Business of Hunger, The

"Poverty cannot be removed by providing the poor with mobile phones and
knowledge-kiosks whereas hunger cannot be fought by setting up a nationwide
network of 'e-Choupals'. If we are honest in fighting hunger and squalor, let us
begin by making an effort where it is needed."


In this article, Sharma argues that the current agricultural and technological development priorities of the Indian government
are not adequately serving the interests of the large Indian populations who are
living in poverty.
He points to large grain stores that were sold as exports in 2002-2003 while Indian citizens went
hungry. He describes starving families and farmers who turn to suicide, while the government focuses on developing the technology sector. The government's solution to rural poverty, he says, has been an often misguided campaign to to bring
technology to the villages.



These rural ICT schemes, he argues, have often been unrealistic and even questionably
motivated. Farmers, averaging in only 1.47 hectares of land, have been
encouraged to begin electronic trading of their goods. Such an effort, according
to Sharma, is merely "a recipe for the elimination of small and marginal
farmers, forming 80 per cent of the agricultural workforce, and is meant to pave
the way for the smooth entry of the private sector."



Sharma argues that the Indian government's emphasis on, and investment in,
development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) fails to address the more immediate
needs of millions who are hungry in India. He points to people starving in
villages where government ICT schemes have ensured every household has a cell
phone, but have not guaranteed that they have adequate food.

Sharma recognises that jobs have been created by the technology sector,
but points out that the numbers are small in light of the enormous government
investment in this area. The ICT sector has the financing to stand on its own, and Sharma argues that what should be stopped is the "faulty emphasis in promoting the
commercial interests of the hardware manufacturers in the name of creating rural
livelihoods."



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