I learned that the Indian government has slashed income and surcharge taxes. However, the tax system does largely favour wealthy people. I find it a trifle inappropriate to have a 5% surcharge tax on ozonized (ie purified) drinking water. Clean drinking water is no luxury, but a human right in my opinion. The outrageous thing is that India has only a 2% surcharge tax on gold and jewellery, which solely serves the rich buggers to decorate themselves like Christmas trees!
India considers herself as being on the brinks to an economic power. I am very sceptic about that. A country, which does not know highways, but only narrow interconnecting roads, which are mainly in very bad condition, which has huge problems with the supply of drinking water, and where everyone considers any place outside a building a public toilet and a garbage dumb is far away from that heaven. Further, the increasing gap between rich and poor may cause future social problems with possible uprisings of the less favoured. And last, not least, being a power in just one area (the software engineering) is probably not a sufficient basis for becoming an economic power. But maybe I'm wrong and it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy!
The 4.5hrs busride on a state bus to Bidar was quite OK today. The bus was from the state of Karnataka (that's where Bidar is located) and they seem to have much nicer buses! Further, I had two seats for the whole journey!
Leaving Hyderabad brought back an obvious picture of the 3rd world. Slums with ramshackle huts made of clay, corrugated iron or palmtree mats were lined along the road on the outskirts of the city.
Arriving in Bidar is like travelling back in time. Except for the main roads, unpaved roads cross this sleepy town. It has less traffic than other cities and the people are extremely helpful! The hotel receptionist even took me to a private bus company to inquire about a connection to Hospet, my next stop after Bidar. However, there are no direct connections on private buses. Even with the state bus, I will have to change once. Well, I guess I'll have a funny night tomorrow again!