We should thank Sonia and our PM
Without trying to win brawny points in the art of cynicism, we should thank Sonia Gandhi and our PM that they have made a start some where. It is the first time in last fifteen years that somebody thought it necessary to check ever burgeoning govt. expenditure. Coming to Rahul Gandhi, we don’t have many politicians left who can match his humility and simplicity.
Other political parties and state governments should follow it by sublimating their egos. Grandeur should not be allowed to be the definition of power. It is not only politicians but bureaucrats also need this doze of austerity. Most vulgar opulence is visible in states where each bureaucrat has 5-6 vehicles& drivers at his home and even middle level officers are not far behind.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Abolition of 10th board examination
It’s a fallacy that examinations and stress are interlinked. Fifty years back we had more Board examinations but far less stress. Even class 8 exam was a board exam. Putting efforts to give best performance can’t be termed as stress, it is a joy. For example, objective of games is physical fitness but abolishing national championship will take away the zing, fun and sprit of competition associated with it. Every body wants his talent to be tested and the right opportunity is examination. Only section who perhaps will welcome abolition of board examination is our govt. teachers with no yardstick left to assess them. Further with no fear of failure, you will get many in 10th class who’d be not knowing simple multiplication or writing three lines in their main language.
Well who think that by abolishing one examination stress on students can be reduced forget that there are countless entrance examinations which a student face now a days and puts real efforts for these entrance examinations.
Well who think that by abolishing one examination stress on students can be reduced forget that there are countless entrance examinations which a student face now a days and puts real efforts for these entrance examinations.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Stimulus package for Rich-in the name of tax reforms
There is one Hindi phrase “ andha bante rewrian ( sweets) mur mur( again and again) apno ko de”
This applies to our Finance Minister. First it was the abolition of surcharge on taxable income above Rs 10 lacs, now there is stimulus for rich in the name of tax reforms. I think not even 3% of our population pays income tax and those whose income is above Rs 5 lacs may not be even 1%.
Under the situation to concentrate on this block of 3% by ignoring 550 million in the unorganized sector who struggle to earn even Rs 100 per day betrays of the wrong priorities of UPA Govt.On one side we talk of inclusive growth and on other side we are working to increase inequality between haves and have-nots. Who needs attention-a govt. school teacher getting Rs 30000 salary for just 100 days of a work in a year( with assured Rs 5000 increasae in year with this DA pattern) or a private school teacher who very often doesn’t get even Rs 2000 ( Both working for the same cause)..
Last, let us not forget it is being designed by our babus who keep self interest above the nation’s interest. A country which is the home of one third of the poor in the world earning less than 2$ per day, approximately 78% of our population, is working on tax relief for those who earn any thing between 20- 1000$ per day. We seem to have taken the path which can only bring unrest in the country.
Bhartendu Sood
This applies to our Finance Minister. First it was the abolition of surcharge on taxable income above Rs 10 lacs, now there is stimulus for rich in the name of tax reforms. I think not even 3% of our population pays income tax and those whose income is above Rs 5 lacs may not be even 1%.
Under the situation to concentrate on this block of 3% by ignoring 550 million in the unorganized sector who struggle to earn even Rs 100 per day betrays of the wrong priorities of UPA Govt.On one side we talk of inclusive growth and on other side we are working to increase inequality between haves and have-nots. Who needs attention-a govt. school teacher getting Rs 30000 salary for just 100 days of a work in a year( with assured Rs 5000 increasae in year with this DA pattern) or a private school teacher who very often doesn’t get even Rs 2000 ( Both working for the same cause)..
Last, let us not forget it is being designed by our babus who keep self interest above the nation’s interest. A country which is the home of one third of the poor in the world earning less than 2$ per day, approximately 78% of our population, is working on tax relief for those who earn any thing between 20- 1000$ per day. We seem to have taken the path which can only bring unrest in the country.
Bhartendu Sood
HOW BUDDHA VIEWED CHARITY
Buddha had just finished his sermons when the king of that province approached him desiring to donate land and huge wealth. Buddha remained on his seat and received that with one hand.. The king took a seat close to Buddha. Then came the wealthiest landlord of that province and he too donated a large amount of money. Buddha didn’t move from his place and took it with one hand. The rich person also sat next to the king. Then emerged a poor old woman from the crowd of large devotees and bowed before Buddha offering a handful of grain tied up in a small bundle. Much to the chagrin of both the king and the rich man, Buddha got up from his seat and took that with both hands. When the king and the rich landlord asked the reason for his differential treatment Buddha explained how they had given a small part of their holdings and their donations were imbued with vanity and expectations, therefore he took them with one hand without moving from my seat. But, that poor woman donated everything what she had and she moved back in to the crowd. She had no desire for being glorified or acknowledged therefore he got up from my seat and accepted her donation with both hands” Give not anything away as yours, but as that which is given to you by the divine power, for dispensing to the needy. He who comes to know this truth is a seer because he rises above ego and the arrogance associated with the donor. True charity is desire to be useful to others without thought of recompense. Charity given from earned money without any intention to earn glory is worthy of reckoning, irrespective of its magnitude.”
If the donor as well as the receiver is particular about this aspect then our religions and charitable institutions will continue to command respect. Buddha did not approve of hoarding wealth with desire and attachment, which is against his fundamental, nor did he approve of each and every way of earning one’s livelihood.
This is the story which the present day Charitable and Religious Institutions can take heart from who generally by ignoring the learned persons and devoted workers, go all out to honor the donors who make huge donations from their the money earned by abominable means. Charity made out of the honestly earned money with out any intention to earn glory is worthy of reckoning irrespective of its magnitude.
BHARTENDU SOOD
If the donor as well as the receiver is particular about this aspect then our religions and charitable institutions will continue to command respect. Buddha did not approve of hoarding wealth with desire and attachment, which is against his fundamental, nor did he approve of each and every way of earning one’s livelihood.
This is the story which the present day Charitable and Religious Institutions can take heart from who generally by ignoring the learned persons and devoted workers, go all out to honor the donors who make huge donations from their the money earned by abominable means. Charity made out of the honestly earned money with out any intention to earn glory is worthy of reckoning irrespective of its magnitude.
BHARTENDU SOOD
Friday, August 14, 2009
ALONE MONEY OR LEGISLATION CAN"T HELP THE CAUSE OF LITERACY
No body disputes that in the recent years literacy has been the priority area for the Governments at the center which is manifested by the increasing public expenditure on education and according to one estimate it is more than Rs 60000 crore in a year. That may be fine, but it’s no longer enough which is reflected by India ’s ranking in the fight against literacy which has slipped from 100 to 105. Point is that making funds available for Sarva Shiksha Abhyan or making legislations to make Education a right is just not enough to ensure that everybody irrespective of the financial background, place of stay, cast, creed and religion gets education or in other words education is universalized.
As we see, problem is not with the funds. If the corresponding outcome is not there then the culprit is the failed delivery system. What are the maladies which continue to plague the system? A careful survey brings to light the three main impediments. First, the government schools where the poorest of the poor get education are still bereft of the required infrastructure, the condition in many being nothing short of appalling. Here, it is important to remember that when it comes to infrastructure there is a big difference in the government schools located in the cities and those in the rural and far off areas. For example in city schools there is a surplus staff as all teachers want to be in cities and in rural areas most of the times there are one or two teachers actually present to manage all the classes. To summarize-either building is not there and if building exists teachers are not there. Second, even where infrastructure exists these schools are not allowed to function by our state governments. There is a holiday on the silliest excuse. Impact is horrible. In 150 teaching days available in a year (30-40 days go for conducting examinations etc.) it is just not possible to complete the courses. Those students who stay in cities and are well off make up by turning to the private tutors but others continue to suffer and a stage reaches when they lose interest in studies and their parents in order to save them from idling away their time put them on petty jobs. Third impediment is the very high teacher absenteeism in the government schools ranging from 20-60 per cent in different states, even if government teachers earn thrice or more than the private sector teachers. To make the things worse many cases of sub-letting the jobs by the high paid govt. teachers are coming to light.
But thanks to our growth story of last 20 years, one very heartening development is that even poor and illiterate want to give education to their children including girls even if it means stretching their resources. Under the situation, what can be done to make Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan a grand success?
First, there is an urgent need to change our mind set. Today when we are convinced that education through Government schools is a failed delivery system which gets reflected by the fact that even the government teachers send their children to private schools, there is no wisdom in keeping education in the govt. sector. There is a fit case for handing over the school education to the proven NGO’s on the condition that those below poverty line will continue to get free education and the children of lower middle class families will have a subsidized fee structure. NGO’s will be too happy even if parts of the funds which it spends on Government schools are provided to them.
Second, it is very important to assess teacher’s ability to teach and his knowledge of the content he is expected to teach. How a teacher who himself doesn’t know the subject can do justice with the children. Therefore it is important to introduce written test for the teachers at the time of the recruitment and at periodic intervals say once in two years.
Third, before talking about computers let us first build buildings with roofs, provide black boards and books. There has to be same facilities in all schools whether these are in the cities or villages.
Forth, access to private schools should be available to the poor children as well. Let govt. work out a mechanism under which their fee is paid by the Govt. directly to the private schools. Fifth, schools should be allowed to have their own calendar as industry has. Govt. holidays should not be forced on schools. If a Minister dies why small children are expected to mourn his death? The whole purpose is that unless schools have minimum 250 teaching days, courses can not be completed.
Last it is a fallacy that teachers with ornamental degrees like PhD’s etc are better teachers. Let us not forget that these are for the personal benefit of the teacher and seldom help the students. All that we need is committed teachers who are interested in teaching and are endoed with a skill to transfer their knowledge.
Crux is that alone money and legislations can’t help the cause of literacy; we need to make the schools functional.
BHARTENDU SOOD
As we see, problem is not with the funds. If the corresponding outcome is not there then the culprit is the failed delivery system. What are the maladies which continue to plague the system? A careful survey brings to light the three main impediments. First, the government schools where the poorest of the poor get education are still bereft of the required infrastructure, the condition in many being nothing short of appalling. Here, it is important to remember that when it comes to infrastructure there is a big difference in the government schools located in the cities and those in the rural and far off areas. For example in city schools there is a surplus staff as all teachers want to be in cities and in rural areas most of the times there are one or two teachers actually present to manage all the classes. To summarize-either building is not there and if building exists teachers are not there. Second, even where infrastructure exists these schools are not allowed to function by our state governments. There is a holiday on the silliest excuse. Impact is horrible. In 150 teaching days available in a year (30-40 days go for conducting examinations etc.) it is just not possible to complete the courses. Those students who stay in cities and are well off make up by turning to the private tutors but others continue to suffer and a stage reaches when they lose interest in studies and their parents in order to save them from idling away their time put them on petty jobs. Third impediment is the very high teacher absenteeism in the government schools ranging from 20-60 per cent in different states, even if government teachers earn thrice or more than the private sector teachers. To make the things worse many cases of sub-letting the jobs by the high paid govt. teachers are coming to light.
But thanks to our growth story of last 20 years, one very heartening development is that even poor and illiterate want to give education to their children including girls even if it means stretching their resources. Under the situation, what can be done to make Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan a grand success?
First, there is an urgent need to change our mind set. Today when we are convinced that education through Government schools is a failed delivery system which gets reflected by the fact that even the government teachers send their children to private schools, there is no wisdom in keeping education in the govt. sector. There is a fit case for handing over the school education to the proven NGO’s on the condition that those below poverty line will continue to get free education and the children of lower middle class families will have a subsidized fee structure. NGO’s will be too happy even if parts of the funds which it spends on Government schools are provided to them.
Second, it is very important to assess teacher’s ability to teach and his knowledge of the content he is expected to teach. How a teacher who himself doesn’t know the subject can do justice with the children. Therefore it is important to introduce written test for the teachers at the time of the recruitment and at periodic intervals say once in two years.
Third, before talking about computers let us first build buildings with roofs, provide black boards and books. There has to be same facilities in all schools whether these are in the cities or villages.
Forth, access to private schools should be available to the poor children as well. Let govt. work out a mechanism under which their fee is paid by the Govt. directly to the private schools. Fifth, schools should be allowed to have their own calendar as industry has. Govt. holidays should not be forced on schools. If a Minister dies why small children are expected to mourn his death? The whole purpose is that unless schools have minimum 250 teaching days, courses can not be completed.
Last it is a fallacy that teachers with ornamental degrees like PhD’s etc are better teachers. Let us not forget that these are for the personal benefit of the teacher and seldom help the students. All that we need is committed teachers who are interested in teaching and are endoed with a skill to transfer their knowledge.
Crux is that alone money and legislations can’t help the cause of literacy; we need to make the schools functional.
BHARTENDU SOOD
Friday, June 26, 2009
Hoarding wealth
Many simply like to see the pyramid of wealth scaling new heights every month.
As a child I had the good fortune of having my grandmother around me. She always had anecdotes up her sleeves. One such anecdote she narrated to me was when my grandfather was an officer in the British Empire.
He was then posted in Ramnagar near Varanasi. Our neighbour happened to be a businessman known as Sethji, who had a roaring silk business. His huge ‘haveli’ had a fleet of horse carts and an army of servants. His wife’s favourite past time was keeping the famed jewellers of Varanasi engaged.
Our family later shifted to Shimla in summer. When we went back after three months, I found amazing changes in the haveli. The number of servants had reduced to a trickle and it was no more the favourite destination of jewellers. Of course, the most glaring change was visible on Sethani’s face.
My inquisitiveness had bottled up and one day when Sethani exchanged pleasantries, I broke the ice to know about this change and she almost broke down. There was a sudden and unexpected change in their business fortune. They were making a loss of Rs 3,000 every month, she said sadly.
After a week or so we were in splits when their accountant disclosed to us that earlier the monthly profit of the Seth’s firm was about Rs 6,000, which had reduced to Rs 3,000 and it made Sethji declare emergency!
I never thought that this mindset had percolated down to our IT honchos, who despite making huge profits and comfortably sitting on cash reserves are issuing pink slips, increasing working hours and have even frozen the salaries. One of the IT companies resorting to such measures is sitting on a cash pile of Rs 11,000 crore! But then hoarding of wealth is also an addiction. Once you become a part of it, you simply like to see the pyramid of wealth scaling new heights every month and have zero tolerance if the pace of the increase slows down.
I also worked in the private sector for 35 years. They all considered removing an employee, unless found indulging in dishonest means, a virtual profane even when the units is under cash losses.
Indeed it is a time for our IT honchos to go back to the surviving captains of the old school of management, whose general message was, ‘Remember, if job is important to you, it is still more important to the man down the line. Think hundred times before giving any benefit but once given do not take it away because it will hurt him as it hurts you
As a child I had the good fortune of having my grandmother around me. She always had anecdotes up her sleeves. One such anecdote she narrated to me was when my grandfather was an officer in the British Empire.
He was then posted in Ramnagar near Varanasi. Our neighbour happened to be a businessman known as Sethji, who had a roaring silk business. His huge ‘haveli’ had a fleet of horse carts and an army of servants. His wife’s favourite past time was keeping the famed jewellers of Varanasi engaged.
Our family later shifted to Shimla in summer. When we went back after three months, I found amazing changes in the haveli. The number of servants had reduced to a trickle and it was no more the favourite destination of jewellers. Of course, the most glaring change was visible on Sethani’s face.
My inquisitiveness had bottled up and one day when Sethani exchanged pleasantries, I broke the ice to know about this change and she almost broke down. There was a sudden and unexpected change in their business fortune. They were making a loss of Rs 3,000 every month, she said sadly.
After a week or so we were in splits when their accountant disclosed to us that earlier the monthly profit of the Seth’s firm was about Rs 6,000, which had reduced to Rs 3,000 and it made Sethji declare emergency!
I never thought that this mindset had percolated down to our IT honchos, who despite making huge profits and comfortably sitting on cash reserves are issuing pink slips, increasing working hours and have even frozen the salaries. One of the IT companies resorting to such measures is sitting on a cash pile of Rs 11,000 crore! But then hoarding of wealth is also an addiction. Once you become a part of it, you simply like to see the pyramid of wealth scaling new heights every month and have zero tolerance if the pace of the increase slows down.
I also worked in the private sector for 35 years. They all considered removing an employee, unless found indulging in dishonest means, a virtual profane even when the units is under cash losses.
Indeed it is a time for our IT honchos to go back to the surviving captains of the old school of management, whose general message was, ‘Remember, if job is important to you, it is still more important to the man down the line. Think hundred times before giving any benefit but once given do not take it away because it will hurt him as it hurts you
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Yoga is about balance in life.
Just imagine -a successful industry honcho with chain of successful ventures behind him is on a mission to sign a deal that he believes would bring him in the list of the who’s who of the corporate world. He is blissfully enjoying every moment of his flight when his thoughts are curtly interrupted by the co-pilot’s announcement.
“I have good news as well as bad news. The good news is that we are going very fast and the bad news is that we are lost!”
Yes, it is true of most of us having lost a sense of balancing in the rat race to attain our materialistic pursuits and in the process have tragically trapped ourselves. Tragedy is that it is happening when we have more time saving devices at our disposal than what we had at any time in the past but we seem to have less time at our disposal to think about what we are doing.
The Gita says that Yoga is all about balance. That one is required to perform all his duties- as the beloved to his wife, as the dutiful son, as the earning householder, as a selfless friend, a responsible subject and a caring neighbour etc. all in appropriate proportion. So much is the importance of balancing in life that even by chasing the blessings of Almighty all the time by ignoring our duties in this workaday world we will not get the much cherished salvation -supreme happiness.
Vedas by dividing the life in to four phases ie brahamcharya, grihastha, sanyas and vanprastha emphasize the need for a balance in life. Similarly Buddha says that best way to practice Buddhism is by performing ones duties towards parents, wife, children, neighbours, guru & seers and social groups.
In ancient India the individual was encouraged to live in harmony with himself, his family, his environment and community by bringing about a balance between his inner and outer realities. Growing conflicts, struggle to survive, broken homes, youth going astray, addictions, crimes and suicides all what we are seeing today even in the homes which are rolling in wealth is because of the fact that we are not maintaining the balance what we are required to do. For example TV is a useful gadget in the house but to use it to keep children busy when the working mother is away to her place of work harms the children enormously. Likewise mobile has made difference in the lives of every body but to use it where your physical presence is required spoils the things.
How to restore this balance? Spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. By the time we realize that our parents needed us by their side, they are no more.
Say a kind word to someone who looks up to you for every thing in his early days, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Even with your entire accumulated wealth you can not buy back the childhood of your child. Therefore give him time and attention even if it is at the expense of so many other things which your bigger pay package can buy.
Give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a thing. Don’t forget to spare some time to make difference in the lives of many who were not born as privileged as you were.
Remember, to give a feeling to your partner that you care for him, with your actions and not merely by words. Simply crooning ‘I love you’ “I care for you” to your partner will not do unless you really mean it and show it to him with your actions.
Most important is don’t look for some auspicious time to start all these otherwise it will be too late. Life is like a dew drop. We will do well to keep in mind the friability of life.
“I have good news as well as bad news. The good news is that we are going very fast and the bad news is that we are lost!”
Yes, it is true of most of us having lost a sense of balancing in the rat race to attain our materialistic pursuits and in the process have tragically trapped ourselves. Tragedy is that it is happening when we have more time saving devices at our disposal than what we had at any time in the past but we seem to have less time at our disposal to think about what we are doing.
The Gita says that Yoga is all about balance. That one is required to perform all his duties- as the beloved to his wife, as the dutiful son, as the earning householder, as a selfless friend, a responsible subject and a caring neighbour etc. all in appropriate proportion. So much is the importance of balancing in life that even by chasing the blessings of Almighty all the time by ignoring our duties in this workaday world we will not get the much cherished salvation -supreme happiness.
Vedas by dividing the life in to four phases ie brahamcharya, grihastha, sanyas and vanprastha emphasize the need for a balance in life. Similarly Buddha says that best way to practice Buddhism is by performing ones duties towards parents, wife, children, neighbours, guru & seers and social groups.
In ancient India the individual was encouraged to live in harmony with himself, his family, his environment and community by bringing about a balance between his inner and outer realities. Growing conflicts, struggle to survive, broken homes, youth going astray, addictions, crimes and suicides all what we are seeing today even in the homes which are rolling in wealth is because of the fact that we are not maintaining the balance what we are required to do. For example TV is a useful gadget in the house but to use it to keep children busy when the working mother is away to her place of work harms the children enormously. Likewise mobile has made difference in the lives of every body but to use it where your physical presence is required spoils the things.
How to restore this balance? Spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. By the time we realize that our parents needed us by their side, they are no more.
Say a kind word to someone who looks up to you for every thing in his early days, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Even with your entire accumulated wealth you can not buy back the childhood of your child. Therefore give him time and attention even if it is at the expense of so many other things which your bigger pay package can buy.
Give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a thing. Don’t forget to spare some time to make difference in the lives of many who were not born as privileged as you were.
Remember, to give a feeling to your partner that you care for him, with your actions and not merely by words. Simply crooning ‘I love you’ “I care for you” to your partner will not do unless you really mean it and show it to him with your actions.
Most important is don’t look for some auspicious time to start all these otherwise it will be too late. Life is like a dew drop. We will do well to keep in mind the friability of life.
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