Alleviating Poverty & Life in Dignity

By: Sadruddin Noorani, Chicago, USA

Alleviating Poverty

Poverty Alleviation is the set of steps taken in an economic and humanitarian way to eradicate or at least reduce poverty in a country which are intended to permanently lift people out of poverty. Any person living on US$2.00 a day or less, is considered to be living in extreme poverty, and currently close to a billion people in the world fall under that category. Strategies to prevent and mitigate poverty are: Invest in underprivileged communities, create pathways to opportunities and expand access to basic supports.

When we think of poverty, we tend to think about it mostly in economic terms. Mawlana Hazar Imam (Imam-of-the-Time) (Aga Khan IV) has indicated that poverty is more than just a lack of financial means. In a speech made in Berlin, on November 13, 2007, at the “Conference on Central Asia and Europe”, he said: 

“I am increasingly inclined to define poverty not only as a matter of income, but rather as a state of marginalization in all of those conditions which contribute to the quality of human life. A state of poverty is a state of deprivation with respect to health and nutrition, education and security, housing and credit, and all the other conditions which are essential to human well-being.”

It is important to recognize that in our Jamat (community) worldwide, issues of severe poverty are not confined to the developing world only, but exist also in the industrialized world, including North America and other western countries.

Mawlana Hazar Imam has set the objective of alleviating poverty as one of the important initiatives of his Golden Jubilee. He assured the Jamat that in the years ahead concrete steps will be taken to address the situation of poverty.

How can we be part of this aspiration and expectation of our beloved Imam-e-Zaman?

First: By practicing the ethics of compassion, sharing, sensitivity, and generosity, towards our brothers and sisters in our home country and globally.

Second: By practicing simplicity, avoiding excessive materialism and spend prudently.

Third: For those who are facing difficulty, there are programs available where Jamati institutions can work with members of the Jamat to address poverty-related quality-of-life issues.

Finally, poverty can be multi-generational and we need to strive for excellence in education as a means of ensuring the well-being of our future generations. In fact, research has shown that quality education is one of the most effective ways to come out of poverty and enhance quality of life.

Poverty is associated with a host of health risks, including elevated rates of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, infant mortality, mental illness and under-nutrition etc. The best starting point to work on getting out of a poverty mentality is to spend more time around people who have more positive and uplifting views about finances. By doing this, you are able to better recognize the contrast between how people view money and your own finances.

High poverty rates can be a damper on economic growth and be associated with problems like crime, unemployment, substance uses, urban decay, poor education, and poor public health.

Qualitative improvements do not depend only on luck, but also on hard work, intelligent responses to identified problems, good economic management of the individual and the family. These are all aspects which each individual and every family should think of carefully.

Life in Dignity 

A dignified life means an opportunity to fulfill one’s potential, which is based on having a human level of health care, education, income and security. Human dignity is important because it gives a sense of feeling that we are good people and deserve respect.

Each & every person has the inalienable right to live a dignified life without discrimination. They are entitled to claim equal respect from the state, from institutions, as well as from other people. This means that every life is sacred and all people are worthy of respect, without any distinction of country, class, color, or creed. 

The Holy Qur’an says:

“Indeed, We have certainly honored the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, provided them of the good things and lawful provisions, and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.” (17:70).

One of the goals set by Mawlana Hazar Imam during his Golden Jubilee was to look at the quality of life for the aged – he wants this Jamati segment to spend their remaining life in dignity.

Human lifespan is stretching; that is good news. But at the same time we must be aware that that causes additional responsibility on families, and on institutions, to seek to create situations whereby the aged, and those who are no longer in active life, are able to live in happiness, in dignity, and with access to good care. 

As individuals and families, let us reflect on some actions that can make a positive difference in the lives of our elders and those who are physically and/or mentally challenged. Let us ask ourselves:

– Do we treat our elders with compassion, love and kindness?

– Do we speak with our elders politely and with respect?

 Do we spend enough time with our elders on a daily basis?

– Do we listen to our elders patiently and attentively and show our care for them?

These simple acts on our part and other such gestures towards the elder members of our family, and the community, will go a long way towards enhancing respect, dignity and self-esteem of our elders.

FINAL NOTE: When God blesses you financially, do not raise your standards of living, but instead raise your standard of “giving”.