The necessities survey also referred to as BNS, is a method of measuring poverty through the opinions of the masses. BNS usually builds, as well as adapts certain methods that measure the deprivation that is experienced through poverty. This method sometimes emphasises what it means to live in poverty.
This type of survey is not intended to draw negativity to those who live in poverty or are less fortunate than others, but rather bring awareness to the struggle that many people find themselves living in.
The data that is generated from these surveys and the opinion of other, allows for an innovative method of generating information about individual poverty scores, as well as a poverty line in a country.
How does the BNS measure poverty?
BNS measures poverty and makes it easy to do so with its simple design and implementation. This all adds to results that are easy to analyse and simplifies communication. BNS is also rights-based and plays a big role when it comes the topic of entitlement. It also measures democracy in a way that seeks the problems and contributions to poverty, especially to those who are poor.
Basic necessities for all
To sustain all of a country’s citizens, there must be some sort of law or arrangement when it comes to food and necessary basic items that everyone should be able to have access to. These items are democratically defining as items that more than 50% of respondents agree upon.
The BNS is a method of conducting the sum of those in need of basic necessities.
Identifying a poverty line
The basic necessities survey is also a method that joins some of the two main aspects of people’s lives. These include people’s perceptions of material conditions, as well as material conditions on their own. Both factors have massive consequences when it comes to their life’s quality.
The potential limitations of BNS
BNS has been an active method since the late 1990’s and is still relevant till today. Hence the success of BNS, as time went by, there were more and more factors to consider.
These included age groups, gender, the home of the relevant person who lives in poverty, whether the family being considered has children or not. Although these factors do not play such a big role in certain countries such as the U.S., UK, some European countries, Australia, Canada, etc., there are still tons of countries that struggle with poverty and it all starts with Africa and the Middle East. While all countries in the world share the same challenges and problems when it comes to poverty, factors such and the ones listed above are far more ignored that in that of third world countries. BNS is thus a crucial part of creating awareness about the number of people that do live in poverty, as well as the extremity of their situations.
