The retail sector needs to be organised…

Why is social networking silent on FDI in retail?

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The social networking is that w.m.d. that determines the reach and potenticity of any issue. Over a time it has gained immense acceptability as a media that enable public to share their thoughts and anguish. And everyone who posts has the best opinion on the issue. Everyone is expert on everything in the cyber universe!

But there seems quite a quite on the issue of FDI in retail at least in the social networking sphere! Let’s understand this. The average Facebook (social site with the largest penetration among internet users) user is a Youth.  76% is the age group from 18-34 years that indulge in it (source: socialbakers.com). This segment is the most independent, society-conscious, politically intolerant and convenience seeking brigade. So how come we see them going against FDI in Retail! After all entry of Wall Mart, Carrefour is bound to heighten the comfort and luxury of shopping. And that too at economic rates with loads of schemes and offers. Aren’t we doing it in Big Bazar or Easy Day or Vishal Mega Mart or Store 99 for a fairly long time now? And that too without any obvious side effects. These stores imply shopping convenience with loads of varieties and economies. The sector has created gainful employment for a whole genre of class be it sales, security or the supply chains. And we have not seen the shrinking of kirana and other mom & pop stores. On the other hand we have seen many of them turning their dukan into well managed professional enterprises with focus on customer service.

The reasons of them not going against foreign FDI are quite simple. But why are they not coming out in its support then?

The reason seems to be general lack of trust in governance over past some time. There are apprehensions. Why FDI in retail? This is the only sector that is recession free and ever booming in India and has largest density. Opening it shall mean allowing ‘them’ cream. Retail involves no such technology, its basically selling interaction. And when our Indian stores understand our sensibilities better why is to allow majority stake to foreigners. These International Chains are for profits and with their pockets these can create a cartel and after couple of years can push for better prices and profits for themselves and fleecing the poor middle class customer.

FDI in retail is not getting huge support it deserves because of the distrust with the current UPA2 regime. The public perceives that the matter seems to be hastened under US pressure a la Nuclear deal earlier. The government must dispel these doubts. The benefit of FDI in retail far outweighs it’s so called negatives. It will benefit the Nation in long run to organise its Retail sector. Perhaps the retailers that are presently protesting this move are the only segment that is exempted from any serious Tax scrutiny. For present government they neither pay taxes nor do they give votes (these are generally considered BJP/right wing voters). With elections round the corner these ‘down to earth’ retailers are getting the Opposition support. And the social network lends its support with its silence.

Tata’s Air Car

Air car is coming

What is this?

Will it be the next big thing? Tata Motors of India thinks so. What will the Oil Companies do to stop it? It is an auto engine that runs on air.  That’s right; air not gas or diesel or electric but just the air around us.  Take a look. Tata Motors of India has scheduled the Air Car to hit Indian streets by August 2012 The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N. For Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air to push its engine’s pistons and make the car go. The Air Car, called the “Mini CAT” could cost around 365,757 rupees in India or $8,177 US. The Mini CAT which is a simple, light urban car, with a tubular chassis, a body of fiberglass that is glued not welded and powered by compressed air.  A Microprocessor is used to control all electrical functions of the car.  One tiny radio transmitter sends instructions to the lights, turn signals and every other electrical device on the car.  Which are not many. The temperature of the clean air expelled by the exhaust pipe is between 0-15 degrees below zero, which makes it suitable for use by the internal air conditioning system with no need for gases or loss of power. There are no keys, just an access card which can be read by the car from your pocket.  According to the designers, it costs less than 50 rupees per 100 KM, that’s about a tenth the cost of a car running on gas.  It’s mileage is about double that of the most advanced electric car, a factor which makes it a perfect choice for city motorists.  The car has a top speed of 105 KM per hour or 60 mph and would have a range of around 300 km or 185 miles between refuels.  Refilling the car will take place at adapted gas stations with special air compressors.  A fill up will only take two to three minutes and costs approximately 100 rupees and the car will be ready to go another 300 kilometers. This car can also be filled at home with it’s on board compressor.  It will take 3-4 hours to refill the tank, but it can be done while you sleep. Because there is no combustion engine, changing the 1 liter of vegetable oil is only necessary every 50,000 KM or 30,000 miles.  Due to its simplicity, there is very little maintenance to be done on this car. This Air Car almost sounds too good to be true.  We’ll see in August. 2012 -this article has been received via mail and has been reproduced because of its immense significance & rising fuel prices

Ra.One invokes extreme reactions- of love & of hate…

THIS IS FOR THOSE RUNNING DOWN RA.ONE

First the figures, as they say “figures speak…”…RA.ONE collected 18 cr on its opening Thursday and 25 cr the next day. Remember Thursday was a Diwali day and the Friday collections are the largest for any movie in a single day.

Now the movie. Ra.One is no ordinary run off the mill stuff. The content requires lot of Intelligent Quotient. The movie blends this IQ and EQ, the Emotional Quotient. This is a trademark SRK film. Its an intelligent film. SRK must get kudos for trying something that is out of the world. Imagine a film where the main protagonist, who also happens to be the Producer of the film, to die not one but two times in a movie. It is brave and shows how much thought and diligence have been gone into scripting of Ra.One.

RA.One collections at the box office are being compared with recent Salman Khan’s blockbusters Dabangg & Bodygaurd. These are totally unrelated scenario. These films were pure masala entertainment with almost zero IQ. They released on Eid which is time for a particular community to go out and celebrate and what better way than a Salman Matinee.

Ra.One has its share of demerits. And it is in fashion to discredit SRK, because so much is at stake for him. The film ends with the viewer yearning for more action and thrills. Also the climax is too simplistic. That’s it. Ra. One is for young, youth and those young at heart. It takes some brain to understand the story build-up. Its tech savvy. One may not understand the nuances but could relate to the happenings. One can relate to father-son, hubby-wife, friends /colleague emotions. Isn’t it that most of us use FaceBook without understanding the complex process that is behind it.

Lets reserve our kudos for SRK and his Team for giving us Ra. One. He has taken Bollywood Cinema to new height. Where we can say that we match the best in the world. There are critics who tend to have knack of going against the tide as that can bring them some notice. These are criticising the movie and its makers. Never the less Ra.One is a milestone for Indian Cinema. As far as SRK is concerned he can rest assure that the audience will keep loving him and like with Ra. One they are going to pour all their love for him in Don2. King shall remain the King. Till then Hail Ra. One !!!

search for ‘ Swami Vivekananda’

 

THE ‘VIVEKANANDA’ AWAKENING FOR THE YOUTH

“A few heart-whole, sincere, and energetic men and women can do more in a year than a mob in a century…”says Swami Vivekananda. And he singularly change the way the world perceives us, the Indians.

India is at cross-roads and seeing some turbulent times… entrenched in the vortex of corruption and terrorism. Reign of anarchy is quite visible. Purpose of life and life of purpose is missing. One man today have mobilised the denizens of this Nation to start thinking for the Nation. The septuagenarian Anna Hazare is the chosen one to lead by example. Anna has unleashed a ‘youth’ rising to change the course the way the country functions. Thus making Swami Vivekananda’s vision and intellect all the more relevant today.

Swami Vivekananda had a short and cramped life of 39 years (1863-1902). But he made these years meaningful and served the humanity and the religion. He gracefully mixed religion with science. Accepting an opportunity to represent Hinduism at Chicago’s Parliament of Religions in 1893, Vivekananda won instant celebrity in America and a ready forum for his spiritual teaching. He tried to break the barriers across religions and societies. He had a vision to organise religion into a force of development, for upliftment of the society. “If the priests of China and India were organized, there is an enormous amount of potential energy that could be used for regeneration of society and humanity. I endeavoured to organize it in India but failed for lack of money. It may be I shall get the help I want in America. I came here to seek help for my impoverished people and I fully realized how difficult it was to get help for heathens from Christians in a Christian land. I have heard so much of this land of freedom, of liberty and freedom of thought, that I am not discouraged…” he exclaimed in that Conference of Religions in 1892.

Swami Vivekananda changed the way the world looked at India and Hinduism. An excerpt from his lecture specifies this point. In his oration Vivekananda highlights the role of Vedas in Hinduism- The Hindus have received their religion through revelation, the Vedas. They hold that the Vedas are without beginning and without end. It may sound ludicrous to this audience, how a book can be without beginning or end. But by the Vedas no books are meant. They mean the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times. Just as the law of gravitation existed before its discovery, and would exist if all humanity forgot it, so is it with the laws that govern the spiritual world. The moral, ethical, and spiritual relations between soul and soul and between individual spirits and the Father of all spirits, were there before their discovery, and would remain even if we forgot them-

God needs good people. He took Vivekananda away so young. Vivekananda symbolised the Youth Power. Vivekananda symbolised Humanity.

a view on CORRUPTION…

Must Read! Very Powerfully Worded. Bravo – Prakash Bajaj, Editor of Times of India.  LETTER OF THE EDITOR OF “THE TIMES OF INDIA  TO THE PRIME-MINISTER OF INDIA I am born and brought up in Mumbai for last fifty eight years. Believe me, corruption in Maharashtra is worse than that in Bihar . Look at all the politicians, Sharad Pawar, Chagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Bal Thackray , Gopinath Munde, Raj Thackray, Vilasrao Deshmukh all are rolling in money. Vilasrao Deshmukh is one of the worst Chief ministers I have seen. His only business is to increase the FSI every other day, make money and send it to Delhi , so Congress can fight next election. Now the clown has found new way and will increase FSI for fishermen, so they can build concrete houses right on sea shore. Next time terrorists can comfortably live in those houses, enjoy the beauty of the sea and then attack our Mumbai at their will. Recently, I had to purchase a house in Mumbai. I met about two dozen builders. Everybody wanted about 30% in black. A common person like me knows this and with all your intelligence agency & CBI, you and your finance ministers are not aware of it. Where all the black money goes? To the underworld, isn’t it? Our politicians take help of these goondas to vacate people by force. I myself was victim of it. If you have time please come to me, I will tell you everything. If this has been a land of fools, idiots, then I would not have ever cared to write to you this letter. Just see the tragedy. On one side we are reaching moon, people are so intelligent; and on the other side, you politicians have converted nectar into deadly poison.I am everything  - Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Scheduled Caste, OBC, Muslim OBC, Christian Scheduled Caste, and Creamy Scheduled Caste; only what I am not is INDIAN. You politicians have raped every part of Mother India by your policy of divide and rule. Take example of our Former President Abdul Kalam. Such an intelligent person; such a fine human being. But you politician didn’t even spare him and instead choose a worthless lady who had corruption charges and insignificant local polititian of Jalgaon WHO’S NAME ENTIRE COUNTRY HAD NOT HEARD BEFORE. Its simple logic your party just wanted a rubber stamp in the name of president. Imagine SHE IS SUPREME COMMANDER OF INDIA ‘S THREE DEFENCE FORCES. What morale you will expect from our defence forces? Your party along with opposition joined hands, because politicians feel they are supreme and there is no place for a good person. Dear Mr Prime minister, you are one of the most intelligent person, a most learned person. Just wake up, be a real SARDAR. First and foremost, expose all selfish politicians. Ask Swiss banks to give names of all Indian account holders. Give reins of CBI to independent agency. Let them find wolves among us. There will be political upheaval, but that will be better than dance of death which we are witnessing every day. Just give us ambience where we can work honestly and without fear. Let there be rule of law. Everything else will be taken care of. Choice is yours Mr. Prime Minister. Do you want to be lead by one person, or you want to lead the nation of 100 Crore people? Prakash B. Bajaj Editor Mumbai-Times of India PLEASE READ N FORWARD TO AS MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR CONTACT LIST…………..  IF EVERYONE FORWARDING THIS MESSAGE EVERYDAY, AT LEAST 10 NEW PEOPLE, THEN IT WILL REACH 1.21 BILLIONS OF INDIA INCLUDING PRIME MINISTER.    1ST DAY                            10.00 2ND DAY                         100.00 3RD DAY                      1,000.00 4TH DAY                   10,000.00 5TH DAY                 100,000.00 6TH DAY             1,000,000.00 7TH DAY           10,000,000.00 8TH DAY         100,000,000.00 9TH DAY     1,000,000,000.00 10TH DAY     1,210,193,422.00

this is a forwarded email doing the rounds…authenticity cannot be verified but the contents do evoke a strong viewpoint against corruption.

Is this a media manufactured REVOLUTION…!!

My 3 yr old Son says ‘ Papa, Anna is fighting for Us…’

the so called ‘intellectual’ class (including politicos) , are mesmerized how they not get soooo much support as Anna…how come media started following Anna and no one is following them! How lacs have gathered around the movement throughout India.

 

Surely it might be claimed that they are on Anna-board because of ‘to-be in media craze’ but genuine love and support for Anna cannot be defied or defined by a logic… These intellectuals and politicians are seeing their fiefdom in trouble and would throw any logic around to distract and dilute the support for Anna…

I AM ANNA…YOU ARE ANNA

 

The government is waiting for opportunity to break the revolution. They are trying every combination. The movement is Anti Dalit then came it is Anti Muslim. Then came it is media-generated. They called Anna- army deserter. They said Anna is steep in corruption from head to toe. They brought some Aruna Roy who wants her share in the publicity.

 

The media has the duty to inform of the happenings which they are doing. They cannot abstain themselves from the mood of the Nation. Surely their are some TV channels which are toeing the govt. line in their coverage but its their perogative. But they also cannot ignore the REVOLUTION.

Understanding Corruption !!!

Anna’s crusade against Corruption…

As the country drenches itself in the support to Anna, I was in a state of self-doubt. Do I have the right to protest against corruption ! I too am a part of a corrupt society. There are innumerable times where I have to bribe people to get my work done. There are innumerable instances where have managed to use influence to get unfair advantages. So I cannot come out openly to support the crusader, Anna…

Then I began search for my dilemma. Analysed various situations. Why Anna has manged to catch the country’s imagination? He is self less. He has stood by his people. Helped them improve their life. Has fearlessly fought against those who tread on the citizen’s ‘right to live a dignified life’.

And herein I got my answers. Corruption is not just bribing. In larger context corruption is deprivation to live peacefully. Corruption is lust for power. Corruption is not traeting every individual equal.

Corruption is and cannot be eradicated by the Civil Society proposed Jan Lok Pal. But surely such a strong law will instill fear of those in power. This fear will help those in power to think sympathetically to less fortunates. Corruption will reduce. Simple !!! Is it?