POVERTY
In every country, you find people who are classified as poor,
very poor; rich, very rich; employed, unemployed; low- paid, highly- paid;
self-sufficient and needy; alms seekers and alms givers.
According to dictionaries: Poverty is said to exist when
people lack the means to satisfy their basic needs which are defined as “The
fundamental resources and support people need to survive and thrive. These include
access to nutritious food; clean water; secure and stable shelter; access to
adequate clothing, health care services; educational institutions ; and means
of transportation.
Add to the above the ability to meet financial obligations.
Needless to say that many countries are unable to satisfy the
basic needs of a large number their citizens and if they are elected
democracies their political parties vie with each other to offer freebies to
the electors to attract their votes.
Another poverty-related phenomenon is that of giving of fee
rations to a large number of so-called poor people throughout the year. These recipients
become their electoral supporters at the time of elections.
Poverty is not natural. It is not God-made. It is due to
faulty systems of governance.
A good democratic government should provide adequately-paid
employment to its citizens so that they become financially able to pay for
their basic needs.
Those who remain unemployed should get unemployment
allowance.
The American industrialist Henry Ford (1863=1947) said: The
cure for “Materialism” is to have enough for everybody and to spare. When
people are sure of having what they need they cease to think about it.
Somebody has rightly said: “Overcoming poverty is not a
gesture of charity. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the
right to dignity and a decent life.”
Finally, this quote by Pope Francis 1 (born December 17,
1936): Poverty in the world is a scandal. In a world where there is so much
wealth, so many resources to feed everyone, it is unfathomable that there are
so many hungry children.
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G.R.Kanwal
23 January 2025
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