Interstate Disparities in Poverty in India – Explained Simply
Poverty is not evenly spread across India — some states have a much higher percentage of people living in poverty compared to others. This uneven spread is called interstate disparity in poverty.
Key Points:
✅ 1. States with High Poverty Levels:
Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh
These states have large populations living below the poverty line (BPL).
Reasons include:
Low industrial development
Poor infrastructure
Lower education and healthcare facilities
Heavy dependence on agriculture
. States with Low Poverty Levels:
Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra
These states have better economic development and social welfare.
Contributing factors:
Higher literacy rates
Better job opportunities (especially in industry and services)
Strong health and education systems
More urbanization
Example (based on past data):
Bihar: Poverty ratio was over 30%
Kerala: Less than 10%
(Note: exact figures change over time with government surveys)
Reasons for Disparities:
Uneven economic growth
Differences in natural resources
Varied levels of government investment and policy implementation
Population growth and employment opportunities
