Electoral Reforms Capsule : A Bitter Pill ?

If the disease is dreadful , a bitter pill is must

Especially if the disease is eating into body vitals and headed for a “ terminal illness “  !

Even as Punjab and Goa went to polls two days ago , it seems all the organs of our Electoral System are failing . Not one after another, but simultaneously !

Following is a brief listing of the  PROBLEMS  of our Electoral Ailment and my SUGGESTIONS , for each

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PROBLEM :

Elections are taking place , all around the country and almost every week

This costs crores of rupees and totally disrupts administration – apart of a loss of billions

of man-hours of productive time

SOLUTION :

Conduct simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and ALL State Assemblies , on a single day , once every 5 years

I suggest  02 Oct 2019  /  2024  /  2029  …. (  Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi  )

This can be easily done using Mobile App , “ VotesApp “

{  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2012/12/votesapp.html  }

Read its feasibility at :

·         HONEY, I SHRUNK THE EVM !

{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/10/honey-i-shrunk-evm.html  }

·         How to save Rs 5511 Crores

    { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/12/how-to-save-rs-5511-crores.html  }

 

·         * One  Day Polling  is  Possible

{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/03/one-day-polling-is-possible.html  }

·        *  ONE POLL ; ONE TIME ?

{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/09/one-poll-one-time.html  }

·         One Nation , One Vote ?

          {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/11/one-nation-one-vote.html  }

 

·         ReformingElections and Lok Sabha [ REaL ] 

 

·         {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/12/reforming-elections-and-lok-sabha-real.html  }

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PROBLEM :

Code of Conduct paralyses decision making / policy announcements , of governments

SOLUTION :

Once every 5 year , Code of Conduct will remain in force  between 17 Sept and 02 Oct

During this period , there will be no session of Lok Sabha / State Assemblies

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PROBLEM :

Cash donations to Political Parties breed corruption / black money

SOLUTION :

·         All donations ( even Re ONE ) to be made officially / digitally

·          

·         A single Election Commission web site with a drop-list of political parties

·          

·         Donors ( after entering their details / Aadhar Number ), can select any party and any amount and make online payment using Credit Card

·          

·         Similar arrangement can be made through BHIM App

·          

·         CEC will transfer donations received to designated bank accounts of each party

·          

·         On 1^st of each month , parties will be allowed to withdraw CASH equal to 5 % of the  Credit Balance  in their accounts . They can use this for small expenses

·          

·         All parties to pay for goods / services through bank account for major expenses

·          

·         With the data furnished by concerned banks and the data available from its own “ Donation Web Site “ , CEC  to publish a  MONTHLY  statement of donations and expenses for each party with bank balance in each account

Read :

·         LetUs begin at the Beginning 

{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/12/let-us-begin-at-beginning.html  }

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·          

PROBLEM :

Inadequate remuneration of MPs / MLAs

This prevents good / honest ( but low income / low wealth ) citizens to come forward to contest elections

This also breeds corruption among elected representatives

SOLUTION :

·         Abolish all different kinds of  “ Allowances / Reimbursements / Subsidies “

·          

·         Raise salaries as follows :

MPs…  Rs 5 lakhs/month ( Fixed Salary ) + Rs 10 lakhs/month ( Variable )

MLAs.. Rs 2 lakhs/month ( Fixed ) + Rs 4 lakhs/month ( Variable )

·         Pay scales to include an annual Salary Increment = GDP percentage of the preceding financial year ( hopefully , this will motivate them for constructive debate and quick passage of economic reforms ! )

There will be a provision to “ freeze “ the salary ( no annual increment ) for those whose performance is judged “ poor “ , as explained later 

   

·         All must pay appropriate Personal Income Tax on their salary income

·          

·         Variable Salaries to be based on Performance of concerned MP / MLA

·         { Just like the compensation of a CEO of any large listed company }

·          

·         A “ Performance Survey “ to be conducted using Mobile App ( RepReward ) , at the end of each year

·          

·         Voters of each Representative’s constituency to be eligible to “ Rate “ ( select the Variable Pay Amount figure ) . Average will be taken for rewarding

----------------------------------------------------------------------·          

PROBLEM :

Poor productivity of Lok Sabha / State Assemblies due to unruly / obstructive behaviour of  Members

Poor participation of Members in debates / Poor attendance / Abysmal performance of duty as a representative of citizens

SOLUTION :

A legally binding provision on the Speaker / Election Commission to disqualify members , based on the outcome of a periodically conducted online POLL / SURVEY , of all the Members’ performance , through a Mobile App called :

·         ROMP– A Panacea  ? 

{  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/08/romp-panacea.html  }

·         Same survey could be used to “ freeze “ the Annual Salary Increment of a Member

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PROBLEM :

Voters do not have readily available info / data on sitting Members and candidates contesting elections , in order to decide who to vote for ( or NOTA )

SOLUTION :

A Mobile App based around ;

·         Filtering  Candidate Information ? 

{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/09/filtering-candidate-information.html  }

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PROBLEM :

Pre-poll surveys are “ sponsored “ by political parties ( of course , at a huge cost ) , to dish out “ Voter Preference “ statistics , favouring the party footing the bill

SOLUTION :

Ban all pre-poll surveys for 6 months preceding the elections ( ie: from April 2019 )

If any survey gets conducted earlier , citizens are bound to forget those statistics !

Even if conducted before April 2019 , results cannot be published / debated after April 2019


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PROBLEM :

Exit polls ( of voters coming out of polling booths after casting their votes ) , tend to influence other voters who have yet to cast their votes

SOLUTION :

Although this is currently banned , it can get worse when there are no polling booths , nor a single voter on the street ( if voting gets done through Mobile App “ VotesApp “ )

Political parties interested in influencing the voters can enable “ fictitious polls “ to go viral on Social Media ( especially WhatsApp )

There is no particular difficulty for the Government to persuade the Social Media to go “ Offline “ for the day of voting through “ VotesApp “


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PROBLEM :

Political parties “ bribe “ poor voters with promise of freebies / gifts in their Election Manifestos or Vision Documents

SOLUTION :

Strict implementation of the Supreme Court directive in this matter

Since next simultaneous election is proposed for 02 Oct 2019 , all political parties must first submit  their Manifestos to the Election Commission , latest by April 2019 , for approval

CEC will return the Manifestos to Political Parties , after removing all “ freebie promises “

Only thereafter , parties can release / publish their Manifestos

Read :

·         Weare not bribing the Voters !

         {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/01/we-are-not-bribing-voters.html  }

 

·         ModelCode of ( Hypocrite ) Conduct ?

·         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/01/model-code-of-hypocrite-conduct.html  }

 

·         AFreebie That Cannot Be Faulted ?

·         {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/12/a-freebie-that-cannot-be-faulted.html  }

·          

·         One Upon Free Wi - Fi ?

·         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/02/one-up-on-free-wi-fi.html  }

·          

·         Bribingthe Voters ?

·         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/03/bribing-voters.html  }

·          

·         SellingRainbows ?

·         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/01/selling-rainbows.html }

·          

·         PerennialPoll Promises

    { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2013/12/perennial-poll-promises.html  }

 

·         SellingDreams ?

·         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2013/11/selling-dreams.html  }

 

·          

·          

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PROBLEM :

Members of Lok Sabha / State Assemblies , having court cases pending against them for serious crimes , continue to occupy their seats with scant regard / fear of law

SOLUTION :

As directed by Supreme Court , constitute  15  SPECIAL COURTS , exclusively for trying and completing these pending cases WITHIN ONE YEAR

Read :

·         AllSeasons Are Election Seasons

     {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/05/all-seasons-are-election-seasons.html  }

·         Sunnever  Sets

{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/04/sun-never-sets.html  }

·         CrimeDoes Not Pay ?

·         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2013/10/crime-does-not-pay.html }

·          

·         Your  Move

{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2013/10/your-move.html 

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PROBLEM :

Irrespective of the merits of a Government proposal , opposition parties believe that their job is to “ Oppose – Anything and Everything “ !

Most of the time, they are thinking about “ empowering “ their parties and their members and refuse to act so as to “ Empower the People / the Nation “

SOLUTION :

We must find a method whereby all parties cooperate with the government , to expeditiously pass legislation that solves problems of our country

Such a solution must give to all parties , a “ Sense of  Enlarged Participation “ in the process of governing the country / building the Nation

And that solution is :

A GOVERNMENT IN WHICH , ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES GET “ MINISTERIAL POSITIONS “ , IN PROPORTION TO THEIR PERCENTAGE STRENGTH IN THE LOK SABHA / STATE ASSEMBLIES !

For details , read :

·         AConstitutional Coalition Government ?

·         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/10/a-constitutional-coalition-government.html  }

·          

·         ConstitutionalCoalition Aftershocks !

·         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/10/constitutional-coalition-aftershocks.html }

·          

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Dear  Narendrabhai :

As of now , people of India have lost all trust in “ Elections as a Process “

Unless our political parties agree to swallow the bitter pill described above , I am afraid our citizens will lose all faith in “ Democracy as concept of Good Governance “  


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06  Feb  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

MH 02 CR 8964

While taking my morning walk this morning , saw this taxi  parked outside my home

Casually glanced inside and found a tablet fixed on the dashboard

Had the taxi not left before I could inquire , I would have liked to find out if that tablet could do all that I had envisaged in my following blog

Even if it did not , it is a matter of time before all taxies will have tablets capable of doing so

06  Feb  2017

Tablets in Taxies ?

DNA ( 16 May 2016 ) carries following news-report :

" LMO for apps to replace fare meters "

In this report , Shri Amitabh Gupta , Controller of Legal Metrology Organization ( LMO ) , is quoted as follows :

" There are couple of mobile phone-based applications available on the internet which can calculate the fare based on distance and waiting time.

If genuine applications are verified by the LMO, then any auto rickshaw or taxi driver can download it on their phones and then use them.

Since they would be verified by the LMO, there would no question over the issue of malpractice.

This way, gradually the electric metres would give way to such applications that appears to be useful and are in line with the latest technology "

Congratulations , Shri Gupta , for this initiative  !

This is , indeed , good development and reinforces my following suggestion / blog  : 

----------------------------------------------------------------------         

Sunday, 14 February 2016 / 15  May  2016

Making Yourself Obsolete ?

As I observed in my earlier blog ( 05 Feb 2016 ), Theodore Levitt wrote in his seminal essay," Marketing Myopia " :

If you don't obsolete yourself , someone else will . So keep asking yourself : What business are we in ?

Levitt gives example of American Railroads , which failed to ask themselves this question and got obsolete by American Car manufacturers and American Airlines . No more people wanted to travel by trains !

Whereas it may take 10/20 years before Car Manufacturers themselves get obsolete ( by manufacturers of Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality / Holographic / Hepatic devices and web-services - making travelling unnecessary ) , according to me , taxi-rickshaw Meter Manufacturers are in the danger of getting obsolete , within the next TWO YEARS  !

Expect some Indian Start-Up to come up with a digital taxi meter ( to be called , DigiMet  ? ), resembling a 8" tablet , with a screen on both the sides , visible to both , the driver and the passenger

DigiMet will be integrated with :

*  GPS based Google Map

*  Mobile App ( called , FareCalc ? ) downloaded from the web site of the Authority fixing " Tariff " ( RTO ? )

Passengers will also need to download / install , FareCalc app on their smart phones

As requested by the passenger , taxi driver will enter the destination location , in DigiMet

Immediately , DigiMet will display the following routes to the desired destination :

*  Shortest route ( distance-wise )

*  Fastest route ( time wise ) , taking into account the traffic conditions on different routes

DigiMet will also display , the amount of " fares " payable for each route ( also displaying tariff : Rs per Km )

Now it is the passenger's turn to select / choose the route that he wants the driver to take

The taxi / rickshaw will start only thereafter !

At the end of the journey , passenger will have the options to pay the fare ,

*  In cash

*  By entering his Credit Card details into the DigiMet , or

*  Through his Mobile Wallet ( using NFC  ? )

The Mobile App will also need to have a provision for any " Waiting Time " charges to be added

When the destination is reached , DigiMet will display :

*  Distance travelled

*  Time taken

*  Waiting Time ( if any )

*  RTO approved tariff ( Rs per Km )

*  Fare amount payable

Any revision in the tariff will get updated automatically in DigiMet as also on the smart phone of passenger

For taxis / rickshaws running on Hybrid fuel ( producing less Co2 ) or Electric Vehicles ( zero emission ) , both , the driver and the passenger will get " Carbon Credits " , which will also get displayed on the DigiMet as also on the FareCalc Mobile App on the smart phone of the passenger ( @ 20 % of the fare payable ? )

THESE AMOUNTS WILL GET TRANSFERRED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE JAN DHAN BANK ACCOUNTS ( THRU DTB ) , EVERY QUARTER

I suppose some variation of DigiMet / FareCalc can be introduced in all State Transport buses and intra-city Municipal buses

I hope , the current manufacturers of taxi - rickshaw meters are asking themselves  :

What business are we in ?

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hemenparekh.in / blogs

06  Feb  2017

Can Indian IT Re-invent itself ?

It is not a question of,  “ Can ? “

It is a question of , “ When ? “

And the answer is , “ Now “

Business Line ( 04 Feb 2017 ) carries a news report with following headline :

“  Trump forces  IT  Inc  to face its Y2K moment “

It goes on to read :

“ It could be the end of India’s Information Technology (IT) services industry, as we know it.

If  Y2K  gave wing to a fledgling industry in the early part of this millennium, making it one of the biggest recruiters of young talent, the big boys of the Indian IT industry are now being forced to  TRANSFORM THEIR BUSINESS MODELS  in a bid to counter any potential downside from US President Donald Trump’s call for tighter immigration laws and a stricter H-1B visa regime.

According to executives in the IT industry, the  CHANGE IN STRATEGY  is two-pronged —

* abandon the path of TAKING TALENT FROM INDIA ON WORK VISAS to dip into the local labour pool, and

* speed up the transformation to a business model that is less reliant on headcount and more focussed on ADOPTING NEW TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS.

“ The industry had already embarked on this journey. Now, this will be done faster to ADOPT TO THE NEW PARADIGM,” said the Chief Executive Officer of a leading IT company.

This model was fine until now, as Indian IT companies relied on low-cost skilled labour to be competitive in terms of pricing while delivering value to clients.

But the rules of the game are changing. AUTOMATION and the shift towards  DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES  are the most critical issues facing the industry. These new beasts do not need a large workforce unlike earlier projects.

 “The fact is that the industry is also changing significantly in the DELIVERY-MODEL focus with  ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE,  CLOUD,  ROBOTICS  etc coming in very rapidly.

 

Indian IT players are already adopting the NEW PARADIGM and would need to accelerate to adopt to the CHANGING LANDSCAPE from perspectives in SHIFT IN DELIVERY MODELS  as well as USH-1B proposed changes,” said Raja Lahiri, Partner, Grant Thornton India “

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Want to know , “ How ? “

Do read :

·          Will  Holograms beat  H1-B  Visa Ban ?

{ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/01/will-holograms-beat-h1b-visa-ban.html  }

·         The  Mini Wall  of  Mexico

         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-mini-wall-of-mexico.html  }

·         Thank  You for  Your  Vision !

         { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/01/thank-you-for-your-vision.html  }

·         One  Up on  Donald  Trump ?

        { http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/12/one-up-on-donald-trump.html  }

·         Vishal’s  Vision

         {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/04/vishals-vision.html  }

·         Back  Factory of  the  World  ?

         {  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2015/09/back-factory-of-world.html  }

I have tremendous faith in the abilities of our IT guys , who have made India , a SOFTWARE  SUPER-POWER

Sixteen years ago , they saved the World Economy from a virtual collapse  on the midnight of 31 Dec 1999 ( as news from around the World flashed on TV screens , saying , “ Thanks to Indian geeks , no planes have been reported to be falling off the skies !” )

If only the NDA government gets out of their way , our IT guys will , this time around , “ SAVE  INDIA  “ ( even as they “ MAKE FROM INDIA “ )

04  Feb  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

Not So farfetched , After all !

The following news report appeared in Economic Times ( 31 Jan 2017 ) :

“ As Climate Takes a Turn, these Cities Float Off the Pages “

An audacious plan to respond to climate change by BUILDING A CITY OF FLOATING ISLANDS in the SOUTH PACIFIC is moving forward, with the government of French Polynesia agreeing to consider hosting the islands in a tropical lagoon. 

The project is being put forward by a California non-profit, the  Seasteading Institute, which has raised about $2.5 million from more than 1,000 interested donors. .. 

The project's pilot islands would cost a total of $10 million to $50 million and house a few dozen people and that the initial residents would most likely be middle-income buyers from the developed world.

But the project also appears to show how the acceleration of climate change has prompted technology entrepreneurs to devise innovative solutions to climate-related problems like rising sea levels. 

Hencken said that he expected the project to eventually include DOZENS OF ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS and that similar projects could someday be built in other atoll nations or coastal areas threatened by rising sea levels.

Now , would it not be much more politically correct for US President Donald Trump to donate $ 14 billion to Seasteading Institute ( the estimated cost of that 1000 mile wall along the US / Mexico border ) and tell all those 11.4 million “ illegal immigrants “ of USA :

“  Absolutely for YOU , I am building a WHOLE NEW COUNTRY in South Pacific , which will simultaneously take care of that 27 BILLION Kg of plastic waste which Americans generate each year

Feel free to name it ,

United  States of  Migrants { USM }

{  http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/04/no-use-fighting.html  }

And with support of Putin , I will ensure that USM is admitted to the United Nations “

03  Feb  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs

Another { Welcome } First

In his budget speech yesterday, Shri Jaiteley said :

This budget is unique in that , for the first time ,

·          It merges the erstwhile Railway Budget with the main budget

·          It is being presented on 01 February instead of on traditional 28^th Feb

·          It does away with the distinction between the Plan and the Non Plan expenditure

What the media – and most listeners – missed , is his passing reference that , for the FIRST TIME ever , this budget annexure carries  OUTCOME  TARGETS  for a few Ministries / Departments

Thank you , Shri Jaitleyji , for

*  accepting my suggestion ( outlined in my following E Mails ) and introducing an  UNPRECEDENTED  REFORM , having long term consequences on our SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE  

*  making Ministers accountable / answerable for the actual ACHIEVEMENTS vs TARGETS , set in advance for their Ministries

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AnUnprecedented Budget Reform   [  09  Dec  2016  ] 

[http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/12/an-unprecedented-budget-reform.html ]

Budgetingby Objectives    [  05  Dec  2014 ]

[ http://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2014/12/budgeting-by-objectives.html  ]

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Of course , your critics will argue that ,

{A }   None of the  TARGETS  are “ QUANTIFIABLE / MEASURABLE  “

{ B }    There is no mention of which THIRD PARTY agencies will MONITOR THE ACTUAL ACHIEVEMENTS { eg: CMIE / ICWA / PRAJA / ADR / ArthKranti / IIM / ISB etc }

{ C }   Where / When / How often , will the  ACTUAL PERFORMANCE  get reported

Dear Shri Jaitleyji :

While welcoming such well-meaning criticism , ask them for specific suggestions on how / what they would want you to do in respect of A / B / C , in your next budget

Then tell them :

This  REFORM  is  PATH-BREAKING .

What is important is that a beginning has been made

   

EXTRACT FROM ANNEXURE OF BUDGET 2017-18 :

“  OUTLAYS   FOR   OUTCOMES “

PREFACE

The “OUTCOME BUDGET” reflects the endeavour of the Government to convert "Outlays" into "Outcomes" by planning expenditure, fixing appropriate TARGETS and quantifying DELIVERABLES of each scheme.

The “OUTCOME BUDGET” is an effort of the Government to be transparent and ACCOUNTABLE to the people.

In addition to an Executive Summary, the OUTCOME BUDGET 2016-17 contains seven separate sections relating to seven Demands under Ministry of Finance for which the OUTCOME BUDGET is to be prepared.

OUTCOME:-

The payment to IDA will assist World Bank Group to carry out programs of Poverty Reduction in IDA countries

 OUTCOME:

The payment of instalments of India's subscription to the sixth General capital Increase of AfDB is to fulfil India's international obligation and to maintain India's voting share in the bank.

OUTCOME:

The payment to AfDF is to assist Poverty Reduction in African Countries through Projects and Programs of the AfDF.

OUTCOME:

After the completion of subscription to these shares by India and other countries, India will become the 7th largest shareholder in IBRD with voting power of 2.91%. Before this revision, India's voting power was 2.77% at 11th position among shareholders.

OUTCOME:

IFAD is a Specialised Agency working to enable rural poor to overcome poverty and hunger. IFAD's policies and programme have great relevance at a time when Poverty Eradication remain a major concern of the International Community. India's contribution will help further to this cause. India is also utilising the resources, and domain knowledge and expertise of IFAD in order to achieve the goal of eradication of poverty.

OUTCOME:

India's grant fund is being utilized to assist AfDB and ADF in the preparation and implementation of development projects and programmes.

OUTCOME:

The GAVI is a public-private global health partnership committed to saving children life by access to immunization. India is benefiting from this programme. Outcome: As of 30th October, 2014 South-South facility exchange has involved India as a knowledge provider and recipient making India one of the top 10 countries both as recipient & provider.

OUTCOME:

India's grant fund is being utilized to assist AfDB and ADF in the preparation and implementation of development projects and programmes.

02  Feb  2017

www.hemenparekh.in/ blogs