More "Poor" In India Than Africa
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More "Poor" in India than Africa

Managing Editor
A new measure of global poverty has found that eight Indian states have more poor people than in the 26 poorest combined African countries. The study found that Indian states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have 4,210 lakh poor people. This figure is more than 4,100 lakh poor people in the poorest African countries. I travelled a lot in the rural areas of several states in India and seen how critically the poor people are living in these states. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures a range of deprivations at household levels. The measure assess a number of deprivations in households which is from education to health to assets and services.

After 63 years of independence, India has not done enough for the development of poor people. Corrupt government, corrupt minister, dirty politics, caste-based politics have damaged the whole country. Everyday news comes of corruption. Either it is a police officer, government officials, cabinet ministers, or ministers from state cabinet. Recently, two BJP ministers from Karnataka state cabinet, Infrastructure Development Minister G. Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy charged with corruption for their allegedly illegal mining activities. When Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj said, "Corrupt minister should go", the matter is badly politicized. A rattled BJP hit back, warning Governor not to cross his limit and described him, "Governor is Congress agent". This type of comment we heard several times from west Bengal's ruling communist party against the Governor of that state.

Whenever Governor make any comment and if this is not in favor of ruling party, or if it damage the image of ruling party, they describe, Governor is favoring opposition. Is it true democracy? If comments are made on constitutional authorities, where will democracy go? Ruling party is involve in corruption and if Governor oppose or interfere, what he gets in return? Is Governor really cross his limit telling the truth? Ministers are involved in corruption, and matter goes to the session of upper house of parliament. Damage party MP's stop working and shout slogan, disturb parliament's regular work. Similar situation is observed in the state assembly. Finally matter goes to CBI probe and CBI take long time to probe it and when the CBI report comes, a new government comes in power and corrupt minister ended their term happily.

We have bitter experience of dirty politician's dirty game. In Nandigram, West Bengal, several people died of police firing. When Governor did interfere, the ruling party opposed. They described, Governor is crossing his limit.

 In Singur, West Bengal, Tata nano car factory was running smoothly. Mamata Baaanerjee led Trinamul Congress Party demanded to return land to the farmers. She said, government did forcibly occupy land from the farmers. There were several round of discussion involving the then Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, ruling communist party, and opposition. Several round of discussion took place but failed. Opposition started blocking road and politicized the whole issue. Both the ruling party and opposition politicized the matter in such a way, Ratan Tata said, "Organization can not run with politics". Later he shifted the whole factory to Gujarat. The few people of West Bengal opposed to industrialization and the people of Bengal deprived of a good industry. Several thousand local people lost their jobs. This is a worst example of dirty politics in recent time.

How country will grow overcoming dirty politics and corrupt ministers? We are paying tax and the money is going under the table of corrupt minsters or officers. Money is not reaching to the poor. Do you think our MP's are serious enough for the development of our country? Are they serious enough to work during the session of Upper or Lower house? They are working for their own interest, not for the interest of our country. They are misguiding people calling several Bandh or strike. Sometimes they are taking law and order situation in their own hands.

This is a shame for the government that our poverty is more than anywhere in the world. Despite poverty in the  state like Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Mayabati was busy enough setting up her own statue and the statue of her party's symbol elephant. After the interference of Supreme Court, she stopped working. But in the mean time several crore ruppes already spent to build statues. Based on poverty, the movie slumdog millionaire won the Oscar Award. The whole world saw how our slums has grown up in the urban areas! The whole world laughed with our poverty. Who will decide the fate of corrupt people, corrupt minister?Obviously Centre Government can not but Honorable Supreme Court?

 

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