This portrait was taken in India 2009. The man featured was living below the poverty line, and has done so for all his life. Living on less than one pound a day is an economic benchmark used by the Indian Government to establish those in need of assistance and aid. Many never see this 'aid' and live their lives without any help or guidance.  Most people living in extreme poverty are unaware and uninformed of subsidies and assistance available to them. Therefore they continue to live an oblivious life of struggle.