By Ranjan K Baruah
One of the worst forms of human rights violation is poverty or hunger. There are many initiatives and programmes launched by different countries and agencies to reduce poverty but the challenge is still continuing as millions live in poverty in different parts of the world. Poverty entails more than the lack of income and productive resources to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Its manifestations include hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, as well as the lack of participation in decision-making. The recent pandemic has brought more challenges as it has reversed the success of the last three decades related to poverty eradication.
The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have pushed between 143 and 163 million people into poverty in 2021. The number of people living under the international poverty lines for lower and upper middle-income countries is projected to have increased in the poverty rate of 2.3 percentage points. Almost half of the projected new poor will be in South Asia, and more than a third in Sub-Saharan Africa. COVID-19 has already been the worst reversal on the path towards the goal of global poverty reduction in the last three decades.
The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17 October 1987. On that day, over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris, where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. Through resolution 47/196 adopted on 22 December 1992, the General Assembly declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
It is time for us to build better and move ahead for the future. Building forward means transforming our relationship with nature, dismantling structures of discrimination that disadvantage people in poverty and building on the moral and legal framework of human rights that places human dignity at the heart of policy and action. Building forward means not only that no one is left behind, but that people living in poverty are actively encouraged and supported to be in the front, engaging in informed and meaningful participation in decision-making processes that directly affect their lives.
If we want to make our world free from hunger and extreme poverty then we need more dedicated and committed professionals. There are different programmes of Government to reduce poverty, in India it includes Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikash Yojna, Integrated Rural Development Programme, etc. When we look at careers or jobs then one may work with various government departments or work with agencies like the United Nations or other similar agencies. Aspirants should study subjects like Social Work, Sociology, Rural Management, Rural Development, Development Studies, etc.
Aspirants from the background of law of media may also actively work in careers related to poverty alleviation. Qualified individuals from legal background may work with communities and right holders for ensuring their rights for which they can choose advocacy. Similarly qualified individuals from media background may get involved in various campaigns to generate awareness amongst people. Most of the leading colleges and universities offer courses in graduation and masters’ level which can be opted by interested and passionate individuals who dream to bring a positive change by working in the field of poverty eradication. Apart from academic qualification we need to have skills like effective communication and other employability skills and most important is to be passionate. There are many other similar courses which are linked with poverty reduction and one may get opportunities to work in India as well as abroad with leading organisations like different agencies of the United Nations.
(The author is a career mentor and skill trainer and can be reached at 8473943734 or [email protected])