Poverty is the Result of Plundering and Muzzling of the Peace-loving Majority

As this is being written in the early morning of Jan 15, 2011, we in India are bombarded with a sad “breaking news” that more than one hundred pilgrims were killed in a stampede during a mountain temple festival in southern India. The time was about 7 pm (January 14, 2011), when thousands had congregated at the mountain top forests (named Shabari Mala, in Kerala State), trekking through difficult terrains, and eagerly looking at the dark skies to see the “heavenly light” called MAKARAJYOTHI – believed to be the final sunlight ray that would change the direction of the sun move from the southern solstice, northward. The belief is that a look at that “ray” is next to “Godliness”. Almost the entire crowds that gather in such situations are the poorest, who are herded like sheep pushed into their sheds through the “slit opening”, while the VIP’s and VVIP’s (Officials and Celebs) have the best positions, guarded and comfortably arranged by the security personnel and other volunteers. An unbiased and scientific enquiry would show that the so-called “heavenly light” is artificially created by the “officials” of the religious “authority” that is called “Dewaswom Board”, under the support of a so-called Democratic Government. The said Board officially earn not less than US $10 million each year by way of “devotee offerings”; and the different officials and Temple priests (including the various related support personnel also “get” much benefits by way of cash and other materials “poured in” by the so-called devotees/ pilgrims). Many such farce and frauds are perpetrated in almost all so-called democracies, resulting in great hardships to the poorest community

The question is: What is Poverty?

Under the present day Indian situation, with a teeming population of 1200 million, the average annual minimum expenditure per each individual that would be needed for a decent minimum living standard are as follows:

• Food (@ Rs.50 per day for 365 days) ……….. Rs.18, 250

• Energy @ 1.5 unit per day for 365 days …. 547.5 units … Rs.2, 737.5

• Home/ Housing @ Rs.1000/ pm ………………. Rs.12, 000

• Mobility @ Rs.15/ day for 365 days ……………. Rs.5, 475

• Education @ Rs.1000 per month .………………… Rs.12, 000

• Medicines/ health @ Rs.15 per day for 365 days … Rs.5, 475

• Leisure/ entertainment @ Rs.150 per month …….. Rs.1, 800

• Family @ Rs.1, 000 per month ……………………… Rs.12, 000

• Old age security/ providence @ Rs.1, 000/ pa …… Rs.1, 000

TOTAL MINIMUM DECENT LIVING STANDARD EARNINGS … Rs.70, 737.5 (US $1, 572)

However, it is noted that about 800 million people (67% of total population) do not earn even $150 per annum (less than 10% of the minimum decent living standard)! Now, the Government of India vaingloriously proclaims that they have instituted a big scheme whereby every family would have at least ONE PERSON with Guaranteed job for 100 days @ Rs.100 per day. This works out to Rs.10, 000 per Family! However, as per our Minimum Decent Living Standard Computation this value should be Rs.353, 687.5 (which is more than 3,535% of what the Government actually pays the poor workers!!!). Is this the way to develop the status of the Poor in a democratic nation?

Contrast this with the following:

• The average expenditure Per day in Parliament, spent on our Members of Parliament is estimated at about Rs.25 million (Over Rs.9, 000 million per annum)… Parliament has about 550 members
• India now has about 500 Billionaires
• There are about twenty five million Millionaires
• Together, these Billionaires/ Millionaires form less than 2.1% of the population

The world looks at this glitzy (but paltry) group of people and and go gaga and the media blitzkrieg proclaims that India is progressing! Further, the entire Government machinery and all economic activities are oriented and modified to suit ONLY this 2.1% of the population. The 97.5% of the rest of the population are “helpless” as 100% of those are law abiding or are subservient to the Rich 2.5%. Those who died in the stampede (as mentioned earlier that occurred at the Forest temple of Shabari Mala) are part of that lowly 97.5%. They are all like the ass that moves forward thinking that the “carrot hanging in front of it would be its food as it moves forward”!

Now coming back to the idea on Poverty, it is noted that India has about 638, 000 villages almost 100% of those regions are dilapidated and bereft of basic amenities and other infrastructure. The 800 million poorest people live in these god-forsaken places, eking out their livelihood, and earning less than 1% of India’s GDP. The Government, various Poverty Alleviation Organizations (independent and other sponsored by World bank, UN etc) shout from hill tops that they are doing wonderful jobs to alleviate Poverty. Many Big Industries join the Chorus, and send their “high salaried’ executives to “do some helping works” in villages, under what is called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Added to these are the Giant Corporations and other Bigwigs (such as Ford, Rockefeller, Bill gates and et al) who advertize themselves as the do-gooders creating tremendous developments in many dilapidated villages. In doing so, 100% of these do-gooders earn Tax benefits for their CSR! In the ultimate analyses, a dispassionate study would show that the poor villagers continue to be as poor as ever (with earning power of less than 10% of the minimum decent living standard needs!!!)