Gentlemen, Here is your Candidate

A Suburb in Mumbai has shown the way for the future of us Indians.

 

This is the better way to turn on its head the current selection system of nominating candidates, para dropped from above by the State / Central  Command.
If Democracy has to grow and strengthen roots in India, the candidates have to be propelled with adequate force from below by virtue of his work in the ward. 

This will get him the attention of the competing parties who can make their choice by nominating him as their future candidate too if mutually agreed. 

Future performance will decide his growth, but this is the stepping stone from those wanting and willing to serve. 

SBI Writes off Loans

 

While it may be the Need of the Hour for SBI, All signatories to approve every bad loan that is now being written off  should be investigated for Wealth beyond known sources of Income. This methodology could be an easy way of  siphoning money under the get rich quick schemes. Any un-established wealth goes back to the exchequer, and the recipients behind bars.

The Anti Graft Law

While it is a Good idea to shield officials from decisions implemented in Good faith, it must be investigated if there is any exchange of Goodwill in the decision process.
Also while the shield is to protect the official from unwarranted litigation, 
it does not and must not exempt him from declaring his assets which must be within his known sources of income. 

Since he is a Public Servant, any asset outside the income if cannot be satisfactorily explained must be confiscated, and placed in the public exchequer. 
What belongs to the people must go back to the people.

De Monetisation.... Lessons to be learnt

The Nation is Happy at the decision taken to demonetize.  

Unfortunately the entire Nation is equally angry at the poor arrangements made.
The ATM's should have all been Functional from the very moment the declaration was made. Accepting Cash should have been blocked at all ATM's in the country. But delivery of Cash in smaller denominations of 10's - 50's - 100's should never have been stopped.
The failure lay in stopping ATM's from operating. Had the ATM's continued to serve, no one would have been in distress.
Only those with stashed amounts would have to visit the banks to exchange their notes as per norms.
Also at Banks those with less than 10 notes should have been asked to line separately. Absolute chaos at all banks. When I heard Finance speak, I thought they knew what they said. But after witnessing the chaotic conditions throughout the country, I feel otherwise.

OnLine Shopping

Time the Authorities stepped in.
Similar described products are being shown as images, at a lower price. 

This is way to entice a gullible audience and increase sale. I have been cheated a couple of times. To ensure we get exactly what we order, I propose the following to the Authorities
All Products to be Coded. The code describes maximum possible information on the product, in terms of dimension, weight, color, etc. Shoppers can then check the off line stores, and verify their likes before returning to online shopping and making a buy after comparing apples to apples. Price is important but NOT the only consideration. Nobody would like to settle for a sub standard product even if it is cheap.

Online should mention the Codes of every product on display.
Buyers must have the option to make an informed choice

Is Tata on the Downhill track.........

Below is a message sent to Star Bazaar      

Regret the service levels of late.

My last month delivery after chasing your staff (Mrunal) the entire day happened post 11:00 pm

I was standing on the street leading to my house, when the delivery boy arrived from the back entry and cunningly delivered the consignment at my neighbors residence.On speaking to your staff, he claimed delivery being done, I asked to speak to the delivery man. He then unwillingly told me his number

I spoke to the delivery man. I said I had given strict instructions to call me on phone if the door is locked.

He then returned and together we collected the goods from the neighbour post mid night.

Delivery Copy No: 1811 dated 23.9.2016
Bill No: 4070363445

Yesterday I visited the store and did a Purchase

He promised to deliver by Noon today. Now it is 3:30 pm

Bill No 4080382977

Delivery Copy No: 65793

I called your helpline, and it kept repeating that you are busy 

attending to another and I should call again.
I did call twice more, but the message is the same,
and there is No attempt from your side to identify the caller and return the call.

Maybe its time you changed the approach and be more service oriented.

It may not take long to spoil the good name of the Tata's

The Ventilation Block

It is unfortunate that the owners of a plot adjacent to Good Shepherd Church have blocked the natural flow of air by installing panels (see the blue corrugated sheets) in their compound in a way that it aligns with the shade in the church compound. 

A well attended service attracts a congregation of 1000 devotees. 
The entire atmosphere for an hour of worship gets very suffocating.

If only these property owners could be considerate and  on humane grounds lower these corrugated blue panels, so that the ventilation is not blocked is much appreciated.

Let them install it when any serious construction work starts.

The Day & Night safari

Had been to Singapore a decade earlier. The way they have boosted their Tourism efforts, which is today the mainstay of their economy. 

The Night Safari is a point to talk about here
We in Mumbai who are naturally endowed with a rich forest called the SGNP,
can learn a lesson from Singapore on how to manage a precious gift and enhance its beauty.
We too can have our Night safari, Birds enclosure, etc........
The money collected by sale of entry tickets must all be ploughed back to improving the facilities, and making it at par with the best Night Safari's in the world.

Root out the Evil

One of the primary reasons for Corruption at all stages of Governance is that the Corrupt can go Scot Free. They know they can Never be traced as there is No Trace ability.                 

We can start with Digital India.  
The First initiative is to ensure all Apartments in Metros are linked to the
PAN and Aadhar Card
The next is to further the scope by including other Cities, & Towns  
Once all Assets are ownership identified & recorded, then those owning illegal assets will have them pay a hefty fine to the Government Coffers.
Simultaneously have all records digitized and posted on a secure website.
As the file moves ahead, should it come to notice that an irregularity was approved by an officer, he automatically stands demoted.
Two Demotions and his benefits at retirement stand nullified.
Soon you will witness a sea change in Governance and the Country progressing by leaps and bounds.

Aqua Guard Maintenance by Eureka Forbes

When Eureka Forbes (Aqua Guard) needs to send a new technician for Annual Maintenance purposes, 

It is absolutely necessary that the earlier technician arrives with the new staff and introduces him to us.

At regular intervals we have someone who claims to have been sent by Eureka Forbes for maintenance as I have done a 3 year contract with the Company.

I have Not allowed entry to such frauds, as we hear so much of these tricksters committing a petty or serious crime. Eureka sending their staff without intimation is a Criminal offense and this practice must be stopped forthwith.

Last week in my absence my wife allowed a techie to enter the apartment and  do the maintenance. He did attempt but was unable to open the filter unit and informed my wife he would arrive with his senior.

Now the unit lies in wait of the maintenance from the actual technician.

Will Eureka Forbes respond immediately

Road Sense under the CCTV

Now that we have CC TV cameras installed at all Major junctions, we need to draw a yellow line and ensure vehicles do not cross the line.
Those that Cross the line and make it difficult for pedestrians to manoeuvre their paths must be fined, as per the new laws, so that all ensure a correctness in traffic flow.

Also we need to educate the rash drivers whose license is held back for an offense. He must be made to compulsorily attend a One hour correction class, prior to his license being returned. Other than the person in whose name the license is issued, No proxy should be allowed to attend

The Train Theory

He was about 24 years of age when he got selected to his first job. But the process of reaching his destination involved a change of 3 Trains. As he stood on the Platform ready to board the second train, he felt threatened by the huge crowd gathered. No sooner the train halted those in - were pushing themselves out, while those on the platform were desperate to get in. The interesting observation he made was when he noticed those who arrived last were desperately attempting to cajole those on board to squeeze a bit, if only to get a toe hold, but once they got in the same individual would refrain from allowing another to board shouting that the train was full and they need to board the next.   

Sadly this is the situation in all aspects of our life. Mangroves and Forests have been felled to make way for high rises, and once these self-righteous individuals have their dwellings confirmed, they hold placards against the destruction of these very mangroves and forests, as it disturbs their view of the greens.  

Why cannot we be more humane, and help them find alternatives in the neighbourhood, rather than in remote areas where civilisation is yet to be established.

Greening Mumbai

One of the Main reasons why Housing Societies refrain from planting trees is because the costs of trimming full grown trees is prohibitive. 
If the Municipality takes upon itself the onus of trimming trees throughout the year, and for the entire area under its jurisdiction, then we will find all growing trees enthusiastically.
We can by this small change in responsibility, Green Mumbai to 200% of the present in a decade.

The New Pakistan...

For a permanent solution for Peace, the better way is for India to redraw the lines into the current Pakistan beginning with Baluchistan.

Once all the Five Provinces are created as Independent countries, then what remains of Pakistan is the Green Zone shown below. 

 

The Way to Peace.....in kashmir

Issue instructions to all Indians and Indian Companies both in India and Overseas
to have NO Business dealings with Pakistani Individuals and or Companies.
If they do, they be declared Persona Non Grata.   

Overseas Companies who do Business with Pakistan, will have No opportunity to do business with India or Indian Companies.

The Film industry should be told to refrain from inviting their artistes until the correction is achieved. Indians who shout pro Pakistan slogans should be asked to shift base to Pakistan.

Patients with Pakistani Passport should be regretted in our Medical Tourism campaign.

Have our Armed forces only on the Borders of J&K 360 degrees. This includes the state borders with India also so that they cannot sneak in any which way. Bleed the Terrorist.

Encourage dialogue only with those Kashmiris who are Pro India.
Let the State and its internal issues be under the State Police. Encourage local youth to join the Police Force in Large numbers. Police will not be given any weapons, other than lathis.

Encourage homecoming in Kashmir of the forgotten displaced, by identifying their lost abodes, and if destroyed, then rebuild with G O I assistance.

Peace in Kashmir

Trains on Schedule.....

Just a thought of Trains operating in the suburban section

When we approach the Station the current paging / display system tells us that the next slow/fast 10:03 am train is arriving on platform 1/3. The real time now is 10:11 am   

Instead can we have a display of in how many minutes / seconds the next train is expected and on which platform.

This would make it easier for us the Commuters to decide if we are to run between platforms or stay where we are. For this announcement or display is true as it is system generated.

Secondly for a person arriving new to the city of Mumbai, he knows where he needs to travel to. But the indicator says, Train will not halt at.......
So he keeps waiting and waiting. Instead can you start with another indicator by its side, that says, Train will halt at....... This will definitely help. Let the not halt be there as it is, with display in Red. Let the new display be in Green. And after a few years you can discontinue the Red and only advice the Green.

Public Seating Arrangements