Lure of money!!!

Lure of Fast Money

In the past decade or so, India with its booming economy has opened the door of aspiration. The onslaught of BPO and other IT services has increased the coffer substantially. So much so, that disposable income amongst young Indians has suddenly sky-rocketed.

It is a great sign of progress, but progress has its pitfalls also. The coming of satellite television has helped Indians to be abreast with the latest around the globe. The internet has turned the world into a global village. People are more conscious about the way they look and have become more knowledgeable about investments. When one starts earning in five figures by the time they turn 19 or 20, the lure of making more money is only but natural. More and more youngsters try to find the short cut to success.

The recent kidnapping of a toddler in the NCR has once again raised the question of how television serials and movies impact the society. Channels’ airing Hindi family drama more often than not has a villain resplendent with all evil activities. From kidnapping to murder, from assassination plot to execution – all is beamed into the drawing room of Indian households. Many of our youngsters, who wants to make fast money resorts to the fantastic plots unveiled by the serials and derive the inspiration to accomplish such daring activities in real life. The kidnapping of the child in NCR is not a stand alone case. It is rampant in UP and Bihar, though there the “professionals” are involved.

What do these youngsters want to do with the money? Most of them wants to realise their dreams of becoming a movie star or wants to lead a life of comfort. Crimes and criminal bent of mind is not limited to the downtrodden strata of the society. The affluent families of the country have got children with criminal bent of mind. The only difference in their case is that these kids do it for drugs, alcohol and sex. Alas, their crimes do not make the headlines as often as for the not-too-well-to-do families. More often than not, we refuse to wash dirty linen in public and keep it within the confines of the four walls. And by doing so, we are abating the chance of the child to come out of the cocoon of crime.

That brings us to the thought about government and society’s responsibility. The evil of such activities are committed by youths who are school drop-outs and thus become prone to crime. It is the fundamental right of every child in this country to get education. Till such time education is not spread (without politicising) to every community in this country, we will be harnessing criminals from early age. It is not possible for the government to be omnipresent, but we as citizens of the country can do something to make the youth of today more responsible. Instead on giving up on them and branding them as wasters, why cannot we take the onus collectively, to engage in constructive dialogue to find the genesis of their problems? We cannot eradicate their miseries or poverty, but we can definitely show them the right path.

Are we ready? Decide NOW