Tiny shoulders, huge responsibilities...

I was appalled by the contrast shown by fate yesterday, when I went to the Exhibition in Nampally. I mean, I saw people spending(literally throwing away) huge amounts of money for trivial satisfactions and a few inches from them stood little kids who were trying to earn a few rupees by selling little toys and candy floss. The sight was so moving that I almost wept out of disgust for this so very cruel, savage world of ours.

And there were little kids who worked as domestic workers, who were brought so that they could carry shopping bags. Screw all those people. How can you buy your child an over-priced ice-cream worth 50 bucks(which the little kid would surely waste) whereas on the other hand you have this another kid, almost your kid's age, who gets paid 50 bucks for a whole months hard work?

I hated myself for whatever I saw but I just didn't do anything. Maybe I could have done at least a trivial amount of brain-washing to those owners but I was too nervous and shy and probably, even scared, to do that. I am so very ashamed of myself for my inability to act.

But, why is it that one kid gets to spend more amount of money in a day than another kid, who is almost his age, is paid the same amount for a year's hard work? Is it fate? Maybe it is. But can't we do something against fate to give that child an equal chance for pursuing his dream, to fight for his freedom and to yell at the world that he is not responsible for his birth. Most of those kids, who are either beggars or work as labourers, do so because of their economic backwardness. Children in overpopulated families, with meagre wages, cannot even be fed properly. Then from where can they get a chance to pursue their education? Illiteracy of parents, lack of exposure and corrupt politicians are the predominant reasons for child labour. People don't realise that their illiterate children would be in the same position 20 years down the line and they in turn would again send their children to work, instead of schools. And the people we elect turn out to be illiterate themselves to understand the importance of education. And even if they were heavily learned, they would be busy making money for themselves. Anyways, lets not blame anyone. It is also because of the inability of us that there exists so much of a gap between children.

Lets not think at it from a social perspective. When a little kid comes to you for alms, either you shun him away or pity him and give him a rupee or two. But it is not pity that the child requires. He wants a chance. And we can't give it to him. We are very busy, aren't we?. Why is it that you have two different responses when your kid breaks a costly vase and your "servant" breaks the same vase? I know what most of you would be thinking right now...What can I do about it? How can I, one man/woman, change the habit of an entire sleeping nation? A nation which has the second highest stats for child labour in the world.

And, I also know that you have the answer for it. Maybe you can't go help out somebody else, some kid you spot on the road(I can't blame you...I can't do it either) but at least make sure that you don't employ little kids or don't let those people you know employ them. Spend a little of your time and money to sponsor a street child's education in your neighbourhood. And, most importantly, stop giving alms to beggars in some distant dream of washing away all your sins in exchange for a few bucks. Discourage children from begging because there is a huge chain of people working behind them, as it is evident from everyday news and movies.

Don't pity them. They don't need it. Just give them a fighting chance.

Privatization of Indian Government Schools

I wrote the following article for a website...I had to write about something regarding business and I thought I'd mix up business with the social feature...good idea naa?...nahh! bad one...the guy didn't like the article and it wasn't selected to be up on his site... :(...but I sort of like whatever I wrote and there's actually a bit of research done in this...

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The world’s largest democracy with its booming economy and on the verge of being an economic superpower, is also one of the top countries with the most pathetic education system. The soaring stock market of India, mostly because of its software expertise and world-class leadership, needs more educated citizens like never before. But the Indian Government Schools, where almost 75% of the country’s children seek their education, are alarmingly ill-equipped and teacher drought.

According to the World Bank, a quarter of government school teachers are absent on any given day, with no more than half of those present actually teaching. High levels of teacher absence and turnover have crippled the education system.

Frustrated by the inefficiencies of government schools, many poor parents are sending their children to high charging Private Schools or those schools which are run by the new generation of social workers-entrepreneurs-educationists, “edupreneurs”.

So, are Private Schools any better than the free but abysmal Government Schools? Maybe not all of them, but most of them. And these edupreneurs also charge only a nominal fee because most of the children come from poor or lower-middle class families. But the problems faced by them are numerous. Ranging from struggle with public bureaucrats to obtain legal recognition to no collateral to offer to banks, these people see it all. And moreover, most of the children being from poor families, fee default is quite common.

So, how is privatization of schools going to help the education system. A rapidly growing economy like that of India needs an adequate supply of accountable and quality education, which is missing from these government schools. A brand network of private schools intended at low-income communities with a specified curriculum and monitored by private organizations can help the cause. And a unified network will create trust among poor parents who are willing to shed a large amount of money on their children’s fee. And although the schools will be integrated under a common brand name, they will be amended according to the needs of various sections. And being under a same brand name will increase the rapidity with which new schools can be built, considering that it takes years for a school to be legally setup in India.

Education is the widely acknowledged first step to development. And with parents realizing the importance of education in their child’s life are willing to pay extra bucks for quality education. So, it is high time that we react and respond to the country’s surging economy.

Where is Humanity?

This was written by me for my community on Orkut...on Feb 16,2007...
The community is called "Where is Humanity?" and I wrote all that stuff after I was inspired to do something and bring a change to the World after watching "Hotel Rwanda"...
And yeah, I belong to that group of people who are motivated by books and films...
To be honest, I initiated it to do something, but I didn't care about it after a few days...
I really want to do something for the World...so all those less-privelaged people, but I don't know where to start...
Here goes the essay...
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We call ourselves,Humans,as the greatest creation of God,don't we?
And that because we feel our brains are so fully developed and we have the power of "Thinking".
We feel,by defying nature,we can call ourselves powerful and intelligent.
It is a well accepted theory that Mother Earth was born around 4.55 billion years ago.
And we think we are so very Intelligent and Powerful because we have been able to achieve so much in just 200,000 years of our existence.
Well,have we ever considered how much pain and suffering we have created in the World for petty things like Money,Power and Luxury?
Have we ever been as humane as our name suggests?
This community is for those who would like to bring a change in the way we "live" and treat others.
I'm not trying to preach but I'm just trying to remind ourselves what really is the meaning of "Life".
Live and let others live.


and here is the link for those of you interested...
http://www.orkut.co.in/Community.aspx?cmm=27907618