Nitin Sharma | Questioning Everything

As I was watching a video, it provided some interesting insights into why Indians are leaving India. It’s not a new trend; many Indians like myself have left India at one point. One point he made, which I completely agree with, concerns the middle class — people like us and my parents. Despite paying significant taxes, we don’t see a return on our investment in terms of government services. For example, in the UK, I don’t need to visit private hospitals and spend thousands of pounds because public healthcare services are robust. In contrast, in India, the public hospitals are in such poor condition that one is compelled to seek private healthcare.

Another example is education. In the UK, my three children attend state-funded schools, which means I don’t worry about school fees. However, in India, my sister and I attended private schools throughout our lives, which was a financial burden on our family. My father paid taxes, and though he wasn’t among the highest taxpayers, there are many who are, yet what do they get in return?

The political leaders seem to focus on appeasing the poor, which is necessary, but it appears they do so mainly for votes. Meanwhile, the middle class receives nothing tangible in return for their contributions. Instead of providing substantial benefits like quality education or healthcare, the government offers nationalistic sentiments and religious pride as compensation. These require no actual monetary investment — just a few speeches. Thus, while India might be growing economically, the middle class doesn’t see the practical benefits of this growth. They’re fed national pride, but in reality, they gain little that improves their daily lives.