The Hindu Business Line : Absolute poverty

This has reference to the report “Why are poor people poor?” (Business Line, October 26). One is reminded of economist Ragnar Nurkse’s words: “A country is poor, because it is poor”. Poverty is considered to be a grotesque form of slavery.

The main reason for absolute poverty in any country is the absence of productive work for all the able-bodied persons who have the capacity and are willing to work.

The only way to break the vicious cycle of poverty (less employment leading to less income, savings and investment) in any country is to encourage investments by creating a conducive climate for them.

The reason for India (one of the South Asian countries) to have more percentage of people living on $1 dollar a day, as compared to East Asia and the Pacific, is due to the tardy implementation of policies and programmes designed for rural development.

If the Central and the State Governments enhance their investments on the development of rural areas (say, creating irrigation facilities, constructing schools, colleges and hospitals, setting up banks, starting small-scale industries, and so on) and encourage the private players also to invest in these projects, the percentage of people living in poverty can be reduced to a great extent.

S. Ramakrishnasayee. Ranipet