Address poverty first, showcase mega sports events later

The report New figure for poor: 372m (April 18) paints a dismal picture of a country that aspires towards becoming a superpower someday. With as many as 372 million people living below the poverty line and the government’s food subsidy bill standing at Rs 75,000 crore, one wonders whether the Centre should spend so much on the upcoming Commonwealth Games. It makes no sense for any government to splurge on an event that has no bearing on to the nation’s hungry millions. All the glitz and glamour may provide India with a facelift but will hardly solve any of its core problems.