Viksit Bharat
On Digitalization, Government Intervention, and a Developing India
Bishu da started as our resident electrician around 2012. So, it has been 12 years since we met him. Apart from handling electricity-related issues, he also helps us with other household work on weekends. Whenever we have any function in our house, any puja, or any celebration, he is the “event manager” who takes care of everything, or at least a lot of things.
Last year, around October, Bishu da asked me if I was investing in the stock market. After a brief conversation, I told him about the app I have been using to invest in mutual funds. I asked him why he wanted to start investing. His reply was quite straightforward: “Just to make sure that we can have fish daily.” In other words, to live a more comfortable life. Later, he opened a brokerage account there.
When he started, his goal was fixed: to earn ₹1000+ from stocks every month. He has his “CA Babu” from his office and two recent graduates who help him with stock picks. So far, he hasn’t been greedy at all. He sets his targets with stocks and sells them as soon as the target is reached.
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He always has some issues viewing the P&L statements from the app. So whenever I am back home, he asks me to help him with that, and I oblige. This time, I generated the P&L statement, and his profits for the last 6 months have been almost 2.5 times his target.
To me, this is a testament to how technology can impact someone’s life and change the existing landscape completely. Decentralisation and digitalisation of processes empower people in ways we can’t even understand. (Obviously, the market also helped this time :-) )
This also brings me to the point that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made after the budget. She was asked about the future and options, and she went on to say:
Who are these people saying I have increased taxes? (in F&O?) Is it for the middle class? Please don’t mind me saying. I'm not saying middle class shouldn't go into F&O. However, futures and options come with risks.
I am not going to comment on this particular statement or on Sitharaman. But rather on the general mindset of the politicians of this country. From their ivory towers, I doubt they can sense the existence of people like Bishu da in society. So, a lot of times, their suggestion has been more government intervention.
Politicians often operate from a position of privilege and may not fully understand the daily struggles and aspirations of ordinary people like Bishu da. Their policies and suggestions can sometimes be disconnected from the realities faced by the common man. For instance, while government intervention can be beneficial in certain areas, it can also lead to excessive regulation and bureaucracy, which might stifle individual initiative and entrepreneurship.
Bishu da’s story is a perfect example of how individuals can leverage technology and financial tools to improve their lives without relying heavily on government support. However, politicians, from their positions of power, might not always see these grassroots success stories. They might advocate for more government control and intervention, believing it to be the best way to help the masses. This mindset can sometimes hinder the very progress they aim to promote, as it may not always align with the needs and capabilities of people like Bishu da, who thrive on independence and personal initiative.
Maybe that’s the reason why socialism was prevalent much longer in this country and kept a lot of people in poverty for longer than they should have been.
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