"We would
frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that
produced them."
—Francois de La
Rochefoucauld (French, 1613-1680)
Word
for the day
Chimerical (adj)
Wildly fanciful; highly unrealistic, e.g., a chimerical plan.
Malice
towards none
Now if the government has
decided to change some conventional datelines, why not adopt calendar year as
uniform financial year for businesses and the government. If for nothing else,
for the sake of ease of doing business!
First random thought this morning
Rahul Gandhi says he neither believes in caste system, nor
endorses it. Well if truly means it, it is quixotic.
In the current political context, especially in view of the forthcoming
UP election where caste consideration are prominent in selecting candidates and
whole electioneering process, if he wants Congress to make a fresh beginning by
rising above caste based politics, it is truly chivalrous.
However, for a person aspiring to be PM of 125cr Indians, denying
a deep rooted social system, just because past 100-150years have seen it being
misused and manipulated for petty political consideration, could be an act
misplaced enthusiasm.
NDA may not be learning from UPA's mistakes
The latest NSSO report on the Economic Census in the country
raises a number of questions on the government programs, policies and
priorities. For example, consider the following:
(a) About 96% establishment
have less than 5 workers. Another 3% have 6-9 people employed. Only three
states - Tamil Nadu (13.81%), West Bengal (11.07%) and Maharashtra (10.02%)
have more than 10% establishment with 10 or more workers.
Most of the legislations relating to employment and social
security provisions (ESI, EPF, Gratuity, Bonus etc.) apply only to the
establishments with 10 or more hired workers. Implying that only ~1% of the
total private work force is eligible for statutory social security benefits.
(b) Live stock accounts for
87% of the agri sector related establishments. The whole of it cannot be dairy
farming.
The whole beef related controversy must be reassessed in this
light. It may just not be a religious issue. It might have serious
socio-economic and even political implications.
(c) Out of 1.87mn
handicraft/handloom establishments, employing 4.2mn people, 79% were family
affairs without any hired worker.
From my experience I know for sure that a large number of these
establishments employ household children as workers.
In my knowledge none of the legislative provision or policies
designed to prevent child labour and promote child safety and security deals
adequately with a parent employing his child for his business, as the child is
not a hired worker in this case.
(d) About 36% of business
establishment were operated from the home of the Self Owner, while another ~18%
are operated from outside the home without any fixed structure.
From my experience I know that most of these business
establishments may not exactly be "authorized" from civic and town
planning view point. This creates number of problems from everyone. Grocery and
other daily need shops operating from homes; tailoring shops; automobile repair
shops create nuisance for the neighborhood; pose environment and safety hazard;
put pressure on civic amenities like power, water and sanitation; motivate
corruption; and above all lead to serious problem of child labor, underemployment
and disguised unemployment. Town planners, civic administrations, and
government must recognizes & accept this phenomenon to find acceptable
solutions.
(e) Retail trade (~35%)
and Manufacturing (~23%) are dominant non-agricultural activities in the
country.
Congress party positioned itself aggressively for FDI in multi
brand retail without taking this segment in confidence and explaining them that
it would lead to better employment opportunity for them; and lost elections.
NDA is repeating that mistake....to continue
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