CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

INDIA’S POVERTY, T20 CRICKET CARNIVAL, SANATH AND MURALI

By Dr M D P DISSANAYAKE

Out of India’s over I billion population, well over 400 million people live below the poverty line. Vast majority of them in rural areas live without basic amenities and infrastructure facilities. The poorest regions of India includes Rajastan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal where some of the imported cricketers are paid millions of dollars for a season of 20 over cricket series. In these poorest regions 35 million people earn below US$1 per day and 80 million earn below US$2 per day. Of the overall population, 42% are illiterate in India.

The so-called high caste emperors of Brahmas ( ruling caste), Kshatryas (worriors), Vaisyas( money managers) keeps a strong lid on the low-caste Sudras and Dalits (untouchables) preventing them moving up the social ladder.

Developed countries pump in vast resources to develop the living standards of its people, so there is a justification for the provision of luxurious sporting events for its people and the international community at large. But a country such as India, with a back drop of social evils of poverty and a miserable caste system cannot deceive its people by providing cheap entertainment as a social appetizer.

India’s private sector, including its Bollywood film industry is an absolute disgrace to pump billions of dollars for a game of cricket. These funds could have well invested in the rural sector of the country to enhance productive capacity amongst the “not so well to do poor Indians”. The birth place of Siddharta Gauthama is fast becoming a fools paradise, with big shows but lacking in substance.

The high-caste rich Indians are distinguished by the starch in their shirt collars and the credit balance in their bank accounts. Should distinguished players such as Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan lower their financial standards to these low levels? Sorry, Sanath and Mulla, I am disappointed of both of you!

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