Yes .. There is poverty and poor
Munira Fakhro
The uproar raised by the report of the space''CNN''on the subject of poverty in Bahrain has not yet subsided, and offset by a sweeping attack on the space station from the pens of certain lined up to refute all of what the report and deny the existence of poverty in Bahrain. Book them and sharpen their pens to defend the''dignity''Station Bahrain missed by the U.S.. Corresponding not only to highlight the areas of poverty, but questioned the leaders of an official such as the Ministers of Housing and Social Development. Focused presenter Hala Korani Belle in her interviews on the contradiction that characterizes the existence of manifestations of Bahrain to the rich pockets of poverty. The program has seen large numbers of citizens have been displayed on the Internet for those who could not watch it on TV. Perhaps the error committed by the presenter of the program is limited to the existence of poverty among the Shiite community without Sunni although we recognize that pockets of poverty spreading, especially in the villages of Bahrain and small towns. For your information, the average per capita income in Bahrain is 17 thousand dollars, the rate is relatively high if we know that the average per capita income in Saudi Arabia less than that.
The World Bank defined the poor as a person who reduced the rate of income is $ 600 per year, but the United Nations Development Programme adds other criteria that reflect directly on the level of human well-being and quality of life means that there are about 45% of the poor live in communities is low income. Even in the United States there are 30 million people (15% of the population) living below the poverty line, but the United States does not deny this, but seek to reduce this phenomenon.
Yes there is poverty and there are many poor people in Bahrain, in spite of our country as a rich country. This result we have reached the result of many considerations the most important are the following:
* Great corruption spreads and commissions paid by the private sector stakeholder.
* Naturalization extensively increased its pace in recent years, which swallows a lot of the budget for the recruitment of naturalized citizens and give them housing and consumption of services which barely accommodate the multi-nationals.
* Focus on increasing the defense budget, Interior, and freeze the budgets of ministries and services such as health, housing, education and social development.
* Widespread unemployment, especially among young people as a result does not suit the learning outcomes with the requirements of the labor market.
* Lack of population policy of family planning and counseling mothers to determine the number of children to be cared for better.
* Do not care for the environment of land, sea, and the latter is the source of livelihood for thousands of Bahraini families.
Also do not forget the requirements of globalization, which we entered into and signed agreements for the implementation of its provisions without calculating the consequences and most importantly the increasing numbers of poor people, it is essential to the continuation of government support for some commodities to the citizen as it may lead to cancellation economic and social consequences are unpredictable.
Poverty is ultimately the exclusion, marginalization and harm human dignity, instead of denial, we must recognize its existence and think about finding the best ways to reduce its spread, but we believe officials insist on accusing people of being the cause of poverty, as it accused the minister of electricity, the citizens that the consumption unlimited and unauthorized, led to the deterioration of the electricity services, and as His colleague, the Minister of Labour that the youth of Bahrain lazy and want their comfortable jobs. The first means of reform and the reform of education and begin to focus on training for the work available in Bahrain, especially for young people, which is long overdue to get a job to ensure his future, but before all this must be the political will for reform.
** A researcher and political activist