The total population on earth is approximately 7.8 billion. These 7.8 billion humans have
the same biological structure, the same brain to think, the same heart to feel and the
same basic instincts to survive. I have read somewhere Human beings are pleasure
making machines. Our minds are specifically designed to make us want to do things
that bring us pleasure. But how many of us have the privilege to cross the threshold of those basic needs, after which we can think for relishing that pleasure, for which we
have been designed. Although we have made advancement in all the fields of life to
make it more comfortable, how many of them are benefitted, and those who have been
benefitted, at what cost.
All of us have a hierarchy of needs that we wish and make efforts to satisfy. Out of all
these, some are more basics than others e.g. Air, Water, Food, Shelter, Sanitation, and Rest. These are essential for the continuation of life. Once they are fulfilled, we move to
the second level and that is security. Then next is to be recognized by becoming a part
of the group. We cant afford to be a social island. In the process, we experience group solidarity which involves adapting to meet that group in terms of behaviour patterns, and cultures, etc.
Once our basic needs are met, we want more. Progress is the essence of human
nature. But unless the first and the most basic needs are met, we will not move to the
next. How many human beings on this earth have the luxury of crossing the first level of
basic needs. This is a big question, which I think every one of us must ask ourselves.
Out of 7.8 billion people, more than a billion people live with less than a dollar per day to
support his life. In this total about 2.8 billion people, that is to say, 35% of the global
population live with less than two dollars a day. Only in sub-Sahara Africa, 41% of the
population comes in this category. A third of the entire urban population is living in
slums. Even today 9% of the worlds population is still practicing open defecation. The rural population around the world is seven times as likely as urban to be drinking
contaminated water. Less than half of the rural population (45% approximately) have
the knowledge and resources to manage their health by washing hands with soap and
water. As of 2018, it is estimated that the country with the most people living in extreme
poverty is in Nigeria, where approximately 86 million people live in these conditions.
Every day around 20000 children under five die of avoidable diseases.
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A study by the World Institute For Development Economic Research at UN shows that
half of the worlds net worth belongs to the top 1% of the richest people. About 85% of the wealth and resources are held and controlled by the top 10% of the people, whereas
rest 15% of the residue is the privilege of the rest 85% of the people. Unfortunately, the
top 30% of the people in the world control 97% of the wealth of the globe. A meagre 3%
is available to the rest of the 70% of the people. Richest 2% own more than half of
global household. So with this huge disparity in the distribution of resources, how the
relevance of governance, development, moral values, social values, and technological
advancement can be justified? In the name of welfare schemes, big funds have always
been raised. But where is the real development? EXPLOITATION THY NAME IS
GOVERNANCE.
