Vijay Makhan
17 April 2008
Port Louis — Since time immemorial, the scourge of poverty has been a legacy of the human race. At all times, those at the helm of power have in one way or another addressed the issue some with compassion, others with disdain and still, others for immediate political mileage. The International community has not been found wanting on that score.
Numerous regional and international conferences have been called to address the problematique of poverty and yet, world statistics have it that poverty is nowhere near alleviation, forget about eradication. Indeed, sometimes one wonders whether the issue of poverty isn't kept alive as an academic theme so that different strata of the society, from political to academia to civil society may at regular intervals discourse thereon and come up with Plans of Action and Declarations solemnly adopted but rarely implemented.
These only go to thicken the already voluminous documentation that has been churned out and left to occupy space in archives already replete with lofty prescriptions on the issue. That may sound rather cynical, but do give it a thought. Poverty even appears to have the trappings of an industry from certain angles. Yes, one cannot just turn a blind eye to it. It does exist and in all countries, nooks and corners of this planet but is quite relative depending on whether the pockets of poverty are in the so-called developed or in the developing world! It is true that the poverty line that is universally accepted is described as the one dollar, or two dollars a day subsistence! (World Bank definition).
In the run-up to the UN 1995 Copenhagen Summit on Social Development which coined the lofty expression "Poverty Eradication", many regional and sub-regional organisations the world across organised their own meetings on the issue of poverty as their contribution to the world summit. In the late 1960s/early 1970's, the late Indira Gandhi had used the slogan "Gareebi Hatao" (Remove Poverty) for her political fortunes. As we dawned into the 21st Century, the world community decided to tackle certain fundamental problems afflicting humanity and set about establishing goals to be attained within a period of fifteen years and aptly described those goals as the Millennium Development Goals. Among such goals, poverty features prominently and is the most referred to goal, that is, halving the scourge by 2015! We are more than midway to that date. Yet, it cannot be said that the battle is being won. Whilst some areas of the planet have registered some progress in that struggle, the same can hardly be said about the African continent, SADC countries included.
This week again, at the invitation of the Prime Minster, Mauritius will play host to some five hundred delegates, including Heads of State and Government from the SADC countries who will expatiate on the meanders of poverty and most likely adopt yet another Plan of Action. This Conference is being held against the backdrop of the food crisis that looms large on the horizon, which, however, appears oblivious to our present ruling political masters who find in the warnings of the Leader of the Opposition some kind of spectre!
The food crisis which has already erupted into riots in a number of countries is bound to slow down whatever little progress has been recorded in the fight against poverty and compound the problem even further. Let it be recalled that the issue of food security has often been the subject of discussions on the international scene as well as within such Organisations as the OAU/AU, concluding with possible solutions, but without much to show in terms of implementation.
So what is it that is going to be said during this upcoming Conference that hasn't been said elsewhere? What action plan is going to emerge that has not been adopted elsewhere and that will hasten to lessen the pains and pangs of poverty? Even at the regional level, much has already been said and plans adopted. The emergency is to move away from speeches and declarations of intention to implementation and concrete and palpable action!
Time and again it has been said that economic growth is the sure path to alleviating poverty. But time and again it has also been underscored that economic growth alone is not enough. Equitable distribution of wealth and social justice and participation are imperative in our struggle against the single biggest moral challenge that faces humanity poverty!
Enough then of speeches, declarations and action-plans! Let's act earnestly to make poverty history!
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