Just some days ago, I was in a library of some institution. It was a Saturday; not many people were around. I was reading some interesting books and was enjoying. But at around one in the afternoon, I started to feel very hungry, as I do everyday. But today atleast, I said, I must go without food. I thought that because it was a Saturday, the canteen would be closed. I was wondering whether I should walk the 2 km to the nearest eatery. But as I went outside, to my surprise, the canteen WAS open !
I went inside, had the good, subsidized food, and then went to drink water. There I saw a labourer, who must be working in the institute's gardens. He was only drinking water, no food. He had no money to buy himself even a subsidised meal, which would have cost around Rs. 8. A few of his coworkers might be lucky enough, even to be able to bring home made food in a dabba.
I had the luxury, yes, luxury to just walk some distance and buy food, in case the canteen was closed, but he did not have it.
I felt sorry for him. What can I do for him?
I felt sorry for him. What can I do for him?
I don't know what I could have done at that moment.
But I think we all can together do something for them.
All people who, by God's grace, are able to eat adequately, can atleast ensure that they do not waste even a single morsel of the food they eat. It is not tough, just take an amount that you are sure to be able to comfortably eat. Better to take small servings each time and to take more if needed.
This small step from our side will benefit those unfortunate ones greatly. The cumulated amount of saved food will be available for their use.
Let us take the case of Bhaarat. Here, 27% of the total population of around
114 crores (!) is currently below the poverty line. This, while the poverty line stands at Rs. 10 per day per person!! That is , around 31 crore people are surely having a very tough time in making both ends meet.
I am not sure that those who are above this line (of supposed poverty) are far off.
So we see, that out of a 100 given people, 27 will not be able to fill their stomach, leave alone good quality food. In these circumstances, it is highly desired that all those who are well settled should look after the needs of our other citizens. We have a lot to do when in a country of starving millions, grain is rotted away in godowns but we CAN begin by not wasting food from our side atleast.
4 comments:
I truly agree with you. Although even i have left food in my plate a lot of times, your article takes me back to those days when my parents used to advice me to not leave out food, remembering those who don't even get to feed themselves barely.
I agree even such a small task of eating ALL that is on your plate can be difficult sometimes; people usually overestimate the amount of food they are going to eat. One strategy that i sometimes use to make sure I don't waste food is that I imagine that the food is a prasad from a temple. I have seen that I always make sure I don't waste prasad like food. This way, I am able to save food.
Man you are so right. I really feel for these hungry kids and laborers who dont even get minimum wages for a days meal.
say if u like....but we all r snob at one point or others....
u go ahead to ur frnds to ask dem to save food,...u will be branded as uncool....
i dunt understand...why we lost our common sense....it isnt a hard calculation....but a hard realisation
You are definitely concern about them. Its good. When we throw food into gutters, we should at least think of those street children who don't even get meal once a day.Even in temples, the prasad which we get, mostly they are scattered on the floors and no one bothers to pick or clean them up. One should better understand that we are few of the lucky persons on earth who have been rewarded by God this precious gift known as FOOD...
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