tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post3884584717655998155..comments2024-03-27T15:36:44.737-07:00Comments on Haq's Musings: Poverty Tours in Resurgent IndiaRiaz Haqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-29422589978918173532010-05-31T21:35:25.342-07:002010-05-31T21:35:25.342-07:00Here's an April report in Wall Street Journal ...Here's an April <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704508904575191550764145376.html" rel="nofollow">report</a> in Wall Street Journal on new poverty estimates in India: <br /><br /><i>India's top policy-planning body raised its estimate of the nation's official poverty rate to 37.2% of the population from 27.5%, a key development as the government drafts legislation to give the poorest Indians a right to state-subsidized food grains. <br /><br />The move by the country's Planning Commission, which wasn't announced formally but was confirmed by a senior government official, pegs the number of Indians in poverty at around 410 million—more than 100 million above the previous estimate. The change comes after critics said the earlier poverty estimate would leave too many destitute households out of the government's food-entitlement programs.<br /><br />But the new figure is unlikely to please food activists and politicians who feel it still vastly underestimates the number of people in need of assistance. <br /><br />"This is a very low, suppressed poverty line. We reject it," said Kavita Srivastava, an activist who has helped organize a "right to food" rally in the capital in recent days. The event has drawn more than 1,000 protesters from around the country. "As far as we're concerned, it still doesn't tell us the real number of poor." <br /><br />Though India's economy emerged from the global downturn with solid gross domestic product growth of 7.2% in the year ended March 31, the country's poor are struggling to deal with year-to-year food inflation that is hovering near 17%.<br /><br />Even before the impact of food prices, India was struggling with high malnutrition rates. The ruling Congress Party made food security a key plank in its platform in last year's national elections, in which it won a second term.<br /><br />Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government has pushed for legislation that would provide 25 kilograms of wheat and rice per month to households deemed officially below the poverty line. They would pay a rate of about seven U.S. cents per kilogram. India already has a program in place to distribute about 35 kilograms of subsidized food grains to poor household but the rate is about 50% more expensive than what's being proposed now.<br /><br />Moreover, there is no law that guarantees food subsidies—they are given at the central government's discretion. And the current program is plagued by corruption, with one-third of grains pilfered or rotting before reaching needy households. <br /><br />Among the protesters at the rally in central New Delhi was 50-year-old Kesar Sahu, who lives in a slum in the city of Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, and supports herself and two daughters by sweeping floors and cutting vegetables at schools. The 1,000 rupees she earns in a good month isn't enough to make do, even with existing government subsidies, she said.<br /><br />"We're only getting 35 kilograms (of food grains) now. We really need 50 kilograms to get by," Ms. Sahu said. "Everyone should get that much." <br /><br />India calculates its poverty rate by estimating the percentage of households who can't afford to buy a basket of foodstuffs that would supply enough calories to meet basic nutritional needs. The new Planning Commission figure of 37.2%, which is based on recommendations submitted last year by a government-appointed panel, raises the poverty estimate in rural areas.</i>Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-82311204553238448132009-02-23T05:55:00.000-08:002009-02-23T05:55:00.000-08:00AR Rahman is a unique ambassador for Indian music ...AR Rahman is a unique ambassador for Indian music and culture. In terms of stature he is even bigger than Danny Boyle. He is a music composer par excellence with more than 100 million records to his name. Frankly, SDM wasn't even his best. Some of ARR's best include the soundtracks for bollywood blockbusters like Roja, Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Swades, Rang de basanti. The list is endless. He deserves all the plaudits that have come his way.<BR/><BR/>Looking forward to more from the Mozart of Madras (Chennai) in the futureAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-18112310339036592552009-02-23T01:06:00.000-08:002009-02-23T01:06:00.000-08:00As a matter of pride, A R Rahman is Muslim, Dev Pa...As a matter of pride, A R Rahman is Muslim, Dev Patel is Hindu and Freida Pinto is Christian. <BR/><BR/>Nice going Rahman! We're proud of you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-82412861852181285892009-02-22T22:05:00.000-08:002009-02-22T22:05:00.000-08:00Here's the final tally of Academy awards for Slumd...Here's the final tally of Academy awards for Slumdog, according to ABC News:<BR/><BR/>After winning the hearts of moviegoers around world, "Slumdog Millionaire," a buoyantly hopeful romance set amid the poverty of Mumbai, India, won the Academy Awards for best picture, capping a night of wins including the best director Oscar for Danny Boyle. <BR/><BR/>A.R. Rahman won two Oscars for best song and best score in his highest accolade yet in a career that has taken him from provincial Indian cinema to the Hollywood red carpet.<BR/>Rahman presented "O Saya" and "Hai Ho" from Slumdog for the appreciative audience at Kodak theater.<BR/><BR/>With 8 awards, Slumdog came out as the top winning film on the Oscars night in LA tonight.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-6405438466991989302009-02-22T09:19:00.000-08:002009-02-22T09:19:00.000-08:00Naveen - you could not hide your typical indian me...Naveen - you could not hide your typical indian mentality in concluding an otherwise nice review to the blog post. That to me is a bigger challenge for supposedly a resurgent India. Poverty is a common enemy that becomes the root cause of many other social ills, for example, Hindu masses in Inida are converting because of poverty and thus becoming a direct victim of extremist organizations there. An overwhelmingly prosperous India (media vs reality) is less likely to have either of these problems.<BR/><BR/>The seafood export champ in Pakistan happens to be one such slumdog millionarire....who earned a name, a position, and of course earned millions through his sheer hard work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-89546314111985618952009-02-21T23:00:00.000-08:002009-02-21T23:00:00.000-08:00Slums are a reality of South Asia and only hard wo...Slums are a reality of South Asia and only hard work and perseverance will let one escape from there. <BR/><BR/>I was just reading a blog by a Bangladeshi whose life was so similar to the SM's hero except for that he was not on any game show but made it on his own. <BR/><BR/>In the wake of Slumdog Millionaire's release there were reports here in India on self-made millionaires from these slums who still prefer living there.<BR/><BR/>The politicians only have tall promises for the slum dwellers. But Realtors do have great plans for them which includes razing the slums and raising up a gated community in its place in the heart of Mumbai City!<BR/><BR/>These "poverty porn" tours are sure to be a passing fad till something else comes up. Hope some of the desperately poor benefits out of the now stingy Americans who still want to go on tours during these recessionary times. <BR/><BR/>Btw, Pakistan too should get these guys to operate tours to Pak slums so Pak economy benefits. Pak has great potential in organizing terror tourism provided Pak can guarantee tourists returning home intact...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com