A Way through the Pain of Mysore's Poverty
by Elizabeth H. Florio
Does it matter that another small-but-growing organization to address poverty has sprung up in Mysore, India? Does it matter that they are helping some of India's poorest mothers, children, and elderly acquire basic necessities such as food, shelter, clean water, and education? Do we, in the wealthy United States, need to concern ourselves with what people are doing outside of our borders to combat poverty? The answer is (or should be) yes to all three questions.
It does matter how our brothers and sisters in less advantaged areas live. It does matter that strong organizations run by courageous and heart-connected people arise to address needs in the community––any community. And, yes, those of us with more money and means must help those of us with less. Like it or not, we are all in life together, and we simply must support and help each other. Why? Because way down in the deepest reaches of our hearts, most of us understand that there is a very fine line between having enough to eat or not, between living in a nice home or not, and keeping a job or not. Most of us have the sense that a very mutable line separates us from the homeless person we encounter in the world. And, we intuitively understand that we are all connected; that if one suffers, we all, in essence, suffer.
We know that many circumstances in life are beyond our control and our lives can change in a very fast minute. In the U.S., that fine line between poverty and having enough is often the result of circumstances. For example, you lose a job and have to be cautious and spend less until you find another job. Or, perhaps you become sick for an extended amount of time and can hardly manage to pay the hospital bills. But in Mysore, India, people are born into poverty. Few of them do anything to put themselves there. It is simply a fact of their lives and one that is beyond their control.
Operation Shanti is a non-profit organization, started in 2004, with headquarters in Mysore, India and San Francisco, CA. Operation Shanti's aim is to help the poorest and neediest people from the streets attain basic necessities. While the city of Mysore has enjoyed an upsurge in improvements to transportation and social infrastructure, it still has its share of problems. With a population said to be hovering around 800,000, Mysore, India is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, and it, like many cities in India or anywhere for that matter, has a drastic and tragic poverty level. Many of Mysore's homeless are said to live on less than a dollar per day.
Through Operation Shanti's Street People Program, they address the issue of homelessness and poverty for mothers, children, and the elderly. This program provides shelter placement, services, food, water, vitamin supplements, clothing, tutoring, and field trips to points of interest for program participants.
One important goal of the organization is to raise enough funds to buy a plot of land and build a community center where street people are given a safe house to sleep in at night and laundry facilities (in addition to the services already mentioned).
With a community center, Operation Shanti will expand their reach to an even greater number of chronic homeless and bring this segment of the population some well-needed relief and well-deserved kindness.
Reading the stories of the homeless women and children on the Operation Shanti Web site (http://www.operation-shanti.org/pages/msp_solution.html#) is heart wrenching, yet so important to understanding the people affected by degradation, disease, and despair in the streets of Mysore. These are women and children abandoned by husbands and family, children abused by caregivers who sometimes run away, children whose parents have died, or elderly people who are simply dumped on the streets because they can't afford housing and their medicines. These stories are about innocent, perfectly fine, and useful human beings who are thrust into more than tragic circumstances, but who very much want to improve their lives. And, most express an interest in finding a permanent solution to their situation.
We must continue to support organizations that do vital work in our human community to help the less fortunate by donating our time and money. We must take care of each other, if for no other reason than it's the right thing to do. Any one of us would want this assistance if we found ourselves in similar unfortunate circumstances. Operation Shanti currently saves just handfuls of people from the despair of homelessness and poverty in Mysore, but with help from the global community, they can reach greater numbers of people.
In India, names are rife with deep, historical, and spiritual meanings. The Sanskrit word “shanti” means quiet peace and tranquility. Isn't this what every human being (despite their circumstances, mistakes, or personal challenges) deserves? Yes, Operation Shanti has difficult work ahead of it to address the needs of the street people in Mysore, but their goals are attainable with help from us. Maybe we can save the four dollars per day that most of us spend on our morning cup of coffee or chai, send that money to Operation Shanti, and see what good we can each do in the world.
To learn more about ways you can help Operation Shanti and their efforts, please check www.operation-shanti.org. Elizabeth Florio is a freelance writer who can be reached at liz@butterfatdp.com.