EWS - Economically Weaker SectionWhat is the economically weaker section (EWS) and why is it important to us?The term EWS was introduced in 1992 by the Planning Commission of India to identify the poorest households living below the poverty line. The concept has since evolved into a broader approach that aims at improving the lives of the poor through various government programs.The EWS program provides financial support to the poor in the form of subsidized food grains, free power, scholarships, and other benefits. The objective of the scheme is to ensure that no family remains below the poverty threshold and hence, improve their quality of life.Some Key Terms:- India's economyIndia's economy is often referred to as the world's largest democracy. However, its economic system is not democratic. In fact, it is the most undemocratic system of governance. There is no real separation between business and politics here. Businessmen have always played a major role in shaping our government. Our politicians have been known to take money directly from businessmen in exchange for favors.- PovertyPoverty is widespread in India. More than 1/5th of Indians live below the poverty line. Most people who do manage to make some money still don't earn enough to meet their basic needs. Many Indian farmers cannot even afford seeds or fertilizer. These problems are further exacerbated by the fact that we have one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world.- CorruptionCorruption is rampant in India. Bribery alone costs billions of dollars each year. Politicians and bureaucrats get rich by stealing public funds. Every day, they create brand-new scams to steal more money from the citizens.- UnemploymentUnemployment is a serious problem in India. Millions of young people want jobs, but there aren't any open positions anywhere. Even those lucky enough to find work end up making less than $100 per month.- UrbanizationMore than half of India lives in cities, but only 8% of land is actually urbanized. We need to build new cities, but they just aren't being built. Meanwhile, the country continues to sprawl outwards. As a result, traffic gets worse and pollution increases.- Population DensityThe average population density of India is about 50 people per square kilometer. That's higher than many African countries and almost double what China is at.- Urban SlumsMost of India lives in rural villages, but 40% of the population resides in urban slums. Unfortunately, these shantytowns are spreading rapidly across the nation.
