Passage

The poverty line is quite unsatisfactory when it comes to grasping the extent of poverty in India. It is not only because of its extremely narrow definition of 'who is poor' and the debatable methodology used to count the poor, but also because of a more fundamental assumption underlying it. It exclusively relies on the notion of poverty as insufficient income or insufficient purchasing power. One can better categorize it by calling it income poverty. If poverty is ultimately about deprivations affecting human well-being, then income poverty is only one aspect of it. Poverty of a life, in our view, lies not merely in the impoverished state in which the person actually lives, but also in the lack of real opportunity given by social constraints as well as personal circumstances–to choose other types of living. Even the relevance of low incomes, meagre possessions, and other aspects of what are standardly seen as economic poverty relate ultimately to their role in curtailing capabilities, i.e., their role in severely restricting the choices people have to lead variable and valued lives.

QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Comprehension

Prelims 2022

What does the author mean by 'poverty of a life'?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Option A is correct: The author’s phrase "poverty of a life" refers to all forms of deprivation that impact a person’s well-being, not just due to low income but also due to a lack of real opportunities to pursue a fulfilling life. This view of poverty encompasses economic, social, and personal factors that restrict a person's choices and opportunities. This option is correct because it captures the author’s broader definition of poverty, which includes limitations beyond financial constraints, such as social and personal barriers that hinder one’s ability to lead a valued life.

Option B is incorrect: Because while poverty involves more than purchasing power, lack of income can still affect access to essential services like education and healthcare. Other deprivations do relate to income to some extent.

Option C is incorrect: Because the changing nature of income doesn’t explain why income alone is insufficient. The issue is that income poverty ignores other vital aspects of well-being.

Option D is incorrect: Because income poverty restricts choices over time, not just temporarily. This option doesn’t address why income poverty overlooks other dimensions of deprivation.