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Rural Poverty in India: Structure, determinants and suggestions for policy reform

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  • Raghbendra Jha

Abstract

Poverty, particularly rural poverty, has been one of the enduring policy challenges in India. Surely the most important objective of the reforms process would have been to make a significant dent on rural poverty. It is from this that a program of accelerated growth must draw its rationale. In this paper, I discuss the evolution of poverty in India - particularly during the reform period. Then I analyze the structure and determinants of this poverty. The rate of decline of poverty declined during the 1990s as compared to the 1980s. I advance some reasons for this. Policy prescriptions for a more effective anti poverty strategy are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Raghbendra Jha, 2002. "Rural Poverty in India: Structure, determinants and suggestions for policy reform," ASARC Working Papers 2002-07, The Australian National University, Australia South Asia Research Centre.
  • Handle: RePEc:pas:asarcc:2002-07
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    Cited by:

    1. Meenakshi Rajeev, 2007. "Rural Infrastructure Development Fund: Need for a Track Change," Working Papers 195, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore.
    2. Rajeev, Meenakshi, 2008. "Ensuring Rural Infrastructure in India: Role of Rural Infrastructure Development fund," MPRA Paper 9836, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 05 Aug 2008.
    3. Sen, S K & Guha, S & Chakraborty, N, 2011. "A Study on Regional Disparity of Devolution of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund - Evidence for India," MPRA Paper 39117, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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