STRUGGLES FACED BY A
LOW INCOME FAMILY
Poverty is the prime
factor with which all struggles and predicaments of a low income family are associated
with. Defining poverty and highlighting its causes is a subject which has been
going on and on for centuries; each generation assumes that it is facing more
hardships than its predecessors; but one fact remains true, a low income family
regardless of the period or era faces numerous difficulties and their life is
full of struggles.
If you are luckily well
off; you can never even come close to imagining what life for a low income
family can be like. Price hikes of different commodities make their conditions
worse; for you an increase of 2 Rupees on a medicine might be insignificant but
for a low income family the same increase of 2 Rupees on a particular tablet
that has to be taken thrice a day means a monthly loss of 180 Rupees. For that
180 Rupees the same family would have bought 5 Kg of wheat or rice and fed
themselves for one week.
The so called
philanthropists often cry out sitting in a ‘five star hotel’ about the plight
of the poor but they practically do nothing. They would address the
participants of a seminar about poverty but once the lecture is finished; they
would be discussing the next ‘block buster movie’ or the latest Armani perfume
with the same group of people in an air conditioned environment while the poor
rot in the heat outside of the same venue. I would certainly call this
‘ironical’; not sure about you.
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| Struggles faced by low income families |
A low income family
faces multitude of problems starting from health care, food, housing, education
and various others. For them a single penny at times is worth more than
‘Solomon mines’; but we have no idea because for us life is simply a ‘joy ride’
and we are having a blast. Imagine you have 30 bucks in your pocket and your
pay day is still 15 days away; your mother gets sick and you need to take her
to a hospital in India where Government hospitals are experts in ‘killing’
patients and Private hospitals are good at making a financial massacre so what
are your choices? The health insurance and social security are alien terms for
an Indian society so spare me the rhetorical. What will be your solution? Curse
the Government; well that has been done so many times that all Governments have
virtually become ‘curse proof’. There is nothing to be done except to cry out
in vain and ultimately bury or burn your beloved one.
I cannot recall exactly
but I believe it was King Louis XIII or XV that during the French revolution
heard people protesting outside the royal palace and inquired his officials as
to why the masses were protesting and was told that they need ‘bread’ to feed
themselves and the King ‘graciously’ replied “Well if there is a shortage of
bread tell them to eat cake”. I wonder how many of us have seriously given a
thought to the hardships faced by a low income family and practically have done
something concrete to help them overcome their problems. If we have failed to
do anything for them than merely speaking sympathetic words won't do any good;
if you ‘care’ then ‘actions’ are needed and not empty words.
A truly difficult subject and one we often shy away from if we feel blessed or comfortable in our own lives.The challenges posed by poverty are so profound that it's hard to capture the many ways it can impact families, children and adults. What often looks like standoffish behavior (refusal to go to a birthday party or sleep over)for a child can really be masking the inability to pay for a present or a lack of proper pjs. They may seem like such simple things but can be devastating for a child and those social challenges don't even come close to touching on the impacts on heath and wellness.
ReplyDeleteYes Debra so true, thanks for understanding this subject. but many people Don't even care about this, they think it's a mental illness which is a very shameful act :(
DeletePoverty is and probably will always be a sensitive subject! We experience a shortage of programs that try to enforce individuals to contribute to the community development and when those few programs are deployed, we come against the mentality of those around us.
ReplyDeleteAt one point, everyone is aware of the global issue of poverty, but still spend recklessly on luxury goods and products. It is such a pitty that we don't contribute more to strive to decrease worldwide poverty. :(
Yes Ionut, totally agree with you
DeleteIt really is hard for me to understand the depths poverty in India when I am over here living comfortably - yet still within our means. I saw a program on Netflix about prostitutes in India, it's just a way of life for some women -either that or live out on the streets and die of starvation. It's awful.
ReplyDeleteI grew up poor. I know exactly where you are coming from, but we did have a roof over our heads and food in our mouths. My Daughter has no idea what it is like to be poor... thank goodness for that.
ReplyDeleteLow income families do have a lot to deal with. I wish everyone could all leave comfortably which is why I try to donate when I can. I know what it is like to be at the bottom and that feeling is not a good one at all.
ReplyDeletePoverty and lack of health care is a growing problem in many nations. I have been on both ends, having little and having lots. Both have their issues. Being in want is no fun and in a society like in India I don't know what the answers are. But I think the people need to care for their own. those who can should. One day we will all answer for what we have and have not done to help those in need.
ReplyDeleteHow right you are! You have to walk the walk instead of just talking the talk! Words won't feed others, but actions can!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I set aside so much of our income every year for donation to charity and other organizations. I know many of our friends and family do also. In addition, we have helped people in need in our own community. I think there are many people that have done the same but don't publicly discuss it.
ReplyDeleteIm not sure poverty will ever go away. Too many problems to solve and people ot wanting to. A sad thing!
ReplyDeletei am so glad my church does more than speak and so I do. Poverty is hard.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad that so many people have to live below the bread line. I can't understand why we have a 'living wage' (the amount people 'need' to earn per hour to live properly and a minimum wage which is the least people can earn which is a lot lower? Shouldn't people earn as a minimum the amount they need to live?
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your honesty on your blog. I have learned so many things about Indian culture that I was completely ignorant about it. It saddens me that there are no real solutions in this situation unless the government changes-which is obviously doesn't appear to be an option. I had no idea that the hospitals were know for killing...that is just disgusting to me.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, these things are true int he American culture as well. It is sad that anyone has to do without or has to struggle.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, it these things are true in the American culture as well and it is sad that anyone has to struggle or do without.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree--it is very difficult to decide whether to go to a doctor or buy food or buy medicine--since I am now semi retired I know exactly what you are saying. I am only glad when I did have extra funds I did help others!
ReplyDeleteI believe many people do make efforts to contribute to charity and actively campaign for change to help others. Many people I know give freely of their time and money to support those less needy. I am glad you take the time to remind us of our responsibilities towards one another.
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always so informative. Thanks for bringing awareness to this issue.
ReplyDeletePoverty is something that politician love to use during the campaign here in my country and I guess that is in general. It's really sad but I have to agree that hospitals in my country are just like what you describe.
ReplyDeleteI hate people who would gather people just to talk about poverty when clearly they dont have a taste of it... talking like a pro eh!
Poverty all over the world has the same bad feeling. always never enough to do the basics. Or taking from this to pay for that.
ReplyDelete