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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
NP. Of course but a lot of the people you DO encounter are the ones begging because they go where tourists are. And lots of them are being exploited by their own people so you can’t “fix” or even slightly help people. You end up enriching the corrupt in the country rather than truly helping with your tourism dollars. Some people don’t consider that a pleasant experience. It is downright depressing to feel helpless dismay. Anyone thinking they are helping are fooling themselves. [/quote]
Indian-American here who grew up traveling to India frequently. Not going to pretend I didn't see poverty there, but the place I visited as a kid that most stands out to me for the number of people begging for money is actually Washington DC. [/quote]
Maybe the difference is that the homeless people begging in DC - I know that there are spots available to help them like soup kitchens and homeless shelters. [/quote]
You think there are no social services in India?[/quote]

I presume there are some but that they are no match for the very high poverty levels. [/quote]

While there is definitely poverty it’s it important not to assume and to label poverty within the definition seen through a Western lens.

There have been many housing projects for decades to move people from slums to apartments. The issue is beyond actual living conditions though.

There are communities and social networks for the people in those slums and moving into even newly built housing with electricity and running water isn’t always enticing. They lose their communities and their support systems.

So then they rent out the new govt housing and stay in the slum. This is a big issue in India but also in other places Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico and other countries.

It’s easy to presume circumstances but you have to be on the ground to understand there is more complexity than ‘oh look poverty” mentality. 
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