Anish Ghimire

As of 2019, there are 2,825 billionaires in the world. And there are 46.8 million millionaires. Now, that is a lot of money. Taking the millionaire’s data to the percentage, it amounts to just 0.9% of the global population but they own nearly half of the planet’s $361 trillion in wealth.
The effect of income inequality is indisputable here. While some are racing to get their daily bread, and some are racing to be the first trillionaire in the world. It is estimated that it would take about $7 billion to $265 million spendings per year to end world hunger.
According to UN officials, “$30 billion per year is needed to end the world hunger.” There are 795 million malnourished people in the world today. Jeff Bezos, the world’s wealthiest person has a net worth of 187.7 billion USD.
Jeff Bezos
To end world hunger, we only need one Jeff Bezos. Or if we go to a micro-level, if every person in the first world countries pays about $33.08 per year, then the world hunger problem is solved. But who has time for that? People pay this amount of money for NETFLIX and AMAZON PRIME.
The hunger, poverty, and inequality are there not because we don’t have any money. We have plenty to be fair, but we haven’t used them right. Money is being spent on short term satisfying luxuries rather than to save someone’s life.
To some wealthy people, to wear a diamond ring is far more important than for a poor girl to go to sleep with her stomach full. Showing off luxury is far better than showing humane traits, for some people.
Just like I said above, just one Jeff Bezos is enough to fill the stomach of people challenged by the complex system of economy. We have so much, but why isn’t it being used to save the one who hasn’t? Many wealthy people try though, to save the world.
Warren Buffet, one of the richest, is one of the most philanthropic people in the world. Yearly, he gives out a lot of his wealth for the sake of charity. Bill Gates, probably the most famous richest person, runs his foundation named, “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation”. Reports said, since 1994, the foundation has given $45.5 billion to charitable causes. Other philanthropists have contributed to see the brighter side of the world. But just as we know, it is still not enough.

Richest Nepali
Talking about Nepal, Binod Chaudhary is the richest Nepali in the world. His position in the Forbes billionaire list is 1349th rank. Just like Bill and Melinda Gates, Binod Chaudhary runs his foundation, the “Chaudhary Foundation” for the sake of society and its people. His website reads, “Chaudhary Foundation feels a strong sense of responsibility towards society and strives to build a better, healthier Nepal.”
The appropriate use of money is still not up to the rank it is supposed to be. The main thing we lack, in my view is unity. The wealthiest people must unite and work for a better cause. If you own something that can be used for the hope of a better world then why not? We need more charity and we need more help for the underprivileged.
In the case of Nepal, if we want to eradicate the hunger and poverty problem, rich people can come together to solve the problem. Sure, it’s nice to have a home with a swimming pool, but it is even better to see the smile on the face of a poor father when he realizes his kids won’t have to suffer anymore. Helpless mothers are sleeping on the roads with their kids, who is helping them? People passing by roll their eyes and step over them as they walk, I have seen it myself.
When helpless kids go to people in traffic jam asking for money, they pretend not to see them, I have seen it myself. I have seen such horror and cruelty from the wealthy when it comes to providing aid for the one in need. It is almost shameless and inhumane. People have time to pour the milk and money to the stones inside the temples but not for the ones who are begging for it outside.

Major Shift Needed
We need a major shift from this type of mentality. We cannot only blame the richest for the adversity of the world, sometimes you have to blame yourself. Think about how you react when a beggar asks you for a little of what you have, not all of it. We react as if the beggar is asking us for our entire property. The billionaires and the millionaires react the same way when it comes to charity.
We need wealthy people to step up, we need them to unite to create a favourable situation in the world. We need equality more than ever, we have to lift people who are pressed under the complex system of money. And yes, you don't have to be Jeff Bezos to donate for the better cause, if you have twenty rupees and you donate one rupee then that will do it.

(Ghimire is a univrcity student)