Poverty in North-Eastern States: An Inter Temporal Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The present paper is an attempt to analyse the status of poverty, its trend and the process of its reduction in the north-eastern states using the three conventional measures of poverty such as head count ratio, poverty gap ratio and Foster-Greer-Thorebecke method The paper is based on data collected by the National Sample Survey Organisation for two quinquennial 50th and 55th rounds for the years 1993-94 and 1999-2000 respectively. A multi dimensional poverty analysis is presented for the districts of Assam. This analysis is based on Human Development and human Poverty indices. The study reveals that not only the magnitude of poverty has varied from one state to another but also has declined over the reference period for most of the states in the region. This declination was observed to be more in urban areas and in hill states as compared corresponding rural areas and plain states. The findings of this study have important implications in identifying the poor regions and call for a target oriented and region specific poverty reduction programs. More importantly by way of policy implications it also calls for a good governance of the delivery system and strong political commitment.