The Poverty

One of the most overwhelming things about India is the extreme poverty that one sees everywhere. We never take a ride without seeing crippled beggars or mothers with babies asking for coins amidst the traffic at a stop light. Along the railroad tracks there are large shanty towns and on the sidewalks there are families living in the dirt. We walk down the street and are regularly accosted. The economic inequality of our privileged family traveling through India was particularly brought home last night when we were taking a tuk-tuk ride home from the movies at 9 pm. There was a girl just about Nora’s age was running through traffic, covered in dirt, begging. The kids--Nicholas in particular--are affected by seeing all this but seem to be handling it reasonably well. I know that we are not supposed to give money to the beggars but periodically my conscience breaks and we will give a few rupees. Even our guide confessed to having a hard time with it, especially when he sees the very young or the very old. Ultimately I find it difficult to know the best thing to do. There is no comparison between the charities that I am involved with in New York and the overwhelming and inescapable poverty here. So while I won’t stop giving to my temple or the other organizations at home, I will need to find a charity which helps support and educate children here.