Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Saturday 31 December 2016

BUDGET SUGGEST - 2017



In a recent interview with MINT , Ruchir Sharma ( author of " Rise and Fall of Nations " ) summarized his own " recommendations " for the forthcoming UNION BUDGET as follows :


" For the nation, what we need currently, if we have to become  GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE and to grow at the rate of 7 % , which is so difficult to do in today's environment on a sustained basis at the time when the global economy is growing at 3 % , is that :


*  we need to basically react to the international environment


    Some suggestions towards this at :

    * AUTOMATION  IS INESCAPABLE  (  30  Nov  2016  )

     {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/11/automation-is-inescapable.html }

    *  ONE  UP ON  DONALD  TRUMP  (  15  Dec  2016  )

     {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/12/one-up-on-donald-trump.html  }

    *  LEVEL  PLAYING FIELD  ?  (  11  June  2016  )

     { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/06/level-playing-field.html }


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we have to cut our Corporate Tax Rates very sharply


   Some suggestions towards this at :

   *  SOMETHING  IS BETTER  THAN   NOTHING  (  07  Feb  2016  )

   { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/02/something-is-better-than-nothing.html }

   *  STRUCTURAL  REFORMS  (  30  Jan  2016  )

   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/01/structural-reforms.html  }

   *  CREATE   WEALTH TO  CREATE  JOBS  (  26  Feb  2016  )

   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/02/create-wealth-to-create-jobs.html }


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*  we need to privatize our bloated public sector,


Some suggestions towards this at :

  *  CLOSE  IN INDIA  (  22  July  2015  )

    { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/07/close-in-india.html  }


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And , if you want to bring money back in,

*  how to incentivize people to come back into the country and that needs to be done with
   more carrot than sticks like more incentives rather than disincentives


Some suggestions towards this at :

   *  FDI  BY  ANY  OTHER   NAME  (  01  July  2016  )

     { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/07/fdi-by-any-other-name.html }

   *  MAKING  INDIA A  TAX  HAVEN ?  (  04  April  2016  )

    { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/04/making-india-tax-haven.html }

   *  Time  is  NOW  (  02  Feb  2016  )

    { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/02/time-is-now.html }

  *  A  Gordian Knot  ?  (  05  July  2015  )

    { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-gordian-knot.html }

 *  A  Virtuous Circle  ?  (  04  Jan  2015  )

   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-virtuous-circle.html  }

CentralBudget - 2014  (  07  July  2014  )

{  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/07/central-2014-dear-shri-arun-jaitleyji.html }


White  Holes of  Black  Money  (  03  June  2014  )

   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/06/white-holes-of-black-money.html  }

To  Be or  Not  To Be  ?  ( 17  April  2014  )

   { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/04/to-be-or-not-to-be.html  }

Manifesto  Misconduct ?  ( 26  March  2014  )

   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/03/manifesto-misconduct.html  }

Legalize  Money Laundering  ?  (  23  March  2014  )

   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/03/legalize-money-laundering.html  }

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Like my above-mentioned emails , there is no doubt that Shri Arun Jaitleyji must have received thousands of similar suggestions in the past few weeks


There is a small probability that some of these may find a place in his budget speech in Lok Sabha , on 01 Feb 2017 , even though , in a watered down version


But the only  BUDGETARY  REFORM  that can engrave his name in the annals of history can be :

An  Unprecedented Budget  Reform  (  09  Dec  2016 )

{  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/12/an-unprecedented-budget-reform.html  }


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01  Jan  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs


Friday 30 December 2016

When BHIM is here, can ARJUN be far away ?



Yesterday , PM Shri Modiji launched a Mobile Wallet App , called BHIM

He went on to say :
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The country already had more than 100 crore Aadhaar holders with most of the adult population covered.

There was a time, he said, when illiterate people were called "angootha chap". But now, the thump impression would make way for a person's bank, identity and even business, he said.

 "After two weeks, when the new (Aadhaar-based) system will be launched, BHIM will be the BIGGEST WONDER OF THE WORLD," Modi said. 

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BUT HERE IS WHAT  NEWS18  REPORTED :

However, in our tests we found that while money sent to UPI addresses with a mobile number worked seamlessly, all attempts to transact with a custom UPI address couldn't get through. Also the transactions don't happen as fast as they claim.

There have been reports of app freezes and "device binding failed" errors. Some users say their back button don't work.

Even though for an app that has just been launched, some of the processes - such as verifying an user or making a payment - took us much longer than expected. Also the lack of on-screen confirmations confuses. All messaging happens as notifications, which adds additional steps and also increases the chances of a users failing to notice them.

This are early days for the app and MORE FEATURES AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE EXPECTED SOON.

The USP of the app is its simplicity and it might make cashless payments more appealing for more people if the little creases are ironed out soon.

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Dear Shri Narendrabhai :

No doubt , this is a great initiative which will help citizens to migrate to DIGITAL PAYMENTS

But , if BHIM has to obsolete Credit- Debit cards / Card Swiping Machines / Point
 of Sales ( PoS ) machines / ATMs etc , and truly become THE BIGGEST
 WONDER OF THE WORLD, then it would have to be SPEECH ENABLED , as
 suggested in my following email :

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Friday, 9 December 2016

Google Can Read Your Mind ?


May be not yet , but it can most certainly read every blog and every email !

And even take " ACTIONS " , if it contains any useful suggestion

In my blog ( sent as email to NDA Ministers / Secretaries etc,  on 02 Dec 2016  ) , I wrote :

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Dear Shri Amitabh Kant :


There is no doubt , you will encourage PRIVATE SECTOR players to launch Mobile Wallet apps


But you have this opportunity to SIMPLIFY the use of Mobile Wallet Apps - the use , which appears " daunting " to rural folks


Here is how :


*  Based on UPI / Indiastack , come out ( in next 6 days ? ) , with M-Rup ( RuPay based 
   mobile app , linked to Jan Dhan A/c and to Aadhar Biometric verification of the user )


*  Citizen can download M-Rup ( whether on Smart phone or on feature phone ) ,from
   Google App store 


*  M-Rup can be activated only after user enters his Jan Dhan A/c number / his Aadhar

   Card number and his Mobile number , in the App


   
*  At the time of " Activation ", let the M-Rup wallet get filled up with Rs 100 ( as a freebie )


*  This initial loading of M-Rup with Rs 100, to happen, even if the user has no Jan Dhan a/c


*  This initial loading will enable the users to " experiment " transferring or receiving digital
   money ( even between friends , none of whom have Jan Dhan accounts !). Make it FUN !


I am sure , you will say :


" How does this make M-Rup any DIFFERENT from any other Mobile Wallet app ? 


  Where is that SIMLIFICATION of use ? "


  

Dear Shri Amitabh :


Like you ( and of course , Shri Modiji ) , I have a great faith in the ability of Indian software engineers ( local or NRI ) to come up with revolutionary solutions / innovations !


Just ask Sundar Pichai , Sam Pitroda , Satya Nadela , Sachin Katti , Pranav Mistry , Sanjay Sarma , Nandan Nilekani etc , if they will help implement the following :


*  Buyer  buys something worth Rs 100 from a shopkeeper


*  Buyer and the Seller , look into their own mobile-cameras ( of  smart phones
   loaded with M-Rup ) for biometric Aadhar identification / linked to Jan Dhan a/c 


*  Seller speaks in his mobile : " Muze Sau Rupiah dedo "


*  Buyer speaks in his mobile : " Inko Sau Rupiah dedo "


*  Message flashes in the mobile screen of Seller : " Tumhare account-me Sau Rupiah
   Jamah ho gaya / GST bhi kaat ke Sarkar-ko bhej diya "


*  Message flashes in the mobile screen of Buyer : " Tumhare account-se , Sau Rupiah inko
   Bhej Diya . Abhi balance me teen sau sath rupiah bacha hai "



I request all concerned , not to insult our engineers / scientists / geeks , by doubting if such SIMPLIFICATION ( based on day to day spoken language ) is possible


Doubting Thomas may want to look up ... PILOT   

{  http://www.waverlylabs.com/  }


This is the only way rural India can bypass the Jurassic Age of Plastic Cards to usher into a CASH-LESS society !

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Dear  Shri  Amitabh  Kant  :

While congratulating you - and your entire team of dedicated professionals - I request you , not to stop with launch of AEPS mobile app


Please, do come up with a version which enables millions of not-so-savvy Indians to just give a " Voice based Instructions " to AEPS app , for all of their Digital Payment transactions, in language of their choice

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Question :  Did Sundar Pichai ( Google )  read this email ?

Answer   :

Absolutely ! In case of doubt , read following news appearing in today's ( 09 Dec 2016 ) , Hindustan Times :


GOOGLE TAKES ' ACTIONS ' TO ITS AI ; TO PARTNER INDIA's GUPSHUP


Internet giant Google on Thursday said it was bringing Google Actions to its powerful artificial intelligence platform, Google Assistant


Called Actions on Google, the development interface will allow companies to integrate direct actions or directly embed the Google Assistant in a range of devices....


" Coming soon : Build Conversation Actions using API.AI and other tools ", the web site said


" The bot landscape has grown exponentially in the past year , enabling a world where intelligent , conversational interfaces will be all around us : at work, at home, on everyone of our devices and appliances " , Beerud Sheth , CEO ,Gupshup said


In view of the ongoing shift to CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS , banks and NBFCs can take advantage of the move to build  INTERACTIVE  VOICE-DRIVEN  apps


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Besides Google , I hope members of the Chief Ministers' Committee appointed to advise the government on DIGITAL PAYMENTS , will read this email  - then call up Beerud Sheth on,

+1-855-982-2997

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31  Dec  2016

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

  


Thursday 29 December 2016

One Small Step ?



It was only 2 days back that I suggested to Captain Amrinder Singhji , how he can ensure that lakhs of drug-addicted Youth of Punjab , can be monitored ( for drug abuse ) , using a Smart phone based :

Drug Sensor

*  Mobile app, " DrugFree "

Apparently, Mumbai Police are already on their way to deploy this innovation , to monitor drivers driving under influence of alcohol , on night of 31st Dec
Hindustan Times ( 28 Dec 2016 ) carries following report :

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This New Year’s Eve, don’t drink and drive. No, really do not drink and drive, because there’s no escaping the cops or bribing your way out.

Armed with a fresh stock of digital breath analysers, Mumbai’s traffic cops will fan out across the city on the night of December 31 in a campaign against drink driving.

The hi-tech breathalysers will not only digitally analyse breath, but also send the results to a server with a photograph of the motorist.

It’s a foolproof trap.

Milind Bharambe ( Joint Commissioner of Police ) said " apart from being highly accurate, the new breath analysers will rule out any chance of malpractice by constables trying to cash in on the rush during the celebrations.

As the new analysers are fitted with cameras, the photograph and alcohol level of the motorist will be uploaded in the server seconds after a motorist blows into it. The motorist can try to bribe his way out, but it will be futile,” he said.

With the new system, there will always be a record and photograph of offenders, which would help identify frequent offenders. “For second-time offenders, the fine amount of Rs2,500 will be doubled. However, for those repeating the offence for the third time, we will be writing to the RTO for cancellation of their licenses,” said Bharambe.

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After reading this report, no one need doubt the feasibility of what I suggested in my following blog ( sent as email to Captain ) :


Sunday, 25 December 2016

A Freebie that cannot be Faulted ?


Captain Amrinder Singh ( Punjab Congress ) has promised jobs ( of course, if voted to power in the forthcoming State Election ) , to youth who pledge as follows :


" I promise I will remain free from drugs and make my family drug free too "


By now, some 12 lakh youngsters have signed up


Expect this figure to go up dramatically, considering that , a few weeks back , some 30 lakh youngsters ( 20 % girls ) had signed up to receive a FREE smart phone from  Captain ( " if voted to power " conditions apply )


In Punjab , there are 91 lakh youngsters in the age group of 18 - 35


And a smart phone could well cost Rs 5,000 each


That would cost the Congress Government ( if voted to power ), Rs 4550 crores !


Election Commission " guide lines "  and Supreme Court  " directives " notwithstanding , all political parties have in the past, offered ( and often delivered ) a whole host of " freebies " in order to " buy " votes


Aam  Aadmi  Party ( AAP ) has promised jobs ( if voted to power ) , to 25 lakh Punjab youth


Without asking them to kick the drug habit !


SO , HOW CAN CAPTAIN BE FAULTED ?


What could be more " noble " than to wean away the Punjab youth from drugs ?


And keep them gainfully / productively engaged in a nation-building activity by having a job and supporting their families ?



I suggest that Captain implement the following as far as ensuring that these 91 lakh youth stay " drug free " after getting a job :


*  As promised , distribute smart phones which are UPI / AEPS enabled Payment Wallets

*  Those smart phones must have  built-in

    *  " Drug Analyzer " ( similar to Oxymeters , which display oxygen level in blood when
         a finger is placed on the device )

    *   Biometric reading device ( Iris and Finger scan )

    *   Pre-installed Mobile App " DrugFree "


    I have no doubt that leading smart phone manufacturers will come forward with such
    versions , considering the volumes involved and the possibility that the other political
    parties , too , may make similar conditional " Job Promises " in near future !


*  Every morning , as soon as the Youth reports for work , he will launch " DrugFree " app
    on his mobile, and place his finger on App icon, in the presence of his immediate
    supervisor


*  Phone will display / record the drug level reading and also relay it simultaneously to the
   Server of the Salary Section ( including the time for attendance recording  )


*  This exercise will be repeated in the evening when that Youth leaves for home


*  No salary will be paid for the day on which drug reading exceeds permissible limit

    This will be done automatically by the Server-based software ( very simple coding )


*  If drug reading exceeds the permissible limits , more than 3 times in a month , the
    Server-based software will automatically issue a " Warning Email " ( keep humans out )



*  Upon issuance of 3 such " Warning E mails " , the Server-based software will issue a
    " Termination E Mail " , terminating the services of the Youth and simultaneously
    instructing the Salary Section to settle his account and issue a " Service Certificate "
    which will mention full Service History



But developing / implementing a fool-proof technological solution ( to determine drug free status of the Youth ) , is theleast of the problems


Any number of Start Up in the Health Care domain, will do it in 3 months ! Just ask Practo !


The real problem is :

WHERE - AND HOW - TO FIND JOBS FOR 91 LAKH YOUTH ?



The worst thing would be to create vacancies in Government , which will bring governance to a complete halt and sky-rocket the Corruption ! Don't even think of this !


Sure , new industries can be incentivized to hire a few lakh, by offering free land , exemption from Municipal / State taxes for 5 years , exemption from certain Labour Laws, stipend subsidies if 70% employees are " DrugFree " youth , etc


Even existing industries ( especially , MSME ) can be incentivized by reimbursement of 50 % salaries for 5 years for employing such Youth


But none of these measures can take care of Captain's promise to 91 lakh Youth !


I suggest Captain Amrinder Singhji , to look up my following suggestion for an alternative of

 SELF EMPLOYMENT :



   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/05/rejoice-you-self-employed.html  }



   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/10/how-about-virtual-call-centers.html  }



   {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/06/50-million-new-jobs-in-5-months.html }



  {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/05/harness-greed-to-skill-india.html  }



  {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/11/surrogate-cow-farms.html  }



  {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/10/start-up-eco-systems-usa-vs-india.html  }



  {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/02/create-self-employment.html }



  {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2012/01/it-pays-to-be-entrepreneur.html  }



Dear Captain Amrinder Singhji :


Having made a very noble gesture to the voters , please ensure a FAIR & JUST implementation !


I hope Shri Prakash Javadekarji / Shri Amit Shahji , find merit in this suggestion for other
forthcoming elections in States

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30  Dec  2016

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs