Is anyone else watching the cricket match against the ex-child labourers. It is a long time since TV has upset me as much as watching these kids scavenging through a rubbish tip to scrounge enough old plastic bottles to swap for something to eat, it makes you feel humble
Sport Relief
- Thread starter ovverbruv
- Start date
Irish Stamp
Forum Moderator
I'm watching it with the sound off, some of the pictures 
particularly the girl who'd been burnt by oil.
particularly the girl who'd been burnt by oil.
trudij
Senior Jockey
Its certainally made me realise how much we take for granted over here - I think im poor - but shopping in Lidl is nothing compared to what they do....
And yet, at the same time, there's a very rich commercial middle-class which is opening up Indian-staffed and owned franchises of businesses like Mothercare. Debenhams, M&S and a number of other big businesses are cottoning on to the deals to be had in India. South Today showed a pristine, bright, modern clothing factory turning out garments for Tesco, who are shortly to launch there. The country's first US/UK-style shopping mall has opened and it's doing a roaring trade.
Don't for one minute imagine India as all beggars and elephants. It has always had a very strong commercial ethic - hence the reason Indians do so well when they open up restaurants and shops over here - it's just that they are, as a nation, still immensely class-conscious and the Indian middle-class types, such as the British guys taking part in the programme, wouldn't be seen dead socializing with the lower classes.
Poverty in India is all about maintaining traditional class barriers, and everyone knowing their place. It is absolutely NOTHING to do with not having enough food, clean water, jobs, or money - unless you're born into the wrong caste. If you're born into the harijan class (the 'untouchables'), you stand as much chance as rising above cleaning lavatories as I do as riding in the Derby. In fact, if I lose enough weight, I stand a slightly better chance.
The only way for every Indian to have an equal chance of being properly nourished, getting a job of choice rather than one determined by one's tribal status, bettering themselves through education that's not deliberately witheld on societal reasons, is to lobby for the Indian Govt. to make sure that the caste system is not just abolished entirely, but seen to be abolished entirely. The business of bridal dowries, which has led to thousands of brides being burned alive each year, is just one hideous example of how the poor are exploited with no will to prevent such atrocities by the 'authorities', who consider themselves at least two classes above such low lifes, and don't want to soil their hands with such unpleasantness. Rapes, child prostitution, body organ sales, and the 'disappearance' of unwanted babies all enjoy the same blind eye treatment. What chance do you think the 'low classes' had against Union Carbide following their gassing in Bhopal, when their Govt. can't be bothered to flex its muscles against the American giant on their behalf?
When you can visit Mumbai and see rich Indian wives selecting from trays and trays and trays of diamond, ruby, sapphire and ruby necklaces and bracelets, while outside deliberately-mutilated, filthy children beg from tourists' taxis, you might realize that all the 'reliefs' in the world won't change the status of the poor. Once the do-gooders, like Victorian Lord and Lady Bountifuls, go home, it's back to breaking your baby's arm and deforming it, to continue your family's tradition of begging. It's the only way for thousands to survive.
Don't for one minute imagine India as all beggars and elephants. It has always had a very strong commercial ethic - hence the reason Indians do so well when they open up restaurants and shops over here - it's just that they are, as a nation, still immensely class-conscious and the Indian middle-class types, such as the British guys taking part in the programme, wouldn't be seen dead socializing with the lower classes.
Poverty in India is all about maintaining traditional class barriers, and everyone knowing their place. It is absolutely NOTHING to do with not having enough food, clean water, jobs, or money - unless you're born into the wrong caste. If you're born into the harijan class (the 'untouchables'), you stand as much chance as rising above cleaning lavatories as I do as riding in the Derby. In fact, if I lose enough weight, I stand a slightly better chance.
The only way for every Indian to have an equal chance of being properly nourished, getting a job of choice rather than one determined by one's tribal status, bettering themselves through education that's not deliberately witheld on societal reasons, is to lobby for the Indian Govt. to make sure that the caste system is not just abolished entirely, but seen to be abolished entirely. The business of bridal dowries, which has led to thousands of brides being burned alive each year, is just one hideous example of how the poor are exploited with no will to prevent such atrocities by the 'authorities', who consider themselves at least two classes above such low lifes, and don't want to soil their hands with such unpleasantness. Rapes, child prostitution, body organ sales, and the 'disappearance' of unwanted babies all enjoy the same blind eye treatment. What chance do you think the 'low classes' had against Union Carbide following their gassing in Bhopal, when their Govt. can't be bothered to flex its muscles against the American giant on their behalf?
When you can visit Mumbai and see rich Indian wives selecting from trays and trays and trays of diamond, ruby, sapphire and ruby necklaces and bracelets, while outside deliberately-mutilated, filthy children beg from tourists' taxis, you might realize that all the 'reliefs' in the world won't change the status of the poor. Once the do-gooders, like Victorian Lord and Lady Bountifuls, go home, it's back to breaking your baby's arm and deforming it, to continue your family's tradition of begging. It's the only way for thousands to survive.
simmo
Senior Jockey
and just to emphasise Kri's point about class/caste distinctions, I witnessed an example of this at work just a few months ago.
The vast majority of workers in Indian based call centres are university graduates - but there are a finite number of these people and a decision was taken to employ non-graduates.
The graduates went on strike, refusing to work in the same office as the non-graduates and demanding higher rates of pay than them.
The vast majority of workers in Indian based call centres are university graduates - but there are a finite number of these people and a decision was taken to employ non-graduates.
The graduates went on strike, refusing to work in the same office as the non-graduates and demanding higher rates of pay than them.