Development Strategy for the Poorest of the Poor: A Case in West Bengal, India

Authors

  • Poulomi Roy Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Jadavpur University, 188 Raja S.C.Mallick Road, UG-Arts Building, 3rd Floor, Kolkata - 700032.
  • Sushil Kumar Haldar Professor & Head, Department of Economics, Jadavpur University, 188 Raja S.C.Mallick Road, UG-Arts Building, 3rd Floor, Kolkata - 700032.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25175/jrd/2021/v40/i5/170697

Keywords:

Poverty, Inequality, Multidimensional, Foster-greer-thorbecke Indices, Social Class

Abstract

The paper identifies the incidence of poverty, average poverty gap and severity of multidimensional poverty (MP) among different social classes in West Bengal, India using primary household-level data. The IV probit regression results reveal that the northern zone of rural West Bengal and Scheduled Tribe (ST) are found to be the most spatially backward and ethnic categories, respectively. Both poverty (MP) and inequality are found to be high within the ST group, whereas inequality of MP is higher within the upper social class (General caste) compared to the scheduled caste (SC). Public infrastructure like primary schools, healthcare centres, and motorable roads appear as key determinants of MP. Living standard deprivation contributes the maximum to MP when compared to health and education.

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Published

2021-12-01

How to Cite

Roy, P., & Haldar, S. K. (2021). Development Strategy for the Poorest of the Poor: A Case in West Bengal, India. Journal of Rural Development, 40(5), 665–681. https://doi.org/10.25175/jrd/2021/v40/i5/170697

Issue

Volume 40, Issue 5, October - December 2021

Section

Articles
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