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The rupee situation has been very interesting to observe. Fortunately for us, almost everyone accepts US Dollars, so we have been much less affected than we first thought. Prime Minister Modi seems to have been driven by two factors in outlawing the 500 and 1000 rupee notes, the two largest denominations. First there is a huge amount of avoidance of the income tax. Most transactions are in cash, so we understand from various conversations with Indians as we have traveled that there is a great deal of unreported income. Second, Pakistan allegedly prints a lot of high quality counterfeit rupees both to earn money and in hopes of destabilizing the rupee. Without exception, all of the conversations we have had with guides, drivers, people in shops and restaurant, is favorable to Modi. We have been told repeatedly that those opposed to the move are those with lots of unclaimed income and other politicians (who also may have lots of unclaimed income).
India seems to be changing very fast under Modi. One of his election slogans two years ago was "toilets, not temples." We have spent a few days in rural areas, and many villages we have been in or through for the first time have a little cement building with indoor toilets. This is especially good for women, as they do not have to go out into the fields to do their bodily functions. Unfortunately, in the fields they at risk of rape, whereas the new toilets are near the village centers. There is also massive investment in infrastructure going on. We were in the city of Veranasi for the last few days. There, they are building a new highway, putting in a big underground sewer system, and building a sewage treatment plant. Open sewers are still in operation so the city is a mix of old and new. Our guide told us this these projects have created 10,000 jobs.
Our view if India is distinctly limited. We are staying in nice hotels, and are mostly seeing the sights from a van with a guide. But we did get out to rural areas, and have walked a bit on our own in cities. What about begging? Everyone says to not give money to child beggars. There are enough school slots for all children, and school is where children belong, not on the streets begging. The more difficult situations are moms with babies, people with handicaps (missing limbs, etc.) and the elderly. But our guides tell us not to give money to beggars -- if we want to help, we should give to NGOs, where people who understand life in India can make better decisions about where to best apply money.
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| Taylor contemplating the current economic situation from the Ganges River in Varanasi. |
