The coronavirus pandemic and the nation-wide lockdown that followed have hit daily-wage workers the most. According to the UN, 400 million people including vegetable and fruit sellers, construction workers, etc. may sink into poverty due to the “catastrophic consequences” of the crisis, reports Deccan Herald. Which is why it is essential for us privileged classes to be more sensitive and supportive towards daily-wage workers.
However, in a recent incident, as narrated by stand-up comedian Varun Grover, some people can be really unempathetic towards the economically backward section of the society.
In a Twitter thread, Varun Grover narrated how a couple, apparently economically solvent, bargained with a vegetable seller for Rs 15, reports The Indian Express. So much so, that the couple tried walking away without paying the full amount to the poor man. You may read the entire incident below:
1.
Y'day while waiting to buy vegetables at the nearby sabzi stall – a couple just ahead of me made me realize (yet again) one of the defining features of the urban elite.
They bought stuff worth INR 315 & then started walking off after paying INR 300 with a casual wave of hand.
— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 8, 2020
2.
The sabzi waala protested saying there's no profit margin in these times so please pay the total he asked for. They acted a mix of shock and mocking and said sab itna mehenga hai. (That's a lie: Surprisingly there's no or very little inflation in veggie prices here.)
— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 8, 2020
3.
Sabzi waala said tamaatar 20 rupaye kilo hai, kidhar mehenga hai? They looked at each other, deciding a number in their cold-gaze secret language, and the man took out a 10 rupees note and handed it over with a look of ehsaan.
— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 8, 2020
4.
The sabzi waala kept the 10, still short of INR 5. I said out aloud you should be ashamed. They stopped, looked at me, probably weighing me for the kind of confrontation they want while maintaining social distance.
A second later, he matched my aggression with "And WHO are you?"— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 8, 2020
5.
I told him you are trying to pinch this guy – an essential worker in these pre-apocalyptic times – of INR 5. FIVE! Don't you find that shameful? After repeating who are you a couple more times & probably not in the mood for longer sentences he ended it with "FUCK YOU" & left.
— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 8, 2020
6.
The sabzi waala said to me later koi baat nahin, 5 rupaye ki hi baat hai. And i understand – probably those five rupees mean nothing for both the parties in this case but decency, respect, and fairness is a social contract that should get stronger in times of distress.
— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 8, 2020
7.
For urban elite – with all their privilege & money – the feeling of persecution complex STILL trumps all other states of being. In this imagination, everyone out there is planning to dupe them & they must choose distrust over decency, bad faith over good to save themselves.
— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 8, 2020
8.
Everyone out there is an OTHER they don't want to interact with and still believe they know everything about.
They can decide the right price of veggies, how much an underprivileged person should eat, what they should eat, and when they should stop asking for more.
/end rant
— वरुण 🇮🇳 (@varungrover) April 8, 2020
Varun Grover’s Twitter thread started a debate on the comment section about the “urban elite” and their habit of bargaining with poor vendors. Many pointed out their “hypocrisy” because the same people don’t mind paying extra in bigger retail stores.
1.
The sense of entitlement of the Indian upper middle class is extraordinary
— Kiyomizu. Flatten The Damned Curve. (@1971Kiyomizu) April 8, 2020
2.
Thread.
I'd love to see this couple try these antics while paying the bill at More, Spencer's or Namdhari's… or while paying for these vegetable CoD on Amazon, Big Basket or Flipkart. https://t.co/UwafuJFe7k
— Karthik (@beastoftraal) April 8, 2020
3.
These are the same urban elite who take pride in not giving the subzi waala his due earning but are super happy to pay for an over prices watch or a computer because they know they can bully the poor.. makes me so mad ..
— Kanupriya Misra (@KayPee1703) April 8, 2020
4.
https://twitter.com/i_stan_mnm/status/1247796277451960322
5.
Same people will happily pay extra for same vegetables sold from a fancy retail store.
— Nitin Sinha (@NsNitinsinha) April 8, 2020
6.
Paying essential workers less in this time of distress is such a shameful act. And they are banging plates and lighting diyas for show off that they care about society too mch !! Whats this nonsense.#Hypocrisy
— ● ∩⊙ ⊙∩ε ● (@i_manisha9) April 8, 2020
7.
apathy of urban elite is the most repugnant part of Indian society. They underpay their domestic help, driver, guard etc., then take pride in their lifestyle – 'look where hardwork can get you!'. The baksheesh calculatedly handed to them during festivals is peak charity for them! https://t.co/V6UfEhZxas
— Rashdah (@rashdah_) April 8, 2020
8.
https://twitter.com/Lakdoo/status/1247872839576846337
9.
The urban elite is vicious, petty & insensitive AF. So many don't want to pay their maids, even in such horrible times are hoarding on necessities & the worst is bargaining with a daily wager
These are the same who want taxes reduced&Ambani to spend less on his daughter's wedding https://t.co/AtEiCwhF6L— Srishti Rajiv Sharma (@SrishtiRajiv) April 8, 2020
10.
Urban elites or in general stupids will happily pay 200 Rs for Popcorn of 20 Rs , 200Rs for 20 Rs Coke in Cinema Halls,
1299 Rs for 150 Rs T shirt in malls, but will bargain with Sabzi wala, Riksha Wala for 10 20 Rs.— Observers India (@Observers_India) April 8, 2020
11.
So true.I see this with most elites/middle and upper middle class people. They want to decide how poor people should live their lives,what jobs they should do,whether they should live in villages or cities etc. as if they do not have a right to choice.
— M (@BrightDays19) April 8, 2020
It is shameful how privileged people find it okay to bargain with poor vendors for a few extra rupees. Can we please be more sympathetic and understanding and help such people, especially during trying times?