Festivals and Poverty Alleviation

[We Indians believe the festivals bring prosperity. Let the government do their part to make it true. Let the festivals really be the reason for making the poor live happily.]

It was a windy morning in Gujarat. The festival mood was around. The Anand, the Milk City of India was painted with colorful kites. The small kids and big men are running after the falling kites unmindful of the traffic. Those who drive bikes had to do circus to avoid hurting the kids. It is another issue otherwise they may hurt themselves. Many temporary shops emerged in the street corners selling kites. I could see the expectation on the faces of those making kites.

This scene is a regular feature except for my eyes this year. I found a great economic activity. I saw the poor earning handsome money during this festival. Then I went on to think about the other festivals. The same time in Tamilnadu I had seen in my home town farmers selling their produce directly without any help of middle men. They earn the profit without losing it to the middlemen. Nor they cry for minimum support price. The economic activity buzzes on its own. I could see the same during Diwali time when crackers are sold.

Today when I had a discussion with my friends I was enlightened. All these years, I was at the impression that only rich do business. I was blind about the poor. I realized the poor too earn more during festivals. Then why can’t we promote these festivals as economic important ones. For example instead of raising flag (Like the Left parties and the right parties do for every imaginary cause) against each and every festival, we can promote them if it can provide a temporary job to the poor. The government can think about the festivals as “God sent” to guarantee 100 days work. The government can restrict certain products to only small scale industries and individual manufactures not exceeding rupees ten lacks turn over or less, so that the business does not land in the hands of biggies again. Since many of these poor do not pay tax or do not earn enough to pay tax (We know what percentage has the PAN card), the government need not think about giving any tax benefits. The only expectation from government would be to do something to promote like the annual kite flying festival in Ahmedabad.

We Indians believe the festivals bring prosperity. Let the government do their part to make it true. Let the festivals really be the reason for making the poor live happily.

Social Unrest

Psychologists and educationists must now think of a system where wanna be celebrities are given training to withstand the pressure they experience from instant fame and fortune. The government must regulate the working hours considering it as a human right.
"Eighty men molest two women in Mumbai during new year....." The headline of a news paper goes the next day morning. The same day I watched in TV, the discussion about the incident. People were airing their views against the incident. They are blaming the Mumbai crowd.Another news channel was talking about the drug abuse by Britney Spears, the pop singer. What is happening to this world? We hear about this type of news almost every day. Is the world becoming increasingly unsafe to lead a peaceful life?
People are restless. They are looking for an out- let for their emotions. I can just compare with my school experience. The year when our school started the so called naughty children used do mischievous like switching off the power and looking for a free period (class). The next year this switching off power is not enough for the next batch of students. They wanted to do something more. They threw chalk pieces at each other. It went on and on and now students are breaking windows when they are in anger. Are we not able to give them a good environment?
The society puts them under pressure - pressure to work like a machine. Academic excellence even if the child wants to become an artist. Academic excellence even if the child wants to become a sports person. Students are restless. They break windows. Now they are throwing chalk at teachers.Mumbaikars are not able to withstand the pressure they experience from the society. The work pressure and long working hours lead to less time to enjoy with their family. Most of the time is spent in Mumbai sub urban trains. The cost of living does not permit them to live together as family. The definition of family is not the same as it used to be 20 years before. Now a family includes just three. The longing for a peaceful happy family is the reason for the hit of movies like Hum apke hai kaun.
We need to think of solutions for this unrest. We need to look for an educational system which puts less pressure on students. Psychologists and educationists must now think of a system where wanna be celebrities are given training to withstand the pressure they experience from instant fame and fortune. The government must regulate the working hours considering it as a human right. Expectation from a company to produce more by pressuring the employees beyond their psychological limit should be considered as human rights violation. Compulsory two weekend holidays should be introduced especially in metros. Companies should be encouraged to device methods to keep the employees in good health and good mind. (The government should not think of imposing fringe benefit tax on such measures).
The society needs a change of approach from within. Lets not wait for an evolution but work for a change. A change that will make life easier. A change the will keep every one safe. Let the society not be the reason for one man's sufferings.