Friday, October 16, 2009

Points to ponder this Diwali

A record 1 billion people worldwide are hungry and a new report says the number will increase if governments do not spend more on agriculture.
In 1980, 17 per cent of aid contributed by donor countries went to agriculture. That share was down to 3.8 per cent in 2006 and only slightly improved in the last three years, Diouf, director general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, said.
India is high on the hunger map. Despite the government's tall promises on the food security bill, nearly 50 per cent of the world's hungry live in India.
A majority of children below five in the country whose health may be compromised forever, is grim.
In India, 40 to 45 per cent of the children under five are already undernourished and stunted in growth. And 70 per cent of the children consume less than 50 per cent of the micronutrients they are supposed to consume. This deprivation, made worse by economic recession could be a healthy future lost forever for an entire generation.
Splurge, but do look for ways to do your bit to alleviate the hunger of the less privileged.
Help NGOs that are doing selfless service, in whichever way possible. Every grain helps.

2 comments:

  1. This commentary is sad, indeed, especially in relation to your children. We spend so much money, wastefully, without ever considering the plight of others. Something has to be done!

    ReplyDelete

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