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

Thursday, 10 June 2021

A New Avatar of High Denomination Currency Notes ?

 


 

Dear Shri Narendrabhai,


Behind announcement of DEMONETIZATION a few years ago, one of the objectives was elimination / reduction of BLACK MONEY


This objective was met only partially


But being a tenacious person, I am sure, you are unlikely to give up .


Your “ Honesty of Purpose “has never been in doubt !


You have often said :

"  I like to experiment and take bold, out-of-the-box decisions "


Here is one decision that the generations of Indians to come, will remain  grateful for !

 

With regards,

Hemen parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  11 June 2021

 

===================================================

 

 

Nearly 5 years ago , I reported about “ Smart Clothes “ in my following blog :

Help ! please , rescue me ! …………………..[ 08 Aug 2016 ]

 

Extract :

    Researchers from Birmingham City University plan to create an " Internet of Clothes " that tags garments using washable contactless technology , known as Radio Frequency Identification ( RFID )

 

HOW  IT  WORKS

 

 

Step # 1  : Users will receive a tweet and message every day from the clothing asking to be worn

 

Step # 2  : Forgotten items in the wardrobe will text owners to remind them they are gathering dust

 

Step # 3  : If the notifications are ignored by the user, the garments will get in touch with a clothing charity

 

 

Report in newspaper " Business Line "  adds :

 

Ø  " Think of the surprise when an owner suddenly receives bids for items they did not know were in their wardrobe "

 

Ø  But , on the other hand embedding RFID sensors into high denomination currency notes would need,

 

 

No discussions ( since, no political party would want to appear to be protecting the black money ! )

 

>   No passing of any Bill in the Parliament

 

===================================================

 

Nothing further was heard about progress on this innovation, till yesterday when I came across following article :


Forget Wearables: Future Washable Smart Clothes Powered By Wi-Fi Will Monitor Your Health

 

Extract :

Ø  Purdue University engineers have developed a method to transform existing cloth items into battery-free wearables resistant to laundry. These smart clothes are powered wirelessly through a flexible, silk-based coil sewn on the textile.


Ø  In the near future, all your clothes will become smart. These smart cloths will outperform conventional passive garments, thanks to their miniaturized electronic circuits and sensors, which will allow you to seamlessly communicate with your phone, computer, car and other machines. This smart clothing will not only make you more productive but also check on your health status and even call for help if you suffer an accident.


Ø  Purdue engineers have developed a new spray/sewing method to transform any conventional cloth items into battery-free wearables that can be cleaned in the washing machine.


Ø  Unlike common wearables, the Purdue smart clothes do not require batteries for powering. By simply harvesting energy from Wi-Fi or radio waves in the environment, the clothes are capable of powering the circuitry sewn on the textile.


Ø  “I envision smart clothes will be able to transmit information about the posture and motion of the wearer to mobile apps, allowing machines to understand human intent without the need of other interfaces, expanding the way we communicate, interact with devices, and play video games.”


Ø  The innovations are patent pending. For information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org.

===================================================

MY TAKE :


For past few years, I have been advocating embedding RFID sensors in high denomination currency notes


Idea is to enable such notes to communicate to Income Tax department Central MONEY – TRACKING server / software, through any nearby Mobile Phone


If implemented, this could drastically reduce the menace of BLACK MONEY


Till now providing power to those RFID sensors ( without also embedding a miniscule battery in each note ) is a problem


May be Purdue team’s innovation can overcome this limitation


It is certainly easier to print millions of high-denomination notes on high capacity printing presses than embed all of these tech devices in clothes !


 

RELATED READINGS :


NETWORK OF CURRENCY NOTES ? ……………………………..[ 03 Nov 2015 ]

  

How to conquer Corruption ? ………………………………………..[ 21 Dec 2015 ]

Oracle has spoken ………………………………………………………….[ 25 Mar 2016 ]

Currency Maps of India ? ……………………………………………….[ 08 May 2016 ]

The March of Algorithms ………………………………………………..[ 05 July 2017 ]

Fak - e – Mon …………………………………………………………………..[ 17 July 2016 ]

1984 was nothing ! ………………………………………………………….[ 23 Aug 2016 ]

Tip of the Iceberg ? ………………………………………………………….[ 13 Oct 2016 ]

To Catch Black Money , Ask Google ?...........................[ 13 Dec 2016 ]

Reducing Black Money : The Grand Strategy ?...............[ 26 July 2017 ]

Black Money : Solution at last ………………………………………….[ 14 Jan 2018 ]

#RFID , A breakthrough , at last ?...............................[ 06 June 2018 ]

RBI : how about an audible note ? …………………………………..[ 23 Mar 2019 ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, 9 June 2021

Market-based Model for Renewable Energy

 


 

Congratulations, Shri R K Singhji,

 

Context :

Market-based Model in the Works for Renewable Energy   /  Eco Times  / 09 June

 

Extract :

Ø  The government is examining a radical shift in its renewable energy programme by moving to a market-based mechanism where generators will sell their contracted capacity every day in power exchanges and distribution companies will settle the differential.

Ø  “ The market design shall balance the interests of DISCOMS and DEVELOPERS and also foster technological innovations in bringing renewable energy to market “, the official said

 

Ø  The proposal aims at bringing in competition in green energy space while ensuring investment security, promoting new technologies and giving access to WILLING RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSUMERS

===================================================

MY  TAKE : Following are my earlier e-mails on this subject :

===================================================

Congratulations , Shri R K Singhji        ……………………………..[ 19  Nov 2020 ]

Congratulations, Shri Vijaybhai Rupaniji, …………………………………..[ 30 Dec 2020 ]

 

Extract :


My Suggestion :


         #  Introduce “ Co-operative Farming of Solar Power / CFSP “ { call it a kind

             of “ Contract Farming “ }


       Incorporate this into just released FARM LAWS to encourage setting- up of

      “ Solar   Power  Farmer Cooperative Society “ along the lines of  Dairy

       Farmers’  AMUL Milk Cooperative Society    

       

                

     #   Solar Farm company can “ Sell “ ownership rights of solar panels

          to individuals in modules of 1000 sq ft, (costing Rs 4- 6 lakh per

          module )

 

                                   

          These rights can be sold / transferred to any buyer, only with

          prior permission of the Solar Farm Company Concerned

             

         

#    My nearest DISCOM will supply me those 10 KW, free of cost ( ie: deduct

      from my monthly usage ) 

      Any excess over my actual consumption, to be credited to my account

            

                  


Not Good Enough ! …………………………………………………………….[ 02 Dec 2017 ]


Extract :

Anyone can generate and SELL electricity, anytime and to anyone and at any price 

===================================================                 

Congratulations , Shri Saurabh Patelji ………………………………..[ 31 Dec 2020 ]


Extract :

Para # 4 :

Ø  Consumers other than Residentials can set up Solar Projects on their Roof / Premises or can give their roof / premises on lease to third party for generation & consumption of power within or OUTSIDE  the premises

Para # 6 :

Ø  A group of consumers can set up solar projects for self-consumption as a COLLECTIVE OWNERSHIP PROJECT and consume the generated solar energy IN THE RATIO of OWNERSHIP 

===================================================

No Godfather for Rooftop Solar ? …………………………………………..[ 01 June 2021 ]

Extract :

 

Dear Shri R K Singhji ( Minister for Power ) :

Ø  It is high time we stop limiting our SOLAR VISION HORIZON like a “ Frog in the Well “

Ø  It is time to remember that the nomenclature : Roof Top Solar “ , somehow ties us down to the words ROOF TOP , which is only just one of the locations which can be used to harness Solar Energy

Ø  Solar Energy can also be harvested at other locations on Earth, such as FARMS , DESERTS, LAKES, MOUNTAIN TOPS, HIGHWAYS , TRAIN TRACKS, etc., or even through solar panels farms in  SPACE ( low earth orbits ? ), beaming electricity down to Earth-based receivers ( using micro-waves ? )

Ø  We must break loose  from the narrowly defined, Roof-Top Solar / Land-based Solar and latch on to the all-encompassing concept of ,

  SOLAR  ENERGY  TRADING INFRASTRUCTURE  

                             ( SETI  )

===================================================

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  10 June 2021  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com

Monday, 7 June 2021

Vaccine Allocation Policy ?


 

Over the past few weeks, there has been lots of criticism of Govt Policy ( or lack of it ? ) of COVID vaccination. Everyone is blaming everybody else for everything that seems to be going wrong ( according to critiques )


As far as governments ( Central + States ) are concerned, they find it “ politically incorrect “ to say :


“ Hey guys, there is just not enough vaccine availability. Demand is far in excess of Supply . It will take another 6 months ( till Dec 2021 ? ) before supplies catch-up or exceed the demand. Till such time some confusion / frustration is bound to prevail among those  people who cannot get vaccinated. Please bear with us till then  


Whereas this hesitation for “ plain speaking “ on part of the politicians is understandable, it is all the more reason for the Central Govt to come out with a PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT , along the following lines  , which will make it VERY EASY for ordinary citizen to grasp the gist of Shri Modi’s announcement yesterday evening :

===================================================

                                          VACCINE   ALLOCATION   POLICY    

      

Parameter  ^  / 

 

Scenario  > 

 

          

            SHORTAGE   SCENARIO

 

    (  Supply far less than Demand  )

 

     Likely Period  > June 21 – Dec 21

 

       

        SURPLUS   SCENARIO

 

(   Supply in excess of Demand  )

 

LIkely Period > Jan 2022 onwards

=============

 

 

 

 

FREE  Vaccination

====================================

( A )

Anyone who manages to register on CoWin platform ( simple registration without option for       

Selection of date / venue ) .

He / She will be informed through SMS on the mobile phone number which is mentioned / entered while registering

In case person registering does not own a mobile, he can enter mobile number  of any friend / relative / neighbor

 

( B )    

Anyone who walks in a GOVERNMENT VDC ( Vaccine Delivery Centre ) and does “ On the Spot “ simple registration

    

========================

 

FREE Vaccination will continue as in case of “ Shortage Scenario “ .

 

Central Government will implement a ,

 

 CENTRALIZED PURCHASE

 

practice for this FREE distribution

 

This centralized purchase will take care of the requirements of the States as well

 

 

 

==============

 

 

 

 

CHARGEABLE

 

 (   Paid

      Vaccination  )

 

==================================

During this shortage period, Private Hospitals will be allowed to import from abroad  any Govt Approved vaccine ( but  they will not be allowed buy from local manufacturers  ) 

   

Importers will need to furnish full details of each of their Purchase Orders, placed  on Foreign Manufacturers, on a separate section on CoWin portal ( Manufacturer – Brand – Quantity – Price – Delivery etc )

   

During “ Shortage Scenario “, a local vaccine manufacture will NOT be allowed to sell his product to any private party ( including Private Hospitals / Nursing Homes / Doctors etc )

 

He can sell, only to the Central Government ( which will take care of the requirements of State Governments )

  

 

=======================

 

 

 

 

During this SURPLUS SCENARIO, private parties ( Private Vaccine  Delivery Centre ) shall be free to

 fix their prices for vaccination

 

Any person who can afford the price being charged by the private Vaccine Delivery Centers, can walk in and will be administered a doze AFTER due registration on CoWin portal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PURCHASE

 

 

During “ Shortage Period “, the entire process of

 

 “ Tendering – Comparative Analysis of offers

    received – Negotiating – Order Placement       with week-wise delivery schedule – Monitoring actual vs target deliveries etc “,

 

           will be carried out by a

 

“ Central Government Agency “

 

 With representatives of  the State Governments

 

 This will include requirements of the State

  Governments

 

During this period there will be no tendering by the States ( for either local or for imported vaccines 

      

 

 

 

During this period, private parties ( Hospitals – Nursing Homes – Doctors etc ), will be permitted to buy vaccines , not only from Foreign Manufacturers but ALSO from local manufacturers

 

       

They will carry out their own direct negotiations with these Manufacturers ( but not with their Dealers – Distributors – Agents – Stockists etc ) , settle prices / deliveries etc

 

It will be mandatory for all such purchases ( local + imported ) to be entered into CoWin Portal

 

 

 

My earlier E Mail on this subject :


Ø  Apple for Apple ? Vaccine against Vaccine ? ……………………….[ 23 May 2021 ]

 

Extract :


Ø  Dear Chief Ministers of States :

      It is time to accept this ground reality of life and collaborate / cooperate with

      the Central Government for a,

          

               Ø  united / joint evaluation of tender offers  

               Ø  joint negotiations with suppliers  

               Ø  single order placement ( on behalf of all the States )

               Ø  Single Delivery Schedule Instruction to each supplier


          It is time to pull together in one direction rather than pulling in different

          directions

          Through this E-Mail, I am requesting Dr HarshVardhanji to file appropriate

         AFFIDAVIT in the Supreme Court , showing willingness of the Central Govt

         to coordinate vaccine procurement as suggested above

         

         Now here is the justification for :


              Ø  Apple for Apple comparison

              Ø  A single / common JOINT NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE ( with

                  representation of all States + Centre )

                 

===================================================

Related Readings :

Government may look at central jab procurement: FM  /  Eco Times – 07 June 2021


Extract :

Ø  “We may examine it ( central procurement ),” she told ET.  “ Most opposition-ruled states now want the Centre to procure vaccines “

==================================================

States won’t have to pay for vaccines: PM Modi     /    HT    /    08 June 2021

 

Extract :

 

Ø  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the Union government was taking back the responsibility for procuring vaccines and distributing them to states


Ø  The Union government will continue to allow private hospitals to buy up to 25% of vaccines made in India, although it has capped the service charge they can levy on these at 150 a dose


Ø  The details of India’s new vaccine policy will be worked out in consultation with the states in the next two weeks, and it will be launched on June 21, Modi added.


Ø  The Union government will bear the cost of vaccinating everyone over the age of 18 years (the population currently eligible for vaccines), he said 

 

===================================================

10 states requested for central vaccine procurement before PM Modi's announcement  

(  Eco Times /  08 June 2021 )


Extract :

Ø  The trigger for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on Monday that the central government will procure Covid-19 vaccines for states were requests for the same from as many as ten chief ministers, government insiders said

     Also read :    Thank You , Chief Ministers, …………………[ 03 June 2021 ]

 

==================================================

PM gave nod for FREE vaccine before SC remark : Govt   /  TOI  Print Edition / 08 June 2021


Extract :

Ø  Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave an in-principle clearance to the plan for the CENTRALIZED FREE VACCINATION announced on Monday, after a presentation as placed before him on JUNE 01

Ø  Government sources said the PM’s nod and ground work began BEFORE the Supreme Court’s JUNE 03 observations

===================================================

With regards,

Hemen Parekh /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  08 June 2021