Fleeing women.

"India has lifted 171 million people out of extreme poverty." According to World Bank report, "the proportion of people living on less than 2.15 US dollars a day, which is the benchmark for extreme poverty, fell sharply from 16.2% in 2011-12 to just 2.3% in 2022-23." pib.gov.in. "India's latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) adopted the Modified Mixed Recall Period (MMRP) method, replacing the outdated Uniform Reference Period (URP)," As a result, "Poverty under the new $3.00 line stood at 5.25%, while under the older $2.15 line it dropped further to 2.35%." pib.gov.in. However, the poverty line for a lower middle-income country is $4.20 and for an upper middle-income country is $8.30. "The Indian government surveys consumption rather than income levels" "while other countries estimate income inequality. The two are very different." Also, "Many studies show that India does not do too well in inter-generational mobility. Those born with social or economic disadvantages find it difficult to move ahead," wrote Niranjan Rajadhyaksha. In the state of Jharkhand, women, often entire families, flee their village when they are unable to repay multiple loans. In Jainagar village, "most households have massive loans, ranging between Rs 80,000 and Rs 100,000." Since there is no employment people cannot manage without loans. Microfinance company Spandana Sphoorty wrote off bad loans worth Rs 16.18 billion, 18.3% of the average loan book, wrote Ritwika Mitra. Although the government is giving free food grains to 813.5 million people every month for five years, starting on 01.01.2024, (pib.gov.in) people are clearly unwilling to live just on the breadline. The landmark Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was enacted on 23 August 2005 and provides 100 days of guaranteed paid employment to at least one member of every rural household. wikipedia. "It has enabled significant changes in the rural market of labor. Women make up more than half the workforce." "It has contributed indirectly through infrastructure creation, which has boosted rural productivity." "Despite MGNREGA wages being lower than market wages, almost a third of India's rural households continue to take up work under the scheme," wrote Prof Himanshu. "The population covered by social protection systems has increased from 22% in 2016 to 64.3% in 2025,..data released by the Statistics Ministry showed." "Prime Minister Narendra Modi...said India is rapidly advancing toward becoming the world's third-largest economy." HT. Strange to boast about becoming richer with the number of poor requiring social security trebling at the same time. Perhaps, the women who are fleeing their homes and families can make sense. We surely can't.