[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.
