Abstract:
Poverty is seen to be the worst social and economic problem in the world today. It is the unequal distribution
of livelihood assets that leads to poverty among certain sections of the population. A large number of families
living in and around Kodikamam are under the poverty line. Owing to this, they are unable to face the
challenge posed by their economic crisis. As such, there arises the necessity to evaluate their poverty and take
steps to eradicate it correctly. This study aims at surveying the exiting poverty situation. On the basis of the
livelihood assets of the people and mapping them out. Besides it is also the aim of this research to identify the
main livelihood aspects and map the part played by locational variations in determining the distribution of
poverty and to accelerate the eradication of such poverty. While data were obtained from every Grama officer
division in Kodikamam on the bases of livelihood assets, primary data were also collected through such
methods – as discussions and direct observation. GIS technic was adopted as the methodology for mapping.
These were later brought under a multispectral analysis, bases on locational variations. After that, the capital
for livelihood were demarked each for separate analysis. Following this the poverty map was prepared on the
bases of the livelihood assets which were later compared with the poverty map based on the Samuruddhi
scheme and results obtained. The map based on the livelihood assets of each grama officer division were
evaluated at three different levels. Thereby the causes of poverty were diagnosed, and the relations between
livelihood assets and poverty were studied. Through this study, the discrepancies in the poverty levels, as well
as in the livelihood capitals, and the causes for such discrepancies were observed. This study would be of
assistance to regional development policymakers and also to planners, to identify the locational distribution of
poverty and to eradicate it. Besides this study should also pave the way to undertake poverty eradication
activities and to create a more prosperous society with improved livelihoods.
