Baksheesh

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2006, 14:31

Nontheless the change guy provides a service so as You DON"T HAVE to wander around a million places organising your change. He is sitting there all day, so he is to all intents and purposes "at work" Plus collecting enough paise coins would take you forever. Contrary to your take on things small change is still hard to come by in many parts of India!! Especially small denomination paise coins
A scam is something that happens to you without your knowledge. This is perfectly up front and you are under no obligation to use the service. However if you are in a holy town with a lot of beggers, the change guy provides a worthwhile service!!
Do you scream blue murder when you pay commission to change your money?? Use an ATM Or indeed to change small change into notes (quite a lot of banks now charge for this)

it's the priests you need to keep an eye on they'll fleece you given the chance, with a smile of course!!

Nick-H · Nov 12th, 2006, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

Day to day corruption is decreasing, though. Specially if you leave aside property dealings. Can't remember when I last paid a bribe... many years ago, I think.

Me? Last Monday

CH... you are a generous man!

Unless, of course you only give Paise coins to beggars!

Then again, if there are fifty of them... what to do? I guess beggars in that situation rely on getting a tiny amount from lots of people.

I don't pay any commision to get rupees out of a rupee account in India, or GBP to get money out of a GBP account in UK (although some of the banks would like to make it chargeable

)

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2006, 14:54

I used to do it eveyday for weeks in Rishikesh to the gaggle of cackling grannies, along the banks of the Ganga. They all seemed quite happy with the 40 paise I gave to them as lots of others were doing just the same, so in a day they probably did ok.
They really enjoyed a bunch of grapes now and again, they just sucked the pips right out of them, their teeth being long gone.
The blind band did a lot better from me though!

Nick-H · Nov 12th, 2006, 15:12

Whoa! What was the coinage then? Only 25p and 50p now.

How long ago was this? Are you going to be telling us you could live all week and still have change out of a rupee next?

(wish I'd known India in those days!)

Rich Anpoor · Nov 12th, 2006, 15:36

ok, let me just clarify a little here. I am mainly thinking of Rishikesh where I noticed this and I have much the same experience as cyberhippie. Finding change all the time was real hassle and when you have 50 beggars sitting on the bridges going across ganga ma in Rishikesh you need some change.

they are the same beggars everyday and if you are staying for a few weeks in a small town you get to know them a little. I met a guy, 60-ish with one arm and those white skin spots that you see at the kumbh 2001, strange thing was he said hello but did'nt ask for money at all. I sorta presumed he was holiday!

the change-wallahs are sitting on the floor usually and may also sell a few other items but they don't seem to do alot of business. there is also 10 other guys selling exactly the same service. they are just small-time business men taking advantage of the whole beggar donation in a pilgrimage town thang.

my idea of a scam would be if they tried to tell you - "sir, change 10 rupee note for 10 1R coins" - and then only hand over 9 (or fakes or whatever.)

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2006, 15:37

10-11 years ago Nick but you couldn't live on a Rupee a week you needed at least 10

The whole idea here is a micro economy that keeps the small change circulating. The beggers DO pay to change the money back 5% but they do this safe in the knowledge that the money will keep coming back to them!

We've all done it, last bit of change to a deserving begger only to find yet more further down the line, your change is finished!!
Having a change guy around means the money gets further down the line so to speak!!

Nick-H · Nov 12th, 2006, 16:52

OK, but I just can't bring myself to nominate these guys for the Society's Most Useful Member award!

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2006, 16:53

Nope that would be the chai wallah!! Most offensive would be those feckers that charge the lowly begger for his spot on the sidewalk!!

Digital Drifter · Nov 12th, 2006, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberhippie

Nope that would be the chai wallah!! Most offensive would be those feckers that charge the lowly begger for his spot on the sidewalk!!

& that's the worse part. Every inch of pavement is sold, rented and parcelled out. There was an article in Outlook magazine about how Railway stations, Bus Stations are 'zoned' by fixers which may be cops, Gov. officials and other figures.

That's the reason why they continue to remain poor. crushing them out of the Rs. 20 they make a day by taking 6 out of their pocket.

Here's once conversation I remember; In Madurai, just before the 'Chithrai' festival, I was near the Meenakshi temple and went to a phone booth to make a phone call.

The man in hte booth who was talking to someone else on the phone
'....SI(Sub Inspector) is asking for Rs 5000 to allow me put a pavement shop in the NE corner. He wants the money before I start...'

About 500,000 people come for the Festival and the pavements ae jammed with hawkers trying to sell their wares in the T-2 + festival days. For about 1.5 Cubic metre of space.

Nick-H · Nov 12th, 2006, 20:40

I may only get 7.5 rupees for my ten, but at least I get chai into he bargain

I'm still curious about this lack of coins thing: is it just small paise coins, you mean, CH? I can imagine a shop not having several hundred of those.

I accepted Rs.5 change from R20 the other day from a share-auto driver for 2 Rs.7 fares: Mrs N soon got the extra Rupee out of him!

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2006, 22:09

Yeah I'm talking about the small paise coins Nick, in someplace like Rishikesh where there are dozens maybe hundreds of beggers the local shops and chai wallahs would soon run out of coins if we were to change them there and they would probably just refuse to do it after a while!!

Elswhere there is still a scrabble for even 1-5 ruppee coins in rural India, it's really rather funny watching them go from one shop to another trying to find some change for you. No point in saying keep the change either, in many cases pride simply won't allow that!!

Nick-H · Nov 12th, 2006, 23:07

But isn't Rs1 or Rs5 a lot of money in rural India?

maybe the coins are all under people's mattresses!

Now, if you told me there was a shortage of Rs500 and Rs1000 notes in rural India I'd have no trouble in understanding that!!!

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2006, 23:21

Little money, large circulation Nick, the money is on the local merry go round, not under mattresses!!

Nov 12th, 2006, 15:36	#20
Rich Anpoor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kailash Posts: 166	ok, let me just clarify a little here. I am mainly thinking of Rishikesh where I noticed this and I have much the same experience as cyberhippie. Finding change all the time was real hassle and when you have 50 beggars sitting on the bridges going across ganga ma in Rishikesh you need some change. they are the same beggars everyday and if you are staying for a few weeks in a small town you get to know them a little. I met a guy, 60-ish with one arm and those white skin spots that you see at the kumbh 2001, strange thing was he said hello but did'nt ask for money at all. I sorta presumed he was holiday! the change-wallahs are sitting on the floor usually and may also sell a few other items but they don't seem to do alot of business. there is also 10 other guys selling exactly the same service. they are just small-time business men taking advantage of the whole beggar donation in a pilgrimage town thang. my idea of a scam would be if they tried to tell you - "sir, change 10 rupee note for 10 1R coins" - and then only hand over 9 (or fakes or whatever.) __________________ say hello at myspace.com/zappasearcher The only law that applies to us, the law that protects the life, liberty rights and property of all living souls. "If only lawyers understand the written laws, they are the only ones who should obey them"

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Nov 12th, 2006, 14:31	#16
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Nontheless the change guy provides a service so as You DON"T HAVE to wander around a million places organising your change. He is sitting there all day, so he is to all intents and purposes "at work" Plus collecting enough paise coins would take you forever. Contrary to your take on things small change is still hard to come by in many parts of India!! Especially small denomination paise coins A scam is something that happens to you without your knowledge. This is perfectly up front and you are under no obligation to use the service. However if you are in a holy town with a lot of beggers, the change guy provides a worthwhile service!! Do you scream blue murder when you pay commission to change your money?? Use an ATM Or indeed to change small change into notes (quite a lot of banks now charge for this) it's the priests you need to keep an eye on they'll fleece you given the chance, with a smile of course!!

Nov 12th, 2006, 14:54	#18
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	I used to do it eveyday for weeks in Rishikesh to the gaggle of cackling grannies, along the banks of the Ganga. They all seemed quite happy with the 40 paise I gave to them as lots of others were doing just the same, so in a day they probably did ok. They really enjoyed a bunch of grapes now and again, they just sucked the pips right out of them, their teeth being long gone. The blind band did a lot better from me though!

Nov 12th, 2006, 15:12	#19
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Whoa! What was the coinage then? Only 25p and 50p now. How long ago was this? Are you going to be telling us you could live all week and still have change out of a rupee next? (wish I'd known India in those days!)

Nov 12th, 2006, 15:37	#21
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	10-11 years ago Nick but you couldn't live on a Rupee a week you needed at least 10 The whole idea here is a micro economy that keeps the small change circulating. The beggers DO pay to change the money back 5% but they do this safe in the knowledge that the money will keep coming back to them! We've all done it, last bit of change to a deserving begger only to find yet more further down the line, your change is finished!! Having a change guy around means the money gets further down the line so to speak!!

Nov 12th, 2006, 16:52	#22
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	OK, but I just can't bring myself to nominate these guys for the Society's Most Useful Member award!

Nov 12th, 2006, 16:53	#23
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Nope that would be the chai wallah!! Most offensive would be those feckers that charge the lowly begger for his spot on the sidewalk!!

Nov 12th, 2006, 20:40	#25
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	I may only get 7.5 rupees for my ten, but at least I get chai into he bargain I'm still curious about this lack of coins thing: is it just small paise coins, you mean, CH? I can imagine a shop not having several hundred of those. I accepted Rs.5 change from R20 the other day from a share-auto driver for 2 Rs.7 fares: Mrs N soon got the extra Rupee out of him!

Nov 12th, 2006, 22:09	#26
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Yeah I'm talking about the small paise coins Nick, in someplace like Rishikesh where there are dozens maybe hundreds of beggers the local shops and chai wallahs would soon run out of coins if we were to change them there and they would probably just refuse to do it after a while!! Elswhere there is still a scrabble for even 1-5 ruppee coins in rural India, it's really rather funny watching them go from one shop to another trying to find some change for you. No point in saying keep the change either, in many cases pride simply won't allow that!!

Nov 12th, 2006, 23:07	#27
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	But isn't Rs1 or Rs5 a lot of money in rural India? maybe the coins are all under people's mattresses! Now, if you told me there was a shortage of Rs500 and Rs1000 notes in rural India I'd have no trouble in understanding that!!!

Nov 12th, 2006, 23:21	#28
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,009	Little money, large circulation Nick, the money is on the local merry go round, not under mattresses!!