Today is May Day, the 'Workers' Day.

I used to often wonder, if some set of people are workers, what are others..? Are they Non-Workers..? If 'workers' are about physical laborers, which work does not ask for physical labor..?

In every task that is seemingly mentally simple like pulling rickshaw, construction working, painting etc, there is a sufficient mental challenge these days. No person can perform them profitably without knowing the tricks of the trade and ways to handle the environment in which these tasks are performed.  Almost all people who work for a living do perform mental tasks. 

It all simply means that all people are workers. For none can survive in this world without doing anything for long time.

***********

But still, I would give a definition to Non-workers. Those are 'Non-Workers' who amass money dis-proportionate to their contribution to society. In particular those who amass such money for themselves illegally or namesake legally inhibiting growth of others in society.

Now in this definition, we can have huge number of people, involving politicians, big businessmen, bureaucrats, policemen, judiciary, scientists, administrators, teachers, students, NGOs and it doesn't stop here. Which means everywhere, there are non-workers.

At the same time, a definition that could be given to 'Workers' are those who earn less than Rs.2000 per month or some such amount. These are the people who are really poor and find it difficult to survive irrespective of the fact they work and contribute to society.

In a way these two are linked. That is people remaining poor and people disproportionately amassing wealth and opportunities are linked.

One of the main reasons for poverty is the fact that people in between tap the wealth dis-proportionately and illegally, in every economic level of society, leaving out many people poor.

Other main reason is the fact that such poor people are not capable of taking away their due, as they could not contribute enough or find themselves redundant in the society. The reason they remain incapable again is because they do not get enough opportunities to equip themselves from the society. So it goes back to first reason, because some people tap opportunities for equipping themselves disproportionately and illegally.

**********

So, instead of celebrating a May Day for namesake, as a holiday spent for personal reasons, watching TV, I would rather suggest we celebrate it as a working day in which everyone vows to do things according to conscience without corruption.

Which means no bribes are transacted on May 1^st (they could be postponed to next day atleast!).

The government, intelligentsia and the media should dedicate this day on programs for eradicating corruption. They should highlight the linkages between corruption and poverty. They should encourage people (and themselves) to stay away from tapping disproportionate wealth and opportunities atleast on this day.

They should also talk about how people have been left behind in terms of equipping themselves to fight the society for historical as well as contemporary reasons. And how demographics, caste and economics inhibit people from growing their capabilities. One day atleast they should dedicate on these things.

A day when entire population spends on fighting the twin problems of our society. Corruption and Poverty. Which are simply the double barrels of the same gun.

That is a true May Day!  And a 'Must Day' for our society.

Happy 'Workers' Day!

-TBT