Who is the POOR?
By tryxiness
@tryxiness (4544)
Philippines
August 20, 2008 7:43am CST
I work in a non-government organization that aims to reduce poverty. Recently I have tried contemplating on my work experience.
I had a two-week training in an institution who has been an instrument for reducing poverty in the Southern tagalog area. As we tried to understand the institution, I have learned that the people they are mostly targeting are the entrepreneurial poor, and that the other segment of the poorest of the poor has not been greatly encouraged or motivated to be uplifted from their status.
Then in one of the discussions, the emerging new poor are people who have worked and was able to finish studies but could not afford to live with the amount they are earning (or the pension they are receiving).
And this somehow bothers me in so many ways, because, I realized that everyone of us is vulnerable to become poor. The senior citizens are very vulnerable to becoming poor because aside from the fact that they also face the economic crisis, the amount of pension they receive is fixed and if they are not healthy it is given that they have to avail of their maintenance medicines which are costly.
Gosh, I am being pessimistic... but I also believe that being poor is a mindset. :) Hehe! Anyways, for you who are the poor? Can you describe them? Thanks.
1 person likes this
11 responses
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
Wow I never had that kind of realization that there are several kinds of being poor. Maybe I would consider myself poor too. Well I am seeing my parents going in there as they are retired pensioner but because their state of health is really deteriorating the money they get from the pension only goes through their medicines and sometimes I feel they are really hard in making their ends meet. Maybe they are just lucky because they are at times being supported by my sister who works abroad, but, they could not really depend on her as she has a family abroad and has a big family there also to support so the money sent to them is just enough for them to make their ends meet at times.
I would consider myself poor too. Although, I was able to finish my education and has a job and regular salary, I had to make ends meet too. Sometimes I had to make extra effort to make loans to really meet the demands for all the things we need at the house. It is really sad to know that I too am categorized as being like that. Sad realization, but true.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
12 Sep 08
I guess, I am like you too. We are vulnerable to being poor. I mean, there things or situations that make us susceptible to being poor. But hey, we still are lucky in so many ways compared to those people that were not able to finish education and have no access to financial services. 
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
I hate getting loans too. Promise! It is something I dread. But when I had the field exposure in a microfinance institution, I salute those mothers who have not finished their studies on how they used the loan they get from the institution, and how they rotate the money they have to make it "income-generating" and at the same time address the needs of their families. It's a matter of skills they have developed in order to survive.
It's a matter of skills they have developed in order to survive.
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
20 Aug 08
I disagree with you you when you said "but I also believe that being poor is a mindset" I am borderline poor, and I have worked hard all of my life. I put my son through college without the help of financial aid. It is just the signs of the time, that has put me in the position that I am in now. I was laid off from my job two months ago, the money I am receiving for unemployment is 40% less than my take home pay when I was working. That hurts one financially. I am looking for work, but most jobs I see are paying less than what I am getting from unemployment, so with the cost of gas and taking a job with a lower pay, I would actually be losing money if I went to work for any of these companies. I am not making excuses, this is the way it is. My rent is more than one unemployment check, so where does that leave me for the rest of the month? I believe some people have control of their circumstances, but other's fall victim to the economic condition of the country.
It is wonderful that you now have a job, and I am sure your organization is a good one, I pray that you will have your job for a long time.
Good luck, and God bless
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
20 Aug 08
Thanks for replying. I am vulnerable to being poor. I am also in the borderline.
When I said that being poor is a mindset, that's because when I think that I am vulnerable to being poor and that thoughts of having nowhere to go depresses me even in thoughts. Thus, I tend to think that I am rich so as not to be depressed and to attract positive energy surrounding me.
You are in fact lucky to have unemployment "allowance" from your government, because in my country, if you are unemployed you would really suffer from all of the economic pressures surrounding you. Our state does not give us allowance if we are unemployed. We eventually suffer. Even if we are earning, we are still suffering from the economic pressures surrounding us. I guess, this depends really culturally. In my country, we have to work hard to earn the amount we need to get by. I still believe you are one lucky person.
1 person likes this
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
20 Aug 08
Yes, I am lucky, things could be worse than what they are. I am surprised that your government does not help people when they had a job, and for no reason of their own, they no longer work. What does one do in a situation like that?
Compared, to your country's policy, I am indeed lucky.
Take care, and good luck
2 people like this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
Ideally, the state should give provision to those who are unemployed (and other stuff), but, it does not apply in our government, basically because of corruption. We have a ministry here that supposedly cater to that, but that particular agency has limited powers (or say capacity) because the agency could only give something minimal (and not comfortable for a basic need of humans).
To those who are unemployed, they either resort to being entrepreneurial or do labored work if they were not able to finish their formal education. But, I guess, I have to commend my people for having master the art of survival.:)
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
All of has can be poor based on the criteria... but in my opinion... those who are poor are the ones who do not have access to man's basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing... and we see people like that all over Metro Manila... i wish there are shelters in our country where people who are homeless can spend the night... in my city... i have seen a temporary shelter for street children being contructed near a police station... and i think that is a good move by the local government...
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
12 Sep 08
Addressing poverty in our country can be effectively done in a local government level. I mean, I salute your city for doing such act. I guess, LGUs are the very key person in addressing the needs of their constituents. :)
1 person likes this
@shyama86 (73)
•
21 Aug 08
Hi everybody,
Richness and poverty -this is a state of mind. Man's desires are inumerable. If u fullfill one another will prop up. For example if u have a bycycle u yearn for a bike if u have that ur mind will think of having a car like that.
The only solution for this is practising how to become self contented. If u are contented with what u are , if u know how to balance yr expenses in proportion to yr income then u dont hv to worry much about the future. Those ones are really poor who are not contented with all their richness and prosperity ,who run after
more and more comforts and luxury.
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
I have to agree with you that man's desires are inumerable and that richness and poverty is a state of mind.
And yes, balance is important as well as having a financial plan in the process.
@mobilecubie (820)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
Greetings, well if you ask me those who are really financially poor are the people who can't even avail of the cheapest basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing and health care. Those who can afford three meals a day, a small house, education for four children and a minimum level of comfort are supposed considered as no longer poor. Truth be told there just isn't too much opportunities present right now to alleviate those who fall way below the poverty level. Here in our country even those who are slightly above the poverty level are still considered poor, but then again that is what you get for living in a third world country.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
I have to agree with you, given that we live in a third world country makes everyone of us vulnerable to being poor. :)
1 person likes this
@mobilecubie (820)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
Indeed, if those in the first world countries have the chance to bee poor, what more for us living in a third world country. Well I guess that is why most of our country men and women are going overseas for greener pastures, but its sad really.
1 person likes this
@semicolonp (518)
• Philippines
20 Aug 08
I usually consider people poor when they can't meet basic need demands due to insufficient funds/resources. And admittedly, it's not really an issue of money for me. There are countless of people who can, say, feed themselves from produce they grew themselves, so even if they didn't have enough money to buy food outside their home, they can, essentially, manage to feed themselves.
In that discussion you were talking about, was that like when underemployment became a category in employment? That is, before it was just whether you were employed or unemployed. Then came the people who -were- employed but had jobs that were way below what they studied for, making them overqualified for whatever job they were doing... and, uh, I think I'm going off-topic. Sorry. ^_^x
2 people like this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
12 Sep 08
I agree with this, "I usually consider people poor when they can't meet basic need demands due to insufficient funds/resources." I agree in a way that aside from the resources, these people do not have access to like education or any skills that normally a getting by individual could have.
Re: underemployment, I guess, I confused you in a way that, what I meant is that the emerging poor now are those people though they were able to finish certain degrees, but now are old that they merely rely on their pensions. The amount of pension they receive do not compensate or address their other needs (aside from the food on the table and the shelter) like expensive medicines for their maintenance. :)
@tlb0822 (1410)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I think that anyone can become poor and there are different types of poor. There are those who feel like they don't have to work because the system pays for them. Then there are those who have worked all there lives, and need extra help. And there are those who really need the help, and work the butts off but don't recieve any help because there are to many lazy people taking advantage of the system. I can understand needing help, but when you decide to just collect off the system and do nothing, makes me angry. There are a lot of hardworking people out there who need help, and can't get it. I think that there are people who want to be poor, and those who can't help being poor. The only ones who should recieve help are the ones who can't help being poor.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
I have learned about this from my foster brother who in a way was cynical with the poor people in his country - you described them as this:There are those who feel like they don't have to work because the system pays for them.
Thank you for classifying and identifying the type of poor existing in your country.
@sweethomecatring (1563)
• India
21 Aug 08
In this part of the world where I am there are some Non Government Organisations which are working for the cause of the poor people. The defination of poor here is some what like this. The people who had no approach to the education are the most poor people who needs help. These organisations use to adeopt childern of such people put them to school for education and uplift not only them financially but uplift them mentally also. I feel there where there is more powerty in the world , the right thinging govts. should come forward to enact some international to raise some fund segments for help removing the powerty.
Further the reasons behind this problem world over is that the charity raised for such section of society does to reach the people who are in need.Please express your views on my thoughts.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
Thank you for your suggestions. All in all, I guess, we need to empower people who are poor and also to give them access to financial services.
@magojordan (3252)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
I agree that the new poor would be someday people who have jobs but don't have enough to pay daily expenses. Let's face it even though you have a job now prices are just going up and you are not given a raise immediately or sometimes you aren't given any raise at all. I just hope that the appropriate action would be done so that there would be less poor people in this country. 
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
I have to agree with you, that the income we get from our jobs does not suffice our daily needs. I guess, that is one of the many reasons why people opt to work abroad.
@orissan (23)
• India
21 Aug 08
Whom we shall call poor is also a basic question.Those who can not meet their basic need of food,shelter and clothes are called poor from economic point of view. Human wants are unlimited.Those living descent life also want more comfort living and think themselves poor.'Being poor is a mind set' may not be in correct. In under developed and developing countries there is competition to be declared as poor to avail the benefits provided by the Government.
In India people living far above poverty line are trying to be enlisted as BPL-Below Poverty Line. What shall we call it? Isn't it poor in mind set?
1 person likes this
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
Sometimes really humans, because of their unlimited wants as you pointed out, feel poor because of the mind set or say pessimism about certain situation.
@pehpot (4762)
• Philippines
21 Aug 08
So in your discussion, it is said that the new poor is those who are graduates and yet cannot afford to live life with their earnings? so how do they define now the poorest? the one who cannot even have a decent job or the one who cannot have at least one decent meal in a day? Confusing, but to me being poor is also a mind setting like you said and to me I am not.
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
13 Sep 08
What I meant in the introduction of this discussion is that the emerging poor are the old ones who were able to attend their studies and they rely on their pension, but the amount they receive do not actually address their needs because of other expenses like maintenance medicines.
