Wal-Mart working for a world free of poverty

If lifting people out of poverty becomes one of the prime philosophies of Nobel Peace Prize, then Wal-Mart founder late Sam Walton was its pioneer and forerunner. Wal-Mart has lifted people out of poverty more than any other organization in the globe through its mission of employment opportunities for millions of Americans including women, qualified people with disabilities as well as the people of the Third World countries.
John Tierney, the New York Times columnist wrote, "Wal-Mart has been one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in America." Then he left the question, "Has any organization in the world lifted more people out of poverty than Wal-Mart?"
So far, we have not learned any convincing alternative to Wal-Mart, the world's largest organization for bringing people out of poverty. Wal-Mart has not done less in alleviating poverty than the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations, United Way and Red Cross combined. As for example, in 2005, during the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina and Rita in the USA, Wal-Mart was the first company of the country which extended a helping hand, prior to the support given by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is not the example of people in overcoming poverty, but it is the example of Wal-Mart who cares people and country during the disasters.
Wal-Mart is a community-focused company. It has made the major charitable donations worth more than 1.0 billion dollar at both local and intentional levels that have enriched the lives of millions and helped people to come out of poverty.  
Wal-Mart has a vast pipeline that gives non-US companies direct access to the American market. As a result, Wal-Mart has helped the Third World nations in alleviating poverty. That is why Tierney wrote, "No one has done more for reducing Third World poverty than Wal-Mart, and getting a job at Wal-Mart is the best way to a better life for the world's poor."
It is estimated that 70% of Wal-Mart products are made in China. It has helped China's rapid manufacturing growth and declined the status of global arms dealer. Thus Wal-Mart is contributing to global peace.
Micro-loans are good, but employment opportunities are much better because you do not have to reimburse your hard-earned money for loans. Grameen Bank provides micro-loans to the poorest of the poor and 95% of its borrowers are women. It is promoting economic growth and social development in Bangladesh. The question is, "Are these loan-generated incomes sufficient to maintain families in rural Bangladesh?" If not, the villagers can get rid of their poverty by getting jobs in the rural business firms. Prof Yunus, the Nobel laureate of Grameen Bank said: "If they found a better way to help the poor get out of poverty tomorrow, they would abandon micro-loan and adopt the new methodology." That is why it is important that employment opportunities are generated through setting up of workshops, factories, industries and bigger stores etc., at discount prices and on small profit margin in the rural Bangladesh for the people to come out of the poverty trap.
Lasting peace cannot be achieved without development of the largest segment of the population. In Bangladesh, the people with disabilities constitute a substantial part of the country's large population and most of them are the poorest among the poor. 'Focus on ability, not on disability' - this standard will help Grameen Bank to provide micro-loans to the qualified people with disabilities to come out of their poverty. It will benefit the entire population and the country.
On the other hand, Sam had conceptions about Grameen Bank at the very beginning of his life because his father Thomas Gibson belonged to farm profession and was a farm loan appraiser.
Sam realized that the farming as a profession of his time was not enough to improve the standard of living of the related families. He concentrated his big business on bigger stores in the rural areas at discount prices and also on small profit margins where employment opportunities are available to remove poverty from the society. Practicing this idea, Wal-Mart was transformed.
The modern world is the world of competition. Everyone struggles to survive. All businesses compete, having both advantages and disadvantages, too. In the light of such facts, there is also no lack of Wal-Mart critics. Suddenly, the retail giant will conquer the market by its merits which may not be liked by its critics. That is why they criticize Wal-Mart, but the fact is Wal-Mart works for everyone. This deaf writer from Bangladesh is not an exception. To communicate with customers as well as with businesses, Wal-Mart has given me not only a TDD that denotes the Telephone Device for the Deaf or TTY that means Tele Type writer, but also honoured me ribbon cutting in the opening of a Super Wal-Mart in Illinois! It is the greatness of Wal-Mart. I know our company very well because it was recognized as one of the top companies in the country for providing a positive working environment for the qualified people with disabilities. In 2006, the Careers and the Disabled Magazine recognized Wal-Mart as one of the top companies in the USA.
The mission of Sam was: "Save money and live better" and the vision was: "The rapid growth of Wal-Mart" throughout the globe. It was he who once said: "We're all working together; that's the secret. And we'll lower the cost of living for everyone, not just in America, but we'll give the world an opportunity to see what it's like to save and have a better lifestyle, a better life for all. We're proud of what we've accomplished, we've just begun."
On March 17, 1992, President Bush conferred upon Sam the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" -- the nation's highest ranking civilian honour. President Bush said in his presidential citation: "An American original, Sam Walton embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and epitomizes the American dream. Concern for his employees, a commitment to his community, and a desire to make a difference have been hallmarks of his career. By sponsoring scholarships from Latin America, he also worked to bring people closer together and to share with others the American ideals he so well represents. A devoted family man, business leader, and statesman for democracy, Sam Walton demonstrates the virtue of faith, hope and hard work. America honors this captain of commerce, as successful in life as in business."
In view of the facts stated above, Sam should be considered an ideal candidate for Nobel Peace Prize for lifting people out of poverty. However, the fact remains that nobody had ever been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize posthumously. Late Sam left his worldwide organization Wal-Mart that merits attention for global recognition.
The writer is based in the USA.
Email: iftuahmed@sbcglobal.net