Characterstics of the poor

The world bank has vividly depicted the lives of poor people-"poor people live without fundamental
freedom of action and choice that the better off take for granted.They often lack adequate food and shelter,education and health,deprivations that keep them from leading the kind of life that everyone values.They also natural disasters.They ate often exposed to ill treatment to influence key decisions affecting their lives.These are all dimensions of poverty."
The characteristics of the poor are as follows :

1. The place where poor live:Poverty as measured by low income is worst in rural areas.The problem of malnutrition,lack of education,low life expectancy,and substandard housing are more server in rural areas.The importance of rural poverty is not always understood. Because,the urban poor are more visible and more vocal than their rural counterparts.
2. Demographic characteristics :The household with the lowest income per person tend to be large,with many children or other economically dependent members.The poor people often lack access to modern family planning service.The aged often rely on the extended family in the rural areas.In urban ares joint family system is breaking up.The elderly are becoming more vulnerable.
3. Lack of assets :The poor usually assets as well as income.In rural areas wealth and status come from the land.When the poor own land,it is often unproductive and lies outside irrigate areas.They lack income and assets to credit.So they are unable to improve their land.Many of the poor have access to land but without the ownership rights.Tenancy is common which does not provide collateral.
4. Sources of income:Most of the poor do different earning activities.It is common for the poor to work as cultivators,small artisans,petty traders, wage labourers at various times of the year.The poor are relay self sufficient.Agriculture is the main sources of income for the poor.The greatest number of poor is in rural areas.Their live hoods are linked to farming.
5. Expenditure pattern :The poor spend nearly all their incomes on consumption.About half of the consumption is in the forms of food.Poverty is often the fundamental cause of malnutrition within the households.The distribution of consumption often favours males and income earning adults.
6. Status of poor in the society:In general,the poor have less access to publicly provided goods and services.In Nepal are 50 to100 percent higher than for the poor.Fewer social services are available to the poor.