Sociology

The state of people not having enough resources, food, clothing, and shelter is referred to as poverty. Poverty has got various effects to a person including inability to take part in recreational activities, pay for proper medication, and live a life heshe has ever wanted. Social interaction of the poor families as well as communities is negatively affected. All people whether rich or poor pay the cost of poverty. Poverty has got many faces that change from time to time and place to place (Chen and Sapsford p. 4).

As stated by Chen and Sapsford (p. 17) each and every action that people undertake is aimed at alleviating poverty. Poverty is therefore a call to action for both the rich and the poor - a call to modify the universe so that all may have enough to eat, access to better health and education, adequate shelter, protection from hostility, and a voice in the happenings of the community. Poverty cannot be directed to a single cause. On a universal scale, poverty has got diverse historical causes including slavery, colonialism, war as well as conquest. Its effects also impact people on different ways. Various factors that lead to continuation of poverty include ignorance, diseases, dependency, laziness, and dishonesty. Myers-Lipton, (p. 77) notes that if people make a decision to eliminate poverty in the society they have to first identify the factors that aggravate poverty and deal with them. The effect of poverty to a person, community or nation varies considerably depending on the situation. Though poverty is defined in many ways, one certain thing is that it is a complex social issue. Despite its diverse definitions, it can be agreed that poverty is a matter that necessitates everybodys attention. It is important that members of the society collaborate to offer the chance for each and every person to attain their maximum potential. Though the aspects of poverty in the U.S. have changed since colonial times, debates of how this condition can best be eliminated go on revolving around issues of economics and mortality.

Elimination of poverty requires better understanding and measurement. An international poverty line, which defines a threshold of income required in various nations is required to surmount material as well as social deprivation. Regular reports on the analysis of poverty in every nation are also required.
Human development that is, education and health care, is a major step to eradication of poverty.

Education in particular increases the peoples economic capacity to make a decent living. Education also strengthens the capacity of people to evaluate the effectiveness of their leaders. A well educated society does not fall to cheap and easy promises as a society that is poorly educated. Educated people are less likely to engage in corruption as compared to non-educated. Education therefore acts as a base for economic development and good governance. Provision of good and adequate healthcare is even a better tool for eradication of poverty than education. Good health allows people to make maximum use of the opportunities provided by education. Family planning is one of the healthcare programs aimed at alleviating poverty. Special attention in provision of quality health care and education should be given to the vulnerable groups which include women, children, and the aged. More attention should be given to children to make sure that they grow up to their maximum mental and physical potential. A major step in alleviating poverty is empowering the poor, paying attention to matters affecting women, and tapping their full potential. Fight against discrimination of women who make up the majority of the poor population is central to the fight against poverty (Chen and Sapsford p, 55). 

According to (Sawhill para, 11), proper child rearing is a long term solution to poverty. This is based on the fact that the way you bring up a child is the way heshe will conduct himherself in life. Proper guiding allows a child to grow up as a responsible and hardworking citizen. Getting a lot of children before and after marriage is a major factor that aggravates the level of poverty in a family. People should be informed of the benefits of family planning before and after marriage. Days when children were considered a source of wealth are gone. Young people should be encouraged to have children only when they attain their economic stability.

Adult education is the other key aspect in eradication of poverty. Adults should be taught how to realize, develop and utilize their talents. People should also be enlightened of their obligations in the fight against poverty. It is very important that people be made aware of the importance of paying taxes. Other issues that adults should be made aware of through education include independence, nutrition, positive as well as negative effects of human activities on nature, and environmental pollution. All these should be connected with powerful efforts to convert to forms of agriculture through which natural resources are utilized in a sustainable way (Myers-Lipton p, 24).

Self employment is the other important aspect of poverty eradication. Creation of employment as well as income opportunities for the victims of poverty is an important step to bringing poverty to an end. It is the high time people stopped waiting for white as well as blue collar jobs and looked for ways through which they can become self employed. Self-employment provides a person, who was initially poor, with money which heshe can use to purchase basic requirements. As a result of self employment, people will become more productive and therefore raise their standards of livings through amassing of private capital. Encouraging and rewarding hard workers in the society is another aspect that can greatly help in the fight against poverty (Sawhill para, 9).

Subsistence income is another measure that can be used to eradicate destitute poverty. A standard of social security to the elderly and mothers with children would be very helpful from both social and economic point of view.

As Myers-Lipton, (p, 35) asserts development of social services also plays a major role in eradication of poverty. These services should involve social investments from the government. Social services may involve construction of small scale industries that would come in handy and employ a considerable number of people. Development of sports opportunities would greatly help the youth by providing them with some cash.

Myers-Lipton (p, 46), states that good governance and effective aid are the other poverty eradication measures. Proper management of natural resources and other programs aimed at improving the living standards of a person is an effective aspect in the fight against poverty. An important feature in alleviating poverty therefore is carrying out reforms in the public sector. Public policy aimed at promoting social cohesion as well as maintaining social stability through the rule of law, democracy, and the respect for human rights is essential in the fight against poverty. Political instability attracts foreign investors in to the country leading to creation of jobs for the citizens. Proper housing is another strategy that could help alleviate poverty. Temporary structures build in the urban centers lead to development and growth of slums which have poor sanitation and security.