Speech on Poverty: Short and Long Speech for Students

Poverty is one of the most serious problems faced by many countries, including India. It means a condition where people do not have enough money to meet their basic needs like food, shelter, clothing, education, and healthcare. According to the World Bank, around 9.2% of the world’s population still lives in extreme poverty as of 2024, surviving on less than $2.15 per day. In India, despite economic growth, about 16% of the population continues to struggle with poverty, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas. Poverty is not just about lack of income, it also includes lack of opportunities, poor living conditions, and social inequality.

In this blog, we have included both short and long speech on poverty specially written for students with updated facts. These speeches will help children understand the causes, effects, and solutions of poverty, and inspire them to take small actions toward building a better and fairer world.

Short Speech on Poverty

Good morning respected Principal, teachers, and my dear friends,

Today I am going to speak about a very important topic—Poverty. Poverty means not having enough money to meet even the basic needs like food, shelter, clean water, clothes, and education. People living in poverty often struggle every day to survive.

According to a 2024 World Bank report, about 9.2% of the world’s population lives in extreme poverty. In India, around 230 million people still live below the poverty line. This means they earn less than what is needed to buy proper food and live a decent life.

Poverty affects children the most. Many poor children cannot go to school because their families cannot afford school fees, books, or uniforms. Some are forced to work at a young age. They also suffer from poor health because of lack of nutrition and medical care.

There are many reasons behind poverty. One major cause is unemployment—when people do not have proper jobs to earn money. Another reason is lack of education. If people are not educated, they cannot get good jobs. Natural disasters like floods or droughts also push poor families into deeper poverty.

The government of India has started several schemes to reduce poverty like the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which provides free food grains to the poor, and MGNREGA, which gives work in villages. Still, more needs to be done.

What can we do as students? We can help by not wasting food, donating clothes and books to those in need, and supporting NGOs that help poor children. We should also spread awareness and always treat poor people with respect and kindness.

Poverty is not just a problem for one person—it affects the whole country. A poor society cannot grow fast. So, we must all come together to fight poverty and build a better future.

Thank you and have a nice day.

Also Read: Speech on Zero Hunger in English for School Students

Long Speech on Poverty

Good morning to the Principal, teachers, and my dear friends,

Today, I feel honoured to speak on a very important topic that affects millions of people across the world—poverty. Poverty means living in a condition where a person does not have enough money or resources to meet even the basic needs of life like food, clean water, clothes, a proper house, education, and healthcare. A poor person often struggles to survive each day, and their life becomes full of hardship and suffering.

According to the 2024 report of the United Nations Development Programme, more than 710 million people across the world are still living in extreme poverty. In our country, India, nearly 16% of the population still lives below the poverty line, especially in rural and tribal areas. Many people in these regions earn less than Rs. 150 per day, which is not enough even to buy proper food. As a result, families often go to sleep hungry and children suffer the most.

Poverty leads to many problems. Most poor families live in small huts or slums that do not have proper toilets or clean drinking water. Children in these families often suffer from malnutrition and illness because they cannot afford healthy food or medical care. According to the National Family Health Survey, about 35% of children under the age of five in India are underweight. Many poor children drop out of school because their parents cannot afford school fees, books, or uniforms. Some even start working at a young age to support their families.

There are several reasons behind poverty. One major reason is lack of education. When people are not educated or skilled, they cannot find good jobs and earn money. Another reason is unemployment. Many young people are unable to find work, even after completing school or college. Overpopulation is also a cause, because when the population grows too fast, there are not enough jobs, houses, or food for everyone. Natural disasters like floods, droughts, and pandemics such as COVID-19 also push families deeper into poverty by destroying their homes, farms, or jobs. Sometimes, corruption and unfair distribution of money stop the help from reaching the poor people who need it most.

To fight poverty, our government has started many helpful programmes. For example, PM Awas Yojana provides homes to the poor, Ayushman Bharat gives free health insurance to low-income families, and Skill India Mission trains youth so they can get jobs. These schemes have helped many people, but still, more needs to be done to make sure every poor person gets help at the right time.

Education is the strongest tool to fight poverty. When children go to school and learn well, they grow up with the ability to earn a better income and improve their lives. Good health care, clean water, and job opportunities also play a big role in reducing poverty. We must make sure every child gets a chance to study and live a healthy life.

As students, we can also contribute. We can help by collecting and donating old books, clothes, and toys to children who cannot afford them. We can raise awareness in our schools and neighbourhoods. We should never waste food and instead share what we can with those in need. Most importantly, we must treat everyone with kindness and respect, whether they are rich or poor.

Poverty is not a choice—it is a situation. And together, we can help fight it. Let us remember that even a small act of kindness can bring a big change in someone’s life. If we all work together and care for others, we can build a future where no one sleeps hungry and every child gets a chance to dream.

Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Also Read: Speech on Illiteracy: Short and Long Speech for Students

Inspirational Quotes on Poverty for Speeches

Here are some simple and powerful quotes students can use to make their speeches more impactful:

1. “Poverty is not just the absence of money; it is the absence of opportunity.”
2. “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”
3. “Education is the most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty.”
4. “No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank
5. “Poverty is a challenge, not a destiny.”
6. “Helping one person might not change the world, but it can change the world for that one person.”

Poverty Speech Writing Tips for Students

These tips will help students write clear, engaging, and exam-ready speeches:

1. Start with a powerful opening
   Use a fact, quote, or short story to grab attention.
2. Define poverty in simple words
   Explain what poverty means and how it affects everyday life.
3. Use updated facts and examples
   Add recent statistics or real-life situations to make the speech credible.
4. Explain causes and effects clearly
   Mention unemployment, lack of education, inequality, etc., and how they impact people.
5. Add solutions or government initiatives
   Include schemes, policies, and ideas to reduce poverty.
6. Keep the tone hopeful and inspiring
   End with a positive message encouraging kindness, awareness, and action.
7. Use short sentences and easy vocabulary
   Especially helpful for younger students and school competitions.
8. Practice proper voice modulation
   Stress emotional points like hunger, inequality, and children’s struggles.

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