Starvation deaths shame us

A more horrific event is hard to imagine in modern India than the death due to starvation of three children in the nation’s capital. Abandoned by their father and having a mother mentally incapable of looking after them, the kids seemed to have locked themselves in. This horrendous event does no credit to a country that boasts of being the world’s fastest growing economy, proud of its landmark economic achievements as GDP figures say it is ahead of France, etc. Such indices of progress mean little when dealing with a population of 134 crore people. It’s not as if these deaths were in some remote part of rural India. It was an area located within the Delhi deputy CM’s constituency. The signs of Delhi’s modernity, its incomes and impressive tax collection seem incongruous when seen against the grim poverty that still exists, as the poorest migrate in search of livelihoods.

A typical blame game is on between the city state and the Centre on who is responsible. Delhi has several provisions for a social safety net, including shelters and doorstop delivery of rations. Despite a huge Aadhaar drive, it appears the family didn’t have a ration card and was thus ineligible for benefits. How does a nation face such a reality? Regardless of what the kids did under the tutelage of an eight-year-old elder sibling, these events shame a society that seems incapable of taking care of the poor. The fact that such poverty exists suggests the need for more careful and thorough policies, and their execution. It will be fair to say that while India’s economy is large, it’s not caring enough towards its poorest.