There is enough for every for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed.

“We are a diverse country with diverse challenges” – PM Narendra Modi ji Above mentioned statement by the father of our nation ‘Gandhiji’ points to a stark dichotomous duality of ‘scantitude in plenitude’ Such a dilemma for an aspiring nation as ours.
We are the 7th largest economy of the world with GDP of 2.79 Trillion USD horsing 125 crore of population in which hundreds of businessman feature in billionaires’ list every year. Yet almost 30% of our population line below poverty line (i.e. $ 1.9 per day as per World Bank). This is the ever-present question we are faced with.
So abundant we are with the natural, financial and human resources yet inequality is entrenched deep within our society. Natural questions arise as to who’s to blame? Is it the problem of resource mismanagement or rampant, hidden, widespread corruption running in disguise parallely with other systems of governance?
Recent OXFAM report cited ‘71% of the wealth is accumulated with 1% of the population’. That leaves ‘bottom of the pyramid searching the trash cans for sustenance. Our Human Development Index is 0.64 but adjusting for inequality becomes 0.46 poverty has its tentacles around the necks of the poor and worst sufferers are depressed classes and women. It is no wrong to say that inequality is leading to ‘feminization of poverty’. Out of the total people that go hungry in a day, 60% are women [FHO]. This shows that despite our international stature, our people especially the ‘needy ones’ are ‘excluded’ from the growth trajectory.
To that end, it becomes important to analyze the causes giving rise to this phenomenon. ‘Amartya Sen’, the Nobel Laureate in his work ‘The Uncertain Glory’ has mentioned, “it is not the lack of resources with the government, but the inefficient distribution and faulty policies” of government, that could be held responsible for inequality between ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’. Our late PNI said, “out of every 1 Rupee released only 16 paisa reaches to the poor”.
On one hand we are one of the largest ‘categorical’ agricultural economies with 67% population engaged and producing world’s largest food output. On the other hand, disguised unemployment has crippled per capita yield leading to farm distress, farmer suicide, loan waivers. Desperate attempts at green revolution have distorted balanced regional growth.
Our land resources are some of the world’s most fertile alluvial plains, hill slopes (for tea gardens, orchards), coastal plains and lava soil. Yet, wrong agricultural practices i.e. ‘wrong crop at the wrong place’ has robbed us of the expected revenues. For instance, sugarcane being grown in drought-prone Maharashtra. The greed of some large farmers who can bear the irrigation cost and can afford farm machinery is affecting the small and marginal farmers (which are 86% with less than 2-hectare landholding). It again exemplifies, despite abundant land resources, due to greed of some, our needy farmers are suffering.
Furthermore, being the world’s second most populous country, we have immense human resources. And not only this, we are going through a phase of demographic dividend (i.e. 60% of the population is in working age). But this blessing is coupled with ‘Jobless growth’.
Our country is witnessing a 45-year high unemployment rate. The section of the population suffering the most is the poor who are unskilled, confined to the informal sector with low wages and poor working conditions. The government has been running MGNREGA but its outcome indicators are not as hopeful as expected. 

Similarly, we are the world’s second-largest producer of marine products (which almost entirely consumed domestically), and boast the largest livestock resources. Not only this, we produce all varieties of silk, huge production of jute and cotton fibers too. Yet our food stage wastage amounts to 40,000 crores per year due to poor agro-processing, storing and value-chain deficiencies. Our market share in textiles is going down with Bangladesh and Vietnam taking over.
The people who are employed and dependent on these sectors which are labor-intensive are low-income households. Such economic conditions do not impact large corporate houses. Here, it is evident how despite the resources, ‘have-nots’ remain resource-deficient.
Besides marine and livestock resources, there is also another crucial and now strategic resource which is facing stress. The water resource; India has the world’s 4% freshwater resource which is less given the population in the first place. Nevertheless, our mismanagement is leading to an acute water crisis e.g. Chennai water crisis. The riches of the city do not bother; it is the poor rickshawallahs and slum dwellers that bear the brunt. They did not do disproportionate exploitation of groundwater. It was the big industries, but those paying the cost are our ‘poor’?
We possess, among many other resources, precious minerals like coal, iron, copper, mica etc. These happen to be located in dense forest areas where tribals reside. The case in point is Chhota Nagpur plateau. Though industries are mining it, exporting it, the benefits despite many well-intentioned attempts are not ‘trickling down’ to them; faced with destitution and violation of forest rights now most of them get radicalized and take up arms against the state itself, i.e., Naxalism.

Gandhiji’s statement is a true summary of the status quo if one may say so. We are bestowed with ‘3 biodiversity hotspots’ in the whole planet: Lush green valleys of Himalayas, Western Ghats, plains of Ganges and peninsular India. The Biodiversity Act (2002) under international ‘contention an biodiversity’ mandates ‘equal access and benefit sharing’ of bio-resources. In contrast, what is observed – poaching of animals, flora, medicinal plants, high-value species (e.g. sandalwood). The High Court in Uttarakhand recently ordered Divya Pharmacy to share benefits with the local community. Despite being located in resource-rich areas, these communities are often sidelined in the shadow of neglect and poverty.
Aristotle talked about ‘Eudemonia’ i.e., true happiness through a ‘golden mean’. These excesses by certain sections of the population are detrimental to those at lower strata of society.
‘Plato’ talked about virtue of ‘temperance’ that seems to be lacking in our society.
The international community has taken several measures to rid off the issues arising from unequal distribution of resources. For instance, ’empowerment’ and ‘capacity-building’ at grassroots level are needed. For this purpose, education, health, skill development, sanitation, drinking water, electricity are essential. VK model of universal health coverage and Scandinavian education model are something we need to look up to.
Though enshrined in our constitution are Article 14 (equality), 39 (equal distribution of resources), 21 (life with dignity) but much needs to be done. Aadhaar, DBT, UPI have indeed broadened inclusive investment.

‘Digital Saksharta Abhiyan’ is working on digital literacy. Samagra – shiksha Ayushyaman bharat (Health), ujjwala (DBT), Saubhagya (electricity), Swechh Bharat abhiyan: are nobel steps in the right direction.

Moreover, this is only the beginning toe pane the way for an egalitarian society in welfare state. Transparency and accountability measures need to be strengthened at the level of governance. principle of ‘minimum government in letter and spirist we will have ‘sankalp se siddhi’.
Summing up with the words of ‘Gurudev Rabindranath’. “… where mind is without fear head held high …” into that heaven the disadvantaged should awake. This is our collective goal that we shall shrine to schisms.