A Study on Consequences of Poverty : A Case Study in Vavuniya District of Sri Lanka

Abstract

In 21st century, poverty still remains as the greatest challenge and threat to the first goal of the Development Goals (MDG) ?Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger?. The result show that the poverty head count index dropped down to 7.6 in 2009 (Department of Census and Statistics). But it is not only one dimension of poverty, there are many dimensions contributing to the people to becoming poor. Vavuniya District of northern Province was selected to analyze the Consequences of poverty. This study depends on primary and secondary data. Descriptive statistic analysis was used to analyze the result using SPSS 11.0. The results represent that the 75% of households among the 100 sample, major livelihood is the labor. 89% families? monthly income is between Rs 5000 to Rs 10000. This reflects the income poverty and deprivation. 71% of families? monthly spending is Rs 5000 to Rs 10000. This represents the less saving habit among the poor. 95% of families are do not own any paddy lands. Regarding to the education 92% of heads of the family has only primary education. 57% families haven?t got the electricity facilities and 100% of the sample facing problem with hospital accessibility. According to the cross checking among these variables, 75% labour families about 93% of them earning is between Rs 5000 ? 10000 and among the total agriculture families more than 93% of them earning the first range of income. 92% of the parents with primary education 83% of them earning is between the income range of Rs 5000 ? Rs 10000. Direct transfer benefits from the Food Stamp Program are progressive and have a greater impact on poverty than uniform allocations from the same budget. Economic growth could reduce poverty considerably. Development strategies should first focus on household level. Second is at the community level. Third is at the level of the state through provision of various welfare measures.