Class Exclusivity

The past decade has witnessed a heavy influx of skilled labor with the boom of education and software industries in Pune. The earning class of the population has expanded significantly. This class earns well and is willing to pay for a good standard of living. Localities like Magarpatta City attract the well earning members of our society instantly. Without a doubt Magarpatta City has become one of the more expensive and luxurious localities in Pune. The price of every square foot has almost tripled as compared to the price when Magarpatta City was in its initial phases. In terms of aesthetics, luxuries and quality this township is nearly ideal. Every single problem which plagues numerous cities across the country has been taken care of by the developers of Magarpatta City. But this does not mean that those problems do not exist in the rest of Pune. Open spaces, fresh air, clean surroundings, greenery, silence, traffic free travelling which were a given once upon a time have become luxuries for which individuals are willing to pay through their noses.  Therefore in all of this where does the unskilled and poverty stricken population go?  A huge chunk of our society has been erased from this pretty picture. It is this willingness to shell out money on which the providers monopolize. As a result of which, miniature cities like Magarpatta are becoming increasingly class exclusive. There is no place for anyone who does not earn ‘well enough’.  Even though the working class is growing the slum population is stagnant. The deprived are denied clean surroundings, a decent home, and basic amenities to sustain themselves because they cannot pay for it. We are talking about private townships when many of them cannot even imagine a private bathroom or a bedroom. Such discrepancies and exclusiveness obliterates the social setting of cities by making the societal divides harder to overcome.