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STORY so far: A group of NRIs visits a nearby locality to help the poor residents there. After interacting with them, I am disappointed that they were in such great hurry to do anything within their budgets that they didn't seem to pay attention to what the people wanted. I wonder if we need such patronising help that comes with many strings attached when we can stand on our own feet.

Episode 102

C. Ramesh writes from Keeramangalam: "Hello Swati, there are about 20 million NRIs. They can certainly contribute a lot to the welfare and development of our nation. Investing their money in India is beneficial for them also. India offers the highest returns with the lowest risks in the world. Moreover, such help to India marks goodwill and patriotism of the NRIs. It strengthens the bond of love and affection among all Indians, wherever they live. However, the attitude of some of the NRIs that they are at the giving-end and the poor residents are at the receiving-end is wrong." Thanks, Ramesh.

"There is no harm in getting NRI support for the victims," writes Manickam from Coimbatore. "Everybody loves and lives for fame and appreciation; and NRIs are no exception. In fact, NRIs are a lot better than our politicians who distribute ten towels and take twenty photos to publish in thirty newspapers! Yes, if the NRIs expect some appreciation, there's no harm in that. When more funds turn up, we can even hire workers on salary to serve the tsunami victims." As I read your mail, I get an idea: We can even think of making social service a PR exercise and sell slots to eager companies and individuals through an ad agency. Then, each good deed will go with a tag, "This is sponsored by... !"

"Hi Swati, why should we need any help from NRIs when we can stand on our own feet!" asks Kamal Anil Kapadia FCA in Ocwen Financial Solutions P Ltd, Mumbai.

"When an NRI comes to India we give them so much hospitality and comfort. Wonder why the same is not offered to us when we move to their land! Do we need their help is the first question? Are we not self-sufficient?" Good.

**********

In Nepal, kidnapping seems to be a large-scale business. Closer home, we have been watching how school children had to protest against the evil. More than four years ago, BBC ran a story on how kidnapping was a `growth industry'.

Among the `top 10 kidnap countries', India ranked seventh after Colombia, Mexico, the former Soviet Union, Brazil, Nigeria, and the Philippines. Ecuador, Venezuela and South Africa were also in the list.

On the Net, I find that Hiscox is the world's largest provider of specialist kidnap, detention and extortion insurance! "We cover companies and individuals against all forms of extortion and can protect your assets from illegal demands and the consequential associated expenses," says www.hiscox.com.

A few days ago, as I was returning from work, somewhat earlier than usual, I noticed a small boy in school uniform in an apparent scuffle with a couple of adults near a car. "Boys are always boys," I told myself, trying to dismiss the scene as some friendly prank. Yet, driven by some uneasy feel, I decided to stop my bike about fifty feet ahead of them, on the other side of the road, and pulled out my new cell phone. A camera one, that is, acquired at dirt-cheap price when the MMS scandal stuck to the product like a stigma.

So, even while posing to retrieve a message on my cell, I began to capture what was happening on an otherwise deserted road, zooming in on the car number plate too. Suddenly, I found one of the adults near the car looking at me and pointing to his chum.

Expecting some problem, I sat astride my bike, idling, and ready to drive off in a jiffy, but continued to record the video. Abruptly, the duo pushed the boy onto the pavement railing and rushed into the car. And in a few seconds, they had sped out of sight. I made a U-turn and came up to the boy who seemed to be resisting tears, despite bruises on his arms and face.

"You know them?" I asked him. He shook his head. "Want to call your parents?" I queried, handing him my phone. "It's okay, they must be at work. I'll go home," he said. "Let's not waste time," I said. "Hop on, I'll take you, before those rowdies come back. And we'll tell the cops on the way."

**********

At the police station, I met the Assistant Commissioner Pasupati and told him about the incident. "It's good you took the initiative to intervene," he said. I showed him the video clip and even mailed it to his mobile. Within minutes, the Control Room was alerted about the number and colour of the car. You won't believe, but in the next quarter hour, an `Interceptor' bike reported sighting and chasing the suspect vehicle on the East Coast Road.

Meanwhile, there was feedback from the Transport Registration office about the address of the vehicle owners. Deciding to pursue the story later, I left the boy with his mother, working as a supervisor in a company. "I told Harish not to stray onto the beach," she chided. "But he says he wants to see the place where tsunami struck!" I could not get angry. It's almost two months since the calamity hit the coast, and the tragedy affects both the young and the old. Harish took out a notebook from his schoolbag to show me a half-finished poem on tsunami...

**********

Well, today is Budget day, and I'd be joining groups of CAs in trying to figure out what changes happen in the Finance Bill. It's only early morning now, and the Minister's speech is a few hours away. What's your take on the Budget proposals? Send in your thoughts by Friday.

Swati_CA@hotmail.com

For archived episodes of this column click on: htpp://www.thehindubusinessline.com/nic/swati/index.htm

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