Thought for the day
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines
hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the
shade."
-
Charles Dickens (English, 1812-1870)
Word for the day
Voluble (adj)
Characterized by a ready flow of speech.
(Source: Dictionary.com)
Teaser for the day
Tell me why Delhi assembly election results should
reverberate in Bihar election later this year?
Get
an idea, Sir
A friend posted me a recording of December 2012 Lok Sabha debate
on the issue of allowing 100% FDI in multi brand retail trade. It is still
amusing to see the tears the Members of Parliament shed for the poor street
vendors and local grocery stores.
Having switch the sides to the other side of aisle in the
Parliament, many who vehemently opposed Wal-Mart et. al., are proud to welcome
Alibaba and boast about the success of local Snapdeal and Flipkart (who by the
way are mostly funded by foreigners). A multitude of online grocery stores has
also mushroomed threatening the business of local grocery store and vegetable
vendor. These too are funded materially by foreign funds.
It is widely acknowledged that in India e-retailing is becoming
the next big thing after Maruti 800 and mobile telephony. The idea has been
embraced by the people at large. There is no political or civil society or popular
opposition to the idea. Even though the outcome is not materially different
from the likely outcome of allowing 100% FDI in multi brand retail trade.
The point being that the idea whose time has come always drives
the policy. The vice versa is seldom true. There are few examples where an idea
driven by policy has attained success before its due time.
Those watching the Union budget too closely for "idea
driving policies" may note that it is only a matter of time when the
government of day will roll out red carpet for Wal-Mart et. al. We have done
that in automobile and telecommunication. We shall do that in Insurance,
banking, healthcare, transportation, and education also in due course - not
because the government wants to drive this idea, but because people would have
embraced the idea.
Non-conventional power is one idea that is catching up fast with
the people. A road trip across villages of UP and Bihar would show you that
"Chinese Power Bank" are the hottest FMCG products for the power
starved. These power banks are used to keep mobile phone operational during
regular long power cuts.
Small roof top and portable solar panels is one idea whose time
has come, in my view. Rising cost of regular electricity and poor availability
will continue driving consumers in smaller towns and villages towards this
renewable source. I believe this certainly has the potential to become even a
bigger market than mobile telephony and Maruti 800.
In my view, instead of bothering too much about fiscal deficit,
if the government invests the current savings in fossil fuel subsidies in
developing the solar user base on mission basis, it could materially enhance
our country's energy security and energy efficiency on sustainable basis.
On Delhi election, I feel - (a) If AAP wins, Congress may lose
another state forever like UP and Bihar; (b) If BJP wins, with no power and
money AAP will become irrelevant in five years. Delhi elections therefore have
been a fight for survival between AAP and Delhi Pradesh Congress. For extrapolating
the Delhi results to Bihar and UP, a study of BSP history is suggested.
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