En route with a wise man once, I questioned him as to why he gave Rs 100 to a tea vendor when the cost was just Rs 10. What was he trying to show; was it charity? He answered me by saying, “I am doing my bit to generate money in the economy”. At first it sounded like a mere repartee, but when we got talking I figured that he had a point. How many times have we given something extra for the services provided by people from the lower income strata? Lets take an example of local vegetable or fruit vendors. Don’t we always try bargaining with them and offer them a little less than the price quoted? Sure enough, they might charge a little higher at times, but don’t you think a little extra would go a long way for them? Conversely, when we buy more expensive items from big retailers and superstores, we don’t even question and pay whatever is the price ‘quoted’. All the restaurants these days incorporate a service charge, which we happily give. We also tip lavishly, wherever the service charge is not charged. Don’t our local vendors, artisans and shopkeepers also deserve a little service charge, for sweating it out in the open while procuring their products and selling them to us? A little change of thinking at times goes a long way… and would also, as the wise man said, help in greater circulation and generation of money in our economy.
(Dedicated to Late Capt. D. Majumdar, Director Safety, Air India)
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