Is the 'Lockdown' a Luckdown for the Mazdoors of India?

Thousands of hungry mazdoors are gathering on road, police is beating them black and blue. Plenty of young men are taking their families to home barefoot. Labourers are crying and posting videos in social media for help. Yes! this is our ‘Mahan Bharat’ right now. And who is responsible? Not government alone, we ourselves too.

India is a country of snake charmers, rope walkers and daily labourers. In one hand the country has eleven Nobels and five Oscars, in the other shattered poverty and tattered economy. In one hand, Google, Infosys, Microsoft CEOs, in the other hunger, rape, superstitions. Yes, the country is dragged two steps back with poverty whenever it moves three steps ahead with development. The latest one is the lockdown over Covid-19 Pandemic.

‘Aage Kuaan, Piche Khai’ (Cornelian dilemma)----this popular Hindi proverb seems so apt here. This lockdown has snatched the jobs of lacs of daily mazdoors all over the nation. If they somehow manage to escape from Corona, hunger monster will kill them for sure. Recent media report is showing that almost nineteen crores of people in India are on the verge of losing jobs. Where is government? Where is media? Where are NGOs? Where are trustees? Where are Industrialists? Oh God! Where are you? Even if they put their best all together, will it be solved? No. Not even in next two decades.

It would be a shame for our country when the whole world will come to know that a nation where people will die more of hunger than of Corona.

Yes! this lockdown is not only a luck-down for the mazdoors of India but also probable life-down for them. The naked skeleton of real problems are visible now, generally hidden under the garments of mock religion and nasty politics.

The Five Problems and Solutions of India’s Never-ending Poverty :

1. Unemployment -

They say jobs are available, but suitable candidates are not. I agree to this to some extent. Most of the youth (except few high profile jobs) now a days are more prone to short cuts, looking for political hands and even willing to give bribe for an average job even. We have daily labourers, we have no savings. It is a high time to change it of our own. Why can’t our youth think about new innovative start-ups? Why can’t they go for online business? Why don’t they realize that poetry, dance, music, counselling and many more ways are there to fetch them good amount of money. Of course parents need to be more supportive and lessen the pressure of expectation for that.  Many are changing their lives by thinking out of the box, but more should join the queue. In a country of hundred and thirty crores, all can’t get government jobs for sure. Even private sectors have started preferring more machines, less humans. Develop your skills on the basis of your strength and interest. Do hard work. Know the details of several innovative fields to grow. Though its true that the government is trying its best but unfortunately that’s not enough.

2.  Lack of Education & Awareness -

Education is essential. Knowledge is important. Self consciousness is pivotal. Unfortunately, many are literate in India but not educated. Education means more of awareness here than mere bookish knowledge. Education doesn’t mean westernised mindset. Neither it means materialistic show off freaks. Education means to understand your situation well and perform accordingly to get maximum outcome. Of course we must be updated, modernized but unfortunately today’s generation is mere copycats. The desire to explore is diminishing. If we talk about primary and secondary education, it has become a mere business and in government sectors do not have enough teachers. Student teacher ratio is not in balance. In villages, number of quality schools are scarce. Result? Not well skilled students, who are struggling in a long run.

If you talk about awareness, then the poor class are still unaware of the administrative procedures, government schemes, facilities available, money management, secured policies, skill training and many more which is not letting them overcome from this bad patch.

3. Corruption and Misuse of Power -

Satyendranath Tagore was the first person to join Indian Civil Service. But, today an IAS or IPS officer is taking orders from seventh failed ministers, MPs and MLAs. This is the beauty of mother India. Recently, news channels are showing poor people are not getting adequate amount of items in ration. Not in one place only, many places. Why? How much will you get by looting them? Corruption in India is a main reason of its everlasting poverty. Unfortunately, those who give long lectures they don’t obey it. Corruption in every sector is dragging us down. Education, Health, Judiciary, Administration everywhere the lure of bribe and the misuse of power. Hierarchy. Who are suffering? Poor and daily labourers. One is blaming the other. Blame game is on. All are trying to escape from responsibilities. The people who know it fine, those who do not know, are at a loss.

4. No Individual Thoughts Beyond -

In this era of tiktoks, Facebook and WhatsApp, we are getting pseudo film stars. But, will you have ever have will we ever find more Avijit Banerjees, Amitabh Ghoshs, Sundar Pichais aur Kailash Satyarthis? I doubt. Where is the urge? Disco, bar, restaurant, multiplexes can give you temporary happiness, but where is your research? Theories? a good novel? or your own NGOs? Nowhere. Your Instagram pictures can only give you many likes and comments. It makes you feel like Queen Elizabeth for a day. But your intensity, passion and dedication to your field will not only give you mental satisfaction but also bring respect to you in the society. So, this generation must explore wide range of choices by themselves to break the barriers of some pre-fixed mindsets.

5. Loot of Most of the Sectors, Companies & People -

Private schools? huge fees, twenty notebooks, Olympiad, tuition, even school bag, everything you have to buy from them. Private hospitals? ICU charges, unnecessary tests, plenty of foreign medicines, Check-up, Re-check up within every two months. Should the poor and middle class die? Yes let them. Who cares? Reality is, the string cost of a pacemaker patient is only 5 to 7 rupees but he has to pay 50 to 70 thousands. Why? No one knows. Government is silent. Neither it enquires, nor responses. Government knows, it can’t provide or serve to 130 Crores. Likewise toothpaste, spices, oils, cosmetics, food items, everywhere there is adulteration, mono-sodium glutamate (MSG), chemicals, usage of non-edible elements (recently in the case of noodle company Maggi - lead found), are gradually fetching the money and fooling us. This loot is so severe that we are betting our health in return. Material gain, silence of educated fools and unawareness of poor and middle class is the reason of India’s fragile backbone. These are the primary barriers which are not letting us earn the tag of ‘developed nation’ from the ‘developing’ one.

Let us join our hands together and arouse some awareness among our young generation to get rid of this problem as much as we can.

Thank you. Jai Hind.