Colombia´s poverty rates shock as millions on 1.5 USD a day
Extreme poverty is on the increase in Colombia´s most under-developed regions, with figures revealing over 40% of inhabitants of the remote Chocó have a monthly income of less than 91,000 pesos (47 US dollars).
Colombia´s national statistic office DANE, yesterday published its poverty index, showing over 10 per cent of Colombia´s 46 million live on little more than a dollar a day.
Official figures show that since coming to power in 2010, the Santos government has taken as many as 700,000 out of ´extreme poverty´, and 1.7 million out of ´poverty´.
Despite this, nationwide poverty rates are running at almost 40% of the population while in Chocó, and Cauca this figure is much higher, 68 and 62% respectively.
Santos may argue that improvement has been made, but poverty is on the increase in Colombia´s hardest hit regions.
What is poor?
´Extreme poverty´ is classified as those who earn no more than 91,000 pesos a month, while the monthly income threshold for those considered ´poor´ varies according to department.
Here´s the thing. The government recently amended the way in which it measures poverty. Under the current regime, for a Colombian to be considered poor, he must earn less than 200,000 pesos (100 USD a month). This figure is the national average, and in poorer departments like Cauca once a worker earns over 168,000 pesos a month he is no longer considered poor.
Hang on… Someone that earns less than 90 US dollars a month is not considered poor?
Equally, the government does not consider poor a family of four with an income of 780,000 pesos. That´s 400 dollars a month. Yes, between four. Ask yourself; can someone living on so little really be considered to have moved out of poverty?
Colombia Politics view
The Santos doctrine is “Prosperity for everyone”. If 68 per cent of those from Chocó and if 62 per cent of those from Cauca struggle by with 90 dollars in their pocket, can the president really argue that the country is progressing – and for everyone?
Bruce Mac Master, the minister for Social Prosperity last year told Portafolio newspaper that the government had already reached 70% of the goals set for the four years of the Santos mandate. Well, if the government has already made such inroads into its target – laudable as that is – then the bar was, frankly. not set anywhere near high enough.
President Santos´government is building houses for the poor, it is undoubtedly focusing attention on those left on the margins, but is it doing enough? Is it surely complacent to argue Colombia is now a more “modern, just and secure” country (Santos´ new election mantra) when so many live in such abject conditions.
Colombia is one of the world´s most unequal societies.
The media and the political class have celebrated DANE´s figures over the past couple of years. Colombia Politics sees very little to cheer.
On the contrary, poverty in Colombia should be cause for sorrowful soul-searching, for reform, for action. For us, the DANE´s figures are a tragedy.
Picture, 24.
Pointing the finger at Santos’ government alone, will not work. I think Colombia is no exception to the rule that, like must other governments worldwide now, it has to keep a tight leash on the budget in these turbulent times. And since eradicating poverty costs money, for me the more appropriate question would be: how much is society in general prepared to sacrifice on certain aspects to the benefit of poverty alleviation ? Will there be a platform to cut down on the enormous military expenses, for instance ? Will there be a platform to raise taxes on industry ? (the scary thing is that these figures prove yet again that economic growth does not necessarily equal improvement of life standard or employment for all). It’s in large part a matter of the choices that are to be made in the national budget and Santos of course is looking at his electorate that needs to get him re-elected in 2014. Unless that electorate gives clear indications that they want the wealth to be spread more equally, nothing much will change, I’m afraid.
Rudi, you´re right, poverty is not something invented since Santos came to power, and equally is not something his government alone can fix.
It is a real problem that some point complacently to the DANE figures as though they were cause for celebration. We believe that actually they´re not. Far more must be done, all progress is good news, but unless we push the government to do more the country´s development will be stunted.
We all want a country more just and fair and Santos´ government, at least rhetorically, is focused on improving the situation. But as citizens it our duty to push them further.
Reasons for poverty go much deeper than the government´s approach to tax and spend. Thanks for your comment and joining in the debate – cheers.
This kind of ‘shock and awe’ post is worthless rock throwing. If you have nothing constructive to say, add or provide, if you have nothing that will move the action forward or make some kind of difference [even potentially] please say nothing and leave the space blank. This article is nonsensical except to those who like to throw rocks.
The intention is not to throw rocks but to demand that more must be done to improve the lot for Colombia´s poor. Shouldn´t the government be encouraged to do more? I we all have a duty to be appalled by the poverty. Quite apart from leaving the space blank, CP always tries to report on the reality of Colombia, and not just the “fluffy stuff”. Thanks.
I thought the article was pretty informative and the claims bases on solid arguments. If this is rock-throwing I suggest we throw a little harder and use bigger rocks
We have a right to be informed. The manipulation of the figures paints a different reality from what is being lauded in the Colombian press. This is no conspiracy neither is it rock throwing, it’s an informed article establishing – constructively – that the information is being packaged by the government as good news.