Hunger is more killing than terror

Hunger is more killing than terror                                                   Maharaj Shah        

The biggest problem in India is not terrorism or communalism but economic deprivation, malnutrition and hunger people are facing acutely in 18 to 20 states of the country. The terrorism and communalism is a big factor in diverting public attention from the burning issues of deprivation, hunger, illiteracy, poverty and the continuous neglect of masses at the hands of the ruling class. The claim of inclusive economic growth of UPA Government comes under sharp contrast with the ranking of India in the global hunger index. India is ranking at number 66 in it. The war affected countries of Serbia and Lithuania are better off than India in this case. Out of 88 countries India ranks 66 on Global Hunger Index. The index is recently released by International Food Policy Research Institute. It is not that terrorism is not a problem but its immediate impact on the economic prosperity of individual industry and business has not been in the same manner disturbing as it has been in case of the individual citizens, their families and common people who become its instant victims. The collateral damage, as they call it, is therefore thought to be bearable. The issue of terror is therefore made as a burning issue, hyped in the same manner by media and polarized now by the political leaders, religious clergy and intellectual class of different communities.

The burning problem of hunger and poverty finds no pleaders. It is a non issue with our political class. They count their achievement in news paper advertisement almost on a daily basis. We have to believe that they have done the best by giving 100 days employment, constructed roads of immense length and breadth, they have done the electrification in almost every village they have done that every thing we could expect of them but on ground the reality is looking completely in contrast.

The situation in 12 out of 18 states measured by the (GHI) is appallingly alarming. These include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu also. The index shows that despite being as much ahead of the sub-Saharan African countries in economic prowess, India stands lower than many of them, when it comes to fighting hunger. Compare this report with the tall claims of some regular column writers in leading Indian news papers depicting the fruits of liberalized economic policy by counting the growth in the wealth and prosperity of a negligible small minuscule minority of Indians turning millioners on an average of one to ten a year. The painting of India shinning to the present India rising is belied in this report. The report suggests that our politician get elected to serve the interests of the resourceful people at the cost of corers of countrymen interest. Out of the malnourished children in world 44% are living in India.  

Assembly Elections dates have been declared in five States. All the five states have failed in addressing the burning problems concerned with the basic survival of the poor masses. The developmental work done in these states has not changed the situation much in favour of the poor and down trodden. To speak on these issues is labeled as a negated left ideology, while as the people claiming to be the brunt bearer of that ideology have engaged themselves in rampant opportunism, communalism and negativism. 

@2011