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1. Introduction
A considerable number of studies have been conducted in the recent years to evaluate the incidence of poverty across various states of India. An in-depth examination[1] reveals that there is a scarcity of studies using regional statistics, notably for Uttar Pradesh (UP), the most impoverished and populated state in India. Regional profile of poverty is important in the sense that one cannot target appropriate intervention without identifying where poor people live. Also, it is often argued that poverty in bigger states cannot be eliminated unless disaggregated analysis is conducted, and policy prescriptions are made accordingly (Chaudhuri and Gupta, 2009; Chauhan et al., 2016; Coondooa et al., 2011; Diwakar, 2009; Odhiambo, 2015). Furthermore, “poor countries with poor regions may find ethnic or racial tensions exacerbated by income disparities leading to interregional tensions that make both regions and the country as a whole riskier to invest in” (Perry et al., 2006, p. 6). Therefore, the present study attempts to identify the impoverished region(s) within UP, and also to evaluate their performance on poverty reduction.
The regional estimates of poverty have been evaluated by dividing the state into four economically classified regions (Western, Central, Southern, and Eastern). These regions differ geographically as well as economically. The Western Region (WR), Central Region (CR), and Eastern Region (ER) come under the areas of Gangetic plains, while the Southern Region (SR) is a semi-arid region that forms a part of the southern plateau (UNDP, 2011). Some natural factors also foreground the regional rigidities in the state. As Government of Uttar Pradesh (2014a) highlights that due to the scarcity of some essential natural resources and exposure to natural calamities, SR and ER are chronically backward.
On economic grounds, historically WR is a highly developed region, especially in respect of agricultural practices as it has better availability of physical infrastructure and irrigation facilities. It was for these reasons that WR was the first region in the state to adopt green revolution. Later on, ER had also joined the green revolution but its outcomes, particularly in respect of rice production, is lower than that of WR (Bajpai and Volavka, 2005). Moreover, recent regional statistics reveal that WR is highly productive in agriculture and industrial sector, whereas CR has experienced...