Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Thursday, 2 March 2017

Poverty Alleviation – the Chinese Way



During and after recent Union Budget , there has been a lot of public debate re desirability of introducing UBI ( Universal Basic Income )


A monthly guaranteed income of Rs 5000 to the poor families was being talked about

Idea is to enable our poorest to “ eke out a minimal existence “


Whereas there can be no quarrel re need to provide succour to our poor , I believe , this might lead to the development of a “ Dependency Culture “ ! – for everything , people looking up to the “ Sarkar Maa Baap “ !


In this background , following news report ( Times of India / 26 Feb 2017 ) , makes interesting reading :


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“ CHINA  TO  SHIFT  7  LAKH  POOR  FOR  BETTER  LIFE “



“ Over 7 lakh people in China’s southwest Guizhou province will be relocated this year at a cost of $ 6.6 billion as a POVERTY ALLEVIATION measure


A total of 1.81 lakh families will be moved from remote inhospitable areas in the hope of providing them a better life in the province which is one of the most impoverished provinces in the country


Over 3,600 villages will be moved , accounting for about 30 % of those to be relocated


China plans to lift 10 million people above poverty line this year “





The report does not say whether the Chinese Government will provide “ jobs “ to these people

But ,

They will need to be housed ( even if in 250 sq ft flats )


And they will need schools / hospitals / roads / electricity / gas / public transport / garbage clearance / water / telecommunication / markets and a hundred other amenities


And constructing / providing all of this “ Infrastructure “  facilities would create “ jobs “ !


Enough jobs for each adult family member getting displaced !


So , by spending $ 6.6 billion ( approx. Rs 46,000 crore ) , China is ,

·         Creating lakhs of jobs

·         Alleviating Poverty without handing out a “ dole “



Shri Vankaiah Naidu , might want to visit Guizhou province of China to assess if this Chinese Model would work for us



03  March  2017





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