Recently a study was published by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative with UNDP support, which states that 8 Indian states have more poor people than 26 poorest countries. To quote numbers, the 8 states in question here have 421 million poor people versus 410 million in Africa. These numbers are staggering to say the least. This means that more than 30% population of India is poor. And this is counting just the 8 states. If we add up the remaining 20 states and 7 union territories, an rough estimate would put the number close to 600 million. Thats 50% of our population. Officially the Indian government puts it up somewhere around 26%. This is a huge difference. And I think I will side with the larger percentage here considering the fact that the government always tries to hide information.
The Government figures and the UNDP reports do have one major difference. While govt considers population to be poor if they earn less than $1.25/day, the UNDP also considers other factors apart from just your daily income. It also includes areas ranging from education to health outcomes to assets and services. I do feel this is a more useful criteria rather than the absolute income factor. The point here is not the way how these figures have come up, but rather its a shame for a country which claims itself (and many others support it) as an Emerging Superpower, has half of its population poor. How can we have the audacity to make such claims, when so many people don't have the means to support themselves and their families. None of the 36 (state/union territories/Central) governments have in the past or now for a matter have any schemes in place or any Yojanas so to speak to work towards bringing more and more people out of poverty. The government had launched some employment scheme a few years back, which entitled people to earn 100 rupees a day, but I doubt if it ever materialized. They claimed it to be a success, but the numbers tell an altogether different story. When we have 2900 crores for UID project, don't we have a few more crores to implement some work scheme for these people. I was hoping with the massive road development taking place throughout and so many infrastructure projects at some stage of implementation many people will find more means to earn their living, but sadly it doesn't look to be helping. I guess, the notoriously low wages are to blame here. I read few reports that even the workers, who are toiling day and night to get all the stadiums ready for the Commonwealth games are being paid the minimum or even lesser at times and are also subject to harsh working and living conditions. And to rub it in the face, all this work is being done by the Public Works Department of Delhi. Government Departments should be leading by example on fair wages and working conditions for laborers, but its doing the opposite here. Thankfully, GMR took much better care of people working on T3 at IGI. But organizations like those are few and far to find.
All these big and small examples prove just one thing. No government for the past 60 years gives a damn about the economically backward people in India. There is no exception to this. If something would have been done, the number of poor would not have remain the same(or increase, I am not sure). Just because we have 10-15 Metropolis corroborate that we have progressed. I feel we haven't stepped even a feet further than 1947. Rich have become more rich, while poor have become much more poor. I know its easy to blame the government or the system for everything and while it seems I am doing the same, I feel each one of us is equally to blame for this situation. Take for example the Press. They are suppose to be voice of the people the world over. But not in India. All they care about is Dhoni getting married(as if he is the only one ever to have achieved the feat) or Akshay-Ash being stranded in Manali. Seriously guys, thats all you care about? What about the other 1.9billion people who also happen to live here. Nobody tells their stories. Even if somebody does, the government either doesn't care or it plays it down. Even some political leaders, the so called Messiah's belong to the same league. Shivsena, every week comes up with some shit just to keep them in the limelight. They will stage protests, violent acts for all sorts of stupid things and justifying everyone its for the betterment of people. How is making people leave their job and sending them home, forcing Radio channels to play marathi songs helping anyone. Has sending a worker from Bihar home and making sure some marathi manoos gets a job helped? Not even a percent. What do you think happened to the Bihari's family. They are even more poor than they were before or in the worst case, they might be dead already. Is this the way a civilian society should act. I don't think so. Its worse than the ancient times. We are suppose to be more intelligent than those, but the f*cktards at Shivsena and other similar minded organizations think otherwise.
Another example is Mr. Rahul Gandhi. What the hell is the use of visiting and staying at some farmer's house for the night. Its not gonna help him eliminate his poverty. Instead of spending millions for such useless trips, he could've spend the money much more wisely by actually doing something for them. A million bucks can help build a school. But no it was used by Mr. Gandhi to visit 2 villages in UP. And people think that he cares for them. Maybe he does, but this is not the way to show it. Instead Do something for them.
Even we as educated people and the so called Future of India aren't further behind. We may not have the monetary power to do something directly for them, but the least we can do is for a change go out on election days and elect some good leaders(I feel out of 525 MPs atleast 52 care for the country and its people). We can join some NGO's. Some of them work towards educating the poor. This way, the children won't have to suffer as their parents. There are plenty of other things which can be done. All it takes is a will and a small amount of time.
I really hope, we awaken as a nation and try and do something about it. Otherwise 60 more years down the line, the condition will remain the same. We will still be living in our illusion of being a Super Power, but in reality We still will be The World's Poorest Country.
The Government figures and the UNDP reports do have one major difference. While govt considers population to be poor if they earn less than $1.25/day, the UNDP also considers other factors apart from just your daily income. It also includes areas ranging from education to health outcomes to assets and services. I do feel this is a more useful criteria rather than the absolute income factor. The point here is not the way how these figures have come up, but rather its a shame for a country which claims itself (and many others support it) as an Emerging Superpower, has half of its population poor. How can we have the audacity to make such claims, when so many people don't have the means to support themselves and their families. None of the 36 (state/union territories/Central) governments have in the past or now for a matter have any schemes in place or any Yojanas so to speak to work towards bringing more and more people out of poverty. The government had launched some employment scheme a few years back, which entitled people to earn 100 rupees a day, but I doubt if it ever materialized. They claimed it to be a success, but the numbers tell an altogether different story. When we have 2900 crores for UID project, don't we have a few more crores to implement some work scheme for these people. I was hoping with the massive road development taking place throughout and so many infrastructure projects at some stage of implementation many people will find more means to earn their living, but sadly it doesn't look to be helping. I guess, the notoriously low wages are to blame here. I read few reports that even the workers, who are toiling day and night to get all the stadiums ready for the Commonwealth games are being paid the minimum or even lesser at times and are also subject to harsh working and living conditions. And to rub it in the face, all this work is being done by the Public Works Department of Delhi. Government Departments should be leading by example on fair wages and working conditions for laborers, but its doing the opposite here. Thankfully, GMR took much better care of people working on T3 at IGI. But organizations like those are few and far to find.
All these big and small examples prove just one thing. No government for the past 60 years gives a damn about the economically backward people in India. There is no exception to this. If something would have been done, the number of poor would not have remain the same(or increase, I am not sure). Just because we have 10-15 Metropolis corroborate that we have progressed. I feel we haven't stepped even a feet further than 1947. Rich have become more rich, while poor have become much more poor. I know its easy to blame the government or the system for everything and while it seems I am doing the same, I feel each one of us is equally to blame for this situation. Take for example the Press. They are suppose to be voice of the people the world over. But not in India. All they care about is Dhoni getting married(as if he is the only one ever to have achieved the feat) or Akshay-Ash being stranded in Manali. Seriously guys, thats all you care about? What about the other 1.9billion people who also happen to live here. Nobody tells their stories. Even if somebody does, the government either doesn't care or it plays it down. Even some political leaders, the so called Messiah's belong to the same league. Shivsena, every week comes up with some shit just to keep them in the limelight. They will stage protests, violent acts for all sorts of stupid things and justifying everyone its for the betterment of people. How is making people leave their job and sending them home, forcing Radio channels to play marathi songs helping anyone. Has sending a worker from Bihar home and making sure some marathi manoos gets a job helped? Not even a percent. What do you think happened to the Bihari's family. They are even more poor than they were before or in the worst case, they might be dead already. Is this the way a civilian society should act. I don't think so. Its worse than the ancient times. We are suppose to be more intelligent than those, but the f*cktards at Shivsena and other similar minded organizations think otherwise.
Another example is Mr. Rahul Gandhi. What the hell is the use of visiting and staying at some farmer's house for the night. Its not gonna help him eliminate his poverty. Instead of spending millions for such useless trips, he could've spend the money much more wisely by actually doing something for them. A million bucks can help build a school. But no it was used by Mr. Gandhi to visit 2 villages in UP. And people think that he cares for them. Maybe he does, but this is not the way to show it. Instead Do something for them.
Even we as educated people and the so called Future of India aren't further behind. We may not have the monetary power to do something directly for them, but the least we can do is for a change go out on election days and elect some good leaders(I feel out of 525 MPs atleast 52 care for the country and its people). We can join some NGO's. Some of them work towards educating the poor. This way, the children won't have to suffer as their parents. There are plenty of other things which can be done. All it takes is a will and a small amount of time.
I really hope, we awaken as a nation and try and do something about it. Otherwise 60 more years down the line, the condition will remain the same. We will still be living in our illusion of being a Super Power, but in reality We still will be The World's Poorest Country.
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