Mr. Mander is not happy about the current threshold of the
poverty line, which according to him is
very low and that any such threshold should be made on the basis of guaranteeing
elementary human dignity.
Before we can hastily conclude that poverty is indeed vanishing from our land, both government and the middle classes must collectively affirm the right of every human being to a decent living standard, to nutritious and diverse food, to safe housing, to clean water, to quality education, to healthcare, and construct its poverty line on this basis. Only when people are able to access decent wages, sufficient food, good education, healthcare, decent housing, clean water and sanitation, should they be deemed to rise above poverty. That clearly has not yet happened for most among the millions that the Planning Commission claims have been freed from poverty. (Link)
Considering India’s per capita income of Rs
60,000 as the poverty threshold, which amounts to an income of little more than
Rs. 160/day (as against the poverty line Rs. 32/day for the urban folks) may
still not assure human dignity.
2)
Human dignity includes a lot of things but yet a
target is nonetheless needed. And this
is what the threshold of Rs. 32/day serves. It has to be some reasonable
number.
3)
How is the reader informed or guided by notions
of human dignity. The reality is we are a $1,500 per capita income country and
there is only so much we can spend on re-distributive poverty scheme.
4)
Why should the government be called upon to affirm
the dignity of individuals, as if they could easily take it in their stride, as
if they didn’t have enough on their plate, as if they were great at playing by
the rule, as if they really cared about human dignity!
