The might in numbers…
This was way back in 2001 just shortly after the disastrous Gujrat earthquake. We were assembled outside school one morning and allocated the task of holding this rally to mobilize funds for rescue efforts.
So, we set out with big tin boxes provided by the State department and walked all over the city asking for money from every little enterprise, small and big establishments, street vendors, commuters, passersby, basically anyone who luckily or unluckily crossed paths with us- a bunch of hypermotivated kids on a mission.
Most people were just happy that little kids were doing their bit and encouraged us with prompt contributions. Notes of various denominations from 10 bucks to a very generous 500 made it’s way into the tin box. We appreciated the smallest denomination that went in except when this well to do shopkeeper dropped in a 1 Re coin into the collection. Now that is something that could be perceived as stingy even from a street vagrant. Honestly, taking that from him made me feel like one instead. Either way, the fourteen year old me thanked him and walked away disappointed.
The next target was this bank(don’t quite remember which one). We approached the security at the gate and without much of a conversation were turned away. Now, here was one employee taking the SOP very seriously. Kids collecting spare change with Govt sealed boxes were supposedly as dangerous as the ones looting it :D
Disheartened again, we turned around only to find a broken down part of the wall( so much for security). I, decided on the spur to sprint across through the gap and dashed to the front door. My classmate followed close on my heels. The security took a few moments to realize what just had happened. I was already inside chatting away with the employees who then directed me to the manager’s cabin.
The manager was a very polite gentleman. He quizzed me about how and where the money would go and be utilized. I am not sure I convinced him with my answer, but I do remember telling him something to the effect of the whole drive being initiated by the State govt and we students were doing our bit by collecting as much funds as we could. I could ensure that it reached the authorities, but had no agency over how it would be used. He parted with a crisp bill and we then walked out to the main hall.
Seeing our enthusiasm in the endeavor, the rest of the employees too parted with a few bills. I gleefully turned around only to come face to face with the security guard we had dodged outside. The man looked at us, didn’t utter a word and pulled out a 10 Re bill from his pocket and put it along with the rest.
That makes me think. Crowd funding in India isn’t all that difficult. We always do complain about how we are over populated and starved of resources and opportunities. How about we use the same ‘bloated and bursting at it’s seams’ population to work for us? Even a single rupee(like from the stingy shopkeeper) sourced from every person would amount to 1.4 billion in funds overnight. This is not a cue to increase taxes. With CGST and SGST, Income tax, and paying a tax for that tea you drink or toothpaste you buy, we are already overtaxed. I have difficulty believing that we do not have funds to do what we need to do.
However, in every natural disaster, we hear of mutual bickering between the State and the Central government regarding funds for relief measures. The Kerala 2018 flood relief being the latest tussle on record. After all that, we aren’t sure the money has been put to good use. That bank manager did indeed make a valid point. Probably this is what puts people on the backfoot while crowd sourcing.
A swelling but self sufficient population has it’s own advantages. The burning question is, “How do we ensure self sufficiency?”
Well, one solution I quote is to run all our sectors 24/7 and employ more people. I belong to the Health Industry and that is one place like a few other’s for eg: BPO’s that run round the clock. Here, only branches of multinational companies run at night to suit the convenience of their foreign employers and the rest shut down after their day shift.
Our courts are overburdened with piles and piles of pending cases. There are thousands of unemployed lawyers in India and not enough judges. How about running courts overnight too, promoting the senior lawyers to the position of judges and having a separate bench for the night shift? The budding lawyers who are starting out can do the night shift for a couple years and help clear the backlog. This is something I recently discussed with my father, a lawyer.
We have lakhs of unemployed engineers and other graduates in dire need of a job. Why not employ them and run your sectors 24/7? The cost to company probably could be met with the profit’s that come with better efficiency and better production capacity and increased output. I am not exactly sure how this will work, but it is a thought that has always piqued my curiosity and would like for someone to try it.
More employment would mean better per capita GDP, better purchasing parity and better standard of living. Better purchasing parity would mean other sectors selling consumables would employ more, produce more and thrive more. Another solution could be to encourage more vocational training thus allowing more employment for floor workers or making them capable enough to start their own small scale businesses utilizing their craft.
This undue importance only to fancy college degrees with subpar training causing thousands to haggle for one coveted seat should instead give way to more practical solutions. There will always be some cost to company to train youngsters. That is because of our dismal education system which is less practically useful and concept based and more rote learning. It is our collective responsibility to change it and big corporations need to take some of that liability too. You can’t simply enjoy the perks and have no duty towards nation building other than only providing a monthly pay cheque. At least that should be the case until our education system is set right.
We have the numbers and it isn’t declining anytime soon. Whether it is recruiting more people for the forces or efficiently running a sector or preparing the next generation to be self financed and self sufficient, we need to put in some work and use the might of numbers to tilt the equation in our favor.
