Thursday, August 5, 2010

POVERTY AND HUNGER- 2 ISSUES BUT COMMON CAUSE- APATHY


I really feel myself in a very complex state of mind when i hear about people dying due to starvation. I feel helpless and sad on the sorry state of affairs, on the callousness and insensitivity being shown by our politicians and bureaucrates, which is cardinal cause behind such deaths, which can easily be brought down drastically, if our politicians can pay small heed to the causes, which are mostly due to gaps and holes in distribution mechanism. If central goverment can allot a little time and effort to plug this problem, it can be resolved ( only if and a BIG IF here, if goverment is serious and willing to consider it a cause of worry, as those who die, do not constitute as big a might or threat to shake the power equtions in Delhi). The big question is that inspite of the resources, these conditions arise and arise regularly, which raise very serious questions on the intent of the government as it does nothing on its part, besides paying mere lip service. Time and again such deaths take place with regularity, but do not give sleepless nights to politicians as those who fall victim to the apathy and indifference are not so powerful and potent to topple the governments.
What is more appalling is that those who die due to starvation can be saved, for the want of foodgrain which they starve is in adequate quantity, but due to the negligent and lax attitude of the officials and politicians, it does not reach to real needy, who needs it most. Millions of ton of foodgrain is left to rot each year, which if utilised can feed half a million people for a year. In a shocking news, Empowered group of ministers did not permit the distribution of millions of tonns of wheat despite food ministry and FCI's approval for the reason that it was going to cost 5000 crores on the exchequer. Ultimately the proposed wheat rotted as it was thought more appropriate to let it rot than spend additional amount to feed famished people. How can such blatant examples be justified at all, especially given the fact that this government boasts of being pro-poor and pro-people, which after this and diversion of funds from SC/ST account to commonwealth games negates and falsifies all its claims. If India was running short of food, it would not have been such a big issue, but when we have such huge storage of food grain, we, as a nation, ought to feel ashamed at such instances of people dying of starvation.

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POVERTY AND HUNGER- 2 ISSUES BUT COMMON CAUSE- APATHY

I really feel myself in a very complex state of mind when i hear about people dying due to starvation. I feel helpless and sad on the sorry ...