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, 1 January 2023

Jai Jagadesh Kumar

 


Context :

2023 to witness launch of India’s first digital university   /  TNN   /  01  Jan  2023

 

Extract:

 

Ø  As per the University’s planned ARCHITECTURE, the DIGITAL CONTENT would be hosted on the Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds [ SWAYAM ] platform

 

Ø  The TECHNOLOGY and ADMINISTRATIVE DELIVERY will be entrusted to the SAMARTH platform, aimed at BUILDING  DIGITAL  CAMPUSES which provide effortless and democratic delivery of educational services

 

 

Ø  Built on the HUB and SPOKE model,

 

           #  while SWAYAM and SAMARTH will be the HUB,

 

           #  the SPOKES will be formed by the HEIs ( Higher Education Institutions ),

 

      which will offer the  ONLINE COURSES through the Digital University

 

 

Ø  Initially, the courses available in the SWAYAM platform will form the Core Courses of the University, along with a few select universities already offering such online programs

 

Ø  Both government and Private Universities  fulfilling the eligibility conditions can offer ONLINE PROGRAMMES through NDU ( National Digital University )

 

 

Ø  Students can register programmes of individual universities via NDU

 

Ø  However, a candidate may also register with NDU and earn requisite credits from DIFFERENT  PARTNER  UNIVERSITIES

 

 

Ø  M Jagadesh Kumar said :

 

  The National Digital University , likely to be established on the “ HUB and SPOKE “ model, will offer a whole gamut of qualifications and brings together various universities with NO UPPER CAP on the number of seats so that , +2 PASS OUTS can access high quality higher education, improving their employability and GER in the country “

 

Ø  TOI also learnt that the work on the HECI ( Higher Education Commission of India ) draft bill too is in the advanced stages

 

 

MY  TAKE  :

 

Ø  National Skills University : Virtual is the only way……………..[ 03 Apr 2021 ]

 

Extract :

My “ updated “ suggestions ( made through above e-mail ),  shown as a diagram below :

 


Suggestions as TEXT :

 

( A )   Structure of the University

Ø  It should be an AUTONOMOUS university as per DETAILED STRUCTURE outlined at :

           DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR UNIVERSITY   

 

( B )    Role

Ø  It should NOT engage in direct / face-to-face / physical Skilling on its own campus

Ø  It should be a VIRTUAL university, offering ONLINE courses to anyone desirous to take a course

Ø  It will mostly concern itself at figuring out those hundreds of Skills required by the Industries / Businesses / Enterprises, and publish on its  Portal ( “ WHO wants WHAT skill “ type matrix ). For such compilation, it will invite TRADE ASSOCIATIONS – PROFESSIONAL BODIES

Ø  It will invite and collaborate with entities which can develop / create “ Skill Delivery Contents “ for these kills ( at levels such as, Semi-Skilled / Skilled / Highly Skilled / Master Craftsman ) . For each of these LEVELS ( and for each SKILL ), it will develop CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTION BANKS for download by Users

Ø  Such entities could be existing ITIs – Engg Colleges – Foreign Universities – Public/Private Sector Companies - Online portals such as ByJu – Khan Academy etc

Ø  The cost / expense incurred by the Content Contributors, will count against their CSR obligations

Ø  University will be free to BUY such content from contributors

Ø  University will approach entities like Google to join in this effort

Ø  University will approach all Internet Service Providers for giving FREE bandwidth to Users for downloading content or for streaming ONLINE AR / VR instructions

Ø  University will approach AR / VR headset manufacturers ( such as Occulus – Facebook – Apple – Google – Microsoft – IBM etc ), to develop very light weight and cheap ( Rs 5,000 ) glasses for REGISTERD users of Skills University ( Central Govt may consider subsidizing such glasses to REGISTERED users ONLY )

 

( C )    Portal

Ø  It will have TWO sections, one for CONTENT CREATORS / CONTRIBUTORS / DONORS , who ( after registering ) will upload their content on the portal

Ø  Content itself could be TEXT- FORMS – IMAGES – DRAWINGS - DIAGRAMS – PODCAST – VIDEO – AR/VR based INSTRUCTION SETS etc

Ø  After thorough evaluation of the uploaded content, portal admin will approve it for getting published / making available for downloading by USERS

Ø  Second section will be for CONTENT CONSUMERS / USERS ( who can be any Indian Citizen ), who will need to register by providing full details about himself / herself , such as ( Name – Current Address – Aadhar Number–PAN details–Employed–Self Employed–Trade/Profession - Mobile No – Email ID  etc )

Ø  A duly registered USER will be able to download ANY content ( totally FREE – but only once ), details of which will be entered into user’s “ Download History “ page

Ø  A “ Summary Download History Page “ ( Skill-wise / Industry wise / User’s State wise etc ), for ALL the REGISTERED users ( anonymized / aggregated ) will show-up which SKILLS are in demand

 

Ø  Download will require :

 

# > Internet enabled Mobile/Tablet/Desktop/Laptop…......for Text – Video – Podcast 

> >  Internet enabled AR / VR headsets ( glasses ) ………..for AR / VR content

 

Ø  Portal will allow any User to appear ONLINE in any Certification Exam for any Skill, at any LEVEL , and obtain a “digital-locker” based, PASS CERTIFICATE

 

Dear Shri M Jagadesh Kumarji,

cm.ugc@nic.in

 

Congratulations for enabling millions of Indian youth to acquire SKILLS ( and Skill-related Certificates ), by simply registering on NDU

 

You have put into practice > 'सा विद्या या विमुक्तये'

 

With regards,

 

Hemen Parekh

hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  02 Jan 2022

 

 

Related Readings :

 

2021   [ 3 ]

Small Steps for Small Firms ? Not enough………………………[ 07 Mar 2021 ]

Gaining Ground : Virtually ………………………………………………………[ 01 Mar 2021 ]

ApprenticeShip : Unanchored and ready to sail ? …………[ 08 Feb2021 ]

 

2020   [ 17 ]

Congratulations, TATA………………………………………………………………[ 27 Dec 2020 ]

Human Resource Capital of the World ?............................[ 23 Nov 2020 ]

Social Security for Unorganized Labour ………………………………[ 17 Nov 2020 ]

Migrant workforce = 42 Crore ( MSME + Self Employed )…[ 09 Oct 2020 ]

Fresher need not apply ? ………………………………………………………….[ 09 Sept 2020 ]

E-Waste : Converting a Threat into Opportunity …………………….....[ 04 July 2020 ]

Congratulations , Shri Mahesh Kumarji………………………………….[ 20 June 2020 ]

Dairy Business : Calling Entrepreneurs ………………………………….[ 10 June 2020 ]

Providing Jobs : a Fundamental Right ?...............................[ 07 June 2020 ]

Thank You, Shri Hardeep Singh Puriji…………………………………….[ 01 June 2020 ]

Street Vendor Loan Scheme………………………………………………………[ 14 May 2020 ]

Wages during Corona Lockdown ?.......................................[ 30 Apr 2020 ]

When the dust settles………………………………………………………………….[ 17 Apr 2020 ]

Permission to create jobs ?.................................................[ 14 Mar 2020 ]

Congratulations, Shri Ajit Pawar / Shri Nawab Malik……………[ 06 Mar 2020 ]

Unending Caravan of Data-Bases ?.......................................[ 20 Jan 2020 ]

Job Creation : Not a question of options ………………………………….......[ 13 Jan 2020 ]

 

2019   [ 5 ]

Something is better than Nothing……………………………………………[ 21 Sept 2019 ]

Census 2021 : an Unprecedented Opportunity………………………[ 11 Apr 2019 ]

Thank You , Prakashbhai ( Javadekarji )………………………………..[ 03 Apr 2019 ]

Congratulations , Anilbhai Naik…………………………………………………[ 08 Feb 2019 ]

Organizing the Unorganized………………………………………………………[ 04 Feb 2019 ]

 

 

2018   [ 8 ]

Idea for Self Employment ?................................................[ 11 June 2018 ]

Not Funds : They need Freedom………………………………………………[ 29 Apr 2018 ]

#Jobs #SelfEmployment #Unemployment……………………………[ 29 Apr 2018 ]

#GoogleJobs #JobSearch #GoogleIndia…………………………………[ 25 Apr 2018 ]

#BPO #IBPS #DigitalIndia #LiFi #WiFi………………………………….[ 11 Apr 2018 ]

Self Employed Indians inherit the Earth ?........................... [ 26 Jan 2018 ]

Safeguarding Existing Jobs ?................................................[ 24 Jan 2018 ]

Miracle of Self Employment…………………………………………………………[ 06 Jan 2018 ]

 

 

2017    [ 11 ]

National Jobs Policy : Treasure Hunt …………………………………….[ 15 Dec 2017 ]

Discovering the Obvious ?..................................................[ 30 Nov 2017 ]

In a State of Denial ?..........................................................[ 22 Sept 2017 ]

Ready to be Ridiculed………………………………………………………………….[ 23 Aug 2017 ]

Who is Clueless ?................................................................[ 16 July 2017 ]

How much Capital to create One job ?.................................[ 22 June 2017 ]

Taxing Times for Robots ?...................................................[ 01 Mar 2017 ]

Baby Steps won’t do !..........................................................[ 12 Feb 2017 ]

Will Holograms beat H1B Visa Ban ?....................................[ 31 Jan 2017 ]

The Mini Wall of Mexico……………………………………………………….......[ 28 Jan 2017 ]

Universal Basic Income………………………………………………………........[ 20 Jan 2017 ]

 

 

2016   [ 7 ]

How About Virtual Call Centers ? …………………………………………[ 04 Oct 2016 ]

A Booster Shot ? …………………………………………………………………....[ 04 Sept 2016 ]

Missing the Woods for the Tree ? …………………………………………[ 12 Aug 2016 ]

Robots Robots Everywhere , not a Soul to See ! ……………….[ 10 Apr 2016 ]

Age of Automation ………………………………………………………………....[ 25 Feb 2016 ]

Exporting Manpower ? ………………………………………………………… ..[ 23 Feb 2016 ]

TEN MILLION START- UPS IN ONE YEAR ? ………………………….[ 16 Jan 2016 ]

 

 

2015   [ 10 ]

AGENDA FOR REFORMS ………………………………………………………….[ 01 Oct 2015 ]

Start-Up Eco-Systems / USA vs INDIA ………………………………….....[ 01 Oct 2015 ]

WHEN IS RANK # 1 BAD ? ……………………………………………………..[ 26 Sept 2015 ]

TREADING THE BEATEN PATH ? ……………………………………………[ 25 Sept 2015 ]

FROM JOB-SEEKERS TO JOB-CREATORS ? ………………………….[ 15 Sept 2015 ]

MYTH OF JOB CREATION ? ……………………………………………………..[ 13 Sept 2015 ]

 

A NEW ECONOMIC ORDER ? aka " Start Up Act - 2015 "………....[ 12 Sep 2015 ]

– A game-changing REFORM, now being implemented ( partially ) as One Person Company

 

Maid in India ? …………………………………………………………………………[ 10 Aug 2015 ]

If Mohamed cannot go to Mountain ……………………………………….[ 26 July 2015 ]

CREATE SELF EMPLOYMENT …………………………………………………..[ 21 Feb 2015 ]

 

2013   [ 1 ]

HALF – A – WORLD APART ……………………………………………………….[ 17 Feb 2013 ]

 

2012   [ 1 ]

IT PAYS TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR …………………………………………[ 30 Jan 2012 ]

 

2011   [ 1 ]

NSSO WORKFORCE SURVEY – INDIA ……………………………………[ 02 July 2011 ]

 

 

Thursday, 29 December 2022

Offices in Residential Buildings ?

 


 

Context :

Ø  Now, BMC allows offices in residential buildings ……………………./ HT / 28 Dec 2022

 

Extract :

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has issued an order amending a provision of the Development Control Promotion Regulation (DCPR) allowing offices in residential buildings


Speaking to HT, Vilas Nagalkar, an architect and a member of Practising Engineers, Architects and Town Planners Association (PEATA), said, “Apart from the ground floor of many residential buildings, shops were allowed up to second floor as per the development control regulations DCPR2034.


 

However, if an office were proposed, it could not be approved due to certain conditions in the DCPR. This anomaly has been removed by the

BMC and now offices will be permitted with a separate staircase.’’


 

A senior officer of the development plan department of the BMC said that many professionals like chartered accountants, lawyers, tax consultants and management consultants found it difficult to operate and they had their offices set up informally.


 

Many a times, they would make requests for amendments and hence the BMC has decided to amend it under the ease of business.

 


MY  TAKE :

 

Congratulations, Shri Chahal,

 

For this reform which will go a long way for millions of “ Self Employed to “

operate businesses “ from their homes, without breaking a law


But, for “ MILLIONS “ to become Self Employed , please remove the requirement

of a “ separate staircase


This will defeat the purpose of “ Ease of Doing Business


In fact, way back in 2016, I sent following email containing a brief ( not

comprehensive ) list of types of persons who should be encouraged to set up their

own small businesses from their homes :


Ø  Rejoice , You , Self - Employed !........................ [ 15 May 2016 ]

 

Extract :

There is good news for the Self Employed in Maharashtra

 

As per a news report appearing in Times of India ( 15 May 2016 ) , Maharashtra

Government is preparing a list of the " types " of Self Employed , who will NOT

require any kind of Registration / Permission from any government department ,

to set themselves up in a " Business "

 

 Following is a " tentative " list :

  

 *  Consultancies ( real estate / taxation )

 *  Running a library from home

 *  Home-made food service or bakery

 *  Trainers for sports , dance , yoga , singing and cooking activities

 *  IT-related activities

 *  Terrace farming

 *  Event Management , translation and publication

 *  Jewellery , ornaments, precious stones and boutique

 *  Tour Management and guidance or offering home-stay

 *  Delivery of grocery, flowers and vegetables

 *  Automobile Repairing

 

 

Chief Secretary , Shri Swadheen Kshatriya , has invited suggestions from

publicfor additional trades / professions to be included

 

Here are my suggestions :

 

Accountants

Actors
Agents
Animators

Artists

Beauticians
Bookkeepers
Brokers

Cooks
Counselors
Carpenters
Chauffeurs
Composers
Consultants
Correspondents

Dancers

Designers
Detectives
Developers (S/W)
Drivers

Dress Designers

Electricians
Engineers
Entertainers

Fabricators
Farmers
Fishermen
Florists

Goldsmiths

Hairdressers
Housemaids
Housekeepers

Income Tax Advisors

Instructors

Insurance Agents

Interior Designers

Interpreters


Jewellers 

Journalists

Lobbyists

Locksmiths

Models
Magicians
Music Directors
Musicians


Management Consultants


Marketing Consultants


Marriage counselors


Mechanics
Mediators
Midwives

Nannies
Nurses

Occupational Counselors

Opticians

Painters
Paramedics 


Personal Trainers 


Photographers

Physiotherapists 


Players (Sports)
Playwrights
Plumbers
Producers

Real Estate Agents


Recruiters
Referees

Repairers (All Types)

Reporters

Rickshaw Drivers

Sales Agent
Sculptors
Singers

Social Workers

Songwriters
Specialists (All types)


Street vendors

Travel Agents
Tutors
Typists
Tailors
Teachers
Therapists
Tour Guides

Umpires
Undertakers
Upholsterers

Vendors

Videographers 


Vocational Counselors

Watch Repairers
Water-proofers
Weavers
Web Designers
Web Developers
Wedding Planners
Wholesalers
Writers

I have no doubt , very soon , this  FANTASTIC  INITIATIVE  of Maharashtra

Government will get copied by all other States

 

Message from Maharashtra is loud and clear :

 

If the State cannot create millions of jobs , the least it can do is to " Get Out of

the Way " of those wanting to be Self Employed

 

With Regards,

Hemen Parekh

hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  30 Dec 2022

 

Going to Bed Hungry ? a Shame for India

 


Context :

Nobody should go to sleep empty stomach, govt’s duty to ensure foodgrains reach the last man: SC

( Indian Express  /  06 Dec 2022 )

Extract :

It is our culture to ensure nobody goes to sleep empty stomach, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday and asked the central government to see to it that foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) reaches the last man. A bench of Justices M R Shah and Hima Kohli directed the Centre to submit a fresh chart with the number of migrant and unorganised sector workers registered on eShram portal.

“It is the duty of the central government to ensure foodgrains under NFSA are reaching the last man. We are not saying that Centre is not doing anything, the Union of India has ensured foodgrains to people during Covid. At the same time, we have to see it continues. It is our culture (to ensure) that nobody goes to sleep empty stomach,” the bench said.

It was hearing on its own a public interest matter related to the plight of migrant workers during the Covid pandemic and the resultant lockdowns.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for three social activists Anjali Bharadwaj, Harsh Mander and Jagdeep Chhokar, said the country’s population has increased after the 2011 census and so has the number of beneficiaries covered under the NFSA.

He submitted many eligible and needy beneficiaries will be deprived of the benefit under the law if it is not enforced effectively.

Bhushan said the government is claiming the per capita income of people has increased in recent years, but added India has slipped rapidly in global hunger index.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, submitted there are 81.35 crore beneficiaries under NFSA, a very large number even in the Indian context.

The ASG said the 2011 census has not stopped the government from adding more people to the list of beneficiaries which is growing.

Bhushan interjected to say 14 states have filed affidavit stating their quota of foodgrains has been exhausted.

The matter is posted for resumed hearing on December 8.

The top court had earlier asked the Centre to ensure the benefits of the NFSA are not limited by the 2011 census figures and more needy people should be covered under the Act, terming the “Right to Food” a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The per capita income in India has increased in real terms by 33.4 per cent since the enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013, the Centre had earlier told the apex court, insisting a large number of households have transitioned to the higher income group.

“During last eight years, since the enactment of NFSA, per capita income of the population in India has increased in real terms by 33.4 per cent. The rise in per capita income of people is bound to have taken a large number of households to higher income class and they may not be as vulnerable as they were in 2013-14,” the Centre had said in an affidavit.

The government notified the National Food Security Act, 2013 on September 10, 2013 with the objective of providing for food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.

The Act provides for coverage of up to 75 per cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of the urban population for receiving subsidised foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

In July, the top court had said migrant workers play a very vital role in building the nation and their rights cannot be ignored at all, and asked the Centre to devise a mechanism so they receive foodgrains even without possessing ration cards.

It had observed that citizens are dying due to hunger despite development and that modalities should be set out to ensure the maximum number of migrant workers are given rations.

The top court had issued a slew of directions to authorities on a plea by the three activists seeking welfare measures for migrant workers and ordered states and Union Territories (UTs) to frame schemes for providing free dry rations to them till the pandemic lasts. It also asked the Centre to allocate additional foodgrains.

 

MY  TAKE  :

 

Ø  BANMALI has a sister named NuTree …………………………..[ 12 May 2022 ]

 

Extract :

Congratulations , Smt. Rekha Koita :

 

( Director . Koita Foundation )

rekhak@koitafoundation.org / info@koitafoundation.org / rizwank@koitafoundation.com )

 

For launch of your Mobile App, NuTree

 

In this context, you might like to look up my following suggestion for a similar

 mobile App, which I called ,

 

BANMALI (Ban Malnutrition in India ), sent as email to our Cabinet Ministers :

 

Ø  Saving 1.2 million Kids  ………………………………….[  29 June 2016  ]

 

Which I followed up with following e-mails :

 

A Mobile App named " BANMALI "………………………………….. [ 15 Sept 2016 ]

 

BANMALI is the TOTAL SOLUTION …………………………………..[ 14 Nov 2016 ]

 

Can Akshay Patra Banish Malnutrition ? ………………………….[ 05 June 2017 ]

 

Thank You Madam Maneka Gandhiji ………………………………..[ 21 Dec 2018 ]

 

BANMALI arrives : Named as Poshan Tracker…………………...[ 17 Apr 2021 ]

 

Thank You, Smt Smriti Iraniji ………………………………………... [  08 Nov 2021 ]

 

There are no Starvation Deaths ? …………………………………   [19  Jan  2022  ]

 

With Regards,

Hemen Parekh

hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  30 Dec 2022