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

Monday 26 June 2023

MSP

 


 

My poser to BARD :

 

Please examine the suggestion for fixing of MSP ( Minimum Support Price ) for different types of crops made in my following blog and comment whether it is a workable solution , using AI

> https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2022/07/msp-committee-is-this-beginning-of.html?zx=2d9d32be327a8121


BARD replied :

 

I have read your blog post and I think the suggestion for fixing MSP for different types of crops is a workable solution.

MSP is a price floor set by the government to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their crops. This is important because it helps to protect farmers from exploitation by traders and middlemen.

The suggestion in your blog post is to fix MSP at a level that is high enough to cover the cost of production and provide a reasonable profit for farmers.

This is a good idea because it would help to ensure that farmers are able to make a living from farming.

However, there are a few challenges that would need to be addressed in order to implement this suggestion.

One challenge is that it would require the government to make a significant financial commitment. The government would need to provide subsidies to farmers to cover the difference between the MSP and the market price of crops.

This could be a major financial burden for the government.

Another challenge is that it could lead to an increase in food prices. If the government sets MSP too high, it could lead to an increase in the cost of food production. This could lead to higher prices for consumers.

Overall, I think the suggestion for fixing MSP for different types of crops is a workable solution. However, there are a few challenges that would need to be addressed in order to implement this suggestion.

Here are some additional thoughts on the matter:

·         The government could use a combination of price controls and subsidies to ensure that farmers get a fair price for their crops.

·         The government could also work to improve the marketing and distribution of agricultural products to help farmers get a better price for their crops.

·         The government could also provide farmers with access to better technology and training to help them improve their productivity.

I believe that these measures could help to ensure that farmers are able to make a living from farming and that India has a sustainable and prosperous agricultural sector.

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  26  June  2023

 

Related Readings :

    MSP Committee : Is this beginning of lasting Farm Reforms ?.. 19 July 2022

 

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


    Thank You, Shri Tomarji……………………………. …………………………[ 20  Nov  2020  ]


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

 

How about introducing a PLI for agricultural produce ?..........[  08  Dec  2020 ]

 

Production Linked Incentive for Rice ( Paddy )………………  . …[  08  Dec  2020  ]

 

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


Ø  Kisan Sabha gets Constructive ……………………………………………….[ 20 Feb 2021 ]


Ø  Digital Farming ?............................................................ [ 15 Apr 2021 ]


Ø  Finally Announced : Agri Infra Fund to APMC……………………… [ 08 July 2021 ]


Ø  “ Tractor-Pulled “ to “ Technology-Pushed “…………………………[ 20 Sept 2021 ]


Ø  A Grass-Root Revolution ………………………………………………………….[ 11 Mar 2019 ]

Ø  Locusts are invading !..................................................... [ 24 Mar 2020 ]

 

Ø  Agristack: The New Digital Push in Agriculture …………………….[ 26 June 2021 ]


         Ø  Centre inks 5 deals for digital agri push    /   HT    /            [ 15 Sept 2021 ]


Ø  Agri Reforms : an Ongoing Process ……………………………………..[ 20 Nov 2021 ]


Ø  Dear Kisan Leaders / Shri Tomarji : It is time to Shake Hands. 07 Dec 2021 ]

 

Ø  Point : Counter-Point // MSP : MPQ ……………………………………….[ 28 Nov 2021 ]

 

                Agricultural wastage is India’s problem No 1 – Here is why


Ø     This is how AI could feed the world’s hungry while sustaining the planet


   Odisha successfully deployed tech-led ‘Crop Analytics’ for ground-level agri reforms /ET / 18 July 2022


Companies Innovating Agri-practices :

Apeel Sciences

Plenty Unlimited Inc

Aero-Farms   

Iron Ox

Perfect Day Foods

Prospera

Root AI

Not Co

Fazenda Futuro

 

 

Saving Pregnant Mothers and New Born : Rajasthan leads

 


 

 

Context :

https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/digital-india/rajasthan-govt-brings-pcts-mobile-app-to-ensure-better-healthcare-for-mothers-infants/101192912

 

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/11/banmali-is-total-solution.html

 

Here is a quick comparison prepared by BARD today :

 

My poser to BARD :

 

Compare in a tabulation , salient features of :

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/11/banmali-is-total-solution.html

 with 

https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/digital-india/rajasthan-govt-brings-pcts-mobile-app-to-ensure-better-healthcare-for-mothers-infants/101192912

 

 BARD replied :


Sure, here is a table comparing the salient features of Banmali and the Rajasthan government's PCTS mobile app:

Feature

Banmali

PCTS Mobile App

Target audience

Mothers and infants

Mothers and infants

Goals

To improve maternal and child health outcomes by providing access to information and services

To improve maternal and child health outcomes by providing access to information and services

Features

Provides information on pregnancy, childbirth, and child care. Allows users to track their health and the health of their infants. Connects users with health care providers.

Provides information on pregnancy, childbirth, and child care. Allows users to track their health and the health of their infants. Connects users with health care providers.

Availability

Available in Hindi and English

Available in Hindi

Cost

Free

Free

As you can see, the two apps have many similarities.

They both target mothers and infants, and they both aim to improve maternal and child health outcomes by providing access to information and services. However, there are also some key differences.

Banmali is available in two languages, while the PCTS Mobile App is only available in Hindi. Additionally, Banmali connects users with health care providers, while the PCTS Mobile App does not.

Overall, both Banmali and the PCTS Mobile App are valuable tools that can help to improve maternal and child health outcomes in India.

However, Banmali's availability in two languages and its ability to connect users with health care providers make it a slightly more comprehensive and user-friendly app.

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  26 June 2023

 

Related Readings :

BANMALI has a sister named NuTree  ……………………. 12 May 2022

 

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  ]

 

 

Wednesday 14 June 2023

Voice Payments in Local Language : Seven Year Journey ?

 


 

Context :

AI4Bharat: Enabling voice payments in local languages to bridge eDivide

(  12  June 2023 )

Extract :

This technology is expected to significantly help feature phone users get the benefits of digital railroads such as UPI. The NPCI , the platform for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India is working with AI4Bharat , an open source language Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) based at IIT – Madras, to facilitate VOICE – BASED  MERCHANT  PAYMENTS , as well as PEER – TO – PEER  TRANSACTIONS in LOCAL LANGUAGES

 

This technology will significantly help feature phone users get the benefit of innovations such as UPI

 

There's a painful IVRS and as per a study, to transfer Rs 100 you need to press buttons 52 times on the phone to transfer money to a contact. I mean 'press 1 for English', 'press 2 for account number', then some confirmation

Across India, people speak in different ways. AI4Bharat is working on the technical component which can recognize a voice in an Indian language and identify entities 

 

 

 


My  Take  :

 

Ø  Google Can Read Your Mind ?  ………………………. 09  Dec  2016

   

Extract :


Dear Shri Amitabh :

 

Like you ( and of course , Shri Modiji ) , I have a great faith in the ability of Indian software engineers ( local or NRI ) to come up with revolutionary solutions / innovations !

 

Just ask Sundar Pichai , Sam Pitroda , Satya Nadela , Sachin Katti , Pranav Mistry , Sanjay Sarma , Nandan Nilekani etc , if they will help implement the following :

 

 

*  Buyer  buys something worth Rs 100 from a shopkeeper

 

 

*  Buyer and the Seller , look into their own mobile-cameras ( of  smart phones

   loaded with M-Rup ) for biometric Aadhar identification / linked to Jan Dhan a/c 

 

 

*  Seller speaks in his mobile : " Muze Sau Rupiah dedo "

 

 

*  Buyer speaks in his mobile : " Inko Sau Rupiah dedo "

 

 

*  Message flashes in the mobile screen of Seller : " Tumhare account-me Sau Rupiah

   Jamah ho gaya / GST bhi kaat ke Sarkar-ko bhej diya "

 

 

*  Message flashes in the mobile screen of Buyer : " Tumhare account-se , Sau Rupiah inko

   Bhej Diya . Abhi balance me teen sau sath rupiah bacha hai "

 

 

 

I request all concerned , not to insult our engineers / scientists / geeks , by doubting if such SIMPLIFICATION ( based on day to day spoken language ) is possible

 

 

Doubting Thomas may want to look up ... PILOT   

 

{  http://www.waverlylabs.com/  }

 

 

This is the only way rural India can bypass the Jurassic Age of Plastic Cards to usher into a CASH-LESS society !

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Dear  Shri  Amitabh  Kant  :

 

While congratulating you - and your entire team of dedicated professionals - I request you , not to stop with launch of AEPS mobile app

 

 

Please, do come up with a version which enables millions of not-so-savvy Indians to just give a " Voice based Instructions " to AEPS app , for all of their Digital Payment transactions, in language of their choice

 

 

This is how BARD compared the two methods :

Feature

Smart Phone

Feature Phone

Method of payment

UPI

UPI

Language

Hindi

Hindi

Ease of transaction

Easy

Easy

Relative advantages

More convenient for people who are not comfortable typing

More affordable

 

 

Both methods of voice payments use Hindi as the language of communication. They are also both relatively easy to use. However, there are some key differences between the two methods.

Smartphone users can make voice payments using their UPI app. This is a convenient option for people who are already familiar with using UPI. However, it can be expensive to purchase a smartphone and pay for data plans.

Feature phone users can make voice payments using a new technology called AI4Bharat. This technology is still in development, but it has the potential to make voice payments more affordable and accessible to people who do not have smartphones.

Overall, both methods of voice payments have the potential to make it easier for people in India to make digital payments. However, the relative advantages of each method will depend on the individual user's needs and preferences.

Here is a more detailed comparison of the two methods:

Smartphone

·         Pros:

o    Convenient for people who are already familiar with using UPI

o    More secure than cash or cards

o    Can be used to make payments anywhere there is a UPI-enabled merchant

·         Cons:

o    Expensive to purchase a smartphone and pay for data plans

o    Can be difficult to use for people who are not familiar with UPI

Feature Phone

·         Pros:

o    More affordable than a smartphone

o    Does not require a data plan

o    Easy to use for people who are not familiar with UPI

·         Cons:

o    Still in development, so it may not be available in all areas

o    Not as secure as a smartphone

o    Can only be used to make payments at merchants that have a voice-enabled UPI terminal

Ultimately, the best method of voice payments for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for a convenient and secure way to make digital payments, a smartphone is a good option. If you are looking for a more affordable and accessible option, a feature phone may be a better choice.

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  15  June  2023

 

Related Readings ( 22 ) :

 At long last : BHIM to get a voice ?  ………………………….. 22  July  2021

Do Not Stop Here ! ………………………………………………………..[ 01 Dec 2016 ]

When BHIM is here, can ARJUN be far away ? …………….[ 30 Dec 2016 ]

A Matter of Time ………………………………………………………………[ 03 Jan 2017 ]

JUST ONE MORE STEP LEFT ……………………………………………[ 30 Jan 2017 ]

Simplicity : The Ultimate Mobile Wallet ?......................[ 13 Feb 2017]

Wake Up , BHIM , Wake Up !.......................................[ 16 Mar 2017 ]

BHIM : the……………………………………………………………………………..[ 14 April 2017 ]

A Beerud named BHIM ?..................................................[ 17 Apr 2017 ]

Thank You : Beerud………………………………………………………………..[ 23 Apr 2017 ]

Inching Forward ?...........................................................[ 20 May 2017 ]

Let BHIM get MAD !.........................................................[ 21 May 2017 ]

BHIM , the Impersonator ?...............................................[ 17 June 2017 ]

BHIM : Can You tango with GST ?.....................................[ 19 June 2017 ]

Preloaded BHIM ?............................................................[ 04 July 2017 ]

Closing in on BHIM V 4.0 !................................................[ 05 July 2017 ]

BHIM : the Omnipresent ?.................................................[ 05 Sept 2017 ]

From BHIM 3.0 to BHIM 7.0 ?............................................[ 14 Sept 2017 ]

Not exactly BHIM 4.0…………………………………………………………………[ 19 Sept 2017 ]

BHIM gets a Voice !...........................................................[ 30 Oct 2017 ]

Google, WhatsApp, BHIM ?.................................................[ 14 Dec 2017 ]

BHIM   will  recognize  you………………………………………………………… [30 May 2018 ]

BHIM gets friendly with GST ………………………………………………………[ 04 Aug 2018 ]