Government in India seems to have got off its knees after the departure of Mrs Clinton.
Wellesley’s subsidiary alliance will seem cozy when compared to the status that the Americans now reserve for us.
Some questions to consider .
- Did India agree on a formulation on 'climate change', essentially agreeing to a two-degree rise cap on global temperatures from the pre-industrial era?
- The final preparatory meeting for the Doha Round of trade negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will be held in India, where it is claimed that India will ensure that finally an agreement will be reached ?? why the change ??
- And at Shame Shame…..Sharm el Sheikh our Prime Minister formally delinked terrorism from an all-encompassing bilateral dialogue. Who authorized this ?
It appears that the PM believes he is an ‘American style’ president and his new government /administration has decided to restate policy position on national and international issues, without notice or debate and consensus
Hillary Clinton's clear agenda was to open up the Indian market for US exports, particularly on technology areas; thus the proposal for two nuclear power plants during this visit. What did India get in return ?
As this PMO asserts itself over each facet of governance, in an undemocratic matter, unfettered by political considerations and minding more the American constituency than its (absent) Indian one is forced to think of the Indian common man “Sab kucch seekha hamney Na seekhi hoshiyari; sach hai duniya waalon ki hum hai Anari “
Showing posts with label Elections India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elections India. Show all posts
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
On the Budget - Aam Aadmi Khas masley (Common Man, Uncommon Issues)
Quetelet stands for the ‘average’ person. In India, politically this is referred to as the agenda for the ‘Aam Aadmi” . What we see, budget come and gone, is that today the ‘aam admi’ is confronting rising food prices, high rents, lack of adequate water and power and declining incomes.
Inflation as measured by the WPI has turned negative but inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index is still high and its emphasis is on food, a large part of the ‘aam aadmi’s’ expenditure.
There are fears of job losses and if a person is in business, there is a fear of slack business and slow turnover. The pace of manufacturing growth has been alarmingly slow.
What about the private investment so critical for industrial growth ?
If private investment is clogged, how can industrial production be competitive?
How can private investment rush in the current, interest rates scenario ?
If the government is going to go in for heavy borrowings as outlined in the Budget (fiscal deficit at 6.8 per cent), what is to allay the fear is that interest rates would rise by 1 percentage point ?
There is a serious threat of rainfall deficit this year in many wheat growing areas that could lead to high prices. The government has already banned wheat exports. What will the macro economy look like if there is a drought ?
Almost all G8 countries are resorting to protectionism and are imposing higher taxes on imports. The Obama Administration is discriminating against US companies that are outsourcing their business processes to countries like India. What is our position on this ?
In the case of Indian industry, many cheap imports, especially from China, are hurting our own manufactures but duties have not been raised. For example raising the duty on edible oil imports would have brought in a lot of revenue and would have protected oil seed farmers also. Who will satisfy the stake holders in this regard ?
The government is fond of putting more money on schemes which have fancy names but no one knows whether they are wholly successful .Even in the case of NREGA there is a fear that we are creating a dole dependent constituency. Why not create and enable them to have real income generating assets ?
Most small enterprises have to pay high interest rates on borrowings to run their businesses and the conditions of work are often quite appalling and the workers are routinely paid below minimum wages.
On health, most people do not need to crowd city hospitals if primary health care was available in the villages or small towns. What is the confidence in making a difference there in a hurry ?
Which school does the aam aadmi’s kids go to ? What are the assets those institutions have ?
The power situation is always a critical element in India’s growth. There has been a huge gap between the power requirement and its generation and supply — the government fell short by 70 per cent of the target to set up new power plants in 2008-09 and there are frequent voltage fluctuations and power cuts. Delhi and Bombay are no exceptions .Who will correct and by when ?
Unfortunately, while issues seem clear the policies are skewed by politics.
India is fortunately not in a deep crisis situation like the western nations — widely acknowledged now by the World Bank and the IMF, and even if there are no foreign investment inflows, our own high savings rate at 38 per cent (of the GDP) can sustain growth of about 7 to 8 per cent.
What remains important is to encourage private initiative and investment and the proper implementation of projects funded by public spending.
Inflation as measured by the WPI has turned negative but inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index is still high and its emphasis is on food, a large part of the ‘aam aadmi’s’ expenditure.
There are fears of job losses and if a person is in business, there is a fear of slack business and slow turnover. The pace of manufacturing growth has been alarmingly slow.
What about the private investment so critical for industrial growth ?
If private investment is clogged, how can industrial production be competitive?
How can private investment rush in the current, interest rates scenario ?
If the government is going to go in for heavy borrowings as outlined in the Budget (fiscal deficit at 6.8 per cent), what is to allay the fear is that interest rates would rise by 1 percentage point ?
There is a serious threat of rainfall deficit this year in many wheat growing areas that could lead to high prices. The government has already banned wheat exports. What will the macro economy look like if there is a drought ?
Almost all G8 countries are resorting to protectionism and are imposing higher taxes on imports. The Obama Administration is discriminating against US companies that are outsourcing their business processes to countries like India. What is our position on this ?
In the case of Indian industry, many cheap imports, especially from China, are hurting our own manufactures but duties have not been raised. For example raising the duty on edible oil imports would have brought in a lot of revenue and would have protected oil seed farmers also. Who will satisfy the stake holders in this regard ?
The government is fond of putting more money on schemes which have fancy names but no one knows whether they are wholly successful .Even in the case of NREGA there is a fear that we are creating a dole dependent constituency. Why not create and enable them to have real income generating assets ?
Most small enterprises have to pay high interest rates on borrowings to run their businesses and the conditions of work are often quite appalling and the workers are routinely paid below minimum wages.
On health, most people do not need to crowd city hospitals if primary health care was available in the villages or small towns. What is the confidence in making a difference there in a hurry ?
Which school does the aam aadmi’s kids go to ? What are the assets those institutions have ?
The power situation is always a critical element in India’s growth. There has been a huge gap between the power requirement and its generation and supply — the government fell short by 70 per cent of the target to set up new power plants in 2008-09 and there are frequent voltage fluctuations and power cuts. Delhi and Bombay are no exceptions .Who will correct and by when ?
Unfortunately, while issues seem clear the policies are skewed by politics.
India is fortunately not in a deep crisis situation like the western nations — widely acknowledged now by the World Bank and the IMF, and even if there are no foreign investment inflows, our own high savings rate at 38 per cent (of the GDP) can sustain growth of about 7 to 8 per cent.
What remains important is to encourage private initiative and investment and the proper implementation of projects funded by public spending.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Karat & Stick Policy
" Once upon a time, there was a party called the Communist Party of India (Marxist)..."
Very soon that is how we will read the articles on the CPM
Almost there!
Today its parliamentary strength is at the lowest since the party's formation in 1964. It has, in a very Stalinist posture, decided NOT to reveal any conclusions on the reasons why they had such a pathetic showing despite being the powers behind the scene in the previous Government for almost 4 out of its 5 years in power.
Instead, they seem even more confused on sorting out the internecine warfare in its Kerala unit. That, the birthplace of threw communist movement in India.
The fight between two groups, one headed by the state party secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, and the other by the chief minister, V S Achuthanandan, has paralysed administration in the state and contributed to the Left Front's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.
To seem effective Mr Prakash Karat, this week, after an unusual two-day session to discuss this factionalism in Kerala, chose to expel the Chief Minsiter, a founding leader of the organisation, from the party's highest decision-making body, the politburo.
However, Vijayan has been allowed to continue as state chief even though he faces a CBI case over his alleged role in the multi-crore SNC Lavalin corruption case.
Truly Karat and Stick.
A few answers needed :
Is it acute schizophrenia ?
Why has a leader been expelled from the Apex party forum yet heads the state Government ?
Why is this party of the masses (?) that apparently swears by probity in public office defending a leader facing corruption charges ??
If at all, how will they account for the consequences and who will be accountable?
Very soon that is how we will read the articles on the CPM
Almost there!
Today its parliamentary strength is at the lowest since the party's formation in 1964. It has, in a very Stalinist posture, decided NOT to reveal any conclusions on the reasons why they had such a pathetic showing despite being the powers behind the scene in the previous Government for almost 4 out of its 5 years in power.
Instead, they seem even more confused on sorting out the internecine warfare in its Kerala unit. That, the birthplace of threw communist movement in India.
The fight between two groups, one headed by the state party secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, and the other by the chief minister, V S Achuthanandan, has paralysed administration in the state and contributed to the Left Front's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.
To seem effective Mr Prakash Karat, this week, after an unusual two-day session to discuss this factionalism in Kerala, chose to expel the Chief Minsiter, a founding leader of the organisation, from the party's highest decision-making body, the politburo.
However, Vijayan has been allowed to continue as state chief even though he faces a CBI case over his alleged role in the multi-crore SNC Lavalin corruption case.
Truly Karat and Stick.
A few answers needed :
Is it acute schizophrenia ?
Why has a leader been expelled from the Apex party forum yet heads the state Government ?
Why is this party of the masses (?) that apparently swears by probity in public office defending a leader facing corruption charges ??
If at all, how will they account for the consequences and who will be accountable?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The Pawar Permutations
The original (3×3×3) Rubik's Cube has eight corners and twelve edges. There are 8! (40,320) ways to arrange the corner cubes. Seven can be oriented independently, and the orientation of the eighth depends on the preceding seven, giving 37 (2,187) possibilities. There are 12! /2 (239,500,800) ways to arrange the edges, since an odd permutation of the corners implies an odd permutation of the edges as well. Eleven edges can be flipped independently, with the flip of the twelfth depending on the preceding ones, giving 211 (2,048) possibilities
There are exactly 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 permutations, which is approximately forty-three quintillion. So, if every permutation of a 57-millimeter Rubik's Cube were lined up end to end, it would stretch out approximately 261 light years. Alternatively, if laid out on the ground, this is enough to cover the earth with 273 layers of cubes, recognizing the fact that the radius of the earth sphere increases by 57 mm with each layer of cubes.
The preceding figure is limited to permutations that can be reached solely by turning the sides of the cube. If one considers permutations reached through disassembly of the cube, the number becomes twelve times as large.
If you grasped the above, you may be eligible to try to understand the possibilities in the politics of Mr Sharad Pawar. Consider what his astute political mind is capable of. He (and therefore the NCP) has made pivoting arrangements on each constituent cube . He is on record to say that he does not believe in political untouchability. Thus, he is open to doing business, on his terms, with any and every political formation and politician. Layer this with an unrivalled depth of experience and an ability to deliver the political goods and you may begin to fathom the limitless possibilities.
In the eventuality that there is “ come one come all “ flavour post election, this is one man who has probably worked out the 6 solid facings that are eventually possible.
In case there are a couple that don’t turn, colour blindness may legitimately become a qualification in Indian Politics
There are exactly 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 permutations, which is approximately forty-three quintillion. So, if every permutation of a 57-millimeter Rubik's Cube were lined up end to end, it would stretch out approximately 261 light years. Alternatively, if laid out on the ground, this is enough to cover the earth with 273 layers of cubes, recognizing the fact that the radius of the earth sphere increases by 57 mm with each layer of cubes.
The preceding figure is limited to permutations that can be reached solely by turning the sides of the cube. If one considers permutations reached through disassembly of the cube, the number becomes twelve times as large.
If you grasped the above, you may be eligible to try to understand the possibilities in the politics of Mr Sharad Pawar. Consider what his astute political mind is capable of. He (and therefore the NCP) has made pivoting arrangements on each constituent cube . He is on record to say that he does not believe in political untouchability. Thus, he is open to doing business, on his terms, with any and every political formation and politician. Layer this with an unrivalled depth of experience and an ability to deliver the political goods and you may begin to fathom the limitless possibilities.
In the eventuality that there is “ come one come all “ flavour post election, this is one man who has probably worked out the 6 solid facings that are eventually possible.
In case there are a couple that don’t turn, colour blindness may legitimately become a qualification in Indian Politics
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Manifest Oh , a grain of rice
Rice is by far the most important crop in human history and has been so ever since Homo Sapiens first began cultivation Today, nearly 120,000 varieties of rice sustain two-thirds of the world's population, provides one-sixth of the per capita protein and nearly a fifth of the energy humans expend per capita.
But it is in Peninsular India, where Rice as a political trump card was par boiled along with the Dravidian movement and when the Sun of the DMK rose in 1967, it was three scoops of rice for 1 rupee that made it happen
Four decades later, promises are still being made on almost identical lines. All that is important in tangible terms for a manifesto, it would seem, can be written on that grain of rice
But it is in Peninsular India, where Rice as a political trump card was par boiled along with the Dravidian movement and when the Sun of the DMK rose in 1967, it was three scoops of rice for 1 rupee that made it happen
Four decades later, promises are still being made on almost identical lines. All that is important in tangible terms for a manifesto, it would seem, can be written on that grain of rice
India Shining ...thanks to studio lighting
The election fever has once again brought into sharp focus the mushrooming of studio politicians in India. TV channel studios are the temples of modern Indian politics. Here Opinion is canalised /channel-ised for the good of society. It expands the political debate. Right !
Frankly, undergraduates in a group discussion to land themselves a job do better.
TV debate in India is a vile concoction of Propaganda, Persuasion, Pedantic and Pettiness in equal measure.
But even Marshall McLuhan would concede that there is no escaping TV going forward. That, only in terms of reach and saliency. Else, India retains its unique Rally culture Public involvement is high, although as spectators, for them it is a road show with song and dance as well.
One wonders if there is a bus that hops from studio to studio because you see the same politicians on different channels repeating the same half truths in the space of a half hour. It is virtual reality…virtually !!
Frankly, undergraduates in a group discussion to land themselves a job do better.
TV debate in India is a vile concoction of Propaganda, Persuasion, Pedantic and Pettiness in equal measure.
But even Marshall McLuhan would concede that there is no escaping TV going forward. That, only in terms of reach and saliency. Else, India retains its unique Rally culture Public involvement is high, although as spectators, for them it is a road show with song and dance as well.
One wonders if there is a bus that hops from studio to studio because you see the same politicians on different channels repeating the same half truths in the space of a half hour. It is virtual reality…virtually !!
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