Fight Against Poverty: Fight Against Poverty

Monday, June 8, 2009

Fight Against Poverty

Did You Know:
That nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names!
Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen!
The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income!
1.6 billion people — a quarter of humanity — live without electricity!

Link1: http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats">
Link2: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html
Link3: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0854972.html

1 comment:

Ethan Van DrunenJune 11, 2009 at 2:41 AM
Great information here. There are so many ways to help this problem, all we have to do is pick one!
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Vignette 1

Poverty has become a growing concern in today’s society where the gap between the rich and poor is constantly expanding. In the past a thrust towards capitalism widened the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Even after 60 years of independence from British rule, an overwhelming number of Indians still live under the poverty line.

Causes of poverty in India:

· High level of dependence on primitive methods of agriculture.

· High population growth rate.

· High illiteracy (about 35% of adult population)

· Regional inequalities (caste system)

Due to these factors, about 1/3 of the Indian population is unable to meet the requirements of an average human. These requirements include shelter, education, food, safe drinking water, basic health care and immunization against killer diseases.

From the time India achieved independence, the government has introduced a number of antipoverty programs to alleviate poverty. These include the National Rural Employment Program, the Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Program. The most recent antipoverty program is the National Rural Employment Program which provides 100 days of employment to whosoever is willing to work. This program is designed to create rural infrastructure like roads, watersheds, small tank structures, address natural resource management and much more. These activities can help to increase farm productivity along with provision of wages to the rural poor.

Vignette 2

Other programs such as ‘Teach India’ and ‘World Vision India’ are contributing in the government’s attempt to alleviate poverty from India entirely. ‘Teach India’ requires the effort of any literate human to educate other less privileged humans. World Vision India, on the other hand, requires an average human to sponsor a needy child, to provide them with life’s essentials like education, safe drinking water, basic healthcare, food and immunization against killer diseases. By paying just Rs.600 we can help a child break free from the clutches of poverty and gift the child a future full of hope.

Vignette 3

Today, at 21, she is a confident young woman with a Master’s degree in Social Work. She was also awarded “The most promising social worker” award at the National Level Social Work students meet.

But, Sunitha’s life was not this promising a few years ago. With her parent’s meager income as laborers at a stone quarry, life was an endless struggle for survival. Her father’s alcoholism further worsened the situation. In the midst of such poverty and hopelessness, Sunitha’s dreams of making it big in life seemed beyond reach.But all this changed through a kind-hearted gesture from someone like you. Through a compassionate person who came forward to sponsor her, Sunitha’s life was filled with hope. Through proper counseling, her father gave up alcohol and is now a responsible person.
"My sponsor gave me a new lease of life," says a grateful Sunitha. Her life is proof that one act of kindness to a deserving child can work wonders in shaping her future.“I chose to do Masters in social work because I want to help others. Like my sponsor I want to be a blessing to other”, says Sunitha.
Through one person’s practical expression of love and concern, Sunitha has become a blessing to many like her.

Fight Against Poverty

Monday, June 8, 2009