Poverty is not the same in the country, city, or parts of rural India. It looks different in different places and affects many different parts of life. Even though the link between poverty and other social and economic conditions is clear and often debated, important parts of rural poverty and a lack of natural resources are often left out of the discussion.

Poverty in rural areas and how it affects the environment are talked about because most people who live in rural areas depend on natural resources to live. In this situation, models of truly sustainable development must ensure everyone has the same chances, especially poor and disadvantaged communities that depend on natural resources for survival. Poor people are the ones who are hurt the most; organizing should be the focus of community organizing and participation.

Even though the connections between the social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability are important, some of these connections must be significant to carry some of these connections into integrated development programs. This is because, even though there is a link between poverty and environmental concerns at the macro policy level, there is no agreement among people experiencing poverty that the interests of people experiencing poverty and the environment are compatible. 

It is well known that relative poverty is caused by unequal access to basic needs and other environmental resources. This is especially true in a resource-driven economy. In addition to being unable to use natural resources, people with low incomes are more likely to have to deal with the effects of others’ wasteful or polluting habits. All of these things are directly linked to worsening health and higher illness rates in poorer populations. Vayam (www.Vayam.org.in) is working at the forefront of implementing the intervention to mitigate the loss of natural resources and minimize its impact on the livelihood of poor people in rural India.