Poverty is a major socio-economic problem in rural India, where the majority of the population lives and relies on agriculture. The sugar industry has played a significant role in reducing poverty in rural India by providing employment, income, and development opportunities. However, many sugar factories are now facing financial problems known as "industrial sickness" due to issues like inadequate sugarcane supply, low recovery rates, pricing problems, overstaffing, outdated machinery, mismanagement, and natural disasters. While the sugar industry has contributed greatly to rural development, its current problems threaten those poverty reduction gains.