TEMPLE TREASURES

7 July 2011

TEMPLE TREASURES

Times of India [ July 05,2011 ] reports following re: wealth of various temples of India:

·     Padmanabha Swamy  …Rs. 100,000 crores ($ 25 billion)

·     Tirupati  ……………………Rs. 42,000  crores  ($ 10 billion)

·     Puri Emar Math  ……………Rs.      90 crores

·     Shirdi Sai Baba Temple ………Rs.     32 crores

·     Siddhi Vinayak Temple  ………Rs.   125 crores

·     Vaishnodevi Shrine  ……………Rs.   500 crore/yr  (income)

·     Guruvayoor Temple  …………….Rs.    125 crores

·     Satya Sai Trust ………Rs.   40,000  crores ($10 billion)

Then, Times of India lists a no of “ Social Benefits “ which can be effected with this “ Wealth “.

No doubt, putting this wealth to productive uses can,

·     build a lot of badly needed infrastructure

·     give jobs to millions of unemployed

·     lift millions above the “ Poverty Line “ ( Rs 20 / day )

·     save the lives of 3 million children dieing of starvation annually

In fact, some temple trusts ( Satya Sai Baba / Tirupati Devsthanam etc ), have been, regularly putting their income to such socially beneficial uses.

We must encourage all temple trusts to deploy their wealth for the educational and medical help of the poor.

We must not be tempted to set up some Central Body to take over and (mis) manage the temple treasures !

As far as “ Ancient / Antique / Heritage “ items are concerned ( Statues / Coins / Artifacts etc ), let these be displayed in museums, next to each temple.

With regards

HEMEN  PAREKH

NO ONE’S MONOPOLY !

7 July 2011

NO ONE’S MONOPOLY !

Crimes [ whether against women or men or children ], must be deplored , irrespective of where / when they take place. They are indicative of a breakdown of law and order situation.

But obviously, in present day India, crimes against women are not a monopoly of any particular state, as can be seen from the following statistics reported in DNA ( mid June, 2011 ) :

Ø      Crimes against women per 100,000

• Andhra Pradesh  ……………………..  30.7

• Rajasthan   ………………………………   26.2

• Delhi  ……………………………………….  23.9

• Madhya Pradesh  …………………….. 22.3

• Haryana  ………………………………….  21.9

• Gujarat  …………………………………..  13.9

• Maharashtra  ……………………………  13.8

And what is the response of the politicians to this sad state of affairs ?

Play a blame game. Play to the galleries. Blame the state government if it is managed by an opposition party.

Politicians who live in glass houses, should not throw stones at others !

With regards

HEMEN  PAREKH

In India, cash is the King !

DNA ( June 27,2011 ) reports :

Ø      No of Rs 500 + Rs 1000 notes in circulation in India

        >          17.1 % by volume

        >         76.5 % by value

And, most likely no more than 1 % by frequency of circulation !

Ø   Highest denomination bank notes in

       USA ..         100  Dollar ( 100 times smallest note )

           UK  .             50  Pound ( 50 times smallest note )

           India .        1000  Rupees ( 1000 times smallest note )

USA / UK have avoided higher denomination notes, only because they facilitate corruption , money laundering etc.

Monetary authorities in USA / UK have found a link between high value bank notes and clandestine dealings.

No wonder our politicians are reluctant to de-monetize ! 1000 rupee notes are so easy to carry / store / give / receive – even brandish bundles in parliament !

De-monetization is certainly not the only answer to the problem of black money in India, but it could well be a part of the solution.

With regards

hemen  parekh

NSSO WORKFORCE SURVEY – INDIA

2 July 2011

NSSO  WORKFORCE  SURVEY – INDIA

66^th Round of survey by National Sample Survey Office revealed following :

·     “ Unemployment “  related  findings

#  Self Employed ……………………….  51 % of total workforce

#  Regular Wage Earners  ………….  15.5 %      “

#  Casual  Labors ……………………….  33.5 %      “

·     “ Ave. Daily Wages “ related findings

#  In urban areas ………………………….. Rs. 365

#  In rural areas  …………………………..  Rs. 232

#  For male workers  …………………….. Rs. 249

#  For female workers  ………………….  Rs. 156

·     “ Percentage of workers earning regular wages “

#  Amongst urban workforce …………. 41.4 %

#  Amongst  rural workforce  ………..    7.3 %

·     Per Day wage rates for Casual Labor

#  In urban areas ……………………………. Rs. 122

#  In rural  areas ………………………………Rs. 93

·     Gender-wise Daily Wages for Casual Labor

In Rural Areas

·       Male Workers  /  Female Workers .. Rs.102 / Rs 69

          In Urban Areas

·       Male Workers / Female Workers ……Rs 132 / Rs. 77

Apparently, Indian Nation is deeply divided along,

·     Male  /  Female  divide

·     Urban  /  Rural   divide

·     Rich  /  Poor  divide

·     Powerful  /  Powerless  divide

·     Self Employed  /  Unemployed  divide

Can you think of some more ?

[ Source : Economic Times / June 25, 2011 ]

With regards

HEMEN  PAREKH

Dangerous Places to live in

Institute for Economics and Peace, jointly with Economic Intelligence Unit ( Research wing of The Economist magazine ),have computed Global Peace Index-2011 ( GPI ) for countries.

Here is how some of the countries ranked :

Ø  Iceland  ………………  #   1     ( the best place to live )

Ø  China    ……………..   #   80

Ø  India     ……………….  #  135

Ø  Pakistan  ……………….#  146

Ø  Somalia   ………………#   153  ( the worst place to live )

Reason ?

Not wars between countries but by conflict between citizens and their governments.

Result  ?

Violence cost the global economy over $ 8 trillion in 2010.

In 2011 ranking, India’s rank fell by 7 places.

We still have 18 more places to fall, to take away the crown from Somalia ! Well within reach !

With regards

Hemen  Parekh

ON 7TH DAY OF FAST

Since time is running out on 7th day of Anna's fast, I suggest following :

·        We must bring UPA Govt into minority

·        To stage dharna outside the homes of  UPA MPs is not enough

·        People must stage indefinite fasting in front of the homes of these MPs ( of course, peacefully ) till they resigns their parliamentary seats

·        Collect all these resignations and handover to Annaji on 30th Aug in a million strong procession ( absolutely peaceful ). For all that he has done for us – and continues to do – this is the least we can do

·        At the moment, this is your only " Right to Recall " your MPs. Exercise it.

·        To find your MP, click

 http://india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=23

with regards

HEMEN  PAREKH

Irrational Expectations ?

In early 50s, Shri ShriPrakash was the governor of Maharashtra.

At a short notice, he had to leave for his hometown. Being a true Gandhian, he did not want to use the government machinery for a private visit. So he sent a friend to Bombay Central Railway station to buy the train tickets.

Friend returned with the tickets but only after bribing the railway clerk.

Narrating this incidence to Pundit Nehru, ShriPrakash said,

“ As a Gandhian, I promise I will not take a bribe. But don’t ask me not to give a bribe ! “

When a service that is legally / justifiably due but gets denied, what

can ordinary / non-Gandhian people do ?

This is why millions are irrationally looking up to Lokpal Bill as some kind of panacea !

Drafting Committee has an unenviable task before it.

With regards

hemen  parekh