Networking in the time of recession
New age barter: Swap till you drop
Shameer KS, Express News Service
Bangalore, February 25
While the recession has sent economists and politicians scrambling in the search for an exit door, a group of people have thrashed out a strategy to beat the turmoil. Their tool: social networking sites. The Freecycle Group, formed in the city in 2006, is the latest example of how social networking can be tailored to tackle the meltdown. The group is a non-profit organisation whose members exchange materials among themselves free of cost and on condition of bartering. Freecyclers now see the fraternity as an opportunity to beat the recession.A close look into the membership statistics of the group (the website,http://www.freecycle.org/group/IN/India/Bangalore) reveals that there has been a surge in its members since December 2008, when the global economy slid into the pits. Around 40 Of its 825 members joined the group last week and every day at least 10 members are added to the list. Bartering of materials is done by members through emails and SMS. There have been 289 messages among the group members since its formation in 2006. In 2009, there are 53 messages uptill now."People like me can't help using second-hand materials since an impending salary cut may turn the family budget upside down," says Prathap, an IT professional living in Koramangala. "Earlier, people who owned a five-year old laptop used to be mocked in my firm. Now survival is all that matters," he said. Prathap has got a television set from Rajanath, a student who after completing his MCA is leaving for Chennai. "Usually members who hand over materials to others enter an informal pact that objects having almost the same value will be swapped to them in future," Prathap says, adding that he had planned to give Rajnath his laptop once he leaves the field.For Harris, who works with a leading BT firm in the city, membership in the group has helped him give away his possessions ahead of packing off from the city. "It's almost four months since I last got my salary. My plan is to resign the job, join my brothers' business ventures in Badakara (Kerala) and settle there for the time being. I have decided to give my furniture, including a bookshelf and cot, to a Freecycler," Harris says. "Still," he adds with a wistful smile,"I have fallen in love with the city and I will come back here. Then I will depend on the Freecycle Club to get back the things I will lose now."The positive aspect of this camaraderie is that it is fast creating an economic model based on the ancient barter system at a time when consumeristic values are under threat.
(Published in The New Indian Express, Bangalore)
New age barter: Swap till you drop
Shameer KS, Express News Service
Bangalore, February 25
While the recession has sent economists and politicians scrambling in the search for an exit door, a group of people have thrashed out a strategy to beat the turmoil. Their tool: social networking sites. The Freecycle Group, formed in the city in 2006, is the latest example of how social networking can be tailored to tackle the meltdown. The group is a non-profit organisation whose members exchange materials among themselves free of cost and on condition of bartering. Freecyclers now see the fraternity as an opportunity to beat the recession.A close look into the membership statistics of the group (the website,http://www.freecycle.org/group/IN/India/Bangalore) reveals that there has been a surge in its members since December 2008, when the global economy slid into the pits. Around 40 Of its 825 members joined the group last week and every day at least 10 members are added to the list. Bartering of materials is done by members through emails and SMS. There have been 289 messages among the group members since its formation in 2006. In 2009, there are 53 messages uptill now."People like me can't help using second-hand materials since an impending salary cut may turn the family budget upside down," says Prathap, an IT professional living in Koramangala. "Earlier, people who owned a five-year old laptop used to be mocked in my firm. Now survival is all that matters," he said. Prathap has got a television set from Rajanath, a student who after completing his MCA is leaving for Chennai. "Usually members who hand over materials to others enter an informal pact that objects having almost the same value will be swapped to them in future," Prathap says, adding that he had planned to give Rajnath his laptop once he leaves the field.For Harris, who works with a leading BT firm in the city, membership in the group has helped him give away his possessions ahead of packing off from the city. "It's almost four months since I last got my salary. My plan is to resign the job, join my brothers' business ventures in Badakara (Kerala) and settle there for the time being. I have decided to give my furniture, including a bookshelf and cot, to a Freecycler," Harris says. "Still," he adds with a wistful smile,"I have fallen in love with the city and I will come back here. Then I will depend on the Freecycle Club to get back the things I will lose now."The positive aspect of this camaraderie is that it is fast creating an economic model based on the ancient barter system at a time when consumeristic values are under threat.
(Published in The New Indian Express, Bangalore)
