Who is the Minority

Who is the Minority? Can we Start with those who stand in single digits(ie: below9%): viz Parsis, Christians etc..

While those whom we currently qualify as Minority and use for our political ends should be classified as Second largest Majority. Any Community in excess of 10% should be classified as Second/Third?Fourth largest Majority.
Secondly if the Country accepts the 2 child norm, then children born after the second will be denied of all facilities given to the poor in terms of Ration, Free Education, etc. This will ensure no community drains the natural resources of the country, by not adopting the 2 child norm. 

The way Forward.....

The first is Employment.  If the Citizens can be gainfully employed, it is definitely moving ahead. A law should be legislated that all structures part of a Registered Society, should be painted every Ten years.  This one law will create millions of job opportunities and have a cascading effect. Besides reinforcing structures and ensuring a longer life, avoid loss of human life and property, a cleaner and brighter environment and high employment creation at the lower strata of society, creation of more industries in the steel, Cement, Sand, Stone, paint, scaffolding and related sectors.

 Employment Opportunities One of the main causes of frustration for the educated is to stay unemployed. A regular survey is to be conducted and a forecast annually published of the various opportunities available between years’s five to ten from the year of publication. By this students will have a better idea of the direction they should orient their education to be better employed.

Industry:  My view is that such industries should now be promoted that adds value to agriculture and the other cultures.  Co operatives should be encouraged to form industrial units in close proximity to ensure low input costs and maximum percentage of yield is converted to useful food. Norms should be laid down that no industry can & should operate without adequate environmental controls. Industries should be graded into various categories from A to Z depending on the degree of causing emissions dangerous or otherwise. Based on this categorization audit should be conducted ranging from monthly for Z category to once every 3 years for A category. We should gradually prohibit the export of all ore's and only value added fully finished product exports should be permitted. Also Trade Boards should be created for all commodities. Representatives of that Industry along with nominated members of the Government should govern these Boards.

  

Tourism: The thrust should only be on preserving our heritage. Internal tourism should be encouraged through appropriate infrastructure. If visitors from abroad arrive or not it should not affect the industry.

Noise Pollution: A law must be legislated that no Institution or place of worship will have speakers fitted in a way that sound is transmitted beyond the four walls of the premise. This will curb all activities that are cause of irritation. Prayer has to be a very private affair.

Money Trail: When Funds are allocated for any Project, this information should be made available on a Central Government Information website known to all. As the funds get disbursed down the line, the allocation tree should be indicated. This one act of information and transparency will ensure that no bribes are paid and weed out corruption. This practice should also be made compulsory to all States.  

Education:  The only way is to permit more organizations to come forward to set up educational Institutions. If they match the criteria, they must be granted permission to function. Educating the masses will ensure a better future for all. Schools must be graded based on set norms. These are to be published annually. This will cause all to strive for excellence.

Info Centre: To make the country a safe haven we should encourage all residents to capture any suspicious activity on their Hand Phones, all of which have a Camera these days. Should their images lead to getting hold of the Terrorist, they get appropriately rewarded. This one facility will be cheaper than every other measure we undertake, where all citizens act as informers.

National Integration: Another of my favourite theme is National Integration in its truest sense. We all know that inspite of 66 years of independence we cannot think of ourselves as one Nation. One good way of integrating the population and causing cross-cultural relationship is by promulgating a law that requires 60% of all central government positions to be recruited from outside the state. These are to be represented in a fair proportion giving weightage to merit where needed. This representation is to be executed at every centre of Central government employment individually & not arrive at a collective figure for a state. This one act will cause a cross-cultural flow and appreciation, relegating divisive forces to the background.

Tree Plantation: We must now embark on a massive plantation of fruit bearing trees along the roads and streets of the country. Trees like Chickoo, Jambool (white & purple) Mango, Custard apple, Jackfruit, etc can be skilfully planted. This will also solve to a large extent the shortages of such fruits. We must achieve a maximum distance of 10 feet between any two trees anywhere in the State.   

Hawking On a given stretch of a street / road, hawking should be permitted only one side of the stretch and the other footpath left free for pedestrians. Those wanting to buy goods will need to walk the vending stretch. This single measure will ensure quick flow of those who do not wish to get caught in the melee’. It is also my recommendation to call for designs from architects on standardisation and simplification of stall designs and after due consideration, ensure that all stalls on a given stretch confirm to these specifications. The main point for consideration being aesthetics, and standard areas. This stall area is determined by calculating the earnings possible by sale of product vs. the earnings needed for the hawker to maintain a family of four. Provision should also be made to ensure the allotted member alone stands at the stall at the appointed hour for dispensing of goods. His details and photograph should be prominently displayed. No person other than the allotted should be permitted to sell the wares. This will prevent stall capturing. In allotting stalls priority should be given to a single member in a family. Only after all unemployed applicants are covered should the second member be given opportunity.

Exports: A law should be enacted that prevents exports of goods in any form other than a finished product. Why should we export low value Ore’s or Raw materials. We should go up the value chain and create infrastructure and employment within the country itself. If any Organisation wishes to procure Raw Materials/ Ore’s then they should be encouraged to set-up a plant within the country. 

BMC must Work in Tandem with Mumbai Police

Hawking on the Streets... a solution

1. In making Mumbai, a better place to live in, have a concerted drive in a given area. Once the area is cleared, get the local politicians, the municipal officers, the local residents, the local police and others involved in a handing over ceremony. It is now for them to maintain the place. Here Hawkers are cleared in the morning and by afternoon it is business as usual.

2. Also make it a rule that Hawking is possible only from Standard Mobile Carts. No one is permitted to lay their wares on the road or build stalls. Also hawking is permitted only on one side of the road. The other path is free for pedestrians.

3. Build Markets in areas where the population cross a benchmark. Shift the Hawkers to the Market place on a first come basis. Make rates for Hawking on the streets double that you charge for similar space in the market.

4. Issue instructions to demolish however old, whether earlier approved or not, all extensions made to buildings on the ground floor. No shop on the ground floor should be permitted to display wares beyond the plinth area.All these extensions are land grabbing by muscle power. No society member likes to get involved for threat of life.

5. Give permissions for all buildings in Mumbai to have their ground floors if approved by their society to turn commercial. This will cause more avenues for wealth generation(for the individual & state), alternatives for the unemployed, and lesser hawking on the streets. 

6. A team of designers,architects,etc to design carts of dimension similar to existing carts.Licence Hawkers alone permitted to stand besides cart.

7. No other structures permitted to sell wares.

8. This stall area is determined by calculating the earnings possible by sale of product vs. the earnings needed for the hawker to maintain a family of four. Provision should also be made to ensure the allotted member alone stands at the stall at the appointed hour for dispensing of goods. His details and photograph should be prominently displayed. No person other than the allotted should be permitted to sell the wares. This will prevent stall capturing. In allotting stalls priority should be given to a single member in a family. Only after all unemployed applicants are covered should the second member be given opportunity.

9. We need to redefine the role of the Police. I think it is a better idea  for the Police to ensure the area under their control is free of Hawkers, Encroachments and Roadside dwellers.

10. There is an increasing tendency of shops and establishments to encroach upon the Public space or pedestrian footpaths, by muscle power or otherwise. A law should be introduced that prevent any establishment or eatery from expanding beyond the original approved building plan and built up area. Permissions if granted by any authority earlier should all be cancelled. Thus all commercial establishments will have to procure additional space for expanding their activities, or give rise to opportunities for new entrants to venture into business. This will cause greater creation and better distribution of wealth. 

11. Even storage outside the shop limits should be banned. This law will create a greater demand of built space and increase the revenue collections. This law should also be made applicable on those who have expanded in their residential Society space. These expansions should be completely cleared and no permission given. 

12. Permission should be given to residents of Housing Societies to convert their apartments for any business activity, which is in the accepted lists of trade acknowledged and accepted by the society. This will create more opportunities for creation of wealth, and ensure that prices are within control through a healthy competition. Licences to be issued to all those engaged in commercial activity. 

13. Another major cause of encroachment is for slumlords to capture spots and erect places of worship. A law should be legislated that for a place of worship to be recognised as one, it is necessary that the spot be earmarked and designated as such. We find suddenly in a slum a spot which was a hutment suddenly emerging as a Temple or Masjid. This causes resentment and disturbance in the neighbourhood. The Law should treat such places as illegal and have them demolished.

14. Can we have a Law that makes it the responsibility of the local police under whose jurisdiction this street happens to ensure no one arrives from nowhere, and makes the street their home. They just need to be sent to the nearest beggar’s home. The men & women have to be skilled during their stay at the home based on their inclinations, and converted to useful members of society. Once skilled they have to be asked to return to their place of birth/origin and begin life anew. Else the City will forever be an overgrown slum, inviting more children to the dark.

Housing for All

The measure of good governance is when we are able to give a comfortable life to our citizens. The best way to make all feel proud as Indians is to improve their standard of living. The very basic being affordable shelter.

If we enact a law that enables all tax paying citizens who do not have a house of their own, to avail of low interest loan for housing. The interest should be around 6% only.

The applicant of the loan should have been a Tax payer for the preceding 20 years.

Based on the response, the period can be reduced to 15 yrs and later 10 years.

Also the house cannot change hands, be sold or mortgaged for 10 years after getting possession.

The loan should be limited to flats with a carpet area not exceeding 555 square feet.

This one act will not only create a positive impetus to growth, but be a harbinger to better economy, as all will strive to be Honest Tax paying citizens to avail of this facility.

The other outcome will be in creating job opportunities in many sectors.All documents should be well scrutinized to ensure the applicant satisfies all criteria. A website should be dedicated to the cause, with names of those who have been shortlisted and inviting objections if any from others who may be aware of the true facts.This one act will create a huge demand in housing, which will have a ripple effect on Steel, Cement, Sand,Stone, and other Building Materials consumption.

The economy will boom, and what is reduced in loans, will be multiplied by increases in Tax collections. For a Better India as keeping the economy growing positively with inclusive growth.

What is the Anger all about.....

What is the Anger all about....

1. Inflation, over which you Never seemed to have Control

2. Corruption, it was frustrating to see your Ministers rob the Country, and Smile for the Camera, while we the honest citizens suffered endlessly.

3. Can we have all Assets Frozen and Credited to the Central Exchequer. It is for the Corrupt Officials, be they Ministers, Bureaucrats,Police or others holding public office as Public servants to declare what is Truly theirs by showing how they earned this amount. What cannot be proved is not theirs, and Never was.

Trains Ahead.....

We need to change the focus of the Trains running on both Western and Central Railway.
Currently the trains are all scheduled with Churchgate / CST as focus.

In the 1960’s it was common for the working class to travel South towards these work centres at dawn and return home at dusk. People lived in the Northern areas of the city and worked in the Southern areas.

Gradually this changed and by the turn of the Century, the entire city had work centres and residences all over. In view of this it is imperative that Rail Time Table Planners evolve, rework their timings and focus to ease the hardships of travel.
The trains have to be Andheri centric as Andheri is at equidistance from both Churchgate and Virar. If all slow trains originate and terminate from Andheri most of the hardships will be resolved.

Just need to redesign Platform No 2 to ensure it has a common discharge. Slow Train from Churchgate arrives at 2A and slow train from Virar arrives at 2B. Passengers arriving from Churchgate/Virar at Andheri and wanting to travel further alights and boards with a common platform between both trains. No bridges to climb. Similar at Kurla for CST – Thane trains.

Also we need to increase the frequencies of Trains on Western Railway. Currently it cannot be done because of the cross-overs of tracks near final destination.
The better way is to underground the line 1 from Marine Lines and proceed along the sea coast to make a big loop that can do a turn around under the Maidans and surface again at Marine Lines as Line 2. Churchgate station will be underground. This one low cost act will save us Millions. 

Having a Elevated Rail line is a Folly and a National waste of Resources.

Only need to increase the rakes so that time between two consecutive locals can be reduced from 180 secs to 120 secs and later 60 secs.
This is for the slow line. Train follows train.  

Time to Realise

Am Not Sure how Mamta is doing in West Bengal. Inserting Paid Advertisements is surely NOT the way.

She just needs to Act in a way which benefits the largest number of Citizens. This will help retain the status and position as CM of the State.

Who should Stand for Elections

Citizens who wish to represent the Local Body either in Municipality or Gram Panchayats should have served in Public Service in an NGO for a Social Cause for minimum 5yrs. They should have a track record of having done good work to qualify for these elections. Once elected and having served a Term, he can qualify  for being elected as MLA. having completed another Term as MLA he qualifies to stand for election as an MP. 

Age should be a criteria and once he has crossed 60 yrs he can NO longer stand for a Public Post. The Retirement Age that is applicable to other Job profiles should be applicable here also.

Wrong Diagnosis

It is in this analysis that the Congress Party has erred. There was No spectacular Campaign by the BJP.
The issue was also not that of Rahul / Priyanka leading the party.

The issue was of the Party being silent to the misdemeanors of the Ministers. Inflation was at an All time High. Onions at Rs 80/- per kg was the norm for a few weeks. Every time the Hon Agricultural Minister spoke the prices hit the ceiling. Corruption reeked within the Government. very day brought in NEWS of a Fresh Scam.
We thought the last Scam and Pilfered Values were High until Fresh figures stared at us. Enough is Enough.
The country spoke. Decisively. No more of this Corrupt Coterie. You had an Opportunity to serve. You failed us. That is the Real Issue.

The Rajya Sabha

The Rajya Sabha should consist only of members representative from the Various Registered Bodies in he Country.
Members should be selected from the various segments of Society viz:  Medical, Legal, Engineering, Workers Trade Unions, Chambers of Commerce, Builders Lobby, Artists, Painters, Writers, Movies etc etc.

There should be a selection procedure, where by quotas are set for each profession etc.
If any person loses an election, it would be incorrect to let him be accommodated through the Rajya Sabha route as a Political handout.

Representative of People

Any person who seeks to serve as an elected member of a legislative body in a given region or area, can stand for election to represent the region or area. 

Once elected, he is required to represent his constituency and ensure their aspirations are met. 

He must be an embodiment of their lifestyle, and his earning shall be reflective of the average wage of his constituency. 

An Improvement in the standard of living of his constituency by default improves his life style. 

His medical treatment also has to be similar to what his constituents undergo. 

He uses the same infrastructure, and is accorded the same treatment as ordinary citizens in his constituency.

His Wealth must also be investigated to ensure there is No ill gotten Wealth by virtue of his Office.

This would be True Representation of the People as envisaged by our Founding Fathers.

A Vote that Counts

In our current parliamentary system, our representatives are elected by the principle of who reaches the post first. Thus if 5 Candidates are in the fray, each garners 20% votes and are equal winners. However, If one candidate can get 21% then he gets declared winner, even though he does not represent the 79% who have rejected him. The better way to correct this anomaly and make every vote count in parliamentary elections are to vote for the Party Manifesto. Thus if a Party gets 10% of the votes polled, he gets represented by 10% of Parliament's strength. The only criteria being all parties must have internal free and fair election. No candidate can hold the same position within the party for more than two terms.
The party must put up their list of candidates who will represent them in parliament in descending order. All elections within the party will be conducted by election commission. Once invited the ruling party should work within the manifesto only and not make rules that were not mentioned in the manifesto prior to elections. This will ensure we get our elected representatives to work for us rather than the other way round.

Traffic Solutions........

Can the Traffic Authorities do away with all the speed breakers in the city,
and get to those drivers who violate Traffic Rules & Discipline.
Penalty should not be only a monetary fine, but also compulsory  attend a Road Sense Class, which must extend beyond an hour.
Presently these rash delinquents, think they can get away with a monetary fine.
We need to hurt them where it hurts most. That is on their time.
If after attending two class, his behaviour does not improve, then his licence gets revoked.
This re vocal is displayed on a website, so that before fresh issuance, the concerned officer can check if he is a banned driver or not. This act will compel all drivers to be responsible citizens.
We who travel by the public transport today, have to bear the violent motions caused by these speed bumps, as these are Weapons of Mass Discomfort.

Fines for crossing the zebra line when the signal turns Red should be Rs 1000/- per act. 
For Driving across and crossing the Red signal should be Rs 10,000/- per act, for Dangerous/Drunken driving should be Rs 25,000/- per act with forfeit of Licence for 12 months. 
This will ensure our rides in public transport is more comfortable, 
rather than a back breaker because of these rash drivers.

All Vehicles should have their Owners Mobile Numbers registered with the R.T.O.
Policemen should cease to Tow Vehicles. Instead they should send an SMS to the RTO Control Room. The Control Room in turn sends an SMS to the Vehicle Owner asking him to clear the vehicle immediately. The clock starts. The minute the Vehicle Owner or its driver approaches to clear the vehicle he meets the Policeman. The Policemen asks the Vehicle Owner or Driver to SMS the Control Room, and in turn gets the Fine amount displayed on his Mobile. He either pays the amount and collects receipt, or has it debited to his account, which gets paid ASAP.
The Policeman informs the RTO the time when the Vehicle has cleared the spot.
This will avoid all corruption, and ensure Road Discipline.
Currently we have many vehicles that park haphazard because of the presence of  Malls and Convenience Stores. If this way to fine the vehicles is adopted, soon we will have a smooth travel along all City Roads.

Tree Plantation......

We must now embark on a massive plantation of fruit bearing trees along the roads and streets of the country. Trees like Chickoo, Jambool (white & purple) Mango, Custard apple, Jackfruit, etc can be skilfully planted. This will also solve to a large extent the shortages of such fruits. The so planted trees can be given to a caretaker who bids for it. He pays the state and markets the produce. This one act will cause a winning situation . We must achieve a maximum distance of 10 feet between any two trees anywhere in the State.
Another reason why Housing Societies hesitate to plant trees is because we discourage them instead of encouraging. Let them plant as many trees as they like.
It is the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation to undertake Tree Trimming when called for.
Currently the Trimming Costs being prohibitive,and borne by the society, they would rather uproot an existing Tree than plant a New one.

Trapped in Corruption

Once a Public Servant, no matter his standing in Society, be he a Politician or a Policeman is caught accepting a Bribe, all his Wealth should be seized. He has to prove these are his Legitimate earnings within 90 days failing which he forfeits all this wealth, be it Real Estate, Immovable or Movable Assets. This all goes to the National Exchequer for the larger benefit of Society. A couple of seizures, and all Corruption will auto shut down..

Right to Service...

Adequate Publicity should be given to this Little known Act. Police Stations, All Government and Municipal Offices, Transport offices viz: BEST; Railway etc should have a Statement installed at their entrance that declares the time frame to resolve. 

Traffic Woes at Sion.....

At regular intervals one can read reports and complaints of Vehicles being parked wrongly.

 

The better way to bring to a halt all these inconveniences is to declare all streets up to 3 lanes to be Non Parking  at all times.This one act will ensure No Vehicles stay beyond a max. time limit of 2 minutes if needed to disembark a passenger/member of the vehicle.

All Vehicles should have their Owners Mobile Numbers registered with the R.T.O.
Policemen should cease to Tow Vehicles. Instead they should patrol a spot and send an SMS to the RTO Control Room. The Control Room in turn sends an SMS to the Vehicle Owner asking him to clear the vehicle immediately. The clock starts. The minute the Vehicle Owner or its driver approaches to clear the vehicle he meets the Policeman. The Policemen asks the Vehicle Owner or Driver to SMS the Control Room, and in turn gets the Fine amount displayed on the Vehicle owners Mobile. He either pays the amount and collects receipt on the spot, or has it debited to his account, which gets paid ASAP.The Policeman informs the RTO control room the time when the Vehicle has cleared the spot.

This will avoid all corruption, and ensure Road Discipline.

Currently we have many vehicles that park haphazard on Four Bungalow Lane because of the presence of a road side market. The two lane street thus gets converted to a one lane street, causing untold hardship for all.
If this way to fine the vehicles is adopted, soon we will have a smooth travel anywhere in the city.

The Campa Cola Case.........Solved

The Better way to resolve this and similar issues is to Penalise the Builder, the Municipal Officers who gave
approvals, and all other Authorities who connived in the Scam, by having their assets seized. Then let the victim be compensated, and the illegal structures be demolished. This is the Best way to ensure such malafide acts never recur.