Big Mac, Big Dreams.....

I came across an inspiring article in Economic Times, 'Big Mac Rolls Out CEOs from Ground Crew'. An MBA degree is a far cry for many from rural areas who just manage to study upto 10th or 12th standard. But their determination to take the world by storm has taken them to the higher echleons and from the store or crew level, flipping burgers to becoming senior level managers running a Rs.100 crore business. 37 year old Mani Pillai, head of Mc Donald's Mumbai operations is just one example cited but there are many more like him inspiring the 9000 odd staff across 210 fast food chains across the country.

They might have limited education, some being from the rural areas but the fast food chain encourages employees many starting out at the crew level to take courses offered within the company and some even are allowed to pursue external courses which the company partially pays for and the remainder paid by the employee wishing to study motivates them to take it on with seriousness. This includes an English language course which instills more confidence and someday they even land up in top notch positions in the company. Some even get to go to the 'Hamburger University' in Australia. No wonder then that the attrition rate is about 20% in an industry where the average attrition rate is 60%.

These initiatives not only contribute in the growth of rural India but also encourages youngsters with little formal education to dream of being employed in main stream jobs instead of them going the wrong way. Going beyond corporate social responsibility, companies can try and fit in youngsters with limited formal education and teach them skills which would benefit their comapny in the long run. They would be more serious about their role in the company and their gratitude could culminate into a positive outcome with examples like Mani Pillai running a Rs.100 crore business.

In India where formal education is given high importance, many forget that in a billion plus populated country, the numbers below poverty line override those above poverty line. And if our country needs to go beyond a developing nation or third world country, tapping potential at the grass roots could be a boon. How is everyone expected to go to an IIM and pay lakhs of rupees as fees?

Our country needs a reality check. While there are some who have crossed the hurdles of poverty and managed to go to an IIM, not everybody is inclined towards management the same way. Some develop an interest in other fields and if blue chip companies can do their bit apart from hunding reputed educational institution across the world, it will do more than just inspiring youngsters. We can do more than just cling onto hope of bridging the gap that divides the working class ranging from agriculturlists and Government employees to IT professionals and businessmen, we could look at a new India instead. And more reasons for several youngsters to say 'I'm Loving It'.

Where Does The Buck Stop?

What has Darjeeling come to? The hills and plains,the Dooars tea gardens were known just for its scenic beauty and tranquility earlier. Now agitation is it's middle name. Politics has gained centrestage with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha fighting a territorial war against the West Bengal Government. I have been in West Bengal all these years and never been to Darjeeling for a holiday perhaps taking for granted that it is an evergreen option at hand. But things changed in recent years and 2011 February was went I embarked on my first ever trip to Darjeeling to cover the agitation post the killing of two GJM supporters in police firing in Shibchu.

Things have changed and though my only glimpse of Darjeeling was through movies shot in the picturesque surroundings of the hills, the change was evident in front of my eyes. Shutters downed thanks to an indefinite strike, not even bank ATMs open forget about my wish of biting into Keventers yummy food. The peace amidst the cold weather in the mall area took me away from the reality of the agitation in the hills, the effigy of the West Bengal Chief Minister being burnt and the police stations being gheraoed. For me as a visitor the hills are a place which is nothing but beautiful and a place I can picture as a perfect getaway. But as a Correspondent, I got a taste of what the locals in the hill feel and the way they live. The fight for justice began with raising their voices against what they believed was neglect from the State and Centre. And even as GJM supporters camp in Kumaoni in the Dooars, the foothills of Darjeeling, is there logic to their fight from justice and area domination is a question the State Government and the Centre are probably asking.

The ripples of the fight for separate Statehood of Telengana from Andhra Pradesh had its repercussion in the hills about two years ago. The Centre has more than one issue to handle and not just Darjleeing. While these are secondary issues, the primary one is why did the people of Darjeeling or Telengana start their agitation for separate Statehood in the first place? While fingers are pointing to the agitators now, why dismiss the inadequacy of the State Government's in focussing on development in these areas and nipping the problem in the bud when there were chances galore?

Why did the GJM come out in the open breaking away from the Gorkha National Liberation Front or GNLF led by Subhas Ghising? Does anybody remember the comment by a radio jockey on Indian Idol singer Prashant Tamang from the hills terming most residents as 'Chowkidar'? Sentiments were deep rooted going beyond just the statement which the term 'Sorry' could not amend. And if this comment did not reflect the impression several people have across the country of residents of the hills then what does?