Common man looking for own home

It’s the developers world!! They prepare agreement clauses as they wish and consumers ( purchasers ) don’t get a chance to have a fair agreement. There is always somebody else ready to buy.

There should be some kind of third party certification on agreement clauses.

In city like Pune, everyday there are new projects launched and exorbitant rates are charged for per sq.ft and amenities, maintenance, electricity, etc.

Who checks whether the rates are reasonable or not?

There should be some kind of third party review for each Project and reviewer should tell various pros and cons about the project. Reviewer should also rate the project for different income groups.

Role of Media in Social Revolution

I am regular reader of Sakal daily.

I think that since Sakal has good readership, it can contribute a lot in bringing out a social revolution. No doubt that today Pune faces a lot of teething problems, as a result of unplanned growth and lack of political will to provide basic amenities to all citizens. This is a different subject. But I would like to say that citizens themselves also need to act in disciplined manner for well being of Pune.

What Sakal can do? Have a daily dose on one of these..

1. "Why it is important to follow traffic rules" . e.g Parking at proper places, resepecting red signal, no-entry, Goods carrier parking, Private bus operators parking, etc.

2. "Why we should stop using thin plastic carry bags". Here we can actually declare names of shops where plastic carry bags are given to customers. Providing details of suppliers and manufacturers will be further help.

3. "Why it is important to separate dry and wet garbage". Again give names of societies, hospitals, hotels which are culprits.

4. Why is it anti-social to destroy/damage Public transport vehicles (PMT/PCMT) during some protest or after some accident.

5. Advantages of using bi-cycle

6. Erecting Hoardings for Birthdays and similar wishes.. rubbish

7. Places where there is lack of garbage bins, lack of public toilets/ illcondition of same/ lack of will to use them. (e.g PMT employees prefer roadside than distant toilet at places like Katraj chowk, Route no. 100 stop near PMC buiding etc.)

2 & 3 needs to be sarcastic.


And finally even though Sakal has huge readership, for the above direct attack to succeed you can also tie up with a couple of English dailies and a couple of Marathi dailies.

Thanks for noting my thoughts,

About India's Energy Crisis

Everybody is aware that to sustain the current growth rate and to quickly become a developed nation, India has to solve its Energy woos.
Today we are seeing the impact of shortage of electric energy in rural India. There are long power cuts ( load shading ). Even the industrial areas are experiencing unstable power supply, So they have to rely on own generator back-ups. The picture is more or less same in all regions of India.
Mr. Manmonhan Singh & Congress party in UPA government understood this and signed a Civil Nuclear Energy co-operation deal with USA's Republican Mr. George Bush led government.
In India we have found mixed reactions to this deal from both political parties and scientists.
Given that Nuclear energy is not safe and highly costly, government should look into other options. Example Europe is going green with Wind Energy. More and more European nations are targeting higher percentage of power from pollution free Wind Energy. Why can't we have similar projects coming up in India. Government should also see that deal for Gas supply from Iran, happens and we get continuous supply of gas. Further investment should increase in R&D related to use of Solar Energy.
Why Nuclear energy is not safe for India? Accidents though rare ( e.g Chernobyl ) leave very severe effects. This factor is important w.r.t densely populated country like India. It will not be easy to protect Nuclear installations from Terrorist attacks and spies.

Pune needs Social Revolution

No doubt that today Pune faces a lot of teething problems, as a result of unplanned growth and lack of political will to provide basic amenities to all citizens. This is a different subject. But I would like to say that citizens themselves also need to act in disciplined manner for well being of Pune.
Lets take an example of traffic problems. Who is responsible for accidents, jams , etc. ? One part is large number of vehicles as compared to availabilty of roads to drive them or place to park them. Why there are so many vehicles can be a separate topic.
But to add to this crowd of vehicles, the problem is that most of he citizens don't abide by the traffic rules. This leads to accidents and jams.
The police force available for monitoring traffic is inadequate if we see the number of vehicles. Then there is method used to penalise a rule break. Traffic police collect fine and hope that fear of fine will inculcate discipline in citizens. But this is not completely true.
We need penalty/punishment which causes lasting impression on each one who is guilty of offence.
I suggest that fine can be suitable for some offences like lack of insurance papers , PUC, etc . But breaking signals, one way, riding triple sit, etc. should come in different category. Citizens guilty of this should be asked to contribute to cleaning of city. They should be taken to unclean areas of the city and asked to literally work (few hours task), untill they complete a given cleanliness task. Good spots are Railway stations Bus depots, ST depots, Municipal hospitals, Vegetable markets , slums, etc.
This way dual purpose will be served, and we can soon hope a clean and disciplined Pune.
I request commissioner of Police and Municipal corporation to take note of this suggestion.

About Cricket in India

With "Team India" thrown out of the race for World Cup 2007, time has come to sit down, think and take and implement some hard steps.
We need no proof to say that we are not the best "team" in the world.
We have lots of players with good individual records ( mostly supported by performace in subcontinent and against weaker teams). But rarely does the world cricket is afraid of India as a "team". It is not respected as a great "team".
Our great record holding batsmen, play well against cheap bowling attack, and on wickets which are good to bat. With a wicket to wicket bowling attack, they are clueless on how to score big. They are known as masters against spinners. But don't have answer to most of international spinners. They get easily bogged down by novice opponents, by fan expectations, become nervous as they always have something to lose.
Our bowlers never fire consistently and are easily unsettled by a thrashing batsman. They fire only against those who have not played them even once. They lack novelty.
Fielding,.. just doing forced practice won't help. Players do not understand its importance from heart. They are lazy and unfit.
Our slow pitches have stopped producing world class spinners, the paceman fire once in a while.
And many more problems .....
What needs to be done?

• Official squad should play international matches mostly on foreign pitches. They need to learn how to perform in unfamiliar conditions and show spirit when majority crowd is supporting opposition.
• We should have other young squad for playing international ties on Indian pitches.
• The above two squads should play each other regularly.
• Star and consistent performers should get chance to play on foreign soil.
• Modeling should not be allowed for players who are member of international squad. It is an attractive profession after retiring from the sport with head held high. They will be real role models by then.
• Senior champion players like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, VVS Laxaman should be given chance to play international ties on rotation basis. e.g Maximum of 2 of above players can be in playing eleven for a particular match. This way India will continue to get benefit of their experience and at the same time we are able to groom younger players to take responsibility. It will also help lengthen the career of senior players which each one getting adequate rest.
• We have already experienced from 2007 tours of Bangladesh , England & T-20 South Africa world cup, that we don't need regular coach. A specialist coach for fielding & bowling is OK , in addition to a team manager ( who is Ex-Cricketer).
  

Indian Economy

• Interest rates ups and downs. Its so jerky!! Why can't it be smooth and bearable?
  Year 2006 saw a upward swing in interest rates and in 2007 we are seeing it rise almost every month. Why? Its because of measures taken by finance ministry to control inflation. But Inflation is adamant and rejecting to move below 6.!!
  Finance ministry is expecting that after rise in interest rates, people will get discouraged from taking loans and encouraged for savings. But this is unjust to common man who is invested in housing by going for loans. Infact it is cheating. Common man was first lured into investing in property, because of finance minister's policy to bring lots of money in market ( show off India's purchasing power and create a picture of rapidly developing India). By 2004 interest rates dropped like anything. It was foolish to keep fixed deposits with banks, or go for bonds, or save in post or ppf. Strategies were implemented to attract more and more money into stock exchange (IPOs and MFs) and real estate. Infact it seemed clear that government wished that people should spend and "stop saving". But alas, too much greed has shown its ill-effects. Uncontrolled and easy flow of money into market shot up property demand ( and following that the cement and steel prices). Property prices in Pune have easily doubled / tripled in short span of couple of years. Same is the situation in other big cities. What is this property demand in reality? Is it home for homeless? Is it legal home for those who stay in slums? I think not. A major factor for the demand rise is because property became an attractive investment option for rich and middle class. Buy for X amount and sell for 2X,3X in few years. Buy and rent out. These rents are certainly not affordable to those who are homeless.
  
  Now since 2006 we can see interest rates shooting towards North. Finance ministry and government is desparate to bring inflation in control and ensure that they will once again get voted to power in coming general elections. But, I cannot understand if raising interest rates is the only means to control inflation. We have not seen noticeable impact on inflation because of "interest rate" related corrective measures. Infact we cannot see its effect on the costs of goods of daily necessity to common man. They continue to rise inspite of couple of good monsoons. For common man good rains means cheaper and ample food. Its surely something more. Is it our export policy? Is it the middle men? Is it unplanned agricultural production?
  
  Is government becoming impatient? Why can't it advertise saving habits. Why can't it stop taxes on savings. Why does it showcase highly luxurious lifestyles in TV serials? Why can't it show the reality of unemployment and need of enterprenurship? Why can't it show "hard work" required to lead luxurious life.
  

• I cannot see "Made In India" in area of cosumer durables.Why?
  We see whole lots of "Made in China" all over the world. From electronic goods to toys, to small innovative products, everywhere you find "Made in China". For some such products there is no alternative present in local market. Why?
  India has high unemployment rate, then why can't we use them to create cheap innovative products that will rule the world?
  
  
• It is good to see the slowly growing "Made in India" in world automoblie markets ( especially cars). Its heartening to see the Indian automobile biggies like Tata, Hindujas, Bajaj, Firodiyas, Mahindras are colloborating and preparing for progressing in world market.
  But we need to be aware of some facts:
  We still need to make a mark in commercial vehilcles, aircrafts, ships and rail. Cars are not basic necessity , they are luxury.
  Cheap, Innovative, non polluting automobiles using alternate cheap fuel, will finally win the race ahead of conventional automobiles running on petroleum. So our Indian automobile industry should concentrate equally on the new concept vehicles so that they hit world market at right time.
  
  
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Motivational thoughts

• Who is respected and successful? One who earns and owns lots of monetary wealth. At least during his/her lifetime. Whatever amount of money one earns, If it is used for some self-centered purposes, one will not be termed as a successful person in long run.
• Who is remembered and respected forever, Who becomes immortal? One who does good for fellow living beings. One who uses his/her richess and takes efforts for upliftment of society is remembered as a successful person.