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

Sunday 17 February 2013

HALF – A – WORLD APART

India and America are half-a-world apart but their concerns are the same

In his first Republic-day address , Indian President Pranab Mukherjee said :

“ The young cannot dream on an empty stomach. They need jobs “
In far away America , President Barack Obama spoke :
“ Jobs will follow, wherever they find talent; whether to Kolkatta or to Cleveland “

This how American Bureau of Labor Statistics ( United States Department of Labor ) reports :


As far as India is concerned , here is what National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) reports :

·     India’s unemployment rate fell to 6.6% in 2009-10 from 8.2% in 2004-05. The general perception is that unemployment in India is high, but the actual numbers seem reasonable. That’s because self-employment accounts for about 60% of India’s employed population.

·     Given the lack of viable employment opportunities, a large number of Indians opt for self-employment. And a big chunk of this includes low-paying activities like hawking magazines and flowers at traffic signals.

·      Casual workers — who get jobs at times and remain unpaid at other times — account for 30%

·     Only 10% of the working population are regular employees.
·      Given the scarcity of opportunities, higher youth unemployment shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Apparently there is a mismatch between NSSO survey and

·     Indian Population Register, according to which India’s population is growing at 15 million / year

·     Ministry of Labour , according to which 42 million youth are registered with 966 Employment Exchanges , all over the country

·     Ministry of Human Resource , according to which , some 3.5 million students graduate from Indian colleges each year but only 10% find jobs

When will our politicians realize that it is  JOBLESSNESS  which is the root cause of all militancy / aggression / violence / conflict / protest etc in our society ?

If they did , they would stop crying hoarse about corruption and make “ JOB  CREATION  “ , their ONE POINT manifesto , for 2014 National Election !

And the political party that does, will get absolute majority in the Parliament  !

Are UPA / NDA listening ?

Hemen  Parekh

Thursday 7 February 2013

Jokepal is better than “ No Lokpal ‘ !



It is about time that Anna and Kejariwal appreciate the facts of life , viz:

Ø It is far better to have a bird in hand than two in the bush !

Ø “ Ideal “ is what you work towards, but rarely achieve

Ø Whenever there are two parties to a dispute , a “ Compromise “ is the only possible solution

Ø You cannot “ take and take “ ; you must “ give and take “

Ø You never know what will work and what won’t

Ø In a parliamentary democracy , laws cannot be passed on streets. To be able to change the laws – or introduce new ones – you must first change the law-makers

Ø No human is “ All-knowing “; Even Gods made mistakes when they assumed human form

Ø After waiting for 30+ years , people are tired of any further waiting for a Lokpal - no matter with or without an independent CBI

Ø For people’s sake , please “ Wait and Watch “ , without pre-judging


With regards

hemen  parekh


Jobs  for  All  =  Peace  on  Earth



Thursday 31 January 2013

Terrorists with a Religion ?

If none of the religions – whether Hinduism / Islam / Christianity / Buddhism / Judaism / Jainism – or any other , preach violence , then what is the religion of the terrorists ?
Obviously , their religion is , Terrorism
Rama – Krishna – Mohammed – Jesus – Buddha , Moses , all taught us to,
? Love each other
? Live – and let live – in peace
? Never hurt another human being
Mahavir ( Jainism ) went so far as to say,
“ Never hurt any Being – not just human being – be it through Thought , Speech or Action “
Why are our religious leaders not counselling our political leaders – and public at large – about these basic tenets of all the religions ?

with regards

hemen parekh

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Raining Cards ?

Some 70 years ago , I had only one card – the Ration Card
I was using it to buy , either wheat or bread or war-disposal biscuits from a Shivaji Park ration shop in Mumbai
Now I have,
 Driving License Card
 Senior Citizen Card
 Voting Card
 Credit Card
 PAN Card
 Aadhar Card ( UID )
Apart from sundry cards issued by private / commercial companies and NGOs
As if this was not enough , Central Government of India wants me to carry one more card !
National Population Register ( NPR ) is all set to issue,
 Resident Identity Card ( RIC )
It will contain demographic and biometric details of the owner and will be issued to 820 million adult Indians at a cost of Rs 5,552 Crores
I believe only those holding RIC will be entitled to receive subsidized food-grains under the Food Security Act
How about a card to replace all the above-mentioned cards ?
With regards
hemen parekh

Thursday 24 January 2013

MADE IN INDIA ?



When you have to fight a war, you don’t plan on losing
You want to guarantee a “ win “ , by deploying your best soldiers and your best equipment
That is why , Government of India does not hesitate to buy the best military hardware from :

Ø  Russia       ( Tanks )

Ø  Germany   ( Submarines )

Ø  America    ( Fighter planes )

Ø  Sweden    ( Field Artillary  )

Ø  Israel       ( Radars / Drones )

Ø  France     ( Machine Guns )  ……etc

This is despite the fact that we have our own war equipment manufacturing establishments such as :

Ø  Government owned 41 Ordnance Factories

Ø  Private sector manufacturers such as Mazgaon Dock / L&T / M&M /

TATA group / Cochin Shipyard etc

It is no different when it comes to fighting a war on illiteracy / educational deprivation / digital divide / poverty etc

We must fight – and win this war , in shortest possible time

Even if that means , HRD Ministry has to partially import those 5 million Aakash3  tablets from anywhere in the World, while providing a level-playing field to our indigeneous tablet manufacturers

They have lots of time to gear-up for supplying 220 million Aakash4 tablets

This is not 20/20 ODI or Lok-Sabha elections. It is a war

“ Made in India “ shenanigans have no place in a war !

With regards,

hemen  parekh


Jobs  for  All  =  Peace  on  Earth







Monday 21 January 2013

BSNL CANNOT HELP !


It must get rid of 100,000 employees – and fast

Here is why :

  • It has a work-force of 281,000 employees as on 31 Mar 2011

  • It had a profit of Rs 10,183 Crores in 2004-05

  • Profit turned into a loss of Rs 6,384 Crores in 2010-11

  • Its salary burden is 48 % of its revenue

  • By getting rid of 1 lakh employees , salary burden will come down to 10-15 % of revenue

  • The average age of employees is about 50 years

  • This aging work-force don’t have the skill-set to compete with Airtel / RIL / Vodaphone / Idea etc
  
All of this , notwithstanding Congress Jaipur Declaration , promising to create 10,000,000 ( 1 Crore ) jobs each year , starting 2015 ( provided people believe in such promises and vote UPA to power in 2014 ! )

In the meantime , to survive , BSNL is selling real estate worth Rs 8,000 Crores

Obviously to those who will contribute generously to Congress Party Funds , which , are currently around Rs 2,000 Crores

NB

Payments in cash welcome from Individuals and Corporate if in sums of less than Rs 20,000 / - not requiring verification !

Hemen  Parekh

Saturday 19 January 2013

GOOD NEWS : BAD NEWS


DNA ( 18th Jan 2013 ) reports ,

·     Good News / Food Securuty Bill

·     National Food Security Bill is likely to be placed before Parliament in forthcoming budget session, under which,

·      800 million poor people ( 67 % 0f Indian population ) will each get ,5 Kg of rice or wheat or millet , every month for Rs 5 / 2 / 1 per kg


·     Hopefully , this will save those 1.6 Million children ( under age 5 ), currently starving to death every year. Better late than never !

·     May be we should hold National Elections every alternate year !

·     Bad News  /  Decline in Education Standards

·     Annual Status of Education Report ( 2012 ) found following decline in education standards :
      -------------------------------------------------------------
Students Tested…………Test……………% age of students who failed test in
     2010……………2011…………….2012


Class 3…………………… Read Textbooks
Of Class  1 ………….54.4 ………….59.7……………..61.3


Class 5…………………… Read Textbooks
Of Class  2…………….46.3……………51.8……………53.2


Class 5………………… Solve Division
Problems…………………  58.6…………….67.2………….77.4


As it is , India has the dubious distinction of having the largest illiterate population in the World – with or without Right To Education Act

Soon, we will also boast the largest “ Unemployed “ work-force in the World !

Hemen  Parekh