Poverty Perception†study made by Cansuyu draws attention to an important fact of Turkey.
Poverty Perception” study made by Cansuyu draws attention to an important fact of Turkey.
The result of study performing the poverty perception from the eyes of benefactors which is one of the most important issues of Turkey that was held by Cansuyu Assistance and Cooperation Organization has been assessed at ESAM. Cansuyu that trying to be solution partner of poor people since 6 years with the donations of benefactors has showed once again its experience in this field with a comprehensive study. Even if it is the most important problem of Turkey, poverty is “excluded from our lives” and it had a new dimension with this comprehensive study. This study of Cansuyu shows the sociological condition of benefactors and donation receiver and provided comprehensive solution suggestion for fight against poverty.
The subject of Wednesday conferences of Economical and Social Studies Center ( ESAM) was” Cansuyu Poverty Report” in this week. The reasons and solution of poverty in Turkey has been analyzed and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tevfik Erdem who prepared the “ Poverty Perception in Turkey” made by Cansuyu and Ahmet Kızılkaya as well as Human Rights Expert Selvet Çetin made their own presentations.
The main reason of poverty is the economic model
Cansuyu General Secretary Muhammet Polat who made assessments regarding the Poverty Perception in Turkey before the presentation said that one of the main reasons of poverty in Turkey is the current economical model. This model causes the enlargement of the gap between rich and poor. He continued: “Not to have a problem with a level of disaster we should work and find solutions despite the system”.
Polat emphasized that poverty is caused by not having sufficient income to meet daily basic needs or some parts of these needs. He also stated that there is not a sufficient study that could explain the social dimension of this issue despite the fact that it is one of the leading problems of the country. Plat added that in the study it has been looked at the poverty from academic and theory aspects within Turkey and that “Poverty Perception in Turkey” is the most comprehensive study that was held throughout Turkey.
Polat said that the stud has been performed upon a certain need and continued: “Poverty Perception in Turkey study is a project aiming to increase the life quality of the poor people in Turkey. In the project idea development process experience of years as well as observations and practices. This devoted experiences showed the necessity of a more professional service understanding for fighting against poverty and this study was born upon a certain need”.
The poverty should be assessed with the basis of struggle not aid
Cansuyu General Secretary Muhammet Polat said that this study would a new vision to the poverty policies in Turkey and that the poverty should be taken into consideration with a professional understanding instead of a simple one. He continued: “Therefore the poverty should be assessed with basis of struggle not only with aid and assistance”. We should stop seeing poverty as low income and we should fight with all of our power to let the people participate to the society in equal way”.
The poverty numbers of the institutions do not match with each other
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tevfik Erdem who was the consultant of the study said that there was not a net poverty definition even if it is the most important problem of the country. The poverty and starvation numbers declared by different institutions each month do not even match with each other. The numbers of poverty vary from one institution to another. This put the relief agencies into a hard situation”.
Erdem draws attention to important details about the poverty perception and said: “The poverty has been excluded from the daily lives in modern societies. We do not see the poor people in our lives. They are excluded from our TV series. They have been alienated from the society. Desperation pushes the poor people to the acceptance. Since they accept that they are unemployed, they give up trying to look for a job. This creates a society dependent upon assistance which is the most dangerous side of poverty”.
Research Assistant Ahmet Kızılkaya assessed the poverty perception in the eyes of benefactors. Kızılkaya emphasized that the most important reason of poverty is unemployment and helping sense of the benefactors come from the moral values. Civil organizations are seen more secure and successful than the governmental organization about delivering the donations to the related places on time. He thanked to Cansuyu for performing a comprehensive study about the most important problem of the country.
Human Rights Expert Selvet Çetin assessed the poverty perception from the point of view of poor people. He pointed out that as long as Turkey does not find a solution to employment issue the poverty issue will get more and deeper and that people receiving aid see these donations as temporary solutions. The assistance activities of Turkey are made in an unorganized way which creates a serious problem. Even the people receiving assistance believe that the donations are not provided to the real people in need.
02-01-2013