In the Last Three Years, Indians Say Life has Worsened

Only 3 percent of Indians fall into the ‘thriving’ life category in 2017, according to a survey conducted by Gallup, a US based public polling company. In 2014, the year Narendra Modi took over the Prime Minister office, 14 percent Indians claimed that their lives were thriving. In three years of the BJP led rule, a decline of 11 percent has taken place in this category.

In the Gallup report titled ‘What Happiness Today Tells Us About the World Tomorrow’, it is stated that despite high expectations, low life ratings have been recorded in India.

“Indians’ ratings of their lives have also gotten worse every year, and just 3% of all Indians fall into the thriving category in 2017. This suggests that Indians’ high hopes for their economy and their leadership may not yet align with what they are personally experiencing,” concludes the report.

Also, this is the lowest rating in the last ten years suggesting the worsening life conditions of Indians. Russia, Columbia, Egypt are among other countries where declining thriving trends are noted.

Meanwhile, a different report, Human Rights Watch World Report 2017 stated that nearly 38 mob attacks by extremist Hindu groups affiliated with the ruling BJP party against Muslims have taken place in 2017 alone. The report added “Instead of taking prompt legal action against the attackers, police frequently filed complaints against the victims under laws banning cow slaughter,” criticising the controversial law which banned cow slaughter brought up by the BJP last year. The report further said that the BJP government failed to implement the banning of inhuman “manual scavenging” practice. Between April and July, last year, 39 people reportedly died from being trapped in toxic sewage lines.

In the last three years, a number of international news organisations have reported on the worsening living conditions especially religious minorities, Dalits and Adivasis.