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| Poverty Alleviation Still a Distant Dream | | |
Vijay Kumar & Subash Kumar
The latest (NSS) National Sample survey report reveals that the economic policy of UPA has not benefited much the poorer section of the society. Despite various measures taken by coalition government the economic condition of the people living under BPL (Below Poverty Line) is worst. Roughly 10% of people enjoy the benefit of the economic policies and remaining 90% of people are left to the mercy of God to fed for themselves. We fear that our democracy might face upheavals under these conditions. In early 90’s and late 80’s when country was facing serve economic crisis the people living under BPL were worst affected. In Nasrimha Rao’s regime when LPG (Liberalisation, privatization and Globalisation) come into being, at that time it was considered as a victory of the government but in the real sense LPG also benefits the rich for to get benefits from this policy one needs to have certain and skills which are lacking in the poor as most of the population lives in rural areas away from the market which makes them impossible to get benefit of this policy. The BPL population mostly living in rural areas lack communication facility, transport facility, storage facility and information about price in alternative markets, they have failed to get benefit of globalisation. Even in 21’s century most of the villagers lack above facilities. The quality of human capital in our country is low and it is just because of poor quality of education in India particularly in rural areas. Now, it does not mean that they have no access to educational institutions but what it implies is that successive government in India though have made various efforts but have failed to check corruption in education sector. Due to this poor human capital our economy is still far behind from developed countries of the world. The main source of livelihood of BPL population is agriculture, fishing etc, but these sectors are being ignored. The India agriculture is still a gamble of monsoons which are mostly irregular and thus the several part of country are severely hit by drought creating shortage of foods and depriving the poor people of their income. Moreover the land reforms in the country have managed the corrupt politicians and big land lords to exploit the poor farmers due to some loopholes in the existing laws. Besides, the remote area dwellers have no access to pesticide, insecticide, weedicide and other manures to increase soil productivity though subsidies provided by the government to boost agriculture. The condition of the farmers who fed the whole nation is deplorable even in post independence period. Many farmers have and are committing suicides. One wonders that why despite the government subsides there is little change at the ground level. In fact this problem is of more political nature then of economic one. The cost of production of framers is more than revenue forcing them to incur losses as there is a little provision of “price support policy”. It is a matter of great concern that we spend about Rs.50,000 Crores on food subsidy, Rs.20,000 Crores on rural employment (REGP) and about Rs25,000 Crores on Kerosene and power for BPL section which amount Rs.95,000 Crores but much of this is lost during transmission and this section of society remains at the mercy of middle men and apathetic government machinery. The poor people are suffering due to their increasing food needs , though through PDS (Public Distribution System) government makes food available to poor at subsidies price but due to various flaws in the system including corruption the system needs immediate attention. At various times it has been found that some corrupt bureaucrats indulge in black marketing and hoarding creating artificial scarcity. Many people in the villages have suffered food deficiency though the food was present in large quantity in godwans.
Unemployment in the rural areas is rampant as they are unable to face competitions on account of their low standard of education.
The outstanding and historic NREGA recently launched by the government was a good attempt but due to corrupt government machinery it has severely failed to solve the problem if unemployment and instead of this it has added to the pockets of corrupt. Many experts have considered it as a burden on India economy.
The global financial crisis and inflation have adversely hit the low income groups in India and the reasons is nothing but the illegal money held by politicians and other elites. Swiss Banks Association data revealed that Indians held the large quantity of illegally stashed money in Swiss Banks. The amount was as high as $1,456 billion.
With the Illegal money of Indians in Swiss Banks, the corrupt entries in all walks of life, use of fertile agricultural land for building industries, hotels, shopping moles, pro-rich policies of government, increasing gap b/w haves and have not’s in India, there seems to be a little hope from the politicians of this country that the economic conditions of the poor can be improved. By ignoring poor we are like a ship losing its nuts slowly and if we do not think for the poor we will perish.
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