Anand Gupta takes a potshot at so-called social sector celebrities
Anand Gupta takes a potshot at so-called social sector celebritiesHere is something to ponder on. What will happen to all the charity funds and NGOs that cater to the poor of this world, when the Indian economy grows to lift all poor above the poverty line and jack up its middle class numbers to 700 million? The question thrown up at a relevant national conference last week formed a much-skewed discussion.
While global charities were confident that India will keep some poor for them to serve, for at least three to four decades and then there is always Africa to go for another century. Indian bureaucrats and central banking folks were quite sure such a situation will never happen, given the quality of delivery government plans typically deliver.
But most crestfallen were Indian NGOs, which have carved a niche in serving the poor. They were totally lost with such a horrific possibility in near future. Another reality that slowly dawned was the few successful NRI come backs their prime reason for returning to India was availability of cheap help at hand, what we call servants. This service is anyway becoming costlier in metros and with their own grand plans for social sector; it has became a very viable reality in nearer future, at least to them.
Guess what was the consensus agenda after this discussion? Let's work hard to ensure at least there remains a few million poor in the country to fulfill our needs for servants and to keep our charities alive for several more decades. After all, we're the ones working for the upliftment of poor, we need to remain employed in social sector, personally serviced at home and suitably rewarded at being 'good folks'. Turned out to be a full circle. Quite!
