《一百萬零一夜》：孟加拉的窮人天使

電影《一百萬零一夜》可謂現實童話。透過電視遊戲節目《百萬富翁》，帶出賈馬作為印度低下階層的成長經歷，最終贏取二千萬盧比獎金脫貧。消除貧窮是聯合國可持續發展目標之首，足以證明這是一項世界性議題。然而，二零三零年消除一切形式的貧窮又談何容易？

定義貧窮是具爭議性的學術辯題。一派認為，收入是最客觀量度方法。個人而言即是收入，國家而言則是人均國內生產總值。不過另一派認為，能力是最長遠量度指標。個人對選擇其生活方式的自由，會否因應個人背景、生活環境，以至政治氛圍所影響。

兩項指標固然有其優劣之處。反觀世界銀行制定的貧窮線，以較客觀的準則，界定為人均每日收入一毫九美元。至於消除貧窮策略，實屬百花齊放。部分政府選擇派發現金，部分政府則以帶有條件的現金移轉方法。在南亞的孟加拉，則有另類創新的扶貧計劃。

經濟學教授穆罕默德・尤努斯，在孟加拉成立孟加拉鄉村銀行。透過借出微型貸款，即是二十七元美金予貧苦大眾，協助他們自力更生創業。對於借貸予沒有資產的窮人，傳統銀行一般拒諸門外。微型貸款改以小組形式借貸，小組有道義責任，幫助遇上困難的組員。

孟加拉鄉村銀行亦會從微型貸款中，抽取百分之五建立預備基金。借款人一旦遇上緊急的情況，就可動用基金，協助償還每周的貸款。小組成員亦可善用基金，為初創企業購買保險，或用作發展其他的技能。作為全球人口第八大的國家，微型貸款是協助脫貧的關鍵之一。

數據顯示，逾三百四十萬孟加拉人曾經申請微型貸款，而當中二百六十萬人是生活在全球貧窮線以下。有報道指，近三成借貸人在多間鄉村銀行借貸，無力承受高利率的貸款。不過，當地政府在二零零六年起，成立微型貸款監管機構，致力杜絕相關後果。

「貧窮應該屬於博物館， 不屬於文明世界。」穆罕默德・尤努斯，二零零六年成為諾貝爾和平獎得主。無可否認，微型貸款突破傳統銀行的做法，重新肯定窮人的能力，讓低下擺脫跨代貧窮的窘境。然而，這只是冰山一角的成功例子，相信消除貧困仍是漫漫長路。

名稱：一百萬零一夜 (Slumdog Millionaire)

導演：Danny Boyle

年份：2008

產地：英國

類型：劇情、愛情

評分：7/10

名稱：認識全球貧困：原因、能力和人類發展 (暫譯) (Understanding Global Poverty: Causes, Capabilities and Human Development)

作者：Serena Cosgrove, Benjamin Curtis

年份：2017

出版地：英國

出版社：勞特里奇

類別：社會科學、貧窮

評分：7/10

Southeast Entry: The Angel of Poverty in Bangladesh

Slumdog Millionaire is a modern fairytale. Jamal Malik was an 18-year-old contestant of a TV game show. Winning the INR 20 million prize made him recount the flashback of his life, and allowed him to get rid of poverty. Poverty eradication is acknowledged in the 2030 Agenda as the greatest global challenge for sustainable development. Yet, is “end poverty in all its forms everywhere” just an empty slogan?

Poverty is an abstract and vague term. The income approach examines it in a monetary base. It depends on one’s income, or the GDP per capita as for a nation. While the capabilities approach regards “the actual freedom of choice a person has over alternative lives” as an indicator. A successful development relies on one’s willingness and realistic performance, under an inclusive and equal environment.

There are two sides to every coin. To measure poverty, the World Bank draws a global international poverty line. Those who live on less than $1.90 a day are classified as in extreme poverty. Eradicating poverty varies from country to country. Some implement a cash transfer program while some require the recipients to meet specified criteria. In Bangladesh, an alternative poverty alleviation model has been invented.

The economist Muhammad Yunus founded the Grameen Bank and pioneered microcredit. Banks refuse to lend loans for the insolvent people. Yet, what the artisan women need is just a total of 27 dollars, which allows them to resume their economic activities. The group-based scheme attempts to harness the collective power of mutual support, by pooling their savings and setting up their businesses.

5% of loans will be levied for the “group fund”. Under the scheme, a quarter of the active interest will be used in an emergency fund. In addition, group members can either purchase insurance for their startup company, or channel the resource for skill development. As the eighth most populated country in the world, the invention of microcredit is undoubtedly one of the key factors to alleviate poverty.

Microcredit lifted 10 million Bangladeshis out of poverty between 1990 and 2008, said to the US-based Microcredit Summit Campaign. Reports said nearly 30% of the Grameen Bank borrowers failed to repay their debts with high interest rates. In 2006, the government established the Microcredit Institution in order to avoid the devastating consequences by tightening its supervision towards money lending.

“Poverty does not belong in civilized human society. Its proper place is in a museum. That is where it will be.” In 2006, Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the creation of economic and social development from below. Microcredit is an innovative tool to break through the vicious cycle of intergenerational poverty. However, is eradication extreme poverty in the near future?

Title: Understanding Global Poverty: Causes, Capabilities and Human Development

Author: Serena Cosgrove, Benjamin Curtis

Year: 2017

Region: UK

Publisher: Routledge

Genre: Social Science, Poverty

Score: 7/10