INDIA-------->A Country of the Third World

                                   In numerical the order is like this------ 1,2 and then 3. In sports also there are three people who gets an award each-----1st, 2nd and 3rd. It might appear a bit strange that I highlighted only 3 in both the lines and also included ' Third ' in the title. There is no harm in being 3rd or being 3. But that is at the personal level. What happens when a Country is labelled as Third? In Olympics or other sports it's okay. But if it is named as "Third World Country" then? 

           Before we discuss anything about India being a Third World Country we should discuss certain details which gave birth to this term itself. Let's go back in time for that. The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define the countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO(which along with its allies represented the First World ), or communism and the Soviet Union (which along with its allies represented the Second World ). This definition provided a way of broadly dividing the nations of Earth into three groups based on Social, Economic and Political divisions. 
                       But due to many of the Third World Countries being extremely poor, it suddenly became the custom to refer to under-developed countries as the Third World. Here in comes India. It is often said that these countries are slowly coming up but still not there. The term lost its original meaning and became something else and India started getting looked down upon.

                       Today after so many years of Independence, however, we are slowly earning respect from the outside world. We have almost a stable economy, great leaders to lead the country, beautiful cities, good military strength etc. People in cities enjoy a great life. There are schools and colleges with good faculty that give education of a high level, good corporate sectors which provide jobs to several people every year. We have shopping malls with latest fashion and trends, cinema halls with an International Atmosphere, restaurants which present the taste of the world on the plate etc. People can afford to have a lavish life, many can afford to have personal cars and personal drivers also. For amusement we have amusement parks and discos for the young generation.
                       Even in many villages these days there is electricity, proper water system to water the field, tractors and fertilizers for the crops to grow, schools etc. Government is trying to better their condition all the time. Seeing this, debaters can easily debate that it's high time that India should be removed of the tag of a Third World Country and freed from being looked upon as an under-developed nation. But these developments are just one side of the coin. The other side depicts something else.
                       Poverty in India is the biggest barrier to rise to the top level of Development. Poverty and poor condition has contributed directly to the illiteracy factor. Illiteracy has lead to blind faith and holding on to old customs which has no practical meaning and this directly and indirectly is affecting the progress. Modern facilities have reached many villages but there are still many villages in India where even basic needs are not met. There is dearth of water, food and life is terrible in those areas. Electricity is a dream for them. 

                       Effect of illiteracy is immense. Even after so many years of Independence, in villages women are burnt with suspect that they are being possessed by some evil-spirit. Child Marriage is very much prevalent in places outside the range of our eyes. Condition is remote places of India is still in the medieval ages. Cities tend to hide it's other face with the glamour and glitter but harsh truth is that condition of cities are also not upto the mark.
                      


           Mumbai, considered to be the Business and Entertainment Capital of India has the largest slum present in India. It's unimaginable but true. Not only Mumbai but also in other developed cities of India people can be seen begging on the streets. Poor children trying to sell candlesticks at the traffic signal is a tearful sight to watch. But what to do it's reality.
                      
          

                       

                      Child Labour just adds salt to this wound. Young children can be seen carrying luggage as a porter in railway stations, working in tea-stalls and though it has been banned in India still it can be seen in open daylight.
                      





                      The health facility is no better. We do have many hospitals and also some well-furnished and well-equipped ones, but not affordable always by the common men. People often cannot buy the basic medicine needed for them because of money. 
                      This is the real picture of India. It's reality lies in this. For this to be removed, poverty and illiteracy should be the first things to be taken care of. Then only we can march forward and claim our rightful position and Title. It's not that those countries which are part of the First and Second World are all better than us. If Third World means countries who are underdeveloped then there are many among the top 2 who are in a much more worse condition than India.

                       It cannot be said that we are not progressing. We are, but the pace is very slow. Now a days people have started to understand the value of education and so we can still see amidst all the poverty children trying to study in street lamps under the open sky. Government of India is doing for them they can though they can do much more. Campaigns are being held to promote the necessity of Education and literacy but still it is in its early days. NGOs and other organizations are coming up to help people but still more effort is needed. 
                       
                 
                    We are really a Country of the Third World. We are still underdeveloped because a small section of the society can't represent the entire nation. But we are progressing. It's neither near nor far when we can stand up straight, held our heads up and question the World about their status. But the fight is still there and the journey has just began. 



                ~~~~~~~~~~~J A I   H I N D~~~~~~~~~~~~