Rising food costs in India, while still manageable, are worrisome, forcing the government to take various remedial steps such as severely curtailing rice exports and reducing import tariffs on food items. MCC programs in rural development have become increasingly important in this new global environment. The scary part is the thin margin on which millions of poor people survive in the global South. It wouldn’t take much to tip the balance toward massive hunger and even starvation.
I recently visited a part of rural India where MCC works at HIV/AIDS prevention, development and peacebuilding. Food security, HIV/AIDS, and peacebuilding are linked in this part of India, where there is a long history of government neglect in providing basic infrastructure.
Rising food prices give a new urgency to meeting the needs of poor people around the world. Rural and urban realities are linked in India. These people’s lives are also linked to the energy and consumption patterns of those of us who live in wealthy countries. It will take all of us working together to create a more just and sustainable world.
Earl Zimmerman is an MCC Co- Representative in India. Earl and his wife Ruth have been serving in India since 2007.
This is excerpted from Earl Zimmerman’s blog. To read the full blog entry visit kolkatareflections.blogspot.com/.
