My Viewpoint

Going by the news reports on the spending of tax payers money by the MPs and ministers and governments one would wonder when will we the people of India get a break and how long these political class test our patience. At times during national calamities we in corporate or in private sector donate a days salary to the prime minister's relief fund etc. During economic down turn some of the corporate leaders take a cut in their salaries and employees were asked to reduce the travel costs etc. The political leaders who are supposed to lead by an example are not willing to do the same way as the salaried class. They do not want to give up their luxuries like stay in five star hotels or business class travel in air. They come out with all the excuses why they should not be giving up the luxuries. They spend a lakh a night in the five star hotels at the expense of taxpayer money. In simple words, the political leaders and ministers do not want to mingle with the common person, interact w...

Anti-corruption reforms have a good chance of success only when they are moved by a top leader and persistent enough to overcome bureaucratic resistance and inertia, according to experts. They also have to involve civil society and be free from political manipulation. When corruption becomes ingrained in the culture or is seen as part of, the daily struggle for survival, reforming governance becomes particularly difficult. When people get used to bribes, when they have financial obligations supported by bribes, it is very difficult to stop.

Way back in 1998 I did a case study along with my batch during my MBA at International Management Institute, New Delhi. Dr. Ajit Prasad a professor in strategy, gave us a case study titled “Should TTD be taken over by Government and maintain?” We all debated and concluded that it would be better if government does not meddle with TTD as governments lacks credibility and haunted filled with corrupt people. I had little idea then that I would be witnessing those scenarios we discussed, 10 years later. Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara the powerful God of Hindu faith managed by TTD is a richest temple next to Vatican City in the world, is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Upon hearing the news on corruption in TTD like many Hindus, my feelings were hurt. I am not particularly in support of any political party and do not want to be branded either. However, I must say ever since congress government in Andhra Pradesh took over the reins of government it encouraged and indulged in...

Pervasive corruption in our country tarnishes our image. It also discourages investors, who expect fair treatment and transparent dealings. As the country grows and integrates with the world economy, corruption continues to be an impediment to harnessing the best technology and resources," Today I was chatting with a few fellow residents of our society. One of them narreted his experience with Pune traffic police and their rude and corrupt behavior. His vehicle has a number plate, which does not belong to Maharashtra. He was carrying original driving license, original PUC and photocopies of all other documents that include NOC. To his surprise, the traffic constable asked him to pay Rs 3000/ as fine since the vehicle is not registered in Maharashtra. After arguing and wasting much of his time, he settled down for Rs 200 and let him go without giving him any receipt. Very familiar story is not it. We come across many such cases involving traffic police who lurk in the shadow, away ...

Jaswant Singh's comments on Jinnah and Nehru on partition of India created a furor in the political circles especially in BJP and a wide coverage by media to it as if we do not have any other major issues to report or discuss. Is it necessary or important to debate whether it is Jinnah or Nehru and congress leaders’ attitude towards Indian Muslim League that divided India or whether Jinnah is a secular Muslim leader? Until recently, I viewed BJP as an alternative national party to congress with good political leaders in its cadre but not anymore. The party now has only aging leaders and does not have any young blood or leaders with a mass appeal. Narendranath Modi is an exception. This incidence of expulsion of Jaswant Singh because he has written a book that is not in the line of party’s view indicates that the party does not have any internal democracy. This expulsion reflects its leaders lost wisdom. Why because Jaswant Singh in his book said it is because of Nehru and his congr...

This another charge that is being reintroduced. If one has to limit number of transactions at an ATM, at the branch to avoid unnecessary and unreasonable chrges levyed by banks then there is no meaning for on demand or online transactions. Some more charges are in waiting. Surprisingly RBI agreed to these charges. Banks curtail use of third-party ATMs, put limit Shared via AddThis

Recently while applying for a visa to Israel I had to submit a 3 months attested statement of accounts of a bank. So I fired the print from my net banking facility and took the print out to the private bank which is nearby with a hope that I can get back to office within 5 minutes. At the bank, I was asked to fill in a form and was told that it would cost me 59 rupees to get it attested. “Excuse me what for these charges are?” I inquired the bank executive across the counter, “by the way I have my salary account here”, thought I could get a waiver of the charges. “Sill you would be charged sir” she replied, “These charges are towards verification of your signature and for attestation”. 59 rupees just for verification and attestation?!! Since I was in a rush, I said, “OK then please debit my account accordingly”. This triggered to me to think more about the bank charges. I had requested the bank executive to give me the list of all charges levied by the bank that includes duplicate sta...

Five Challenges Social Media Will Bring to Business Shared via AddThis

Of all the threats, which India faces, the biggest is China. Other threats like Pakistani Army attitude and terrorists are proxy threats. China represents a threat in itself. India and China are two civilizations and a conflict between these two will be a civilizational conflict. Chinese Proxy Pakistan has been engaged by USA for good. Notwithstanding the Pakistani Army macho claims on its successes on Taliban and Taliban controlled areas, is Pakistan Vietnam in making. Wake up call for Pakistan fixated Indian myopic leaders and military generals that its time India looks at containing the real problem: China. India has no credible strategy in place to contain China. The current Congress leadership is more interested in keeping themselves in power and Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have better relations with China than what India has. The fact is that, Indians have been living under the shadow of Chinese ballistic missiles positioned in Chinese occupied Tibet (COT) and live a borrowed l...

Sharukh, Abdul Kalam, Mamooty,Imran Khan and even Kamal Hasan (2002) have something in common. They were all detained in US immigration authorities in US. All of them are Muslim or have name similar to a Muslim name. Many other famous and not-so-famous Indians have been subjected to such harassment by the US authorities in the past. This racial profiling of people and their detention under suspicion that they are terrorists is not a fair practice. One can understand the tight security drill followed by the US after the 9/11 attacks. No one objects to security checks but at the same time, they should be careful in detaining people and should allow people to prove themselves. It is not the right way to screen the suspected terrorists. At the same time, I admire their system and work culture. In the US, if a junior officer is following the rulebook, nobody can do anything about it. In India, the powerful and famous are used to making calls to their ‘contacts’ in right places and getting a...