Poverty has been a problem in our country for years and the government has continuously pledged to eliminate or at least try to reduce poverty in Canada. However, according to the parentcentral.ca, “One in eight Ontario children live in families that can’t afford fresh fruits and vegetables every day, or can’t afford to replace a broken appliance or share the occasional meal with friends or family.”

South Asian youth is craving to give back to the community. How, however has become an issue for them. These young men and women neglect the poverty in their own backyards. They visit their parent’s native lands and feel that there is a greater need in India or Bangladesh than here in North America. The common perception is that the Canadian and American governments are better equipped to tackle with poverty and poor people, therefore, they feel less responsibility toward their poor neighbours in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Scarborough and other cities of Canada. The numbers about poverty in our cities are astonishing and need active engagement from us – the youth. Just remember charity begins at home.

 Ontario Deprivation Index introduced by Children’s Minister Laurel Broten is a mere effort to reduce poverty in Ontario which includes ten indications of people that are suffering poverty. “Fighting poverty means looking beyond income and examining the realities of life for our most disadvantaged families and children,” the report says. “The Ontario Deprivation Index is a new measure that tells us how the Poverty Reduction Strategy is ensuring more families can afford a standard of living that many Ontarians take for granted.”

 ”Poverty is not just about meeting people’s needs but also about being able to participate in society.” said Michael Oliphant of the Daily Bread Food Bank who plays a significant role in developing this new measure. The index includes both basic necessities and activities that promote social inclusion, such as being able to afford to buy modest gifts for family or friends once a year or being able to afford a vehicle or public transit fare, Oliphant said.

 Families and children who are not able to afford 2 or more items are considered as having “poverty level standard of living.” The report also mentions that 12.5 per cent of Ontario children, about 337,000, were lacking at least two items this year.

 Many other countries have also been using poverty indexes to tackle poverty but Canada is the first one to have taken such a measure in North America.

 However, critics aren’t very pleased by this new measure. Many are regarding it as “just words and little action.” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said “although the new deprivation index is good, action on affordable housing, child care, the minimum wage and the Ontario Child Benefit are what is really needed.”

 Poverty Facts and Statistics:

• At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day 
• Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
• Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen
• Number of children in poverty throughout the world are 1 billion (every second child)
• Children out of education worldwide: 121 million

• Around 27-28 percent of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted

• According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty

Author:Rahul Mehta