ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES: POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT. — Social Science STD 10 — Question

Prior to the advent of the British rule, India had a self-sufficient village economy and the problems of unemployment did not exist.

The exploitative land revenue policy of the British uprooted the farmers and made them landless labourers.

In times of natural calamities, the rural poor migrated to the urban areas and added to the number of people seeking employment.

The British destroyed the traditional village and cottage industries and the craftsmen were rendered jobless.

There was explosion of population in India. The supply of labour was in excess of demand and the industries were not in a position to absorb the entire available labour force.

Indian capitalists did not have enough capital to start a large number of industries and provide employment. Natural calamities reduced the employment in agriculture.

India did not have technically qualified engineers/technicians to take up the skilled labour positions in industries.