[ip26]

How much help even $100 would be some of these places, if only it could get there

In a sense, that's the whole problem. The unsolved thing that humanitarian organizations spend their entire selves trying to figure out. So it's not dumb to think about, but it's also never so simple as we wish.

[econcon]

$100 isn't going to do much. You think these people have no money but it's not the case - these people did have money, they lost it because the system is corrupt.

Many farmers have lands which they sold to pay for engineering degrees for their daughters and sons. Now there is no job for them! Your land is lost and the degree is worthless which you traded the land for.

[ozfive]

> $100 isn't going to do much.

I disagree completely with this statement. My wife is from India I am "American" to simplify things. During lockdown in India which has been brutal we sent $100 to my wife's mother to at least help with food for families there. She went to a driver she knew who could procure the bulk food. He signed on with the effort procured the first batch. Then soon some of my wife's mother's former students signed on to help. We continued to send more money not knowing what our situation would be in a few months time (luckily I have been able to keep my job) More people signed on to help procure and deliver food to families and people who were migrating on foot away from the cities and back to their villages all in the face of brutal beatings by the hands of the police. It's beyond shameful what has been happening in India during this pandemic. Soon my wife's mother was able to convince other middle/upper middle class Brahmin families to donate to this effort as well. We continued to send more money ourselves. In all we sent $15,000 to help so far. A school field was turned into a distribution location and hundreds of families were lining up every day to pick up food as the government continued to bungle their operations. by that time a network of drivers had signed on who were procuring food and distributing it as well. To this day more volunteers have signed on and donations continue to happen from within the community to keep the effort going. $100 started as a pilot light and through the passions of the people has turned into so much more! You would be amazed what such a small amount can start. Even $10 will make a difference. Discouraging people is part of the problem. Do not do this! I understand there is corruption and the plight of the Indian farmer is unimaginable! Sharing what is happening there is important, no doubt! Just please don't make it harder for the mostly untold stories that happen every day that don't get news coverage or don't get talked about much. This is the only place I have shared this story, but the effort is still going on.