The Key TO Wisdom

“The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent

questioning…for by doubting we are led to question
and by questioning we arrive at the truth.”

-Peter Abelard (Medieval Philosopher)

 Key Questions

 How important is it to us as a nation to

reduce poverty ?
 How is Governance related to poverty
alleviation ?
 Central Theme
Sustainable Poverty Alleviation requires involvement of Individuals,
Family, Community, Civil Society, Intellectuals, Media, Industries,
and Educational Institutions at the grass root level. Eradication of
rural poverty should focus on village and should aim at creation of
near self-sufficient village economy as far as possible. To coordinate
the activities of these stakeholders, we need a central democratic
agency, that is “Gram Sabha”. The Executive arm of the Gram Sabha
is the Village Panchayat.

The Village Panchayats, acting under the control of Gram Sabhas should
have the autonomy and resources to eradicate poverty from the soil.
Poverty results in….
 Population Explosion and rise of
mass unemployment
 Diversion of unemployed youth by
divisive forces-Fundamentalists,
Communalists, and Terrorists.
 Child abuse and trafficking,
Crimes against Women, Increased
Vulnerability to AIDS
 Crime and delinquency
 Low Social morale and values-
social corruption
 Inability of people to organize
themselves for common good.
 Low Accountability of Public
Institutions.
 Threat to Democracy and
realization of Constitutional Goals
Poverty means….
 Denial of Opportunities to lead
a long, healthy, creative life.
 Inability of a person or a
household to provide even the
minimum basic amenities of
life.
 Inhuman living conditions-
Acute physical wants,
Starvation, Malnutrition, Want
of Clothing, Want of Shelter,
Total Lack of Medical Care etc.,
 Monthly per capita income of
less than Rs.205.84 (93-94
prices) in rural areas.
Primitive way…the way of the poor
 Landless labourers, Marginal
workers, poor peasants,
workers in household
industry, domestic servants ,
etc.,
 We are poor because of our
poor means of
ORGANIZATION,
TECHNOLOGY,
INFORMATION,
EDUCATION, and
SKILLS.
 Above all, the burning desire
to get rid of the vicious circle
of poverty is lacking among
the poor
 Change is required in
thinking…Lessons from Green

Revolution
Poverty Eradication is nothing but
change of thoughts
 Unification of both the strategies:
“Accelerated Growth Model” and
“Direct Attack on Poverty”
 Scientific temper coupled with
values
 Knowledge power, not Muscle
power
 Intensification , Diversification and
Value Addition
 Convergence of Biotechnology and
Information and Communication
Land Consolidation
 Second Green Revolution = (Land
Consolidation+Watershed+Cooperative
Farming+Organic Farming)
Shakthi….The powerhouse of
men….Silent Revolution
 Women Self Help Groups will
soon be the backbone of rural
economy and empowerment.
 Consultation, Involvement and
Engagement of Women in
Development Planning
 A Special Task Force on
Women Empowerment in line
with the National Commission
for Women and close
communication with outside
agencies, especially Police
 Women’s Watch:Curtailing the
menace of female infanticide,
early marriage ,etc.,
 Capacity Development
 Identification of traditional
knowledge
 Organization and Training
 Provision of micro-finance
 Establishment of Tiny and
Small Enterprises
 Integrated Community
Complexes on PURA Models
 Energy Plantations
 Seamless Connection of all
sectors, operating coherently
towards one end: Holistic
Capacity Development to
lead a decent life.
Drought… eagerly looking for the
salvation
 when the nature fails
to shower on us….
 The solution- Water harvesting : A
case for Community Participation
 Collective work of rural
poor, civil society and
Government(s)
 Networking with NGOs,
CBOs, FBOs, Industries
and Educational
Institutions
 Community Asset
Creation and Common
Ownership pattern
 Public Distribution
System by the PRIs
Role of Government(s)
 Creation of Enabling
Environment by focusing on
Empowerment of Gram Sabhas
 3 Fs: Finance, Functions, and
Functionaries
 Transparency coupled with speed
and accuracy
 Setting role-models in
Parliamentary Behaviour
 Establishing close communication
between the Parliamentary
Committees of Higher Level
Legislatures and those of Gram
Sabha
 Training of Leaders of PRIs and
select persons of Gram Sabha on
a continual basis.
 Performance Monitoring of PRIs.
 Service at the doorsteps of the poor-
Management By Walking Around
 Public servants to be the role-
models for the commons
 Love, more than anything
else, is the key determinant of
poverty eradication.
 Leadership, Humility and
Innovation are to be the
cardinal principles
 Living with and
Understanding the Cultural
background of the Poor-
Training in Anthropology
Police- The Protector of the Poor

 Police –the protector of human

rights- to be the forerunner in
all Community Development
Initiatives.
 Striking at the roots of crimes
 Nurturing and upbringing of the
young generations by the police
through Constant interaction
with the Community, Schools,
Women Self-Help Groups,
Voluntary Youth Groups, etc.,
Fighting Poverty- Role of the Citizenry
 Epitome of the values enshrined in the
Preamble and Fundamental Duties of
our Constitution.
 Dedication, Determination, and
Concentration of energy of all sections
of the society, irrespective of caste and
creed, to fight poverty- our common
enemy- in all possible ways
 A Military-like training is required right
from school days and to be carefully
guided in all walks of life till death
 Active Participation in Community
Affairs through Voluntary Service
Associations, Networking with
Educational and Research Institutions.
 Special Task Force to Conceptualize,
Create, Protect and Enhance Community
Assets, particularly Knowledge Asset.
Poverty-free Humanity
 Pluralistic egalitarian
democracy
 Total Quality People,
being aware of their
duties and conscious of
their rights
 High Social Morale, A
society based on Self-
Respect and Self-Help
 Corrupt-free, Effective,
Efficient, and
Accountable Public
Institutions
 Feeling good
 Gandhiji’s Talisman
“ I will give you a talisman.
Whenever the self becomes too
much with you, apply the
following test:
Recall the face of the poorest and
the weakest man whom you
may have seen and ask yourself
if the step you contemplate is
going to be of any use to him.
Will he gain anything by it ?
Will it restore him to a control
over his own life and destiny ?
In other words, will it lead to
swaraj for the hungry and
spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your doubts
and your self melting away.”
Thank You