OSTENTATIOUS SPENDING vs AUSTERITY
Shashi Tharoor, by making the statement that he has been staying in a Five Star Hotel at his own expense and hence has not violated the proposition of practicing austerity by congressmen, showed that he has not understood the symbolism involved in Congress President making the appeal or directive. The primary ingredient of symbolism is adherence to the same, the explanation of ‘why deviation’ being only secondary. Having grasped the essence of the same, Nandan Nilekeni shifted to Karnataka House.
Much of the discussion in the media and commentaries have missed the symbolic element. Having missed it, the propositions or arguments were focused on the rationale, pluses and minuses, the miniscule saving by Government by this exhibition of nominal austerity related to the country’s requirements and availability of finances. The know-alls in the media ( and unfortunately some of the thinkers and intellectuals ) have derisively dismissed this move as gimmick, caricature of socialism, not in tune with the current ethos of the country, etc.,
· A flag is a symbol and is not merely a piece of cloth and hence reverence for the flag. So also was Swastika, for Germans 70 years back. There is no utility or cost aspect in this phenomenon. And that applies to all symbols. The Indian President has hardly any power. But the President is the symbolic head of the Republic.
· When India was at war with Pakistan and China, many Indians had vowed to forgo one meal a day till the war ends. A symbolic gesture. So also wearing Khadi and Nehru cap.
· Hence Sonia Gandhi traveling in economy class in airline, Nilekeni shifting to Kanataka house, Rahul Gandhi carrying a head-load of sand and bricks alongwith a village woman carrying same, Rahul Gandhi saying that politicians should be austere, his traveling by train, are all symbolic gestures. And they appeal not merely to masses but many others, such as, intelligentsia, doctors, film stars, etc., Rahul Gandhi carrying a load will bring in a large number of votes to Congress, contrary to the views of skeptics. Because symbols have such power.
· For a long long time Indian ethos was moored in austere living. Except for the Rajas, English Administers and a few others, all lived modestly. This included businessmen who could afford to live lavishly. Exhibitionism of wealth was shunned. It is only during the last six or seven decades and more correctly during the last two or three decades Indians in large numbers started veering round to living lavishly, some beyond their means, with the new trend of exhibitionism over-coming austerity.
· The know-all would call these activities as hypocrisy. Yes an element of hypocrisy is there. But only an element. Through a token action if the onward march to wanton show of wealth and waste, and lastly mindless imitation of West in such matters, could be restrained then the move has to be hailed.
· Then again contrary to the perception of those who ‘ claim to know the mind of the masses’ and assert that the voters in the villages would not be hood-winked by such pranks, the ground level reality is that such moves have mass appeal ( as Gandhi repeatedly showed ) not merely to village folk but also to a large number urban, educated, middle and upper class. Tokenism has its place in the human mind.
· Yes, there is wide spread corruption in the country, with politicians in the forefront of this queue. Yet, politicians, do generally live frugally or give the impression of living frugally. It is this impression which matters when it coming to votes.
· Perception of masses – Affluent will live extravagantly with no concern for the poor. Wealth is not the issue. Flaunting the same is. Mukesh Ambani building an expensive house when poor people are starving. Illogical comparison. May be. But for a large percentage of Indian people this type of comparison is relevant and hence made. The fact is that the value judgment of masses about the rich people is not at all positive.
· Business people – we spend our money ( not correct. It is often the company which takes the tab ), whereas politicians spend country’s money. Is there any difference.
· Politics is also a profession. Don’t look at the politicians from the prism of 50s when all politicians were expected to live frugally. And don’t forget the fact that during the last two decades or so the trend slowly started of all those who can afford from lower middle class to those who are filthy rich, according to their means flaunting their wealth and living lavishly. Then why not politicians? And when all other groups can grasp and exhibit symbols when they need, why not politicians?
*****
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
WHO MADE ME AS I AM TODAY
1. I was ten years old when our country got Independence. I remember my father rejoicing at the momentous development. My father said that all injustice that we have been facing would be over. We will have two meals everyday. We will have home of our own. I will be educated and will become a clerk, instead of doing manual labour as my father and his forefathers did, and that too when only on those days when work could be found.
2. My father said that we will no more be treated as untouchable, as Gandhiji has promised. Since we were poor, I will get free education, according to Government assurance. Since the Government is our own, my father felt, that we would not be hauled to police station and beaten up whenever a crime takes place in the village. We will no more be forced to admit to crimes we did not commit and will not be put into prison.
3. My father was confident that our elected representative will voice our grievances before our own Government and get remedial measures without greasing the palms of authorities.
4. My father was thrilled at the ushering of Ram Rajya for us dalits.
5. Today I am seventy and thoroughly disillusioned. None of our hopes have been fulfilled. Most of the time we are starving. We have a thatched hut as our home. And that also is demolished when somebody claims the land on which our hut was there as his own. We make another thatched hut. This has been going on.
6. Untouchable – the position has not changed. My son goes to Government school. But there are hardly any teachers. Most of the teachers are doing all the time some other jobs. Even when they are there, my son and other untouchables were hardly taught anything.
7. In the Government hospital, we can hardly get admission for medical treatment because we are untouchable. Even if we once a while get admission, we have to pay to doctor, compounder, nurse and others for getting treatment, though Government says that we will get free treatment - because we are poor, illiterate and untouchable.
8. Quite often we are asked to do manual labour at the houses of Government officials, with only two meals as wages.
9. Once a girl in our community attains puberty, she has to freely satisfy all government officials and higher caste people. The position does not change even after her marriage and becoming a mother.
10. Some of our people had gone in search of work to other places. Once a while when they come back to the village, they also tell horror stories of how they are treated once it is known that they are untouchables.
11. We have no ration card, though we are told that such a card has been issued. To whom, we do not know.
12. Every five year or sometimes even earlier, big netas come to tell us to whom we should vote. On the election day we are taken to voting booths and we do as we are told.
13. In public places we have to ensure that we are not in the vicinity of higher caste people; otherwise we would be beaten up severely.
14. My son, who is now thirty years old, grew up with all these injustice. He used to cry often at the injustice. He has been in jail for crimes which he had not committed. He used to wail ‘ what has independence of the country given us.’ I had no answer.
And then our luck turned. We are able to eat twice a day. We have a small house. Harassment and beating by the Police have ceased. Whenever I or my wife works for some Government project, we are properly paid. In fact many in the village look upon us for help and justice.
YES, MY SON HAS BECOME A NAXALITE.
PS: Government says that Naxalite menace has to be dealt with a strong hand. And no mercy to be shown. And all MPs support Government. So also fourth estate.
*****
2. My father said that we will no more be treated as untouchable, as Gandhiji has promised. Since we were poor, I will get free education, according to Government assurance. Since the Government is our own, my father felt, that we would not be hauled to police station and beaten up whenever a crime takes place in the village. We will no more be forced to admit to crimes we did not commit and will not be put into prison.
3. My father was confident that our elected representative will voice our grievances before our own Government and get remedial measures without greasing the palms of authorities.
4. My father was thrilled at the ushering of Ram Rajya for us dalits.
5. Today I am seventy and thoroughly disillusioned. None of our hopes have been fulfilled. Most of the time we are starving. We have a thatched hut as our home. And that also is demolished when somebody claims the land on which our hut was there as his own. We make another thatched hut. This has been going on.
6. Untouchable – the position has not changed. My son goes to Government school. But there are hardly any teachers. Most of the teachers are doing all the time some other jobs. Even when they are there, my son and other untouchables were hardly taught anything.
7. In the Government hospital, we can hardly get admission for medical treatment because we are untouchable. Even if we once a while get admission, we have to pay to doctor, compounder, nurse and others for getting treatment, though Government says that we will get free treatment - because we are poor, illiterate and untouchable.
8. Quite often we are asked to do manual labour at the houses of Government officials, with only two meals as wages.
9. Once a girl in our community attains puberty, she has to freely satisfy all government officials and higher caste people. The position does not change even after her marriage and becoming a mother.
10. Some of our people had gone in search of work to other places. Once a while when they come back to the village, they also tell horror stories of how they are treated once it is known that they are untouchables.
11. We have no ration card, though we are told that such a card has been issued. To whom, we do not know.
12. Every five year or sometimes even earlier, big netas come to tell us to whom we should vote. On the election day we are taken to voting booths and we do as we are told.
13. In public places we have to ensure that we are not in the vicinity of higher caste people; otherwise we would be beaten up severely.
14. My son, who is now thirty years old, grew up with all these injustice. He used to cry often at the injustice. He has been in jail for crimes which he had not committed. He used to wail ‘ what has independence of the country given us.’ I had no answer.
And then our luck turned. We are able to eat twice a day. We have a small house. Harassment and beating by the Police have ceased. Whenever I or my wife works for some Government project, we are properly paid. In fact many in the village look upon us for help and justice.
YES, MY SON HAS BECOME A NAXALITE.
PS: Government says that Naxalite menace has to be dealt with a strong hand. And no mercy to be shown. And all MPs support Government. So also fourth estate.
*****
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Newspaper reports with my comments:
1. Spare the rod and spoil the child
So goes the old saying. By his judgment, in essence, a judge has questioned this old adage.
A metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi acquitted 33 young people, including five girls, who were caught cheating in an exam. saying that he did not want to ruin their future. The young people were accused of receiving answers on their mobile phones, while taking an exam. All the 33 youngsters submitted identical papers and scored the same marks. CBI was called to unearth the cheating. The Magistrate in his judgment noted that all of the students were still in their early twenties when their capacity for understanding is still developing. Pointing out that they had already been debarred by Delhi University, and were enrolled in courses at other institutions, the Magistrate stated there was no point in ruining their lives by sending them to jail. Instead, he pulled the young people’s parents for failing to instill the right values in them.
The judge has gone against the perceived wisdom of the past on how justice should be administered on such matters and punishing the guilty. There are a few angles to the issue, as below:
· Many experts in the recent past have opined that physical punishment of children for errant behaviour may not dissuade the children from repeating such behaviour. On the contrary it is likely that there would be hardening of the approach of such children and they may repeat such errant behaviour with a vengeance.
· Children are products of the society. When the society itself has over a period of time veered round to being amoral, can children escape from such demoralization.
· Increasingly parents are adopting double standards in the homes, i.e., one for grown ups ( who could deviate from accepted good behaviour ) and another for children ( no such deviation is allowed ). For many a child this dichotomy is confusing.
· Increasingly youngsters observe not only the falling moral standards of society, the guilty not being punished but also the society accepting such deviant behaviour. When those who committed white collar crimes go scot free, the message that children get is that one should be careful in not getting caught rather than afraid of doing a misdeed.
· Most middle & rich class people who read the story would decry the stand taken by the judge. I for one would like to differ.
2.Latest fad in USA: Living with just 100 things
Just 100 essential items. This idea has caught the imagination of a number of Americans, particularly Hollywood stars, who live with lots and lots of things. When you have movie stars, those icons of conspicuous consumption, advocating a minimalist life style, then it becomes a fad. David Bruno, a university computer executive devised the challenge as a response to the recession and his own unease about the unwanted junk filling his home. The objective is to reduce one’s material possessions to the mandated limit. Visitors to his site complain it is easier for men than women to discard what they have, even if the same is old and hardly used. A newspaper in India had commented: “Neither is the goal the philosophy aims to achieve necessarily a good one. These bouts of self-reflection and anti-consumerism emanate from western societies at monotonously regular intervals. It is only wealthy that have the leisure to debate the necessity of wealth. The basic premise that there is something inherently wrong with consumerism is mistaken. Consumerism is the inevitable byproduct of the free market system and development”. I would say that what has been said is pure crap, echoing the Hindu philosophy of living frugally and thinking richly. This quotation we Indians use only when convenient and quite often directed to others and not self. We Indians are now running fast to emulate American system of living, with waste all around and all the time.
But the above thesis is a trap. People are lured to consumerism. Ads. Packaging. Loans for purchases. All these which boost consumerism help business and at the same time convert those who have been living in simple style to buying and accumulating style. Fashions essentially make good things obsolete. Visits to ‘ Sale’ shops start with fun of seeing and watching the goods and ends with addition to buying. The pity is that more goods do not bring happiness. It only increases the craving for still more goods. Latest is Malls, which are becoming the ultimate heaven for unwanted or unrequired purchases. And then ads. In print media. In essence it is money + lure. And now the youngsters are lured to this trap. Look at India. The dictum ‘ low living and high thinking ‘ is being replaced by ‘ high living even by borrowing and no thinking.’ Hence the counter movements as in the subject need to be applauded.
Incidentally living frugally was not merely an age old wisdom preached in the bye gone era but was practiced. Except the kings and few others, most of the well to do people in this country practiced living simply. And they were quite happy with that way of living. And they continuously advised their children to imbibe their percept and habit.
But unfortunately in this generation, that teaching is being discarded, though it still has much relevance.
3. Number of 100 year olds are increasing in the world
By mid century, i.e., 2050, the number of centenarians in the world is expected to reach 6 million. That will push the median age in many developed countries to 50. According to current estimate there are over 3.4 lakh centenarians in the world, with highest concentration in US and Japan. Medical advances and improved diet ( reducing heart disease and stroke ) are quoted for the increase of centenarians. Genetics and life styles also play a part in prolonging lives.
In India neither at Government level nor by think tanks, this development has been given much consideration, though this phenomenon slowly becoming evident in this country also. Considering the huge population in this country which means a large number of old people also and the number of old people increasing with improvement in medical facilities, this problem is slowly creeping in. We cannot ignore it.
4. Innovative way of cops in Mumbai to catch peddlers and consumers of dope.
‘An 18 year old college student posted a message on the Party Goers community on Facebook saying he loves trance music and wants to be at rave parties. He can afford to buy drugs, he says, and asks other members to inform him of any rave party that may be happening. It is a message rave party organizers and drug peddlers would like to respond to. But then in reality the message is from an inspector from the Anti Narcotics Cell of Mumbai Police. Cops have also roped in youngsters to help them with modern lingo and code language ( a trance music party, for instance, means one where drugs would be available ).
5. IN HARYANA BRIDE BARTER IS BECOMING COMMON AMONG SMALL FARMERS
This is because of the skewed sex ratio of 861 females to 1000 males Haryana. On the other side there is Kerala where the position is just opposite, i.e., with 1058 females against 1000 males.
So there is shortage of brides for eligible bachelors in Haryana and the reverse in Kerala. As the problem is unlikely to go away, a few societies in Haryana are trying to find innovative solutions. A few years back some of the Haryanvis started getting married to girls in Kerala where the sex ratio is skewed the other way, as indicated in the earlier para. So in Kerala for some of the communities to find husbands for their daughters had become a major problem. The exodus of many an eligible bachelor to Gulf added to the shortage of eligible males for marriage. And lastly Haryana bride grooms only ask for a brides, with no demand for dowry. Though the number of such marriages has remained static and that too in small numbers, what is interesting is the innovative solutions being found to tackle the problem facing Haryana. If the grooms can go to Kerala, a far off place, with different language, cuisine, customs, then no wonder that the lads have started looking to adjacent States for brides, i.e., Punjab and other Northern States.
Now comes a new development. A family agrees to the marriage of a girl from the family to a young man but demands that when the young man’s sister grows up she should be married to the current bride’s brother or cousin. And this demand has been made in the presence of elders from the village, thus making it a promise.
One should salute Haryanvis. If a problem is there and which is likely to continue in the future, then innovative solutions have to be found, instead of bemoaning.
6..Religious symbols ( turban worn by Sikhs and veil by Muslim ) continue to be problem areas in some countries
‘ No burqas in France’ says French President. “ It is a symbol of subjugation rather than faith. We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity. That is not the idea that the French republic has of women’s dignity.’ Naturally this has invited the wrath of Mullahs. France, home to an estimated five million Muslims, passed a law in 2004 banning headscarves in public places including schools.
European Union had passed a law banning the wearing of turbans ( mainly by Sikhs ) and Sikhs there are protesting.
But there is a message here to one and all of this earth. And that is that each country can within limits decide on the dress code the people living in that country would have to follow in matters, such as, propagation of different faiths, behaviour in public places, adherence to local laws, following what has been prescribed either by Government or society as decent and adhering to public decorum. It is not easy to define what the conditions or limitations are. For one thing, it may differ from country to country. And then there could be changes from time to time. Those who are going to other countries must be prepared to not merely obey the rules of law of that country but also the expected public behaviour. Local customs vary. To what extent a foreigner need not follow the local custom would depend on the local people. If the locals are taking in their stride deviant behaviour, dress, customs, ceremonies, etc., of foreigners then it is alright. But if they express reservations then the immigrant has to follow the local custom. The immigrant cannot shelter on the ground that there is no law in the host country for adhering to this or that style of behaviour. Societies can demand such adherence to local customs and behaviour. Sometime back there were protests in India against nude swimming ( and resting in beaches ) by foreigners. We would object to some of the dresses worn by women in Western countries. Man and woman kissing in public would invite the wrath of onlookers in India, whereas it is not an unusual spectacle in West. Can a white woman dress and walk the streets in Arab countries as she does in the West. No. Ultimately it is for each country to decide the dress or behaviour code acceptable to that country. Indian Government would be wise in refraining to enter in to such controversies because of appeals of Indians in other countries.
Related to the subject is what happened in Australia recently. On this incident a perceptive observer had this to say:
“Indian students in Australia represent as good a microcosm of the nouveau riche Indian abroad as in any other country. Visible traits imported from home include a sullen unsmiling visage; disdain towards serving staff in restaurants ( viewed as servants ); lewdly ogling women; playing raucous Indian music in public transport; cooking pungent food without regard for neighbour’s sensitivities; littering, spitting, etc “
7..Wither BJP? And wither a credible opposition party to Congress.
Newspapers with their penchant for preposterous headlines, giving final verdict on a happening or development, after the last Parliament election, had screamed that the BJP has been decimated. Nothing of that kind has happened. The vote share of BJP and allied parties were only less than 3% its earlier vote share. Congress improved its vote share by 2% only. Then both parties cobbled up their allied. Congress was able to do a better job As democracy functions in India, that edge was enough for Congress to be called to form the Government, which it did. But the morale of members of BJP has been worst hit because of shattering of their hope to form Government.
Is there a lesson in this election result. In the post electoral analysis, some pundits had come to the conclusion that the voter is no more interested in the three main planks of BJP, i.e., building of temple for Ram at Ayodhya, Uniform Civil Code(thereby bringing Muslims under that Code rather than what that religion had set out as the conditions of marriage and related issues ) and abrogation of article 370 in the Constitution giving special status to Kashmir ( and make Kashmir just yet another State of Indian Union ).
Is the assessment correct. Maybe partly true. One should not forget that BJP and its allies had got a decent percentage of vote share. Could it be that the voter has found some of the development programmes initiated by Congress, such as, NAREGA, Mid Day Meal Scheme, etc., touching his life more profoundly than the main planks of BJP, as mentioned above, which do not directly bring any benefit to him.
Some pundits have opined that it is in the interest of democracy that there is credible and strong opposition. They have missed the point. Even after elections, in BJP there is such an opposition party.
But the real issue or problem is that BJP is in disarray. There is squabble at the top. It is all the time reacting to what Congress is doing, rather than coming up with its own agenda. To their chagrin, the Congress has virtually cornered all those issues which touch the common man. Hence BJP had to fall back on issues, such as, Indo-Pak conflict, unearthing black money hoarded abroad, etc., lively subjects for the city folks but not very intensive issues so far as most voters are concerned.
Comparison with USA and UK, the pet hobby of fourth estate, has been attempted. It is off the mark. BJP, though labeled as the right wing party, its ideology or approach is not right wing. The fact is that in India there is hardly any space for a right wing party.
So, the million dollar question is wither to BJP? They can wait for an opportune moment to wean away some of the allies of Congress, topple government and try to form a Government. Apart from such a strategy, there is precious little that BJP can do. They cannot take credit for various development schemes. Their own planks are not strong anymore. A right wing approach also would not bring large scale votes. That is the dilemma of BJP. And then BJP has to fall in line with the philosophy and edicts of RSS, irrespective of the fact whether the same would affect their popular support. They can gamble on one thing. Make the States where BJP alone or with other parties, to take firm and long strides on economic development and social change which would be lauded by the common man. Then the same would take shape of votes.
8. India should become a major world power – so said Mrs. Hillary Clinton
Since any utterance of an American VIP, is sacrosanct for the English print and visual media, this off the cuff remark has been played up. But should India aim to become a super power. No. India should aim to become an egalitarian society. India should focus on removing hunger and disease. Good school education for all children should be priority agenda for Indian government. The target should be two meals for all. GDP growth cannot be the be all. We have now to vigorously follow Gandhiji’s teachings. If at all this country has to emulate a model then it has to be that of Scandinavian countries. The tax rates in that country are high. Yet these countries can be considered as the most egalitarian. They are true welfare states where all, particularly the old are looked well. The goal has to be welfare state and not high GDP country.
So goes the old saying. By his judgment, in essence, a judge has questioned this old adage.
A metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi acquitted 33 young people, including five girls, who were caught cheating in an exam. saying that he did not want to ruin their future. The young people were accused of receiving answers on their mobile phones, while taking an exam. All the 33 youngsters submitted identical papers and scored the same marks. CBI was called to unearth the cheating. The Magistrate in his judgment noted that all of the students were still in their early twenties when their capacity for understanding is still developing. Pointing out that they had already been debarred by Delhi University, and were enrolled in courses at other institutions, the Magistrate stated there was no point in ruining their lives by sending them to jail. Instead, he pulled the young people’s parents for failing to instill the right values in them.
The judge has gone against the perceived wisdom of the past on how justice should be administered on such matters and punishing the guilty. There are a few angles to the issue, as below:
· Many experts in the recent past have opined that physical punishment of children for errant behaviour may not dissuade the children from repeating such behaviour. On the contrary it is likely that there would be hardening of the approach of such children and they may repeat such errant behaviour with a vengeance.
· Children are products of the society. When the society itself has over a period of time veered round to being amoral, can children escape from such demoralization.
· Increasingly parents are adopting double standards in the homes, i.e., one for grown ups ( who could deviate from accepted good behaviour ) and another for children ( no such deviation is allowed ). For many a child this dichotomy is confusing.
· Increasingly youngsters observe not only the falling moral standards of society, the guilty not being punished but also the society accepting such deviant behaviour. When those who committed white collar crimes go scot free, the message that children get is that one should be careful in not getting caught rather than afraid of doing a misdeed.
· Most middle & rich class people who read the story would decry the stand taken by the judge. I for one would like to differ.
2.Latest fad in USA: Living with just 100 things
Just 100 essential items. This idea has caught the imagination of a number of Americans, particularly Hollywood stars, who live with lots and lots of things. When you have movie stars, those icons of conspicuous consumption, advocating a minimalist life style, then it becomes a fad. David Bruno, a university computer executive devised the challenge as a response to the recession and his own unease about the unwanted junk filling his home. The objective is to reduce one’s material possessions to the mandated limit. Visitors to his site complain it is easier for men than women to discard what they have, even if the same is old and hardly used. A newspaper in India had commented: “Neither is the goal the philosophy aims to achieve necessarily a good one. These bouts of self-reflection and anti-consumerism emanate from western societies at monotonously regular intervals. It is only wealthy that have the leisure to debate the necessity of wealth. The basic premise that there is something inherently wrong with consumerism is mistaken. Consumerism is the inevitable byproduct of the free market system and development”. I would say that what has been said is pure crap, echoing the Hindu philosophy of living frugally and thinking richly. This quotation we Indians use only when convenient and quite often directed to others and not self. We Indians are now running fast to emulate American system of living, with waste all around and all the time.
But the above thesis is a trap. People are lured to consumerism. Ads. Packaging. Loans for purchases. All these which boost consumerism help business and at the same time convert those who have been living in simple style to buying and accumulating style. Fashions essentially make good things obsolete. Visits to ‘ Sale’ shops start with fun of seeing and watching the goods and ends with addition to buying. The pity is that more goods do not bring happiness. It only increases the craving for still more goods. Latest is Malls, which are becoming the ultimate heaven for unwanted or unrequired purchases. And then ads. In print media. In essence it is money + lure. And now the youngsters are lured to this trap. Look at India. The dictum ‘ low living and high thinking ‘ is being replaced by ‘ high living even by borrowing and no thinking.’ Hence the counter movements as in the subject need to be applauded.
Incidentally living frugally was not merely an age old wisdom preached in the bye gone era but was practiced. Except the kings and few others, most of the well to do people in this country practiced living simply. And they were quite happy with that way of living. And they continuously advised their children to imbibe their percept and habit.
But unfortunately in this generation, that teaching is being discarded, though it still has much relevance.
3. Number of 100 year olds are increasing in the world
By mid century, i.e., 2050, the number of centenarians in the world is expected to reach 6 million. That will push the median age in many developed countries to 50. According to current estimate there are over 3.4 lakh centenarians in the world, with highest concentration in US and Japan. Medical advances and improved diet ( reducing heart disease and stroke ) are quoted for the increase of centenarians. Genetics and life styles also play a part in prolonging lives.
In India neither at Government level nor by think tanks, this development has been given much consideration, though this phenomenon slowly becoming evident in this country also. Considering the huge population in this country which means a large number of old people also and the number of old people increasing with improvement in medical facilities, this problem is slowly creeping in. We cannot ignore it.
4. Innovative way of cops in Mumbai to catch peddlers and consumers of dope.
‘An 18 year old college student posted a message on the Party Goers community on Facebook saying he loves trance music and wants to be at rave parties. He can afford to buy drugs, he says, and asks other members to inform him of any rave party that may be happening. It is a message rave party organizers and drug peddlers would like to respond to. But then in reality the message is from an inspector from the Anti Narcotics Cell of Mumbai Police. Cops have also roped in youngsters to help them with modern lingo and code language ( a trance music party, for instance, means one where drugs would be available ).
5. IN HARYANA BRIDE BARTER IS BECOMING COMMON AMONG SMALL FARMERS
This is because of the skewed sex ratio of 861 females to 1000 males Haryana. On the other side there is Kerala where the position is just opposite, i.e., with 1058 females against 1000 males.
So there is shortage of brides for eligible bachelors in Haryana and the reverse in Kerala. As the problem is unlikely to go away, a few societies in Haryana are trying to find innovative solutions. A few years back some of the Haryanvis started getting married to girls in Kerala where the sex ratio is skewed the other way, as indicated in the earlier para. So in Kerala for some of the communities to find husbands for their daughters had become a major problem. The exodus of many an eligible bachelor to Gulf added to the shortage of eligible males for marriage. And lastly Haryana bride grooms only ask for a brides, with no demand for dowry. Though the number of such marriages has remained static and that too in small numbers, what is interesting is the innovative solutions being found to tackle the problem facing Haryana. If the grooms can go to Kerala, a far off place, with different language, cuisine, customs, then no wonder that the lads have started looking to adjacent States for brides, i.e., Punjab and other Northern States.
Now comes a new development. A family agrees to the marriage of a girl from the family to a young man but demands that when the young man’s sister grows up she should be married to the current bride’s brother or cousin. And this demand has been made in the presence of elders from the village, thus making it a promise.
One should salute Haryanvis. If a problem is there and which is likely to continue in the future, then innovative solutions have to be found, instead of bemoaning.
6..Religious symbols ( turban worn by Sikhs and veil by Muslim ) continue to be problem areas in some countries
‘ No burqas in France’ says French President. “ It is a symbol of subjugation rather than faith. We cannot accept to have in our country women who are prisoners behind netting, cut off from all social life, deprived of identity. That is not the idea that the French republic has of women’s dignity.’ Naturally this has invited the wrath of Mullahs. France, home to an estimated five million Muslims, passed a law in 2004 banning headscarves in public places including schools.
European Union had passed a law banning the wearing of turbans ( mainly by Sikhs ) and Sikhs there are protesting.
But there is a message here to one and all of this earth. And that is that each country can within limits decide on the dress code the people living in that country would have to follow in matters, such as, propagation of different faiths, behaviour in public places, adherence to local laws, following what has been prescribed either by Government or society as decent and adhering to public decorum. It is not easy to define what the conditions or limitations are. For one thing, it may differ from country to country. And then there could be changes from time to time. Those who are going to other countries must be prepared to not merely obey the rules of law of that country but also the expected public behaviour. Local customs vary. To what extent a foreigner need not follow the local custom would depend on the local people. If the locals are taking in their stride deviant behaviour, dress, customs, ceremonies, etc., of foreigners then it is alright. But if they express reservations then the immigrant has to follow the local custom. The immigrant cannot shelter on the ground that there is no law in the host country for adhering to this or that style of behaviour. Societies can demand such adherence to local customs and behaviour. Sometime back there were protests in India against nude swimming ( and resting in beaches ) by foreigners. We would object to some of the dresses worn by women in Western countries. Man and woman kissing in public would invite the wrath of onlookers in India, whereas it is not an unusual spectacle in West. Can a white woman dress and walk the streets in Arab countries as she does in the West. No. Ultimately it is for each country to decide the dress or behaviour code acceptable to that country. Indian Government would be wise in refraining to enter in to such controversies because of appeals of Indians in other countries.
Related to the subject is what happened in Australia recently. On this incident a perceptive observer had this to say:
“Indian students in Australia represent as good a microcosm of the nouveau riche Indian abroad as in any other country. Visible traits imported from home include a sullen unsmiling visage; disdain towards serving staff in restaurants ( viewed as servants ); lewdly ogling women; playing raucous Indian music in public transport; cooking pungent food without regard for neighbour’s sensitivities; littering, spitting, etc “
7..Wither BJP? And wither a credible opposition party to Congress.
Newspapers with their penchant for preposterous headlines, giving final verdict on a happening or development, after the last Parliament election, had screamed that the BJP has been decimated. Nothing of that kind has happened. The vote share of BJP and allied parties were only less than 3% its earlier vote share. Congress improved its vote share by 2% only. Then both parties cobbled up their allied. Congress was able to do a better job As democracy functions in India, that edge was enough for Congress to be called to form the Government, which it did. But the morale of members of BJP has been worst hit because of shattering of their hope to form Government.
Is there a lesson in this election result. In the post electoral analysis, some pundits had come to the conclusion that the voter is no more interested in the three main planks of BJP, i.e., building of temple for Ram at Ayodhya, Uniform Civil Code(thereby bringing Muslims under that Code rather than what that religion had set out as the conditions of marriage and related issues ) and abrogation of article 370 in the Constitution giving special status to Kashmir ( and make Kashmir just yet another State of Indian Union ).
Is the assessment correct. Maybe partly true. One should not forget that BJP and its allies had got a decent percentage of vote share. Could it be that the voter has found some of the development programmes initiated by Congress, such as, NAREGA, Mid Day Meal Scheme, etc., touching his life more profoundly than the main planks of BJP, as mentioned above, which do not directly bring any benefit to him.
Some pundits have opined that it is in the interest of democracy that there is credible and strong opposition. They have missed the point. Even after elections, in BJP there is such an opposition party.
But the real issue or problem is that BJP is in disarray. There is squabble at the top. It is all the time reacting to what Congress is doing, rather than coming up with its own agenda. To their chagrin, the Congress has virtually cornered all those issues which touch the common man. Hence BJP had to fall back on issues, such as, Indo-Pak conflict, unearthing black money hoarded abroad, etc., lively subjects for the city folks but not very intensive issues so far as most voters are concerned.
Comparison with USA and UK, the pet hobby of fourth estate, has been attempted. It is off the mark. BJP, though labeled as the right wing party, its ideology or approach is not right wing. The fact is that in India there is hardly any space for a right wing party.
So, the million dollar question is wither to BJP? They can wait for an opportune moment to wean away some of the allies of Congress, topple government and try to form a Government. Apart from such a strategy, there is precious little that BJP can do. They cannot take credit for various development schemes. Their own planks are not strong anymore. A right wing approach also would not bring large scale votes. That is the dilemma of BJP. And then BJP has to fall in line with the philosophy and edicts of RSS, irrespective of the fact whether the same would affect their popular support. They can gamble on one thing. Make the States where BJP alone or with other parties, to take firm and long strides on economic development and social change which would be lauded by the common man. Then the same would take shape of votes.
8. India should become a major world power – so said Mrs. Hillary Clinton
Since any utterance of an American VIP, is sacrosanct for the English print and visual media, this off the cuff remark has been played up. But should India aim to become a super power. No. India should aim to become an egalitarian society. India should focus on removing hunger and disease. Good school education for all children should be priority agenda for Indian government. The target should be two meals for all. GDP growth cannot be the be all. We have now to vigorously follow Gandhiji’s teachings. If at all this country has to emulate a model then it has to be that of Scandinavian countries. The tax rates in that country are high. Yet these countries can be considered as the most egalitarian. They are true welfare states where all, particularly the old are looked well. The goal has to be welfare state and not high GDP country.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
ब्रवादो ऑफ़ प्राइवेट airlines
PRIVATE AIRLINES THREATENING TO STRIKE FOR ONE DAY:
I get the nagging feeling that the whole thing has been orchestrated beautifully.
Media hype even on mundane matters is nothing new. Here high personalities are involved, And since it is about air travel, all middle class and rich people would not miss a programme on such a development. Hence higher TRP for TV reporting on the development.
As usual TV commentators sensationalized the whole matter making it as if a disaster is to happen. Actually a one day strike is not going to affect much traveling public. People would change the dates of traveling. Please remember the strike announced is only for a day. Meetings would be postponed. These happen when flights are cancelled or delayed unduly due to inclement weather or some other reason. It is pure hype to say that airlines are holding the traveling public to ransom as one TV channel did.
Air India losing money is due to inefficiency and mismanagement but private airlines losing money is on account of high taxation, that is the sum substance of the TV story.
As usual the Minister decried the proposed move. ( It looked like a repeat of unions threatening to strike, management and union leader privately coming to an understanding, Union leader telling the management that the understanding would be formally discussed and settled after the workers go for a strike for a day so that the Union can claim that it is the strike which forced the hand of management ).
Naturally Air India management and staff are gleefully watching the developments. If the private airlines get some relief, then Air India can easily get a bigger relief.
The Unions are going to holler hereafter that when managements can get what they wanted by threatening to go on strike then what is wrong with Unions adopting the same tactic. In particular the unions of Airlines are going to quote this incident whenever they want to go a strike.
Will the Government call the bluff of the airline managements. It can. But it would not. Is the reason that traveling public would be affected. That would be a laugh.
I get the nagging feeling that the whole thing has been orchestrated beautifully.
Media hype even on mundane matters is nothing new. Here high personalities are involved, And since it is about air travel, all middle class and rich people would not miss a programme on such a development. Hence higher TRP for TV reporting on the development.
As usual TV commentators sensationalized the whole matter making it as if a disaster is to happen. Actually a one day strike is not going to affect much traveling public. People would change the dates of traveling. Please remember the strike announced is only for a day. Meetings would be postponed. These happen when flights are cancelled or delayed unduly due to inclement weather or some other reason. It is pure hype to say that airlines are holding the traveling public to ransom as one TV channel did.
Air India losing money is due to inefficiency and mismanagement but private airlines losing money is on account of high taxation, that is the sum substance of the TV story.
As usual the Minister decried the proposed move. ( It looked like a repeat of unions threatening to strike, management and union leader privately coming to an understanding, Union leader telling the management that the understanding would be formally discussed and settled after the workers go for a strike for a day so that the Union can claim that it is the strike which forced the hand of management ).
Naturally Air India management and staff are gleefully watching the developments. If the private airlines get some relief, then Air India can easily get a bigger relief.
The Unions are going to holler hereafter that when managements can get what they wanted by threatening to go on strike then what is wrong with Unions adopting the same tactic. In particular the unions of Airlines are going to quote this incident whenever they want to go a strike.
Will the Government call the bluff of the airline managements. It can. But it would not. Is the reason that traveling public would be affected. That would be a laugh.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Women’s Quota in Parliament -
For those emancipated Indian women it is a ‘life and death’ issue - Men shrug it off as a ‘ non issue’
· Yes, the Yadav chieftains are worried. If this happens then how can they find berths for sons, nephews, uncles, et all who had hoped to stand for elections and get elected. The family ties would take a knock. And so one of them said, a la Socrates style ‘ it is better to drink poison rather than………’
· For the sophisticated Indian ladies there is no issue more important than this. But as there is not much of evidence or supporting arguments for their demand, they have invoked the time honoured approach of being shrill in their arguments, which are:
(1) other countries have done it ( only scanty evidence available )
(2) it did not happen in India because we have a patriarchal society ( Yet India had women as Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Judge of Supreme Court, Speaker of Lok Sabha and a number of Union Ministers all the time in the Union Cabinet ).
(3) Fifty percent Indian population is women whereas in Parliament they have only ten percent representation ( Same is the case with most of the religions other than Hindus ).
(4) This is a measure to emancipate Indian women from the traditional male dominated wretched life they are leading. ( It is farcical to think that by having more women MPs, the lot of Indian women would improve )
(5) In all areas and so also in Parliament, women can and will perform better than men ( almost all men openly and many women silently would disagree with this hypothesis ).
(6) Unless women have higher representation in Parliament, issues affecting women will not receive due importance in the deliberations in Parliament ( It is a most unfair statement, particularly in respect of those people, i.e., Ministers and MPs in the Parliament in the past who had strongly advocated causes of women ) .
(7) Because……….
Points to be noted:
· Women across the country have never agitated for quota for them in Parliament. The agitation now outside the Parliament and in the TV studios has been by the so called emancipated women consisting of writers, social activists, educated and well off and those consider themselves as emancipated and women libbers. During the last few days their decibel level has gone up a few notches.
· There has never been any discrimination in recruitment of women for Government jobs including the coveted IAS/IFS/IPS. Yet if their number has been small always compared to men, it is just because more women did not try to pass the exams. for entry.
· In IT segment, there is no discrimination and large number of women ( girls ) have entered the sector.
· One finds more and more women in other walks of lives also, such as doctors, lawyers, etc.,
· Since Congress, BJP and Communists ( and so also some of the other smaller parties ) have subscribed openly to this proposition, why not they agree to implement the same voluntarily without taking recourse to Constitutional arrangement ( then those parties which had not agreed to would have an edge is not a weighty argument considering that these three parties with some of their allies have captured a very high percentage of vote in the last elections ).
· Panchayats have 33% reservation for women, which is proposed to be increased to 50%. That gives more women to get elected to Panchayats. What this means is that more and more women would have an opportunity to function in the public space/place. And that would train women to successfully fight against men in polls ( for the post of MP). Then no quota would be required.
· Logically from Panchayats it is the State Assemblies. Without reservation in State Assemblies for women, why jump straightaway to Parliament.
For the above reasons, I find that I have no other option but to support the Yadavs, though their obscurantist views on many matters clearly indicate that they are out of step with the changes that are happening world over, including India.
Signing off: There was a TV debate on the subject. Two men who questioned the concept were virtually shouted down by the women speakers who were occupying various high positions in the country. My sympathies are with these two gentlemen who had a taste of wrath of women.
*****
· Yes, the Yadav chieftains are worried. If this happens then how can they find berths for sons, nephews, uncles, et all who had hoped to stand for elections and get elected. The family ties would take a knock. And so one of them said, a la Socrates style ‘ it is better to drink poison rather than………’
· For the sophisticated Indian ladies there is no issue more important than this. But as there is not much of evidence or supporting arguments for their demand, they have invoked the time honoured approach of being shrill in their arguments, which are:
(1) other countries have done it ( only scanty evidence available )
(2) it did not happen in India because we have a patriarchal society ( Yet India had women as Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Judge of Supreme Court, Speaker of Lok Sabha and a number of Union Ministers all the time in the Union Cabinet ).
(3) Fifty percent Indian population is women whereas in Parliament they have only ten percent representation ( Same is the case with most of the religions other than Hindus ).
(4) This is a measure to emancipate Indian women from the traditional male dominated wretched life they are leading. ( It is farcical to think that by having more women MPs, the lot of Indian women would improve )
(5) In all areas and so also in Parliament, women can and will perform better than men ( almost all men openly and many women silently would disagree with this hypothesis ).
(6) Unless women have higher representation in Parliament, issues affecting women will not receive due importance in the deliberations in Parliament ( It is a most unfair statement, particularly in respect of those people, i.e., Ministers and MPs in the Parliament in the past who had strongly advocated causes of women ) .
(7) Because……….
Points to be noted:
· Women across the country have never agitated for quota for them in Parliament. The agitation now outside the Parliament and in the TV studios has been by the so called emancipated women consisting of writers, social activists, educated and well off and those consider themselves as emancipated and women libbers. During the last few days their decibel level has gone up a few notches.
· There has never been any discrimination in recruitment of women for Government jobs including the coveted IAS/IFS/IPS. Yet if their number has been small always compared to men, it is just because more women did not try to pass the exams. for entry.
· In IT segment, there is no discrimination and large number of women ( girls ) have entered the sector.
· One finds more and more women in other walks of lives also, such as doctors, lawyers, etc.,
· Since Congress, BJP and Communists ( and so also some of the other smaller parties ) have subscribed openly to this proposition, why not they agree to implement the same voluntarily without taking recourse to Constitutional arrangement ( then those parties which had not agreed to would have an edge is not a weighty argument considering that these three parties with some of their allies have captured a very high percentage of vote in the last elections ).
· Panchayats have 33% reservation for women, which is proposed to be increased to 50%. That gives more women to get elected to Panchayats. What this means is that more and more women would have an opportunity to function in the public space/place. And that would train women to successfully fight against men in polls ( for the post of MP). Then no quota would be required.
· Logically from Panchayats it is the State Assemblies. Without reservation in State Assemblies for women, why jump straightaway to Parliament.
For the above reasons, I find that I have no other option but to support the Yadavs, though their obscurantist views on many matters clearly indicate that they are out of step with the changes that are happening world over, including India.
Signing off: There was a TV debate on the subject. Two men who questioned the concept were virtually shouted down by the women speakers who were occupying various high positions in the country. My sympathies are with these two gentlemen who had a taste of wrath of women.
*****
Saturday, June 13, 2009
GDP
GDP GROWTH AND TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT
To businessmen, some of the economists, pundits in fourth estate and some of the Ministers and babus in Government, high GDP growth is the ‘be all and end all’ in economic development. All of them are pinning for +9% growth, if not this year, at least from next year onwards. And then they say with euphoria unmatched in respect of any other subject that such a development would take India to be the third country after USA and China with highest GDP level in 2020 or 2030.
To the awkward question as to what extent such continuous high growth in GDP would improve the living conditions of the poor, they all quote the ‘ trickle down ‘ theory.
But there is the uncomfortable fact that even after 60 years of planned economy, this country still have millions of people who are living in absolute misery, i.e., the GDP growth has bypassed them. They have not enough to eat for mere sustenance. They have no drinking water or medical facilities or a roof over their head or school facilities or assured work throughout the year. Then what is the guarantee that further growth would also not overlook them.
Out of the last twelve years, on an average there have been 10,000 suicides per year of farmers in this country in the first ten years, with last two years the figure going up to 13,000 and 15,000 respectively.
Simply put, developments plans of the past had virtually skipped a large mass of people in the rural areas. And hence migration of rural unemployed in large numbers to cities and also to other States.
‘ GDP yardstick is badly flawed as a guide to a nation’s economic well being. A nation’s well being depends on many factors ignored by GDP, such as leisure time, income inequality and the quality of the environment.’ - Economist, London
‘The way GDP is measured yields at best a very gross estimate of productive activity in the country. In spite of everyone knowing this, the slightest fluctuation in the estimated GDP becomes the basis for elaborate theses – for gloom or elation. The imperfections of measurement apart, what has grown in the reference period is almost never the object of scrutiny.’- Arun Shourie:
Aware of the limitations of GDP as a yardstick of growth, economists are often circumspect on the subject. World over, increasingly more and more ‘wise-men’ have started making contrary noise on high GDP growth, with its ill effects on ecology, fast depletion of natural resources, wastages, etc., They also point out that quite often the benefits of high GDP growth do not percolate to low income people, whereas the negative factors of such high growth will have to be borne by all people and possibly more by poor people.
( The large number of cases before the various courts in India would indicate that we are a litigant prone people. Related to the subject under discussion, processing such a large number of cases by courts, does add to the level of GDP growth, because income accrued by service rendered is included in GDP. Alcohol and cigarette consumption goes up. The same improves the level of GDP. More gossip magazines come into the market. That also adds to GDP ).
Developmental economists, foremost among them being Prof. Amartya Sen, has been emphasizing this aspect in their writings. It is in this context that the importance of various schemes announced by the Government to tackle the above mentioned problems have to be seen, though, sadly, except for lip sympathy, businessmen, educated and high salaried Indians, fourth estate, government babus have not evinced any interest in these schemes. But politicians have, primarily in their own interest ( poor people look at them for an assisting hand and also for claiming votes ). Suicide of a boy for failing in an exam. is repeatedly telecast in TV channels with lot of commentaries, whereas suicides of over thousand farmers get a few minutes of lip sympathy in both print and visual media. Hardly any of the papers / TV channels have done in depth stories on farmer suicides or come up with suggestions on how to arrest the repetition of such horrifying catastrophe. For both print and visual media, India by far means the megalopolis.
Only 2% o Indian population are involved in stock market one way or another. Yet as it is about real money, it occupies a lot of space in Indian politics and economics. GDP growth in India, particularly that area related to high tech and business growth touch 10% to 20% of the population. For another 50% or 60% of the population it is business as usual. Then there is the bottom of the pyramid consisting of the poor. 50 years of planned development had hardly touched them in the sense their lot has been as it was fifty years back. It is clear that ‘trickling down’ theory had not worked for them. If that be so, then the big ticket reforms proposed also would not touch them. So after a decade India may be counted in the big league in the comity of nations in GDP, but 10 to 20 crores of people in India would continue to live in miserable conditions.
It is in the above context one has to view the mega projects for improving the lot of those who are in the lower rung of pyramid now being undertaken by Government. There would be any number of economic arguments against the schemes. Be that it may. Such schemes are necessary to give succor to the poor.
What the Government should do is to enlist the support of all parties, State Governments and Civil Society in effectively implementing the following developmental projects announced by Government, primarily directed towards improving the lot of the poor in villages.
Agenda for/of the new Government:
A modern nation is defined by four non negotiable rights: equality of citizenship across origin and gender; secularism; liberty of speech; and economic equity ( M.J. Akbar, veteran journalist ). While in respect of the first three rights, there has been considerable advancement in the past, for a large number of people the last right has remained elusive. The projects mentioned below have to be considered in that background.
In other words, while the Governments ( including the period when BJP was in power ) in the past have been striving to achieve all the postulates on the count of economic inequity, we have yet to go far.
1. Bharat Nirman Project ( Rs. 1.74 lakh crore project )
Every village in India with over 1000 population to have an all-weather road, every habitation to have water supply, every village to have a telephone and every village to be electrified. Launched in 2005 – So far spent Rs. 1.14 crore )
2. National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) ( Rs. 44,480 crores )
Launched in 2006, the Scheme provides for 100 days of assured employment per year per person per household. ( or cash payment @ Rs. 100 per day for 100 days ). Panchayats to oversee the implementation of the Scheme. The scheme has been lauded world over. The implementation level varies from State to State.
The scheme would reduce the level of migration of poor landless unemployed persons from villages to cities/towns. It is said that the Scheme had brought in lot of votes to Congress. Some of the opposition ruled states have also tried to take credit for bringing out with such a scheme. But that is not the point. Nobody disputes that the scheme has given succor to a lot of unemployed people.
Inevitable that in respect of such a scheme, there would be leakages. Further, as had happened in respect of many such welfare schemes, vested interests ( including political ) would muscle into managing the scheme.
Many an economist may argue against the concept of the scheme. Since employment has to be provided under the scheme, even non-worthwhile projects may be taken up. It would be difficult to measure the return from investment. But there can be no two opinion that the scheme would to some extent mitigate the grinding poverty many unemployed in the villages are going through. ( As could be expected, World Bank had expressed reservations on the concept while ILO had welcomed the Scheme )
3. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan ( Rs. 60,000 crores )
Launched in 2001, the scheme is to provide elementary education to all children. While enrolment aspect has been quite successful, it was found that by far a large number of children drop out at the VIIIth standard level. In the rural areas the scheme has become extremely popular.
1. Mid Day Meal Scheme ( Rs. 33,000 crores )
Supreme Court had also directed Government to implement the scheme, which was originally started in 1990 but gained real momentum during the last few years. 11.74 crore school children have been benefitted under the scheme. In fact the scheme has given a major impetus for the really poor to send their children to schools.
2. National Rural Health Mission ( Rs. 31,000 crores )
Launched in 2005 to build a healthcare delivery system the entire rural population. What is lamentable is that the States have been able to spend so far only Rs. 20,000 crores under the scheme.
6. Total Sanitation Campaign ( Rs. 5,100 crores )
This is a scheme which has been in operation for long but not very successful. The Scheme was to build toilets in rural areas. Lack of water and habit of using open places as toilet have been cited as reasons for the lacklustre performance of this scheme. Civil society and social workers have a major role to play in successful implementation of the scheme.
7. Integrated Child Development Services – (Rs. 32,000 crores )
The Scheme provides nutiritional supplements, health check-ups and immunization coverae to children up to the age of 6 years to reduce mortality and disease. It also provides nbutritional supplements to pregnant and lactating mothers.
8. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( Rs.7500 crores )
The Scheme is to build basic infrastructure, improve governance and provide basic facilities to the urban poor in 63 cities over seven years.
9. Polio eradication ( Rs. 9000 crores )
A Scheme in respect of the above was launched in 1994 which helped in reducing polio cases and India was to become polio free. But a few pockets are now showing resistance to immunization. Hence this Project.
Concluding remarks:
· Yes, there would be leakages and project implementation could be delayed. Having seen that such schemes could work, Government of India is placing all out emphasis on the projects. In political circles also there is awareness on the need to efficiently managing these schemes.
· But where is the money to be found – naturally that would be the second question. From high GDP growth which would bring in more revenue to Government.
· Once the funds earmarked for the projects are spent, there would renewed demand from all quarters to further extend the schemes and also for bringing in more such schemes. And Governments ( whichever party is in power ) must accede to such demands.
*****
To businessmen, some of the economists, pundits in fourth estate and some of the Ministers and babus in Government, high GDP growth is the ‘be all and end all’ in economic development. All of them are pinning for +9% growth, if not this year, at least from next year onwards. And then they say with euphoria unmatched in respect of any other subject that such a development would take India to be the third country after USA and China with highest GDP level in 2020 or 2030.
To the awkward question as to what extent such continuous high growth in GDP would improve the living conditions of the poor, they all quote the ‘ trickle down ‘ theory.
But there is the uncomfortable fact that even after 60 years of planned economy, this country still have millions of people who are living in absolute misery, i.e., the GDP growth has bypassed them. They have not enough to eat for mere sustenance. They have no drinking water or medical facilities or a roof over their head or school facilities or assured work throughout the year. Then what is the guarantee that further growth would also not overlook them.
Out of the last twelve years, on an average there have been 10,000 suicides per year of farmers in this country in the first ten years, with last two years the figure going up to 13,000 and 15,000 respectively.
Simply put, developments plans of the past had virtually skipped a large mass of people in the rural areas. And hence migration of rural unemployed in large numbers to cities and also to other States.
‘ GDP yardstick is badly flawed as a guide to a nation’s economic well being. A nation’s well being depends on many factors ignored by GDP, such as leisure time, income inequality and the quality of the environment.’ - Economist, London
‘The way GDP is measured yields at best a very gross estimate of productive activity in the country. In spite of everyone knowing this, the slightest fluctuation in the estimated GDP becomes the basis for elaborate theses – for gloom or elation. The imperfections of measurement apart, what has grown in the reference period is almost never the object of scrutiny.’- Arun Shourie:
Aware of the limitations of GDP as a yardstick of growth, economists are often circumspect on the subject. World over, increasingly more and more ‘wise-men’ have started making contrary noise on high GDP growth, with its ill effects on ecology, fast depletion of natural resources, wastages, etc., They also point out that quite often the benefits of high GDP growth do not percolate to low income people, whereas the negative factors of such high growth will have to be borne by all people and possibly more by poor people.
( The large number of cases before the various courts in India would indicate that we are a litigant prone people. Related to the subject under discussion, processing such a large number of cases by courts, does add to the level of GDP growth, because income accrued by service rendered is included in GDP. Alcohol and cigarette consumption goes up. The same improves the level of GDP. More gossip magazines come into the market. That also adds to GDP ).
Developmental economists, foremost among them being Prof. Amartya Sen, has been emphasizing this aspect in their writings. It is in this context that the importance of various schemes announced by the Government to tackle the above mentioned problems have to be seen, though, sadly, except for lip sympathy, businessmen, educated and high salaried Indians, fourth estate, government babus have not evinced any interest in these schemes. But politicians have, primarily in their own interest ( poor people look at them for an assisting hand and also for claiming votes ). Suicide of a boy for failing in an exam. is repeatedly telecast in TV channels with lot of commentaries, whereas suicides of over thousand farmers get a few minutes of lip sympathy in both print and visual media. Hardly any of the papers / TV channels have done in depth stories on farmer suicides or come up with suggestions on how to arrest the repetition of such horrifying catastrophe. For both print and visual media, India by far means the megalopolis.
Only 2% o Indian population are involved in stock market one way or another. Yet as it is about real money, it occupies a lot of space in Indian politics and economics. GDP growth in India, particularly that area related to high tech and business growth touch 10% to 20% of the population. For another 50% or 60% of the population it is business as usual. Then there is the bottom of the pyramid consisting of the poor. 50 years of planned development had hardly touched them in the sense their lot has been as it was fifty years back. It is clear that ‘trickling down’ theory had not worked for them. If that be so, then the big ticket reforms proposed also would not touch them. So after a decade India may be counted in the big league in the comity of nations in GDP, but 10 to 20 crores of people in India would continue to live in miserable conditions.
It is in the above context one has to view the mega projects for improving the lot of those who are in the lower rung of pyramid now being undertaken by Government. There would be any number of economic arguments against the schemes. Be that it may. Such schemes are necessary to give succor to the poor.
What the Government should do is to enlist the support of all parties, State Governments and Civil Society in effectively implementing the following developmental projects announced by Government, primarily directed towards improving the lot of the poor in villages.
Agenda for/of the new Government:
A modern nation is defined by four non negotiable rights: equality of citizenship across origin and gender; secularism; liberty of speech; and economic equity ( M.J. Akbar, veteran journalist ). While in respect of the first three rights, there has been considerable advancement in the past, for a large number of people the last right has remained elusive. The projects mentioned below have to be considered in that background.
In other words, while the Governments ( including the period when BJP was in power ) in the past have been striving to achieve all the postulates on the count of economic inequity, we have yet to go far.
1. Bharat Nirman Project ( Rs. 1.74 lakh crore project )
Every village in India with over 1000 population to have an all-weather road, every habitation to have water supply, every village to have a telephone and every village to be electrified. Launched in 2005 – So far spent Rs. 1.14 crore )
2. National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) ( Rs. 44,480 crores )
Launched in 2006, the Scheme provides for 100 days of assured employment per year per person per household. ( or cash payment @ Rs. 100 per day for 100 days ). Panchayats to oversee the implementation of the Scheme. The scheme has been lauded world over. The implementation level varies from State to State.
The scheme would reduce the level of migration of poor landless unemployed persons from villages to cities/towns. It is said that the Scheme had brought in lot of votes to Congress. Some of the opposition ruled states have also tried to take credit for bringing out with such a scheme. But that is not the point. Nobody disputes that the scheme has given succor to a lot of unemployed people.
Inevitable that in respect of such a scheme, there would be leakages. Further, as had happened in respect of many such welfare schemes, vested interests ( including political ) would muscle into managing the scheme.
Many an economist may argue against the concept of the scheme. Since employment has to be provided under the scheme, even non-worthwhile projects may be taken up. It would be difficult to measure the return from investment. But there can be no two opinion that the scheme would to some extent mitigate the grinding poverty many unemployed in the villages are going through. ( As could be expected, World Bank had expressed reservations on the concept while ILO had welcomed the Scheme )
3. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan ( Rs. 60,000 crores )
Launched in 2001, the scheme is to provide elementary education to all children. While enrolment aspect has been quite successful, it was found that by far a large number of children drop out at the VIIIth standard level. In the rural areas the scheme has become extremely popular.
1. Mid Day Meal Scheme ( Rs. 33,000 crores )
Supreme Court had also directed Government to implement the scheme, which was originally started in 1990 but gained real momentum during the last few years. 11.74 crore school children have been benefitted under the scheme. In fact the scheme has given a major impetus for the really poor to send their children to schools.
2. National Rural Health Mission ( Rs. 31,000 crores )
Launched in 2005 to build a healthcare delivery system the entire rural population. What is lamentable is that the States have been able to spend so far only Rs. 20,000 crores under the scheme.
6. Total Sanitation Campaign ( Rs. 5,100 crores )
This is a scheme which has been in operation for long but not very successful. The Scheme was to build toilets in rural areas. Lack of water and habit of using open places as toilet have been cited as reasons for the lacklustre performance of this scheme. Civil society and social workers have a major role to play in successful implementation of the scheme.
7. Integrated Child Development Services – (Rs. 32,000 crores )
The Scheme provides nutiritional supplements, health check-ups and immunization coverae to children up to the age of 6 years to reduce mortality and disease. It also provides nbutritional supplements to pregnant and lactating mothers.
8. Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ( Rs.7500 crores )
The Scheme is to build basic infrastructure, improve governance and provide basic facilities to the urban poor in 63 cities over seven years.
9. Polio eradication ( Rs. 9000 crores )
A Scheme in respect of the above was launched in 1994 which helped in reducing polio cases and India was to become polio free. But a few pockets are now showing resistance to immunization. Hence this Project.
Concluding remarks:
· Yes, there would be leakages and project implementation could be delayed. Having seen that such schemes could work, Government of India is placing all out emphasis on the projects. In political circles also there is awareness on the need to efficiently managing these schemes.
· But where is the money to be found – naturally that would be the second question. From high GDP growth which would bring in more revenue to Government.
· Once the funds earmarked for the projects are spent, there would renewed demand from all quarters to further extend the schemes and also for bringing in more such schemes. And Governments ( whichever party is in power ) must accede to such demands.
*****
Monday, June 8, 2009
DYNASTY DEBATE IN RESPECT OF
Hydra-headed, the subject matter gets propped up to debating area in respect of Indian intelligentsia and fourth estate, whenever occasion arises to bash up the Indian political system. Latest is the election of Ms. Meira Kumar, daughter of late Babu Jagjivan Ram, as the Speaker of Lok Sabha. Dynasty politics, in a derogatory manner is referred to in respect of Nehru family also. So also about Abdullas of Kashmir and Karunadhi of Tamil Nadu.
But consider the following:
1. Semi educated and management deficient progenies of businessmen could overnight assume high and important posts in the family managed ( which is euphemistically termed by the businessmen as ‘ family owned’ ) business organization, despite the fact that the entity has public money of shareholders and banks, besides employing a large number of people. This is accepted as a normal feature of business and hence taken for granted, despite the fact that inefficient running of the organization would affect banks and livelihood of employees.
2. The same, i.e., son inheriting and subsequently managing, applies to most of the small time commercial activities, be it chawl type tea shop, barber shop, cycle repair shop.
3. During the British times, it was the normal practice to give job to the son of Indian retiring from the service of the company.
4. For a long time in respect of Government jobs, unsaid preference was given to sons/daughters of people who are or have worked in Government.
5. Even in religious bodies, temple management more often than not is passed on from father to son.
6. Even in fourth estate this has been happening, despite print/visual media, making fun or chastising such development in the political arena. The son takes up the position of chief from father. And some times the son even changes the tilt of the entity.
7. Dynasty or no dynasty, the fact has to be noted that a person has to win an election to be eligible for the post of Minister. There may be immediate reaction that a person can partially circumvent this condition by coming through Rajya Sabha. Yet there is also election. Just because a person is son of a Minister he cannot claim entitlement for a ticket.
8. For a long long time India was ruled by kings. At one time there were over 500 kingdoms. The accepted principle was for the eldest son to occupy the throne or for any reason the king ( father ) is not favourably disposed off towards the eldest son, then may be the second or third son is made the king.
9. The above position was the case more or less in respect of most of the countries in the world. It still continues in Arab countries. Both England and Japan have kings as titular heads in whose case also the position is hereditary.
And lastly, what about House of Lords in U.K.
King’s father has to be king, but Minister’s father need not be Minister.
End note: Despite all these cogent arguments, the fourth estate may still say that this does not happen in America. For the fourth estate, mesmerized as it is by USA, all the wisdom can be found in what America is doing. Forget the meaningless war and resultant killings of thousands of Vietnamese or annihilating Japan by Atom bombs by Americans.
*********
But consider the following:
1. Semi educated and management deficient progenies of businessmen could overnight assume high and important posts in the family managed ( which is euphemistically termed by the businessmen as ‘ family owned’ ) business organization, despite the fact that the entity has public money of shareholders and banks, besides employing a large number of people. This is accepted as a normal feature of business and hence taken for granted, despite the fact that inefficient running of the organization would affect banks and livelihood of employees.
2. The same, i.e., son inheriting and subsequently managing, applies to most of the small time commercial activities, be it chawl type tea shop, barber shop, cycle repair shop.
3. During the British times, it was the normal practice to give job to the son of Indian retiring from the service of the company.
4. For a long time in respect of Government jobs, unsaid preference was given to sons/daughters of people who are or have worked in Government.
5. Even in religious bodies, temple management more often than not is passed on from father to son.
6. Even in fourth estate this has been happening, despite print/visual media, making fun or chastising such development in the political arena. The son takes up the position of chief from father. And some times the son even changes the tilt of the entity.
7. Dynasty or no dynasty, the fact has to be noted that a person has to win an election to be eligible for the post of Minister. There may be immediate reaction that a person can partially circumvent this condition by coming through Rajya Sabha. Yet there is also election. Just because a person is son of a Minister he cannot claim entitlement for a ticket.
8. For a long long time India was ruled by kings. At one time there were over 500 kingdoms. The accepted principle was for the eldest son to occupy the throne or for any reason the king ( father ) is not favourably disposed off towards the eldest son, then may be the second or third son is made the king.
9. The above position was the case more or less in respect of most of the countries in the world. It still continues in Arab countries. Both England and Japan have kings as titular heads in whose case also the position is hereditary.
And lastly, what about House of Lords in U.K.
King’s father has to be king, but Minister’s father need not be Minister.
End note: Despite all these cogent arguments, the fourth estate may still say that this does not happen in America. For the fourth estate, mesmerized as it is by USA, all the wisdom can be found in what America is doing. Forget the meaningless war and resultant killings of thousands of Vietnamese or annihilating Japan by Atom bombs by Americans.
*********
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