5 trillion dollar dream, powered by 55 years old bicyclists!!!

A few days ago, a delivery man(probably 55 something) came to drop off my goods via Porter. His pants were torn, his footwear was falling apart, and his shirt was dirty from what was probably a long, exhausting day. And yet, he smiled, genuinely humble and polite as he handed me the package. I gave him a little extra as a tip, but as he walked away, I couldn’t help but feel... helpless. I mean, what difference do a few extra rupees really make? And then today, I saw this photo on a friend’s FB post. a man selling household goods on his bicycle somewhere in my city. I’ve blurred his face here out of respect, but you can still see it - the weariness, the weight of years of hard work, the quiet desperation. You see men like him everywhere, pushing heavy carts, cycling under the brutal sun, delivering food, or trying to sell things on empty streets, sometime even without earning a single penny after a full day of hardwork!! The worst part? We’re so used to seeing this that we don’t even stop to think about it. It’s just... normal now. That’s what bothers me. We’re a country with one of the youngest populations in the world, constantly talking about “growth” and “progress,” and yet, our elderly are still out here doing jobs meant for younger, stronger bodies. Not because they want to, but because they have no choice. I know some will say, “It’s the reality of survival in India,” and what not....but they’re not wrong. But it also doesn’t sit right. These folks deserve better. After decades of hard labor, they shouldn’t have to push carts or pedal for miles just to earn a few rupees. There has to be a way to make life easier for them - create jobs or places where they can work without breaking their backs. Is this really we can do? Tipping extra feels like a drop in the ocean, and talking about it doesn’t feel like enough. The truth is, I don’t have answers. Just some wishful thinking...I’m just as helpless as everyone else. & that’s what hurts the most- knowing that while we’re out here talking about GDP, men & women like him are still struggling and there’s no dignity in watching someone struggle just to make it through the day :-/ tl;dr: Saw a delivery man a few days ago and a photo of an elderly man selling goods today. Both exhausted, both working hard just to survive. We’ve normalized this, but it doesn’t sit right. Maybe it’s time we start creating jobs or spaces where they don’t have to break their backs just to get by. Maybe !!!