I must begin by expressing deep shock on the death of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mrs. Benazir Bhutto. Totally expected though. What do you expect from a country that feels anarchy is a state of stability. Its rather intriguing that she fought to get back to Pakistan. There were media reports of some arbid deal with the General. But you really have nothing to back such claims (Unless you send people from "Aaj Tak" or "Tehelka" to unearth the truth, but it is more risky. Here in India you can escape with a suit filed against you, but there you are unlikely to come out unscathed). Some people call me a fool when I say one must believe in providence. I dont know, but may be she was destined to die in her own country. Imagine 2 months back she was nowhere near Pakistan, but she came all the way down. Was it the lust for power or the love for her country & people or was it just her death...drawing her towards the inevitable. I guess, we should be the one who should be scratching our heads with Pakistani's possession of Nukes with them. Some crazy people still say to me, "Lets finish them" or "Lets take over Pakistan". I mean why? They are a different country & we must be candid enough to accept their existence in the way they have evolved over the years. While we have focussed our energies on areas that affect on the global scene. They have just aped us in our military strengths and more importantly driven their resources (both tangible & intangible) towards destabilizing us. Anyways, I guess there are smarter people right now having more brilliant ideas on managing the crisis across the border.
Offf..I am so predictable with my use of words. I get these bouts of inferiority complexes when I read those profound articles by unknown writers. Then I think that as far as the communication gets across, my purpose is served. Then I also think, when will I be as eloquent as a Karan Thapar or a Shekhar Gupta. I am not reading enough I guess. Well, these days I am very excited. India is in Australia bhai. I am a great fan of cricket. Its not only the Tendulkars or the Dravids or the Gangullys or the Kumbles who are going old. An entire generation which is still in such awe of these great sportspersons is growing old. I dont recall when were we really a force in cricket. We have been great underdogs. Australia & South Africa are like one of those really old fashioned Hindi Movies. A very good Hero & very bad Villian. A ghareloo heroine and a predictable end which is "And they lived happily ever after". Indian cricket is different. Its the new genre of movies that we see these days. Grey shades. Hero is half villian. Villian is half hero. There are no hero or villian or heroines.All characters. You dont necessarily know the end. We have that unpredictable flavor. Our cricket is filled with emotions. We cry, we laugh, we punch fists in the air, we fly like a bird and we get a feeling called "India". But the point is that the entire flow of emotions ends as soon as we move out of movie theatres or when the match ends. Having travelled wide and far (in comparison to my parents) across the length & breadth of India, it is intriguing how different but yet so similar our country is. Apart from the apparent differences across geographies, languages, traditions, customs and face countours, what we share in common is a total apathy towards governance and the lax administrative set ups. One of my resource mobilization proposals has been stuck in the Maharashtra Urban Development department for ages now. My seniors first rebuked me, but now it has become one big joke in my company. But this is no different from one of the more progressive states like Tamilnadu, which has again taken no initiative whatsoever in getting a Tax Free proposal of one of their state entities which apparently is with the Central Government since the last 6 months. I mean,we do understand that every decision must be adequately debated but not to the extent that you manage to kill the issue altogether. The pain is agonizing. I will not deny that we ourselves feel frustrated on having to wait for ages for a deal to fructify. Interestingly the Urban Development initiative of JNNURM will face major impediments in terms of funding mega projects if this continues to be the approach. An initiative must be backed by an intent which must be uniform across all the participants to the issue. Consultants who have to make Detailed project reports are sitting merry after doing the needful without bothering that by the time project takes off, there would have been a serious impact on the costing of the project. The underlying idea behind the scheme is "Democracy". You know freedom is a very romantic concept. So is Communism. But in this segment I want to discuss democracy. Democracy by definition means - "By the people, for the people & of the people". Please watch the movie "V-for vendetta". Its really an awesome movie. My apologies for digressing. Coming back, most democracies are in the first stage i.e. they are "by the people", but all have failed to comply with the other two -"for the people" and "of the people". Most governments have their own agenda to pursue and hence conveniently forget that they are meant to serve the interests of the citizens of the country. The faith in the government is maintained by a constant dosage of insecurity like terrorism, epidemics, laxity in providing draught relief or lack of employment opportunities. All theses are the direct fallouts of having failed to achieve the other two aspects of the definition of democracy. India is not in question here. This is because we are too nascent a nation as compared to other western nations who have been fairly sucessful in the implementation of the so-called "Democracy". In our case I guess we delivered a very premature baby called "freedom" and on top of that we have donated it to an orphanage. Since liberalization, we have got economic freedom. Prominent economists call it our second freedom. Post that we have made truck loads of money which was pumped into purchase of fixed assets like vehicles & property. What we did not anticipate was that the effective use of these assets was still in control of the Government and the local authorities. Providing Water Supply and sanitation facilities, regular electricity supply, sewage treatment and reasonable roads to drive on. We never had enough of that in the pre-liberalization era. We didnt make an issue of that, 'cause we were told to be content. Rationing is the right word. But now we are demanding. We want what we deserve. We pay our taxes for a comfortable living. We demand sufficient infrastructure for us & for our coming generations. At least in case of Urban Development and infrastructure we can ask the government to have absolute democracy - "By the people, for the people & of the people". Of course the last one is possible only with citizen participation. But our efforts and consistent pleas to the authorities will take care of that. But only partial. The bigger challenge is to ensure that the machine keeps rolling with little or no intervention. Why not make our country a world laboratory to carry out this novel experiment. Lets do it..."Chak De India!"
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
The Wall
So, I was not feeling like penning down anything, though I had a huge backlog of thoughts.... I guess most of us are like that....We think alot, about relevant & irrelevant things, things that make sense & things that are utter non-sense, I mean you name it & people think about it....However, many of them continue to deny it as to what they think...
Anyways, my fights with the Government continue to reach dizzying heights. I have my own set of ideas & suggestions which continue to either get bulldozed by the administrative set up or lost in the labyrinth of their hierarchies....Till the time I joined a job, I did not know an entity called and "IAS" or as they say in North India " Bhartiya Prashasnik Sewa". It was only when my work entailed me to them too often that I realized that they hold the strings of Policy making. They are India's smartest men/women at work. Their red light vehicles, their palatial houses, their huge office premises, the secretaries, the additional commissioner, the batches, the CEOs, the transfers, ...It took me sometime to grasp all these terminologies. Their brilliance sometimes crowded by arrogance. it is not their fault, they are made to feel that way. They anyways have to buckle before ministers. but barring a few embarrassing moments, they are generally on their own. My limited interaction with them has taught me to treat them as special as possible.
They are not willing to listen to some of the ideas in Urban Development financings, that me & my colleagues are trying to inform them about. The people from print media are born with their own idiosyncrasies. Once a fortnight, they will come out with crazy ideas on Urban Financing through the Tax free route. I have been crying hoarse to all States & Urban Development agencies to not consider it as a financing options. True, that they are a cost effective way to finance, but when you take a look at the marketability aspect & the approval process, you begin to ask yourself a very serious question as to if the Taxable route is more preferable than to go through the mental agony. Both the administrative set up and the media are totally oblivious to the market realities. Being in the market, though with limited experience, I know that I have a better feel. I have lost count of the number of times I have met ministers, faxed letters of appointment and discussed at length the problems in Urban Financing with relevant IAS officials. But who is listening???
There is not one problem that plagues Urban Development. Though I have written at length on this subject on a professional capacity. There are governance issues, there are issues to recording of financial transactions, there are regional disparities and more importantly there are issues with respect to initiative. The problem looks more glaring now because of the sudden explosion of demand for houses & automobiles. Infact there are few young chaps in Urban Development sector. I dont know man, but it really concerns me of how we are going to see through this problem
Anyways, my fights with the Government continue to reach dizzying heights. I have my own set of ideas & suggestions which continue to either get bulldozed by the administrative set up or lost in the labyrinth of their hierarchies....Till the time I joined a job, I did not know an entity called and "IAS" or as they say in North India " Bhartiya Prashasnik Sewa". It was only when my work entailed me to them too often that I realized that they hold the strings of Policy making. They are India's smartest men/women at work. Their red light vehicles, their palatial houses, their huge office premises, the secretaries, the additional commissioner, the batches, the CEOs, the transfers, ...It took me sometime to grasp all these terminologies. Their brilliance sometimes crowded by arrogance. it is not their fault, they are made to feel that way. They anyways have to buckle before ministers. but barring a few embarrassing moments, they are generally on their own. My limited interaction with them has taught me to treat them as special as possible.
They are not willing to listen to some of the ideas in Urban Development financings, that me & my colleagues are trying to inform them about. The people from print media are born with their own idiosyncrasies. Once a fortnight, they will come out with crazy ideas on Urban Financing through the Tax free route. I have been crying hoarse to all States & Urban Development agencies to not consider it as a financing options. True, that they are a cost effective way to finance, but when you take a look at the marketability aspect & the approval process, you begin to ask yourself a very serious question as to if the Taxable route is more preferable than to go through the mental agony. Both the administrative set up and the media are totally oblivious to the market realities. Being in the market, though with limited experience, I know that I have a better feel. I have lost count of the number of times I have met ministers, faxed letters of appointment and discussed at length the problems in Urban Financing with relevant IAS officials. But who is listening???
There is not one problem that plagues Urban Development. Though I have written at length on this subject on a professional capacity. There are governance issues, there are issues to recording of financial transactions, there are regional disparities and more importantly there are issues with respect to initiative. The problem looks more glaring now because of the sudden explosion of demand for houses & automobiles. Infact there are few young chaps in Urban Development sector. I dont know man, but it really concerns me of how we are going to see through this problem
Friday, November 2, 2007
Traffic and World Toilet Summit
Today was a normal day. My home is a far distance from my office. 25 kms to be precise. Yes, its very far. But I love the drive. I commute on a bike. When I was to buy a vehicle many were opposed to the idea of buying a bike. Apart from the obvious spinal pains that it was likely to bring with it, affordability of smaller cars and the atrocious traffic sense that people carry with them in their pockets. But my decision was driven more by a teenage aspiration than adult realities.
Each day, its the same procedure. In Fact its so streamlined that I marvel at my own efficiency. I put on my earphones connected to my cellphone. I wrap my face with a handkerchief. Again, the idea is more towards keeping the earphones steady than protecting my skin from vehicular pollution or infection. I put on my helmet. Then the spectacles & over them my big shades. Alot of my friends comment that the shades that I wear are meant for ladies, but I hardly care.The reason is simple. These are gifted & I am too lazy to buy another one.
So, I begin. Actually I love the entire concept of biking. Biking stands for individualism(even with a pillion). Its openness allows you to connect with the nature. You are with everybody yet on your own. The ravaging petrol flowing through the labyrinth of the rumbling engine beside your legs energises them. There is an iconoclastic look to each biker on a bike even if he riding the TVS Max100. The look is always that of a man with a mission. "....Yes, the mission is to save John Connor .....", Terminator - 2. But very few like to cherish this feeling and like to make it a live circus. Its not a problem as far as the lion is growling inside a cage, because you know it cannnot escape & hence cannot harm you. But these so called bikers feel that they have to save the world. The maneouvering is more irritating than elegant by any stretch of imagination. Then the desperation to sneak through as many little crevices as possible & reach the start line on the zebra crossing before the next light turns green. This is not to absolve the many other drivers on other modes of commuting. What people do not understand is the fact that following basic rules like lane driving & obeying basic traffic rules can make the life of others around them on the road so much simpler and safer. I observed another very negative attitude on the road. It was disheartening. I just stopped at a red light. There was nearly no one on the red light. Nobody coming from any side. My side was showing red light. And then suddenly as if I was in the shooting of "Die hard - 3". Everybody started to cross at their own will. One bus conductor had the audacity to laugh at me as his victory chariot rolled past me. I was livid. And when it turned green & I started to move, Somebody from the opposite side tried to cross it. Even more disappointing was the fact that many drivers carrying their family & kids with them followed this atrocious traffic behaviour. What sense are we passing on to our next generation? A subtle indication that in a system you can get away with anything as far as you do not get caught.This sheer apathy sometimes apalls me.
As I reached my office, a rather glance on the pink daily turned into focussed attention on an Advertisement, "World Toilet Summit - 2007". I was thrilled. As I started to search it on the net, I was intrigued by it. Human Beings are social animals & are enquisitive in nature. My beautiful colleagues are no different. Hooohaaaahoooohaaaa....It went on for like ten minutes. By the time I finished my morning tea, the laughter was still going on. "What will they showcase - How to shit???"...another round of laughter........My interest arose because its a sanitation is a seriously problem plaguing the entire country. Especially when we use 85% of the daily water on our disposal activities. If we use that water judiciously, then we can manage our basic water needs pretty comfortably. The solid waste is meant to be disposed off in the ground. Unfortunately it gets diverted into our rivers, because of which we do not find a single river worth an innocent swim. We have set up numerous committees to clean up the river , but we have spent little on creative awareness to reduce the pollution of the same. It is like saying that given our lifestyle we are susceptible to diseases so, the solution is medicine. We will not talk of afforestation, the latest buzz word is Carbon trading. I was reading this article......".....They are calling that China is today contributing majorly to global pollution, what they do not understand is that the pollution has shifted from Western countries to Asian economies which are now the engines of the world economy...."...Carbon trading/ Carbon credits is an idea to which I am dead against. You are allowing the Polluting industries to flourish based on their financial muscle to pay out the intangible & incalculable damage they cause to the environment. This concept to begin with is flawed. How can you attach a price tag to something called "Environment"? The people who had gotten bored of playing with the limited financial toys that man made for his recreation, the same people have resorted to the lifelines which is the basis of their very exitence and converted it into a casino.
Unfortunately I got to know of it only on the last day. So When I visited the summit, the entire euphoria had evaporated. There were just a few exhibits & experts were left. The heartening ting was that there were many stalls manned by school children. Even if it was a mere formality for them to be there, at least they are now aware of the problem & the way to face it. Of course these could be the same kids who could just rubbish the entire concept once they are with their friends. But at least they deserve some appreciation for their efforts. I talked to a few experts who are now in the process of making a technology with zero energy, zero disposal requirement, zero water and no sewage pipes. What belongs to the nature is returned back to it. Fools dispose it in the river. Yes, agreed that there are organisms in running water who have the capability to process, but only if allowed to breathe. However, our rivers are so clogged with human & industrial waste that some of the organisms that do possess these qualities are unable to do so.
I wished if this summit was branded with a different name. I saw many people laughing at it, when they saw the publicity boards. Even, I would have had not been from this field. The organisers could have done a better job. Sometimes it helps if you do not call a spade a spade.....
I was talking yesterday to a friend of mine . I asked him how do you bring about a revolution? Or is it more than enough, if a bigger section of the society believes that certain things are good for them? How do you ensure that ideas percolate to the last born citizen? He didnt have an answer...Neither did I.....But at least the search is on.....
Each day, its the same procedure. In Fact its so streamlined that I marvel at my own efficiency. I put on my earphones connected to my cellphone. I wrap my face with a handkerchief. Again, the idea is more towards keeping the earphones steady than protecting my skin from vehicular pollution or infection. I put on my helmet. Then the spectacles & over them my big shades. Alot of my friends comment that the shades that I wear are meant for ladies, but I hardly care.The reason is simple. These are gifted & I am too lazy to buy another one.
So, I begin. Actually I love the entire concept of biking. Biking stands for individualism(even with a pillion). Its openness allows you to connect with the nature. You are with everybody yet on your own. The ravaging petrol flowing through the labyrinth of the rumbling engine beside your legs energises them. There is an iconoclastic look to each biker on a bike even if he riding the TVS Max100. The look is always that of a man with a mission. "....Yes, the mission is to save John Connor .....", Terminator - 2. But very few like to cherish this feeling and like to make it a live circus. Its not a problem as far as the lion is growling inside a cage, because you know it cannnot escape & hence cannot harm you. But these so called bikers feel that they have to save the world. The maneouvering is more irritating than elegant by any stretch of imagination. Then the desperation to sneak through as many little crevices as possible & reach the start line on the zebra crossing before the next light turns green. This is not to absolve the many other drivers on other modes of commuting. What people do not understand is the fact that following basic rules like lane driving & obeying basic traffic rules can make the life of others around them on the road so much simpler and safer. I observed another very negative attitude on the road. It was disheartening. I just stopped at a red light. There was nearly no one on the red light. Nobody coming from any side. My side was showing red light. And then suddenly as if I was in the shooting of "Die hard - 3". Everybody started to cross at their own will. One bus conductor had the audacity to laugh at me as his victory chariot rolled past me. I was livid. And when it turned green & I started to move, Somebody from the opposite side tried to cross it. Even more disappointing was the fact that many drivers carrying their family & kids with them followed this atrocious traffic behaviour. What sense are we passing on to our next generation? A subtle indication that in a system you can get away with anything as far as you do not get caught.This sheer apathy sometimes apalls me.
As I reached my office, a rather glance on the pink daily turned into focussed attention on an Advertisement, "World Toilet Summit - 2007". I was thrilled. As I started to search it on the net, I was intrigued by it. Human Beings are social animals & are enquisitive in nature. My beautiful colleagues are no different. Hooohaaaahoooohaaaa....It went on for like ten minutes. By the time I finished my morning tea, the laughter was still going on. "What will they showcase - How to shit???"...another round of laughter........My interest arose because its a sanitation is a seriously problem plaguing the entire country. Especially when we use 85% of the daily water on our disposal activities. If we use that water judiciously, then we can manage our basic water needs pretty comfortably. The solid waste is meant to be disposed off in the ground. Unfortunately it gets diverted into our rivers, because of which we do not find a single river worth an innocent swim. We have set up numerous committees to clean up the river , but we have spent little on creative awareness to reduce the pollution of the same. It is like saying that given our lifestyle we are susceptible to diseases so, the solution is medicine. We will not talk of afforestation, the latest buzz word is Carbon trading. I was reading this article......".....They are calling that China is today contributing majorly to global pollution, what they do not understand is that the pollution has shifted from Western countries to Asian economies which are now the engines of the world economy...."...Carbon trading/ Carbon credits is an idea to which I am dead against. You are allowing the Polluting industries to flourish based on their financial muscle to pay out the intangible & incalculable damage they cause to the environment. This concept to begin with is flawed. How can you attach a price tag to something called "Environment"? The people who had gotten bored of playing with the limited financial toys that man made for his recreation, the same people have resorted to the lifelines which is the basis of their very exitence and converted it into a casino.
Unfortunately I got to know of it only on the last day. So When I visited the summit, the entire euphoria had evaporated. There were just a few exhibits & experts were left. The heartening ting was that there were many stalls manned by school children. Even if it was a mere formality for them to be there, at least they are now aware of the problem & the way to face it. Of course these could be the same kids who could just rubbish the entire concept once they are with their friends. But at least they deserve some appreciation for their efforts. I talked to a few experts who are now in the process of making a technology with zero energy, zero disposal requirement, zero water and no sewage pipes. What belongs to the nature is returned back to it. Fools dispose it in the river. Yes, agreed that there are organisms in running water who have the capability to process, but only if allowed to breathe. However, our rivers are so clogged with human & industrial waste that some of the organisms that do possess these qualities are unable to do so.
I wished if this summit was branded with a different name. I saw many people laughing at it, when they saw the publicity boards. Even, I would have had not been from this field. The organisers could have done a better job. Sometimes it helps if you do not call a spade a spade.....
I was talking yesterday to a friend of mine . I asked him how do you bring about a revolution? Or is it more than enough, if a bigger section of the society believes that certain things are good for them? How do you ensure that ideas percolate to the last born citizen? He didnt have an answer...Neither did I.....But at least the search is on.....
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