The poor need you

In our Indian we notice a big contrast where the rich person has not only things which s/he needs and desires but also things that are not needed. On the other hand the poor lack or in some cases and situations are deprived of their basic needs. To put it in the words of the German philosopher Karl Marx, it’s like a situation where there are the ‘haves’ on one hand and the ‘have nots’ on the other. It is a social struggle where the ‘have nots’ want to rise up socially, economically and politically.

Poor people are those who struggle to meet their basic requirements in order to survive. Poor people are often prone to injustice, inequality, illegal activities and even disease. It is truly a noble act to help the poor with food, clothing and sometimes finance, but it is even greater to help them help themselves. It is said that it is better to teach a poor person how to fish rather than giving that person a fish. Teaching people to work hard and earn their living gives them a sense of self-worth and dignity, while on the other hand doing charity to them only makes them more dependent and at times even lazy.

According to me the best way to help the poor taking into account all the dimensions of life is to be with them. Being with them in some way or the other will open our eyes to reality and also enable us to help them help themselves. After knowing their situation one may even be driven to make appeals or do fund raising on social media or if not atleast make some sacrifices so as to do charity. Donating things that are not really necessary for oneself can also be another way of reaching out to the poor and the needy.

The main problem of the poor is that they do not have sufficient money which leads to other problems like lack of food, clothing, shelter and so on. The root of all these problems is that they are uneducated. A very apt solution to meet the needs of the poor which is very suitable for our country is ‘Each one teach one’, by doing this knowledge will be passed on and the condition of the poor will begin to change. For this to take place a whole change has to take place in our attitude and outlook.

Stephen Covey says: “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.” What I understand from this is that we who have a decent life with all the needed necessities have a duty towards our less fortunate brethren. Am I responsible for my brother/ sister (poor)? Yes I surely am, by the bond of humanity. Let’s serve God by serving our friends in need.