In recent years, the battle against hunger has been placed at the centre of the development discourse in India. This has come about mainly due to the efforts of the Right to Food Campaign and as a direct result of a writ petition filed in the Supreme Court of India.
Despite this, India continues to be the site of the most unconscionable levels of chronic hunger and deprivation. Child malnutrition levels in India (46%; height for age data) have consistently been higher than those of even Sub-Saharan Africa and of countries with lower rates of economic growth like neighbouring Bangladesh (45%). The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (conducted by the National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council for Medical Research) estimates that nearly 40% of the adult population in India has a Body Mass Index of less than 18.5, which implies chronic energy deficiency of epic proportions, bordering on a national humanitarian crisis.
In contrast to their seeming inability to solve their hunger and poverty epidemic, India has enough money to manufacture, produce, and manage weapons, including nuclear weapons. Of course, this is nothing too unique. For example, both the U.S. and Russia are known for their massive nuclear arsenals, but have not yet solved their respective hunger and poverty epidemics. 14 million children in the U.S. live in food insecure households. I guess this once again demonstrates The Inherent Link Between War And Hunger.
My heart goes out to those poor and struggling people in India.
What do you think?
I had the privilege of living in Bangalore, India for 4 years all-together, as an overseas social worker. Even during this length of time, I was unable to absorb the vastness of the culture/subcultures, religions and monetary imbalances.
In Bangalore, for example, there is a five-star hotel (one of many, in fact) where you can see beggars located immediately across the street. When you enter the hotel, you momentarily escape the oppressive truth and desolation that is waiting just outside the door. For a moment, you can pretend there are no beggars waiting just on the street corner outside. You can pretend you are not surrounded by utter filth and poverty. You can pretend that hundreds of infants are not dying from malnutrition. You can pretend that hundreds of children are not being sold into slavery and the sex trade. You can pretend that young girls are not being forced into prostitution. You can pretend that the world is a wonderful place and you are very blessed.
India is so imbalanced. It’s an imbalance that makes your head tick and almost go crazy. An imbalance that enrages your heart and sense of justice. An imbalance that in all honestly, exemplifies the imbalance throughout the rest of our world. Why are some of us so fortunate? To stretch our hand out to those who are not and show them true love, compassion and help. Simple enough.
In India, Cambodia, Sudan and countless other impoverished countries, there are exasperating needs. While in countries, such as ours, we eat and entertain ourselves into obesity, while millions of others long for a single crumb of our waste. As we seek to find technology for the flattest television and smallest cell phone, others seek to live another day. While we long to fulfill our materialistic wants, millions of others long simply to fulfill their basic needs.
India indeed has vast wealth. It is even the technological hub of Asia. Due to the caste system, primarily (yes, it still is very real) the poor are oppressed even more. They have a foot on their throat and are made to believe that this is their lot in life and they can not or should not (do not deserve to) excel in any way.
The people who create the handicrafts, bead work, textile work, etc. earn next to nothing. They spend countless hours creating these beautiful works of art and beautiful works with fabrics. These very articles are sold in the US and abroad with severe mark-ups. Most of the Indian population (as most third-world countries) lives on $1.00/day.
Another cause of India’s treacherous conditions is the corrupted government. There is a severe lack of justice, and bribes are almost considered mandatory with any official business; especially where the common man is concerned. Even during disaster relief, about 75% of the donations make it to the needy. Politicians and policeman take the donations with one hand (smiling nicely for the camera, of course) while placing part of it in one pocket on the way to those in need.
A precious people… in need.