Poverty

Prices again: There is cheaper rice available, in fact rice can be bought for Rs20 per kg in the city. In a discussion with a local food stand I learn that this is generally a lower quality rice with broken grains, and that Rs30 is a typical minimum for a good quality product as stocked by supermarkets. The vegetable prices are typically between Rs10 and Rs30 per kg, but are highly variable depending on what and when you buy. The example was potatoes, which are relatively cheap at around Rs10 per kg, but it can cost up to Rs20 during high demand. And why this obsession with what things cost? I'm constantly weighing relative incomes and buying powers here; you can't not be conscious of the difference in wealth. How many cups of tea can a days pay buy? How many litres of petrol? If the answer is greater than 3 you are wealthy.

Apparently a disliked, as is universal, Indian Minister said that something on the order of Rs35 per day was quite sufficient to live in Delhi. This figure is hated, as its allowance for accommodation, transport, electricity, gas, clothing and so on is quite small or non-existent. This fits with the Indian idea that as long as people have food to eat that is enough. Somehow that this is all the poor need, in a country with an increasing divide between the rich and poor driven by the growing middle class. And yet India is not this country, people desire more. Everyone I have talked to (biased towards English speakers) wanted a bigger shop or a bigger income. The word 'enough' is the problem. Better off Indians (more than one) quickly justified the wealth gap by saying that in the areas where poorer people live prices are lower, their income is quite sufficient for food, clothing and so on. It is 'enough' for them. It's a damning viewpoint, why can't the poor just be content with eating. The problem is, the price of Audi's and BMW's doesn't vary. Corruption seems to deflect attention from the real issue. While corruption does very well for a number of people in India, and undoubtedly holds the economy back, it is not the root cause. There is serious envy here and resentment, the corrupt government employees may just be the nearest rich persons to envy, if in part driven by the illegitimacy of their wealth.

We feed the slaves, why are they not happy.