Dreams of India Must Remain Open-Defecation-Free and Hunger-Free

Marathi daily Sakal सकाळ reported on March 8, 2008:
“…60% Indians earn less than Rs. 20 or less per day and more than 660 million Indians live below poverty line…In Maharashtra 26% urban population and 70.4% rural population live below poverty line…”

Times of India reported on March 9, 2008:

“…Satara is on its way to becoming one of the first “open defecation free” (ODF) districts in the country…”

(see a related post here: Shitting In Public, Not a Cell Phone- Image of India .)

Times of India reported on March 9, 2008:

“…Indians are stingy…people who spend several thousand rupees on eating out but do not help impoverished…most of the time people donate money only if it is connected to aid religious purposes…”

(currently the most visible effort to collect donations at Pune is for a temple.)

Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar admitted in Times of India March 9, 2008
“…India has enjoyed 8-9% GDP growth for four years but the boom has bypassed many rural areas…”

NYT Editorial on March 3, 2008:
“The world’s food situation is bleak, and shortsighted policies in the United States and other wealthy countries — which are diverting crops to environmentally dubious biofuels — bear much of the blame… Prices have gone so high that the World Food Program, which aims to feed 73 million people this year, said it might have to reduce rations or the number of people it will help… “

And finally Moisés Naím- editor in chief of Foreign Policy- wondered:

"Can the World Afford a Middle Class? Yes, but it will be awfully expensive" Foreign Policy, 28 February 2008.

Perhaps the thinking is if Indians and Chinese don't breed any further, no need to feed extra mouths and arranging closed places to defecate!