End of global poverty in sight?
SDG 1: End Poverty in all its forms
everywhere
"Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human
security everywhere." - Kofi Annan. Above quote aptly sums up the
importance of removing poverty. With this primary motive in mind, "No
poverty" has been chosen as the first goal of the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG) of the United Nations. SDGs are set of goals defined by United
nations general assembly, to be fulfilled by the year 2030. It contains 17
global goals and 169 targets. Goal 1 is set as "End poverty in all its
forms everywhere". It has seven targets defined, which include, to end
extreme poverty in men, women and children through social protection systems,
give them equal rights in economic resources, reduce vulnerability to
climate-related extreme events, mobilize resources for least developed
countries etc [1]. The previous millennium development Goal (MDG)
set by the UN for the year 2015, also had eradication of extreme poverty as its
first goal. MDG target of reducing the extreme global poverty by half was met
in 2010, five years before the deadline. In 2015, the number of people living
in extreme poverty (below $1.25 a day) stood at around 12 per cent of the
global population. Its distribution has geographical variations, with about 4
per cent of the population living in extreme poverty in eastern Asia, to around
17 per cent in South Asia, to approximately 40 per cent population in Sub
Saharan Africa[2].
India stands to gain a lot in following the
sustainable development goal. In the previous MDGs, India had successfully
reduced poverty to more than half, from 47.8% in 1990 to 21.9% in 2012[3].
This was primarily led through huge spending in public job guarantee programs
such as MGNREGA, health schemes such as National Rural Health Mission. However,
there is a huge number of people- children, women, minority, scheduled castes
and tribes living in poverty. According to government estimates from 2012,
there are around 270 million people still living in extreme poverty in India[4].
Poverty exists in multidimensional fronts, from inadequate earning, lack of
nutrition, to lack of access to safe water, housing etc. This makes the achievement of the SDG in
India a challenging task.
India currently is facing numerous challenges which
can be solved by focusing on the completion of SDG. For example, the extreme
events due to climate change, whose frequency has increased, is leading to
forced migration and is aiding to poverty. The agricultural distress and
resulting loss in income have led to social disruptions such as farmers march
to bring to halt big cities such as Mumbai and Delhi; agitations for the demand
of reservations in government jobs. Poverty is also a significant cause for a
major internal security issue such as left-wing extremism that India is facing
in the Eastern and central heartland. The economic growth that has reduced in
recent years can find a solution in targeted reduction in extreme poverty. For
example, the multidimensional poverty in India, which halved between the year
2005-2015 according to the United Nations, fueled the average decadal economic
growth in India to all time high of 8 Percent[5]. Goals for removal
of poverty needs a comprehensive solution for which India needs effective
implementation of its current policies such as housing for all by 2022,
Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Improved scope and timely payment for MGNREGA, Deendayal
Antyodaya Yojana for skillful employment, Swachh Bharat Mission for
cleanliness.
Sustainability practices followed by MNC’s
to alleviate Poverty:
Across the globe, with the increasing awareness for
reduce-reuses-recycle practices, MNCs are gradually moving towards implementing
sustainable practices to reduce the carbon footprint in their value delivering
process. We will discuss some of the practices followed by companies like Amazon, RPG Group to alleviate poverty
which is one of the SDG's:
Amazon:
Amazon's basic economic model allows the local community to sell
their product on their online portal, which in itself is an effective way to
generate employment without any barriers. Also, Amazon has created delivery
jobs where thousands of youths are gainfully employed.
Since 2011, Amazon has invested $165 billion in its business
infrastructures like cloud computing, fulfillment centers, and compensation to
employees [6]. This much investment has contributed to more than
$100 billion in USA's GDP.
Amazon has created additional 360000 non-Amazon jobs across the world. In India, Amazon employees
more than 50000 employees, including
3000 delivery boys and warehouse agents.
Amazon is committed to giving back to society and has donated
more than $1.5 million since 2011 to various charities based out of California,
USA. As part of the Amazon's efforts to invest in school robotics, STEM programs, libraries, and
after-school programs supporting families, the company contributes to the
Corona High School STEM and Robotics programs, the Cajon High School Logistics
program and feeding America of San Bernardino, the San Bernardino Library
Foundation and San Bernardino Parks and Recreation [7].
The company in Southern California and in areas where their
fulfillment centers are based—Amazon helps local businesses that may provide
service to their fulfillment centers which, in turn generates business and
income for local people. The businesses may include purchasing supplies from
local vendors or bringing in nearby caterers for employee appreciation meals.
The Ventura Handyman, for example,
has benefitted greatly from Amazon's patronage, completing more than $50,000 in
painting, cabinetry, and other contract work for the local fulfillment center
last year.
Amazon India is running "Amazon Cares" where anyone can contribute by sending gifts to
registered NGO's who then deliver it to the intended recipient [8].
The company has been very proactive during the natural disaster,
the most recent example being Odisha Cyclone Fani when Amazon, through it's
cares program contributed charitably to Odisha government [8].
RPG Group:
RP Goenka Group is one of the leading business conglomerates in
India with businesses ranging from Tyres to Softwares, Infrastructure to FMCG
goods. RPG group has undertaken several initiatives in community development
and women empowerment.
Community Development:
JEEVAN:
RPG group, through its flagship program, JEEVAN, has been
providing holistic development opportunities in their plant-based location to
promote better living standards and provide equal opportunities in
underdeveloped areas. Their core area of focus are [9]:
· Skill development
programs have significantly increased the employability of local youths.
· Building schools and
providing the necessary infrastructure in local villages to promote the cause
of education
· Providing "Safe
Drinking Water" through water ATMs
They are focusing on several health initiatives which include:
· Malnutrition
elimination among infants and growing children.
· Adolescent health initiatives
to promote safe menstrual hygiene. Also besides, sessions on Gender Equity are
provided, and specialized community health camps are organized on a quarter.
Women Empowerment:
SWAYAM:
Through this initiative, RPG is promoting the cause of women's
employment. Under this scheme, women are provided training on skills which can
give them gainful employment. This includes driving two-wheelers, operating
forklifts, auto rickshaw driving, etc. Other areas of skill development where
training is provided are healthcare, sewing. To date, they have trained nearly
7000 women from an underprivileged background [10].
These initiatives by these two companies are creating a
significant impact in eliminating poverty at the ground level.
Analysis of SDGs
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were
adopted by all United Nations Member States including India as a part of a
resolution for transforming our world[11]. India has taken up the
target to achieve SDG 1, which widely cover socio-economic dimensions of
development along with environmental dimension, while focusing on ending
poverty in all its forms.
Economic growth leads to a depletion of
natural resources and deterioration of environment by its very nature. Nature
gets under-prioritized as we pursue economic growth and higher standards of
living. Sustainable development as a concept considers this inherent conflict
between economic and natural systems. SDG agendas consist of trade-offs within
themselves that are expected to act as obstacles to achieving the progress
targets at the regional and national levels. For example, agricultural
expansion and fuel and wood extraction are found to be the leading causes for
deforestation and habitat degradation. However, there is still limited evidence
for the extent to which this incompatibility of sustainability and development
is applicable. One quantitative study that tries to quantify the
inconsistencies of SDGs was conducted in 2016 and was based on the dataset
constituting over 1400 economic, social, environment, and political indicators
from over 217 countries[12]. The study concluded that a
consumption-based economic growth model creates incompatibilities with SDGs and
thus future policies and efforts should shift towards investment in human
well-being (health, education) and environment-friendly technologies.
A criticism of SDGs is that it considers
everything as top priority which leads to no clear priority for action. There
is a lack of clarity about how the U.N. plans to proceed in order to achieve
targets that appear unactionable, unquantifiable along with the unattainable
ones including “Ending poverty in all its form and dimensions” and “Ending all
preventable deaths before 2030”[13]. The multi-dimensional goals
that are defined under SDGs present a challenge in its measurement and
monitoring. There is a need to design solid indicators in order to provide a
base for decision-making at all levels.
Quantification of SDGs in developing
countries (including India) poses an even bigger challenge as the data required
for quantifying is found to be remarkably poor here.
As
India aims to remove poverty in all its forms as part of its SDGs, countering
these shortcomings becomes the topmost priority. The goal of “No Poverty” can
only be achieved if the task is broken down into quantifiable goals, with
measurable indicators, and appropriate planning and decision-making in that
direction.
Suggested
Path Ahead
India
has been reflective of the behavior of developing countries towards eradication
of poverty and given the subcontinent’s push for the goal, India is presumed to
ride the vehicle of change and witness massive reduction in poverty levels in
the coming decade[14].
There
are three objectives that are needed to be pursued in order to achieve
eradication of poverty: dealing with chronic poverty, impoverishment, and an
ability to sustain a poverty escape[15]. There has been an
increasing realization dawning upon our policy framers that there needs to be
consideration for what the recipients of the policies would perceive the
policies as and the design of the policies needs to be such that the financial
support extended would be aligning well with the needs of the communities, the
national objectives of eradication of poverty, and an increase in
predictability of who the policies target and how[16]. Keeping this
in mind, it is pertinent that we consider the idea of poverty eradication
conceived by Dr. Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum[17] in their
approach towards welfare economics- one involving an increase in capabilities
of the beneficiaries, i.e, what the said people can do. Focusing on just this,
all of the objectives mentioned hereinabove would find addressal[18].
The
fundamental idea behind the approach is to focus on distribution of
opportunities within the society[19]. The formulation of UN’s Human
Development Index[20] was inspired by this approach undertaken by
Sen although the same is not given as much importance today as it was given in
the yesteryears. Assuming the definition of poverty to be ‘deprivation of
capabilities’[21], emphasis is needed to be placed not just on human
functioning but also on increasing their capabilities, which happens to be a
practical choice. There could be deprivation of such capabilities in multiple
ways and on multiple levels, brought about by ignorance, oppression- whether
social, political, or economic, or false consciousness[22].
Relying
on the concepts brought forth by Dr. Sen, we need to focus on two primary
issues: functioning and opportunity freedom[23]. Once the skills
needed to be performed are built up, an individual can be said to possess the
functioning aspect. Capabilities, on the other hand, would be when the practice
of such skills is not hindered by any externalities. Once both of these are
built up, individuals and groups of individuals would see a boost in their
skills and a complete eradication of poverty might not remain an unfulfilled
dream for very long.
References:
1.
Envision#2030 Goal 1 No Poverty. Retrieved
from https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030-goal1.html
2.
A
closer look at the achievements of Millenium Developments Goal 1 targets.
Retrieved from https://www.mdgmonitor.org/mdg-1-eradicate-poverty-hunger/
3.
Eight goals for 2015. Goal 1 Eradicate extreme hunger and
poverty. Retrieved from https://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/post-2015/mdgoverview.html
4.
United Nations High Level Practical Forum.
(2017). On the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/India%20VNR_Final.pdf
5.
Multidimensional poverty halved in 10 years in India: UN Report.
(12 July 2019) Retrieved from https://www.livemint.com/news/india/mutlidimensional-poverty-halved-in-10-years-in-india-un-report-1562915068412.html
6. How
Amazon’s employees help drive sustainability. Retrieved from https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/employees-and-communities/how-amazons-employees-help-drive-sustainability
7. How
Amazon’s employees help drive sustainability. Retrieved from https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/employees-and-communities/how-amazons-employees-help-drive-sustainability
8. Support
online charity in 4 simple steps. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.in/Online-Charity/b?ie=UTF8&node=4594605031
9. Saving lives by providing clean drinking water,
basic nutrition and creating hygiene awareness. Retrieved from https://www.rpggroup.com/rpg-foundation/programs/community-development/
10.
Promoting gender equality by imparting driving skills to women.
Retieved from https://www.rpggroup.com/rpg-foundation/programs/women-empowerment/
11.
Niti Ayog. (2018). SDG India Index Baseline
Report. Retrieved from https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/SDX_Index_India_21.12.2018.pdf
12.
Viktoria Spaiser. (2016). The sustainable
development oxymoron: quantifying and modelling the incompatibility of
sustainable development goals. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13504509.2016.1235624
13.
Walter Leal Falho. (2017). Handbook of
Sustainability Science and Research. Springer Publications.
14.
India lifted 271 million people out of
poverty in 10 years: UN. (2019, July 12). The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved
from
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/india-lifted-271-million-people-out-of-poverty-in-10-years-un/article28403303.ece
15.
United
Nations High Level Practical Forum.
(2017). On the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.
Retrieved from
https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/India%20VNR_Final.pdf
16.
Niti Ayog. (2018). SDG India Index
Baseline Report. Retrieved from https://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/SDX_Index_India_21.12.2018.pdf
17.
Nussbaum, M. & Sen, A. (1993). The
Quality of Life. Oxford Scholarship Online
18.
Otto, H., & Ziegler, H. (Eds.).
(2014). Critical Social Policy and the Capability Approach.
Opladen; Berlin; Toronto: Verlag Barbara Budrich
19.
Thomas R. Wells. (2013). Reasoning
About Development: Essays on Amartya Sen's Capability Approach. Dissertation, Erasmus University Rotterdam
20.
Pogge, T., & Pogge, T. (2002). Can the
Capability Approach Be Justified? Philosophical Topics, 30(2), 167-228.
Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/43154399
21.
Anand, P. (2011). New directions in the
economics of welfare: Special issue celebrating Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's
75th birthday. Journal of Public Economics. 95 (3–4): 191–192
22.
Frediani, A. (2010). Sen's Capability
Approach as a framework to the practice of development. Development in
Practice, 20(2), 173-187. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/27806685
23. Crocker,
D. (1992). Functioning and capability: the foundations of Sen's and
Nussbaum's development ethic. Political Theory. 20 (4): 584–612
Comments
Post a Comment