On Thursday 22 Mar 2012 8:17:08 am Sruthi Krishnan wrote: > . I remember a discussion where we actually considered asking for > an on-call medical help for a team of roughly 20 people, largely 21- > 23-year-olds. Later, when I reported on technology I spoke to this guy > who would send all his clothes to be washed to his home in South Tamil > Nadu every week because he just didn't have time. The hefty pay packet > compensating for everything else, including no time to potter around > clotheslines, was accepted as gospel. > > But the pay packet did mean financial independence.
I think "Information technology", which contributed 16% to Karnataka state's income last year is actually skewing things socially in India, ceratinly in Karnataka. I think others on Silk List (Chris Kelty and Carol?) have studied aspects of this in the past. Anyhow here is my take. The Indian social structure is "families" and the family gets financial independence from a young person who gets a godd salary. Because the "Infotech" sector - be it BPO jobs or something different assure the entire family of a better life there is a huge push towards those careers from high school and increasingly from middle school. In effect this is a "tailback effect" on society For a middle class father with two or three children, an awkward teenage son or daughter becomes a cash cow in just 4 years and at the very least eases the burden on the father. The desire to make sure that the son/daughter actually gets a seat in a college that will assure him/her of an IT sector job drives the rush for Physics and Maths. And because of this rush there is a proliferation of "tuition classes" that the child must attend from 6 AM before school and again from 6 PM after school. Even so called 'International Schools" based in huge out of town campuses with all kinds of sports facilities finally give up on the sport because their kids too must go through this venturi. The pressure is so high that its beginning to tell on children in India, especially Karnataka. The place has gone crazy. Suicide rates and drop out rates are up. Parents who are able to support their children longer are backing out and letting their own children do what they want, but the vast mass of parents in an India with a youth bulge are aiming for that Infotech job. Little wonder that the kids who get in are ready to tire out everyone else by working form 8 AM to midnight. Naturally any employer or boss will prefer the guy who works 16 hours a day for the same salary compared to the lazy bum who needs a break after piffling 12 hours and needs weekends off to boot. It makes for a dog eat dog world. Something is bound to give, sooner or later. shiv
