A recent Reddit post from a resident in a Tier-3 Indian city has sparked a lively debate about what it truly means to be “middle class” in today’s India. The user shared a fascinating comparison: their long-time maid’s family, through various informal sector incomes, now earns more than their own salaried household—and it’s all completely tax-free.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Redditor detailed the maid’s family income:
- Maid: ₹30,000 per month from working full days across three households.
- Husband: ₹35,000 per month as a daily wage laborer.
- Eldest Son: ₹30,000 per month from a saree shop.
- Younger Daughter: Currently ₹3,000 (learning tailoring), projected to reach ₹15,000–₹20,000 soon.
- Youngest Son: Training as a plumber, projected to earn ₹15,000–₹25,000 monthly.
This brings their current family income to ₹98,000, with a projected increase to ₹1.3 lakh – ₹1.35 lakh within months. Crucially, because these incomes are from the informal sector, they are entirely untaxed.
Beyond their earnings, the family benefits significantly from government schemes, receiving free rations and owning a rural home under a central housing program. Their rent is a mere ₹6,000. Additionally, they anticipate earning an extra ₹30,000–₹40,000 per quarter by leasing inherited land.
“I’m genuinely happy for her,” the Redditor wrote, acknowledging the maid’s hard work. “But it does make you wonder—who really belongs to the middle class now?”
Redefining the “Middle Class”
The post quickly garnered diverse reactions. Many echoed the sentiment, highlighting how informal sector incomes, untethered by taxes and often bolstered by government welfare, can now rival or even surpass the disposable income of salaried professionals. These professionals often face rising housing costs, inflation, and significant tax burdens, leaving them with less take-home pay.
However, other commenters injected crucial context, pointing out that such comparisons sometimes overlook the lack of job security, formal benefits (like provident fund or health insurance), and the inherent vulnerability of informal labor. Salaried workers, despite higher taxes, typically enjoy greater stability and a social safety net.
The core question remains: as India’s economy evolves, and the financial landscapes of formal and informal sectors diverge, the line between “working class” and “middle class” is becoming less about the type of job and more about net disposable income, financial security, and whether one’s earnings are subject to taxation. This Reddit discussion underscores a growing introspection about economic identity in a rapidly changing nation.
