It is official...
After thousands of Debates,Arguments,Protests & Demonstrations by NGOs,a recent study has revealed that India,indeed is Poorer than African countries combined together.The Multidimensional Poverty index or the MPI has revealed that half of the BPL population by international standards live in South-East Asia,while only a quarter in Africa.
A comparison shows that 421 million poor people live in 8 Indian states alone-Chattisgarh,Jharkhand,Madhya Pradesh,Orissa,Rajasthan,Bihar,Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal while only 410 million people live below the poverty line in 26 of Africa's poorest nations which includes the likes of Somalia & Zaire!
This clearly shows that the number of poor people in India is constantly overlooked,whereas the people reflect upon the Percentage of Poor Population rather than the sheer numbers.While,we the relatively upper strata of the Indian society enjoy necessities like the Internet,there are millions below us,for whom even our basic necesities are luxuries, who can only dream about the same.Due to their sufferings,their sights do not go beyond securing two square meals a day for their family,let alone spending any time to look after themselves.
Can you Imagine??This 12.5% of the world's population or 1/8th people of the world are categorised under the world's Extremely Poor Population-living below $1.25 Dollars a day!
The study was carried out by United Nations Development Programme Agency(UNDP) & University of Oxford,to bring out the harsh realities of the divided world!
Not only this,the oft-discussed Rural-Urban Divide has been highlighted in the report..While in a metropolis like Delhi,the population below MPI is 15%,The statistics reveal that about 81% of the people in Bihar live below the MPI!
Being an Indian,it is a heart rending fact that atleast 15% of the population live beyond Rs.20/- per day...Whereas we,do not even think twice before spending this amount!Where one particular Class of the society afford to live in plush Bungalows & the others in ransacked slums..For these people,life is a bane..with no respite in sight...Only darkness & gloom at every step.
This great Indian System has never been able to come out with innovative ideas to free these people of their problems..New policies are made,laws are passed,bills are tabled,yet the poor are exploited.Neither they get any aid,nor they are able to uplift themselves from their abject surroundings,nor do they manage to eat wholesome meals or feed their families..Whereas we,the common Indians have our eyes wide shut...We are too engrossed in bathing in the sunshine of Emerging India..which to the world is the world's 2nd fastest growing economy,but to its inhabitants is nothing but a prison..
Most of the money allocated for the Social Welfare programs is either gulped by the officials,bereaucrats or politicians and what the poor get is enough to ashame the so-called well wishers,Servants of the poor...Yet we are mum...India has learnt to "Adapt" & "Compromise",2 words which the Indians are most familiar with...Indians have learnt to fix all its problems by the use of "Jugaad" ,by pushing in unfitting pieces of the jigsaw puzzles..
It is a mistake if we expect graciousness from our leaders,our Red-Tape diplomats,bureaucracy or our Legal system or Even the parliament...Change has to start within...The day we incline our attitudes towards doing something big for the country,that will be the day..when we break the jinx of abject poverty..and provide equality to all!!Be Human...Protect humanity..
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