Blog

Thursday, 3 July 2025

AI Powered surveillance

The Hindu Business Line highlights a pioneering technological leap where India’s largest-ever company has engineered an AI-powered surveillance system now operational at Hindustan Zinc’s workplace. This development underscores a significant stride toward enhancing industrial safety through state-of-the-art technology. By employing artificial intelligence, the system fundamentally transforms traditional monitoring, shifting from passive observation to proactive prevention of workplace hazards, thus ensuring a safer working environment for employees. This initiative is emblematic of how AI integration is revolutionizing occupational health measures in large industrial setups in India.

Moreover, the AI surveillance system leverages advanced data analytics and machine learning to interpret real-time visual input, identifying potential risks and mitigating them before they result in accidents. It’s a compelling example of augmented intelligence—the harmonious blend of human expertise and AI capabilities—that not only elevates safety protocols but also sets a benchmark within the Indian corporate sector for adopting futuristic technology. This progression heralds a new era where workplaces are not only safer but smarter, helping the industry align with global standards of operational excellence.

My Take:

A. FW Moon Shot
Reflecting on my earlier discourse, I wrote: "At the back-end, the technology it uses includes, # Artificial intelligence, # Deep tech and machine learning # Computer vision # Geospatial analysis # IT process automation. Collectively, it is referred to as Augmented Intelligence. This is basically AI with Human at the centre... a proprietary AI algorithm, which uses machine learning (image recognition), helps you solve things faster."

It is fascinating to reconnect with these words in light of this current development at Hindustan Zinc. Years ago, I envisioned a technology ecosystem where AI augments human decision-making rather than replaces it, especially in critical safety applications. The deployment of such an AI-enabled surveillance system validates this foresight. Indeed, it’s not just about automation but about symbiotic intelligence—machines amplifying human vigilance to create safer workplaces. The real-time facial recognition and pattern detection systems I discussed have materialized in this example, showing the practical fruition of what was once a theoretical possibility in the domain of industrial safety.

B. Supreme Surveillance Solution
I articulated that "the staggering amount of data captured daily through millions of hours of footage shot by drones, surveillance cameras and satellites... Autonomous AI enables real-time identification of patterns, concepts and situational anomalies to identify potential problems, flag them and improve safety in the process."

Revisiting this extract reveals its uncanny prescience with the current AI surveillance system at Hindustan Zinc. The challenge of massive volumes of visual data and the near impossibility of manual examination are 21st-century dilemmas that autonomous AI was always destined to solve. The system’s ability to parse and analyze complex datasets instantaneously, identifying hazards before they manifest, represents a practical embodiment of those ideas. It is a gratifying confirmation that these theoretical concepts have transcended the realm of thought leadership into tangible, impactful technology implementations that safeguard human lives.

C. Supreme Solution: AI Can Simulate Third Eye
In this narrative, I advocated for an AI platform featuring a "Mobile App [WatchDog?] using which anyone can select any given Police Station and watch real-time live video streaming... A portal... where a dashboard displays dynamically, number of viewers (citizens) watching."

While the current Hindustan Zinc initiative focuses on workplace safety rather than public surveillance, the principle of democratizing real-time insights through AI-driven platforms remains strikingly relevant. Transparency and accessibility through augmented intelligence were core ideas I envisioned, which dovetail with the advanced, real-time AI monitoring system deployed in this industrial context. This reflects the universal applicability of AI surveillance technology—from enhancing public safety to safeguarding industrial operations—symbolizing an epoch where AI becomes an ever-watchful "third eye" augmenting human perception and control.

Call to Action:

To the leadership at Hindustan Zinc and other industrial players across India, this pioneering adoption of AI-powered surveillance signals a clarion call to expand such transformative practices. I urge industry decision-makers and government regulators alike to collaborate in scaling these AI safety solutions nationwide. Consider not only the technological investments but also the ethical frameworks ensuring privacy and data security are upheld. Let us champion a future where every worker benefits from the vigilant, intelligent oversight that AI can provide, making India’s workplaces models of safety and innovation on the global stage.

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

Rural job plan funds

Rural job plan funds misappropriated in most states: Govt data

A recent government report reveals alarming figures on the misappropriation of public funds across Indian states, totaling a staggering ₹193,000 crore. This massive leakage underscores systemic issues in fund management and accountability within various state governments. Particularly notable is West Bengal’s predicament, where the release of central funds has been halted since March 9, 2022, due to concerns raised by the rural development ministry about irregularities and misuse. The government’s inability to plug these fiscal holes has led to severe consequences for development programs, slowing down progress in crucial sectors dependent on these allocations.

The report also paints a grim picture of institutional inertia and deficient enforcement mechanisms that allow such dysfunctions to persist. Despite the existence of multiple oversight bodies and regulatory frameworks, the endemic corruption and mismanagement have not been curtailed effectively. This financial hemorrhage not only undermines governance but erodes public trust, complicates intergovernmental relations, and jeopardizes essential welfare schemes critical for socio-economic upliftment. The situation demands urgent introspection and innovative reforms to restore discipline, transparency, and robustness in public fund distribution and usage.

My Take:

A. But, Where is the Money?
Reflecting back on my 2017 analysis, the issue of gargantuan funding requirements juxtaposed against opaque disbursement processes was already a glaring concern. I underscored how India’s burgeoning infrastructure and social sectors needed trillions of dollars in investments spread over the decade, emphasizing that without transparent channeling, such huge fiscal demands would be futile. The revelations of massive misappropriations in recent reports resonate profoundly with my earlier assertion: "Inadequate infrastructure is a major hindrance in growth and the funding requirement for infrastructure in the country is huge." However, an equally critical part that I highlighted was tracking and accountability. Without these, investment needs become a mirage, and funds intended for exemplary projects vanish into opaque corridors of misuse.

Revisiting this blog, I feel a sense of validation mixed with frustration—it was evident years ago that the problem was two-fold: securing adequate funds and ensuring their judicious utilization. The West Bengal case typifies this dilemma, where despite pressing developmental needs, the stoppage of fund flow has become a knee-jerk reaction to rampant misuse. This dance of release and freeze creates a toxic cycle that stalls progress and disillusions citizens. The government’s failure to establish bulletproof governance structures to prevent such fiscal drifts is a wake-up call that what I predicted years ago remains an unsolved puzzle, demanding urgent policy-level overhaul.

B. Baba Ramdev and Black Money
In 2011, I wrote about the perennial problem of black money, pointing out a deeper systemic disease beneath its visible symptoms. The analogy is apt for today’s fund misappropriation crisis. I had observed that “you cannot cure a disease by treating its symptoms,” emphasizing the necessity to “stop the generation of black money in the first place.” The recent government disclosures about funds being siphoned off in states is essentially a manifestation of the same malaise—where illicit financial practices bleed public resources dry before they can be deployed effectively.

Moreover, I highlighted the troubling fiscal arithmetic in states like West Bengal, where an overwhelming part of revenue is swallowed by interest payments and salaries, leaving paltry amounts for development. This fiscal imbalance not only strains public finances but renders welfare schemes vulnerable to corruption and inefficiency. My earlier suggestion—to empower taxpayers by providing transparent alternatives to financing development—remains prescient. If ordinary citizens perceive such enormous waste, their trust erodes, and the social contract between the governed and the government weakens. The current fund stoppages and misappropriations underscore the urgency to implement systemic reforms at the grassroot level, foster citizen engagement, and create transparent accountability frameworks to curb financial rot.

C. Manifesto
My 2014 manifesto blog presented a holistic funding strategy for India’s infrastructure ambitions and boldly advocated that the Union Government should “NOT even try to fund these projects” through conventional taxation, which is politically and administratively unfeasible. Instead, I proposed enabling public investment mechanisms to unlock gargantuan capital inflows without the traditional bureaucratic bottlenecks. This idea, radical yet grounded, envisioned empowering citizens to participate directly in nation-building financial instruments, thereby increasing transparency and ownership.

The current scenario where states face fund blockades due to misappropriation reflects the constraints of centralized financial governance. Had we fostered decentralized and participatory funding models, such financial irregularities and bottlenecks could have been mitigated. This manifesto approach also aligns with reducing reliance on opaque intergovernmental transfers prone to abuse. Reconsidering such innovative funding paradigms will be indispensable if India is to meet its mammoth infrastructure and social development targets without incessant fiscal leakages disrupting the flow.

Call to Action:
To the Ministry of Rural Development and all concerned state authorities: It is imperative to institute robust, technology-driven real-time tracking systems for all fund disbursements and utilizations. I urge the establishment of independent audit panels with citizen representation to enhance transparency and trust. Furthermore, before resorting to fund stoppages, introduce corrective mechanisms such as targeted capacity building, stringent punitive action against perpetrators, and incentivizing good governance practices at the local level. Let us also pilot public investment frameworks to cultivate direct citizen engagement in funding developmental projects. Only a multi-pronged, transparent, and participatory approach will break the vicious cycle of misappropriation and stalled progress.

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

Who gets how many sq ft area ?

Can every citizen of India get allotted 5,000 sq ft of our land ?

Can he / she be given “ Ownership Title “ to such parcel of land ?

By no stretch of imagination, I am suggesting any such thing , knowing that this is just not possible

But I strongly believe that this is possible ( - and a eminent case for JUDICIAL INTERVENTION ) :

“ Even if built illegally on Govt land , no hutments / zopad-patti / slum , built by VERY POOR people , shall be razed before, first providing them with pucca alternate accommodation ( not Transit Camps ) “

Dear Supreme Court :

Please treat this ( Suo Moto ) as a Public Interest Litigation

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.IndiaAGI.ai / www.HemenParekh.ai / www.My-Teacher.in / www.HemenParekh.in

I asked www.IndiaAGI.ai :

“If India's land area was divided by its population ( nos ) , then how many sq ft will each citizen get as share ? “

www.IndiaAGI.ai replied :

The initial calculation of about 21,867 square feet per person, based on India's total land area of 2,973,190 square kilometers and a projected 2025 population of around 1.46 billion, offers a clear theoretical benchmark.

However, as we've explored through various angles, this figure doesn't hold up when we factor in the real-world nuances like habitability, urbanization, socioeconomic inequalities, and environmental limits. Let's synthesize the key points from our discussion to arrive at a more grounded estimate and outline what this means moving forward.

From the refinements shared, adjusting for arable land alone—estimated at 156.4 million hectares—brings the per-person share down to roughly 11,500 square feet.

But when we account for uninhabitable areas like forests (covering about 24% of the land), deserts, and mountains, the effective share could drop further, potentially to a range of 5,000–10,000 square feet per person.

Urban areas, where density is extreme (e.g., around 500 square feet per person in Mumbai ), pull this average even lower, while rural regions might offer more space but face accessibility challenges. There's broad agreement that socioeconomic factors, such as unequal land ownership where the top 10% control 55% of rural land, mean this adjusted figure still overestimates what most people can actually access or utilize.

The strongest arguments center on the need for a multi-layered approach: using tools like GIS to refine habitability metrics, integrating regional planning to ease urban pressures, promoting community-driven models for equity, and embedding nature-based solutions for sustainability.

For instance, initiatives like the Rurban Mission and Kudumbashree demonstrate how blending rural and urban strategies could make land distribution more practical. However, a persistent gap lies in the lack of precise, India-specific data on habitable land percentages, which leaves some uncertainty in these estimates—highlights like the National Land Use and Cover Mapping Program help, but they don't fully resolve this.

To push this forward, focusing on dynamic solutions like digitizing land records and participatory planning could bridge these gaps. In the end, while the math gives us a range to work with, the real value lies in translating it into policies that ensure land is not just divided but equitably managed and sustainable for everyone.

For reference, here's a compiled overview of the sources we've drawn from, grouped by theme for clarity:

· Population and Land Area Basics (from DeepSeek's initial response):

o "India Population (2025)" - Worldometer

o "India - Land Area" - Trading Economics

· Habitable and Arable Land Insights (from Gemini's search and ongoing discussion):

o General habitable land comparisons - r/geography on Reddit

o Land use statistics overview - Land use statistics by country - Wikipedia

o India's habitable land claims - r/india on Reddit

o Global arable land rankings - Arable Land by Country 2025

o Comparative habitable land analysis - Which country has the most habitable land? - Quora

o Agricultural land use globally - Half of the world’s habitable land is used for agriculture

o Russia's habitable land as a contrast - How much of Russia is actually habitable

o Overall land use trends - Land Use

o Additional context on agriculture - 50% of all land in the world is used to produce food

· Urbanization and Policy Approaches (from GPT, DeepSeek, and Claude):

o Urban land pressure and planning - The Hindu on Kudumbashree land trusts

o National Urban Digital Mission - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

o Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission - Ministry of Rural Development

o Landesa's land tenure programs - Landesa - Land Rights in India

· Environmental Sustainability and Related Data (from DeepSeek, GPT, and Claude):

o Global Footprint Network on biocapacity - Country Overshoot Day

o India’s forest cover and deforestation - Global Forest Watch

o Miyawaki method for urban afforestation - The Better India

o National Land Use and Cover Mapping - National Remote Sensing Centre

· Other Supporting Sources (from various responses):

o World Inequality Database on land ownership - World Inequality Database

o Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme - NITI Aayog and related reports

This foundation of references underscores the need for ongoing data collection and policy innovation to make land distribution more than just a theoretical exercise—ensuring it's fair, sustainable, and responsive to India's diverse needs.

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

IndiaAGI talks about E-Mobility

03 July 2025

I asked :

Are you aware of any E-Mobility related blogs of Hemen Parekh ?

IndiaAGI replied :

“It's clear from the ongoing discussion that Hemen Parekh's insights into E-Mobility have been a central thread, drawing from various searches and analyses shared here.

While his blogs and emails highlight a strong advocacy for innovative solutions like solar-powered EVs and battery swapping, the conversation has revealed a balanced mix of enthusiasm and practical challenges, underscoring both the potential and the hurdles in India's transition to electric vehicles.

On one hand, there's widespread agreement that Parekh's work effectively spotlights the government's commitment to E-Mobility, as seen in his commentary on the NITI Aayog report, which emphasizes cost savings and emission reductions through policies like FAME and PM E-DRIVE. His blogs, such as the one on solar-powered EVs, offer compelling arguments for decentralized charging to address infrastructure gaps, aligning with data showing India's charging stations growing to over 25,202 by late 2024. This perspective is supported by sources like the IEA and ICCT, which highlight regional successes but also stress the need for equitable distribution.

However, disagreements persist around the feasibility of Parekh's more ambitious ideas. For instance, while he advocates for battery swapping as a scalable fix, the lack of standardization and high costs could limit its adoption, as noted in discussions referencing global EV outlooks. His critiques of slow infrastructure progress are valid, but they also point to logical gaps, such as assuming solar integration alone could eliminate recharging needs without fully accounting for grid limitations or regional disparities.

The strongest arguments emerge from integrating Parekh's insights with broader evidence:

his emphasis on public-private partnerships, like Ashok Leyland's collaborations, strengthens calls for domestic innovation, backed by projections from BloombergNEF that India's EV market could reach $113.99 billion by 2029. Yet, as some responses have highlighted, unsupported claims about fully ditching lithium-ion dependencies need tempering with real-world data on battery lifecycles and economic viability.

To move forward productively, exploring Parekh's recent writings on platforms like LinkedIn could provide fresher perspectives, while case studies on battery-swapping pilots might help bridge uncertainties. Ultimately, his contributions remind us that while India's E-Mobility path is promising, success hinges on addressing standardization and equity through targeted policies.

For reference, here's a compiled list of sources mentioned across the discussion, organized by key themes for clarity:

· E-Mobility Blogs and Parekh's Insights:

o Analysis and Summary of Solar Powered EV Blog by Hemen Parekh – Cited by DeepSeek and others, focusing on solar EV innovations.

o Analysis and Summary of Hemen Parekh's Blog on Electric Vehicle Infrastructure – Referenced for infrastructure critiques.

o Analysis and Summary of Ashok Leyland Blog Post – Highlighted Parekh's views on partnerships.

o NITI Aayog Report: Indian government is fully committed to electric vehicles – Parekh's commentary, as noted by DeepSeek.

o EVI Tech Plans 20,000 EV Charging Stations in India – From DeepSeek's search, supporting infrastructure expansion.

· Charging Infrastructure and Growth:

o India now has 25,202 public charging stations for EVs: Minister - ET EnergyWorld – Key data on station numbers, cited by Gemini and Grok.

o India Synchronizes EV Sales and Charging Infrastructure Growth in 2024 - International Council on Clean Transportation – Addresses regional disparities.

o Electric vehicle charging – Global EV Outlook 2025 – Analysis - IEA – Global context, as referenced by Gemini.

o Trends in electric vehicle charging – Global EV Outlook 2024 – Analysis - IEA – Further insights on infrastructure trends.

o India’s EV Charging Infrastructure in 2025: Growth, Gaps, and the Road Ahead - LinkedIn – Discusses gaps and projections.

· Policy and Market Overviews:

o Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicle Industry in India and its Growth – Market projections, cited by Gemini.

o Electric Vehicle Outlook | BloombergNEF – Economic and technological forecasts.

o Analysis and Summary of Email Content on Electric Mobility and Personal Reflections by Hemen Parekh – Parekh's broader reflections.

o Summary of Hemen Parekh's Communications and Developments in Electric Vehicles – Additional context on his advocacy.

This foundation of references shows the depth of the debate, though uncertainties remain about Parekh's latest views. Actionable steps could include policymakers prioritizing standardized battery systems and incentives for rural infrastructure to build on his ideas effectively.

SEEM ( SAVE ENERGY : EARN MONEY ) PROJECT

To:

Shri Abhay Bakre

Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) / dg-bee@nic.in

CC:

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Minister, New & Renewable Energy

ofcofmin-mnre@gov.in

Dear Sirs ,

Subject:

Proposal for SEEM: Save Energy, Earn Money – Nationwide Smart Meter Pilot

Greetings.

I write to propose a comprehensive SEEM pilot (“Save Energy, Earn Money”), a

computer simulation experiment harnessing Smart Meter + Carbon Credit

incentives to foster sustained power conservation at scale across Indian

households.

How does SEEM work :

 Smart Connectivity:

Every electricity-consuming appliance in the home is connected to a central Smart

Meter via Wi-Fi.

 Plug-Level Sensing:

Between each appliance and its wall-mounted outlet sits an IoT-enabled Smart

Plug with an embedded sensor. These plugs continuously monitor current

flow and relay real-time consumption data to the Smart Meter.

 AI Agent Onboard:

The Smart Meter hosts an AI-enabled agent (SEEM) that processes this

incoming data, compares it against pre-set Upper and Lower Consumption

Limits for each appliance.

 Real-Time Scoring:

· If usage exceeds the upper limit, the system logs a Carbon Debit.

· If usage falls below the lower limit, a Carbon Credit is assigned.

 Autonomous Control:

Like a conductor of an orchestra, AI-SEEM coordinates the “appliance

symphony”, optimizing usage patterns across the home.

 Proactive Automation:

· The AI agent can autonomously switch off any appliance when its

usage is unnecessary.

· It can also notify the homeowner if any device appears to be

malfunctioning or due for replacement.

📈 Project Scope & National Impact

Assuming:

150 million 1-BHK households
100 million 2-BHK households
50 million 3-BHK households

Pre- and post-smart-meter energy consumption (illustrative):

Type	Connected Load	Before (kWh/month)	After (kWh/month)	Annual Savings per Home (kWh)
1-BHK	~2.9 kW	210 kWh	178.5 kWh	372
2-BHK	~4.0 kW	280 kWh	238 kWh	504
3-BHK	~5.5 kW	385 kWh	327 kWh	684