Open Letter to Dr. Manmohan Singh

Dear Manmohanji,
Your last alma mater, Oxford University, released a report based on an new, accurate way of measuring poverty called Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). This report states that India has 410 million desperately poor people, a poverty level that is comparable to Sub-Saharan Africa but numbering far more. To put this number in perspective: India has more desperately poor people than all the people in the whole of sub-Saharan African countries put together. The world has a total of 1.7 billion such desperately poor people. That works to around 24% of these poor live in India. In the 17th century that was India's share of the global trade. To put another number, so that we have some idea of what we are talking about: money-wise the desperately poor are those who earn less than USD1.25 per day. That is, around INR 60. And that is maximum INR 60. Further, they need to earn it every day, day-after-day; because they are on daily wages. So it is a maximum INR 60 on the days that they have work. Else, they starve. They starve and their children starve. If things don't go well, they starve the next day too.

Some of these people we are talking about are the very persons who starve for so long that they die. That is what we know of Kalahandi. It can't be that Kalahandi is the only place for such wretchedness. So it is reasonable to assume that we do not know of many other places where people starve to death.

You, Mr. Prime Minister have 4 more years to go with this Government. Now, here is my proposition to you: please ask the Planning Commission and the entire think-tank that you have to create a project-plan to reduce the number of MPI Poor from 410 million to 205 million in these 4 years; that is to say, halve the current numbers. Then work backwards from the plan and see how much money will it take to accomplish this. Please give this team a quarter (in case they misunderstand, it means three months) to present this plan to you. Whatever the money required, please allocate. It will naturally mean scrimping on other things, but let's do this on a war-footing.

After all, you would not hesitate to come up with a war-plan if China or Pakistan were to attack us, would you? What's more, you would not take a quarter for it. Suddenly every thing would be made possible - the movement of the army and artillery, the managing of the food and transport logistics, the support staff - all would be instantly mobilised. You would not think twice about diverting the trains and disrupting civilian schedules, would you? Suddenly all fuel would become rationed, suddenly roads and bridges would start to get built where for 60 years there had been none. Suddenly remote villages would become mini-cities supporting 100,000 Jawans - much like a 6 month long Kumbh Mela. No expenses would be spared for any of these activities. Suddenly every ministry would be on their toes, every key position monitored and made accountable under the absolute certainty of swift and sometimes savage punishment (retribution?).

And it would be right too, after all what is the use of being a sovereign nation if we cannot defend our land?

Manmohanji, you do see what I am getting at, right? I am saying that this situation of 410 million desperately poor is no different from a threat to our borders; it is in fact worse, because it is gnawing away at our innards and making us weak and hollow - how will we fight an external threat in such a state? And I am not being poetic - do you think that the Maoist situation we face has nothing to do with this? Do you not see the uncanny coincidence: the states that have these 410 million people are the very same that are the Naxal-ridden regions. Do you think that the vast population of the downtrodden and the dispossessed who are part of the 410 million but are an even bigger number, would sit meekly and not revolt when spotting this chance? Yes, revolt, because opportunities and wealth may have made us middle-class folk become seasoned citizens of this nation, but it might be a difficult idea for a father to agree to when he watches his children wither away and die in hunger. You know that already. It is also a good time as any to remember your warning Sir, that the Maoist threat is the biggest that is facing our country.

It is also a matter of deep shame. In a country that takes pride in growing at 8% per year, year-on-year and aims at becoming a world power, this calamity of 410 million desperately poor is a slap in the face. No amount of progress in the cities and in the stock exchange, no amount of glories in cricket and badminton, no amount of home-grown billionnaires, no amount of media coverage and sensational revelations is going to balance this deep and abiding shame. And the shame is not that the 410 million exist. The shame is that we who are not the 410 million do nothing about it. I read about your retort to the Supreme Court's order to distribute free grains to the desperately poor. In all humility Manmohanji, please can I say that no matter how difficult it might be to do the above task, to let the grain rot and for the mice to eat them is not an ethical option for us. If it is difficult it does not mean we must not try it. And when I say try, I do not mean the way Mr. Kalmadi & Co. are trying in CWG; no, I mean the way you tried when Mr. Narasimha Rao brought you on as the Finance Minister. Does one need to say more?


What I (and millions more like me) don't want to hear is: These are complex tasks that will take years to fulfill. Or, 'you must be joking, these cannot be done in four years - they require proper planning and marshaling of resources. We will need a proper structure in the states to deliver this program. Not all Chief Ministers will comply.' And a million other excuses why it cannot be done.
Why don't we want to hear such words? Because they are not true. If as a nation we can run a war-machine, then we can run this poverty-alleviation-machine. Its is imperative to reduce the numbers swiftly; and more importantly, to demonstrate that these numbers can be reduced quickly and effectively. It will be a template for reducing it further by another half, this time perhaps, in two years! Who knows! We might become good at managing this sort of a thing. What I am tired of listening to is that we are a big and complex country, with maddeningly complex issues. How much longer does one need to wait? To repeat the key word here: swiftly!
 

So let's give this plan a shot. Go on, try. After all, we Indians are good at doing projects. Why should this one not be a success? Besides, for years we did the five-year plans. This one is merely a four-year one. Here is my commitment: you just have to ask (Ahem! I mean even one of the secretaries of your personal secretary can drop me an email - or better still give a call) and I shall leave anything that I am doing to join you in whatever capacity you wish me to.

I have no doubt that like me, there would millions who would gladly join you. Let us try it please.

Regards,
Citizen Pat