JOIE DE VIVRE: LET’S DONATE THE WEEKENDS

Saturday eve is the most awaited time for the working crowd, as they get some valuable time from their hectic schedule to spend with their near and dear ones. In such a frenetic schedule, we often miss the real taste of living, which lies in social life. It is of utter importance to give time to our children and let them enjoy their golden period with a touch of care by us. It can be made more tempting by planning a good schedule for weekends, like having weekend trips, watching movies, outings, having a good meal or it can be spending time with those who don’t know the importance of weekends or who do have desire but don’t have work. And being clearer, we must also learn to spend our earnings and time for social well-being and respectful work.

We can have a whale of time to spend with poor kids of the society and can also visit with they wouldn't have seen in their whole life till the date. Sporting visits and hearty rides would make them cuddle more and bring a piece of self-pride in us. Nothing can be more tempting if we get to interact with poverty stricken people and share their experiences and grief. It will tie our upcoming generation to a tradition of real humanity which they miss in the mud of city life. If it is quite tiring, then no problem, there is another solution! We can arrange a small treat and gathering on weekends in which we can give some time as well as a meal for social encouragement. Most of the today’s generation take sheer interest in gaming and movies. It can be possible gather the poor children and have a gaming competition with an awesome supper. There are innumerable methods to spend our leisure time in a planned way and for a real cause, but what matters is how much we are determined to give to the society.

Like work, it is also a part of our life to promote social growth and it gives self-satisfaction too. So, before your one more weekend eve would pass, tie your lace and donate few hours to help the poor. A lot we have earned money, time to earn respect- joie de vivre.

The Untold Dreams

A child’s dream is the most intriguing one; it awes us with amazement and happiness. A Carefree and an unrestrained world drives a child’s imagination to newer heights. The fascination and the joy derived by looking at a dreaming child renders us speechless. A child creates a series of Imaginative stories with just a toy in his hand; a simple action figure with a restricted motion can give innumerable joy to a child and his dreams takes over the scene.

      My recent encounter with one of these little ones really surprised me! A little child of class five when asked about his dream replied that he wanted to be an army officer and that he desired to serve his nation. This statement really touched me and made me realize that children’s dreams are no longer restricted to a toy but their dreams and aspirations are much greater and thoughtful than any other adult. Children are indeed dazzling gems sent to earth. Their innocence adds charm to their playful yet energetic character which reassures us that the nation which will be theirs would be a successful  one.  

     For a Nation to be a successful one, these words are just lip smacking. Utopian dreams some say! And I too, to an extent feel the same. A part of my consciousness keeps pricking me to believe the truth that is prevailing in our ailing society though this feeling   battles against all odds of positivity  present in me.   My other encounters with these little ones would  explain why I feel so… 

     It was around 1.30 pm  when I first met  nine year old Rani . Her family consisted of  6 with 3 siblings and herself being the second youngest . Her family was one among the many living in a congested lane . When spoken to her parents of facts such as low annual  income ,  backward social stature and the disgusted life they led came to light . Rani when asked  about her dreams replied that she dreamt of being a Doctor . But her dreams  I feel are  like music falling on deaf ears . Looking at the facts of her family’s income and the state of living,  her dreams appeared to be a distant one . I do hope that she would battle against all odds and would derive the joy she deserves after the fulfillment of her dreams. Another instance which really abashed me  was when I met Kumar a 12 years old boy residing in  the huts of sumanahalli a slum in Bangalore . His dream was to be a Police officer. But unfortunately,  he was not attending schools . When asked about the same , his parents  replied –“Professions such as ours demand us to shift our places  frequently , and under  these circumstances it is impossible to settle down in a single location and send our children to schools ” .

Manjunath a seventh dropout said his interest towards his education just died off after seeing  his struggling parents working hard to earn meager wages which was just enough to fill their stomach  the next day . Looking at his parents sufferings, Manjunath sacrificed his dream to be a Civil service officer and started working to assist his parents . Manjunath is now 20 years and still regrets to have forsaken his untold dreams .

Parents of Abdul a 10^th standard dropout exclaimed that his  health  had worsened . He had a problem in his heart and his family had to move out of city for his treatment . This move compelled him to quit his school and that was the end of his dreams of becoming a successful businessman .

These encounters  made me ask myself as to  who would help these children and their parents to realize their untold dreams..

    I further asked this exact question which I used to ponder over often, the people I know. I got a story from a friend of mine which explained the seemingly plausible solution for the same . She further narrated the story of her house maid and her daughter. It seemed that the husband of the maid was a drunkard and would often spend the money saved by his wife  on drinking alcohol.  The maid used to hide her salary and would save the marginal amount she had . Her daughter was sent to work  too .Then she realized the provision of RTE and enrolled her child in a good school . One of the main reasons she enrolled her child was  the availability of ‘Mid day meal scheme’. Now She could  further save her income and use it for a rainy day. Her awareness and decisive actions further  helped her child and herself to combat against the existing situations . By prudently using available resources , she could fulfill her obligations .

     These untold dreams can be nurtured by proper encouragement and monetary help by those who can afford and lend helping hands. Also these downtrodden people should be made aware of the welfare schemes the Government has formulated for them. Proper legal aid also will be of great help in acquiring the facilities provided for their sake. Equality and social justice play a pivotal role in the upliftment of these people and the fulfillment of the dreams of their unfortunate children.

     Even today social statuses play a very huge role in the education of a child. Let us break all shackles and unite and help the children to fulfill their untold dreams .After all , the nation is theirs in the coming days. It is the collective responsibility of  both civic bodies and governments to fulfill the dreams of  these children .  Strong willed and well educated children will definitely help our  nation to realize and unlock its limitless potential and our nation will rise to new heights under their leadership and tireless endeavours.  After all, today’s children are

tomorrow’s  leaders and torch bearers.

  - Sushanth Sharma B.S

The Art of Giving

Make a difference

Each day you live

Open your heart

Learn to give

Life for many

Is so unkind

Giving people

Are hard to find

So open your heart

Give what you can

We’re all responsible

For our fellow man

It’s so easy to look

The other way

But the tables could turn

On any given day

So help if you can

For one day you may be

The one who’s down and out

The one no one will see.

- Ramesh Ojha

THE STREET CHILD

Deprived of all the luxuries that this life has to offer,
There stands a street child as if born just to suffer.
Early in the morning
When we leave for school with books and tiffin,
The little street boy keeps rummaging in the bin
Paper and plastic is all that he gets
That's his treasure at its best

Then in the evening,
When we move out to play
With our friends, happy and gay,
There stands a street boy dreaming to get
A moment like this
Which life hasn't given him yet.

In the winters when we are cozy 
Wearing warm clothes and jersey,
There stands a street child
Shivering in the cold
When life shows him no mercy.

That street child has many dreams
Which may never come true,
But his eyes and heart are still hopeful
That life will be kimd to him too.

Malnutrition Ravages India’s Children

Malnutrition is more common in India than in Sub-Saharan Africa. One in every three malnourished children in the world lives in India.

Malnutrition limits development and the capacity to learn. It also costs lives: about 50 per cent of all childhood deaths are attributed to malnutrition.

In India, around 46 per cent of all children below the age of three are too small for their age, 47 per cent are underweight and at least 16 per cent are wasted. Many of these children are severely malnourished.

The prevalence of malnutrition varies across states, with Madhya Pradesh recording the highest rate (55 per cent) and Kerala among the lowest (27 per cent).

Malnutrition in children is not affected by food intake alone; it is also influenced by access to health services, quality of care for the child and pregnant mother as well as good hygiene practices. Girls are more at risk of malnutrition than boys because of their lower social status.

Malnutrition in early childhood has serious, long-term consequences because it impedes motor, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional development. Malnourished children are less likely to perform well in school and more likely to grow into malnourished adults, at greater risk of disease and early death. Around one-third of all adult women are underweight. Inadequate care of women and girls, especially during pregnancy, results in low- birthweight babies. Nearly 30 per cent of all newborns have a low birthweight, making them vulnerable to further malnutrition and disease.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies also affect children’s survival and development. Anaemia affects 74 per cent of children under the age of three, more than 90 per cent of adolescent girls and 50 per cent of women. Iodine deficiency, which reduces learning capacity by up to 13 per cent, is widespread because fewer than half of all households use iodised salt. Vitamin A deficiency, which causes blindness and increases morbidity and mortality among pre-schoolers, also remains a public-health problem.

MPs stage a Candlelight Vigil to highlight Child Malnutrition in India
Getting more than 100 Members of Parliament to sign a pledge was never going to be an easy task. Staging a candlelight vigil at the high-security India Gate area was also fraught with problems– permissions, security, crowds…etc.

India’s largest contributor to child mortality gears up to save its children
Sunken eyes, swollen belly, shrivelled skin. Listless, lifeless, weighing barely 4.5 kg, two-year-old Abhilasha had little hope of survival.

POVERTY

Meera, Hari and Sunita Rani are neighbours. Common thing between these two women are both of them work as servant (at different houses of their nearby residence), both their husbands are rickshaw pullers, both of them has more than two children. But meera’s husband tortures and abuses her besides, putting false questions on her character while the scenario of sunita’s family is completely different-she has a peaceful life. If we investigate main reason behind this, the only answer would be poverty. First, for staying at below poverty line they hardly meet up their both ends meet and their marginal propensity to consume is higher. Second, being struct by poverty, lack of education forces meera’s husband to respect her wife. Neither education sufficiently leads to this result nor the uneducated persons are necessarily disgraceful but education acts as a signal of development of both, minds and states. Whether meera’s husband would be like this or not, if he would have been educated, is a controversial question. But it could be expected that good education would help him to find a good job and thus, he could get rid of present uncomfort zone. Whereas, the real picture is different. Lack og education on the one hand leading to this situation and on the other hand, his local circumstances leading him to addicted to alcohol and so on; story making useless neighbours comparing meera and sunita’s situation so that meera’s husband is disuaded very easily besides, not judging the actual case. These are adding fuel to flame. Self-consumption, addiction towards tobacco, alcohol are not only leaving them with a lower wealth to carry on monthly expenditures but also these low qualitative addictions without sufficient nutritions are affecting his health. This in turn again leads to impediment towards the road of their today’s savings. They are trapped in vicious cycle of poverty. Third, this is not the ultimate story. One more cause of sunita’s higher well-being is that she is quite removed from the secondary poverty. She is well accessed to her capabilities. The women of the houses where she works are far better than the women where meera works. Sunita gets clothes for herself as well as for her family members from her madams. She also has delicious breakfast where she works. In addition to that often those women helps sunita by providing books, copies or money for the education purpose of their children. Sunita’s husband is very nice and let sunita to live her life besides, taking care of the family. This necessary requirements being filled up, sunita easily carries her consumptions and desire savings. Even those women helped her in grooming so that sunita often goes to microfinancial institutes, NGO’s if needed now-a-days. All these things clearly distinguish the life style of sunita and meera and explains some reasons behind that. This story tells us that, poverty is a great matter of concern everywhere and every when. How can then it be judged that whether rupees 47 in urban areas is necessary or sufficient margin of poverty? It may happen that one earns rs.40/day but the real goods enjoyed by one if is added to that, it may exceed the margin of rs.47. Hence that person is counted as poor where as she is actually not. The flip side of the coin says, say, one earns rs.50/day but political bullies take away rs.10/day from that guy. Though that person would not be counted at BPL, actually he/she is. The moral is that we should look over development, rather than economic growth as economic development is much broader concept than growth whereas, growth is necessary condition for development and development sufficiently comprises economic growth. Distribution, allocation should be taken care off more. Going beyond the term poverty we should ponder over secondary poverty and development should adorable more by looking over sustainable development (taking care of environment so that pollutions do not disturb or it might not impede our future generation from the consumption of their minimum rights). Being honest if wealth are allocated and distributed properly for social developments by government (which are not generally done by private entrepreneurs due to their profit maximizing motives), then we could utter “Bharat amaar Bharat borsho korme mohan hobe..dhorme mohan hobe”,  as the picture of the society as well as economy would be well and good.

By - 

Prantik Bagchi

Getting out of the 'Cycle of Poverty'

In economics, the cycle of poverty is the "set of factors or events by which poverty, once started, is likely to continue unless there is outside intervention.".The cycle of poverty is when a family remains in poverty over many successive generations. For this reason reducing child poverty has been a focus of almost all governments as a way to break this cycle. Improving the quality of education provided to the poor is seen by most as the best way to break this cycle. Improving the environment the child grows up in, ensuring access to health, providing financial incentives (either through benefit schemes or reducing taxes) and promoting family values have all been suggested as ways to break the cycle.

Boys and girls have equal rates of poverty through their childhoods but as women enter their teens and childbearing years the rates of poverty between the genders widens. Globally, women are far more impoverished than men and poor children are more likely to live in female-headed households. Attempts to combat the cycle of poverty, therefore, have often targeted mothers as a way to interrupt the negative patterns of poverty that affect the education, nutrition/health, and psychological/social outcomes for poor children.

To come out of this cycle we have to break this circular flow. We have to empower the younger generations by educating them. Because if we educate them they will be able to earn for themselves. Primary education has to be made compulsory. Schemes such as Mid-day-meal should be encouraged so that more children are enrolled and retained in schools. This is one of the things that we can do and things are being done to make it better

CHILD LABOR : INDIA'S HIDDEN SHAME

"Out of school children comprise the workers and non workers. In our view they together signify a measure of deprivation among children and can be considered as a potential labour pool always being at the risk of entering the labour force" - NCEUS, 2007

India is sadly the home to the largest number of child labourers in the world. The census found an increase in the number of child labourers from 11.28 million in 1991 to 12.59 million in 2001. M.V. Foundation in Andhra Pradesh found nearly 400,000 children, mostly girls between seven and 14 years of age, toiling for 14-16 hours a day in cottonseed production across the country of which 90% are employed in Andhra Pradesh. 40% of the labour in a precious stone cutting sector is children. NGOs have discovered the use of child labourers in mining industry in Bellary District in Karnataka in spite of a harsh ban on the same. In urban areas there is a high employment of children in the zari and embroidery industry.

Poverty and lack of social security are the main causes of child labour. The increasing gap between the rich and the poor, privatization of basic services and the neo-liberal economic policies are causes major sections of the population out of employment and without basic needs. This adversely affects children more than any other group. Entry of multi-national corporations into industry without proper mechanisms to hold them accountable has lead to the use of child labour. Lack of quality universal education has also contributed to children dropping out of school and entering the labour force. A major concern is that the actual number of child labourers goes un-detected. Laws that are meant to protect children from hazardous labour are ineffective and not implemented correctly.

A growing phenomenon is using children as domestic workers in urban areas. The conditions in which children work is completely unregulated and they are often made to work without food, and very low wages, resembling situations of slavery. There are cases of physical, sexual and emotional abuse of child domestic workers. The argument for domestic work is often that families have placed their children in these homes for care and employment. There has been a recent notification by the Ministry of Labour making child domestic work as well as employment of children in dhabas, tea stalls and restaurants "hazardous" occupations.

According to HAQ: Centre for child rights, child labour is highest among schedules tribes, Muslims, schedule castes and OBC children. The persistence of child labour is due to the inefficiency of the law, administrative system and because it benefits employers who can reduce general wage levels. HAQ argues that distinguishing between hazardous and non hazardous employment is counter-productive to the elimination of child labour. Various growing concerns have pushed children out of school and into employment such as forced displacement due to development projects, Special Economic Zones; loss of jobs of parents in a slowdown, farmers' suicide; armed conflict and high costs of health care. Girl children are often used in domestic labour within their own homes. There is a lack of political will to actually see to the complete ban of child labour.

Bonded child labour is a hidden phenomenon as a majority of them are found in the informal sector. Bonded labour means the employment of a person against a loan or debt or social obligation by the family of the child or the family as a whole. It is a form of slavery. Children who are bonded with their family or inherit a debt from their parents are often found in agricultural sector or assisting their families in brick kilns, and stone quarries. Individual pledging of children is a growing occurrence that usually leads to trafficking of children to urban areas for employment and have children working in small production houses versus factories. Bonded labourers in India are mostly migrant workers, which opens them up to more exploitation. Also they mostly come from low caste groups such as dalits or marginalised tribal groups. Bonded child labourers are at very high risk for physical and sexual abuse and neglect sometimes leading to death. They often are psychologically and mentally disturbed and have not learnt many social skills or survival skills.

In 2000 the ILO estimated 5.5 million children had been forced in labour in Asia, while the Bonded Labour Liberation Front placed 10 million bonded children in India alone. In 1998 the government of India labelled bonded child labour as a marginal problem with only 3000 or so cases. A survey in Tamil Nadu in 1995 found 125,000 bonded child labourers in the state alone. Child bonded labour in India is mostly in the agricultural sector but has in recent times been moving into other sectors as well such as beedi-rolling, brick kilns, carpet weaving, commercial sexual exploitation, construction, fireworks and matches factories, hotels, hybrid cottonseed production, leather, mines, quarries, silk, synthetic gems, etc. 

Child labour in India is addressed by the Child Labour Act, 1986 and National Child Labour Project.

Children and HIV/AIDS

The first case of HIV/AIDS was reported in India in Tamil Nadu in 1986. Since then the virus has spread from the high-risk groups to the general population very fast.  Today, there are 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS in India.

Women and Children

Women and children are increasingly becoming vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. The new findings conclude that 38% of the infected persons in India are women. This indicates the increasing feminization of HIV/AIDS in India. This alarming trend is being observed closely as more HIV positive mothers will unknowingly pass the virus on to their children. India has an estimated 220,000 children infected by HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that 55,000 to 60,000 children are born every year to mothers who are HIV positive.  Without treatment, these newborns stand an estimated 30% chance of becoming infected during the mother’s pregnancy, labor or through breastfeeding after six months.  There is effective treatment available, but this is not reaching all women and children who need it.

Young People

Over 35% of AIDS cases reported are below 25 years of age and 50% of new infections are between 15 and 24 years old. The current HIV/AIDS programmes are reaching only 15% of young people and 17% of high-risk groups such as sex workers, men who have sex with men and injecting drug users. Less than one quarter of young people have accurate information on how to protect themselves from HIV which, coupled with profound gender inequalities, make change in sexual attitudes and practices very difficult. It is estimated that there are 200 million young people in high prevalence and vulnerable districts who need access to information, skills and services to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection.

Primary prevention among young people is the greatest hope to change the course of the epidemic in India. As a result, the Adolescent Education Programme was conceived by UNICEF, NACO, Ministry of Education, UNESCO and UNFPA. The programme was implemented in all states across the country through the Department of Education (DoE) in collaboration with the State AIDS Control Societies (SACS). The curriculum includes growing up, HIV/AIDS, life skills and extra curricular activities. Already, 110,000 of the 150,000 high schools in India trained teachers and peer educators to pass on life skills and preventive messages. 
On 1st December 2006, 25 best performing teachers were given national awards for imparting knowledge of HIV/AIDS among students.

Children and the Water, Environment and sanitation in India

An estimated 400,000 children under five years of age die each year due to diarrhea. Several million more suffer from multiple episodes of diarrhoea and still others fall ill on account of Hepatitis A, enteric fever, intestinal worms and eye and skin infections caused by poor hygiene and unsafe drinking water.

Despite the Government and UNICEF’s best efforts, diarrhea remains the major cause of death among children, after respiratory- tract infections. Unhygienic practices and unsafe drinking water are some of its main causes. More than 122 million households in the country are without toilets. Even though toilets are built in about 3 million households every year, the annual rate of increase has been a low 1 per cent in the past decade.

A Girl filling dirty water in bottles

Access to protected sources of drinking water has improved dramatically over the years. Most rural water supply systems, especially the hand-pumps generally used by the poor, are using groundwater. But inadequate maintenance and neglect of the environment around water sources has led to increasing levels of groundwater pollution. In many areas, the problem is exacerbated by falling levels of groundwater, mainly caused by increasing extraction for irrigation. In some parts of the country, excessive arsenic and fluoride in drinking water also pose a major health threat.

FOODY BABA: FOOD SECURITY BILL IN INDIA

H

aving cacti with toppings of cheese cannot serve as ambrosia, unless you are a gourmand. Actually the rising prices of food items and rapidly increasing population have led to prognosticate such a dark future, leading to food crises. This burgeoning is at such a rate that a decade ago, the population which was estimated to be 100 crores, whenever we got to hear in television award shows and other sources, has increased to 125 crores. The basic needs of a human- Food, fire, shelter and education are touching the apex of their monetary value. These are now the piece of cake for those who earn at least five digit salary. And those who sleep on footpaths have to struggle for each bite and vagabonds have to burn their feet for a wad of wheat.

The National Food Security Act, 2013, an appeasing step by the government of India aims to provide subsidized food grains to two third of the population of India. Under the act highly subsidized food grains have been provided to citizens as a part of their right. Besides, pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious "take home ration" of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs. 6,000 for a period of six months. Children from the age of 6 months to 14 years have been offered "take home rations" under this act. Moreover, the shortage of food grains will by covered by funding from the central government. The cost of the implementation has been estimated to be $22 billion (1.25 lac crore), which is approximately 1.5% of GDP. The enactment has definitely assured food to all, but it is just an ‘ink feeding’, no one knows how long will it take for the decision to jump out of papers and feed each home of the country.

No doubt, many of us would be dissident when we got to hear about the act, as there are many other steps like infrastructural growth, matching with developed countries or laws for the flexibility in investments, but for a poor citizen, the first priority is not the implementation of laws and infrastructural growth, but a promising government who stand by its words and hand them grains to survive.

Children in India and their protection

In India, children’s vulnerabilities and exposure to violations of their rights remain spread and multiple in nature.These violations are various, ranging from child labour, child trafficking, to commercial sexual exploitation and many other forms of violence and abuse.

Although poverty is often cited as the cause underlying child labour, other factors such as discrimination, social exclusion, as well as the lack of quality education or existing parents’ attitudes and perceptions about child labour and the role and value of education need also to be considered. In states like Bihar, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, 60 per cent or more girls dropped out before completing their five years primary education.

Trafficking of children also continues to be a serious problem in India. The nature and scope of trafficking range from industrial and domestic labour, to forced early marriages and commercial sexual exploitation. Existing studies show that over 40 per cent of women sex workers enter into prostitution before the age of 18 years. Moreover, due to the challenges and complexity posed in creating systematic redressing mechanisms, as well as due to the discrimination surrounding the issue, for children who have been trafficked and rescued opportunities for rehabilitation remain scarce and reintegration process arduous.

While systematic data and information on child protection issues are still not always available, evidence suggests that children in need of special protection belong to communities suffering disadvantage and social exclusion such as scheduled casts and tribes, and the poor. The lack of available services, as well as the gaps persisting in law enforcement and in rehabilitation schemes also constitute a major cause of concern.

Poverty: A Big Challenge

Poverty implies a condition in which a person finds him unable

to maintain a living standard adequate for his physical and

mental efficiency. He even fails to meet his basic requirements.

Poverty is in fact a relative concept. It is very difficult to draw a

demarcation line between affluence and poverty.

An estimated 29.8% of Indians live below the

country’s national poverty line in 2010 (see point 2 below). Here

are two graphs showing the evolution of the poverty rate –

percentages of poor Indians

The state of Uttar Pradesh alone has 8% of the world’s

population who live in extreme poverty. However, it’s not

India’s poorest state. With a population of 100 million people,

Bihar is poorest. More than half of children under 3 suffer from

malnutrition. One in three malnourished children is Indian, and

rates of malnutrition are higher in India than in sub-Saharan

Africa. Nearly a third of all newborn deaths occur in India.

Indian soil is fertile, so are Indian men and women, these are

families which have five, six, ten even up to twenty children.

With such a potential for huge population India, in the recent or

even in the remote past, has not fully realized the importance

of controlling the population, nor did our country felt the danger

of such population. The ancient Hindu society was completely

oblivious of the significance of population for the following

reasons:

o There was neither any mechanism to count or record of

old Indian Territory, nor was there any effort to know about

the population.

o There was no homogeneous distribution of population – all

scattered in different groups of agricultural and tribal society,

the elites being divided among different kingdoms and

dynasties without any significant social welfare measures.

o The concept of poverty was virtually unknown in

India. Superstition, too much faith on destiny and God and

lack of concerted efforts kept a huge country under the

blanket of poverty for century after century.

 “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked

and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and

uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own

homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” --- Mother Teresa

“Where there is no happiness for all, there cannot be happiness for

any.”

This is a fundamental truth successful nations around the world

have discovered. They have structured their societies in such a

way that though there may be inequalities in incomes and level

of enjoyment of the good things of life, the basics of a modern

life are not denied to anyone.

What are the basics? Answers vary for each country. For India,

these are: education, health care, housing, water, electricity,

cooking fuel, old age support, sanitation and employment did

not see the linkage between a nation’s investments in social

sectors and its prosperity.

As a consequence of attempts made by government, poverty

showed a sharp decline in 1980s. This decline in poverty,

to some extent, is also attributed to agriculture development

of 1970s and 1980s resulting from the Green Revolutions.

However, much more needs to be done, for India is the home

to the largest poor population in the world. Basic necessities

of life such as drinking water, health care facilities, etc. are still

inaccessible to majority of population.

In this regard community participation and awareness

campaign can make a difference. The media and the

NGOs, besides other institutions have crucial role to play.

The machinery involved in poverty alleviation need to be

accountable, sensitised and sincere. New laws have to

be evolved to ensure more accountability. The lack of

transparency and accountability has hampered our economic

development at all levels. A system of incentives and

disincentives can also be of great importance. Thus, the

situation is bound to change and society will be free from

deprivation.

By Aman Agarwal

Child healthcare in India

Despite health improvements over the last thirty years, lives continue to be lost to early childhood diseases, inadequate newborn care and childbirth-related causes. More than two million children die every year from preventable infections.

Infant mortality in India is as high as 63 deaths per 1,000 live births. Most infant deaths occur in the first month of life; up to 47 per cent in the first week itself. While the Infant Mortality Rate showed a rapid decline during the 1980's, the decrease has slowed during the past decade. 

Maternal deaths are similarly high. The reasons for this high mortality are that few women have access to skilled birth attendants and fewer still to quality emergency obstetric care. In addition, only 15 per cent of mothers receive complete antenatal care and only 58 per cent receive iron or folate tablets or syrup.

Children in India continue to lose their life to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, which remains the biggest killer. Tetanus in newborns remains a problem in at least five states: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Assam. The number of polio cases in India declined from 1,934 in 1998 to 268 in 2001. There was a setback in 2002 as 1,600 cases were confirmed at the end of the year. But with only 225 cases of polio reported in 2003, India is well on its way to interrupting transmission and eradicating the disease. However, the proportion of children who receive vaccination against measles has dropped considerably, from 72% in 1995 to a low of 50% in 1999. It now stands at 61%.

Government of India Action on Health

• Strengthen existing health systems by increasing the number of health workers

• Prevent newborn deaths through home-based medical visits

• Increase children’s access to immunisation

Summary of RTE Act 2009

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act or Right to Education Act (RTE), is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted on 4 August 2009, which describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in India under Article 21a of the Indian Constitution. India became one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right of every child when the act came into force on 1 April 2010.

The quality of education provided by the government system is not good. While it remains the largest provider of elementary education in the country forming 80% of all recognised schools, it suffers from shortages of teachers, infrastructural gaps and several habitations continue to lack schools altogether. The Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14 and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools. It requires all private schools to reserve 25% of seats to children.

The RTE Act is the first legislation in the world that puts the responsibility of ensuring enrolment, attendance and completion on the Government. It is the parents' responsibility to send the children to schools in India. Though Govt says economically backward children are admitted in to private schools under RTE, but the fact is in the states like Andhra Pradesh, Children are admitted in to private schools based on caste based reservations.

And most Important is : 

The Act provides for admission of children without any certification. However, several states have continued pre-existing procedures insisting that children produce income and caste certificates, BPL cards and birth certificates. Orphan children are often unable to produce such documents, even though they are willing to do so. As a result, schools are not admitting them, as they require the documents as a condition to admission.

POOR and RICH

Poor :-

According to Oxford dictionary, poors are those who lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.

  

Rich :-

According to Oxford dictionary, rich are those who having wealth or great possessions, abundantly supplied with resources, means or funds.

Now comparison between RICH and POOR

Rich people believe: “I create my life.” Poor people believe: “Life happens to me.”

Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.

Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.

Rich people think big. Poor people think small.

Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.

Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.

Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.

Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.

Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.

Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.

Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.

Rich people think “both”. Poor people think “either/or”.

Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.

Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.

Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.

Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them. 

Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think they already know.

Poverty as a Challenge (Class 9th, Economiics, CBSE)

Poverty:

A general scarcity of basic necessities of life is called poverty. The basic necessities include food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, sanitation, etc.

Relative Poverty:

This is a condition of inequality compared to the general population of the society.
Some of the issues which are related to poverty are; Landlessness, Unemployment, Size of families, Illiteracy, Poor health/malnutrition, Child labour and Helplessness.
Poverty as seen by social scientists: Income and level of consumption are the usual indicators of poverty. But many social scientists view poverty from many other parameters; like illiteracy, lack of general resistance due to malnutrition, lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation, etc.

Social Exclusion:

Poverty also results in social exclusion of the affected population. A poor person is usually barred from enjoying certain basic pleasures of life which the people in the mainstream society are able to enjoy. Many people are not allowed to participate in various social functions because they are poor. In India, there has been a history of social exclusion on the basis of caste. People from the lower caste and dalit classes were excluded from the mainstream society mainly because they had been poor.

Vulnerability:

Certain communities are more vulnerable to poverty than others. Data suggests that there is a larger percentage of poor among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Minorities are also more vulnerable to poverty. Similarly, women, widow and handicapped are more vulnerable groups. When a person has the least capability of withstanding various challenged towards his economic relevance, he can be termed as vulnerable to poverty.

Poverty Line

Poverty line is usually defined on the basis of income or consumption. Different yardsticks are used in different countries to measure the poverty line.
According to the World Bank, a person living on less than 1$ per day is considered to be living below the poverty line. This figure has been now raised to 1.25 $ per day. According to 2010 report by the World Bank, 32.7% of India’s population was living below the poverty line.
As per 2000 figures; a family of five which is earning less than Rs. 1,640 per month is considered to be living below the poverty line. This figure is Rs. 2,270 per month for the urban area.
The expected calorie intake has been fixed at 2400 calories per person in rural areas and 2100 calories in urban areas. A person consuming less than this amount is considered to be living below the poverty line.
According to Development Goals Report of 2011, India is the only Asian country which is expected to half its number of poor people by 2015. The figure is expected to reach a level of about 22% of the population. This figure is expected to further go down to 20% by 2020.
Although the percentage of poor living below the poverty line has declined, their absolute number has increased. The number of poor remained static at 320 million for a fairly long period. But this figure has also declined to 260 million in recent

Graph: Percentage of poor in different social groups (NSSO Report 2000)

This graph shows the percentage of poor in different social groups in India. While the percentage of poor among average population is 26%; it is much higher among the vulenrable gropus. Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Caste, Urban Casual Labourer and Rural Agricultural Labourer are the most vulnerable groups.
Apart from the vulnerable social groups, different members in a poor family suffer in different ways. For example; women, children and elderly are the worst sufferers because of poverty. fferent members in a poor family suffer in different ways. For example; women, children and elderly are the worst sufferers because of poverty.

Child Labor in India

India has the second largest population in the  world, after China. We have a lot of hands to do work. But lots of hands start working at a young age. When children are used as labor it is known as child labor. This is a simple definition of child labor. The young children do not even get a chance to study. They are straight away put to work in hope for some quick short-term monetary returns. They are sometimes forced into doing labor but sometimes, they might do it by choice.

The number of children doing labor is huge in India. You can see many small children working in dhabas on highways.They will bring you water and the dishes and they don't even ask for a tip.They do back breaking work and aren't even payed properly. They are bullied by the owners and beaten if they commit even the smallest of mistakes. They work longer hours, longer than most of us do. In return they don't get any of the services that we get. These children do it for their families. They see that the condition of their family id not good and they start working so that they can improve the conditions of their homes.

Children are forced to work under uncomfortable conditions. This is not what they should be doing. They should be studying and playing with their friends. They should be in classes being taught by teachers. They should be playing with their friends making fun of them and helping their mothers at home. It is similar to caging a bird. We have to let them free and let them open their wings to fly. We should not let them be trapped and help them take that leap towards their first flight.

THE TALE OF THE KINGDOM HILARIA: EPISODE-6

After a long chase to spy all the members of the regal team, path to victory for poor citizens of Hilaria was still adorned with cacti. Now, they had a tough task to hide inside the state that too in unrestricted areas. They knew that the queen would easily catch them from anywhere so they aimed just to spend six days and a half second anyhow hiding them.

As the day passed, the cunning opponents caught poors, hiding behind the tree, inside the dried wells and under the garbage dumps. It was as easy for the royal team to spy somebody behind a glass pane. And before the end of the sixth day, they caught all the poor people and started celebrating their victory. The queen laughed out loud pointing her sword on the neck of poors and the senapati said “Your game is over and you may leave now before we begin to push you out of the state.”

“My lord, the game is not over yet.” a sound came from the crowd and the hero moves out of the herd. “In the game our pets have also participated as they also belong to the poor families too. And…..” before the man could complete, the queen interrupted “We knew that someone of you will raise definitely come out with a silly excuse on your demise. So, my men aimed to catch all the animals of the state, all the animals including you.” The queen gave a devils laughter and ordered her men to bring the cage in which all the animals were captured.

“Still you missed our two members and you won’t be able to find them I can challenge you.” the hero said confidently. As the queen heard of the word ‘challenge’ she burst out of anger “You dared to challenge me, now see I will search the two also. And you will be guillotined, once they are caught. ” The queen's sudden capsize turned others speechless except the man. The queen lost control over her and blew by her ego into ‘do or die’ state.

“The two of our cattle are hidden into the heaven of almighty. I challenge you to catch them. Once you succeed, we will leave the state before your any word.” the man said. All the people standing there now realized that the task was next to impossible to complete but the lady was burning of ardor to complete the challenge. She ordered her two men to take her and the senapati to the tour of heaven and the senapati had no choice except to acquiesce.

“One, two, three. SCWACH!” and the queen’s head fell down to the feet of poors and the egoistic and idiotic crankiness evaporated by the next moment.

The whole kingdom turned into silence for the time and the citizens also realized that they had conquered over the cruel queen and the belligerent senapati to establish piece and their rights equally. They showed that no one is poor by brain; it’s all about the illusive wealth that gives person opulence. But what makes a person rich is his acuity and benevolence. The hero of Hilaria, the men who freed poor citizens from matriarchy and gave equal rights to all, was voted as the new king of the state. From the same day, everyone was given education and right to lead the state toward prosperity by his skills and ventures with an active support from the government also.

THE TALE OF THE KINGDOM HILARIA: EPISODE-5

As the queen got to know about the trifle, she called for an urgent meeting in which all the wise men were seated to pour paraffin to exasperated queen. After a long period of conversation and chit-chat, the queen reached to a conclusion which was not condign to the minors. All the members of communion assented except the senapati. He objected that carnage of poor people would ruin the soil of the land by their dirty blood and their souls would wander around the castle. The reason not only appeared logical to the queen but also ominous to others. He also said that these people if began to protest, their man power would dominate to that of the militants in the kingdom.

“Better is asking them directly what they want to leave the state. Once they agreed to leave we will invade their new homeland and conquer that area also.” the senapati said. The suggestion was acceded by all the wise men along with the queen.

Next day, the queen announced for a gathering in which all the citizens of Hilaria came. The queen put her words which were decided in the last meet, in front of all the citizens. But, none of them accepted her titillating offers of precious jewels or uncountable gems. There was a broad chasm among both parties and finally by the grace of almighty so called ‘conciliation’ took place.

"We would like to have a game of 'Hide n Seek'; the loser will have to leave the state." The senapati declared boasting of his acumen and the queen approved as it was one of her favorite games from the childhood. On the other hand poor citizens also agreed to it as they had no more options left.

Both the sides were given a week to hide them and at the same time opponents had to seek them. The one who would seek all the members in lesser time had to be declared as winner. The first chance and advantage to get hidden was given to the regal group. Many of them hid inside the kingdom, some got buried under the ground and others left the state. The queen and the senapati hid behind a wall somewhere inside the castle as they knew that entry of poors was prohibited inside. As the opponent got to know about it, they put fire into the castle and in a few minutes both of them came out bawling due to fire burns. As the time passed, the chasers dug out all those who hid under the ground and spied those who flew out of the state by the end of sixth day.

Now it was the queen’s turn to run and catch citizens. But the notorious queen restricted their entries into the castle and blocked their way out of the state. This appeared inequitable to the minors but they had to accept the command of their queen.