Part A (Q1): Define Poverty.

Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. However, in modern social work and economics, poverty is understood as a multidimensional phenomenon, not just a lack of money.

Poverty can be defined in two main ways:

1. Absolute Poverty: A condition where household income is below a necessary level to maintain basic living standards (food, shelter, safe drinking water, healthcare). People in absolute poverty struggle to survive on a daily basis. The World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $2.15 a day.
2. Relative Poverty: A condition where a person's income falls significantly below the general standard of living in their specific society. They may have enough to survive, but they are excluded from participating in the normal social and economic life of their community due to lack of resources.

Furthermore, Multidimensional Poverty defines poverty as the deprivation of crucial human capabilities—such as poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standards, disempowerment, and social exclusion.