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

Friday, 9 July 2021

Accelerating Transport with Omnipresent RFID

 


 

Context :

GST officials use RFID to detect tax evasion  /  08 July 2021 / Hindustan Times


Extract :

Ø  Goods and services tax (GST) authorities have started detecting instances of tax evasion by identifying mismatches between electronic permits issued for transporting goods and the data from radio frequency tags that commercial vehicles use to pass through toll plazas.


Ø  GST officials are now identifying vehicles that pose a risk of revenue leakage by comparing details furnished at the time of generating e-way bills for goods movement with the actual movement of vehicles captured at toll plazas.


Ø  E-way bills were integrated with the radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in January this year. This means details of proposed goods transportation, including

       #    classification of the item,

       #    destination and

       #    vehicle details furnished at the time of e-way bill generation,

 

       is fed into these radio frequency tags of commercial vehicles. This helps in

       cross-verifying the details of vehicle movement specified in the e-way bill

       with their physical movement.

       

Ø  “Data analytics helps authorities identify instances of e-way bills that do not result in goods transportation as well as goods movement without e-way bills. This significantly improves the administration’s ability to focus on non-compliant behaviour while not causing inconvenience to honest taxpayers,” said Abhishek Jain, tax partner, EY.


Ø  The development is a major milestone in tax administration as it gives greater precision to government efforts to check evasion, although border check posts have been dismantled across states with the introduction of GST. It also helps genuine goods transporters as officials tend to focus on cases flagged in their IT system rather than suspecting all taxpayers.


Ø  Technology and data analytics have been playing a greater role in tax administration lately, one of the factors that helped in greater GST revenue collections in recent months. CBIC has been on a drive against tax evasion, which has led to detection of fake input tax credit and tax evasion of over 29,000 crore since November, minister of state for finance and corporate affairs Anurag Thakur said on July 1. Another key recent measure aimed at improving tax compliance is e-invoicing or real-time reporting of business-to-business transactions in a designated portal.


MY  TAKE  :


Ø  Some 4 YEARS ago, I sent following blog / e-mail to our Policy Makers :


       A New Way to E-Way ?........................................[ 15 July 2017 ]

 

Where I wrote :

 

My request / suggestion to GST Council :

·         Aim to turn India’s highways into friction-less “ Conveyor Belts of

           Commerce “


·         Look up conveyor belts in the warehouses of Amazon / Flipkart / UPS /

          FedEx etc , which carry hundreds of packages per minute – with each

          package carrying dozens of different items ( can we  replace “ packages

          “ with TRUCKS and “ conveyor belts “ with HIGHWAYS ? )

          

          

·         Each item within each box, has RFID chip and QR code ( interlinked )


·         Sensors placed along the conveyor belt “ read “ each package and

          each item inside each  package .

          No need to stop the flow of the packages


·         E-way Bill too, will have all the QR Codes / RFID data, of each item

          loaded onto the truck such as :

         #    Price

         #    Origin City

         #    Destination City

         #    Supplier with GSTN registration number

         #    Recipient with his GSTN registration number

         #    GST – ISGST – SGST amount for each item

         #    Date of Dispatch

         #    Validity of E Way Bill etc

 

·        Just like today’s Mobile Apps of UPS / FedEx enable online tracking of

         each package and of  individual items within each package , that

        “ high technology interface “ being proposed by the Government should

         incorporate the following technologies :

                  

          #   QR code / RFID chip

          #   GPSbased NaviC 

              https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/05/leveraging-navic.html 

          #   Internet of Things ( IoT )

          #   Internetof Vehicles ( IoV )

     https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/03/internet-of-vehicles-iov.html

          #   BlueTooth / NFC


Dear Members of GST Council :


Here is YOUR opportunity to lead the way ( - in this case , the HIGHWAY ! )

There is no technical reason why Software Super Power India, cannot lead the world in ,

“ Ease of Doing Business “


If you guarantee the business / industry that “ NO INSPECTOR “ will stop the truck along its journey , they will willingly implement ANY / ALL technologies to serve the purpose of E Way Bill


Remember, all corruption starts by permitting HUMANS to “ interpret “ whether a given process was “ correct / incorrect “ as prescribed – and collect their “ hafta “ for offering to interpret it in favour of the Business / Industry , violating the process !


Ø       By implementing my suggestion

      Internetof Vehicles  /  https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/07/fast-forward-to-iov.html  )

 - technology will SHUT DOWN the truck engine , upon detection of a violation !

And automatically unlock the engine when the violation gets corrected by EDITING the E-Way Bill , on GSTN web site !

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Dear Gadkariji / Piyush Goyalji :

 

RFID is helping reduce / eliminate GST TAX EVASION on the highways ( as seen above )


By making RFID compulsory for payment of Highway Toll tax, it is helping TAX INCREASE, as can be seen from following figures of Highway Toll tax collected ( Rs Crore / month ):


#   Nov 2019……………      773

#   Dec 2019……………….1,257  

#   Feb 2020……………… 1,841

#   July  2020……………  1,623

#   Dec 2020……………   2,303

#   Feb 2021……………….2,556

( source : https://factly.in/data-can-mandatory-fastag-increase-toll-revenue-collection-at-a-greater-rate-in-2021-22/  )


#  0n 25 Feb 2021……. 104 ( in one day )

#  Expected collection for current year ….. 34,000

#  Expected to reach in 3 to 4 years………..134,000 ( Rs  1.34 Lakh*Crore  per year )

(source:https://realtyninfra.com/toll-collection-likely-to-touch-rs-34000-cr-mark-in-ongoing-fiscal-gadkari )


It must be noted that, all of this TAX COLLECTION is fully AUTOMATIC, without any Human Intervention !


Also note that, our total Vehicle population is about 340 million in 2021


Assume that, out of this, 80 % are 2-Wheelers (which may not ply on highways ), leaving 20 % of 4 Wheelers ( cars – buses – trucks etc ), numbering approx. 70  million , which use highways and pay toll tax


Of these 70 million, may be no more than 7 million ( 10 % ) use Highways on any given day


It is these 7 million which are expected to contribute Rs 1.34 Lakh*crore  per year by way of Toll Tax


Now imagine that we find a method to make all 70 million ( 4 wheelers ) to pay a TRANS-TAX ,


Ø  Whether plying on Highways or on City Roads

Ø  Every day

Ø  Automatically ( using same method of Pre-paid RFID ) / without human intervention


In such an event, I suppose we could , quite possibly collect, Rs 25 Lakh*Crore per year !


Dear Minsters,


One more time with love, I urge you to get Transport Experts / IT Experts , to examine the feasibility of :


Ø  Transport : an Integrated Logistic Plan ? ………………………..[ 20 Nov 2018 ]

 

I have a feeling that my proposal will find strong – and instant – support from our PM Shri Modiji , in light of his following statement :

Modi suggests internet of things tech to track oxygen plants’ performance  /  The Week  / 09 July 2021

Extract :

Ø  Modi also asked them to deploy advanced technology like internet of things (IoT) to track the performance and functioning of these oxygen plants at the local and national level.


Ø  He was informed by officials that a pilot exercise is being done using IoT for monitoring the performance of the oxygen plants, the PMO said.

 

With regards,

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

 

Dear Readers,

On this matter, if you have any views / suggestions that you might like to convey to the concerned Ministers, do not hesitate to use :

     Send E Mail to any Central Govt Minister

 

 

 

Thursday, 8 July 2021

Finally Announced : Agri Infra Fund to APMC


 

 

Context :

Govt extends scope of Agri Infra Fund to APMCs, others  /  Business Line  /  9 July 2021

Extract :

Ø  The Union Cabinet on Thursday modified the provisions of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund in such a way that the  Rs 1 lakh*crore  fund is NOW OPEN to many more stakeholders in agriculture, including Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees ( APMCs )

Ø  With the changes, federations of Farmers Producers Organizations ( FPOs ), and Federations of Self Help Groups ( SHGs ) would ALSO be eligible for this credit

Ø  For APMCs, interest subvention for similar loans will be provided for each project of different infrastructure types such as,

#   COLD STORAGE

#   Sorting, Grading and Assaying Units

#   SILOS,

     Within the same market yard

 

 

Dear Shri Tomarji,

 

Many thanks for accepting suggestion(though with some modifications), which I made in my following e-mail :


Ø  Selling Farm Laws before selling Farm Crops …………[ 24 Sept 2020 ]

 

Where I suggested that the Govt tell the Farmer Leaders :

 

“  We will urge companies entering into CONTRACT FARMING agreements with

   a farmer, to construct on the farm premises of that farmer,

    GRAIN STORAGE SILOS / COLD STORAGE ROOMS

   to enable a farmer to store his produce for a longer period, without perishing under our harsh climate

     

   We will allow the concerned Companies to set off expenses incurred in

   constructing these facilities towards their CSR obligations

        

ALTERNATIVELY, WE WILL CONSIDER USE OF ALREADY ANNOUNCED AGRI FUND OF RS 1 LAKHXCRORE, FOR THIS PURPOSE

 WE HAVE ALSO PROVIDED RS 700 CRORE FOR SETTING UP COLD CHAIN ACROSS THE COUNTRY

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

Context :

Govt tables amendments to Centre’s farm laws  /  TOI  /  07 July 2021


Extract :

Ø  The Central laws had been criticized for making no provision to uphold the MSP.

 

Ø  The ( Maharashtra ) State’s amendment on the law governing FARMING CONTRACTS says :

  Agreements will not be valid unless the price paid is EQUAL TO or HIGHER than MSP

However it says :

“ Agreements below MSP can be made for two years with the mutual consent of farmers and sponsor, and that for crops without an MSP , agreements will be decided by mutual consent “

Ø  On the law governing trade in markets outside APMC, the Central Law only requires traders to have a PAN card to begin conducting business. The amendment requires traders to be licensed by a competent authority to protect farmers from being cheated. However traders dealing in fruits, vegetables, spices and condiments are excluded from requiring the licenses since these goods have been removed from the APMC act in Maharashtra

 

Dear Shri Tomarji,

 

These amendments are a good compromise and hold potential to reach a definitive agreement with the agitating farmer unions

 

In this context, I wish to draw your attention to my following earlier e-mail :

Ø  Selling Farm Laws before selling Farm Crops …………………[ 24 Sept 2020 ]

 

     Where I had suggested as follows :

Ø       On the existing Govt portal ( e-NAM ), we will introduce a section called

         CONTRACT FARMING

  where the farmers desirous of entering into contract farming agreements, will

  submit their full details such as  :

         

   Name / Farm Size / Location of farm / main crops / past yields per acre / no

   of workers / family members engaged / existing loan  liabilities / water

   availability etc ) crops / past yields per acre  

       

      

Ø  Companies on look out for CONTRACT FARMING can search this database ( of course , after due registration with full details of the Company ) and shortlist / select potential farmers and send them their “ Purchase Proposal “ ( by filling in an Online Standard Form ).

Ø  Central Government would have full access to these contracts entered Online between the parties and ENSURE THAT NO CONTRACT IS ENTERED INTO BELOW THE MSP FOR THE CONCERNED CROP


No one else can see these contracts but the parties concerned would have a provision to EDIT these


 With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  09 July 2021

 

RELATED  READINGS :


Ø  Thank You, Shri Tomarji ……………………………………..[ 28 Sept 2020 ]

 

      Extract :

 

Dear Shri Tomarji,


Various Farmers Unions have expressed following fears in respect of the FARM LAWS just passed :


Ø   The Contract Farming law will make them vulnerable to exploitation by

     Corporations

Ø   If Contract Farming picks up in a BIG WAY, Govt may stop buying at MSP –

     might even scrap MSP


Now, if the CONTRACT FARMING Act carries a clause that no contract can be

 valid / legal ( not even allowed to be registered on e-NAM portal ) if it is below

 the MSP ( relevant to the contracted crop ), then the farmers fears will get

 satisfactorily addressed



On top of this, you may want to give assurance following assurance to the farmers :


Ø    For the crops which are currently not covered by MSP, we will, in

      consultation with the Farmers’ Unions come up with MSPs in each case

     ( for CONTRACT FARMING only ) , over the next 5 years. Such MSPs

     will be 100 % above the COST of PRODUCTION

    

Ø   The INPUT COSTS ( for each such crop ) will get determined by  AI

      technology as described at :

      Influence farmers and win Votes ? ……………………….[ 04 Feb 2019 ]

 


Ø  How about introducing a PLI for agricultural produce ?

    [ 08 Dec 2020 ]

 

 Extract :


Can we come up with a FORMULA ( obviously, to be devised by Farm Experts ) whereby , a farmer gets a certain ( graded ) INCENTIVE for each SLAB of “ Increased output “ , over the BASE OUTPUT for the BASE YEAR ?


We already know :

      Ø    Each farmer ( by Aadhar / Jan Dhan a/c / Mobile etc )

      Ø    Farm holding ( hectares ) of each farm

      Ø    Each farmer’s output ( ave of past 3 years )

 

We can take help of NaVIC satellite based technology to automatically compute the yield of each  and every farm , compute the INCENTIVE AMOUNT and automatically transfer ( DBT ) into each farmer’s bank account . Absolutely NO human intervention / no middlemen ( adatiyas ) !


By no means, I am suggesting that this mechanism ( to incentivize the farmers to raise the productivity and catch-up with the World ), is meant to replace MSP , which should continue as before


Nor would this PLI scheme bind the farmers to sell their produce within and outside of APMC mandis or prevent the Govt to buy it at MSP


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


e-NAM ; reimagined to resolve farmer agitation………….[ 10 Dec 2020 ]


Extract :


This kind of  “ SEARCH – DISCOVER – MATCH – ALERT - AGREE “  type of algorithms are to be found on all types of e-commerce portals ( jobs – houses – travel – domestic goods – insurance etc )


If millions of farmers get into such a “ Futures Trading “ type of process then employing AI ( Artificial Intelligence ) will help them get BEST PRICES for their FUTURE / PLANNED crops


In fact , using some SEARCH feature on e-NAM portal, farmers can even find out which crops are commanding what ( higher ) prices , and WHEN , and then accordingly carry out their CROP ROTATION / future planting


Full “HISTORY of TRANSACTIONS “ will be stored and made available to the concerned parties 

 

Digital Farming ? ………………………………………………….[ 15 April 2021 ]



Dear Readers :


On this matter ( reaching a compromise solution with Farmer Unions ), if you have a suggestion to make to our Policy Makers, you can send your e-mail from :


Send E Mail to any Central Govt Minister

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