Too Poor For Notice
It must be difficult to administer a truly unwieldy population of over one billion souls. All the more so when the population is a complex one, when the society has observed a long tradition of imposing the condition of caste - and therefore worthiness and inherent human value - on large segments of that same population. Let alone the conflicting observances of tribal and ethnic realities, and the less-than-leavening effect of competing/opposing religions.A true witch's brew for unfairness, corruption, discontent and failure. Yet India is always touted as representing the largest Democracy in the world. And Indians are singularly political; everyone seems to be interested in politics, in discussing and running for office, in committing to political parties, in support of their policies. Perhaps not everyone. Perhaps there is a large excluded demographic; the endemic poverty-stricken.
Within India's larger population of 1.1 billion people, 222 million are considered rural poor, and fully 34.7% of the population lives below $1 a day. India is undergoing, like China, an economic and social revolution, surging toward national wealth and self-proficiency. Her large and talented pool of entrepreneurs and professionals are leading this economic miracle.
Yet the vast urban poor and indigenous groups struggle to eke out their bare existence. Promised land redistribution has decayed to non-existence. While at the same time acreages once in the possession of peasants and small farmers have succumbed to being taken over for industrial sites, mining, dams and other associated development projects; arable land is being diminished alarmingly.
Recently a years-in-the-making 28-day march of the poor set off from the impoverished rural areas to New Delhi to present their grievances to the government. Organizers demanded the opportunity to negotiate on behalf of the poor and neglected of India, with the government. Wonderfully, finally, an instant response. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh found it within himself as representing the interests of all Indians, to agree to all of the protesters' demands.
Truth is, the march of the poor found support during their protest march - declared in the offering of food, blankets, footwear, from among the urban and rural middle class. All of whom were able to recognize the fairness of their demands, to be included in India's newfound and growing wealth. There are some things that must be sacrificed for certain advantages gained, but others which may never be sacrificed, like the poor to their fate, like the land uber-industrialized.
A country must safeguard sufficient land for agricultural purposes, to remain sufficient in its ability to feed its own. A country has a primary obligation to see to the needs of all its people. In this great country whose philosopher of peace and peaceful resistance empowered underprivileged people all over the world to insist peacefully on that which is rightfully theirs, it is only just that the state acknowledge its responsibility.
And the Gandhian responsibility to act responsively.
Labels: Human Fallibility, Justice, Political Realities, Traditions
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, November 04, 2007
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