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"?