Poverty and hunger are complex, multifaceted challenges stemming from a confluence of economic, social, political, and environmental factors. Fundamentally, poverty is characterized by a lack of income and productive assets to ensure sustainable livelihoods, while hunger is the chronic lack of sufficient food.

Fundamental Causes of Poverty and Hunger:

1. Economic Factors: Low economic growth, unemployment, underemployment, low wages, lack of access to credit and capital, landlessness, and inflation erode purchasing power. Poor infrastructure (roads, electricity) hinders economic activity and market access.
2. Social Inequality: Deep-rooted social hierarchies, caste systems, gender discrimination, and ethnic disparities often lead to unequal access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, trapping certain groups in cycles of poverty. Lack of education and poor health outcomes further perpetuate this cycle.
3. Governance and Policy Failures: Corruption, inefficient public service delivery, inadequate social safety nets, and poorly designed or implemented policies can exacerbate poverty. Lack of political will to address structural inequalities also plays a significant role.
4. Environmental Factors and Climate Change: Natural disasters (floods, droughts), environmental degradation, and climate change disproportionately affect agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of vulnerable populations, leading to food insecurity.
5. Conflict and Instability: Wars and civil unrest disrupt economic activities, displace populations, destroy infrastructure, and divert resources, leading to widespread poverty and hunger.
6. Global Economic Shocks: International trade policies, global recessions, and commodity price fluctuations can impact national economies and the livelihoods of the poor.

Government Schemes to Eliminate Poverty and Hunger in India: India has implemented numerous schemes to tackle these issues:

For Poverty Alleviation:

1. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to adult members of rural households willing to do unskilled manual work, providing a safety net and creating rural assets.
2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Aims for financial inclusion by providing access to banking services, savings accounts, credit, insurance, and pensions to the unbanked.
3. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): Provides affordable housing to the urban and rural poor, aiming to ensure 'Housing for All'.
4. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM): Focuses on organizing rural poor women into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and providing them with financial assistance and skill development to enhance livelihoods.
5. National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): Provides social assistance benefits to the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities in the form of pensions.

For Hunger and Food Security:

1. National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: Legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
2. Public Distribution System (PDS): Distributes essential food commodities (rice, wheat, sugar, kerosene) at subsidized prices to eligible households through fair price shops.
3. Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN) (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme): Provides hot cooked meals to children in government and government-aided schools to improve nutritional status, increase enrollment, and reduce dropout rates.
4. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): Provides highly subsidized food grains to the poorest of the poor families under the NFSA.
5. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): A comprehensive program providing supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, health check-ups, and referral services to children below six years and pregnant/lactating mothers.

These schemes, along with others focusing on skill development (PMKVY), health (Ayushman Bharat), and education (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), collectively aim to address the root causes and manifestations of poverty and hunger, striving for inclusive growth and social justice.