Being Poor in this country.
The monsoons have started and the weather is very pleasant . The trees are green and all the plants are shining. Grass has already started sprouting everywhere and that dry , parched look is fast disappearing.
But while I went for my morning walk, I was not able to walk in certain parts of the park as it was very muddy and quishy. One had to feel ones way through very carefully in order to avoid slipping and falling.
At this point, a thought really struck me that life is so difficult , in a poor country. Every season brings with it so many challenges. Even those who are relatively well -off are not able to live comfortably, let alone the poor. In summer, one has to worry about the severe heat and the ramifications. One has to time ones walks as it is so hot and unbearable outside. Going out on ones errands becomes difficult for people as the extreme heat takes its toll. It is not possible for all places to be airconditioned , so people have to bear with the heat and extreme discomfort. Many people fall sick during this time. The poor have an even worse time. They are unable to afford the conveniences of air conditioners and such like and so they are much worse off in terms of health and comfort. This is the time when a lot of people escape for vacations , if they can afford it or they go home to their villages or native places , to avoid the daily grind.
In the monsoons, the damp weather and constant rain presents a new set of challenges. Roads are waterlogged, making traffic a nightmare and people are constantly falling sick. In a developed country, with better roads and better management of resources and environment, the people do not have to worry about these things.
In winter, the extreme cold brings a fresh set of challenges. Instead of enjoying the weather, we have to make arrangements for the extreme cold conditions. Abroad , homes are centrally heated or cooled but here electricity costs are exorbitant and of limited availability. So, comforts come at a cost and not to be taken for granted. Even in offices, few are centrally heated , so the winters are an extremely challenging time. With our usual resourcefulness, we have been able to figure out ways to enjoy our lives despite these difficulties. But difficult it is neverthe less.
So, is it the vast population ? Or is it the lack of proper management . I feel it is many factors which have left us in this situation for decades. Years of neglect after independence , as the politicians were either unable to understand the importance of these parameters or did not believe it was possible. Also, the vast illiterate population and its attendant ills of extreme poverty, poor health, poor understanding, etcand the lack of infrastructure , made life extremely difficult. Lastly and most importantly, greed arising out of poverty, transformed an entire nation into one large cesspool of corruption.
Hence , what is essential is to improve governance so that the benefits of good governance reaches all. Simultaneously, it is important to educate the people as an aware citizenry will automatically self-regulate their family sizes in order to provide a better life for all . All of these measures will enable our country to prosper and become a much more easy and comfortable place to live.
The monsoons have started and the weather is very pleasant . The trees are green and all the plants are shining. Grass has already started sprouting everywhere and that dry , parched look is fast disappearing.
But while I went for my morning walk, I was not able to walk in certain parts of the park as it was very muddy and quishy. One had to feel ones way through very carefully in order to avoid slipping and falling.
At this point, a thought really struck me that life is so difficult , in a poor country. Every season brings with it so many challenges. Even those who are relatively well -off are not able to live comfortably, let alone the poor. In summer, one has to worry about the severe heat and the ramifications. One has to time ones walks as it is so hot and unbearable outside. Going out on ones errands becomes difficult for people as the extreme heat takes its toll. It is not possible for all places to be airconditioned , so people have to bear with the heat and extreme discomfort. Many people fall sick during this time. The poor have an even worse time. They are unable to afford the conveniences of air conditioners and such like and so they are much worse off in terms of health and comfort. This is the time when a lot of people escape for vacations , if they can afford it or they go home to their villages or native places , to avoid the daily grind.
In the monsoons, the damp weather and constant rain presents a new set of challenges. Roads are waterlogged, making traffic a nightmare and people are constantly falling sick. In a developed country, with better roads and better management of resources and environment, the people do not have to worry about these things.
In winter, the extreme cold brings a fresh set of challenges. Instead of enjoying the weather, we have to make arrangements for the extreme cold conditions. Abroad , homes are centrally heated or cooled but here electricity costs are exorbitant and of limited availability. So, comforts come at a cost and not to be taken for granted. Even in offices, few are centrally heated , so the winters are an extremely challenging time. With our usual resourcefulness, we have been able to figure out ways to enjoy our lives despite these difficulties. But difficult it is neverthe less.
So, is it the vast population ? Or is it the lack of proper management . I feel it is many factors which have left us in this situation for decades. Years of neglect after independence , as the politicians were either unable to understand the importance of these parameters or did not believe it was possible. Also, the vast illiterate population and its attendant ills of extreme poverty, poor health, poor understanding, etcand the lack of infrastructure , made life extremely difficult. Lastly and most importantly, greed arising out of poverty, transformed an entire nation into one large cesspool of corruption.
Hence , what is essential is to improve governance so that the benefits of good governance reaches all. Simultaneously, it is important to educate the people as an aware citizenry will automatically self-regulate their family sizes in order to provide a better life for all . All of these measures will enable our country to prosper and become a much more easy and comfortable place to live.
