PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING SOCIETIES

(252SW005)
Dr. BARANI DARAN S, M.S.W., M.Phil., PhD;
Lecturer (Grade 1) in Social Work department,
DMI St. John the Baptist University, Malawi,
Mobile Number : +919445561652
Email Id : baranisekarmswphd@gmail.com
Date : 05.03.2021 (Friday)
Topic : Definition, Concept, Views and Types of Poverty
Module Description
- This module deals with poverty, globalization, unemployment, population
growth, migration, education, housing issues and impacts due to the growth
and development of societies.
Aim of the course
- The module aims to understand and explain problems of developing
societies in the country.
Learning Objectives
Students will learn the following at the end of module :
(A) Develop understanding of the nature of poverty and its magnitude in the
Malawian society.
(B) Enhance an interest and a growing consciousness in the study of social
problems.
(C) Inculcate capacity to analyze problems, identify causes and implications of
these problems in relation to individual, family and society.
(D) Develop the capacity for assessment of existing developmental and Non -
governmental organizations and consideration of appropriate strategies.
(E) Evaluate the role of legislation in relation to development.
(F) Develop sensitivity and objectivity through study and analysis of factors
affecting social problems and enhance commitment to work on it.
Unit I: Poverty
Objectives of learning this unit
- Learn and Understand about definition and concepts related to poverty.
-Understand approaches to poverty, causes and impact of poverty.
- Enhancing knowledge on concepts relating to poverty line.
- Acquainting oneself with Government approaches on alleviating poverty.
Definition of Poverty
Gillin and Gillin defined “Poverty is that condition in which a person, either
because of inadequate income or unwise expenditures, does not maintain a scale of
living high enough to provide for his physical and mental efficiency and to enable
him and his natural dependents to function usefully according to the standards of
the society of which he is a member.”
Michael Harrington (1958) defined “Poverty is the deprivation from those minimal
levels of food, health, housing, education and recreation which are compatible with
the contemporary technology, beliefs and values of a particular society.”
Concept of Poverty
- Concept of Poverty is related to three different perspectives :
(a)The amount of money required by a person to sustain himself or herself.
(b) Life below a minimum subsistence level and living standard prevalent at a
given time in a given place.
(c) Comparative state of well being for a few and the ill being of the majority in
society.
- The first two percepts refer to economic concept of absolute poverty.
- Third perspective views poverty in terms of relativity and inequality. It is seen as
a social concept. It relates to share of total national income received by those at the
bottom.
First View of Poverty
- Poverty has been defined as inability to fulfill physiological needs for survival,
safety and security.
- Minimum requirements for accomplishing physiological needs are food and
nutrition, shelter, preventive and protective health care.
- Poverty is seen in terms of poverty line which is determined by the prevailing
standards needed for health, efficiency, nurturing of children, social participation
and the maintenance of self respect (Howard Becker, 1966).
Second View of Poverty
- Poverty has three main aspects of want related to material goods or materialistic
possessions:
(a)Those necessary to avoid physical suffering and needed to fulfill the
requirements of hunger and shelter.
(b) Needed to meet human needs of health (i.e. Nutritional needs to avoid disease).
(c) Needed to maintain minimum level required for existence.
- Gross and Miller (1946) explained poverty in terms of three factors: income
(covert and manifest), assets and availability of services (Educational, medical and
recreational).
Third View of Poverty
- Poverty is a condition of falling below the minimum standards of
subsistence appropriate to each society .
- It is a condition where basic physical wants cannot be fulfilled. It may result
in starvation, malnutrition, disease, and want of clothing, shelter and medical
care.
 - It relates to absence of enough money to secure necessities of life.
- Milter and Roby (1970) have said that in this approach poverty is regarded as
inequality.
- This approach emphasizes that few people in society are financially sound and
well off as compared to others who come below poverty line.
Types of Poverty
(a) Absolute poverty
- It is a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs,
including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education
and information.
- It depends not only on income but also on access to social services.
- For example, a family is poor if it is not able to earn food, water or even a basic
kutcha house to live.
(b) Relative poverty
- It is a level of household income which is considerably less than median income
of the country.
- It is the lack of resources when compared to other members of the society.
- It is a relative concept therefore it differs across countries.
- For example, a family may be considered poor if it is not able to send their
children in good school even though they have basic amenities like food, water,
shelter etc.
(c) Primary poverty
- Primary poverty is a condition where income is insufficient to maintain mere
physical existence even if money is spent wisely.
- For example, a family earns $1 per day but requires at least $4 to get food, water,
medicine etc. Now even if they spend $1 on food still they may not be able to
afford medicines or education requirement of their children.
(d) Situational poverty
- It is generally caused by a crisis or loss and is often temporary.
- Events causing situational poverty include environmental disasters, divorce, or
severe health problems.
- For example, a family earns decent income of $400 per month and is able to meet
basic necessities of life. One day earthquake hits the city and destroys their house;
earning member of family loses his job. So a well-off family suddenly becomes
poor overnight.
(e) Generational or Chronic Poverty
- Generational poverty occurs in families where at least two generations have been
born into poverty. Families living in this type of poverty are not equipped with the
tools to move out of their situations.
(f) Rural Poverty
-It occurs in non-metro areas with population less than 50,000 inhabitants.
- Due to lesser population, the area lacks basic services and amenities which is the
cause of their financial struggle.
(g) Urban Poverty
- Urban poverty occurs in metropolitan areas with populations of at least
50,000 people.
- The urban poor deal with a complex aggregate of chronic and acute stressors
(including crowding, violence, and noise) and are dependent on often-
inadequate large-city services.
(h) Extreme Poverty
- The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.90 per person
per day.
Causes of Poverty
Gillin and Gillin have mentioned the causes of poverty and dependency under five
headings mentioned below:
(a) Incapacity of the individual
- Heriditary weakness of the individual such as weak and sick body,
depressing aptitudes and attitudes towards work and physical disability (i.e.
Blind, Deaf, Dumb, Mentally deficient or Mentally ill) due to accident or by
birth (Congenital).
(b) Adverse physical environments
- Poor natural resources, adverse climate and weather, insects, pests and natural
disaster.
(c) Economic factors
- Shortage of capital and technical know – how, uneven distribution of wealth,
business depression and technological changes that may replace employees.
(d) Defects in social organization
- It may arise due to technological changes when it is difficult to make economic
and social arrangement to cope with new situation.
- It includes educational shortcomings, inadequate health machinery for protection
of new occupational diseases, bad housing, employment of husband and wife
outside home leaving little time for socialization of children and difficulties of
youth to find employment as a result of inadequate experience.
(e) War
- War may result in injuries and disability for individuals who were active and
skilled prior to war.
- Some individuals become disabled, and many women become widows as a
result of war.
 - Inflation during war may affect standard of living of people. Worst
sufferers during war are people below poverty line in any society.