836 million Indians,
according to a recent government-commissioned study, live on Rs 20/- 30($1/3-1/2) or
so a day. That is all they can afford. If it costs more, 77 per cent of this
country's population cannot afford to live! Death will be the only way out.
This is the unfortunate
reality of the ‘super-power’ and ‘resurgent’ India. There are rich people like
Mukesh Ambani who lives in a 27 storey mansion (all for himself) and the
immensely rich political leaders who are alleged to have stacked thousands of billions of dollars in secret
accounts in foreign banks like the first family. There may be one percent Indians
(mostly the corrupt government officials
and political leaders; business
men included) who are rich and prosperous. There may be 10-15% middle class
families who can boast about cricket and the ‘great strides’ India has made. They
get lost in the glowing terms with which we describe ourselves in the
international media, and in the glory that India has joined the ranks of the
world's economic powers! But they forget that the vast majority of India's Real
People are wallowing in utter poverty, mostly illiterate and waiting for death
to give them deliverance from their sufferings. The shining malls, the fancy
real estate properties, the big defense deals, nuclear tests, sending rockets
to the moon to probe water there, make no difference to them whatsoever. For
the vast majority of Indians and their children death alone can end their
poverty, diseases and suffering.
What is life for the
citizens of the Real India like? The unfortunate vast
majority who live in the nation's slums, blighted areas and in rural sections
go without toilet (defecating in the open) without a dwelling, water supply or a meal a day, grappling with all sorts of
diseases from the time of birth till they die, unable to afford more than Rs 20-30
a day. Think about the war for survival, the battle may prolong only until the
next day, the day of death. Which Indian leader is truly concerned about them?
The ruling politicians who do all nice talk are mostly concerned about
aggrandizing their power base and enriching themselves.
