The travel on the western coast of India and through Kerala and Karnataka is a feast for eyes for sure. During my recent train journey there were other things that were a thorn to my eyes and mind. Soon after the train left Kasargod 15 miles from Mangalore, India’s beautiful coastline vanished like a summer rainbow and impoverished people walking around took over. Economically under privileged people with unkempt hair and dirty clothes walked across the compartment asking for alms. I have seen people in poverty before and this was a common sight in public places and during train journeys. Most of them are children at the tender age of 5 and 6 begging around for food and money for their existence. Some of those children were singing songs asking for the passengers’ choice and took money in return for their performance. There was only innocence in those eyes apart from tears and the tender skin already had wrinkles and was rough. Most of their clothes were torn and most parts of the body exposed to sunlight. Their hair was coarse, rough and tan colored. Well it makes sense to first fill the stomach and then take care of appearance and looks. Some of the passengers were kind enough to spare their change while some of them didn’t want to encourage beggary. I don’t know whom to side? Am I doing something wrong and accumulating bad karma by not giving or am I right by not encouraging? Why is there discrimination in the world created by God? Why is he depriving these kids of their innocent childhood? Does God really have a heart? The next couple of hours I was totally disturbed questioning the underlying problem for the poverty, the origin, and questioning religion and seeking God for a solution.
Hands that need to hold pencils were asking for alms, stomachs that need to be filled were rarely offered food, the shoulders that need to carry school bags were carrying trash. Moving trains, sidewalks are their shelter for the day, garbage cans are their tiffin boxes, their existence and survival is a daily challenge. Why did this hit me so bad this time? May be the extreme beauty of the coastline and poverty was too much to handle at the same sight.
Before questioning the religions and God for an answer, I went on a logical questioning spree. I recalled Maslow’s theory, to move up in the pyramid our psychological needs have to be fulfilled. Security, shelter, food, education and other basic needs should be fulfilled. 70% of India’s population resides in rural areas and India is an agricultural based country and we depend on the monsoon god to shower his mercy on us. There are more mouths to be fed than being fed at present. Since we are agricultural based country we cant assure food for every mouth if our monsoon fails. Recent statistics say that 300 million Indians are within the age group of 20-35, in the prime of their youth and they are middle class employed Indians. 70% of assuming our population to be 1 billion, we have 700 million people in various age brackets, retired, partially working and working.
Who are these people? Where do they live? What do they do for living?
They are uneducated people who don’t have the basic needs of life – food, shelter leave alone have jobs. They are uneducated who live on sidewalks, slums of Bombay, Chennai, Calcutta and many other places in India. They in turn make their children victim of poverty. Elderly people neglected by their kids also turn to this profession. Some of the parents turn their kids into child labor, sex trade, thieves, and even sell their kids for money. I don’t have sufficient statistics to fortify my claims and disprove some fallacies.
What is that we can do as individuals? What is that Government can do? What is that corporate houses can do?
Well no individual can erase poverty; this battle needs to be fought on all fronts by every educated citizen, not just in ones mind but in action on the field. Government definitely cannot take care of al these people by providing jobs and shelter to them. Government has offered free education, midday free meal scheme in school to attract kids, created employment opportunities. Corporate houses have sponsored educational opportunities, provide vocational training, employment opportunities and adopted several slums as first step to eradicate poverty.
What needs to be fixed first? What more can be done?
Education is the only biggest fix which can address this problem at the root and can eradicate poverty completely. Education gives them the confidence, dispels the darkness of poverty and fear. A single candle light can definitely not light the world, but a single flame can definitely light more candles which in turn can spread more light. This society is not run by Government, NGO’s and other philanthropist. Every educated and employed professional has a duty towards this society and making this earth a heaven.
-Doctors have been conducting free medical camps in rural India and at slums to create
awareness on personal hygiene and diseases. More doctors must come forward to treat economically challenged patients for free and conduct camp more frequently in poverty stricken areas
-Philanthropist have sponsored education to number of kids, but each earning member (300 million people) should discourage child labor and adopt a kid and ensure his education
-Teachers teaching at private schools must reach out to children in the society and do free service during the weekdays or weekends.
-Every citizen must set aside time for the society. This can be used for teaching kids, creating awareness campaigns, providing employment opportunities.
-Growing entrepreneurs and fresh ones must employ more of the economically challenged people without exploiting them for cheap labor.
-Lawyers can fight cases free of cost to favor the economically challenged.
-Corporate houses are sponsoring computers, adopting villages to spread literacy, but we still need more of the small institutions to participate and drive such programs with intense commitment
Small drops definitely make an ocean and when we join hands on all fronts we can successfully fight poverty. Assuming 300 million people live below the poverty line, working class of 300 million in the age group of 20- 35 definitely can adopt one kid each and sponsor their education. Education can bring light to those lives that live in huts, sidewalks and public places. Animals and birds take care of community, why not humans? Haven’t we heard stories of a dog lactating kitten? It can definitely happen if we take a stand and make a decision to help the downtrodden masses. We have huge NRI community living outside India. Those earning in dollars and other highly valued currency related to INR can sponsor 2 kids and make this dream a reality.
After a long debate within myself, I made a note of few things that I can do to add to the ocean. If you think we can bring together a like minded community to fight and eradicate poverty, let us join hands. The reason why I am posting this here is to create more awareness and ensure more participation to eradicate the world’s deadliest virus – poverty.
Religion is a communion between your mind and soul, between yourself and the community and finally between yourself and God. – John Macmurray
Does God have a heart, you asked.
ReplyDeleteIn Malayalam they say all this is " Deivathinthe Vikrutigal".While the essence is lost in translation, it means God's mischief.
I was moved when I watched the hindi movie "Swades"recently.NRIs also commented upon as Non Returning Indians should see this movie. Your journey touches the bitter truth of India, I have always been moved similarly...like minds I think.
The pilgrimage seems to have been a spiritual journey.
Javed
It is The big issue in India today, along with emerging prosperity, and when I was travelling in India, sometimes I felt deeply, deeply sad about what to do, why people seem to accept the situation. They don't accept it, it's just that it is so difficult. I knew I was a visitor, coming from a country where these problems don't exist, at least at that level. You almost constantly think about the poor people you see everywhere, and you don't get used, and then suddenly you get used, you don't know why. We all must do anything whe can to bring these kids to school.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this crucial post, Chandra, and feel relax too, these people, just like you, are also united with God.
There are many hands and many like minded communities...still not enough ofcourse, or we would not have the deprivation we have, but drops in the ocean in their own right.
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