Removing poverty by slogans

When Indian Planning Commission declared that the number of poor in India has fallen to 22% of the population, all hell broke loose. Rather than celebrating the improved economic condition of the poor there was great mirth on the accuracy of this report. No one believed it! The figures were simply dismissed by one and all. Some people termed it as ‘the cruel joke on the country’.

The World Bank defines poverty as survival on less than 1.25 US$ a day (Approximately Rs 78 on current conversation rate of Rs. 63 to a US $). Based on this parameter India reduced poverty from 60% of the population to 42% during 1981 to 2005. In 2010 according to World bank parameter 33% of Indian population lives below the poverty line. There are 1.2 billion in the world who are living in extreme poverty conditions out of which 400 million live in India. Almost one third of world’s extreme poor people live in India.

The planning commission uses method different than the World Bank. Indian method is based on consumption of calories needed to sustain the human body. How much would it cost to buy these calories? Those who have income less than this cost are termed poor in India by the government. But what about the quality or nutritional value of food being consumed? Does it contain enough nutritional value? What about the cost of procuring shelter, healthcare, education etc.? When the documents of planning commission and recommendations of well-known economists are confronted with conditions of actual poor in India, these planners and economists have nowhere to hide.

When we see minors working in hotels, picking up rags on the road, assisting drivers in taxis and autos, working in factories in inhuman conditions we know that they are doing it supplement the income of the family to survive and contribute. They would also love to play and learn but are forced to work due to poverty.

When a person is forced to beg for survival it is the biggest indictment of the society.

We have been fed on dreams of ‘Vision 2020’ ‘2030’ and ‘2050’. We are told that India is on the verge of a breakthrough and will be on the road to prosperity soon. We are shown rising towers on the landscape of metro cities (Scam like Adarsh in Mumbai notwithstanding). What about the huts people in slums and villages. What about the plans of low cost housing for the poor? How are we going to provide affordable low cost housing to poor – by regularizing slums and hutments which would become graves if an earthquake strikes?

In last 65 years of independence we have used the slogans and legislation to remove the property. Most famous of the slogan is ‘Garibi Hatao’ of Indira Gandhi. The government announces many schemes to eradicate poverty but most of the money allocated finds place in the homes and bank accounts of those who are given the responsibility to implement them. Former prime minister was very generous when he said that out of one rupee given for poverty removal only 20 paise reaches the end user.

In last decade we have heard of many schemes and legislation to help poor. There is MNREGA and the Food Security Bill. But where is the honesty, commitment and mechanism to implement such schemes. No doubt the chief of Central Bureau of Investigation in India says that there workload will increase tremendously in chasing the corrupt. There are schemes to transfer money directly in the bank accounts of poor and needy. Dreams are being shown to poor in the name of various schemes by every government. Poor people will trust you easily but if the promises are not kept, they would not forgive easily.

When I was young someone told me a story. Rather than giving money to someone for help it is better to empower them so that they can earn money. To remove property we need to distribute land to the poor and create job opportunities for them. Poor people in the villages should be given long term land use leases. They should be given right to transfer, exchange, rent, and inherit agricultural land. The land will act as a productive asset for generating incomes for the poor.

We need to focus on unorganized sector to remove the poverty. This is the area where there is a huge potential for creating employment opportunities. Just look at the number of vegetable vendors in the city, people who supply milk and paper at your door step in the morning and people who clean your cars. In most of the small and big towns there is a large number of men and women helping you in your daily household works – from cleaning the house and used utensils to helping you in your kitchen. We need to provide dignified living conditions to all these people who help us in our everyday lives. We force them to live in slums and in unhygienic conditions without proper education and health facilities.

I find total lack of a coordinated effort at the national level to help these people. City mafias exploit their plight and local police receive their ‘hafta’ which forces them to live in fear – fear of mafia as well as law.

Poverty cannot be removed by mere sloganeering. It needs good governance. We need a caring health, education and a social service framework that reaches the poor. We need to build quality infrastructure and reliable public services in villages and cities.

Economic growth is the best method for removing poverty. It is definitely better than giving doles and subsidies where money is siphoned out of the system by corrupt elements. There should be good access to credit for the poor. A care has to be taken that micro-credit institutions do no exploit the poor and bring them into a debt trap.

To achieve poverty reduction we must develop sensitivity towards the poor. By indulging in photo-op events and doing lip service to their needs will not help. We can reduce poverty by showing our concern and empathetic action. We need to bring a care revolution – to remove the poverty. NOW!