Does India need reservations?

Sir,

 try to make people competitive. The govt gestures show that the ST/SC/BC segments in are not self sustainable, good for nothing  and forever wait for the govt to hand down something for their livelihood. Kindly identify the reasons for their challenging productivity, address them and support these segments' growth.

India is progressing in much more faster pace than the world can imagine.  It's time for the branded ST/SC/BC,  to step up with confidence,  move out of reservation
stigma and be part of upper classes with dignity and pride.

Govts' actions are branding them forever as Backward and not motivating them to progress. .

Backward category, eligible for govts' support, should be identified with economical status. Economically backwardness also needs to be addressed with systematic strategic approach which should be every govt's aim to eradicate within a time frame and take its people on progress path irrespective of cast creed religion or social status.

Otherwise at the time of announcing a kind of 'maafi', or subsidy or reservation, the govts should accept their  failure in addressing the core issues, explain strategies for improvement and development of the segment,  to gain confidence of public.

Jai Hind!

అయ్యా,

దయచేసి ప్రజలకి పోటీపడగలిగే  సత్తా ఇవ్వండి. రాయతీలు,  రిజర్వేషన్లు మొదలైనవి ప్రభుత్వ పుస్తకాలలోని షె.తెగలు/ కులాలు/ వెనకబడిన తరగతుల కూటమికి స్వంతంగా నిలదొక్కుకోవటం రాదు, వారు చాతగానివారని మరియు వారు ఎప్పటికీ వారి జీవనాధారం కోసం ప్రభుత్వ భృత్యులుగా వుంటున్నారని నిరూపిస్తున్నాయి. దయచేసి వారి ఉత్పాదక శక్తికి ఆటంకాలని కనిపెట్టి, దృష్టిలో పెట్టుకుని, వారి అభివృద్ధికై పాటుపడండి.   

ప్రపంచ అంచనాలని తారుమారు చేస్తూ భారతదేశం అభివృద్ధి చెందుతోంది.ఇదే సమయం బడుగువర్గాలు అన్న ముద్ర పడిన వారు ఆత్మస్ధర్యంతో తక్కువ జాతివారమన్న నూన్యతా భావం నుండి బయటపడి అగ్రజాతుల వారిమన్న భావంతో ముందడుగు వేయటానికి.

ప్రభుత్వంవారి పనులు, జీవితాంతం వీరు  'వెనుకబడినవారు' అన్న ముద్రవేసి వారి అభివృద్ధికి ప్రేరణ కరువైయేటట్టు చేస్తున్నాయి.

వెనకబడినవారు అన్న గుర్తింపు, ప్రభుత్వ చేయూతకి అర్హత వుండటం అన్నది ఆర్ధికస్ధోమత మీద ఆధారపడి వుండాలి. ఆర్ధికంగా వెనకబడి వుండటాన్ని కూడా  ప్రతి ప్రభుత్వం ఒక పద్ధతి ప్రకారం ఒక ప్రణాళికావ్యూహంతో
ఒక నిర్ణీత సమయంలో నియంత్రించి కుల జాతి మతాలతో నిమిత్తం లేకుండా సమస్త ప్రజలనూ అభివృద్ధి పధంలో నడిపించాలి.

లేదా రాయితీలని కానీ మాఫీలని కానీ బడుగు వర్గాలకు రిజర్వేషన్ అని కానీ ప్రభుత్వం ప్రకటన చేసేటప్పుడు,  తమ పాలనా అసమర్ధతని, అభివృద్ధి ప్రణాళికా సవరణలని వివరిస్తూ ప్రజా విశ్వాసం పొందాలి.

జై హింద్!

India - Child Labour Act 1986 - A reality check

As I read the Act and look around in the Indian cities, towns and villages, I ask myself ,

• what good is this Act for the common man?
• Ten years from now, is life going to be better or worse for the hundreds and thousands of children from low class income and below poverty line?
• How many lives have improved with this Act? 
• Does this Act really help the needy or it just satisfied a few so called intellectuals' appetite for a change with no real benefit to the society?

In 2007, the Ministry of Women and Child Development reported the presence of over 3 million female sex workers in India, with 35.47 percent of them entering the trade before the age of 18 years. Human Rights Watch puts the figure of sex workers in India at around 20 million, with Mumbai alone being home to 200,000 sex workers, the largest sex industry centre in Asia. The number of prostitutes rose by 50% between 1997 and 2004. Child prostitution is a major problem in India involving around 1.2 million children.

The above is an extract from the internet. Just one of the issue the country is facing. Coming to the point in hand, Child Labour Act, can the above menace of the society can be stopped by this Act?

Just walking on the streets and standing among the now the children on the roads, one can clearly see why this Act should not be around.

In my small personal experience itself I have witnessed how girls being taken away from their secured domestic jobs. The jobs which made them live with honour and dignity. They might have worked hard day and night. But they slept without fear.

Why not bring an Act which restricts child birth? No excess mouths to feed, no challenge of money and no child labour!

Why not make education compulsory so that all the children who are thrown on streets have something to do instead of roaming around the streets and trying out drugs and becoming petty thieves!

Why not

Why not

Ladies and Gentlemen of the educated creed of social justice, understand the issue indepth and then fight for any cause.

4 దక్షిణ భారత భాషల్లో 27 పంచాంగ నక్షత్రములు

Buying Private Apartment/Property in Singapore - 2

In Singapore, there are two types of residential properties available for buyers.

1. HDB - Housing Development Board. A government entity. As there are many conditions to buy, sell and rent HDB properties, it is very well advised to check HDB website every time you want to make a transaction. Depending on many conditions, government modifies and improves the eligibility criteria to own and hold a HDB flat.

2. Private property. In Singapore, private residential developed property is available in the market in three categories - 99 years, 999 years and freehold. The number of years are a condition which regulates the cost of the land which the property developer pays to the government. 

There are a few points or things one needs to know before buying a condo / private apartment. Very important for foreigners and for some locals too. I am putting these point together out of my personal experience and for general knowledge. Now a days a lot of information is available on net. Search and read. Talk to experienced property agents, friends and colleagues.

Here is some general information other than available list of properties, bank loan conditions and investment.

First is, MCST - short form for Management Corporation Strata Title. Every foreigner who has no idea of Strata Tile has to understand this completely. Generally most of us understand that when we buy a flat or an apartment, we will acquire not only the area we live in, we will also get a proportionate share in the common land in the premises ex: parking area, corridors, roof (if there is no penthouse), all that area that is commonly used by and is available to all the residents. In my knowledge, the share is mentioned in the Title Deed the owner holds under his name and registered in the local Registration Office.

Every property owner is treated as a shareholder of the property. When a sale takes place, new share holder (the buyer) name will be replaced in the MCST in place of the previous share holder (the seller). MCST is also a legal entity that control, manage and administer the common property for the benefit of all the subsidiary proprietors constituting the management corporation.

Building and Construction Authority (BCA) regulates, as the name suggests, every aspect of construction in Singapore. It gives complete information about owning and living in private apartments and condominiums in its publication - Strata living in Singapore. 
Apart from the guidelines given in general in Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA), living in a private flat/apartment/condo requires knowledge of much more. One example is, repairs or extensions or alterations one would like to carry out in his premises. Usually MCST refers to BCA guidelines for private properties. Check the below links for an understanding. However, follow the MCST rules. Some MCSTs may modify some rules according to their convenience, within legal boundaries.

Build it right - Minor works that do not require BCA approval - http://www.bca.gov.sg/WorksApprovalNotRequired/others/booklet.pdf

List of Minor Development and Building works that do not require approval from BCA or URA  - http://www.bca.gov.sg/WorksApprovalNotRequired/exemptions_list.html

Burger King - Singapore

My recent visit to BurgerKing for a pack of onion rings and drink made me think about a few factors like value for money, fancy eating out habits etc etc

 

 

I paid about S$15++ for two drinks and two packs of onion rings. Later my visit to NTUC made me realize that my eating out cost can buy the same items four times more. All I have to do is spend a few more mnts in the kitchen to heat up oil to fry onion rings.

Singapore - McDonald's Aloo Tikkie - Latest - Septembrer 2013

Yesterday I was at Justin Bieber's concert part of F1.

Nope. I am not a fan of JB. I was chopping for my daughter. Different story.

Now, coming to the point, there, I saw a girl holding a news paper with the below pic. Surprised that a teenager was with a news paper? Yeah. Today, Newpaper etc etc were distributed at the CityHall MRT - as they regularly do, but unfortunately they all became either waste paper to hold all these teenagers' bottoms for hours or spreads for their food. I couldn't take pics otherwise, I would have written how eco irresponsible the organisers and public can be.

Goodbye Aloo!!

Anyway, the point is, McDonald's is saying Goodbye to the Aloo!!

I am sure they might have got good feedback on their lousy attempt. So, vegans/vegetarians, we are back to square one with no choice in McDonald's except for Waffles for breakfast for those who can tahan.

Buying Private Apartment/Property in Singapore - 1

Buying HDB (Housing Development Board) house in Singapore is a walk on the cake. Everything is in open and very clear. This includes the procedure to find, renovate, apply for permissions etc etc

From internet

However, when buying an apartment in a private condo, or EC a few points must be taken note of. I am writing this out of my experience and observation. If you think of or get a few more, add them to the list.

1. You have to first check your eligibility to buy. Though Singapore government is open to foreign investment and inviting talent, it is also very cautious about fulfilling its primary obligation towards its citizens by increasing affordability of living conditions. Part of this is imposing strict guidelines to buy and sell properties.

(Info - URA home buyer's guide, Living in HDB flats: Purchasing private property)

2. Of course you might have already worked out on the most important factor - Vitamin M - Money. How much cash, CPF, bank loan, Property tax, Stamp duty etc etc

(Info - MAS regulation 2013, CPF - buying a house, DBS mortgage affordability calculator, FAQ Stamp Duty , Buying a Home - MoneySense)

3. Next comes the location. Where do you want your home to be? away from crowd? or middle of the buzz? It completely depends on your taste and purpose. To get some idea on facilities, pricing, etc etc check sites like - Property Guru, ST Property or any other you find through your search engine.

4. You have done your homework on location and finance and found an agent to help you. Great! Now you find yourself standing in the middle of the condo, beside the pool and admiring the view! Superb! Now start asking these questions:-

From internet

• How many times a week will I be using the pool?
• Is there a Gym? how much workout can I do in this?
• Other facilities - Karaoke, Barbeque etc etc, how many times a month really me or my family use?
• etc etc

You are asking all these questions to justify the monthly maintenance. If you and your family (if you have any) will be using all the facilities once a month or in a quarter is fair enough. If you don't swim, don't do barbeque, hardly use gym once in a week, the money you are paying for maintenance is for others to enjoy and definitely a waste or unnecessary expenditure in your account.

If you are not so keen on the facilities and can live without a swimming pool in your compound which you may or may never use, a gym where you don't know what to do, then my suggestion is to go for those condos where you don't have

all these unnecessary bits occupying space and costly to maintain. Singapore government encourages healthy living among all its residents. Unlike many other Asian countries, the government didn't stop at 'promoting' health but moved forward to build sports complexes and public swimming pools. You can opt to go to these places and pay per use instead of incurring a fixed expenditure every month unnecessarily.

5. Fine, your kids want to learn swimming, you and your wife intend to lose some weight or get into shape. OK, this is the place you want to live. Next, approach the owner, if you can, or ask the agent to get a copy of the 'House Rules' (or some other similar title) to understand the dos and don'ts in and around the condo. The rules will give you a fair idea of living in the gated community. Though all the condos are bounded by the common rules stated by the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act, the condo Management Council, formed by the residents can still bring out guidelines for everyday maintenance.

6. By rule, the owner must pass a copy of house rules to the buyer. However, if the owner / agent says don't have a copy of the rules book, never mind, just walk up to the Management Office and introduce yourself as prospect buyer of one of the units and ask for a copy. If the Manager hesitates to give one, be polite to borrow one to read there. If you like the place and investing a fair share of your savings in to the unit, trust me, you will find the time to read the rules which will bind you down for a long time to come.

Rules set out conditions of living in the condo. Ex: Pets not allowed or birds not allowed as pets, children below 12  cannot roam around the condo without adults, visitors with vehicles cannot stay beyond 11 pm or overnight visitor car parking is not allowed, installation of any religious artifact outside the door or window visible to others is not permitted, etc etc. It can be anything. However, by reading and understanding the guidelines, you will not let some guard (usually they are the ones to do this sort of job after office hours as the Management Office works only during standard 'office' hours) tell you later that you are not following rules.

7. Now you read the house rules and can imagine your life in the surroundings. Decide whether you are in or out of the deal. Or if you see something missing in the rules book, seek clarity. Know your rights and obligations before committing.

By pointing out these small details, I am not discouraging you from buying private property. You deserve to live in a comfortable and affordable place of your dreams. I am only asking you to include my personal few points to your check list, if you can.

Good luck in finding your dream home!!

McDonald's Aloo Tikkie - Vegetarian food - Singapore



 Finally, after seeing so many colourful ads in the news papers, few friends recommendations, I had to go and buy the new McDonald's Aloo Tikkie!

 

Here is what I felt after the first bite and gulped it down with some water flavoured with milo. I paid 50% extra on the whole meal and successfully contributed to the company's profits and charity activities for the year.

 

The aloo pattie is so bland and bad that if the company intends to continue the same item on the menu should stop using the existing cook and food researcher and consider hiring a new cook or research head for vegetarian section.

 

As usual, the bun used for the burger is dry felt somewhat old and not fresh.

 

The two pathetic tomato pieces felt so sad that I quickly closed the burger and wrapped it in its original casket sorry cover.

 

If McDonald's really want to offer a vegetarian choice in its menu and or attract a fair share of profits from the vegetarian or vegan group, they really should start with something better than this.
 

Last year we tried almost similar in India and threw more than half of the burger in the trash. Couldn't imagine such lousy horrible burger from a company which boasts world wide reputation. The only thing I can imagine that is contributing to its existence in that market is nothing but the new craze and money that is circulating in Indians. Nothing else!
 

My final words on this is - Not at all worth the amount spent. If you can find a toast box or Ya kun kaya near by spend the money on their toast. Every penny worth.

Latest - is the burger a hit with the customers? NO. To get rid of the stuff already prepared and/or to meet the pattie number target of the month, McDonald's has put Double Aloo Tikki burger on offer! Instead of one pattie you get two.



Kailash Purbath - Vegetarian food - Singapore

The best పచ్చిమిరపకాయ బజ్జి in Singapore!!!



Last week during our weekly grocery shopping in Mustafa, we went to get some chat at Kailashparbat. However, we wanted to go for Mirchi bajji and give it a try.

Whenever we see mirchi bajji on menu, in any restaurant, we order. Just to see how different the restaurant can make. We ate plain chilli, chilli stuffed with potato and chilli stuffed with amchoor and besan. Mostly, it will be chilli as it is or with aloo. There will be too much of besan or chilli. Sometimes too much of baking soda in the bajji batter that biting into the bajji will be like biting into sponge. Oily sponge.

This time when we ordered, we got ready for again some aloo stuffing which completely kills the taste and sometimes shape of the chilli. But what we ordered when it came to the table looked like my mom's!! Very less batter. Enough to cover the mirchi. Still with lots of hesitation and no expectation we bit into the bajji.

WOW!!! The mirchi bajji not only looked like but TASTED like my mom's!!!!!  [Just looks and some what taste. still nothing beats my mom's :-D]. Not too much batter, stuffed with jeera, ajwain and some spices. The mirchi hotness is less but enough to tango with the stuffed masala.

Mirchi lovers, next time when you are around the area, try for yourself :-) The restaurant is just in front of Mustafa's 2nd Exit.

 

Caste System in India - my view

Caste is a stigma in today's Indian culture and society. The thousands of years of practice of caste system which was based on pure logistics of the society then, is manipulated along the way and now has become an issue.

If observed closely, ANY aspect of the ancient Indian system is not created just for the sake of fun. The society was divided into various categories to take care of various needs of the community living. If history is touched on this subject, there are four groups in the Indian caste system. I say history because today the original groups are disintegrated and now they are left in the society as a few 'names' sometimes used for political nonsense or some selfish motives.

These groups were

1. Kshatriyas - their job was to maintain security. Internal and also external peace is their business. Maintaining law and order in the society was in their hands. Every community has to be bound on certain rules for peaceful living. The duty of the Kshatriyas was to make sure that certain rules and regulations are followed in the community. When outsiders attack the community, stand in guard and make sure that the community is safe. These were the warriors of the community.

2. Brahmins - this group is given the responsibility to give support to the community through spiritual propaganda. Man is a social animal. Every human psychologically depends on something to grow strong in heart and hold on to when crisis strikes. Faith and belief are the two pillars of a community's existence. Brahmins were to make sure that the community stays together through regular meetings in temples, maintain faith so that a sort of bond is built among the community. Brahmins were the brain of the society. They helped forming laws for human existence. They, along with other community leaders formed rules and regulations for the society to follow. They were the heads of spirituality. They explained the rules of living and norms of the society as prescribed in vedas.

3. Vysyas - without economy, there is no existence of society. Even bartering had some rules. For a community to flourish and progress, Vysyas, the business people, made sure that goods are bought and sold. Whether barter system or invention of money, this group made sure that the people work and work and work for something to buy, possess, and were always busy.

4. Sudras - This group was involved in the maintenance of the hygienic part of the community. This group was exposed to germs and bacteria. Due to the non availability of personal hygiene products, (today's commonly known - Dettol, Lifebuoy etc) this group was kept away from the social activities. Primarily from the temples, which were the main community gathering places, with a fear of contamination and unknown contagious diseases.

This  thousands of years of practice came into question in late 20^th centuary. The reason was, over the years, the Indian sub-continent faced many invasions, religiously and politically, that made the community shut down and close up its fists on intellectual thoughts. This caused a gap between groups. Nobody were allowed to question the system. Just follow, maintain and exist. Leaders were scared that any discussion may lead to an alternative thought which may give chance for the other religions/faiths to enter the system and corrupt.

Unfortunately, this resulted in the loss of invaluable knowledge and deterioration of the system itself. As the knowledge was lost, new leaders failed in answering new questions raised along with the changing times. Without the ultimate wisdom, sustained for thousands of years, the system could not support the invasion of new thoughts. As the wave of change engulfed the inquisitive minds of the new generation looking at the new direction, the system finally collapsed.

A new society started forming on the old ruins. But the old could not be forgotten. Some selfish mortals used the old caste system to develop new thoughts. Unfortunately, these were not for the good of the society. These new thoughts didn't support peaceful community living.

After WWII, actions were taken by the government and NGOs to bring out a difference in the society and culture. This happened because of economic revolution in the West and its influence in the living conditions in India. No longer the family businesses or passing down skills to the next generation were maintained. People were given choice to choose their profession and move about. The institution of Joint Family seized to exist. All this questioned the existence of caste system.

Is it possible to erase the entire caste system? Is it possible to change the thousands of years of mindset? If so, for what? 

The question should be why? Why do we have to change the caste system of Hinduism? Like in any other religion or faith, which are known to have diverse thoughts of faith, like Catholics, Protestants, Seventh-day Adventists etc etc of Christianity, or Sunnis and Shias of Islam, and like many other faiths and beliefs on this earth, Hinduism has few diversed ideologies. Why is it a big issue?

Sometimes, past is very much brought into the discussions with passionate accusations on society where certain castes are pointed out as deprived and under-privileged. These are simply politicized and manipulative senarios to divert the focus to pain and other psychological emotional issues from the real matters in hand. 

If history is brought into every discussion, then there shouldn't be any harmonious existence of muslims, christians or any other faith in India as all are brought in and none were existed a thousand years ago. The caste system discussions were done completely without any knowledge of the vedic period. In a secular country like India, any previlage to any one section of the community is criminal act. The constitution says, equality. But the political wing brought in reservation system for their own selfish reasons. 

It is a laughing scenario to say SCs were deprived of many things. Wasn't India as a whole deprived of freedom a century ago? If SCs were so deprived, how come the country has a constitution put together by a SC, Ambedkar? How did he survive, how did he studied law, how did he lived so freely? All the politicised drama to manipulate the entire country by a few educated at that time which is still continuing. 

After a few decades, today's scenario will become history, and there will be new accusations and new fights over the rights from a different section of the community who will be labeled as Deprived.

Can anything be done for India from this self destruction pattern which was designed and implemented by a foreign authority in fear that India may grow up to be the most powerful after its independence and will become more wealthier than it? 

Time to think rationally for the country's over all progress with an onward focus.