Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Sunday, 27 November 2016

Let us Leapfrog the World !



Economic Times ( 24 Nov 2016 ) carries following news reports :

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The government has told vehicle makers to provide e-payment enabled digital identifiers in all new vehicles to facilitate quick payment of toll taxes as part of its drive towards a cashless economy. 


The road ministry is advising vehicle manufacturers that they must provide radio-frequency identification (RFID) facility in all new vehicles, allowing vehicles to cross toll booths without stopping, economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das said on Wednesday. “This will improve the functioning of toll plaza, digital payments,” he said.


Outlining more measures to encourage shift to a cashless economy, Das said government organizations, public sector companies and government authorities have been advised to use only digital payment methods such as internet banking, unified payment interface, cards, and Aadhaar-enabled payment systems to make payments to all stakeholders and their employees. 


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Passenger and commercial vehicles sold since October 2013 are equipped with digital identity tags to enable automatic transactions at toll plazas, several industry executives told ET on Wednesday even as the government told them to provide such chips in all new vehicles. 


All new passenger as well as commercial vehicles produced already have the digital identity chip which has been manufactured as per the standards specified by the government in its notification in April 2013. But there is no service agency to facilitate cashless transactions at toll plazas,” said a senior industry executive who did not wish to be identified. 


We have manufactured digital tags as specified by the government but service agencies do not want to use it,” a second industry executive said. “
We can make changes to the tags also if required. But measures have to be put in place to utilize these tags,” the person said. 

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Dear Shri Gadkariji :

This goes to show that ,

*  Our vehicle manufacturers are capable of catching up with the vehicle manufacturers anywhere in the World , in the matter of RFID sensing of the vehicles ,

*  They are equally capable of innovations that will enable India to leapfrog the rest of the World , in matter of  safe / efficient / clean / cheap , " Transportation Technology "


I urge you , once again , to consider my following suggestion ( sent to you earlier )


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Monday, 22 August 2016

HORN OK ?


No doubt , you have seen these words painted behind many trucks in India

But Transport Minister , Shri Gadkari says : HORN  NOT  OK  !

Times of India ( 17 Aug 2916 ) carries a news report titled :

"  Gadkari wants to silence horns "



It goes on to quote Shri Gadkari :

"  Honking and using pressure horns is a big menace on our roads. Only rules and regulations can't address this problem . We need a change in behavior and mindset of drivers "



Last week Shri Gadkari  introduced a bill which will impose on the erring ( honking ) drivers , a fine of Rs 1,000/-

A repeat offence will attract a penalty of Rs 2,000/-



Shri Gadkari added :

" The central law will create an enabling framework for the enforcement agencies to use these provisions for reining in violations 

The enforcement agencies must also do their job with sincerity and must not use these provisions for making a quick buck "



Apparently Shri Gadkari is all too aware how this law will get abused !


And prey , in a traffic of hundreds of vehicles passing any road-crossing every minute , how will the policeman on duty decide " WHO honked ? "


Will not , on-the-road arguments / disputes ( Where is the proof that I honked ? ) end up in " It is your word against mine " ? And bring the traffic to a halt ?



Shri Gadkari thought of automatic toll plazas , where each passing car would be embedded with an RFID chip

Even as the car slows down just slightly for CCTV cameras to read the Car Number and transmit it to a Central Server , the toll amount gets deducted automatically from the prepaid RFID chip !

No need for a human attendant to collect payment , no waiting in a queue , no arguments !



Why can he not just mandate all car / truck manufacturers to pre-install a RFID based SCADA chip in their vehicles which will flash the car number of the honking car, on the Mobile Phone of the nearest policeman ?

No arguments ! 

And instant / automatic penalty deduction thru Mobile Wallet details , embedded in that SCADA chip !

( Some of these data will need to be entered into the chip by the Vehicle Dealer at the time of sale )




But then nothing stops Shri Gadkari to tell the vehicle manufacturers :


"  What we need is a TRANSPORT REVOLUTION

   To bring that about , each SCADA chip must get hard-coded with full details about that vehicle , such as :

   *  Type of Engine ( Petrol / Diesel / Electric etc ) with CC / KW capacity and Engine Number

   *  Make / Model / Year of manufacture / Sitting Capacity etc

   *  Anything else that you ( the Manufacturers ) can think up of , which will ultimately lead to sharing of 
      AUTONOMOUS CARS / BIKES  and help reduce individual/personal ownership. for a vastly underutilized asset " 



   This will enable the Transport Ministry to " Acquire " a variety of Data , to keep track of the following dynamically, 


      *  No of vehicles on our roads at any time / any place ( Traffic Density ) and their direction / velocity for better
       traffic control . Delivered through a Mobile App ( called, DIVERT ? ), this will help motorists in commuting


   *  Amount of Emission Gases being injected into the atmosphere by all the vehicles and each vehicle .

      Every time any vehicle fails to meet BHARAT VI emission standard , its Vehicle No will flash on the Mobile
     Screen of the nearest Policeman , who will pull it aside and immobilize it till set right !


   *  Which vehicle got involved in an accident , when , how , where and may be , even " why " !


   *  Which vehicle honked when / where 


I am sure , readers will come up with a list of other benefits

   
Much easier than trying to change ,


#    Mindsets of drivers

#    Temptation of trying to make a quick buck


For a change , instead of following, can we think of leading the World ?

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27  Nov  2016

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs





Friday, 25 November 2016

Thank You , Narendrabhai !



Newspapers this morning report that, on Tuesday ( 29th Nov ) , government will introduce in Lok Sabha , an amendment to Income Tax Act


As per this ( expected ) amendment , Black Money holders would be able to deposit , OLD notes ( Rs 500 / 1000 ) into their OWN bank accounts, with following proviso :


#  Those willing to invest in GAREEB  KALYAN  YOJANA  Bonds :

    *  Deposit old notes { before 30th Dec } and inform IT DEPT, desire to avail of Bonds 

    *   Pay 30 % tax + 20 % penalty on this " Disclosed " but " Unaccounted " money

    *   25 % locked in for 4 years in Gareeb Kalyan Yojana Bonds ( at 0 % interest )

    *   Keep / Use balance 25 % for PERSONAL  USE

    *   Protection from further prosecution



#  Those failing to avail of GAREEB KALYAN YOJANA Bonds :

    *  Deposit at any time ( before or after 30th Dec ) but fail to inform IT department 

    *  Pay 30 % tax + 60 % penalty on this " Undisclosed " AND " Unaccounted " money

    *  Keep / use balance 10 % for PERSONAL  USE

    *  Face prosecution if unable to explain ( - and possible 4 year jail term )



Dear Shri Narendrabhai :


If true , what you have planned is an improvement over the type of " Amnesty " that I had suggested in my email of 15 Nov 2016 ( to you and your Cabinet colleagues ) viz ;

{  http://myblogepage.blogspot.in/2016/11/take-wind-out-of-their-sail.html  }


  *  Black Money Holder to deposit 100 % of his hidden / unaccounted money in specially
     created Bank Accounts of :

     Prime Minister Relief Fund / Armed Forces Relief Fund / Environment
     Rejuvenation Fund / Pollution Solution Fund / Ban MalNutrition Fund ...etc


*  No need to reveal identity / source of funds / Upper limit of deposit  

*  No prosecution but can keep / use  0 % for PERSONAL USE ( 100 % surrendered
   to Govt )


HOW  IS  THIS  AN  IMPROVEMENT  ?


Considering the following :


*  As of yesterday , some Rs 65000 crore have been deposited in Jan Dhan Accounts

*  At an ave of Rs 50,000 deposit per account , this may well represent 130 lakh accounts

*  That is , deposit in 10 lakh account EACH DAY , for past 13 days ! And no letting up !

*  But , in all , there are 25 Crore Jan Dhan accounts

*  If Rs 2.5 lakh were to get deposited in each, that would amount to Rs 62.5 lakh*cr

*  In a written reply in Lok Sabha last week , Minister of State for Finance , Santosh Kumar
   Gangwar said that , as of Oct 31 , 2016 , 238 prosecution complaints have been filed and
   and properties worth rs 18,866 cr have been attached

*  Based on the information submitted by Indian Authorities to the US as part of
   cooperation , the INSCR ( Integrated Network for Societal Conflict Research ) states ,

   " ... the government has not won any court cases involving money laundering or
    confiscations ... Money laundering investigations without a predicate offense are rarely
   successfully prosecuted in the Indian judicial system and even if they are , the resulting
   punishment is often minimal "


*  As pointed out in my earlier E Mail ( 23 Nov ) , trying to prosecute  few lakhs ( may be a
   few crores ) of Jan Dhan account holders is SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE !



In light of the foregoing and that proposed amendment to Income Tax Act ,  it would be
reasonable to assume that , between 01 Dec and 31st Dec , we may expect :


   #  Rs 10 lakh*crore to get deposited in bank accounts and declared to IT department


   #  Of this , Rs 2.5 lakh*crore worth of Gareeb Kalyan Yojana bonds to get issued

       How can we use this money for the ultimate Gareeb Kalyan ? Here is my suggestion :


       Our 20 cr citizens below the poverty line ( BPL ) comprise 5 crore GAREEB families

       If this bond amount of Rs 2.5 lakh*crore was to be deposited into the Jan Dhan bank
       accounts of these 5 crore families , that would mean Rs 50,000 for each family !

       And that simple arithmetic would save 12 lakh children dying from malnutrition each
      year ! 

I cannot envisage a better use of BLACK MONEY !


   #  Political Parties handing over their own UNACCOUNTED monies to their loyal supporters
       to deposit into their own bank accounts and buy those BONDS !

       Retaining 50 % is any day better than losing 100 %  !

       Of course , when the Income Tax amendment gets introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday
       expect the Opposition Parties to label NDA government as the biggest HAWALA
       operator , who wants to compete with the road-side operators ( whose current going
       rate is 30 % ) and converts your Black Money into White Money by taking 50 % cut !




Dear Shri Narendrabhai :


With the proposed Income Tax amendment , you would have won the current battle


But , in order to win the WAR ON BLACK MONEY , I request you once again to ,




{  http://myblogepage.blogspot.in/2016/11/embrace-inevitable.html  }

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26  Nov  2016

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

  


  

    

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Health Care through Mobile ?



DNA (  22  Nov  2016 ) carries a news report , titled :

" Online e-pharmacy portals to make patients' lives easier "

The details read :
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The formation of a strict monitoring system for online sale of medicines is underway by the Centre, that has come up with a Self-regulation Code of Conduct for the E pharmacy sector for the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( FICCI ).

The e-pharmacy model proposed by the apex business organization provides,

*   digital tracking and traceability of medicines,

*   addressing the problem of counterfeit medicines

*   unsupervised consumption of antibiotics without prescription.

*   improved access and affordability of medicines for patients.


The e-pharmacy model has proposed that medicines must be processed only against a valid copy of a prescription from a registered medical practitioner.


E-pharmacy websites must also ensure no schedule X or other sensitive habit-forming medicines are processed and that there are adequate checks in place to prevent sale of such drugs.


“We are working with private players to develop a centralized online system that involves manufacturers and supply chain managers to develop a fool-proof system for online sale of medicines,”  Drug Controller General of India, Dr G N Singh said.


“Consumers need quality medicines at an affordable price. Drugs and Cosmetics Act is the most poorly implemented — thus making consumers vulnerable to counterfeit medicines and self-medication,” said Bejon Mishra, Founder at Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) India.

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Congratulations , FICCI  !


I am happy that you have taken cognizance of my following suggestion , sent to you as an E Mail on 11 Oct  2015

I do hope , in course of time , you will succeed in co-opting all the AGENCIES listed in my suggestion , to ensure for our citizens , a world-class HEALTH CARE

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3 D - Digital Delivery of Drugs  ?

( let us call it , " Dispenser " )



On 14th Oct , 8 lakh pharmacy stores will go on strike to persuade Government to prohibit sale of " Prescription Drugs " by e-Pharmacies such as 1mg.com / Zigy.com , not to  speak of e-Com sites like Amazon / SnapDeal / Flipkart etc



Reason advanced :

*  Online sale puts consumers at risk



Real reason ?

*  Loss of jobs of 4 million persons employed by 800,000 pharmacy stores

*  Loss of business worth Rs 80,000 Crores



Current legal provision :


*  Drugs and Cosmetics Act,1940 does not prohibit online sale of medicines



Govt response :

*  Set up a Committee to draft new provisions in Law to regulate online sale



My take :

*  One day , everything will be sold online from web sites 10,000 Km away !

*  There is no way march of EVERYTHING ONLINE can be stopped or slowed




My Suggestions :


Govt to upload a Mobile App ( DISPENSER ? ) on Health Ministry web site


All doctors must download it , after proper registration / authentication


*  App will get embedded with full details of that doctor who uses it


*  Doctors to enter Patient Data in App  / then enter prescribed Drug Details


*  Doctor will SMS app data entered , to concerned patient's mobile


*  Patient will SMS entered app data to mobile of Chemist of his choice


*  Chemist will deliver the medicine to the patient with Bill Details in App


*  Chemist will deliver the medicine to the patient with Bill Details in App


*  Every action / transaction on App , will get automatically emailed to web
    Servers of


       #  Health Ministry


       #  All India Medical Association


       #   All India Organization of Chemists and Druggists ( AIOCD ) 



       #   Drug Controller General of India




Advantages :


*   Jobs / business of Chemists / Druggists saved


*   Great convenience for patients / no need to visit Drug Store


*   No chance of Chemist " misinterpreting " doctor's handwriting  !


*   Full History of


     #  Each Patient ( great benefit to Prescribing doctors )


     #  Each Drug    ( great benefit to Pharma Companies  )


     #  Each Chemist Shop  ( great benefit to Govt / AIOCD / Tax Dept )


     #  Each Doctor  ( great interest to All India Medical Association )



This is our chance , not only to deliver world-class healthcare to millions but also to get rid of a huge amount of UNETHICAL PRACTICES in , what is a HUMANITARIAN PROFESSION !

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25  Nov  2016

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs