Minister for Hunger in supposedly one of the richest nation with fifth largest economy may sound absurd. But in reality Britain may not be listed in top twenty nations if prosperity is based on living standard and personal disposable income, reflecting the quality of life we enjoy. Those who have travelled extensively in Europe will not need any reminder.
Infrastructure, that includes roads, rail, quality of housing as well as NHS is unbelievably superior in countries like Germany, France, Switzerland and especially in Scandinavian countries, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark where no one is homeless, sleeps on roads or have to depend on food-banks! Medical treatment is available practically on demand, no waiting list, no excuses.
Here some five thousand people sleep rough on our streets, in bitterly cold and wet winters, under railway bridges, shop doorways and any space that may keep them dry. No wonder their life-span is half compared to those affluent people living normal life. There are more food-banks now than at any other time since Second World War. Even those who are in employment, unlike unemployed, sick and disable people, like cleaners, waiters and even nurses who should be the most valued members of the society, struggle to make ends meet, needing regular support from food-banks to feed their children.
No wonder group of MPs want government to appoint “Minister for Hunger” to study and help unfortunate people who go hungry, especially growing children. According to UN study, some 19% of under the age of 15, living with their parents struggle to buy food, suffer from malnutrition. This minister should also have added responsibility to look after homeless and rough sleepers, provide them with roof over their heads and three square meals a day.
Unlike Government propaganda, there is no shortage of money when we take care of poor with our ever bulging Overseas Aid budget, spending some ten billion building aircraft carriers and ten times that amount to replace our ageing nuclear submarines! The fact is we have wrong priorities, our isolated “Ivory Tower” living politicians have no clue how the other half lives. It is time for them to try to survive on income of less than one thousand pound a month, especially those with children and living in rental accommodation. No wonder with rents for a three bedroom property costing some £2000 a month, they have to endure overcrowding with three to four families sharing the cost!
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
