The Blog Of Dysfunction

I met him during my trip to Gwalior in MP. He runs his business of supplying tea to shopkeepers around on a busy road from just 25 square feet of space. That is perhaps not standing space for most of us, but for him and his family that is their “livelihood”. We should appreciate his ingenuity and commitment to earn a living for his body. But what about his struggles?

He has to work from early morning to late at night. Perhaps has to pay a weekly “protection money” to many who bully him. In addition he has to brave the elements, and up to 50 degrees centigrade in summer and 4 degrees in winter. Summer air bakes his flesh, and winter winds brake his bones. Consequently, at the end of the day, he is left neither with time time nor the energy to do anything that you and I consider “relaxation”.

Of course, we cannot turn everyone in this world into a professional businessman who has a five-figure income. Nor do we have to. Not everyone needs the same income, education, or level of living. But everyone needs freedom, security, and protection — and that is the angle of empowerment I wish to highlight in this article.

Vending commodities on footpaths is not permitted in many towns. On the other hand, in some towns it is permitted and the municipality or Panchayat collects a daily toll from these people. Now the question is, should these people — after they pay their due toll — be exploited by others. Is he not be considered a law-abiding tax-paying citizen like you and me. And therefore should he not be entitled to all the privileges, including protection from extortion, the way you and I want India to be.

We need to work hard to empower people in our Motherland. A lot of us spend an inordinate amount of time on our Blogs writing about our pet dogs, the pregnancy of our cats, and the silly things we have been doing in our everyday life. Is our human life so cheap that we have nothing else to talk about — at least for a part of the time we spend on Blogs?

If enough Indians begin writing on enough blogs with enough frequency, sufficient numbers of people who can act will be made aware and enraged — and there will be a lot more liberation and empowerment in India.

Guest Contribution: Dr. Johnson C. Philip
Visit My Blog At The Panacea

Earlier Articles In This Series
Blog To Liberate India — 1
Blog To Liberate India — 2
Blog To Liberate India — 3