“An essential condition to eradicate poverty is to liberate the poor from deprivation.” Substantiate this statement with suitable examples. (200 words)

Poverty is multidimensional deprivation of capabilities, assets, services, dignity and voice, not merely insufficient income.

What must be removed

• Malnutrition, ill-health, illiteracy, unsafe housing, insecure work and lack of sanitation reproduce poverty across generations.
• Caste, gender, disability and tribal exclusion restrict access to assets and institutions.

Capability expansion

• Mid-day meals, public health, education, MGNREGA, self-help groups and financial inclusion reduce capability deficits.
• Land rights, forest rights, social security and accessible public services address structural deprivation.
• For example, women’s collectives combine credit with agency, while employment guarantees build income and assets.

Keywords: capability approach, multidimensional poverty, MGNREGA, social security, inclusion, dignity.