Poverty as Capability Deprivation

Poverty as Capability Deprivation

Introduction

Poverty is a state where an individual completely lacks the basics for material healthy being. A poor individual runs short of essentials such as housing or shelter, land, food and any assets written in his or her name. Poverty represents the lack of numerous resources that might lead a state of physical deprivation. Individuals who regard themselves as poor in the society define poverty as lack of food and shelter because they believe other things are forms of luxury. Extreme poverty leads to suffering in the society because individuals develop a feeling of oppression and anxiety. Poor people are aware of their low status since they lack independence, power, and voice in the society. These facts make those people living in poverty to hate the wealthy people who stand accused for exploiting them. For instance, they poor do all the manual and odd jobs that pay wages in small ratios incomparable to the work they have done. In the society, it is obvious that the weak are always vulnerable to inhuman acts such as mistreatment, humiliation, and spite when seeking help in governmental institutions.

Researchers scrutinize poverty as the deprivation of essential capabilities established as routine freedoms to others. According to research, there are three bases to describe poverty as capability deprivation rather than insufficient income. This implies that the force of income capabilities is dependent and restricted to capability deprivation. Poverty highlights inherent rather than helpful deprivation and lack of income are not the only reasons for deprivation. These reasons completely sustain the beginning of unusual plans to fight poverty rather than just elevate incomes. The overall influence has been enhanced by the application of other researchers like Nussbaum’s ten exact capabilities and Lawana Mart’s representation of Maggie in “Swamp Nurse”.

India is a viable option to illustrate poverty because the nation has raised concerns to researchers seeking to address capability deprivation. Capability deprivation is the ability of an individual to lack basic needs. Some researchers attribute the earlier speed of decreases in income poverty to India’s growth of fundamental education, impartial land allocation, and healthcare. These strategies centrally focus on developing the capabilities of individuals rather than increasing income, but they may build essential skills and capabilities that are more valuable economically and therefore, worthy of higher income. The expansion of human capabilities arguably accompanies the productivity, growth, and power earning. Nussbaum identifies ten capabilities as central requirements of a life with dignity. Imagination and thought, life, practical reason, bodily integrity, senses, emotions, bodily health, affiliation, other species, play, and power to over natural resources are the ten capabilities identified by Nussbaum as central desires of a being with distinction (Nussbaum 35). When people are underprivileged of any capabilities, then they are the fatalities of injustice; this is the way capabilities consider the portrayal of social justice. Nussbaum believes that such a record of entitlement is necessary in defeating poverty, as well as, in describing two matters that highlight capacity development above the rising income. The two issues entail the care given to physically or mentally dependent people by others and the initiative of persons to be equals as assured by social agreement tradition. These are equally compelling arguments because they direct attention to the needs of individuals as required to be fulfilled by others or society.

The ten capabilities are useful to all individuals but some of the capabilities remain out of one’s control, while others are essentially determine their quality of life. The most important and least controlled capabilities by individuals are bodily health, environmental sustenance and the integrity of the body. Dependent persons have no control over their lives, especially those that are mentally incapacitated. This brings up the issue of how income becomes relevant. When one has no control over his financial use for his or her well-being, then good income is of no importance to this particular individual. Income is very important for the remaining capabilities because affiliation, practical reason, play, imagination, thought, emotions, and sense do not depend on financial capability.

The society is good for care giving and care receiving. This is apparent according to Nussbaum who perceives the initiative that society has a bigger role than giving sufficient income to persons in need. This claim may rely on the formation of society as a compound body in which many connections continuously take place. According to Sen’s suggestions, the society should uphold human rights like health, education, shelter, and employment; these are the fundamental rights that should not depend on financial capability (Sen 235). The support for human rights will help individuals to live more fulfilling lives that do not necessarily depend on any amount of income. Nussbaum proposed that primary goods for individual’s needs should not be viewed as possessions but as capabilities motivated by previous circumstances in their lives.

The story of Luwana portrays the quick necessity for capability development instead of escalating income as highlighted from the book “Swamp Nurse”. This displays the wish for plans that can teach individuals and give them the capabilities they require to live improved lives. People living in poverty have priorities that are distant from those living in other socioeconomic status. Poor people centre on day-to-day livelihood since they lack the lavishness of superior financial income. Such people they tend to centre on the current and rarely employ in progressive activities. In addition, they rarely remember to take advantage of community possessions available to them such as those services in “Swamp Nurse.” It is also significant that finances supposed to be used to expand sufficient organizations and community resources can better the lives of those in poverty. For instance, children in good schools have improved performance because these schools have proper equipment, better educational resources and higher skilled teachers; this does not directly imply that their families have higher income.

Maggie in the “Swamp Nurse” had a dark past, but despite all these, her entire life, together with her family, changed due to her positive interest in life. The nurse-visiting program opened her eyes to child development which she was ignorant about as a teenage mother. The circumstances in which Maggie has lived gave her few role models to assess her situation; on the other hand, Luwana had loving parents and caring teachers to help her improve her life. Maggie had nothing but with the help of Luwana, she was clever to reconsider her situation and resolute to take her daughter back to school, resume her marriage plans and take her daughter for Hepatitis test (Boo 196). The nurse-visiting program was a victorious undertaking because it helped Maggie with the required insight to examine her position and make amends to a brighter future. The success that occurred in the case of Maggie is the brilliant instance of how the capabilities drawn near, are constructive over income allocation. In this situation, Maggie benefits from food stamps and other welfare services since she was poor and a teenage mother, but her life turned around when she got Luwana’s support through the nurse-visiting program.

The story of Maggie clearly portrays capability deprivation, while the part played by Luwana satisfied the deprivation of intrinsic significance. Maggie’s conditions also signify the argument by Nussbaum, concerning the position of dependence on capability deprivation, because Maggie was a minor and her role as a mother was severely limited. Her role as a mother was severely affected by her age and limited educational background. According to Sen, high income raise opportunities and capability, but capabilities also allow income to increase. In case persons have the opportunity to increase their capability through healthcare and education, then they have a higher chance of getting better value of life and to boost their income.

Conclusion

Poverty is a term well known by many individuals in the society; it is a condition caused by various interrelated factors. Some of these factors include lack of knowledge, poor decision-making, lack of support from the government, inequality, policies that destroy poor people successful developments, and global decisions influenced by the rich to their favour. It is obvious, from the information, that the causes of poverty are within the society and can be changed or improved by society. This situation can be improved through personal and social responsibility; where people make decisions which benefit other people in the society and the environment. Lastly, in reduction of poverty, an individual can choose to donate to viable projects initiated by the poor in the society. Individuals can also contribute in the reduction of poverty by identifying the worst hit areas, creating projects that are viable, and following up on existing projects laid down to eradicate poverty.

Work Cited

Boo, Katherine. “Swamp Nurse.” The New Yorker. 06 Feb 2006. Print.

Nussbaum, Martha. “Capabilities as Fundamental Entitlements: Sen and Social Justice.” Feminist Economics, 9(2-3), 2003, 33-59. Print.

Sen, Amartya. “Poverty as Capability Deprivation.” Development as Freedom. Random House

Digital, Inc. 2011. Web. 5 May 2012.