MIDDLE CLASS ESCAPES POVERTY, TRAPPED IN VULNERABILITY

INDIA'S ECONOMIC narrative is one of impressive growth. Headlines trumpet economic growth and geopolitical clout.

- By Vikas Singh

Yet, for most individuals, the daily grind remains unchanged, a stark contrast to the narrative of progress. A staggering 400 million people – one-third of India's population – grapple with a reality far removed from the promised “ease of living.” They exist in a void between the bottom 50 per cent and the top 15 per cent. Seldom heard, their presence a fleeting concern – acknowledged only during elections – leaves them vulnerable. Access to essential services, efficient infrastructure, and responsive governance remains an unfulfilled pledge – a distant mirage that only amplifies their daily struggles.

The Middle-Class Mirage: India's growth story rings increasingly jarring and meaningless for this crucial segment of society. They are the backbone of the economy, diligently contributing yet feeling squeezed from all sides, enduring a constant sense of vulnerability. Hours are lost in traffic, crammed into overcrowded buses. They face a daily gauntlet of systemic indifference: endless waits for train reservations highlight infrastructure gaps; forced to organise their own security due to inadequate and indifferent policing, they live with a constant sense of vulnerability.

The middle class bears the full burden of essential services – electricity, water, education – while the state’s contribution feels negligible. This isn’t about handouts; it’s about a sense of reciprocity. They pay their dues, yet the system offers little in return. They are the engine of the economy, yet they are consistently overlooked, their struggles dismissed as insignificant.