"Wherever men and women are condemned to live in extreme poverty, human rights are violated. To come together to ensure that these rights be respected is our solemn duty." The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty or the World Anti Poverty Day as it is more popularly known is observed every year since 1993, when the United Nations General Assembly designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries.
Background of the Day
The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty owes its origin in Paris, France. On October 17, 1987 more than 100,000 people gathered in Paris to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. From then on, individuals, and organisations around the world began to observe the day to renew their commitment towards eradicating poverty. The awareness was so overwhelming and fast spreading that in December, 1992, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared October 17 as the date for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
In December 1995, the UN launched the First United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997–2006). Soon after this at the Millennium Summit in 2000, world leaders committed themselves to cutting by half the number of people living in extreme poverty by the year 2015. And following this, in December 2007, the UN proclaimed the Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017).
Themes for the Second UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017) and 2009 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
The UN has set “full employment and decent work for all” as a theme for the Second UN Decade for the Eradication of Poverty. According to the UN, the second Decade aims at supporting, in an efficient and coordinated manner, the internationally agreed development goals related to poverty eradication, including the Millennium Development Goals. The proclamation recognises the importance of mobilising financial resources for development at national and international levels, including private investment and entrepreneurship that is vital for rising living standards. The 2009 observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17 focuses on the plight of children living in poverty and the need to fulfil their rights in partnership with them and in keeping with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. At the 2009 observance at the UN headquarters in New York, children from various countries will get an opportunity to speak out against poverty and dialogue with others.
How this Day is celebrated?
On this day, the various non-government organizations and community charities renew their call for support from the country leaders and governments to make the fight against poverty a central part of their foreign policy. “Call to action” petitions are also signed amid concerts and cultural events, and interfaith gatherings.
Poverty in India – combating key challenges
According to The World Bank’s world development indicators in 2008, the percentage of people below the poverty line in rural India is 28% and 26% in urban India. Since independence, the poverty alleviation programmes have worked reasonably well and now India’s poor percentage is fast diminishing. Having said that, it has become more important now to sustain these poverty alleviation efforts and tweak it to suit newer challenges and for better clarity and impact. According to a World Bank study, it is important to understand what factors help or hinder the climb out of poverty because each has different policy implications. Apart from basic education and training, health issues, and access to credit instruments, the study also finds that the importance of employment generation, opportunities for individual initiatives in agriculture and non-agriculture sectors and multiple sources of income as the key reasons for families moving out of poverty.
Access to education
Access to basic education, academic and technical, is the first step towards poverty alleviation. It is the duty of government to provide free and compulsory basic education including vocational training to its citizens. Equality and non-discrimination plays a vital role in providing basic education. The government can work with private individuals and institutions and NGOs in achieving this. Most important is the quality of education that is being provided and the state has to consider this too.
Besides education, the creation of jobs in agriculture and non-agriculture sectors also hinges on better infrastructure, and better access to credit and local markets. The non-farm jobs include providing initiatives such as opening a small business and having multiple sources of income to help move out of poverty. Industrialisation including small-scale, mid- and large-scale ones should be given priority. And to achieve, continuing the economic liberalisation and key policy changes assume a greater significance like never before. The identification and development of special economic zones, industrial units, and schemes should be done to generate employment opportunities for the qualified. Also, public and private banks should be made more people friendly in doling out financial aids for people aspiring to start viable business plans. Entrepreneurship should be encouraged and it not only raises the standard of living and productivity but is also a key area of employment generation.
Revamping Panchayats
The local democratic structures like the Panchayats are critical in poverty alleviation. However, this set up too needs a revamp as the existing formation and its hierarchy is based purely on caste or political affiliations, or economic power resulting in the benefits reaching only a select few. There has to be a government-backed understanding of the functioning of the Panchayats, along with the private sector and civil society.
Spruce up health services
Needless to say the quality of public health services in India leaves much to be desired. And health related issues also play a role in some families slipping into poverty. The loss or partial disability or the complete disability of the breadwinner in a family could deprive them from getting access to continuous education, healthcare and employment opportunities. Hence, it becomes absolutely necessary to provide quality healthcare and health insurance for earning members in families. The government backed by strong and flexible and people friendly health policies and the able support from the private players should take the initiative further in providing quality healthcare and health insurance to families and help them move out of poverty.
Need a responsive government, and new strategies
In short, health issues, death and social shocks are the deadliest factors that throw families into poverty. And this can be effectively dealt with only when there is a responsive and innovative government, responsive to the ground zero situation and innovative in launching new strategies to help move out of poverty. As the World Bank study report says: “…when responsive local governments and economic opportunities match individual initiative and hard work, poor people’s journey out of poverty can be greatly facilitated.” The report also ‘underlines the urgency of devising new strategies to do so – including social and health insurance programmes as well as improved access to savings and credit instruments.’
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control."
And this can be best achieved only when a country strengthens and gives better access to its citizens in the areas of health, social equality, education and training, science and technology, peace and security, freedom of expression and participation and finally access to justice.
“Poverty is a denial of human rights.” This statement sums up it all. And as UNESCO said the fight against poverty must combine wide-ranging and multi-dimensional and sustainable efforts that are carried out all through the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment