Types of Poverty

Not enough income or resources to meet basic needs (food, clothing, housing, education, healthcare) among people in villages mainly affects small/marginal farmers, landless labourers, and agricultural workers.

Lack of basic needs among groups living in cities and towns, such as rural migrants, slum dwellers, and the informally employed.

Rural Poverty

1. Found in villages/districts
2. Mostly affects small/marginal farmers, landless labourers, and contractual workers
3. Problems: low farm output, droughts, poor roads, limited jobs, heavy debts, and illiteracy

Urban Poverty

1. Found in towns/cities/slums.
2. Affects migrants, slum dwellers, and informal workers.
3. Problems: migration from villages, expensive housing, few secure jobs, poor water and sanitation, slow industrial growth, and illiteracy.

• Rural Example:
  Ramesh, a marginal farmer in Odisha, faces crop loss due to drought. His family often skips meals, and his children cannot afford school books.

• Urban Example:
  Saira’s family moved from a village to Mumbai, now living in a slum. Her parents work as daily wage earners, with no job security and poor sanitation in their home.

• Both rural and urban poverty involve not having enough for a decent life.
• Rural poverty often pushes people to migrate, which increases urban poverty.
• Solving poverty means improving education, infrastructure, job opportunities, and access to basic services.