Recession has hit all over the world. The British government is trying its best to deal with the situation. But, the hurt and the circumstances around it, will be hard to overcome. And, the scars from it will remain for a long time.
It’s often said that it takes years to build up something and mere seconds to tear it down.
As the recession hit, it seems to have spared no one.. The British government is keeping close tabs on its banks. However, the property rates have drastically fallen by 20% -30%. Many old properties have been put up for sale. To overcome this huge economic hit, the government is helping with stimulus for the British automobile industry and now car loans are easily available.
A well-known Punjabi Londoner, Mahendar Singh Khera, told us that the recession has also deeply affected the Punjabi community in the UK. But, the effect is milder on the big businessmen. Punjabis are considered very hardworking people and are known to always deal with such situations. They have overcome the greatest of miseries victoriously. Their attitude towards life and their belief in their religion helps them overcome the direst of situations.
Another Punjabi worker at a store told us “All the cash counters have been computerized for ‘self payment’. Self-payment is a mode in which all the items that one has purchased can be paid for directly by the customer using touch screen computers. Due to this conversion, many of the workers have been replaced by computers. Earlier we had nine workers working in this store now only two are left.”
We had a talk with another elderly gentleman residing here who had spent a sum of one lakh only to work on a farm. Swarn Singh states, “It is becoming more and more difficult to get work these days. From April to November we get work only in the villages. We have become fearful that the government might to catch us.”
Such an incident happened recently when immigration personnel raided a shop and arrested the women making jewelry there, another person who was washing utensils and a customer as well. All the illegal immigrants are living under the cover of their relatives.
Oil prices have been spiraling upwards and a litre of petrol now costs 90 pence instead of 83 pence as it did a few months ago. The value of the British currency has also suffered immensely ion the world market due to the downfall of the economy.
However, the British government is doing all it can to overcome this crisis, and hopes are high for the future, understanding that the situation is being dealt with swiftly.