When the Sensex is down a few
points, it becomes a headline. Farmer suicide never becomes a headline.
Corporate awards are headlines. Why are there never awards for agricultural
excellence. Attack on the rich in Taj Hotel becomes a headline. Attack in Assam
never becomes a headline. Subsidies and loan waiver to farmers become a
headline. Land at concessional rates and tax breaks to industry never make
headlines. Oil spills in the Sunderbans never make headlines. Restrictions on
industry to pollute makes headlines as anti-industry. Minimum Support price for
farmer output makes headlines as subsidy but salary increments in April for
industrial employees is a right. Profitability is measured on the Sensex but is
employee life measured on the Sensex. Down-sizing of employees starting with
blue-collared workers is acceptable when real down-sizing will start if
white-collared workers in middle and senior management are asked to go. But that
is not palatable because a white-collared worker is considered to be an asset
for profit-making whereas a blue-collared worker is a liability during weak
economic demand.
For all its good aspects,
Capitalism fails on these points miserably. For a country like India where
there is such a large population without basic food, shelter and clothing and there
is constant pressure on urban infrastructure, capitalism can never be the
answer. Because the vested interests for a capitalist mind-set will hinder
increased standard of living across the spectrum.
We all have lost our first
identity as humans. We prefer to identify ourselves by our nation, religion and
name, in that order. Humanity and compassion are being lost in pursuit of materialism.
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