Do it yourself

Pollution has been a key challenge for 70 million plus people living in the National Capital Region (NCR) for more than two decades. People have been suffering from the consequences of air, water, and noise pollution. In the past decade, in particular, air pollution in the autumn and winter months has become a major crisis. The air quality of Delhi and surrounding areas deteriorates to the severely poor category, requiring several restrictions, including school shutdowns, mobility restrictions, construction ban, etc. Pollution has become a serious impediment to the health, life, and productivity of the local population. Besides, since this is the peak tourist arrival season for North India, it also negatively impacts the local economy. Every year, governments and administrations pretend to take serious note of the problem and promise to take effective steps to control the air quality. However, the problem is worsening every year. In my view, air pollution is a major issue that re...

Total apathy of common Indians towards intellectual property rights (IPR) of the originators is appalling. Use of pirated software, photocopied books, and spurious books sold on traffic signals and footpaths, unauthorized copies of branded clothes etc. is unapologetically common. Propriety and ethics are not taught in schools. It is common to see parents encouraging their wards to buy the “cheaper” alternative regardless of its legality and authenticity. Many cities have infamous “markets” for pirated software and duplicate merchandise. The disdain shown by a large majority of the population could easily be listed as one of the major inhibitors of faster growth in India. It discourages innovation at the domestic level; motivates the innovators to immigrate to foreign shores and register their innovations there; and adversely impacts the transfer of critical technology by the foreign innovators to their Indian collaborators and entities. If you are living in Delhi NCR region and tra...