Friday, June 11, 2010

God Speaks on Vegetable Prices

Man called God to complain about the prices of vegetables. The conversation was as follows

Man: God ? U there? Oh Hi ! What up with these vegetable prices? We are in crisis buddy. Noah did so much to keep the flock together, can't your department of agriculture keep the prices down?

God: Is that so? Where do you live?
Man: what diff does it make? OK, I live in free India in a great populated city with 12 million brethren. And you know vegetables have become more so expensive that we in our house share one carrot amongst 4 ! just Imagine.
God: Well, that is not what your brother in the village is saying. he says he is getting a better price and is happy. What do you do?
Man: BPO
God: whats that? Below POverty?
Man: Laughs forget it you wont understand, it is ahead of your times.
God: I understand and don't understand. Have you seen what you waste? Rs50,000 Cr worth of stuff each year? Let me show you some pictures of a whole Sale Market in your city. This is just 4 bags of radish that your hard working brethren farmers has cultivated and sent to this city of yours hoping someone will take care of his baby and sell it and send him the money after sale. Little does he know that his trusted agent has thrown into the dust bin. 
I see such huge wastage that I have now started living in the villages. Man are listening? Hello
Man:.........
God: Oh he logged off, or the call must have dropped- yep now a days the "attoot network" is also dropping calls...Man, oh man. when will you grow up?

Seriously. And jokes aside this must be the real truth. the city squanders, and wastes. There is no regulatory authority in the wholesale markets, to maintain handling standards and cleanliness. The dealers and agents are themselves not conscientious of the need to be careful with produce. They are not self-driven to better standards. I have seen bigger markets in Thailand and Malaysia. They are worth emulating. They are also in Asia. 
The Govt is easy target for criticism. But does anyone have to tell these agents and shop keepers to handle produce more carefully and keep their premises clean?
I am afraid this thing about "hum Aise he hain"( we are like this only) is the most dangerous way to think. I suggest we don't make a virtue of a vice. If we waste we must pay. That we are doing now. Wake Up Sid  and smell the beans !