Thoughts on Poverty

October 15 is the Blog Action Day 08 , Here is another contribution from our guest blogger.

Think for a moment what come to your mind when you hear the word 'poverty'? The over-sized belly of a starving child in Somalia or the rag picker digging through the dumpster across the street. We have learnt to ignore them, either they are far off in some poor nation on dark continent or just as far from our neatly trimmed lawn.

As a teacher,what can I do? all my efforts are towards my students community. I can educate them through my language classes, teach them good communication skills so that they can get a good better job with better pay and to take good care of themselves and their family. As a counsellor, I can inspire my women students to become independent, self sufficient on par with men in our society. With our extra curricular activities such as the National Service Scheme (NSS), the students learn to play a active role in the society helping by conducting blood donation camps and medical camps, literacy mission, AIDS awareness, spearding the importance of nutrition, hygiene and need for environmental protection. With the National Cadet Corps (NCC) program my students learn the discipline of regimented life and learn the courage to fight against all odds in their life ahead.

How can we fight poverty?

The government does provide provisions like education loans, housing or medical facility, education fee waivers for low income family , self employment loans for vocation training. Its not enough, if one person among us can help one needy family then we have indeed taken the right direction towards poverty eradication. Let us hope and work for a better society where there is happiness in every ones hearts and smiles all around.