Do you sense the growing digital divide? The rich are getting richer, the poor - pooer? I am off on a short vacation to rural India. While we in Bangalore are complaining about the lack of connectivity to the new airport, someone in this village may actually be thanking his stars that he has a "kuccha" road to walk on. We did switch off our lights for some hours yesterday to celeberate Earth Day, in this village, you get electricity - low voltage and erratic for a few hours only per day. Entirely dependent on the weather gods, fragmented land holdings, lack of proper education, sanitation - things you and I take for granted, life isnt' pretty in rural India.
It is scary that at this rate, a farmer's family may no longer wish to farm (migration to Urban India, will do little to help the situation), little do we realise that we in urban India are so dependent on our rural brethen. Without them, perhaps we would not be eating our daily bread or rice or idlis or whatever.
Writing off farm loans is a short term solution. Corporate farming seems better, provided the farmer continues to own his land.
Anyway, this trip promises to be an eye opener for me.
6 hours ago
8 comments:
Hey!
Do share your adventures in the hinterland with all of us once you return.
BTW, thats a great idea - 'corporate farming'!
Cheers,
Ravi
ravikumar.blogdrive.com
Glad I found your blog via Maddie's. Hope you have a great trip.
Thank you so much for your sweet words on my blog. I will check your site out too :-). Have a lovely day.
Hi,
Share this with me
http://sandyao.blogspot.com/2008/04/mullickghat-flower-market-i-join-you.html
http://www.humanflowerproject.com/index.php/weblog/mullickghat_market_rises_from_its_ashes/
with regards, sandy ao
U r too close to the reality of India today--that which is superficially glittering, globalizing, westernizing, and the rest, holy moly.
But the news stories from the rural (that which is always the real Inida), are not very positive:
Since there is no development in the villages, people in rural areas are forced to migrate to urban areas, in search of jobs. This has resulted in growing pressure on urban infrastructure and the growth of slums.
Both these issues needed to be addressed. Lack of adequate urban infrastructure and growing slums in urban areas is as much a matter of concern, as there is a need to generate employment in rural areas, in order to halt the migration to urban centres.
...those in IT were getting jobs easily, skilled labour without formal qualifications were finding it difficult to get jobs.
While Indian mechanics and artisans are much in demand in other countries like the Gulf, within the country they find it difficult to get a job. "The question is not so much about employment, as employability,"
I may sound pessimist, and the news stories may sound to blunt. But truth is never hidden despite the media hype of India that is Developed Now.
I dont remember where I read the above news. This appeared around the days when 'we the others' were forced to stop saying: humchi mumbai.
Very sadenning to learn about the plight of human beings like ourselves. These people can hardly be sure of their next breath. I watched a TV report from the French media Envoye Special on the shipbreaking business in Bangla Desh. It's really heatbreaking, to the say the least. While we groan at the slightest internet interruption, these people have no option than to live for today in the hope that tomorrow will be better, Insha Allah.
Add pictures as well. Will await your posts from the village.
The problem lies in the fact that instead of having a village centric thought process we are having an industry centric thought process and feel that all the village problems will take care of themselves as we become a more industrialized nation.
I think we have not still changed much from where the British left us and are continuing their policies as is. Whereas, history tells us that when we have farm centric economy we were called the golden bird of the world.
Just a little food for thought
Regards,
CA Ashish Ahuja, FCA
Indian Chartered Accountant New Delhi India
Indian Company Formation Delhi India
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