India is rich but Indians are poor

'For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance' (Mat 13:12). India is one of the developing and emerging global economic power. Everyone eyes at India as it rightly projects to West as one of the economy generating power. Most companies tend or at least aspire to base their business outsourcing in India. There are loads of call centres and BPO's all over India. As I walk in the streets of London I feel proud to be an Indian because everyone thinks Indians have money. New papers report about the latest economic figures as improving at faster level. Is this true? Are we so rich as Indian or only some of us are rich in India? Does the world know that at least 38% of the population lives below the poverty line? Does the media and business world show the slums in Mumbai or just the multimillion house of Mr. Mukesh Ambani? It is all irony for me when I tune into news channels. I am sure there are so many issues that India as a nation should be responsible for showing the world that we are emerging economy. Look at our neighbour China, Do we really know the economic power of China? Every tiny or large material I touch in the Market is Chinese made.

Let us do some in depth enquiry into the economic well-being of India. I am proud to be a part of emerging global economic power, but my question is do we really showcase it when we  have some many issues being swept under the carpet? Our GDP is pretty consistent and there is significant growth, as for 2009 it is $1,235 trillion (nominal), and GDP per capita income is $1,032. Our GDP growth rate as for 2010 is 8.8%. GDP per capita income is so important to measure the wealth of the people in a country. Now this is measure as you know by averaging the GDP of the country. I am apprehensive about the whole business of averaging. How can someone average the wealth and say that is the wealth or income of the People? Does it give us the real figures since there is huge gap between the poor chaiwala and Ambani's. Now the misery of the low income earners is doubled since there is a significant growth in the inflation rate. As for September 2010, inflation rate is 8.62%. Does this inflation help the poor? Price of rice (staple food for most Indians) go up by even 5% will result in forgoing a heavy meal among the poor. I am sure people around the world can figure out these figures, I am no mathematician.

A month ago Guarding had a whole page dedicated to showcase Mr. Mukesh Ambani's expensive house. It was rated the most expensive house in the world. I thrilled to read that India has the 4th richest man in the planet but I am also aware that India has the most poor person in the world. I used to work in the slums in Ramwadi, in Pune who struggled to meet their both ends. They lived in absolute miserable condition along the sewage canal. The stink and mosquitoes brought deadly diseases like malaria, dengue, cholera and so on. Their children were sickly because of the malnutritions. On the other hand, there were huge multimillion buildings like Gold adlabs, Mc Donalds, ect. right next to the slum. I don't have to blabber on this after giving an extensive glance at the reality of India.

Thus, are Indians really rich? I would emphatically say that Indians are rich but most of them are poor and many of them live below the poverty line. Mr. Obama made trade deals with India, everyone was fascinated with the idea. How does this new trade deal help the people in the slum and remote villages, for instance the deal of Obama includes jet aircraft, Do we think an ordinary person can afford flying in India? Let me leave at that allowing Indians to think further and think before you leap.