When you come from a perspective of abundance, living in a developing nation can be bewildering at first. Developing nations are traditionally classified by Gross National Income per capta--when the average income is less than $1,026 US Dollars per year per person, a country is classified as developing, even when it is a powerful global player like China. The definition also includes life expectancy, education, and a Human Rights Index. This list is a bit dated.
Eleven hundred dollars per year. That's about $3 a day or $90 a month. That doesn't mean that everyone in a developing country is impoverished. Some people are living beyond the standards of the wealthiest Americans--just not a very large percentage.
Not having "stuff" doesn't mean that people are lowlifes. Living on little income doesn't mean people aren't artistic or talented or funny or happy. In fact, in his lecture "The Hollowed Village and the Hopeful Slum" Dipankar Gupta states that the literacy rate in the slum is over 70%. He characterizes the move from the small agricultural plots that can no longer support a farmer to the possibility of, at least, informal employment in the city is a migration of hope and upward mobility.
The term "developing nation" does mean that many people are struggling to feed themselves and to survive everyday. Certainly India's population of nearly 1.3 billion people compounds the challenges facing a developing nation. Systems are strained: transportation (over 80 on a bus), internet (connectivity problems), power (periodic outages).
What's inspiring is the way people meet the challenges, typically with consideration for one another and perseverance.
Eleven hundred dollars per year. That's about $3 a day or $90 a month. That doesn't mean that everyone in a developing country is impoverished. Some people are living beyond the standards of the wealthiest Americans--just not a very large percentage.
Not having "stuff" doesn't mean that people are lowlifes. Living on little income doesn't mean people aren't artistic or talented or funny or happy. In fact, in his lecture "The Hollowed Village and the Hopeful Slum" Dipankar Gupta states that the literacy rate in the slum is over 70%. He characterizes the move from the small agricultural plots that can no longer support a farmer to the possibility of, at least, informal employment in the city is a migration of hope and upward mobility.
The term "developing nation" does mean that many people are struggling to feed themselves and to survive everyday. Certainly India's population of nearly 1.3 billion people compounds the challenges facing a developing nation. Systems are strained: transportation (over 80 on a bus), internet (connectivity problems), power (periodic outages).
What's inspiring is the way people meet the challenges, typically with consideration for one another and perseverance.
STOP HAVING KIDS IF YOU CANT AFFORD IT. In my opinion it should be considered murder to have a child without the means to support it. If you can barley afford food for one why are you having on averadge 3 kids. I have no sympathy for big populations who have lots of kids
ReplyDeleteIs the higher than expected literacy rate in the slums due to outside pressure or to a cultural value of education no matter where one is in the country? Do most of the people live in the cities or in rural areas?
ReplyDeleteI guess that the situation is the same in some places, the rich get richer and poor get poorer. The amazing thing is that the poor are able to face the challenges and be happy.
ReplyDeleteI think is it crazy hearing about things that go on in India The facts iv read about change my ideas of what I thought India was. Knowing hoe diverse the country is and everything that goes in inside making my eager to learn more about it. I would be more curious to learn about there education that goes on.
ReplyDeleteBoth videos clearly expressed to me the great impact of population and migration. It was amazing to hear how so many are leaving rural towns and moving to the cities. This migration effects the population in cities, and not only strains the economy of the city but of the rural towns. The first video had an optimistic view of this migration saying that this is a progressive move towards urbanization and more education for those who lack it in rural areas. Yet, in the second video, the strain of both communities was expressed. Less farmers means harder work and more demand for farmers to produce what the market wants(this has led to increase of suicides among farmers). In the city the country is trying to manage the population and create a budget that can sustain them. Although the population and effects of migration seemed daunting to me, the hope and perseverance of those who leave behind farms and head towards education and a new life in the city was amazing to me! Very interesting post!
ReplyDeleteAll three of these show me how the population has impacted them in bad and good ways they may be overpopulated and not get enough to stay stable but that seem to be what makes India, India they do have a lot of people and this is the cause of poverty but its also the cause of the daily life in India. JUst as in how the bus you can see yes there are a lot of people on it but the videos seem to give us an insight view on their life and see things we don't see.
ReplyDeleteI love that just because people are enduring the life of a developing country, they still have the abilities to live and pursue just like anybody else would. The restrictions against them like lack of food, overpopulation, and internet and power problems doesn't mean that they aren't any less gifted or incapable. It is crazy that some of the people in India are living much more luxuriously than the majority of the people they are surrounded by, it makes me wonder what steps could be taken to improve the overall growth of the country. Maybe some of the wealthier people could help improve the conditions that don't directly affect them but do affect the people from their same home country.
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