India is TRASHED!

I found an article that was particular interesting, about the extreme amounts of trash that have piled up in India, and what affects it has on the environment and culture. I know that when I visited India in January, it was impossible not to notice the garbage everywhere – mountainsides, burning in the streets, and all over the roads and trails. The article is written from Pondicherry, an area that I visited, and was written by an Indian man observing what the inundation of garbage has meant to him:

This year has brought a new hardship: the stink of burning garbage. I first smelled it about a month ago, a vague, almost indistinct smell on a Sunday morning, like something rotten in the air. A few days later my wife woke me in the middle of the night and said something was burning. This time the stench was unmistakable, overwhelming — a metallic taste in my mouth, a chemical roughness along the back of my constricted throat.

The problem of garbage has existed for many years, but because the are of Pondicherry is evolving and becoming more populated and popular, the author writes that the problem of garbage has changed from just a nuisance into a serious problem – the smell alone makes it a detriment to the tourist industry.

While all of India is affected, it seems that the garbage problem is more evident in cities. “India is drowning in garbage. The cities alone generate more than 100 million tons of solid waste a year.” This issue of garbage also reflects a lack of diligence on the part of the Indian government, for allowing the problem of waste to go so far. Although the Supreme Court in 2000 mandated that the problem of waste be addressed immediately, but seems that there is actually little being done about it.

I think that due to the capacity of change that can actually be done, added with the vastness of the issue, that the problem of garbage will remain in India for a long time. If the government chooses instead to just burn the trash, then there will be irreversible damage done to the environment, with levels of smog and toxins in the air skyrocketing.

With this article, I also attached a few photos that help to showcase the vastness of the garbage problem, even just from my month-long visit in January.

India's Role as a Central Super Power

Real Clear World wrote an in-depth article about reasons that India must play a central role in the U.S./Asia Strategy as it continues to evolve. In Obama’s strategy for international policy, he singles out India, China, Japan, and Pakistan as big players with which he must devote much focus and energy. The author of this feature, Jim Hoagland, says that because China and India are major players but have extremely different opinions on international cooperation.

The author writes that while there are no key elements of disagreement between Indian government and U.S. administration, there is also no real excitement about the relationship, as there had been several years ago. The article talks about the recent state dinner held on behalf of Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, but that there has been an air of ambivalence since then. High-ranking Indian officials have been reported as saying that they feel like the U.S. has dropped the ball in terms of reliance or focus on issue, which is a mistake as India continues to grow in power.

Because relations are so tense between India and China, the U.S. has found itself in a difficult position, as though having to choose between heavy alliace with either country. Says the article, “India has recently moved troops away from the Pakistan frontier while increasing deployments into border areas that China is claiming in pugnacious and offensive rhetoric.”

In uncertain times, it seems that India was relying on the U.S. to be an ally regarding the volatile relations that they have with Pakistan, and the looming threat of war, either nuclear or militarily. Because the expansion of Asian involvement in global development is inevitable, the author believes that the U.S. has made an egregious error by ignoring the power that India has and will continue to have globally.

To me, it would seem obvious that the U.S. should do more to secure their good relations with India instead of trying to work on their relationship with China, because India reflects the same positive democratic ideas that the U.S. holds so strong. By attaching themselves to China as an industrializing nation, I do not think that the U.S. is giving enough credit to India, and what the country is capable of. I have to agree with this author in saying that the U.S. must spend more time in vetting India and working to improve relations, because India can be an extremely valuable player, especially with Obama’s intent to move troops out of the middle east in the next several years. To give more power to China is underestimating India’s capabilities and evolving in the next several years and decades.

Articles on India -- Thanks, BBC News!

Looking at articles on India, I found one that surprised me on working conditions and injury. The article found that weavers, complaining of eye injury, have been partially blinded as a result of toxins in the silk. Recently, there were more chemicals added to the silk to make it heavier more attractive, but in doing so, the chemicals ended up impairing the weavers (at least 40) who were weaving the silk. This surprised me, because this instance, combined with an article from a previous entry (about death and injury as the result of faulty equipment used at the University of Delhi) are just two instances of wrongful injury or death – an accident.

The BBC article writes that one of the victims was quoted as saying, "Immediately, our eyes started to burn and our vision got blurred.” It seems that this is in response to China becoming more appealing in terms of its weaving capabilities, and that India was trying to compete with finer silk, in order to increase trade.

Another article that I found that relates to a previous entry is about a Kashmir civilian who was killed as anti-India protesters threw stones at him. In a “Lottery-esque” killing, Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh was hit in the head several times with stones, and died at a nearby hospital. In the India-administered region of Kashmir, many Pakistani Muslims are very opposed to India’s reign. Police say that throwing rocks and stones is a popular form of protest in the region, and that in order to suppress the violence, police are banning any public gatherings of four members or more. These instances of “stone-pelting” are seen as un-Islamic, but is just one of the modes that protestors choose to publicly condemn Indian-administration of the Kashmir region.

The third article that I found is one about a summit between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan in the coming days. Both prime ministers are quoted as being hopeful about the summit, and that, “winds of change are blowing across the world.” The relationship between the two countries has been strained since the bombings in Mumbai, where Indian officials blamed Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taib, though Pakistan denied any official involvement.

While I see this summit as a step in the right direction, I am too realistic to think that any tangible changes will be made, or any concrete differences will exist as a result of this summit. I think that both countries have too much invested in current relationship that they will not be willing to surrender or sacrifice any ground. Now, especially, with the volatile relationship with Kashmir, I just don’t see any real change coming as a result of this summit.

Government Spending on Rural Poverty

I wanted to learn more about government involvement in India, and the way that they are working to offset the problem of poverty in India. I searched through JSTOR, and found an article called, “Government Spending, Growth, and Poverty in Rural India,” which briefly describes the role that government is playing in poverty throughout the country.

Even since the 1960s, poverty has declined significantly, from 50-65% to just around 1/3 of the population living in poverty. The article explains this recent decline in rural poverty, and how government spending has had both direct and indirect impacts on the issue. Says the article, “Government expenditure has not only contributed to agricultural growth and hence indirectly to poverty alleviation, but it has directly created rural non-farm jobs and increased wages.” It seems that even the trickle-down affects of government spending have successfully put money into the pockets of rural farm workers, and by doing so, has helped to decrease the abject poverty that once existed.

One area that is often overlooked when looking into government spending is in terms of the indirect assistance that, in India, could be seen in terms of investments in roads, irrigation, health, etc. While these improvements do not necessarily change rural poverty, they do put the proper building blocks in place to help farmers and rural workers improve their conditions. The article says that by putting money towards education and healthcare, the government has successfully put money in place to improve conditions. “Current and past values of government expenditures on different investments, such as R&D [research and development], irrigation, roads, power, and education, were included in the equations for productivity, technology, infrastructure and education.” These modifications from government can be seen in the improvement of conditions throughout the country, from rural areas to industrialized ones.

In his analysis, from calculations and equations it has been shown that by the government investing an extra 1,000,000 rupees (about 21,000 USD) in eduation, there are 41 people that can be lifted above the poverty line. Government has recently used these findings, and invested more money and dedication into improving education conditions. While it might be assumed that education and health care are two of the biggest contributors to the decline in rural poverty, it is actually government expenditures on roads and R&D that have had the largest impacts on development. By enabling rural farms to be able to travel into the larger cities opens up vast opportunity for trade, and in doing so, many rural workers are able to finally be free from such poverty.

India -- Secure?

In finding articles on India, I came across a very surprising one, in which an Indian diplomat is being accused of spying for Pakistan. Officials are investigating the breach of security with Madhuri Gupta, a second secretary at the embassy, and the possibility of spying for Pakistan. The ramifications of this could be severe, and there is very little known about the information that Gupta could have been reporting. Officials are reporting that she had been under surveillance for over six months, but that they arrested her just a few days ago. It’s surprising to me that at this time, as technology is getting more and more advanced, that there are still so many instances where of spying or breaches within security; it seems to be almost an inevitability at this point. The article talks about the three wars that have bene fought between India and Pakistan since India’s independence in 1847, and this most recent incident will do nothing to improve any type of relationship between the two countries. It will be interesting to see if Gupta denies the accusations, or what she will admit to, especially during such a volatile time for the two countries, with the current disputes and fighting over the Kashmir region

In a related article, I found that a terrorist warning was issued for India, in the response to the planning of “imminent attacks” on India’s capital, New Delhi. The Indians were informed by U.S. Intelligence, and the state department was sure to include the word, “imminent” in their description. It is believed that Pakistan-based Islamic groups, who have been blamed for other attacks, including most recently, the bombings in Mumbai, will carry out the attacks. The terrorist cells are believed to be targeting public areas, where foreign travelers would be most identifiable. This is in conjunction with the previous article, about the possibility of Pakistani spies infiltrating Indian security, and it seems that conditions will only worsen before they improve.

The third article that I’ve found is in response to India’s involvement in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. India has not yet signed the bill, but recent reports say that they will be keeping a close eye on the deliberations at the United Nations on Monday. Because Pakistan has also not yet signed the treaty, many India officials will be watching the deliberations unfold, to ensure that those who have signed the bill are considering what is in India’s best interest. India intends to watch for any effort to seek universalization of the NPT, and also the focus that the bill will take on Iran. Says the article, “India’s position on Iran has been that it does not want new sanctions imposed while India also does not want to see the emergence of a nuclear-armed state in its neighbourhood.”

These three articles all help to highlight the heightened security and watchful eye that India must always have towards its neighbors, and how easily mistakes can slip through the cracks, the results of which could be detrimental to Indian security.

The Kerala Model

After spending a month in Kerala, India, observing the extreme contrasts under which the state exists, I thought that it would be interesting to take a closer look at the model of development that made Kerala’s growth so successful. With the highest literacy rate and a ranking of first on the country’s Human Development India, it’s clear that Kerala is doing something right.

I found an article on JStor about the “Kerala Model,” and the paradoxical way in which it works. “What Ails Kerala’s Economy: A Sectoral Exploration” discusses the possible reasons that Kerala has remained such a successful state despite the significantly lower employment rates compared to other states. Says the article, “A significant aspect of the ‘Kerala Model” is that even without having high per capita income, industralization and urbanization, the state has reached the third state of demographic transition and people get better medical care and education.” People are continuously amazed at the strides that the state has taken, despite its low per capita income.

Social scientists have found one reason that may be responsible for Kerala’s recent success compared to other states is the performance of their agriculture, both domestically and internationally. It seems that when talking about India as an emerging entity, people are most apt to discuss the technological advances and everything that they are doing in the IT industry. In doing so, they often forget the impact that agricultural trade has on the country. Kerala, specifically, is known for its commercial crops like, “coconut, rubber, tea, coffee and spices…As a result, the sector has been more open to market situations (both domestically and internationally).” Because Kerala does not have as significant an investment in the technology industry, farmers and workers do not have a very significant per capita income but they do work to trade and grow these important crops, also helping with the health and medical sector of their economy.

It seems that at this point, the only real reason that researchers can give for the relatively low level of per capita average is that there is not enough attention to be paid to the economic strain, because many are busy praising them for their more successful quality of life domestically. They have managed to have a 90% literacy rate (which I can imagine is higher than some U.S. states or towns I’ve been to), significantly lower infant mortality rates, and a health care system that is almost unparalleled in the other Indian states. Because Slumdog Millionaire was really the only knowledge of India I had prior to my departure, I was actually happily surprised to find that the conditions abroad were not quite so dire, and that the situations and lifestyles in Kerala, despite not having the highest income, were much better than those elsewhere in India.

I've also attached some pictures from my time spent at the schools in Kerala. The education system in Kerala is almost unrivaled with regards to other states in India. We taught interactive science development to the students, who actually knew more complex science (chemistry & physics) than all of us. Combined.

India Articles from the New York Times

I have chosen to center my blogs around India, because after visiting the country in January, I have seen just how inevitable it is that India will very soon be a global super power. As the world’s largest democracy, India holds power over countries like China, which are emerging but without democratic ideals.

An article written today focuses on the India Catholic Church, and the intention of the bishops to enact a policy for reporting abuse claims. Like much of Europe, there have been issues of abuse allegations and evidence of sexual harassment and abuse. The current santions in India are minimal, with the reporter, Lydia Polgreen, instancing a time where an Indian priest forced oral sex on a 14-year old girl in Minnesota, and that upon returning to India, his charges were dismissed and he permitted to return to the priesthood. With 18 million practicing Catholics in India, it is imperative that the bishops adhere to the strict “zero tolerance” policy that was enacted in 2002.

In the wake of the Model UN Crisis Simulation, and our group having to dealing with radiation poisoning affecting many Indian citizens, I was surprised to see this article in the New York Times about radiation poisoning found in India, but from an unlikely cause. It seems that outdated laboratory from the university of Delhi was the culprit behind one death and six hospitalizations. At such an uncertain time in Indian history and with such volatile neighbors, it surprised me that radiation poisoning was coming from within the country, and was even the result of an accident at a university. Says the article, “the radioactive materials appeared to have entered the country in a container of imported scrap metal,” and that they are going to administer tighter security measures to ensure that this radiation poisoning does not happen again, especially in such a vulnerable area (New Delhi).

The third article I found has less to do with India directly, but more about how the game of cricket, a sport that gets ¾ of its revenue from play in India, has caught on in Afghanistan. The article is about how the new team from Afghanistan will play India in the next few days, and about how the emergence of the team has been quick and unexpected. The article’s author, Huw Richards, writes about how many of the young players began playing cricket in Pakistani refugee camp, but have acquired impressive skill and understanding of the game. In an irreverent way, the author writes, “Afghanistan owes much of its aggressive playing style to examples set by Pakistan. It must be hoped it will take its administrative models from elsewhere,” adding that Pakistan’s team, which has been respected internationally, has faced many internal issues of corruption. The article praises India for its role as central location and figure in the cricket world.

Thoughts on the Model UN Crisis Simulation

This weekend’s Model UN Crisis Simulation drastically exceeded my expectations. Quite honestly, I heard “seven hours on Sunday,” and thought it would be Hell. Even though we had been prepped for what we would be doing, and that we were well versed on issues related to India, I was unclear about what we would be doing, and how we would be able to last seven hours. I was even shocked when I heard myself say, “this is fun!”

The highlight of the crisis simulation for me, was when at 8 o’clock on Sunday evening, there had still been no news from India up on the website, and we began to get frustrated. So we devised a plan for total world domination, complete with robotic titanium cats, focused solely on taking over the world. We were all set to go with our plan, when Sunday’s simulation was over. By Monday, however, our news reports began to go public, so we (probably wisely) decided against unleashing the robotic cats, but kept them on the back burner, just in case.

The low point of the crisis simulation was probably just how long it took our group specifically to get our news and action reports published. We went five hours on Sunday without having anything published, which made parts of the simulation boring. We had many great ideas, which made it frustrating when nothing would be published, so we wouldn’t have anything to do or any countries to work with.

I think that the reason that I enjoyed the simulation so much is that I was able to take the lofty, sometimes overreaching concepts that we’ve discussed in IR, and apply them to (somewhat) real-life situations. I found myself at times thinking of the repercussions of things we were discussing and how they would play out in different temperaments and with different countries. I understood concepts more clearly, and saw how large a role the media and press play on the way in which stories are reported.

Another great part of the simulation for me was that I was selected to be the delegate that met with other countries when we would meet together. It was fun to try to be a good will ambassador for my country, while still trying to solve complex issues. I was so excited when the selected me Best Delegate, and I would imagine it would be because I was always willing to meet with the other countries’ delegates. I loved doing it; it was a rush!

Overall, I had a very positive experience in the crisis simulation, and would definitely be interested in working on it in the future. I think that it would be interesting to do various countries throughout the world, as opposed to one distinct region. I think that would make the simulation more realistic, as each country would have to consider the international repercussions, no matter how small, in taking specific actions.

India Government Paper

Maggie Moran

India Government & Model UN

Introduction

Due to the population and size of the country, India is considered to me the world’s largest democracy. With significant recent growth in literacy and reduction of poverty and poor health conditions, it seems that India is poised to continue to gain power, due largely to the fact that the government has maintained open elections and worked to first improve conditions domestically before altering international relations. As India’s economy continues to prosper, and as they continue to assist militarily in many peacekeeping missions, it seems that the country and its government have found a good way to maintain their status as the world’s largest and one of the most powerful democracies.

Structure of Indian Government

The government of India is run by a parliamentary system of government, with the President in control of the bicameral houses. The two houses of government are the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). Along with this system, there is also a Council of Ministers, which is a group that most directly aid and assist the President, with the Prime Minister working most closely with the President. In attempting to find similarities between the government of India and the government of the U.S., the Rajya Sabha would be similar to the U.S. Senate, with representatives serving terms of two years. The Lok Sabha, then, would be similar to the House of Representatives, with members elected from their own state to serve the country. It would be the Council of Ministers that most closely resembles the US Cabinet, with each member in charge of informing the President on a particular subset of issues. Also like democracy of the US, government in India is divided into three branches; the legislative, the executive, and the judicial.

Types of Indian Government

It is said that India is am “Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic.” It is sovereign in that, both internally and externally, it is free from foreign power and also has a government that is elected directly by the people. It is socialist, because equality is sought after for all citizens, both socially and economically. The socialist aspect of government ensures that there can be no discrimination based on color, creed, sex, religion, language, and especially in India, caste. As caste was once an integral part of the way in which Indian hierarchy was developed, it is slowly loosening its grip on the government of India. Due to the vast number of religions within India, the Constitution was modified to include “secular,” stating that there would be no state religion, and that all people have the right to practice the religion of their own choice. India is also democratic; as all people have the ability to vote for the candidates they choose, ensuring that elections are free and fair.

State Government

Within the 28 states of India, the state governments are similar in structure, and are all organized in a unicameral or bi-cameral structure. Similar to that of the national government of India, each state has a Governor, who has the most power within the state, and a Council of Ministers who work underneath him. The Chief Minister, like the Prime Minister, works most closely with the governor and has, in many ways equal power with him. With the recent push towards decentralization of the national government towards a more focused state government, state officials have seen an increase in their individual power, and thus, an increase in their ability to effectively make change within the state.

Decentralization

Since the 1980s, there has been a dramatic shift from a nationalized government in India to a more localized system. With the advent of the Local Self Government System, and the Panchayat Raj, many citizens have the ability to involve themselves in government, and are thus more productive and more interested in politics and occurrences on a national level. The Panchayat Raj works closely with many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to accomplish more on a local level. It is because of the success that India has had with decentralization that government has been more successful, because when people believe that their involvement will implement change, they are more likely to participate. Writes on author, “Because there are many attractive arguments in favor of decentralization (e.g., making government more responsive to local needs, ensuring accountability, generating economic growth and employment, promoting popular participation and democracy, and increasing equality), the trend around the world has been to adopt some form of decentralization” (Wiliams 49). Because local governments have worked to improve economic stability within their states, the GDP has grown as a result, sparking the 9% annual growth of the GDP.

Corruption

In a recent study, the government in India ranked 84^th out of 180 countries in terms of corruption within government. There is also a statistic that says that nearly a quarter of the 540 members of India Parliament have faced some sort of criminal charge, from human trafficking, to rape, and even murder. Corruption also tends to be more prevalent on a state level, with Uttar Pradesh electing a majority of candidates with a criminal record. Almost half of all bureaucrats in India have admitted to having a firsthand experience of bribing or peddling in order to help get legislation passed within public office. There is also an example of elected officials stealing state property – in Bihar, it has been reported that more than 80% of the subsidized food aid to poor is stolen. While corruption exists in all countries, it seems abnormally high in India, especially as it begins to involve police and judges.

Conclusion

Though there is much corruption within India, it seems that the country is headed in the right direction towards becoming one of the most successful democracies internationally. Decentralization has played a significant role in the recent governmental success within the country, and because of this, the Indian economy has grown dramatically. The drastic increase in literacy rate and the steady decline of significant poverty within the country are two factors in this democratic shift; the more informed the people are about their candidates, the more likely they are to participate. While the vast majority of people still vote within their respective caste, there seems to be a shift out of the antiquated way of thinking, and more focus on the individual’s right to elect a candidate to office. Acting as a democracy plays a significant role in the way the country operates, and it is likely that because India works under democratic ideals, it will soon surpass China in terms of economic and military strength, and that it will evolve into a country whose reign will be envied.

Works Cited

"CIA - The World Factbook." Welcome to the CIA Web Site ? Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 4 Apr. 2010. .

"Corruption in India." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 5 Apr. 2010. .

"Government: National Portal of India." Home: National Portal of India. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. .

"Government of India." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. .

"India: Data Projects and Research." The World Bank. Web. 06 Apr. 2010. .

Williams, Michelle. The Roots of Participatory Democracy Democratic Communists in South Africa and Kerala, India. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008. Print.

Interesting India!

I’m excited that I get to represent India in the Model UN, because after having studied there in January, I feel a special connection to the country, and the stark contrasts that exist within the country. While some information I knew on my own, I was also surprised to find some of the demographics and more specific population numbers about the country. What was most interesting to me is that India, a country that is roughly one-third the size of the United States, has over three times the population of the US. These numbers help to show how densely populated the country is, which is the cause of many issues within the country. A lack of resources mixed with a country of contrasting religious beliefs and views almost inevitably causes war and unrest.

Although India is less populated than China, it is also the world’s largest democracy. Each state within India has their own government, and I was very surprised to find out that the President of India was a woman, as I would have expected a man in power, because of the traditionalist gender views that the country has a reputation for. Also, I was surprised to find that there were 28 different states within India, because each state seems so large and populated.

In researching, I was also very surprised to learn about some of the rituals and common practices that I did not see when I was studying abroad. For instance, I had no idea that half of all women in India will marry before the legal age of 18, and that the overwhelming majority of all marriages are arranged. While I knew that these practices were common in India, I did not realize that they were still in the majority today.

What I wanted to learn most about to prepare for this conference was the Indian Armed Forces, and its power and involvement today. I found that India has the largest army in terms of active manpower, and the second largest in terms of military personnel. Also, I found that the army was completely voluntary, which was something that I had not expected, as I have learned that other countries in the Middle East mandate participation in the armed forces. While the Indian Army has been involved in many wars, it has also played a large role in UN peacekeeping missions. I was surprised by how highly regarded the Indian Armed Forces was internationally. Also, I was surprised to learn that the Indian Navy was one of only six navies in the world with nuclear capabilities.

While I studied a great deal about democracy within the state of Kerala, the model there does not reflect India in its entirety. I wanted to know more about democracy as a countrywide ideal. It seems that religion plays an integral part around support of a candidate or a particular party, and that much of the confrontation without government exists in the conflict between Hinduism and Islam. Another aspect of Indian culture that plays a role in government are the particularly caste systems, with people not voting outside of their caste, and the norms of their caste.

Along with religious and caste differences, it seems that the overpopulation within the state is the reason for much tension. Because of the sheer number of people, there are limited jobs, and such intense poverty that is difficult to change. People in rural areas re being neglected simply because there are not enough resources to meet everyone’s need and thus, India’s problems largely exist domestically.

Testing, Testing

Browsing current events, I've been keeping a close watch on the Middle East, but especially on India. After having spent a month traveling in Kerala, India, I have a special fondness for any new conflicts or resolutions that may arise. I found this particular article on an innovative way that Indian people have found to increase sustainable development; through a TV game show. CNN World is reporting that there is a green game show being introduced in Kerala, and reports that “Green Kerala Express” will focus on efforts of its citizens to, “improve lives and work for sustainable development at the grassroots level.” The fact that this new enterprise will get its start in Kerala is not surprising, as I was continuously surprised with the students I encountered and their profound knowledge of science. As we walked in, toting around our most basic science experiment, we found ourselves constantly shown up by students half our age, who claimed that they had found the key to alternative fuel, and had posters explaining, in detail, the changes that the world needed to make in their energy plan. It seems like “Green Kerala Express” will be a great and innovative way for villages to increase funding, as well as find alternative, more sustainable energy and resources.

Another article that I found about India was surrounding domestic travel within the country, which has increased over the past year. “The worst seems to be over,” reports the president of Boeing India. While I’m sure that this is in large part due to the sheer population within the country, the airlines expect the number of flight passengers to increase by 10% next year. “India’s airline sector—the fourth-largest globally in terms of domestic passenger numbers – has been one of the most vibrant symbols of the country’s economic progress,” says the article, and it seems that airlines are just one more sector within the country to be prospering as most of the world’s economy continues to flail. Due to the sheer density of people in the country, it is not surprising that their domestic airline sector would be soaring; the economy is growing leaving expendable money for people to use for travel.

The third article that I have found is in extreme juxtaposition with the first two and shows that there is still such extreme poverty and work to be done. Writes the report, “At least 12 children were killed in a massive fire on Thursday which gutted a school hostel in northeastern India made of bamboo and hay.” It’s so difficult to imagine that in this newly thriving and industrializing country, there are still children attending school in makeshift classroom. We see Slumdog Millionaire, and do not actually believe that conditions could be so bad, but for 12 school children to be killed due to poor conditions and mismanagement shows that there is still a stark difference between prosperous India and poverty India. Even when traveling through Kerala, we visited schools of several distinct economic levels; we visited one boarding school where tuition was 46,000 USD annually to attend, and also visited on rural school, where we were the first white people the children had ever seen. This economic stratification is where India struggles; while they may be working hard to develop more sustainable living, or their economy may be growing and with that, an increase in domestic travel, but as long as there is such a distinct contrast between the rich and the poor, India will continue to struggle.