Question

Which of the following are identified as factors contributing to poverty in Kerala?

1. High unemployment rates despite a large number of educated professionals.
2. Inaccessibility of basic services like hospitals and educational institutions in certain areas.
3. Increasing levels of inequality between the rich and the poor.
4. Strong correlation between poverty index and socially disadvantaged groups, unlike other states.

• A. All
• B. 1, 2, 3
• C. 1 only
• D. 2 only

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 1, 2, 3

• Kerala's economic landscape is characterized by a high number of educated individuals, yet faces a paradox of rising unemployment.

• This suggests a mismatch between the skills produced by the education system and the demands of the job market.

• Furthermore, disparities in access to essential services like healthcare and education across different regions contribute significantly to poverty.

• Areas with fewer such facilities tend to have a higher proportion of people living below the poverty line.

• Income inequality is another major concern, with a widening gap between the affluent and the poor exacerbating the problem.

• Unlike many other Indian states, Kerala does not show a strong correlation between poverty and socially disadvantaged groups, but poverty is more pronounced in rural areas and regions with poor connectivity, especially near forest areas, due to limited job opportunities and low productivity work.