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| Venkatesh's mother (The Hindu) |
Venkatesh was a nine-year-old boy in a country that claims
to be the third largest economy in the world. He became a bonded labourer
because his mother could not repay a loan of Rs15,000 that she had taken from
her employer, Muthu. He became what Muthu called “collateral.”
The boy was employed in a distant
farm to look after ducks and his mother was told that the loan amount now
became Rs42,000 with interest and compound interest. The mother managed to
collect that sum of money and reach Muthu’s farm that is 270 km away from her
village. But Venkatesh wasn’t there.
“He ran away,” Muthu said. The man
also accused the boy of having stolen his phone and some cash. He also abused
the woman and her caste. Soon there was a police investigation and Venkatesh’s decomposing
body was found buried near the Palar River. The autopsy stated the cause of
death as “blunt force injury to the head by heavy weapon” (sic).
Today’s The Hindu has devoted one whole page to the tragic story of Venkatesh and others like him. Just the other day, Indian media celebrated the country’s rise as the third largest economy, beating Japan. I think that celebration of India’s GDP growth is a cruel joke on the millions of poor people in India. India may have beaten Japan in national GDP. But India’s rank on Human Development Index 2023-2024 is a poor 130 (out of 193 countries) while Japan’s is 24. On the Multidimensional Poverty Index, Japan towers far above India again: 1% vs 21%.
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| From The Indian Express |
What is India celebrating in the name
of national GDP? The economic growth of a few individuals who are close to the
Prime Minister? In 2024, India witnessed a 12% increase in its billionaire
population, reaching 191 individuals. 26 new billionaires emerged in one year
alone. According to economist Thomas Piketty, the top 1% of India’s population
control 22.6% of the national income and 40.1% of the nation’s wealth.
Can India not distribute its wealth
more equitably? Can India not provide better education and produce more job
opportunities? Can India not stop all kinds of discriminations perpetrated in
the name caste, gender, religion, and language – all of which became acute in
the last decade?
India is growing economically. For a small section of its large population. Moreover, this growth is shorn of any moral commitment to justice, inclusion, and the wellbeing of the poorest. Only then can India claim greatness when the quality of life of its people rises above its cramped slums and exploited villages.
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteThere is little one can say to this - other than share the disgust at how the world seems now to be kow-towing to these financial elites... YAM xx
Wealth seems to be as corrupting as power.
DeleteIndia's GDP is only an euphemistic talisman, for the money amassed by the Facsist nexus between, the Sarkar, Sahukar and the sahibs, a greedy conglomerate of avaricious sharks and Shylocks, sensex, being a smokescreen mascot for the incestous evaporation of the sweat and blood of the poor underbelly Bharath. The Covid Trek of millions of migrants back home, with their bloodied feet, exposed this dark underbelly of India, as the billionaires banged the pots and pans from the balconies.
ReplyDeleteThe music of those pots and pans continues even today as some mesmerizing charm wielded over the masses by Pied Piper of Indraprastha.
Deletethere is pseudo veil covering the tarot building!!! and with technology, a glaucoma was induced to give illusion that the nation is outperforming !!
ReplyDeleteWe have to acknowledge one fact: the Man knows how to run the show.
DeleteTragedy unfolding ....
ReplyDeleteWill there be another revolution...?
DeleteWhat a tragic story. Selling kids is never a good idea. And they "ran away"? Yeah, that's always code for bad things were done to them. People who take kids away from their families are evil.
ReplyDeleteIndia still struggles with these evils. A tremendous paradox.
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ReplyDelete