In India, cash is the King !

DNA ( June 27,2011 ) reports :

Ø      No of Rs 500 + Rs 1000 notes in circulation in India

        >          17.1 % by volume

        >         76.5 % by value

And, most likely no more than 1 % by frequency of circulation !

Ø   Highest denomination bank notes in

       USA ..         100  Dollar ( 100 times smallest note )

           UK  .             50  Pound ( 50 times smallest note )

           India .        1000  Rupees ( 1000 times smallest note )

USA / UK have avoided higher denomination notes, only because they facilitate corruption , money laundering etc.

Monetary authorities in USA / UK have found a link between high value bank notes and clandestine dealings.

No wonder our politicians are reluctant to de-monetize ! 1000 rupee notes are so easy to carry / store / give / receive – even brandish bundles in parliament !

De-monetization is certainly not the only answer to the problem of black money in India, but it could well be a part of the solution.

With regards

hemen  parekh

NSSO WORKFORCE SURVEY – INDIA

2 July 2011

NSSO  WORKFORCE  SURVEY – INDIA

66^th Round of survey by National Sample Survey Office revealed following :

·     “ Unemployment “  related  findings

#  Self Employed ……………………….  51 % of total workforce

#  Regular Wage Earners  ………….  15.5 %      “

#  Casual  Labors ……………………….  33.5 %      “

·     “ Ave. Daily Wages “ related findings

#  In urban areas ………………………….. Rs. 365

#  In rural areas  …………………………..  Rs. 232

#  For male workers  …………………….. Rs. 249

#  For female workers  ………………….  Rs. 156

·     “ Percentage of workers earning regular wages “

#  Amongst urban workforce …………. 41.4 %

#  Amongst  rural workforce  ………..    7.3 %

·     Per Day wage rates for Casual Labor

#  In urban areas ……………………………. Rs. 122

#  In rural  areas ………………………………Rs. 93

·     Gender-wise Daily Wages for Casual Labor

In Rural Areas

·       Male Workers  /  Female Workers .. Rs.102 / Rs 69

          In Urban Areas

·       Male Workers / Female Workers ……Rs 132 / Rs. 77

Apparently, Indian Nation is deeply divided along,

·     Male  /  Female  divide

·     Urban  /  Rural   divide

·     Rich  /  Poor  divide

·     Powerful  /  Powerless  divide

·     Self Employed  /  Unemployed  divide

Can you think of some more ?

[ Source : Economic Times / June 25, 2011 ]

With regards

HEMEN  PAREKH

Dangerous Places to live in

Institute for Economics and Peace, jointly with Economic Intelligence Unit ( Research wing of The Economist magazine ),have computed Global Peace Index-2011 ( GPI ) for countries.

Here is how some of the countries ranked :

Ø  Iceland  ………………  #   1     ( the best place to live )

Ø  China    ……………..   #   80

Ø  India     ……………….  #  135

Ø  Pakistan  ……………….#  146

Ø  Somalia   ………………#   153  ( the worst place to live )

Reason ?

Not wars between countries but by conflict between citizens and their governments.

Result  ?

Violence cost the global economy over $ 8 trillion in 2010.

In 2011 ranking, India’s rank fell by 7 places.

We still have 18 more places to fall, to take away the crown from Somalia ! Well within reach !

With regards

Hemen  Parekh

ON 7TH DAY OF FAST

Since time is running out on 7th day of Anna's fast, I suggest following :

·        We must bring UPA Govt into minority

·        To stage dharna outside the homes of  UPA MPs is not enough

·        People must stage indefinite fasting in front of the homes of these MPs ( of course, peacefully ) till they resigns their parliamentary seats

·        Collect all these resignations and handover to Annaji on 30th Aug in a million strong procession ( absolutely peaceful ). For all that he has done for us – and continues to do – this is the least we can do

·        At the moment, this is your only " Right to Recall " your MPs. Exercise it.

·        To find your MP, click

 http://india.gov.in/howdo/otherservice_details.php?service=23

with regards

HEMEN  PAREKH

Irrational Expectations ?

In early 50s, Shri ShriPrakash was the governor of Maharashtra.

At a short notice, he had to leave for his hometown. Being a true Gandhian, he did not want to use the government machinery for a private visit. So he sent a friend to Bombay Central Railway station to buy the train tickets.

Friend returned with the tickets but only after bribing the railway clerk.

Narrating this incidence to Pundit Nehru, ShriPrakash said,

“ As a Gandhian, I promise I will not take a bribe. But don’t ask me not to give a bribe ! “

When a service that is legally / justifiably due but gets denied, what

can ordinary / non-Gandhian people do ?

This is why millions are irrationally looking up to Lokpal Bill as some kind of panacea !

Drafting Committee has an unenviable task before it.

With regards

hemen  parekh

Cut-off Percentage ?

On June 15, 2011, Shri Ram College of Commerce ( New Delhi ), published its “ Admission List “ of students selected for admission.

Only problem : the “ Cut Off “ percentage of marks was 100 % !

Now, the Junior Colleges in Maharashtra are not in such a great demand amongst the students.

But still, the number of student-applicants far exceed the number of available seats.

So, the “ Higher Technical Education Department “ ( Govt of Maharashtra ), came up with an innovative criteria for admission.

The department issued a circular stating that a toilet block at home was a must for admission to Junior Colleges !

Worried that the students will cry-out, “ Unfair, Unreasonable, Undemocratic etc “, the department has agreed to grant “ Provisional Admissions “ to students who don’t have a toilet, on condition that they build one within 3 months of admission.

Now, Kapil Sibal cannot say that this is “ irrational “ !

With regards

Hemen  Parekh