Every fourth person in India is poor. Explain how colonial rule and income inequalities have contributed to it.

Poverty is one of the major leading problems in India. There are many causes that gave rise to the problem and among them the two that are worth mentioning are - colonial rule and income inequalities.

● Colonial rule:-

i) Low level of development under the British colonial administration.

ii) Traditional handicrafts were worst affected by the policies of the colonial government.

iii) It also discouraged the development of industries such as textiles.

iv) The low rate of growth which existed in the 19th century resulted in the low growth rate of incomes as well as lesser job chances/opportunities.

v) The population control perpetuated the cycle of poverty.

vi) There was also no premonition of economic growth.

● Income Inequalities:-

i) Income inequalities was a result of the uneven distribution of land and other resources.

ii) Even though there were many programmes and schemes implemented by the government for land reforms, it still did not solve the problem.

iii) In rural areas there was a kind of negligence in case of implementation of land reforms.

iv) Proper implementation could have improved the lives of many poor.