The problem of poverty dominates the discussions of all world leaders. Despite the rapid and amazing advance of science and technology the problem remains unsolved. Various measures are evolved and implemented by governments all over the world to manage resources effectively and realize the maximum benefits to the people badly hit by poverty. Every country wants higher economic growth. Material prosperity has come to be recognized as an important measure of a country's success. Similarly the capacity to command wealth is considered as the measure of individual's success. While the country wants to grow in terms of national income the individual wants to prosper by commanding more resources for a higher standard of living.Despite all these efforts the problem of poverty remains and poses a perennial challenge. The growth in national income and per capita income is rendered insignificant. It is often neutralized by inflation and a growing population. Some times the situation worsens due to the scarcity of essential goods and services.In a democracy the resource of power is vested in the elected representatives of the people and it takes various forms. It is exercised by the executive, legislature and the judiciary. While driving a car we know the power flow is regulated by coordinating the various functions discharged by the gear, clutch, accelerator, brake and the steering. Similarly the elected representatives of the people are expected to use the resource in a coordinated manner for the eradication of poverty. This is possible in two ways.1.Augmenting essential resources increasing their productivity and channelizing them primarily to meet the basic requirements of the poor and 2.Conserving them. Conservation of resources is as important as augmenting them. In a large manufacturing firm it is easier to attain reduction in raw material costs which account for over 70% of the total costs in some cases, than to improve profits through increased output and sales. Similarly in a large country it is easier to conserve resources and to increase their productivity than to augment them. The key resource of power has to be conserved to augment and conserve other resources. This is the task before leadership. The failure of democracy to make significant progress in the area of poverty abolition, despite various measures implemented, is due to the failure of leadership at all levels to conserve and channelize power and to use it to benefit the poor. Thus the cure for poverty has to be found in the area of leadership. The various chapters in this book have this underlying theme and against this background the reader is requested to view poverty and the solution. Thus concepts like power management and development leadership have been discussed in detail. The incidence of rural poverty is more and towards improvement rural development with reference to poverty abolition is discussed.The role of character in economic development assumes importance and greater reliance on value systems is advocated for building stronger foundations of economic progress. So this area is also emphasized for consideration seriously by leaders in power. A systems approach where formal and informal organization structures have to link their subsystems including voluntary agencies is considered necessary for poverty reduction. The example of Sri Lanka which has achieved significant progress in tackling poverty is relevant and is highlighted towards the end of the book.
About the Author: Ramaswamy Thanu (b.1934) obtained his Honors Degree in Economics from the University of Kerala and MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmadabad. He has experience of over 40 years in research, administration, management and consultancy. He has published several papers on leading professional journals and presented papers at all India conventions and Asia Pacific Conference of Management Consultants. He is a Certified Management Consultant. He has published over thirty books on different .subjects. Some titles are Random Thoughts on Management, Wisdom and Management, 21st Century Vision of Management Leadership, Garland of Incompetence, Practical Life Style, Death, Poverty Power management and Development Leadership, The Funny Side of Management, and Foundations of Happiness. He was a speaker at the World Parliament on Spirituality held in Hyderabad in 2012. Currently he is the Editor of a monthly E Magazine, Enlightened Entrepreneur, and Spiritual Ecology, a Quarterly E Magazine published under the auspices of The World United.