INFLUENCE OF AWARENESS FACTORS ON ACCESS TO POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROGRAMS AMONG BPL HOUSEHOLDS

DOI: https://doie.org/10.65985/APER.2025432081

Authors:

Jitender Kumar, Dr. Hawa Singh

Keywords:

Poverty Alleviation Schemes, Awareness Factors, Scheme Access etc.

Abstract:

Access to poverty alleviation schemes remains a critical factor in reducing multidimensional deprivation among Below Poverty Line (BPL) households in India. This study investigates the impact of awareness factors—Eligibility Awareness, Procedural Awareness, Benefit Awareness, Resource Awareness, and Scheme Awareness—on the ability of BPL households in Haryana to access government programs. Using a causal research design, primary data were collected from 180 respondents across six revenue divisions of the state through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis highlighted the socio-economic characteristics of households, revealing low income, medium to large family sizes, and limited access to modern amenities. Multiple regression analysis indicated that awareness factors collectively explain 27% of the variance in scheme access (R² = 0.270). Among the factors, Scheme Awareness demonstrated the strongest positive effect, followed by Resource Awareness, Benefit Awareness, and Eligibility Awareness, whereas Procedural Awareness was not significant. The findings emphasize that beyond program availability, awareness is a decisive determinant of participation, highlighting the need for targeted information dissemination, outreach campaigns, and community engagement strategies to improve the effectiveness of poverty alleviation initiatives.

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