Over 200 million Indians live on less than one dollar a day, yet many of the country’s youth are oblivious to the impact of this reality.
Determined to change this, a young software engineer, Prabhu S, today, embarked on a three week journey across India to sensitise ‘generation next’ to the critical issue of poverty and lack of access for poor families to education, jobs, health and housing.
“It is unfortunate that while rest of the world knows so much about India’s poverty levels. My generation seems to be oblivious to those living below the poverty line,” says Prabhu
For this trip that covers 17 states, Prabhu has joined hands with ActionAid to highlight the issue of poverty and struggle of communities living with it. “I learnt about ActionAid from the internet, while searching for NGO’s working with the poor. I found their national reach and rights-based approach very appealing,” added Prabhu.
During the 9,500 kilometre bike ride, Prabhu will meet HIV positive single mothers, HIV positive children, urban poor, railway kids, orphans, women who are fighting for land and livelihood.
“I am excited about interacting with the communities. This trip will allow me to be a part of the change but also inform others on how much work still needs to be done,” says Prabhu.
To see Prabhu off there were women from MILANA, a network for women living with HIV. Its project director, Joythi Kiran, spoke on the link between HIV and Poverty.
“Poverty worsens the impact of HIV. A lack of education, hygiene and ignorance lead to high-risk behaviour making poor people, especially women, vulnerable,” says Kiran.
"It is great that Prabhu is doing this. It is important that the youth take note of these issues. They will shape the country’s future," she adds.
“Poverty can only be fought by getting people their basic rights. The stories of India’s economic growth, somehow pushes the issues of hunger and poverty under the carpet” says, ActionAid’s Christy Abraham.
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great work prabhu, keep it up, India needs more heroes like you..
ReplyDeletewell done.congrats for ur service minded travel.
ReplyDeletelet us join hands with prabu to face the issues like 'HUNGER' and 'POVERTY'.
Best Wishes frm
Vasu.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/27929/
ReplyDeleteBy: Robert w
On: 30 Sep 2009 06:24 pm
All the Best dude,,,and hope you get the message across. India does have a mighty task ahead, and the gov should do more to improve life in India. They should focus the task in hand rather than blowing millions away on MOON Missions..maybe they could chip in with a few Rupees to help our techie Prabhu on his long journey....All the Best again and have a safe journey..
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By: Shankar, Canada
On: 30 Sep 2009 11:09 am
Good luck and have safe bike ride.I wonder no other people showed interest in giving this engineer hand. We need more and more people should come and support this kind for cause. I wish I would be their in India.
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By: Ramesh
On: 30 Sep 2009 10:41 am
Main objective should be to educate people about present dirty politics and make them to open their eyes at the time of election. Except Terrorism, all sorts developmental work in India is stopped because of our old and stupid politicians. They are bothered to mint public money
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By: govindan
On: 30 Sep 2009 10:19 am
May be he should rope in top Indian politicians too in this tour so they open their eyes too and see reality as their eyes have remained totally shut since independence.
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By: pavan
On: 30 Sep 2009 02:42 am
Doing good for citizens. I wish all our Indians have to cultivate this nature.
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[ Post Comments ]
Somebody scientifically concluded that flutter of a butterfly causes storm. Unbelieving and perplexed, I thought, some esoteric experiment that!
ReplyDeleteOver the years the profoundness of the conclusion descended on me.The eternal link between what we all think as small steps and big impacts we all wish to see. The flutter,the small step, I realised was never small.It actally is profound,it cascades as an impact..a big impact.
All of us are like the butterfly.But majority of of us are oblivious to the wings we have.We wish the storm of social and developmental results but wait for some big thing to happen which would bring such results.
Alas we miss the cardial truth of the flutter and the storm.
Congrates Prabhu! Wishing you well.May millions get the courage and inspiration to flutter. The storm of change, as the scientist would say is deduced and proven to follow.
With Awe and Admiration
KS