Methinks the practice of over-staffing in India dates back to the feudal days. In those days, almost the entire village population depended on the zamindar household for livelihood. In most such households, there were people exclusively to draw water from the well, to pound condiments and to mend fences (literally) etc.
Over-staffing and resistance to computerisation in India are vestiges of the feudal legacy, which makes sense in the light of over-population, high unemployment rate, availability of cheap labour and, above all, the 'chalta hei' attitude. It's a way of life, perplexing though it may be to Westerners.
Anyway, the scene is changing with globalisation and entry of multinationals. Companies are laying off people and becoming "leaner and meaner" to face "global competition."
Don't know it's for the better or worse...
Cheers!
-- RKN
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