If the needy are empowered we will have a better India

06 October, 2012

There are very poor people in India who are getting worse financially with no hope for the future. Domestic help in urban areas is the need of the working couples, and there are needy unskilled poor migrating from rural areas. There is scope for a win-win option.

WE HAVE a large impoverished population which is in a deplorable state. There are not enough jobs with government and over a period of time, the terrorists have aggravated movement of Kashmiri Pundits from Kashmir and huge number is suffering from similar state in North East.

Then there are Hindus/Sikhs thrown out from Pakistan and Afghanistan. The national government and state governments are unwilling or incapable to provide for such large masses of displaced populace. Some have become unemployed because of NGOs or other commissions having got judicial consent resulting in closure of circus or monkey dancing, elephant ride; snake charmers etc.; ban on gutka and soon large number will be rendered jobless with set top boxes and redundancy of cable.

There are some jobs which are empowering, e.g., mechanic; hotel; tailor; cobbler; carpenter and host of others. And these are done by younger kids because remuneration was less. However, this has been officially banned but carries on the quite. Large number of Biharis; Bangladeshis and Nepalese have occupied the space vacated by paucity of labour due to our youth from Panjab having moved to the West and unwillingness amongst the local boys to do the menial jobs connected with farming like ploughing, harvesting; irrigating; pesticides, fertilisers and others such as rickshaw pulling, porters and domestic servants. Foreign illegal immigrants are blackmailed into doing the jobs which are otherwise banned.

Thus a very peculiar situation has arisen. Low skill low pay jobs in domestic help or apprenticeship are available but not legally tenable. The outcome - lots of kids are going hungry and not attending schools.

There are families, notwithstanding the claims of the government and right to education, which are not in a position to send kids to school because they are needed home to look after the house/sibling when parents are away. So it is a catch twenty two situation defying a simple situation. There are very few jobs in the rural areas. So people move to urban areas for economic prosperity and bright future of the next generation but they are unskilled. For the unskilled rural person labour jobs are available but not paying enough to run support the complete family of around five.

So the wife has to work as domestic help, there is enough demand and just about adequate supply. There are added perks of this job- sometimes accommodation, doles, security and a decent remuneration. Kids make extra buck on Sunday with car wash or laundry etc.

With the latest trend of working couples reliable domestic help is becoming a necessity.

There seems to be a scope of mega transformation of marginalised populace with the help of the society by following a win-win option by meeting the essential needs of each other.

The suggestion is that anyone who houses a family in their house (servants quarters) be given the responsibility of funding one child where with all. The child in turns helps the lady of the house in house hold chores during non-school hours. This would be something like loose adoption with child becoming a member of the family and providing emotional support in due course. The child learns good things of life by just observing and working in the house. Following benefits accrue:

Family lives in decent accommodation rather than slums
Better quality of life and upbringing
Helps the working couple
Emotional support to elderlies of the clan
Security of the house
Opportunity to learn/develop additional vocational skills
In due course this family will be able to fund a EWS/LIG type of house

Is someone listening? A small step could mean transformational change for the nation.