Gap between the rich and the poor

It was and continues to be fashion with leftist intellectuals and political parties to speak of the rich becoming richer and the poor becoming poorer in India, thus widening the gap between the rich and the poor. They find fault with the present and past governments for this.

 The rich are becoming richer because of the hard and long hours of work they put in. Similarly, the poor are becoming poorer because of their refusal to work hard and longer.

In the past, agricultural workers used to work for 8 hours a day but now they work only for 4-5 hours in most of the places. During this period, they take breaks for drinking water, smoking, tea and for lunch. The owner of a provision store who is rich, works from about 7 am to 9 pm i.e. for 14hours a day, taking break only for lunch and that too only for short time. The same is the case with other rich people.

 To meet the increased cost of living, the workers in United States and other developed countries look for second and third jobs. In India they look to the governments and the governments readily come up with more grants and subsidies as well as free supplies, while there is acute labour shortage in every sector of the economy- agriculture, construction, small scale industry, plantation, transport, domestic etc. The people who work for 4-5 hours can easily find second and even third jobs in their localities themseves in agriculture, construction etc. which would enable them not only to meet both ends meet but also have savings for them and their children.

It is time the governments reduce the grants and subsidies and advise the people to look for second and third shift jobs. The governments may however, simultaneously assist the people to acquire new skills for working in construction, small scale,  plantation, transport and other sectors