Dr. Raj Kumar
Poverty is one of the most widespread socio-economic problems of India, even though its economy rose to the position of a leading developing nation after Independence. It is, indeed, a common problem faced by most underdeveloped and developing countries of the world. In India, poverty is not only a socio-economic problem, but also emotional, cultural, and political in nature.
The developments that have taken place in this land (Jammu and Kashmir) during the last six to seven decades have not been able to wipe out poverty. Poverty has remained the root cause of many problems. The problem of poverty is very closely linked with unemployment. Along with poverty, unemployment is also widespread in India due to inadequate skill development. It is, in fact, a problem common to many countries of the world, whether they are industrially advanced or not.
In Jammu and Kashmir, there has been no significant advancement of industries as compared to other parts of India.
An international labour expert commented towards the close of the twentieth century:
“About 400 million new workers are expected to enter the labour force this decade, and prospects of finding jobs for all of them are gloomy,” particularly in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and generally in India.
The twin social problems of poverty and unemployment are found throughout the length and breadth of this land (Jammu and Kashmir). The study of poverty invariably raises a number of questions:
What is poverty?
What is the extent or magnitude of poverty?
What are the causes of poverty?
How is poverty measured?
What are the socio-economic effects of poverty?
What are its economic and social dimensions?
What are the effective solutions to poverty?
We shall try to find some satisfactory answers to these questions. One major issue is overpopulation in India. The world population is continuously increasing. Several nations of the world, such as India and China, are gripped by the problem of overpopulation. Many countries experience this problem, including India and China.
Causes of Poverty
The causes of poverty are many-sided. However, they may broadly be discussed in terms of individual incapacity and other deficiencies which can be managed or overcome but are often neglected by some individuals. As a result, they fall prey to poverty.
Under this category, we may include deficiencies such as illiteracy, the influence of “saint-mat” politics, laziness, extravagance, immorality, and bad habits among some “politicians” and “bureaucrats”, such as gambling, alcoholism, etc.
Moreover, the Indian economy is primarily agrarian in nature, and capital deficiency further increases unemployment.
What Is Unemployment?
Unemployment is a state of worklessness for a person who is fit and willing to work. In other words, it is a condition of involuntary or voluntary idleness. Unemployment may also be defined as a deficiency of skilled labour.
In simple terms, unemployment largely concerns men and women who lack proper knowledge of the labour concept and practical skills.
Other Causes of Unemployment
Some young men and women are not prepared to undertake jobs that are considered socially degraded or indecent, such as sweeping, etc. This reflects defects in the formal education system.
The problem of unemployment is particularly serious in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and, at times, leads to involvement in terrorist activities. Moreover, unemployment is not only a social problem but also an individual problem, including among those in administrative services and politics.
An unemployed person often loses self-respect and develops a disappointed outlook, without understanding the importance of informal education.
Remedial Measures and Suggestions
The problem of unemployment is growing day by day in India. Therefore, population growth must be checked. The main solution to social and economic problems lies in achieving economic development in agriculture and industry, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and generally in India.
There is also a great need for reforms in the education sector, shifting emphasis from purely formal education to informal and skill-based courses such as I.T.I. Proper practical training should also be imparted to “politicians” and “bureaucrates”.
In the present era, attention has shifted towards Dalit history and Dalit English literature for skill development as well as for controlling population growth. Employment guidance bureaus and employment exchange agencies, along with institutions such as libraries, can play a vital role in this regard, especially after the expansion of knowledge in India since 1947.
(The author is Retired Principal, GDC Mahanpur, Jammu.)
