The rise in power of the Indian middle class is no less explained by the great Indian unifier called the elections. this time to make matters more interesting to those who can read, is the latest IT oriented manifesto bought out by none other than bha ja pa or BJP.
delving deep in this episode, is into the atrocious chasms that our politicians get down to secure their powers. let me go down one such abyss to take a look at the offers that might woo the real silicon valley to India. it starts with the general rhetoric of every politician;
- 12 million job offers in the rural sector
Well not so bad. Already a million of the unorganized sector jobs have been lost to recession. remember so far recession has only started to grow its tentacles around India. just imagine what will be the scenario when it really grips India? never mind elect BJP to power and all this and more will come back.
- laptops at 10 grands for 10 million students
The wonderful performance of our students is because of the absence of laptops. had there been laptops they could have watched lots of porno, movies, songs with which they will become the best performers for any political party which is the party cadre. after all unemployed uneducated youth are the best cadre for any party.
- bank account for everyone
This one will definitely be a super hit in rural India and among the urban poor. (Only if banks will accept poverty and hunger as deposits).
- for people below the poverty line a smart mobile phone
Oh, why are these people below poverty line; its easy they don't have smart phone. its the only thing lacking in their life. with a smart phone they can google, consult with their American counterparts, place online order from shops & hotels and this will save them money which was earlier spend on food and clothing and occasionally on shelter. I thought BPL stood for below poverty line. Now i understand that it means below phone (smart) line.
- broadband connectivity in all villages
That is easy; we can make the poor in the villages to dig pits in which to lay the fiber optic cable which is going to bring in connectivity to their villages. once they have connectivity they need not travel (which was already difficult because of the absence of roads) and they can sell their goods in international market without middle men at international prices.
- internet in every school and countless other schemes.
Yes! phones with cameras are bad and they should be abolished in schools as they are spreading cheap porno among students. with broadband they can subscribe to high quality international porno which will enrich their international exposure)
- national digital highway
Already the national information highways are so congested that it takes days for essential supplies like smart phones and laptops to reach villages.
- Abolish sale of software that could not be used in regional languages
Someone please invent darwasas and kidkis for Indian computers.
Every election right from the first one saw politicians barging into the peaceful life on Indians with false and will-never-keep promises. but this undoubtedly is the best one which should be written in golden letters in the annals of all democratic constitutions.
After all who knows if BJP comes into power we may not even see people outside the streets (not because every one or the other will be killed in some communal riot but they will be busy enriching their lives in their digital fortresses.
delving deep in this episode, is into the atrocious chasms that our politicians get down to secure their powers. let me go down one such abyss to take a look at the offers that might woo the real silicon valley to India. it starts with the general rhetoric of every politician;
- 12 million job offers in the rural sector
Well not so bad. Already a million of the unorganized sector jobs have been lost to recession. remember so far recession has only started to grow its tentacles around India. just imagine what will be the scenario when it really grips India? never mind elect BJP to power and all this and more will come back.
- laptops at 10 grands for 10 million students
The wonderful performance of our students is because of the absence of laptops. had there been laptops they could have watched lots of porno, movies, songs with which they will become the best performers for any political party which is the party cadre. after all unemployed uneducated youth are the best cadre for any party.
- bank account for everyone
This one will definitely be a super hit in rural India and among the urban poor. (Only if banks will accept poverty and hunger as deposits).
- for people below the poverty line a smart mobile phone
Oh, why are these people below poverty line; its easy they don't have smart phone. its the only thing lacking in their life. with a smart phone they can google, consult with their American counterparts, place online order from shops & hotels and this will save them money which was earlier spend on food and clothing and occasionally on shelter. I thought BPL stood for below poverty line. Now i understand that it means below phone (smart) line.
- broadband connectivity in all villages
That is easy; we can make the poor in the villages to dig pits in which to lay the fiber optic cable which is going to bring in connectivity to their villages. once they have connectivity they need not travel (which was already difficult because of the absence of roads) and they can sell their goods in international market without middle men at international prices.
- internet in every school and countless other schemes.
Yes! phones with cameras are bad and they should be abolished in schools as they are spreading cheap porno among students. with broadband they can subscribe to high quality international porno which will enrich their international exposure)
- national digital highway
Already the national information highways are so congested that it takes days for essential supplies like smart phones and laptops to reach villages.
- Abolish sale of software that could not be used in regional languages
Someone please invent darwasas and kidkis for Indian computers.
Every election right from the first one saw politicians barging into the peaceful life on Indians with false and will-never-keep promises. but this undoubtedly is the best one which should be written in golden letters in the annals of all democratic constitutions.
After all who knows if BJP comes into power we may not even see people outside the streets (not because every one or the other will be killed in some communal riot but they will be busy enriching their lives in their digital fortresses.
Emile
ReplyDeleteShould we trash these perspectives down just because its brought out by some crooks?
The point with Bank account is really a pertinent one.Financial inclusion should be the aim we should be looking for. The larger population is excluded from the mainstream banking and it will bring up institutional hindrance to any chance of economic remake also. More and more inclusive financial services definitely must take into account other dimensions also. Even then starting with Bank account is a very good idea.
For eg NREGA prog- people are allowed to open an account with zero balance and all wage services are routed through it. This simple concept itself can bring difference to their life through avoiding the intermediate sucker layers and enhancing their access into the mainstream world. Anyway opening an account must mean opening in a bank near their locality which translates into a precondition of expansion of rural banking services.
Should we really laugh off all e-Governance projects just because we prejudge them to be of no use to the illiterate villagers? It will be far better than the current Village offices where they must pass through each layers of bureaucrats pouncing for their share.
Shouldnt we provide a broadband connection atleast as a single hub to the whole village where they can interact with the district headquarters if scenarios arise and the school resources can tap into the online materials much easily.
Before any serious endeavors, I agree a homework is to be done, the ground must be prepared through e-literacy along with functional literacy. But thats not a reason to sneer at all the e-endeavors.
Da,
ReplyDeleteI'm the least skeptical about e-governance, banking and such facilities coming to rural areas. but as far as the situation in India goes, the statements in the election manifesto bought out by the BJP could be viewed only with the eyes of a cynic. everybody knows that the common man or the aam aadmi comes in need only in case of dire needs like the elections or some communal riots. we know the zeal of the main stream parties in vouching for the middle class when the elections are no where in sight.
besides don't you think clean drinking water, two sqaure meals a day and a safe place to lie down, education are much more important for the aam aadmi than mobile phone, broadband and stuff? then comes the need for basic rural infra structure like electricity, roads and whatever. but if the coming of the latter means better access to former, great!
with the way things work in India, we can never be sure of a bright future for anyone in this country.