I was always very content with my business phone with a low resolution camera. A Rs. 12,000 phone with little bit of everything. Have been thinking of getting a new one, but there has been no immediate need. However, yesterday ... we were going for dinner. On the way I saw a guy sitting on the back of a bike with two huge boxes, something like those of a 24" television, in front of him. The driver was not visible. I wish I had a good camera on my phone. I could have clicked it.
We overtook him in a while and realized that it was not a motorbike, but a scooter. Then I started wondering why would they not take an auto and squeeze on a scooter. Two people and two huge boxes. Unimaginable in Japan or US.
I figured it out. All these efforts are to save on costs. For about 7 km from my office to home, the autowalas charge anywhere between Rs 50 - Rs 70. And with the scooter that has an in-Delhi mileage of 34-35km /liter and petrol @ Rs. 45, it would cost just Rs. 10. Now that is 5 times cheaper! And you can't blame them for trying to save costs, though a little uncomfortable.
India works because of low costs. So its a vicious cycle - India has work because they can do it cheap. To do it cheap, they need to be cheap and pay less to to their employee - and now these employees need to live cheap and buys cheap things and this "cheap" cycle goes on ... and on ... and on.
