution of animals at privatisation and the receipt of only a small
number; insufficient for effective, self-sufficient herding. This was mostly experienced by those in government service, who
were not herders within the negdel and had limited eligability for animals. Another significant factor related to number of
animals held after transitions is the general wealth of the household during the negdel period. Some animals were privately
owned by negdel workers and so these households began with larger herds after the privatisation process, and thus were in
a better starting position. Some households also found themselves in debt to the negdel at the time of privatisation and lost
their share of privatised animals in repayment, and this they identified as a cause of their poverty. An historical profile of
the poor in bag II supports the explanation that those beginning the transition period with few animals have largely been
unable to build up the herds since. Their livestock numbers have continued to deplete primarily due to the need to sell or
exchange animals (usually sheep) for necessary items, such as flour, rice, clothing, cash, etc. The lack of available cash to
purchase these things and the reliance on traders who give poor rates, was identified as a main problem by many herders
1. Rapidly Rising Population:
The population during the last 45 years has increased at the rate of 2.2% per annum. On
average 17 million people are added every year to its population which raises the demand for
consumption goods considerably.
2. Low Productivity in Agriculture:
The level of productivity in agriculture is low due to subdivided and fragmented holdings, lack
of capital, use of traditional methods of cultivation, illiteracy etc. This is the main cause of
poverty in the country.
3. Under Utilized Resources:
The existence of under employment and disguised unemployment of human resources and
under utilization of resources has resulted in low production in agricultural sector. This
brought a down fall in their standard of living.
Low Rate of Economic Development:
The rate of economic development in India has been below the required level.
Therefore, there persists a gap between level of availability and requirements of goods
and services. The net result is poverty.
6. Price Rise:
The continuous and steep price rise has added to the miseries of poor. It has benefited a
few people in the society and the persons in lower income group find it difficult to get
their minimum needs.
7. Unemployment:
The continuously expanding army of unemployed is another cause of
poverty. The job seeker is increasing in number at a higher rate than the
expansion in employment opportunities.
8. Shortage of Capital and Able Entrepreneurship:
Capital and able entrepreneurship have important role in accelerating
the growth. But these are in short supply making it difficult to increase
production significantly.
9. Social Factors:
The social set up is still backward and is not conducive to faster
development. Laws of inheritance, caste system, traditions and customs
are putting hindrances in the way of faster development and have
aggravate" the problem of poverty.
10. Political Factors:
The Britishers started lopsided development in India and reduced Indian
economy to a colonial state. They exploited the natural resources to suit
their interests and weaken the industrial base of Indian economy.