As we run-up to the end line of the Millennium Development Goals, apart from the shortfall in the targets, there is a lot of focus on the tremendous gains world has made on reducing hunger and poverty. A few underlying determinants of the gains have been political stability, strong democratic institutions and policy instruments. Access to services and entitlements are integrally linked to peoples' voice and representation.
Progress in meeting the MDGs — and specifically in reducing poverty — has been strongest in countries where growth has been sustained, institutions have provided peace and stability, and policies have been directed to the helping disadvantaged people. China and India together lifted some 232 million people out of poverty.
As a million flowers bloom, so to speak, in terms of expressing outrage over the glaring and growing inequality across the globe, I am tempted to add what we have known from social groups and marginalised communities campaigns. The critical mass or poorest of the poor will continue being on the margins if the business as usual approach, that misses out on systemic engagement on inequality, continues. The issue of poverty and social exclusion are linked both as a cause and consequence. This narrative needs to be central to the discussion on inequality.
According to the research recently conducted by the World Bank, if each country’s per capita income grows at its average annual rate over the past 20 years, global poverty is estimated to be just under 8 percent in 2030, much higher than the World Bank’s 3 percent global poverty target. Under this scenario, 18 countries will still have poverty rates above 30 percent in 2030. The goals will not be achieved with a business-as-usual model.
Even if we were to pick up the target of hunger reduction, the data clearly reveals that the pace of reduction slowed down considerably over the last decade, when compared with the 90's.
"The proportion of undernourished people—those individuals not being able to obtain enough food regularly to conduct an active and healthy life—decreased from 23.6 per cent in 1990–1992 to 14.3 per cent in 2011–2013. However, progress during the past decade was slower compared to that recorded in the 1990s. Should the average annual decline of the past 21 years continue on to 2015, the prevalence of undernourishment would barely exceed the target by about 1 percentage point. Meeting the target, therefore, will require considerable— and immediate—additional effort, especially in countries which have showed little headway."
In India we have been very clear in approaching poverty and inequality not purely from economic lens as the poorest constitute of socially excluded or marginalised groups.
"The World Bank’s Global Monitoring Report for 2014-15 on the Millennium Development Goals says India has been the biggest contributor to poverty reduction between 2008 and 2011, with around 140 million or so lifted out of absolute poverty. Unfortunately, even this remarkable feat is not enough—the report says that in 2011, India accounted for 30% of those living in extreme poverty in the world. "
These figures for India are important because, without India being able to engage with inequality social, political and economic the absolute numbers will not go down.
The policy choices will have to go beyond linear welfare schemes. The logic of pre-distributive justice, meaning not just trickle down but about access and control of resources, will have to come into play. The concept of dispossession, which relates to excluded communities being plundered through co-option of the common resources and denial traditional rights, needs to be mainstreamed as the neo-liberal economic system isn't just about leaving a few behind but taking from the poorest for the gain of a few.
