ABSTRACT
This study examines poverty using the revised poverty line proposed by the C. Rangarajan
led Expert Group of the Planning Commission, which recommends thresholds of Rs. 32 for
rural areas and Rs. 47 for urban areas. Individuals or households falling below these limits
are classified as poor, while others are categorized as non-poor. The research compares sociodemographic characteristics across these groups, with particular attention to slum dwellers,
who typically face low educational attainment, limited access to formal employment, and
unstable incomes. These factors contribute to persistent unemployment or underemployment,
reinforcing the cycle of poverty and shaping disparities in living standards of slum dwellers.
Keywords: Slum Dwellers, Education, Employment, Income, and Poverty.