A New Manifesto of Urban Development -1

Urban Development principles need to undergo a major overhaul.  

Step 1 : Allow and ensure a formal set of facilities for Salvaging old Cars, Vehicles, White goods and now electronic hardware 
Step 2 : Allow and ensure massive neighbourhood Parking spaces - automated, highrise-as commercial ventures, to decongest the roads. Reduce Pollution thru faster movement on roads. All such high rise structures to be multi-use, shopping, restaurants and entertainment, to ensure social integration. Better living environment thru pedestrian pathways     

Step 3 : Stop issuing new building permits - unless - FAR is 5 and over. Build high rises - again multi-use. Commercial, entertainment, institutional, offices and homes. And green spaces and 

Demonetization, Bans & Prohibitions - 3

Demonetization - 3 

Nobel Laureate Bengt Holmstrom (Economics -2016) made a compelling comment on all kind of bans, when he drew an analogy with Prostitution. 

When asked to comment on the efficacy of demonetization as a tool to fight corruption he said (paraphrased and as reported in ET) " this debate on Demonetization is lime the prostitution debate: making it illegal makes it worse."

 

How do they create and where and what do these criminals use the stash of big bills; this is not thought thru deeply. And Govt with bans make it worse. 

So this is the same as debate about prostitution: you decriminalize it and good outcome is that it comes out in the public. There is then some sort of protection for the workers and regulation of industry. 

Similarly if you want to curb black money you need to make things legal, that result in creation of black money. But if you make it illegal the results will be worse, like less protection for women. 

Are bans and prohibitions consistent with the march of civilizations in 21st century? 

Demonetisation of 86% of our Cash -2

Money is fundamental to all freedoms

By denying access to one's own hard earned money the fundamental rights have been transgressed, and many people left to fend for the themselves, totally helpless, possibly for first time in their life.

Indians from all walks of life have braced themselves to face the loss of time and incomes in the name of "patriotism" "Nationalism" as fed by Modiji.

Many Indians in semi-urban and rural areas are loath to let anyone know that they have any money. 

Now they will be forced to bank their life-long savings. 

And possibly expose themselves to some danger. 

When Army introduced an Insurance scheme for soldiers in mid-seventies, many soldiers did not return from annual leave; few weeks later claims arrived !

The question therefore is will Modi / BJP lose in 2019? 

A prominent commentator believed that a loss of 60 seats is certain and loss of 100 is possible.  

That will be a real pity. 

Why couldn't he have waited for 3 - 6 years and ensured better conditions for the now touted "cash less economy"?     

Demonetization - Connecting the dots - Raghu Ram Rajan' Exit

There was pressure on R3 to reduce interest rate, to boost Growth, subtext being UP elections. It was widely commented then.

Similarly demonetization was discussed with him, in March 2016, as stated by the big-guns of Modi Government.

 But R3 was negative on both counts : "My name is Raghuram Rajan, and I do what I do"

Such independence of thought and action did not go well with the powers that be.  

PM' attack dogs were sent out - with absurd allegations - too absurd to deserve a response.

But R3 was hounded out : the attack dogs were rewarded.

Demonetization, 10 months in the works is and announced on 8th Nov 16, is turning out to be unmitigated disaster for mango men, while the ostensible targets are fine.

But Amit Shah will go into UP and Punjab elections with some advantage. 

Modi ji was doing many good things for the economy. Personally appreciated the Manager in him. 

He has blundered now, and we are in danger of losing him. 

Trump Win

All is well with the World 

Pandits and economists have been worrying about the widening gaps between the rich and the poor : the Gini Coefficient has been signaling the build-up of stress in many countries. A disruption was waiting to happen.

And it did on 9/11 with a bang. 

Donald J Trump, a rank outsider is elected the 45th President of the United States of America, the most prosperous country of this world.  

It is a tribute to our times that Trump very graciously spoke " She congratulated us — it’s about us — on our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very, very hard-fought campaign." 

And Hillary Clinton spoke thus " Last night I congratulated Donald Trump, and offered to work with him on behalf of our country. I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans." 

Hillary wore purple to make a not so subtle call for unity, which echoes sentiments from her speech. "We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought," she said, "But I still believe in America, and I always will."

Barak Obama the inspirational 44th President of United States, who opposed Trump spoke thus "We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country,” 

All is well with the world. 

We in India experienced the same disruption in May 2014. The Experience has been good so far,in many ways.  

I am sure our Indian politicians will also catch up and we will see similar quality and grace in public life. 

And soon. 

Prohibition and Other Vices

Prohibition in Bihar 
Addiction to Liquor is a tragedy but criminalizing its use converts that tragedy into disaster, both for users and society. (paraphrased - Milton Friedman)

Sh Nitish Kumar has made these women very happy by enforcing Prohibition.  Patna High Court has struck down the law, being unconstitutional.  

We must remember that Liquor Prohibition leads to rise of organised crime, spurious liquor and smuggling. And a disaster is waiting to happen. 
One does not wish but many deaths are waiting to happen. Like this one :  

In principle, Prohibitions and bans don't work in a democracy, more so in a loosely administered, raucous one like ours.

The Govt must aim to create decent environment and culture around drinking and "Madhushala" such that the excesses that upset the women are avoided. And the revenue from the Liquor Industry is gainfully utilized for the sorely needed Development Works in the state. 

A way forward :

1)  Allow IMFL shops and bars in Hotels and Restaurants

a) aids tourism, one of the best employment generation industry.

b) The Bihar may put additional levy ensuring 10% higher prices than neighboring states.

c) Set standards and allow anyone who wants to open a bar.

2) Allow locally brewed liquor in licensed shops only :

a) Such liquor shops must have decent hygienic friendly environment for socializing, with eats

b) Socializing and eating together reduces the excesses and guilt associated with drinking liquors.

c) The Local women's groups be involved with the staff of local de-addition centers to moderate the drinking

3) Ensure certification of local liquors - at the brewery level.  

4) Use such revenue to establish certification centers in each district /Tehsil. (Again quality jobs for the young)

5) The Police may be provided with physical resources : vehicles, breathalyzers etc

6) Fund local level meetings of women and shop owners, certification centre employees and "Nashabandi Police" (adds jobs ) Now that GST is being implemented Excise officials dealing with Liquor may be re-trained.

This liquor ecosystem can create 100,000 jobs in tourism, police, certification and regulation.

    And make available a surplus of Rs 4000 Cr+ for the state 

Transforming Delhi - 4 -Connaught Place

The Connaught Place, New Delhi  

One cannot navigate the Connaught Place promenade in a pleasant manner at anytime.

Can we redesign this very important public space so that it lives up to its promise? Can this be done and yet provide for interests of every group, work or pleasure, in an affordable manner. 

To achieve this we need to begin with creating adequate parking space.

Step 1 : Allow parking contractors to install Carousel Parking systems : that allows 10 -12 cars to be parked in the ground space of say 3 cars.

Such installation be placed all along the middle and outer circle and spaces in between blocks.

Step 2 : The Full Inner Circle be made traffic free : Vehicular access to inner circle be completely barred.

Erect small pillars, permitting entry of pedestrians only along the perimeter of inner circle.

 Outcome 1: These installations be manned by trained personnel. No need to "handover car keys" to un-identified attendants. No pushing cars or waiting to get in and out of parking.

(Important : Improved Power Situation should ensure 24/7 power electricity to Carousels)

Provides jobs for trained technicians ( per 10 carousels/shift) and attendants (uniformed, name tagged per 3 carousels /shift).  

 

Outcome 2: The parking charges can be reasonable ( we already pay Rs 60-100 most times)

Electronic ticketing and revenue data - formalized accounts and easy GST collection by Govt at the end of each day.  

Step 3: The Inner promenade to be completely free of squatters / book and artifact sellers.

Develop a row of aesthetically pleasing kiosks around the periphery of road / current parking spaces.

These kiosks will be rented out to pavement sellers @ Rs 100/day.

The area between the Current parking upto the outer line of Central park be developed into a regulated entertainment and relaxation area.

Intersperse these kiosks (3m X3M) with small open air sit outs - owned by food sellers / restaurants -on monthly rents.

A few podiums and amphitheaters to be built for musicians and performers. (To be rented?)

Walkways and gardens.

Many small water bodies can be added with features / sculptures .

Adequate toilet facilites and drinking water kiosks /facilities -ban sale of bottled water in CP area.

Step 4 : Install local sewerage treatment plants -no load on the city's sewerage system

Surely, the Urban Arts commission and Delhi Govt has many gifted architects and designers who can convert this area into a "go to" destination for residents and tourists.     

Learning from Gita

Dev Dutt Pattanaik is a modern rishi : He has explained the philosophy of Gita so well.

1. Exclusion is the root of all adharma : So very pithy.

2. Focus is giving way to perspective, attention (dhyana) to awareness (dharana), as his gaze finally rejects the boundary separating the self from the other, and action from responsibility. This is "darshan"!

In darshan there is no judgement, because there are no boundaries, no rules, no separation of right and wrong, mine and not mine.

When we "Darshan"- understand the others' fear and hunger- the World becomes a "Rangbhumi"

In Judgement - right wrong, mine not mine- we divide the World, it becomes a "rannbhumi"  

Transforming Delhi - Pleasant Living Environment for Citizens - 3

Delhi adds about 5,60,000 vehicles an year now; about 2,00,000 are 4-Wh and the rest 2-Wh.

A recent survey by Center for Science and Environment, at the 9 key entry points to Delhi concluded that 3,07,000 cars and 1,27,000 2-Wh enter Delhi daily. These 9 entry points are assumed to constitutes 70% of all entries thru 124 entry points to Delhi. 

But it has not reported on the number of vehicles going out of Delhi, daily.

Similarly, Prof Dinesh Mohan one of the leading experts on logistics and traffic has pointed out that upto 50% of the vehicles registered in Delhi may not actually be on the road or exist.

So where do we begin? Let us first pick "Salvage or Junking ELVs"   

Almost every street in residential areas has few dead vehicles taking up valuable space. Obviously it is not convenient or cost effective for citizens to dispose them off. 

 

The Govt has spelt out Guidelines for End of Life Vehicles Policy, but follow-up is unknown.  Delhi continues to rely on Mayapuri salvage markets to take care of its 'dead vehicles".

The Proposal

The Govt must invite Private parties to set up Junk Yards - 2 in each of the 9 district of Delhi. The land to be leased to the Project.

     a.  Such  junk yards to have good facilities to cannibalize the vehicles and extract usable parts. It             must have a sales counter for old /used parts.

     b. It must have facilities to crush the skeleton and sell steel /metal scraps to melting furnaces.  

     c. The Parties must be allowed a return on investment of 16%-18% p.a. Parties will earn thru sale        of scrap and used parts. The Business Models for Toll Companies are well established.

 

2. NGT has decided that all vehicles older than 15 years be taken -off the roads / junked.

     a. The Insurance companies cannot issue Cover for such vehicle - must advise the RTO, citizen on      the 14th year renewal.  

     b. Citizens to be advised to handover the ELVs to the Yards.

     c. The Terms of Operation and Authorizations to collect, even pick-up old /junked vehicles be            given to the promoters.

3. The Citizens to be incentivized upon handing over the ELV. Yard issues a receipt, that is en-                  cashable at the dealer on purchase of a new vehicle or any suitable arrangement

4. The Yard electronically advises RTO about receipt of ELV, and cancellation of Registration is done     by RTO.

The Govt will benefit by bringing the business into open, which is then taxable. 

The employment will again be formalized leading to better jobs and working conditions.

Few revenue generating activities like : Furniture making and artifacts out of scrap will also be encouraged 

   

The next element in this series of steps would be Parking Solutions 

 

I AM ALI

In the whole bruised and bloody history of this sport, there had never been such a star. 

Pure skill was much  of it, and the brutal delicacy of the ring -craft. 

Casting off his slave name of Cassius Clay he became Muhammad Ali "Worthy of all praise, most high"

He hoped to be remembered "as a man who never looked down on those who looked upto him" 

Creating Good School Teachers & Schools

The most important recommendation of the TSR Subramaniam Panel is related to School Teachers : Teachers should be appointed to Individual Schools - not in statewide cadre. And by the empowered management committees of the School

Very poor working condition for the teachers in schools in the hinterland inspired the following note: in the hope that some foundation will use the basic ideas.
________________________________________________________________________

A Note on Foundational Education –Reducing Illiteracy

21st Nov 2015

The SSN Foundation was featured in Economic Times of 14^th Nov, 2015. Please read that, along with the Big Picture – Notes from the Black Board – in the IndExp of September, 6^th

And MrJaitley’s cuts on Education and Health Budgets hurt.

The Foundation has, since inception in 1994, created social assets of high quality; two free schools for promising village kids, three public schools, one University, one Engineering college and two museums of arts; Laudable and above par.

Foundation will spend about Rs 1000 Crores a year. The Foundation will, however, take up new initiatives, like reducing illiteracy.

A child must be educated and have a healthy body to navigate successfully thru the journey of life.That level of Funding can createa big enough system to provide “wings” to children in very large numbers, enabling such mobility.

Focus: To create a caring environment in which the teachers and administrators will happily exert themselves to groom a healthy mind in a healthy body.

The Schools (ANY Foundation VidyaMandir) There are 670 Districts and 5564 Tehsils in India. Each Tehsil to have a Primary / Middle/ Secondary School –developed and operated by the Foundation. Schools to have “skills Training Centers”. And a primary dispensary with beds. 5-common diseases have almost standardized protocols that can be administered by para-medics. Each school must have playgrounds, activities centers.  Housing for at least 5 teachers. Transport for Teachers. Hostels for say 50 students. Local architecture. Minimalist design, Furnishing and interiors.

Pedagogy The ANY Foundation will continuously research pedagogical methods and tactics; Scandinavian/ Finnish Pedagogical practices Co-opt good institutions and educationists- Khan Academy; Vivo; Anand Kumar; Accomplished Individuals from various fields to visit each school, once a month. Etc. Explain the Hindu (Indian) Rituals in modern terms. Yoga

The schools must be integrated to the local social, political and admin networks. To obtain support – financial and in kind.

Faculty Teachers must love teaching and be well rounded personalities. Min salary Rs 25k/m, to attract and retain the best in the area. Must love Teaching and be respected in the immediate society. Appropriate Student /Teacher ratios.  Insightful selection processes. A Council, consisting of Teachers and Parents, to manage the school affairs. Use IT in education and admin (Google Loons? And Tablets?)

Organisation(Bottom Up ) Key functionary will be a Cluster Head (A Local) – I/c of 10 Tehsils – To set up 10 schools. 10 Cluster Heads –report to an Area Head (S/he is responsible for 100 Tehsils/schools) 10 Area Heads report to 5 Zonal Heads ( Each responsible for 1000 Schools) This organization to provide the wherewithal to the schools/ faculties. Should have excellent networks within the local/relevant society. The Cluster Head must do everything to ensure The Cluster is financially self-sufficient, say within 3 years. Area and Zonal heads to assist.  ANY Fn HO to lay down and monitor processes and keep units focused on priorities-Children AND Self-sufficiency.

Funding & Finances ANY  funds, say, Rs 100 Cr per Zone in the first year, and as required subsequently.  Zonal heads/ ANY Fnd HO Admin Use this Corpus to generate income for expenses and development. The School System / ANY Fnd HO to hire fund managers. Raise additional funds from Beneficiary communities: MP’s LAD Funds. Local charitable Institutions. (say, a temple can provide mid-day meals) School fees depending on local paying capacities.

Beneficial Adjuncts : Primary Health Care Centre –for school and local community.  Dairying: provides Milk and inputs for Gobar Gas Plant/ Composting. Gardening –Vegetables etc. Each School should be self –sufficient in Energy and water.  (Coordinate with Local institutions to become Centre for useful ideas – Agri, Commerce and Health )

Outcome To establish and operate 5000 schools over 10 years, those areself-sufficient well integrated with the local communities. 300-500,000 young ones pass out, are given “wings” per year, by the ANY Fnd schools; from Leh to Kanyakumari, Kohima to Jaisalmer.

That will be a worthwhile, lasting and fitting legacy of ANY Founders

Gurgaon - 21st Nov 2015

Transform Delhi - A Pleasant Ambience -2

Mankind needs to consume increasing levels of energy to grow. No one can dispute the central role "energy" plays in the growth of Human Civilizations.

Improving efficiency of human effort leads to economic growth which in turn is supposed to make the life of increasing numbers of citizens, shall we say "Pleasant". And the denominator of efficiency is TIME. Lesser time taken to perform an action is efficient, creating space within the 24 hrs for additional activities.

 

May I propose that almost all social infrastructures is created for the purpose of improving efficiency of Human endeavor. Creation of such social infrastructure in a cost –effective manner leads to better output at lower costs. And all politics and indeed corruption is played out in the arena of cost-effective creation of Social Infrastructure

However, throughout history mankind have found ways and means of handling issues impeding its growth. 

Can Delhi do the same in its microcosm? Delhi was a pleasant place to live, work and play in thirty years ago. Can we transform Delhi into a "pleasant city" for its doubled population in, say the next thirty years?

 

Can we find cross-disciplinary solutions that are more than sum of its part?  

Air Pollution in Delhi – 1

There are so many agencies and eminent individuals, working on REDUCING pollution in Delhi. The issue is exercising the minds in Executive, Judiciary, NGOs many specialized agencies.  Even Delhi Police is submitting proposals to the High Court in Delhi !

Vehicular traffic is attacked by almost all, as the most immediate and easiest target to control pollution. And of course there are views, pro and con depending on which side of the political divide one is on, or which part of problem you are focused on, or specialize in.

Besides Vehicular traffic, Gensets, bulldozers & construction equipment (Construction activity itself), Wood burning and Coal burning, let out pollutants, each source having different signature profile of pollutants. Diesel engines produce more NOx than petrol engines since diesel combustion takes place at a higher temp. By the same criteria CNG engines also produce higher NOx.

And the DUST- road and airborne. 

Blind men and the Elephant!

There are a few UNSHAKABLE facts though: 

1. The DUST : Delhi is located in a "dust bowl"being close to a desert. 
2. Delhi registers Half a Million + vehicles every year of which 350,000 are two wheelers. 
3. It is the 2nd largest Conurbation with Population Density of 11,000+ people. 

Land being finite the Population Density will double by 2030.   

4. Delhi is a "flat" urban sprawl, a veritable concrete jungle. DDA colonies and Govt housing were designed with scooter garages. But the residents now have 2 cars. And people fight over parking spaces. 
5. Delhi boasts of 2 Sq Meters green spaces while equally dense conurbations like London and New York 18 times that.  

The miserable environment Delhites currently live in, is not difficult to imagine. 

It is therefore evident that we must target something more fundamental, not just pollution : Creation of an environment in which the Citizens can live and grow in a pleasant manner.  

Modi Sarkar @2 : The Real Challenge

It would be churlish to deny the  excellent work being done for economic and administrative improvement.

One,however, acknowledges this with trepidation, lest such appreciation be taken as endorsement of the social horrors being let loose by the emboldened fringes of the parivar.

Prof J S Bandukwala has posited a very sensible and doable way forward for RSS, i.e to give up it's hatred of Muslims, in the tradition of Nanak and Kabir, Tagore and Gandhi.

Jinnah made the mistake of moving away: why punish ourselves, both Muslims and Hindus? Even Sikhs and Christians get targeted.

This then represents the real challenge for Modi Sarkar. Will Modi Ji be just a good CEO of Indian economy, (like a good gujrati businessman), Or, be remembered alongside Mahatma Gandhi; even Nehru, whom they are trying to downplay, even denigrate?

Recent Inflexion Point on Terrorism

The history of terrorism is as old as humans' willingness to use violence to affect politics.

Thru most of the history groups of dissenting individuals have waged war against an established order, a state, fiefdom, a nation. Such groups were called anarchists, terrorists, traitors etc.

Equally the state attacked dissenting private groups, tribes communities to ensure its writ.

The graphic below eloquently illustrates the accompanying narrative.   

In the 20th century, terrorism continued to be associated with a vast array of anarchist, socialist, fascist and nationalist groups, many of them engaged in 'third world' anti-colonial struggles.

Terrorism began to have a negative connotation when the Americans first experienced violent attacks on themselves abroad, as on the US Embassy in Kenya or on USS Cole during the late 1990s. Finally when 9/11 took place, terrorism was labelled as America’s and by implication the world’s number 1 problem.

This is the first inflexion point : The al-Qaeda changed the meaning and practice of terrorism.

Meghnad Desai made a very interesting observation in a recent article in Indian Express, that once USA suffered it decided to clamp down on the American Irish funding on Sein Finn, which finally helped British to calm its northern borders.

Quote " It was only in late 20th century in Northern Ireland that the terrorist activity became sectarian and directed against civilian population as well. Once the Americans became hostile to terrorism, they withdrew the financial support. After that, peace was easy to achieve in Northern Ireland" Unquote. 

The second Inflexion point

Another interesting change has been, according to Meghnad Desai, that now the terrorist event take place against civilians rather than state or nation so far.

This change in terrorist tactics has given the sinister edge to Islamist terrorism.

Tangentially, if Meghnad Desai's conjecture is fair, Mr Modi's strategic recommendation to identify and cut financing sources of ISIS and other groups must be worked on. 

Gayatri Mantra

Three interpretations : All different ; All correct : all acceptable

Debatable? Some would

Recite it with your own meaning

An artistic rendering : recite it