Development, Poverty and Policy-The Haryana Experience

The Haryana Experience Sheila Bhalla In the prosperous state of Haryana, the poverty ratio has been declining continuously over the last 25 years to the point where the state now has the second lowest incidence of poverty in the country. In this process, centrally- sponsored programmes for poverty alleviation have been strictly peripheral. The Haryana experience suggests that sustained growth in agriculture plus a deliberate policy of income and occupational diversification is the most effective cure for poverty. While the strategy of investment in rural infrastructure, agriculture and industrial development appears to have worked, Haryana still has a poor record in regard to quality of life indicators such as health, mortality, and sex ratio.