The Great Economic Divide

    In Bangalore: Once I stopped at a roadside coconut vendor and asked him to provide tender coconut and a bigger one, so it contains more water. He stopped, stared at me and told, if you want more water, just buy a Bisleri bottle. You can afford it. Without saying a word, I started my car and left the place. This may be very easily seen in the metropolitan cities but also happens in smaller cities too.


People who have money are getting richer day by day and poorer getting more poorer day by day. This is what I am calling as the Economic Divide and the gap is widening more every day. One could easily argue that irrespective of the corruption, many new companies are starting in India and many job opportunities are also getting created. But how many people are benefited from this? Not everyone. This is the problem.


Not only that, even if per day wage of people is increasing, the inflation and there by the prices are increasing in twice the pace of it. In 2008, I used to have a good lunch in Vasantha Bhavan ( very popular in Tamil Nadu ) for Rs.20. But my mom now says that no meals are less than Rs.40. Has the daily wages also increased that much? No. Think of your house maid, the laundry man, house security, a government clerk. 


When the middle and upper middle class flaunt in front of them with their new car, new LCD TV, Hero Honda, luxury travel, these people get really irritated and become more greedy. The Talented ( real talent / talent in making social networks ) somehow move up the ladder while the others act like the coconut wala. And worser, I now hear more news about kidnapping, ransom, killing etc. Recent example is the Coimbatore double murder of sister and brother.


India is not a poor country, but its wealth lies only with certain people who can really a make a difference. We people can talk about it, make petty donations to NGOs. But this does not help much. If you see in US, prominent people like Gates, etc devote lot of time, money and energy to the Underprivileged. Gates was ready to part with his wealth. But people like Mukesh Ambani spent $2 billion only on his home. He has every right to build a lavish home but I am just questioning the social contribution of such people. And not to mention the corruption that is happening.


India may be already shining, and everyday more polish is getting applied. But it would be really shining only when:
- The wealth is spread across
- Things are made affordable for the underprivileged.
- We Indians behave more responsibly (lets not just blame the politicians here. They are just one of us).
- Reduced corruption. 


Also, lets try to appreciate the smallest good thing that individual people / government tries to do. We need to encourage them for more. May be we can start from here. We can vote Narayan Krishnan as CNN hero of the year and appreciate his contribution, if possible with a donation. I am not marketing for him. But hope you got the message.


Lets make India shining.