Question

Answer the following question in 80 to 100 words.

Explain the traditional perception of poverty.

Answer 1

The traditional perception of poverty mainly focuses on the lack of basic necessities of life. A person is considered poor when he or she is unable to obtain sufficient food, clothing, shelter, safe drinking water, health care and other essential needs.

This approach measures poverty mainly in economic terms, especially through income and consumption levels. It gives importance to material conditions of life and identifies poverty with shortage of resources required for minimum survival. Thus, the traditional view treats poverty mainly as a problem of economic deprivation and insufficient basic facilities.