UN Report on Poverty

The UN report on poverty, which highlights the situation of the poor and statistics on poverty, is satisfactory in so far as it maintains that from 1981 to 2005, the number of people living in abject poverty has shrunk by about 500 million. The problem to accept the report per se is that the measurement of poverty it has adopted is $1.25 or less, implying that people whose daily income is $1.25 or less are poor people. If one has a look at the ever increasing prices of essential commodities, particularly food articles, the UN criteria for poverty does not present the true picture of those living below the poverty line.

Standard of Living
The international report released in New Delhi recently claims that during the last two-and-half decades, the number of people living below the poverty line in the world has reduced by 500 million. In India, the report maintains that during 1981, 62.5 percent of population living in rural areas was poor which the average in urban areas was 51 percent. It further states that by 2005, the population of poor people residing in urban areas came down to 36.2 percent. Undoubtedly, statistics presented in the report on India are heartening.
One can, specifically, draw solace and satisfaction from the fact that India is a democracy, which is only 60 years old, and which has the second largest population in the world, has brought down the poverty graph to such an extent within only 25 years. Yet, the poverty graph in rural India has not come down as it has in urban India. It is despite the fact that India is predominantly a rural country where a larger chunk of its population continues to live in villages. As long as that large number of people is not brought up above the poverty line and their standard of living improved, making India a prosperous country would remain a far cry.

Difference Between Rural and Urban Areas
One can draw the conclusion from the difference between rural and urban areas that agriculture and rural industries could not get the same place of pride in the industrial, commercial, and agrarian policies which was their due. Our farmers continue to face innumerable challenges even to this day. It is strange that while food prices are soaring farmers fail to get the remunerative price for his produce. A positive aspect of statistics present in the report is that while there was the difference of 11.5 percent of poverty between urban and rural areas in 1981 that difference was reduced to 7.6 percent in 2005. It implies that the number of people who crossed the below poverty line status to above it was higher in rural areas than in the urban. Yet, in a country like India where a larger number of people continue to depend on agriculture, there is the need to pay greater attention to it.
Yet, another significant aspect of the report relates to the fixation of the criteria for the below poverty line anew. The standard or the criterion for the poverty at present is $1.25 a day. Those who do not earn as much are considered people who are living below the poverty line. Yet, the amount is not even sufficient to provide a square meal to a family. The family cannot get a shelter and purchase clothes for them with that meager amount of the daily income. Second, in those countries where the price rise is higher than that of India, this meager income is not even enough for a person to get a square meal a day. Which is why economists the world over are debating the issue on the level of the below poverty line or what should be the standard criteria for it.

Deciding Level of Income
The report, therefore, suggests that the criterion for deciding the level of income for poverty needs to be fixed afresh. There is no need to say that if the criterion of the poverty and the current price rise the world over are reviewed, the picture of poverty, as reported, may undergo a huge change. The report admits that between 1981 and 2005, the number of the poverty stricken people has come down and at the same time, social security has come down as well. It also admits that inequality has further widened. One wonders why the schism between the rich and the poor continues to get widened despite the number of the poor has come down. One wonders that possibility; the increasing schism is caused by the inequality behind the economic progress. If it is so, we would have to revisit the standard and criteria of the economic progress.
The United Nations, instead of adopting these misleading criteria for the economic development, adopt a more reasonable and balanced view and show the world that path of economic policy which may help in reducing and, ultimately, control the ever increasing schism between the rich and the poor.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Brings Maoists To Dialogue Table

Finally, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's political acumen and Home Minister P. Chidambaram's determination have started showing results. Positive tidings have come from Maoists, who have been fighting a bitter battle for a long time. They are now willing to hold talks with preconditions.
When Soren was sworn in as chief minister on 30 December 2009 for the third time, he appealed to Maoists to give up violence and have discussions, instead. The home minister had also adopted tough measures to control Maoists. At the same time, he had always emphasized the need to pay attention to the human side of the issue.

Mainstream of Democracy
As a result of these efforts, Maoists have offered to join the mainstream of democracy. This suggestion, which raises hopes, has come before Shibu Soren's meeting with P. Chidambaram to be held on 9 February. This has made Soren's role all the more important. The most important condition laid down by Naxalites (Maoist guerillas) is removal of the ban imposed on them. They have also demanded release of their associates, payment of compensation to the innocent and oppressed, end of police atrocities and false encounters, and removal of paramilitary forces from villages.
According to them the previous government had acted arbitrarily in giving land to Jindal Steel, Arcelor Mittal, and Tata Steel. Tribals were cheated in the process of requisition of land. These deals must, therefore, be reexamined. At a first glance, this demand does not seem to be unjustified. Jharkhand is endowed with extremely fertile land, enormous natural resources, and minerals.

Strengthening Roots of Naxalism
Yet, the state has been beset with tremendous poverty, unemployment, hunger, corruption, and looting of tribal lands. These problems have helped in strengthening the roots of Naxalism here. In such a situation, the government has to take all these factors into account during talks.
Who, after all, would not like this state, which had been deprived so long because of its bitter struggle with Naxalism, to develop and basic facilities to be made available to people?

Development Projects
Joint action initiated by the central government in Naxal-influenced areas has so far proved to be successful. Chidambaram has also clearly stated that the purpose of this program was not to kill people or cause unnecessary violence but to accelerate the sped of development projects.
Therefore, Soren is faced with the challenge of dispelling tribals' doubts and removing separatism. It would be interesting to watch the steps he takes in these directions. If the can carry this historical process of dialogue further, he will truly succeed in steering a backward state like Jharkhand to a new road.

India Tightens Security Following US Warning on Terror Attack

The US advisory to its citizens visiting India to remain alert against terrorist attacks shows how serious it is about danger of terror threat. The US Foreign Department says it has been continuously receiving information for some time about a likely terrorist attack on India.

Intensifying Threat
It has also been said that terrorists could attack a place where US citizens and other foreigners could be targeted. India has also expressed apprehension about a terrorist attack from across the border, and has warned Indians against it. Despite the war against terror, there is no doubt that the threat is intensifying instead of reducing.
However, terrorism is not a new weapon. During the Cold War, superpowers used it to destabilize their enemy countries. Today, the same terrorism has become a threat to the entire world. The United States and Western countries are terrorized to such an extent that they are forced to take every step cautiously. The security of their citizens going abroad has become a big cause for concern.

Conspiracies of Terrorist Attacks
Australia and New Zealand have expressed concern with regard to the security of their cricket players. India has reassured both countries. Though their concern is quite natural, as far as India is concerned, it is safer than any other country.
The security arrangements have been strengthened after the Mumbai terror attack. Our security forces have foiled several conspiracies of terrorist attacks, but the apprehension of threat cannot be denied. Terrorists' deadly intention can only be foiled by maintaining constant vigil and remaining alert to make the country totally safe for people.