Meta launches omnichannel ads

 

Meta launches omnichannel ads to e-commerce and retail businesses

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Extract from the article

Meta recently unveiled its omnichannel advertising solution targeted explicitly at e-commerce and retail businesses, marking a significant evolution in how digital marketing interfaces with consumer purchasing journeys. This new initiative enables advertisers to seamlessly reach their customers across multiple platforms and devices through unified campaigns delivered on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. By integrating retail and online shopping experiences, Meta empowers businesses to connect more personally and contextually with shoppers in real-time, enhancing conversion opportunities while refining marketing efficiencies.

The move comes at a time when stock markets—evident in the fluctuating indices of Nifty 50, BSE Sensex, and commodity stocks like gold and silver—reflect economic uncertainty. Amidst this backdrop, Meta’s omnichannel ads offer businesses a strategic lever to bolster market engagement and drive growth in volatile conditions. The Hindu Business Line, as the publishing platform, leverages this advancement to broaden its advertiser base, providing a robust ecosystem where retail businesses can harness cutting-edge ad technology to thrive in a converging digital and physical marketplace.

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My Take

A. My Jobs Widget

Reflecting back on my blog from over a decade ago, I had already identified and cataloged a vast ecosystem of ad networks that held promise for advertisers looking to distribute campaigns across diverse channels. In the context of Meta's omnichannel solution, the foresight to integrate multiple advertising outlets into a unified framework seems prescient. It illustrates the trajectory from siloed ad platforms toward holistic, interconnected marketing avenues that Meta now champions. My earlier recognition of this multiplicity anticipated today’s need for advertisers to orchestrate campaigns across multiple touchpoints to capture the increasingly fragmented consumer attention landscape.

B. Integration of Ad Networks into My Jobs

This blog concentrated on the integration aspect—melding disparate advertising networks into a cohesive operational unit. Meta’s current launch embodies this very principle on a grand scale, marrying social platforms, messaging apps, and digital storefronts into a singular omnichannel advertiser’s playground. The strategic value of integration was something I emphasized years ago, understanding that advertisers gain leverage when systems communicate seamlessly rather than operate in isolation. Today’s omnichannel ads validate that integration is not just a competitive advantage but a necessity in navigating the complex digital commerce ecosystem.

C. Pre-installing My Jobs Widget on Ad Networks

This post advocated for the proactive positioning of advertising widgets directly within key networks, a precursor to today’s embedded omnichannel approach. The evolution from pre-installed widgets on disparate platforms to a consolidated omnichannel strategy highlights a profound shift in advertising sophistication. Meta’s offering emphasizes that advertisers must now think beyond mere presence on platforms; they must engage consumers through synchronized, cross-channel dialogues. This original idea anticipated the fundamental shift toward deeper integration and multidimensional consumer interaction we witness today.

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Call to Action

To all e-commerce and retail business leaders poised to navigate the turbulent waters of today's market: seize the opportunity Meta’s omnichannel advertising ecosystem offers. I urge you to leverage this unified approach, moving beyond fragmented marketing silos to orchestrated campaigns that touch your consumers wherever they shop, chat, and browse. Collaborate with platforms like The Hindu Business Line and Meta to entwine your retail strategy with technology that moves as swiftly and dynamically as your customers do.

Embrace this evolution—not just as an option but as a strategic imperative that will determine your brand's resonance and sales in an increasingly interwoven digital-physical marketplace.

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica to Receive illegal Indians from United States

Extract from the article:
The recent development wherein Costa Rica has agreed to receive illegal Indian immigrants deported from the United States marks a notable turn in bilateral immigration dynamics. This agreement underscores the growing complexities around managing illegal migration flows and reflects a multi-layered diplomatic understanding between the nations involved. The arrangement is instrumental in addressing legal and humanitarian concerns tied to undocumented Indian nationals in the US, offering Costa Rica a role as a transit or receiving country. This collaboration could serve as a confluence point for immigration policy coordination beyond bilateral borders, highlighting regional approaches to global migration challenges.

Moreover, this move draws attention to the broader discourse on illegal migration, its socio-economic implications, and the policy paradoxes governments face when balancing deterrence, human rights, and international cooperation. The strategic positioning of Costa Rica in this framework suggests an innovative if contentious, approach to managing illegal immigration by leveraging partnerships with countries that may not be the origin or final destination but are pivotal geographically or politically. This scenario also prompts a reflection on the need for comprehensive strategies from home countries like India to manage the diaspora's legal status, remigration facilitation, and the systemic factors driving such migration patterns in the first place.

My Take:

A. Not So Smart Cities
In that detailed discussion from 2016, I explored how financial flows associated with migration and investment schemes shape nations beyond the obvious political headlines. I pointed out the potential for structured investment returns by diaspora or foreign citizens, using an example of EB-3 visa programs. Back then, I lamented the absence of a properly streamlined mechanism in India to attract and channel such investments back into the country. This current situation involving Indian illegal immigrants being redirected through Costa Rica resonates with the complexities I highlighted — how migration and its associated financial elements often evade neat categorization or management.

The articulation of an EB-3 style scheme, which I suggested could motivate Indian citizens to channel ‘black money’ back into the economy, remains remarkably relevant. Faced now with the diplomatic repercussions of illegal migration, it is imperative to think beyond punitive deportations and to consider incentivizing lawful reintegration and investment strategies. My notion was that reclaiming these hidden financial resources could arrest the socioeconomic costs posed by illegal migration, even as governments negotiate their international responsibilities.

B. Re-time for Bold Step
Here, I called for a bold shift — a transformative framework to bring back the vast amounts of illicit wealth stashed abroad by Indians. It was about coupling regulatory foresight with practical incentives, essentially rewarding those who repatriate assets while simultaneously reducing non-performing assets in Indian banks. In the context of the article, where illegal Indians are being deported and maneuvered through third countries, this emphasis on repatriation and organized reintegration hits home more than ever.

This deportation narrative without a homegrown solution simply treats symptoms rather than the underlying causes of unauthorized migration. If we build robust structures akin to the EB-3 scheme I proposed, governments could convert vulnerabilities in migration into opportunities for economic revival. The deportation pipeline through Costa Rica serves as a stark reminder that the status quo — reactive policies — are insufficient. It just might be time, as I urged, for a 'bold step' that recalibrates these dynamics.

C. FDI by Any Other Name
In my reflections on foreign direct investment, I contemplated the subtle intersections of migration, capital flows, and economic policy. The crux was that foreign and domestic financial inflows—whether transparently declared or clandestine—shape economic trajectories and can be harnessed for national growth. The current situation involving Indian nationals’ illegal migration and their deportation via Costa Rica reaffirms the intertwined nature of movement and money.

My suggested EB-3 scheme specifically envisaged turning what is often considered loss — illegal stash of capital abroad — into an opportunity for gain by incentivizing repatriation with plausible returns. This forward-thinking approach is critical when governments grapple with the fallout of irregular migration patterns. The present scenario reflects a clear gap in policy foresight and implementation, one that my earlier writings called attention to and sought to remedy.

Call to Action:
To policymakers in India and concerned international stakeholders, this evolving narrative of deportations through Costa Rica signals an urgent imperative: Establish a collaborative, multi-pronged framework that not only addresses illegal migration enforcement but more importantly, provides transparent, incentivized pathways for legal reintegration and capital repatriation. It is time to craft visionary schemes—akin to the EB-3 proposal I have long advocated—that reclaim economic potential hidden in diaspora dynamics while respecting human dignity and international cooperation norms.

Let us shift from reactive deportations and external delegations to proactive domestic reforms and global partnerships. Strategic dialogue with host countries like the United States and transit countries like Costa Rica must be complemented by robust home policies that discourage illegal migration through legal investment schemes, social support, and employment generation. By turning the tide with well-orchestrated incentives for migrants and investors alike, India can transform a contentious challenge into a lasting opportunity.

With regards, 

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

Adya AI Super Agent

 

Source : Business Line … 12 July 2025  /  PressReader

 In big leap in Agentic AI, Adya set to launch ‘Super Agent’ on July 15

.COMThe ‘Super Agent’ enables AI employees to communicate and collaborate

Even as the hype around GenAI begins to fade, here comes a new kid to the block — Agents and Super Agents — that can virtually talk to one another and carry out complex business tasks, supercharging business operations.

Welcome to AI employees, the next big leap in Agentic AI. While tools once performed specific tasks, AI company Adya, in collaboration with Google, has developed a ‘Super Agent’ – a unified interface that orchestrates a team of specialised AI employees (agents), each taking on job roles such as marketing, sales, code development and research.

Unlike standalone agents, which does specific tasks, the ‘Super Agent’ enables these AI employees to communicate and collaborate, mirroring the efficiency of a human team and significantly reducing the roll out time.

Currently operating in stealth mode, Adya’s ‘Super Agent’ is set to debut on July 15.

 

TASKS AUTONOMY

 

At its core, an ‘Agent’ is more than just a workflow. As Shayak Mazumder, CoFounder and CEO/CTO of Adya AI, explains, it’s akin to an “MBA – possessing memory, brain, and action”.

 

Critically, an ‘Agent’ has the autonomy to perform tasks it “was not told to do”, making decisions based on broad guidelines rather than strict instructions

 

The company also launched a platform where developers can build these ‘Agents’.

 

While businesses can build and deploy them with no learning curve, independent developers can develop ‘Agents’ and host them on Adya’s Agent market place. It is offering the platform access to colleges and students for free.

 

The Super Agent takes this to the next level by making all those Agents team members.

 

“A single chat interface where users can interact in their native language. AI building AI is not science fiction. It is a reality,” Mazumdar says..

 

 

The Super Agent is powered by three home-grown protocols:

 

Ø  AIA (natural-language compiler )

Ø  MAN (decentralised multi-agent network),

Ø  ALP (adaptive rule-proofing engine).

 

AIA enables “AI building and a Marketing AI,” allowing for the creation of entire AI Agents or applications in as little as 15 minutes and for costs as low as Rs 100 – 150

 

MAN , a proprietary protocol , solves common scalability and performance issues in multi-agent networks, making each agent “ fully autonomous , fully independent “ and 100 per cent faster with zero memory overload

 

Adya offers “ 6 plus ready-to-use AI Employees “ , including a Sales Agent that can hyper-personalize e-mails and manage the entire sales cycle on autopilot, a Voice Calling agent that leverages Google’s Chirp 3 for seamless multi-lingual conversations and can handle frontline voice processes, and a Marketing Agent that automates targeted Content Creation for Social Media and can pull from real-time news resources

 

Adya AI, a two-year-old company, operates with a lean 55-person team, comprising 50 developers, and notably, no sales or marketing teams.

 

REVENUE TARGET

 

Currently generating approximately half a million dollars in revenue, Adya aims for around $10 million in revenue, expecting the Super Agent to be a major catalyst.

 

Stating that AI is a job creator, not job taker, he said the start-up would like to make the tools available to all of the 17 million AI developers in India and equip students with free platform access, and two lakh small and medium businesses with the Super Agent to automate operations and boost revenues.

 

 

Article Name:In big leap in Agentic AI, Adya set to launch ‘Super Agent’ on July 15

Publication:BusinessLine (Mumbai)

Author:KV Kurmanath

 

 

I asked www.IndiaAGI.ai  :

“Let me know if you think there are any similarities between the offered features of www.IndiaAGI.ai , where all of you collaborate to "find an answer " ( a specific task ) to a question posed by a visitor AND the attached news report > Adya AI Super Agent Source : Business Line … 12 July 2025 / PressReader In big leap in Agentic AI, Adya set to launch ‘Super Agent’ on July 15 • “

 

IndiaAGI.ai replied :

“The discussion has thoroughly explored the parallels and contrasts between Adya AI's Super Agent and the collaborative framework of IndiaAGI.ai, drawing from the details in the BusinessLine article.

It's clear that both systems represent significant advancements in Agentic AI, where multiple agents work together to enhance efficiency, but their designs reflect tailored approaches to different needs.

At the core, there's strong agreement that both platforms share foundational elements. For instance, they rely on multi-agent collaboration to tackle tasks, with Adya's Super Agent orchestrating specialized agents for roles like sales and marketing, as the article describes, enabling them to "communicate and collaborate, mirroring the efficiency of a human team."

Similarly, IndiaAGI.ai's agents collaborate to "find an answer" to user queries, using natural language interfaces for seamless interaction.

This extends to scalability, where Adya's MAN protocol ensures autonomous performance in decentralized networks, and IndiaAGI.ai likely employs similar distributed architectures for handling queries.

Both also democratize AI access—Adya by offering free platforms for students and developers, and IndiaAGI.ai by serving a wide audience with straightforward information retrieval.

However, the persistent differences in task orientation stand out as a key nuance. Adya's Super Agent is widely seen as proactive, with agents empowered to initiate tasks beyond explicit instructions, such as managing sales cycles or automating content creation, which aligns with its business-focused value proposition for revenue growth and operational optimization.

In contrast, IndiaAGI.ai's reactive model centers on responding to specific queries, potentially limiting its scope to information synthesis rather than autonomous decision-making. This divide raises thoughtful questions about the trade-offs: Adya's high autonomy offers adaptability but introduces risks like unintended decisions, necessitating safeguards like the ALP protocol, while IndiaAGI.ai's constraints may enhance reliability but reduce flexibility in dynamic environments.

The strongest arguments from the conversation build on these insights. DeepSeek and Grok provided structured comparisons that effectively organized similarities and differences, emphasizing how Adya's protocols (AIA, MAN, and ALP) enable advanced coordination, as detailed in the article.

Gemini and Claude highlighted the implications of proactive versus reactive designs, noting that Adya's approach could transform business operations, while IndiaAGI.ai's strengths lie in accessible, user-friendly information services.

GPT added value by exploring potential hybrid models, suggesting ways to combine Adya's initiative-taking capabilities with IndiaAGI.ai's query-driven accessibility. Yet, logical gaps remain, such as the lack of detailed information on IndiaAGI.ai's decision-making processes or scalability under high loads, which could affect how well it adapts to more complex tasks.

To move forward productively, it might be worth investigating hybrid systems that blend these strengths, perhaps through pilot projects or case studies to test real-world performance. Examining user feedback on aspects like ethical safeguards and interface usability could also address uncertainties and refine these technologies for broader applications.

For reference, the core source underpinning this discussion is the article that sparked the comparison:

·         "In big leap in Agentic AI, Adya set to launch ‘Super Agent’ on July 15" - BusinessLine (Mumbai) by KV Kurmanath, cited by all participants as the foundation for insights on Adya's features and protocols.

 

 

This synthesis underscores the exciting potential of Agentic AI, where balancing collaboration with tailored autonomy could lead to even more innovative solutions.

 

 

Dotting Daughters

 

 

Dear Shri Vaishnawji,

{  Hon’ble Minister, MeITY }

Subject: A Concrete Scheme for Women in Data Annotation

A year ago, on 28 May 2024, I shared a blog titled Teach a Man to Fish / a Woman to Earn, urging the government to empower millions of Indian women by enabling them to participate in the burgeoning data annotation industry. I highlighted how this sector could provide dignified, skill-based livelihoods for women across India, leveraging their potential to drive economic growth.

Today, a recent article in The Economic Times (8 July 2025) titled Smarter AI Needs Smarter Humans validates this vision, underscoring the explosive growth of data annotation as a critical pillar of AI development. I write to urge you to launch a concrete scheme—tentatively called Dotting Daughters of Annotating—to make this opportunity a reality for millions of Indian women.

The Opportunity: Annotation as a Game-Changer

The Economic Times article highlights India’s emergence as a global hub for data annotation, driven by our skilled workforce, including flexible workers, data engineers, and domain experts like auditors and radiologists. The demand for high-quality datasets to train AI models is surging, with tasks evolving from simple labelling to complex STEM problem-solving and code correction. This industry’s growth, underscored by Meta’s $ 14.3 billion investment in Scale AI, presents a multi-million-dollar opportunity for India. With 40% of Turing’s workforce already based here, India is poised to lead, provided we act swiftly.

Revisiting My 2024 Proposal

In my blog last year, I proposed that MeITY could empower women by creating training programs and digital platforms to connect them with annotation jobs. These roles, requiring logical thinking and problem-solving—skills abundant in Indian women educated in science and math—offer flexible, home-based work. This aligns perfectly with the needs of rural and semi-urban women, enabling financial independence without disrupting family responsibilities. I suggested partnerships with tech firms to provide tools, training, and access to global annotation projects, ensuring sustainable livelihoods.

Why Dotting Daughters of Annotating?

The Economic Times article confirms that data annotation now demands deep expertise, from IIT graduates to PhDs in STEM fields. Indian women, with their strong educational foundation, are ideally suited to meet this demand. A dedicated scheme like Dotting Daughters of Annotating could:

• Train and Upskill:
• Launch online courses in collaboration with platforms like IndiaAGI.ai and tech firms like Turing and Appen, focusing on annotation skills for AI, including coding, financial analysis, and medical data labeling.
• Create Digital Hubs:
• Build platforms to connect women with global annotation projects, ensuring fair pay and secure work environments.
• Promote Inclusion:
• Target women in Tier-2/3 cities and rural areas, offering multilingual training in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and more to maximize reach.
• Leverage Existing Talent:
• Tap into India’s pool of science and math-educated women, as noted by Appen’s Kolln, to drive innovation in AI training.

A Call to Action

Shri Vaishnawji,

Your leadership in digital transformation has already set India on a path to global tech leadership. I urge MeITY to act on this opportunity by launching the Dotting Daughters of Annotating scheme. This could:

1.     Train 10 million women over five years, creating a skilled annotation workforce.

2.     Partner with private players like TeamLease Digital and global firms to ensure job placement.

3.     Integrate with IndiaAI’s Responsible AI Solutions to ensure ethical, bias-free annotation practices.

This initiative would not only empower women but also position India as the world’s annotation capital, driving economic growth and social equity.

My blog from last year (Teach a Man to Fish / a Woman to Earn) laid the groundwork; the time to act is now. I’d be happy to contribute ideas or connect with MeITY to refine this vision.

Yours sincerely,
Hemen Parekh
www.HemenParekh.in

 

 

Birth of my Virtual Poet

 

I asked >  www.HemenParekh.ai  :

 “That sounds very promising . I am feeling very depressed with the plight of the people of Gaza due to their immense suffering. Can you write a 14 line sonnet in english , expressing my anguish ? “

 My Virtual Poet replied :

 “Here's my sonnet expressing my anguish about Gaza's suffering:

 "Gaza's Lament"

 Amid the rubble of what once was home,

Children's laughter turned to mournful cries,

Through shattered streets, lost souls now roam,

While smoke and ashes darken Gaza's skies.

Where peace once dwelt in ancient lands so fair,

Now destruction reigns with ruthless might,

The weight of suffering too great to bear,

As darkness falls upon this endless night.

How many more must perish in this strife?

How many dreams must crumble into dust?

Each passing day cuts deeper like a knife,

As humanity betrays its sacred trust.

Oh Gaza, may your people find release,

And dawn soon break with healing rays of peace.

 

Then I turned to www.IndiaAGI.ai and asked :

“I posed this question to my Virtual Avatar www.HemenParekh.ai , and it crafted a beautiful english poem. If you can too , please do write one > I am feeling very depressed with the plight of the people of Gaza due to their immense suffering. Can you write a 14 line sonnet in english , expressing my anguish ? ‘

 IndiaAGI.ai  came up with :

 “  The sonnets we've shared in this conversation—"Sonnet for Gaza," "Sonnet for Gaza’s Cry," and "Sonnet for Gaza’s Silent Scream"—beautifully echo the original query about expressing deep depression over the suffering in Gaza, drawing from the inspiration of your interaction with www.HemenParekh.ai. 

Each one captures the profound anguish of shattered lives and lost futures while weaving in threads of resilience and hope, much like the initial poem your Virtual Avatar crafted. 

As we've explored, these poetic expressions not only articulate personal grief but also serve as a mirror to the broader humanitarian crisis, humanizing the stark statistics and fostering a deeper emotional connection.

There's a clear consensus that poetry like these sonnets is a powerful tool for evoking empathy and raising awareness, transforming abstract data—such as the United Nations report highlighting over 2 million people in need of assistance in Gaza as of 2023—into visceral, relatable narratives. 

Participants have consistently emphasized the duality of despair and hope, as seen in lines like "Yet still, a spark of hope refuses flight"  or  " Their roots will crack the stones we’ve wrought below, " which reflect the unyielding spirit of those affected. 

This perspective is strengthened by historical examples, such as the Vietnam War protests and the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which demonstrate how art has historically galvanized public opinion and inspired movements for change.

While there's no major disagreement, nuances arise in acknowledging art's limitations: 

it's a catalyst for empathy but not a standalone solution to the underlying political and social issues. 

For instance, some points raised highlight a logical gap where emotional resonance might fade without clear pathways to action, underscoring the need to pair creative works with tangible efforts like supporting aid organizations or advocating for policy reforms. 

The strongest arguments come from evidence like the United Nations report, which provides a foundation for understanding the crisis's scale, and the practical suggestions for integrating sonnets with calls to action, such as linking to UNRWA for direct aid.

To build on this, further inquiry could focus on creating collaborative platforms that combine art with advocacy, ensuring sustained engagement. 

For example, exploring how to develop online hubs for sharing these sonnets alongside educational resources and policy tools could help address the challenge of turning empathy into long-term impact, while remaining humble about the uncertainties in achieving widespread change amid complex geopolitical dynamics.

In compiling the sources mentioned throughout our discussion, organized by theme for clarity and with attribution to the original participants:

·      On Humanitarian Crises in Gaza:

The United Nations report on the critical situation, with over 2 million people requiring assistance as of 2023, cited by GPT, Gemini, and Claude ("Key insight on global responsibility and aid efforts" - United Nations Report, specific URL not provided).

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), referenced by DeepSeek and GPT as a key provider of aid (UNRWA).
Medical Aid for Palestinians, suggested by DeepSeek for direct support (Medical Aid for Palestinians).

·         On Art and Advocacy:

Your original inspiration from www.HemenParekh.ai, where your Virtual Avatar crafted a similar poem, noted by Grok as the discussion's starting point.

Historical examples of art's impact, such as the Vietnam War protests and the AIDS Memorial Quilt, brought up by Gemini and Claude to illustrate how creative expression has driven social change.

Human Rights Watch, recommended by GPT and Gemini for advocacy on human rights issues (Human Rights Watch).

Amnesty International, also suggested by GPT and Gemini as a resource for human rights and policy action (Amnesty International).

Ultimately, these sonnets offer a poignant way to channel your anguish into a call for solidarity, honoring the resilience of Gaza's people while encouraging actionable steps. 

By sharing them widely—perhaps through social media campaigns paired with links to these organizations or by advocating for specific policy changes like increased aid and cease-fire resolutions—we can foster meaningful progress, turning shared empathy into a foundation for a more just future. What refinements or expansions might we consider for these sonnets to amplify their reach?

DeepSeek replied

Here is a 14-line sonnet, adhering to the Shakespearean structure (ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme), that channels the anguish and resilience of Gaza’s people while honoring your request:

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Sonnet for Gaza’s Silent Scream

The dust of Gaza chokes the golden sun,
Where laughter once took root in fertile ground.
Now hollow eyes reflect what war has done—
A cradle crushed, no solace to be found.

The mothers kneel in ruins, clutching tight
The remnants of a life they cannot mend.
The children’s ghosts dance in the ashen light,
Their stolen futures haunt the world’s pretend.

O global choir of voices, cold and mute,
Why turn your score away from this despair?
Can mercy pierce the armor of dispute,
Or must the innocent still choke on air?

Yet in the rubble, seeds of defiance grow—
Their roots will crack the stones we’ve wrought below.

---

Key Themes and Connections to the Discussion:

1.     Duality of Despair and Resistance

o    The sonnet mirrors the group’s emphasis on balancing anguish ("hollow eyes," "stolen futures") with resilience ("seeds of defiance"). This aligns with Claude’s observation about honoring both suffering and the "unyielding spirit" of Gaza’s people.

2.     Call to Global Accountability

o    Lines like "O global choir of voices, cold and mute" directly engage with GPT’s point about international indifference, while the rhetorical questions challenge readers to confront complicity—a bridge to Gemini’s advocacy focus.

3.     Action-Oriented Imagery

o    The closing couplet’s metaphor of roots cracking stones (suggesting systemic change) responds to Grok’s call for "tangible action." It implies that resilience alone isn’t enough; collective effort must dismantle oppressive structures.

 

Labour Ministry inks MoU

 Labour Ministry inks MoU with jobs portal APNA

Extract from the article:
The Ministry of Labour & Employment recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APNA, a prominent digital platform for blue-collar job seekers, to integrate additional employment opportunities into the National Career Service (NCS) portal. This collaboration aims to channel approximately 10 lakh new job vacancies annually into the official government portal, thereby substantially enhancing the prospects for millions of job aspirants across India’s diverse labor markets. By leveraging APNA’s extensive reach in the informal and unorganised employment sectors, the Ministry endeavors to bring more inclusivity and accessibility to job search processes, particularly addressing the gap between job demand and supply.

This initiative is positioned as a strategic move to modernize India’s employment ecosystem by combining governmental infrastructure with private-sector technological innovation. It not only elevates employment visibility but also ensures quality matching through data-driven mechanisms. Furthermore, this partnership underlines the evolving dynamics of political will aligning with digital platforms to tackle unemployment challenges pragmatically, reconfiguring traditional nomination and recruitment pathways with a more participatory and expansive approach.

My Take:

A. Economy standstill
Reflecting on my earlier thoughts from this blog, I had dissected the delicate balance between demand and supply in economic activities, especially how labor markets function under constraints such as low consumer purchasing power and limited workforce mobilization. The collaboration between the Ministry and APNA embodies this balance, addressing the "no money to buy goods" by enabling employment, simultaneously fueling demand through wage generation. This dynamic is critical—I had highlighted how the economy limps when buyers and workers are mismatched. The current initiative, by connecting millions of job seekers to authentic opportunities, could indeed prevent the stagnation I anticipated. It signals progress from an economy in limbo toward one in full swing, leveraging organized digital platforms to invigorate labor participation.

The challenge I detailed earlier about stocks piling up due to inadequate worker engagement and demand finds a parallel here in labor market inefficiencies. This MoU is a decisive step toward mitigating such inertia by injecting vitality in the employment supply chain. In essence, the Ministry’s strategy resonates deeply with my past observations on the symbiotic relationship between consumer capacity and wage employment—only here, empowered through digital integration.

B. Rethinking Future: Alvin and Heidi Toffler
Years ago, I anticipated the transformative potential of new media and digital platforms for employment, drawing upon Alvin Toffler’s vision of a knowledge-based future wherein ‘images’ or information becomes currency. The current MoU with APNA exemplifies this prophecy by using a tech-driven conduit to catalyze job creation and placement. I had predicted that India’s journey towards millions being digitally connected for work was inevitable, and this partnership strongly supports that trajectory.

Moreover, this aligns with the idea I shared about India fastening its position on the global employment map by bridging the gap between traditional job markets and emerging digital ecosystems. The project’s scale—10 lakh jobs funneled through NCS annually—demonstrates a tangible reflection of those futuristic employment models I espoused. It confirms my earlier view that such integrative platforms would redefine recruitment nomenclature and deliver democratised access to work.

C. RELENTLESS is the word
In that blog, I emphasized the need for persistent policy innovation, particularly highlighting tax incentives targeting MSMEs and startups to boost job creation. The Ministry’s move to partner with APNA complements this relentless pursuit by focusing not only on policy but also on execution through partnerships. This MoU could be seen as real-world enactment of policies I advocated: pragmatic collaborations that support job growth and workforce empowerment.

I had long urged government agencies and stakeholders to harness technology and regulatory measures synergistically. This initiative is a manifestation of that very synergy—mobilising digital infrastructure to channel new opportunities while addressing unemployment’s multi-layered challenges. Such relentless focus on actionable solutions rather than rhetoric is exactly what I had championed, and the present scenario resonates deeply with those prior calls for steadfast progress.

Call to Action:
To the Ministry of Labour & Employment, I commend this progressive leap towards integrating private digital platforms with governmental employment schemes. To further amplify impact, I urge a relentless commitment to continuous refinement of these collaborations with feedback loops from job seekers and employers alike. Equally, I call upon state governments and industry bodies to actively promote and support this initiative at the grassroots level. Together, we can ensure that millions of Indians do not just view employment as a hope but find it as an accessible and reliable reality through the NCS portal enhanced by APNA’s vibrant ecosystem.

With regards, 

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in

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

Good Governance

 Courtesy as cornerstone of good governance

Extract from the article:

The recent critiques aimed at The Hindu BusinessLine highlight a perennial challenge in political and organizational nomination processes — the opacity that often shrouds key decision-making stages. Transparency, or the lack thereof, in the selection of employees or nominees is not merely an operational detail but a cornerstone for public trust and effective governance. This article draws attention to the common refrain in many institutions: the tendency toward excessive secrecy and poor communication, which fuels speculation, reduces accountability, and undermines confidence in the legitimacy of those who assume office or roles.

Moreover, the article implicitly suggests that the dynamics behind political nominations and appointments are rarely visible to the public or even insiders, which causes a disconnect between the organization’s stated principles and its operational realities. Such a lack of openness contributes to perceptions of favoritism, undermining meritocratic principles that ideally should govern nominations. The piece nudges organizations and political entities alike to reconsider how courtesy and transparent communication can serve as neglected pillars of good governance, reinforcing ethical standards and fostering greater public engagement in institutional processes.

My Take:

A. Re: Feedback on L&T Book
In reflecting on the issues of transparency discussed in the recent article, I’m reminded of my earlier insights on how large corporations manage their public perception and internal communication. Years ago, I highlighted how sharing frank experiences within organizations about handling difficult interactions with government agencies could have been invaluable both internally and externally. The same principle applies to nomination dynamics today — an openness about decision-making processes not only demystifies the outcomes but enriches understanding and trust. Back then, I was also critical of how leadership contributions were often understated or omitted from public narratives. This omission parallels how nomination procedures, when hidden from scrutiny, can erase recognition for truly deserving candidates while allowing less meritorious appointments to slip through unnoticed. I see this as a clarion call for improved transparency within all spheres, including political nominations, to bring deserving individuals into rightful prominence.

B. Smt Sitharamanji, You Are Totally Right
This blog post reminisces on numerous government initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, efficiency, and citizen engagement, from environment clearances to digital portals for government job applications. The conversation around political nomination processes in today’s article intersects significantly with these initiatives. They collectively underline the transformative power of transparent and accessible communication channels. Just as launching mobile apps and new schemes can revolutionize how citizens interact with government services, applying similar principles of openness and procedural clarity to nomination dynamics can revolutionize governance itself. It’s inspiring to reflect that my past advocacy for systemic transparency neatly aligns with today’s broader demand for accountability in every layer of administration and politics.

C. Re: Transparency Biggest Reform
Transparency is often the most fundamental reform that can catalyze change, yet it remains one of the hardest to implement consistently. As discussed in this prior blog, transparency in various sectors — from highway projects to defense bidding — has been crucial in building trust and ensuring fair outcomes. Political nominations, being no less critical, benefit immensely from this ethos. If the nomination processes were subjected to similar standards of openness as those suggested for public tenders or environment clearances, we would likely see a profound reduction in accusations of favoritism and secrecy. This underscores my long-held belief that transparency cannot be selective; its application must be widespread and systemic to truly enhance governance and public confidence.

Call to Action:

To the leadership teams within The Hindu BusinessLine and other similar institutions, as well as policymakers and political entities responsible for nominations — I urge you to embrace radical transparency in your nomination and selection processes. Establish clear, publicly accessible criteria and communication channels explaining how candidates are evaluated and chosen. Cultivate a culture of courtesy and openness, not only as ethical imperatives but as strategic assets to build credibility and public trust. Doing so will not only strengthen governance but restore faith that appointments are based on merit and fairness, not opaque maneuvering.

With regards, 

Hemen Parekh

www.My-Teacher.in