By IANS,
London : Science and technology-based solutions only can help fight poverty in the world’s poorest nations, says an NGO that has taken precisely this approach to tackle the problem in India.
The India800 Foundation, a charity that will present its work at the House of Lords Monday, argues poverty should be tackled by identifying specific problems and then by developing technology-based solutions.
“Our theme is Building One India, and our work is always solutions-focused,” said Krishna Sarda, India800’s chief executive, in a statement Thursday.
The organisation was launched jointly by the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group and EMF, a Social Justice Foundation.
It is currently working with India’s poorest people and harnessing the power of science and technology to improve their living conditions.
Their work includes solar powered lighting systems to eliminate the use of kerosene lamps, development of cheap mobile phones and other health related technologies.
Debates on whether aid works, how much aid budgets should be and how they are spent ought not to be the only focus, it noted.
The organisation believes this will help prevent “compassion fatigue” and the feeling by many that poverty issues are far too huge and complex to actually be ever solved.
“We are aware of the enormity of the challenge we have set ourselves, but we must work to ensure all emerging economies secure inclusive growth. If we do not secure this we will have wasted the opportunity to lift millions out of poverty.”
To this end, the charity will call for the setting up of a ministerial group on social justice from the emerging BRIC economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China) to share best practice on inclusive growth and developments in science and technology.