Gender and Poverty : A Case Study of India

Abstract

Women's movements are usually "identity-oriented mobilizations" to achieve equality and social justice in gender-insensitive, male-dominated, patriarchal societies. 1 This is true for almost all countries, especially states belonging to the underdeveloped regions of the third world. It is thus applicable to India as well. While scholars and analysts today speak of their identity by way of a'diagnostic study, they should also be aware of the problems related to poverty that women of the world face in general (in certain areas specifically) and the women of India face in particular. This should locate the poverty of Indian women to the globalized theme as well. Poverty is a common, globalized curse,. a unique syndrome, a vital chapter of what Gunnar Myrdal calls an "Asian Drama" where he has been very consistent to associate poverty and inequality in the social, economic, and political spheres. This article attempts to explore the conditions of abject poverty that Indian women are suffering from, from an inter-disciplinary perspective. Poverty and poverty-related problems faced by women cut across castes, creeds, communities, and classes and sometimes beyond the boundaries of states. The question of poverty and deprivation became a focal point at the global level with the World Summit for Social Development (WSSD), which was held in March 1995 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The main motto of this summit was to eradicate global poverty by following an integrated approach and making certain changes in policies and programmes as required by the situation. The United Nations observed 1996 as the "International Year for the Eradication of Poverty" (IYEP). The United Nations General Assembly (Resolution 50/107 of December 20,1995) also decided to observe a "First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty" (1997-2006). In 2008 too, this cardinal issue of poverty faced by Indian women, requires special attention by the Government of India and the various State Governments, the civil society, non-government organizations, women's organizations in India and the global community at large, as this is still a burning topic in the new century for India. It is known that women cannot be taken as a homogeneous group for a number of reasons which need not be mentioned here, as it is an independent field of research in itself. Differences here are probably more than similarities

Gender Poverty Gap: A Comparative analysis of India and Pakistan

“…Poverty is common, globalized curse and unique syndrome (Chosal, 2008). World community is belligerent against tenacious poverty.…”