Poverty
Nothing can be more degrading than poverty. Poverty is the greatest curse. In our society we have haves and have-nots, those who own means and those who do not own any means. Reasons of prevailing poverty are many first, our long period of slavery and exploitation by the aliens. Foreign rulers gave our people enough to survive but gave nothing-to flourish. Means of subsistence could not keep pace with the population explosion and hence poverty. Third, superstition and orthodoxy is another reason. Our fatalistic attitude does not allow us to work hard and be the maker of our destiny. Fourth, religious teachings want us to remain contented in whatever God has given us. If He does not want us to be rich, no efforts can make us rich. Fifth, our disbelief in the ‘dignity of labour’ is also a culprit in spreading poverty. Manual work we shun and go on pining for what is not. We want some heavenly power to put food in our mouth but we are not ready to make any effort to do so. Sixth, alms-giving tradition also clay its part. Our attitude is, when you get everything free, what is the use of doing anything? Poverty has given rise to beggary, crimes, human traffic, exploitation, child labour, female foeticide, prostitution and what not. Until education spreads, orthodoxy and superstitious are removed, exploitation stops, population is checked, dignity of labour is understood etc. poverty is not going to be wiped out.
