Images of a super power
I had a trip to my in law's place in Chennai recently. We went to a temple in the outskirts almost 50 Km from main city . Chennai heat was really awful and I was thinking it was horrible to travel in the hot sun though we were in a taxi.But what I saw really altered my thought and I felt ashamed of myself.
The road which goes to the temple was being laid by some workers.They were working diligently braving the sweltering heat. Most of them did not have shoes; forget shoes, some had broken Hawaaii sandals.They were not wearing sun screen to protect their already black skins. They were wearing torn clothes with traces of tar and cement all over it.They were working amidst the hot sun and rising dust quietly as if it is a silent resignation to their fate.There were no shops atleast in 2 KM vicinity, which means they had to get water and food also when they come to work.That too carry it and walk as they dont have vehicles of their own.I felt so bad seeing them , but as most of us do, I just remarked ' Paavam' and diverted my thoughts.
On the way to the temple I also saw poor farmers and ladies dressed in old clothes taking buffaloes for grazing.The place where the temple was a village and I could see many poor faces around.
This is the country that is going to become 3rd largest economy by 2050. And the images what you see no way assure you of that.Roads are being laid, but what about the lifes of the labourers who actually do that.They get a measly 50 Rs a day, which amounts to just 1500 a month if they work for all 30 days.and 50 Rs is hardly one USD.Statistics show that half the population of this economic super power live at less than 2 USD( around 100 Rs) a day.And if you see the prices of essential commodities , they are sky rocketing.Do these people atleast have right to a hand-to-mouth existence.
Ever wondered how people like this live in India. We dont bother as our main consideration is impending promotion or salary hike.Media also has failed in generating public awareness as all they show is Liz Hurley - Arun Nayar wedding saga or Ash-Abhi episodes. Or trying to play the 'India arrives' theme time and again when a biggie like TATA or BIRLA acquires some company.For God's sake TATA and BIRLA are not whole of India. Gandhiji said ' India's heart is in its villages' , but who is bothered to develop people from grass root level.
I dont know how to improve situation here, but next time you hit a road or highway be thankful to the labourers who have toiled in hot sun to lay it.That is the least we can do.And next time you complain about your job, just think how lucky you are to work in the comfort of AC and not in hot afternoon sun.
posted by Chitra Shenoy at
10:03 AM
3 Comments:
Chitra - your title would have been funny if it was all not so depressing. Super power indeed.
India must be the only country in the world where every year , thousands die due to floods while their countrymen are starving to death in droughts in other parts of the country. The queues at the ever bustling malls - that oh-so-proudly-proclaimed symbols of the new India that has arrived - are only rivalled by the ever growing queues at the ration shops ( somewhat grandiosely called the Public Distribution System ) and the queuing for drinking water.
India indeed must be the only self proclaimed super power , a large number of whose citizens go to sleep without even one square meal a day, do not have access to electricity , safe potable water, roads , good hospitals - basic things that most of us just take for granted ( indeed , as the citizens of the latest superpower rightfully should ) .
A timely post Chitra, reminding us this is the time for us all to take stock of what we have achieved ( not insignificant by any means ), but more importantly, realize that a whole lot more remains to be done.
By
Sachin R K, at 6:07 PM
wonder how many of us have the sensitivity to see through the media blitzkrieg. if one mentions how the other half lives, you are called retrograde. its a nice way you put it.
btw came here thru sachin's link :)
By
b v n, at 12:04 AM
Not to forget the 'wedding of the century/millenium'...
But yes nice to be thankful for all those unseen effort that goes into providing us something basic like roads and food for sustenance.
But it is impending on each one of us to make a difference here Chitra, its one thing to feel sad at the state of affairs, yet another to rise up and be counted..but u answered it yourself when you mentioned about our primary concerns which are quite selfish.
Nice reading...
Rahul
By
ReadnRyte, at 9:12 PM
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