FDI- A little thought

The abysmal cock!It crowed every day, early in the morning and as far as I could recollect, never failed its duty. I screwed my eyes and tried to focus on the clock. Good heavens! It was only four in the morning. Snuggling, I closed my eyes shut and tried to get some sleep. When sleep just sank in blissfully, somebody prodded me and asked me to wake up. It wasnt a request but a sharp order. I knew it wasnt something that I could take easily. Yet I lay still, when somebody yanked out the blanket from me and rotated the fan regulator to the full 360 degree measure. I woke up in a flash. It had been a cold night and my bones were stiff already. I completed my morning ablutions and raced after my disciplinarianmy dad, and joined him in the jog. My dad led the way and I followed him. This was my strict routine and all because I had yielded to gluttony and struggled regularly to squeeze into the outhouse through the tiny door. Rather than setting a bigger door, dad resorted as always to the hardest detour. This wasnt it. In the evenings, I accompanied my grandfather in his stroll. This was routine and did not require much thought until when all the news channels and news papers flashed one term: FDI, expanded as Foreign Direct Investment. Debates and arguments cropped up and each and every soul had different views. If given some thought on the whole phenomenon, the core reason masqueraded underneath the crust would be change. Now for the connection with my rumination and FDI: In my morning jogs, my dad was pretty comfortable and as I had mentioned earlier, led the way. At the same time, my grandfather wasnt quite at home in the busy metropolitan streets during the evening stroll. Alert march would be a better fit to stroll. We hardly embarked on a happy conversation during the stroll; it was just a straight, alert and cautious march. The reason behind this was change. A world without fast food joints or computers or televisions or something as commonplace as tube lights can be very hard to imagine. But such was theirs. On the other hand my father was resilient to change. It wasnt because it hadnt changed much but that he grew up with it. From computers to televisions, everything began in his period. Likewise, FDI would sure mean some harsh changes but if it leads to the growth and development in the years to go, it would not be wise fighting against it. As an instance, think of the many rickshaw pullers, kulipaniyaram vendors, small-scale candle makers, the many bank officials or even government-employed postmen. They all are coming to a full stop or are already closed down. All because of some new technology introduced, be it the ATM or ubiquitous twowheeler or the backup power system. Taking a step higher, think of the jute and khadi manufacturing which has gone into an abyss. Not many are raising a campaign to survive it, are they? And as a more current instance, so many book publishers are struggling to make ends meet owing to the rise in the number of online stores. The underlying reason behind all this would be change and the present day capricious scenario highlights that it is inevitable. Now, plunging into the topic of question, lets take a more direct step and caress the pros and cons of FDI. On one perspective, with very difficult choices at hand, the many petty and mediocre supermarkets

will have to face certain harsh music. It wouldnt starkly affect them, as not everybody is going to queue up in a FDI store right from day one but it would sure affect them on the long run. However, the pros might more likely outnumber the cons. One, it would call for standard income for the farmers and poultry owners who would strike a deal with the market. Prices would be made standard and they can be sure that somebody is there on the other end to barter their goods. Secondly, no more trickery. People can be sure of the standard prices and quest for an economically priced shop would end. Thirdly, harried shopping on a Saturday morning with infinite stops beginning at the butchers to the grocer to the chemist and finally to the bakery all in a moped balancing the haul precariously, would end. Fourthly, every class of people would have to get into one of the colossal malls for things as paltry as a bunch of coriander. This would call for equality as never before. These are of course very basic points, but even when divulged the intricate mazes of FDI, the outline would pretty much be the same. The only anticipation, being of raised prices can be resolved if the government bargain and require as a must that it play a vital role in the fixation of prices. Coming to a conclusion, change is inevitable and we can take the bold step and embark on a new path. Our ancestors, all the way up to the first man Adam, had to put up with changes. The world has seen an incredible transition from early men who lived in caves to somebody who is typing an essay in a small device which can in a trice send the same essay to all corners of the world. Change, is it not? Period.

-Tryphena Sharon Augustine (Contact no: 9940338368) B.Tech- II year. SRM University.