Strengths-based Gram Sabhas? Challenges and radical possibilities when ‘measuring’ poverty in India

Poverty as an object of study in India continues to be the domain economists, statisticians and demographers. The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSS) serves main instrument data collection measure poverty relative economic indicators. In this paper we draw on strengths-based research undertaken Indian village foreground alternative ways conceptualising practising when measuring poverty. Explored through analytics biopolitics, asset-mapping exercises with young people women revealed new subjectivities that emerged via illustrative meaning-making dialogue. This approach measurement facilitated methods produced outcomes were less calculated predefined than NSS, encouraged participation, even questioning status quo, ‘doing’ methodology itself. A strengths orientation opens up radical possibilities, particularly where state-sanctioned self-­governing body, Gram Sabhas, has a mandate provide for most marginalised groups. And while governing body is not free from power imbalances, potential it offers, combined approaches (SBA) value expertise they already have, demands renewed attention practitioner policy debates country.