Re: Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Dear Chandu,

This whole idea will fall flat without local participation and
partnership. Believe me, i went through this when i consutructed a
school building under janmabhoomi programme. It makes a huge difference.
After constructing the building, the village approached me for small
investment (Rs 10000). I told them that if the village comes up with Rs
5000 then i will give the rest. They did and finished the job by
donating their time. We will need a programme such as Janmabhoomi.

There is a statement in today's newspaper by JC Diwaker saying that they
will spend about 25000 crores in the next three years to provide for
everything in villages (construct houses and other things). We may want
to talk to somebody in the Govt. to see if we can get a deal (as a
group) to match our money 1:3 (like before).

Things that will make a big contribution to villages

- Sanitation (first priority)
- Drinking water (in under developed regions)

Towns and villages need the following immediately to reduce health care
costs - Proper urban planning with underground drainage. This alone will
reduce the unnecessary health care costs to poor people (several people
cannot even afford to buy medicines if they get fever due to such public
infrastructure containing open drainages, trash etc..) The mosquito
problem is quite rampant even in developed towns. One must understand
how bad the situation is for poor people who seem to be the ones who get
affected with such bad hygenic conditions.

Let us form the group first and then approach YSR to match our group's
contributions at 1:2 or 1:3. In fact, i like to propose the following:

Our contribution should be matched as follows:
Our group's Rupee : Local village's Rupee: 2 Rupees from the Govt. This
is how we could ensure that there is enough partnership from both the
local project owners and the state Govt.

Hope the above helps.

Mahendra

Mahendra K. Sunkara, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
http://www.cvd.louisville.edu
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292 (use 40208 for fedex)
(502) 852-1558(ph)
(502) 852-6355(fax)
502-457-4178(cell)
>>> srchandu@gmail.com 01/09/06 11:46 AM >>>
Dear Madhu,

Good observations and thoughts. You raised very relavent points. Adding
to
your ideas, In my mind we also need to make sure the following:

- Our efforts have to be purely voluntary
- Everyone has equal opportunity to propose a project for his
village/town and be responsible for implementing it. The idea here
is, less
logistical overhead costs, better coordination and oversight.
Projects will
be short listed based on the pragmatics, and subsequently through
lottory
should there be competition!!
- All opertaions to be open and transparent. All members of AndhraOne
will serve as the board. Let us learn the game of doing work
professionally.
Every time we are ready to sponsor a project, members can signup to
be the
board to review and assess which projects to fund, and subsequent
oversight.
( A team of 5 or so will be good). This board is responsible only for
that
project. Next time around new board (possibly with some volunteers
overlapping).
- These board members will be helped by all other members of the
group!
- We need volunteers to take this idea further and figure out the
logistics for the group.
- Let us get these things taken care of by the end of the month so,
we
give give a jump start in February!
- Last but not least, to be able to promote our work, we will keep
"AndhraOne" as the facilitator for all projects. There should not be
any
individual credit rather the credit should go to the group.
Individuals will
have the satisfaction and be our heroes!!

Madhu, GV, Ramesh: would you like to be the working committee to frame
the
scheme?
Please express your interest to if you want to be part of the working
committee to get this thing rolling.

Please send your ideas and concerns! I will be involved as a volunteer,
but
I would like others to take the lead.

Regards,
Chandu

On 1/9/06, madhusreddy@gmail.com <madhusreddy@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Dear all,
>
> Its a nice thought by Ramesh.Lots of discussions are going on in this
> forum but this one is the real constructive and useful thought I have
> seen so far(in terms of giving something back to the society or
> motherland or needy...whatever you name).
>
> I think lot of people want to help,but afraid if thier contributions
> are really being used in right way.To remove that fear we all can have
> an opportunity to propose a project within budget (Max 500 dollars)
> and implement it.Let the individual take care of his village/town
> school for example.We can rotate this among all the members.
>
> To do all this we need to have a board(again this will be rotated once
> in evey 6 months or 1 year).This board will decide which projects will
> be implemented first.We also have to consider few legal issues as we
> will have to transfer money.
>
> These are just some high level thouhts (Just Mine).We can have a
> brainstorming sessions with intrested individuals and move forward.We
> can refine and make changes as we make progress.
>
> Every individual just take care of his village/town.Imagine what we
all
> together have achived after an year.
>
> Again these are just my thoughts...if anyone don't like... feel free
to
> Trash it.
>
> Regards
> Madhusudhan Reddy
>
>
>
> Chandu Sambasiva Rao wrote:
> > Excellent proposal Ramesh!
> >
> > I feel very proud of our member-friends willing to go the extra mile
to
> > make a difference in the lives of those who need us most.
> >
> > I encourage all of our members to think about it and formulate a
scheme
> > of selecting and encouraging various projects. We want our members
to
> > be in charge of what they want to do while the group pitches in.
> >
> > Anyone, from any where, with a pragmatic and directly useful
idea/plan
> > that is in reach of our group is welcome. Before I say anymore,
please
> > collaborate, and figure out how best we take this idea to execution.
> >
> > Let us shoot for at least one project a month if not more!
> >
> > Regards,
> > Chandu
>
>

--
Sambasiva Rao Chandu
http://groups.google.com/group/AndhraOne

Re: Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Madhu has a point. I think this discussion should put all the ideas on
table, as we are doing rightly so. However, I do think, it is easier to
do without involving Govt bodies in smaller projects. There is still
some commitment from the beneficiaries as we will nurture and take care
of issues related to that.

To start with, let us stay away from Govt. bodies and as the interest
grows and when we embark on bigger projects, dealing with Govt.
programs may be more worthy of volunteers' time. I think you can build
this compromise into the framework.

If the funds we are looking at is under $500 per case, may be we should
run without much of coordination with third party agencies.

I like your idea of addressing the basic needs in schools, which is
some thing we all understand and have passion for.

Regards,
Chandu
------------
It's not the hand that signs the laws that holds the destiny of
America. It's the hand that casts the ballot. --Harry S. Truman

Re: Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Dear Chandu/Mahendra,

Here are my thoughts:

I think its better we take baby steps before we take gaint steps.The
moment we think of co-ordinating with Govt Programme's or scheme's or
Bargaining with Govt or local bodies the DESIRE of the individual to
propose and implement a project gets killed.
Let us not depend or force any local or govt body to contribute(money)
in implementing our DESIRE.There will be other issues also, like a
permenant body from our side has to be in constant touch with the Govt
or local body for evey project.Which I feel is a complex task and too
early.

We need create an easy platform where an individual will just get a
project and implement with help of his family or friend or a
relative,than co-ordinating with too many bodies.The whole process will
waste individuals time and kill individuals DESIRE.

And we need to start with one activity, like schools.So only projects
that will be implemented are related to schools.There are many schools
in AP where there are no proper facilities like,black
boards,flooring,fans,proper drinking water facilities,toilets,no rooms
for few standards.The list goes on and on.

Can't we make difference if we all address these first?

Regards,
Madhusudhan Reddy

Chandu Sambasiva Rao wrote:
> >>Our contribution should be matched as follows:
> Our group's Rupee : Local village's Rupee: 2 Rupees from the Govt. This
> is how we could ensure that there is enough partnership from both the
> local project owners and the state Govt.
>
> I like Dr. Sunkara's idea. When we talk about Public Private
> Partnerships, ownership from all stakeholders, becomes very important.
>
> This is an important thing for our group, and especially our Working
> Committee to focus on. Initially, my thought was, if one of our members
> volunteers to be responsible to undertake some project in his/her
> village, he/she will be able to nurture such relationship with the
> locals (if not monetary, the beneficiaries will be asked to donate some
> of their time and effort). I did not think about involving Govt. or
> taking advantage of available programs. If they do exists, we should
> make use of such matching funds.
>
> Dr. Sunkara, will you be interested in collaborating on this to build
> the framwork?
>
> Madhu, GV, Ramesh, Sagar have already signed up. With your insight, we
> can make the framework more practical.
>
>
> Regards,
> Chandu

Re: Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Dear Chandu,

Sure.I am ready for it.We can get together or have a call one day to
start working on it.

Regards,
Madhu

Chandu Sambasiva Rao wrote:
> Dear Madhu,
>
> Good observations and thoughts. You raised very relavent points. Adding to
> your ideas, In my mind we also need to make sure the following:
>
>
> - Our efforts have to be purely voluntary
> - Everyone has equal opportunity to propose a project for his
> village/town and be responsible for implementing it. The idea here is, less
> logistical overhead costs, better coordination and oversight. Projects will
> be short listed based on the pragmatics, and subsequently through lottory
> should there be competition!!
> - All opertaions to be open and transparent. All members of AndhraOne
> will serve as the board. Let us learn the game of doing work professionally.
> Every time we are ready to sponsor a project, members can signup to be the
> board to review and assess which projects to fund, and subsequent oversight.
> ( A team of 5 or so will be good). This board is responsible only for that
> project. Next time around new board (possibly with some volunteers
> overlapping).
> - These board members will be helped by all other members of the
> group!
> - We need volunteers to take this idea further and figure out the
> logistics for the group.
> - Let us get these things taken care of by the end of the month so, we
> give give a jump start in February!
> - Last but not least, to be able to promote our work, we will keep
> "AndhraOne" as the facilitator for all projects. There should not be any
> individual credit rather the credit should go to the group. Individuals will
> have the satisfaction and be our heroes!!
>
>
> Madhu, GV, Ramesh: would you like to be the working committee to frame the
> scheme?
> Please express your interest to if you want to be part of the working
> committee to get this thing rolling.
>
> Please send your ideas and concerns! I will be involved as a volunteer, but
> I would like others to take the lead.
>
> Regards,
> Chandu
>
>
>
> On 1/9/06, madhusreddy@gmail.com <madhusreddy@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Dear all,
> >
> > Its a nice thought by Ramesh.Lots of discussions are going on in this
> > forum but this one is the real constructive and useful thought I have
> > seen so far(in terms of giving something back to the society or
> > motherland or needy...whatever you name).
> >
> > I think lot of people want to help,but afraid if thier contributions
> > are really being used in right way.To remove that fear we all can have
> > an opportunity to propose a project within budget (Max 500 dollars)
> > and implement it.Let the individual take care of his village/town
> > school for example.We can rotate this among all the members.
> >
> > To do all this we need to have a board(again this will be rotated once
> > in evey 6 months or 1 year).This board will decide which projects will
> > be implemented first.We also have to consider few legal issues as we
> > will have to transfer money.
> >
> > These are just some high level thouhts (Just Mine).We can have a
> > brainstorming sessions with intrested individuals and move forward.We
> > can refine and make changes as we make progress.
> >
> > Every individual just take care of his village/town.Imagine what we all
> > together have achived after an year.
> >
> > Again these are just my thoughts...if anyone don't like... feel free to
> > Trash it.
> >
> > Regards
> > Madhusudhan Reddy
> >
> >
> >
> > Chandu Sambasiva Rao wrote:
> > > Excellent proposal Ramesh!
> > >
> > > I feel very proud of our member-friends willing to go the extra mile to
> > > make a difference in the lives of those who need us most.
> > >
> > > I encourage all of our members to think about it and formulate a scheme
> > > of selecting and encouraging various projects. We want our members to
> > > be in charge of what they want to do while the group pitches in.
> > >
> > > Anyone, from any where, with a pragmatic and directly useful idea/plan
> > > that is in reach of our group is welcome. Before I say anymore, please
> > > collaborate, and figure out how best we take this idea to execution.
> > >
> > > Let us shoot for at least one project a month if not more!
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > > Chandu
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Sambasiva Rao Chandu
> http://groups.google.com/group/AndhraOne

Re: Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Dear Madhu,

Good observations and thoughts. You raised very relavent points. Adding to your ideas, In my mind we also need to make sure the following:

• Our efforts have to be purely voluntary
• Everyone has equal opportunity to propose a project for his village/town and be responsible for implementing it. The idea here is, less logistical overhead costs, better coordination and oversight. Projects will be short listed based on the pragmatics, and subsequently through lottory should there be competition!!
  
• All opertaions to be open and transparent. All members of AndhraOne will serve as the board. Let us learn the game of doing work professionally. Every time we are ready to sponsor a project, members can signup to be the board to review and assess which projects to fund, and subsequent oversight. ( A team of 5 or so will be good). This board is responsible only for that project. Next time around new board (possibly with some volunteers overlapping).
• These board members will be helped by all other members of the group!
• We need volunteers to take this idea further and figure out the logistics for the group.
• Let us get these things taken care of by the end of the month so, we give give a jump start in February!
• Last but not least, to be able to promote our work, we will keep "AndhraOne" as the facilitator for all projects. There should not be any individual credit rather the credit should go to the group. Individuals will have the satisfaction and be our heroes!!
  

Madhu, GV, Ramesh: would you like to be the working committee to frame the scheme?
Please express your interest to if you want to be part of the working committee to get this thing rolling.

Please send your ideas and concerns! I will be involved as a volunteer, but I would like others to take the lead.

Regards,
Chandu

On 1/9/06, madhusreddy@gmail.com <madhusreddy@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear all,

Its a nice thought by Ramesh.Lots of discussions are going on in this
forum but this one is the real constructive and useful thought I have
seen so far(in terms of giving something back to the society or
motherland or needy...whatever you name).

I think lot of people want to help,but afraid if thier contributions
are really being used in right way.To remove that fear we all can have
an opportunity to propose a project within  budget (Max 500 dollars)
and implement it.Let the individual take care of his village/town
school for example.We can rotate this among all the members.

To do all this we need to have a board(again this will be rotated once
in evey 6 months or 1 year).This board will decide which projects will
be implemented first.We also have to consider few legal issues as we
will have to transfer money.

These are just some high level thouhts (Just Mine).We can have a
brainstorming sessions with intrested individuals and move forward.We
can refine and make changes as we make progress.

Every individual just take care of his village/town.Imagine what we all
together have achived after an year.

Again these are just my thoughts...if anyone don't like... feel free to
Trash it.

Regards
Madhusudhan Reddy



Chandu Sambasiva Rao wrote:
> Excellent proposal Ramesh!
>
> I feel very proud of our member-friends willing to go the extra mile to
> make a difference in the lives of those who need us most.
>
> I encourage all of our members to think about it and formulate a scheme
> of selecting and encouraging various projects. We want our members to
> be in charge of what they want to do while the group pitches in.
>
> Anyone, from any where, with a pragmatic and directly useful idea/plan
> that is in reach of our group is welcome. Before I say anymore, please
> collaborate, and figure out how best we take this idea to execution.
>
> Let us shoot for at least one project a month if not more!
>
> Regards,
> Chandu

--
Sambasiva Rao Chandu
http://groups.google.com/group/AndhraOne

Re: Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Good thoughts Madhu.

To get the ball rolling this is what we need to plan for, and develop
the framework.

· How can we seek out and collect money? What are the automated ways?
What will be governing regulations? Do we need a committee of
volunteers to oversee? How we pick such a committee? Should they be
rotated? If so, how often? Can we seek out donations from outside of
our group? Who will be responsible for such funds? What it takes to
keep this an open process?
· Every member has equal opportunity to propose a project for his/her
village/town. By proposing, he/she also is committing to execute the
project taking help of local volunteers/ beneficiaries/ friends/
relatives/ workers not necessarily in that order. Interested members
will contribute to that idea. Which one should come first. Have money
or have the project idea? Where there is a competition for funds in a
given period, lottory method may be used to select the ones we can
fund. Our goal here is to make sure that we achieve maximum efficiency
in using the funds. In return the leading member will get kudos and
will be our hero!
· In each go around, there will be a board of directors elected and
will be responsible for selecting and overseeing the
progress/completion of the project. Board will have life only for the
duration of such a project. Each time we are ready for sponsoring a
project, let us form a different board, giving opportunity of many of
our members to participate and contribute their time/skills. It may so
happen that some of the volunteers may get selected multiple times. So
how we want to deal with that? Should there be limits on how many time
an individual can be on the board?
· All projects should be completed under the auspices of AndhraOne.
No individual credits will be encouraged. This is to keep the group
spirit strong and to avoid any misperceptions!
· Add your concern/suggestion to this.

I am sure most of us got our chance to express our concerns and
frustration at the state of affairs on what goes on in our
State/Country. I am happy to note that AndhraOne could do its share in
providing a platform to express frustrations, praise, and in
facilitating exchange of ideas for making a difference. We know that
not all who have responsibility to deliver for the common man, do not
deliver. This is our chance to take the lead and show that we care, can
deal with these responsibilities, and deliver too!!

Ramesh, GV, Madhu: Do you want to be the working committee to formalize
these ideas?

Be a volunteer and make a difference for your folks in your
village/town/place!

Regards,
Chandu

Re: Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Dear all,

Its a nice thought by Ramesh.Lots of discussions are going on in this
forum but this one is the real constructive and useful thought I have
seen so far(in terms of giving something back to the society or
motherland or needy...whatever you name).

I think lot of people want to help,but afraid if thier contributions
are really being used in right way.To remove that fear we all can have
an opportunity to propose a project within budget (Max 500 dollars)
and implement it.Let the individual take care of his village/town
school for example.We can rotate this among all the members.

To do all this we need to have a board(again this will be rotated once
in evey 6 months or 1 year).This board will decide which projects will
be implemented first.We also have to consider few legal issues as we
will have to transfer money.

These are just some high level thouhts (Just Mine).We can have a
brainstorming sessions with intrested individuals and move forward.We
can refine and make changes as we make progress.

Every individual just take care of his village/town.Imagine what we all
together have achived after an year.

Again these are just my thoughts...if anyone don't like... feel free to
Trash it.

Regards
Madhusudhan Reddy

Chandu Sambasiva Rao wrote:
> Excellent proposal Ramesh!
>
> I feel very proud of our member-friends willing to go the extra mile to
> make a difference in the lives of those who need us most.
>
> I encourage all of our members to think about it and formulate a scheme
> of selecting and encouraging various projects. We want our members to
> be in charge of what they want to do while the group pitches in.
>
> Anyone, from any where, with a pragmatic and directly useful idea/plan
> that is in reach of our group is welcome. Before I say anymore, please
> collaborate, and figure out how best we take this idea to execution.
>
> Let us shoot for at least one project a month if not more!
>
> Regards,
> Chandu

Re: Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Excellent proposal Ramesh!

I feel very proud of our member-friends willing to go the extra mile to
make a difference in the lives of those who need us most.

I encourage all of our members to think about it and formulate a scheme
of selecting and encouraging various projects. We want our members to
be in charge of what they want to do while the group pitches in.

Anyone, from any where, with a pragmatic and directly useful idea/plan
that is in reach of our group is welcome. Before I say anymore, please
collaborate, and figure out how best we take this idea to execution.

Let us shoot for at least one project a month if not more!

Regards,
Chandu

Republic Day Celebration

Republic Day Celebration

Organized By: NCAIA and Indian American Associations of Washington Capital Area

The Indian American Community cordially invites you to the Republic Day Celebration

Saturday, January 28, 2006 from 4 PM – 9 PM at

Gaithersburg High School

314 S. Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Telephone No. 301-840-4700

Directions: Capital Beltway 495 - merge onto I-270 - take Exit 8 Shady grove to Gaithersburg –

Merge right onto Shady Grove Rd – turn Left onto MD-355 S/Frederic Road –After a mile the school is at the

left side.

 

Formal Program 5:00 – 6:00 PM (Address by the Chief Guest & the Dignitaries)

Cultural Showcase 6–8 PM (Artistes from Different States of India)

Snacks/Dinner: WHITE TIGER of DC, (available at reasonable rates)

There will be various kinds of Shops and also Stalls of many organizations.

Dignitaries Invited

US lawmakers & senior leaders/officials from U.S and India, H. E. Ambassador Ronen Sen, Ambassadors of Diaspora/neighboring countries

 

Contact for further information and space reservations for stalls and tables:

Nagender Madavaram 301-916-0303, Kaushal Chauhan 204-388-7178, Sunil Singh 571-233-1292

Om Sharma 240-676-6922, Krishna K. Banaudha 301-251-1776

 

Thanks and Regards
Narendra

---

Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less

Just a thought: let us discuss & ACT!

Respectful group members,

I am glad to be part of this group where there is lot of intellectual discussion on hot topics.

As we all know, constructive discussion on hot topics is good but adding few concrete and measurable actions to these discussions is great. So.....what do I mean by actions?

 

There are numerous opportunities to help others in need or develop programs to make continuous improvement in the living standards of people in Andhara Pradesh and in India. Few areas I can think (I am sure there are numerous) of that our group can contribute:

 

- Sponsor afternoon lunch program for kids truly in need for sometime (anna dhata sukhibava!)

- Provide books and other supplies to school children in need

- Donate books and furniture to the public & school libraries

- Sponsor and build a bus shelter where there is a desparate need

- Improve drinking water facilities

- Provide medical supplies for people in need

- Make villiages and cities green by planting trees. Let us ask ourself about current air quality vs 20 yeras back. Let us create a better environment to the future generations.

- Educate young generation on the importance of population growth control 

 

Dear friends....we don't have to do lot of things but few (one or two) things a year is lot better than doing nothing! Let us act and make differnce in the lives of the people in need! A SMALL DEED IS THOUSAND TIMES  BETTER THAN HUGE INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION!

 

If we set up a charity fund/non-profit organisation and all of us in the group contribute little bit every month/year (say $5.0/month or whatever one is capable of) that will take care of the financial resource.

 

If any group member knows a potential opportunity where we can make difference (IRRESPECTIVE OF CASTE, RELIGION, AND REGION etc.), he/she can bring to the table and if it is a genuine, let us act. My sincere request to all of you is, please keep our personnel agendas in the DARK and keep humanitarian help/development agendas in LIGHT.

 

Recently, I am across a quote which caught my eye and would like to share that: "Even if you share a piece of pie to everyone on your plate, there is still lot left for you to eat."

 

Dear friends.....we don't have scarcity for intelligent/innovative ideas. If you read the book "Vision 2020" written by great living human being Dr. Kalam we find numerous ideas. We sure do have lots of scarcity for implementation of these ideas.  

 

Your thoughts, comments, and criticism are most welcome!

 

With love,

Ramesh

Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

One of the issues that just came to my mind is the natural calmities. All
these farmers invest everything that they have got just to realize that a
storm has wiped out everything. I think the answer to that should be
insurance. If the corporate farms can get an insurance company to cover for
them, then that will be an added advantage in selling the corporate farming
idea to the land owners. So, the insteresting selling point will be that
they will be gauranteed to get "some" return on investment and an extra
profits if everything goes fine. This might make people think into giving
their lands for corporate farming. Just a thought...

>From: sagar yerramsetti <sagar_ytk@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: AndhraOne@googlegroups.com
>To: AndhraOne@googlegroups.com
>Subject: Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman
>Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2006 20:52:07 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>I liked that "Chambers of Farming" idea, which is
>similar to the co-operative farming suggestion, I made
>in my response. Whatever name we give it that does
>not matter but there should be some process or
>organization that could act on behalf of the farmers
>in each village. Taking advantage of the mechnization
>suggested by Manjusha is good but it is possible with
>bigger land holdings. In many cases most of our land
>holdings are very fragmented. If we try to integrate
>the small land holdings held by many small/medium
>farmers together, there comes the important issue
>Chandu raised - emotional attachment to the land,
>which may be the stumbling blcok for the collective
>farming either through a Village Chamber of Farming or
>Farming Co-operative Society. We cannot coerce this
>new structure on the farmers against their will to
>hold on to their small piece of land holdings. The
>best way is to buy in their willing support.
>
>With the help of the Govt, how about we take a
>moderately educated but a small village as a model in
>each of our districts and try to influence the farmers
>there to join the Chamber as members. The members
>elect a small admin group to oversee the day-day to
>functions of the Chamber. With the help of the members
>and an Agricultural expert attached to the Chamber,
>they can decide the best crops, seeds, fertilizers,
>tools, technology, mechanization appropriate for a
>particular region/area in the village keeping in mind
>the soil composition, water availability, operating
>costs and productivity upon harvesting. Initially,
>the Govt. may help the Chamber to stabilize with some
>incentives. The returns would be distributed
>according to the stake of the farmer (proportion to
>their land holding). Once these model villages
>demonstrate how productive and successful of the
>co-operative farming, other villages may follow
>suit....just a thought...may be someone could
>elaborate.
>
>Thanks,
>Sagar Yerramsetti.
>
>
>--- Chandu Sambasiva Rao <srchandu@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > I like the idea of "Chambers of Farming". Some thing
> > got into my mind
> > and I can't get over it. (Should I try?) Instead of
> > Govt taking the
> > lead and forming a politically charged bodies to
> > start with, can we
> > encourage "Public Private Partnerships" here too?
> > Can every chamber be
> > a govt. partner but independent for all other
> > reasons? Can they be part
> > of a self governing echo systems?
> >
> > Another observation that I am interested in is,
> > having smaller chunks
> > of land may not be very suitable to apply and take
> > advantage of latest
> > farm technologies, . But in India, like in any other
> > country, land
> > ownership is more emotional than any other type of
> > property. How we get
> > our farmers to take advantage of modern tools and
> > techniques that are
> > so easily available to corporate farms?
> >
> > Can we encourage "Corporate Farms - Indian Style" at
> > village level,
> > where participating Farmers are stakeholders and no
> > one else. Their
> > stake is determined by the land they contribute to
> > the "larger-farm"?
> >
> > Do you think this will fly? What happens to
> > individual control and
> > pride? What else can plague such a seemingly benign
> > strategy? What safe
> > guards are needed?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Chandu
> >
> >
>
>
>Thanks,
>Sagar Yerramsetti.
>
>
>
>__________________________________________
>Yahoo! DSL � Something to write home about.
>Just $16.99/mo. or less.
>dsl.yahoo.com
>

Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

I don't think it is practically feasible to have a corporate farm because of
a very simple reason. People like to take decisions for themselves. they
don't like if someone else makes decisions for them. Everyone wants to
decide which crop they want to grow in their land. Some might want paddy and
some sugarcane etc. It is very difficult to gain their trust.

>From: "Chandu Sambasiva Rao" <srchandu@gmail.com>
>Reply-To: AndhraOne@googlegroups.com
>To: "AndhraOne" <AndhraOne@googlegroups.com>
>Subject: Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman
>Date: Thu, 05 Jan 2006 23:30:18 -0000
>
>
>I like the idea of "Chambers of Farming". Some thing got into my mind
>and I can't get over it. (Should I try?) Instead of Govt taking the
>lead and forming a politically charged bodies to start with, can we
>encourage "Public Private Partnerships" here too? Can every chamber be
>a govt. partner but independent for all other reasons? Can they be part
>of a self governing echo systems?
>
>Another observation that I am interested in is, having smaller chunks
>of land may not be very suitable to apply and take advantage of latest
>farm technologies, . But in India, like in any other country, land
>ownership is more emotional than any other type of property. How we get
>our farmers to take advantage of modern tools and techniques that are
>so easily available to corporate farms?
>
>Can we encourage "Corporate Farms - Indian Style" at village level,
>where participating Farmers are stakeholders and no one else. Their
>stake is determined by the land they contribute to the "larger-farm"?
>
>Do you think this will fly? What happens to individual control and
>pride? What else can plague such a seemingly benign strategy? What safe
>guards are needed?
>
>Regards,
>Chandu
>

Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

I liked that "Chambers of Farming" idea, which is
similar to the co-operative farming suggestion, I made
in my response. Whatever name we give it that does
not matter but there should be some process or
organization that could act on behalf of the farmers
in each village. Taking advantage of the mechnization
suggested by Manjusha is good but it is possible with
bigger land holdings. In many cases most of our land
holdings are very fragmented. If we try to integrate
the small land holdings held by many small/medium
farmers together, there comes the important issue
Chandu raised - emotional attachment to the land,
which may be the stumbling blcok for the collective
farming either through a Village Chamber of Farming or
Farming Co-operative Society. We cannot coerce this
new structure on the farmers against their will to
hold on to their small piece of land holdings. The
best way is to buy in their willing support.

With the help of the Govt, how about we take a
moderately educated but a small village as a model in
each of our districts and try to influence the farmers
there to join the Chamber as members. The members
elect a small admin group to oversee the day-day to
functions of the Chamber. With the help of the members
and an Agricultural expert attached to the Chamber,
they can decide the best crops, seeds, fertilizers,
tools, technology, mechanization appropriate for a
particular region/area in the village keeping in mind
the soil composition, water availability, operating
costs and productivity upon harvesting. Initially,
the Govt. may help the Chamber to stabilize with some
incentives. The returns would be distributed
according to the stake of the farmer (proportion to
their land holding). Once these model villages
demonstrate how productive and successful of the
co-operative farming, other villages may follow
suit....just a thought...may be someone could
elaborate.

Thanks,
Sagar Yerramsetti.

--- Chandu Sambasiva Rao <srchandu@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> I like the idea of "Chambers of Farming". Some thing
> got into my mind
> and I can't get over it. (Should I try?) Instead of
> Govt taking the
> lead and forming a politically charged bodies to
> start with, can we
> encourage "Public Private Partnerships" here too?
> Can every chamber be
> a govt. partner but independent for all other
> reasons? Can they be part
> of a self governing echo systems?
>
> Another observation that I am interested in is,
> having smaller chunks
> of land may not be very suitable to apply and take
> advantage of latest
> farm technologies, . But in India, like in any other
> country, land
> ownership is more emotional than any other type of
> property. How we get
> our farmers to take advantage of modern tools and
> techniques that are
> so easily available to corporate farms?
>
> Can we encourage "Corporate Farms - Indian Style" at
> village level,
> where participating Farmers are stakeholders and no
> one else. Their
> stake is determined by the land they contribute to
> the "larger-farm"?
>
> Do you think this will fly? What happens to
> individual control and
> pride? What else can plague such a seemingly benign
> strategy? What safe
> guards are needed?
>
> Regards,
> Chandu
>
>

Thanks,
Sagar Yerramsetti.

__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about.
Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com

Re: NRI's and Politics

Democracies thrive only with public participation. We need more and
more citizens to be involved in these democratic processes. Of course
we also want people to be well aware of the goings-on, and be well
"educated" to decide on matters that are most important to them as
well as for the over all benefit of the society.

Having said that, it is only inevitable for these people to align their
interests with some philosophies out there, and be a part of a group
which satisfies their needs for alliance. Some such groups are
political parties!

Political parties do need more and more people to subscribe to their
philosophies and leadership. This is a two way street. In my mind, the
broader these streets are and the easier it is to travel on these
streets, the better we are as a democratic society.

An offshoot of this argument will naturally lead to formation of wings
in distant lands. These wings can bring together people of similar
interests, albeit political, and promote their interests and agendas.
Just like GWTCS does for all of us in taking care of our cultural
needs/interests.

As Mahesh pointed out, if the purpose of such wings/cells is to only
gather donations, it is short sighted. Every party should strive to
develop thriving communities of their sympathizers, and this process
has to be a win-win for both the sides. Political parties are nothing
but their members and if the members want to support their party
financially, they are only supporting themselves, and in pursuing their
interests. I do not see anything wrong in that. In fact financial
support from members should be encouraged maintaining the transparency
to keep the democratic systems less corrupt!

Regards,
Chandu

Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

I like the idea of "Chambers of Farming". Some thing got into my mind
and I can't get over it. (Should I try?) Instead of Govt taking the
lead and forming a politically charged bodies to start with, can we
encourage "Public Private Partnerships" here too? Can every chamber be
a govt. partner but independent for all other reasons? Can they be part
of a self governing echo systems?

Another observation that I am interested in is, having smaller chunks
of land may not be very suitable to apply and take advantage of latest
farm technologies, . But in India, like in any other country, land
ownership is more emotional than any other type of property. How we get
our farmers to take advantage of modern tools and techniques that are
so easily available to corporate farms?

Can we encourage "Corporate Farms - Indian Style" at village level,
where participating Farmers are stakeholders and no one else. Their
stake is determined by the land they contribute to the "larger-farm"?

Do you think this will fly? What happens to individual control and
pride? What else can plague such a seemingly benign strategy? What safe
guards are needed?

Regards,
Chandu

Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

Excellent ideas, Manjusha. Thanks for thinking through a very critical
link (how to reduce input costs while increasing the productivity) of
the chain in creating a robust rural economy.

I would like to add the following-

While finding ways to educate, promote use of technology, and to
develop sustainable farm practices is always welcome, I will be careful
not to introduce more bureaucracy. Do you think, public private
partnerships will find an opportunity hear? Should government encourage
and nurture such partnerships?

Regards,
Chandu

Re: IS India shining -kalyan

>>... "Every one should realise that the rural and agricultural
development brings the qualitative changes in poor and down
trodden but not with the Information technology . " ...

I find this type of coclusion very misleading.

We all realize that a robust rural economy is the key for overall
stability/development of our country. In studying the underlying
problems plaguing this sector, in designing solutions, and in
implementing such solutions, we should be eager to employ technology.
Especially, Information Technology can assist us a great deal
throughout such reform processes.

We should not protray IT as an inherent enemy of the rural economy.
Nothing will be farther from truth.

Regards,
Chandu

Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

What if the govt buys equipment to automate (like tractors,sowing etc)
which will alleviate their labor and rent them out for minimal prices. For
the small pieces of lands, it may not be worthwhile for them to buy all that
equipment. So, they use very old style labor intensive methods to do things.
Renting out equipment will help them do things better and increase their
productivity and probably the quality of produce, while it still keeps their
operational costs low. That way they can use their time or saved money to
generate more income by focusing on other things. The same kendras that
rent out the equipment can also offer free courses on how to increase the
productivity etc by using these tools.

>From: "Chandu Sambasiva Rao" <srchandu@gmail.com>
>Reply-To: AndhraOne@googlegroups.com
>To: "AndhraOne" <AndhraOne@googlegroups.com>
>Subject: Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman
>Date: Wed, 04 Jan 2006 20:36:03 -0000
>
>
>Friends,
>
>Last point grabbed my attention and I think this is one area we can do
>a lot more. This list is not a comprehensive list in any sense. Only my
>observations and thoughts. Please feel free to add to the list. Sorry,
>this is a bit long, but deservedly so.
>
>Let me know how else we can help the farm sector and make it into a
>sustainable/robust industry.
>
>Regards,
>Chandu
>
>"When farmers can get more from their land, when they can understand
>global markets better, when they can produce niche products for
>different markets, that's when India will really turn around."
>
>
>When farmers can get more from their land:
>� What is done?
>o AP Government, in collaboration with Academia and other Nations,
>developed soil mapping techniques and mapped most of the agricultural
>land
>o Developed and used IC around the need and advantages of crop rotation
>o Developed better seed/fertilizer/pesticide selection, use, and
>educated farmers
>o Developed better water management techniques
>� What needs to be done?
>o Price assurance for farm produce (in the absence of a robust free
>market)
>o Educate on limiting the input costs - If a farmer makes Rs. 100 per
>every Rs 1,000 invested, should he invest Rs. 2000 to get Rs. 125
>instead? These numbers are fictional, but hope you see the point. Prof.
>Rama Rao of Nagarjuna University is grappling with this very question.
>How to educate where to draw the line in selecting
>seeds/fertilizers/pesticides etc.
>o Farmers should be facilitated, and encouraged to add-value to their
>farm produce and avoid selling in the basic forms.
>o Encourage entrepreneurs to develop and promote packaging, storing and
>distribution of farm produce.
>o Create robust policies and promote open farm insurance, encouraging
>farm investments.
>� How IT can help?
>o Data on crops, crop acreage, projected market demand, probable market
>price etc. for a given crop is available but seems spread all over. IT
>systems can greatly improve how the farmer gets the "information"
>in a timely fashion.
>o Use IT systems to gather, store, analyze, glean information, and also
>to deliver the same to the farmers and administrators just-in-time.
>o Use IT systems to limit middle-men
>
>
>When farmers can understand global markets better:
>� What is done?
>o Negotiating with other countries for better trading arrangements
>� What needs to be done?
>o Need to address the concerns of developed countries and make efforts
>to win those markets for our farm produce
>o Our Governments should make it a priority to make
>aggressive/sustainable deals with other governments to help farmers
>sell the produce to a broader base
>� How IT can help?
>o Given the labeling technology, and advances made in RFID should make
>our produce tracked better. This goes a long way in not only tracking
>for our own food safety, but to get the mature markets to accept our
>produce
>o IT systems can help promote the acceptable agro practices, should we
>be able to sell our produce to foreign markets
>
>
>When farmers can produce niche products for different markets:
>� What is done?
>o Some farmers are convinced about non-food produce/ commercial crops
>o Recommendations are developed and made available to farmers
>� What needs to be done?
>o More education on other possibilities
>o Aggressive horticulture push
>o Educate public at large to appreciate and consume such farm products
>(like flowers, decorating leaves, etc)
>o Access to low interest loans, subsidies with sun set provisions to
>help grow the market place
>o Last year, TV9 had a campaign educating citizens on the value of
>switching to fresh coconut water from soft drinks. We need more of
>these. NGOs can play a bigger role in promoting good habits while
>helping the farming industry
>o Health workers/doctors/teachers can promote good health
>habits/practices there by promoting the farm industry
>� How IT can help?
>o IT Systems can make the information accessible and can also broadcast
>market conditions for alternate farm products, almost real time
>o Farmers should be made integral to such a networked market place to
>learn/practice/sell his produce/products
>

Re: Happy New Year

Wish u all a Happy & prosperous New Year and a great
career ahead.

--- JANAKIRAM <pljanakiram@yahoo.com> wrote:

> U too Venkat.
>
> Venkat Addanki <venkatesh_addanki@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hai,
> This is Venkat Addanki. I wish you a happy
> and prosperous new year. I wish all the joy and
> happiness come in your way. I wish all your dreams
> come true in this year and above all. Always be
> happy.
>
>
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
> Venkat Addanki
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! Shopping
> Find Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Yahoo! Shopping
>
>
>
>
> Bye For Now !!!!!
> JANAKIRAM
> Reply To :
> pljanakiram@yahoo.com
> pljanakiram@hotmail.com
> pljanakiram@rediffmail.com
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just
> $16.99/mo. or less

Regards,
Andalu Ravula
Senior Software Engineer
SATYAM Computers
Hyderabad
Mobile:9849654062

__________________________________________
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Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com

Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

There are a number of tasks that can and should be undertaken in order
to help the farming sector. At the outset, there is need for a Chambers
of Farmers somewhat similar to Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Such
chambers (and a National Chamber) should have the vision and mission to
develop the farming sector into a profitable and a thriving business. A
Chamber is a private organization as opposed to a Government run
organization. Initially, Governments may be involved in these tasks,
but ultimately, governments should leave the area to the Chambers.

Such Chambers should develop business plans (Situation Analysis, Ends
plan, Means plan, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats,
Strategic Objectives, Implementation plan, and so on).

As it happened in the Developed Countries, there can only be a few
entrepreneurial farmers with a highly knowledge-intensive farming.
Taking land from those who possess it and subdividing it into
uneconomical lots is counter productive. The Chambers (and government
agencies till the Chambers are constituted) should look at optimal unit
size of a specific farming business and optimal inputs into such a
unit. For example, every farming enterprise requires resources (money,
labor, power, water, seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, technology,
knowledge, and so on). Less than optimal allocation of any of these
resources is wasteful of all resources. The optimal allocations will
necessarily vary with the type of crop, region, and other factors.

What do you do with the people displaced from farming (if optimal labor
is employed and that results in excess labor)? This should be taken as
an opportunity to train them in literacy, and knowledge and skill
enhancement. In essence, the excess labor has to be trained and readied
for the New Economy. For example, the National Rural Employment Scheme
(minimum Guaranteed Employment) should perhaps be used to train rural
laborers in other vocations by setting up thousands of adult literacy
and vocational schools. Other approaches should be conceived to
alleviate this problem.

Making easy and ready access to Information and Knowledge (I&K) is
critical. This places emphasis on Information & Knowledge. Information
technology (IT) is likely to provide ready access to information and
knowledge. (I distinguish between IT and I&K.)

Indian experience with the highly successful IT sector has demonstrated
that private sector with a market perspective is the right and
beneficial approach. The Chambers of Farmers should work towards
delivering products that meet the needs of the market (consumer) at
competitive prices and with quality of service.

Of course, this conceptual approach can be developed in detail for
implementation.

NRI's and Politics

Folks,
I am interested to know what role us, the NRI's could play in
Andhra/Indian politics. These days, almost all the major political
parties have NRI wings. What exactly do you guys think NRI's could do
sitting here and what they (political parties) exactly are looking from
us. I hope their interest is not just the donations. If that is the
case, we all know that it is going to be a failure.
These days, there are NRI's from most of the middle and upper class
families in Andhra. Can the NRI's influence their families politically?

How much are we really interested in politics and the parties?

Appreciate comments on this topic.

Thanks,
Mahesh Gorle

Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

Friends,

Last point grabbed my attention and I think this is one area we can do
a lot more. This list is not a comprehensive list in any sense. Only my
observations and thoughts. Please feel free to add to the list. Sorry,
this is a bit long, but deservedly so.

Let me know how else we can help the farm sector and make it into a
sustainable/robust industry.

Regards,
Chandu

"When farmers can get more from their land, when they can understand
global markets better, when they can produce niche products for
different markets, that's when India will really turn around."

When farmers can get more from their land:
· What is done?
o AP Government, in collaboration with Academia and other Nations,
developed soil mapping techniques and mapped most of the agricultural
land
o Developed and used IC around the need and advantages of crop rotation
o Developed better seed/fertilizer/pesticide selection, use, and
educated farmers
o Developed better water management techniques
· What needs to be done?
o Price assurance for farm produce (in the absence of a robust free
market)
o Educate on limiting the input costs - If a farmer makes Rs. 100 per
every Rs 1,000 invested, should he invest Rs. 2000 to get Rs. 125
instead? These numbers are fictional, but hope you see the point. Prof.
Rama Rao of Nagarjuna University is grappling with this very question.
How to educate where to draw the line in selecting
seeds/fertilizers/pesticides etc.
o Farmers should be facilitated, and encouraged to add-value to their
farm produce and avoid selling in the basic forms.
o Encourage entrepreneurs to develop and promote packaging, storing and
distribution of farm produce.
o Create robust policies and promote open farm insurance, encouraging
farm investments.
· How IT can help?
o Data on crops, crop acreage, projected market demand, probable market
price etc. for a given crop is available but seems spread all over. IT
systems can greatly improve how the farmer gets the "information"
in a timely fashion.
o Use IT systems to gather, store, analyze, glean information, and also
to deliver the same to the farmers and administrators just-in-time.
o Use IT systems to limit middle-men

When farmers can understand global markets better:
· What is done?
o Negotiating with other countries for better trading arrangements
· What needs to be done?
o Need to address the concerns of developed countries and make efforts
to win those markets for our farm produce
o Our Governments should make it a priority to make
aggressive/sustainable deals with other governments to help farmers
sell the produce to a broader base
· How IT can help?
o Given the labeling technology, and advances made in RFID should make
our produce tracked better. This goes a long way in not only tracking
for our own food safety, but to get the mature markets to accept our
produce
o IT systems can help promote the acceptable agro practices, should we
be able to sell our produce to foreign markets

When farmers can produce niche products for different markets:
· What is done?
o Some farmers are convinced about non-food produce/ commercial crops
o Recommendations are developed and made available to farmers
· What needs to be done?
o More education on other possibilities
o Aggressive horticulture push
o Educate public at large to appreciate and consume such farm products
(like flowers, decorating leaves, etc)
o Access to low interest loans, subsidies with sun set provisions to
help grow the market place
o Last year, TV9 had a campaign educating citizens on the value of
switching to fresh coconut water from soft drinks. We need more of
these. NGOs can play a bigger role in promoting good habits while
helping the farming industry
o Health workers/doctors/teachers can promote good health
habits/practices there by promoting the farm industry
· How IT can help?
o IT Systems can make the information accessible and can also broadcast
market conditions for alternate farm products, almost real time
o Farmers should be made integral to such a networked market place to
learn/practice/sell his produce/products

Re: Yahoo! Finance Story - Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us: The Naked Economist - Yahoo! Finance

A very good article. I agree with the columnist to a great degree.

India has a great potential and can surpass the growth rate of china if
only:
1. We focus on infrastructure
2. Curb corruption
3. We invest in/Bolster Education (Primary through pre-university
levels)
4. We open more tax benefit technology zones to cover more states and in
smaller districts
5. Implement some sort of accountability system within all departments
and agencies.

Thanks for sharing

Santosh

----- Original Message -----
From: "Srinivas Nallanagula" <vasnallana@hotmail.com>
To: <AndhraOne@googlegroups.com>
Cc: <vasnallana@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 11:12 AM
Subject: Yahoo! Finance Story - Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us:
The Naked Economist - Yahoo! Finance

>
>
> Srinivas Nallanagula (vasnallana@hotmail.com) has sent you a news article
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Personal message:
>
> Here is a nice article,that I would like to share with the forum about US
> outsourcing jobs to India and its positive impact on US.
>
> Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us: The Naked Economist - Yahoo!
> Finance
> http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/economist/2074
>
> ============================================================
> Yahoo! Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/
>
>
>
>

Re: Happy New Year

Hi Venkat,

 

Thank you for your wish and i wish you a happy new year.

regards,

srinivas
Venkat Addanki <venkatesh_addanki@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hai,

       This is Venkat Addanki. I wish you a happy and prosperous new year. I wish all the joy and happiness come in your way. I wish all your dreams come true in this year and above all. Always be happy.

Best Regards,

Venkat Addanki

---

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Send instant messages to your online friends http://in.messenger.yahoo.com

Re: Yahoo! Finance Story - Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us: The Naked Economist - Yahoo! Finance

Srinivas Nallanagula ,

 

It was nice article.

 

Venkat Krishna.

Srinivas Nallanagula <vasnallana@hotmail.com> wrote:

Srinivas Nallanagula (vasnallana@hotmail.com) has sent you a news article
------------------------------------------------------------
Personal message:

Here is a nice article,that I would like to share with the forum about US outsourcing jobs to India and its positive impact on US.

Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us: The Naked Economist - Yahoo! Finance
http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/economist/2074

============================================================
Yahoo! Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/

---

Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less

Yahoo! Finance Story - Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us: The Naked Economist - Yahoo! Finance

Srinivas Nallanagula (vasnallana@hotmail.com) has sent you a news article
------------------------------------------------------------
Personal message:

Here is a nice article,that I would like to share with the forum about US outsourcing jobs to India and its positive impact on US.

Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us: The Naked Economist - Yahoo! Finance
http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/economist/2074

============================================================
Yahoo! Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/

Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us

Hi Group,

Here is the URL for any article in Yahoo. It's on the
first page of Yahoo Finance.

http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/economist/2074

Thanks,
Sagar Yerramsetti.
PS: For the benefit of those, who might not see the
article as the link is either disabled or article is
taken away, here it is....

Why What's Good for India Is Good for Us
by Charles Wheelan, Ph.D.

Wednesday, January 4, 2006
I spent two weeks last month in India, one of the
most fascinating places on the planet. Where else can
you stroll through the gleaming high-tech Bangalore
campus of Infosys only hours after getting stuck in a
traffic jam on a major highway caused by a collision
between a tractor and an ox cart?
So far, India has attracted mainstream attention
mostly as the place where the guy booking your airline
ticket -- or transcribing your medical records or even
preparing your taxes -- happens to be sitting. That's
true enough. But India is far more than a
telemarketing curiosity, and "outsourcing" is only a
tiny piece of the economic transformation going on
there. Having grown at roughly 6 percent a year for
the past decade with the potential to do even better,
India is likely to be one of the most important
economic stories of the next decade.
America has a huge stake in that success -- even as
some jobs migrate across the Indian Ocean. Indeed,
here are four reasons we should hope that the next
decade in India is at least as good as the last decade
has been.
1. Because it's the world's largest democracy.
If we're going to promote democracy around the globe,
particularly as a solution for what ails the Middle
East, then we ought to wish success upon the world's
largest and most vibrant democracy. India has a
billion people, 22 official languages, and so many
ethnicities that everyone is a minority. If democracy
can work here, it can work anywhere.
And it is working. Indians vote in far higher numbers
than Americans, even when it means trekking for hours
to the closest polling place. India's government is
plodding, fractious, and permeated by corruption. But
it has also brought stability, the rule of law, and
respect for individual rights to a place that looks
ungovernable on the surface. And did I mention that
India has the world's third largest Muslim population?
2. Because it's where a large proportion of the
world's poor live.
If you don't care about starving people, then skip to
number three. If you do, then India matters a lot.
It's just basic math; roughly a third of the world's
poor live in India. Robust economic growth will help
these people far more than any check you might mail to
one of those places that sends you free return address
labels.
It's already started. India's growth over the past
several decades has lifted some 100 million people out
of dire poverty.
3. Because a richer India will make for a richer
America.
How can a place that "competes" with American
companies and replaces American workers make us better
off by growing wealthier?
First, a growing Indian middle class will buy our
products. The guy in Bangalore who answers questions
about your Dell computer probably drinks Coke, uses
Microsoft Word, and reads my column on Yahoo! Finance.
(Okay, I can't prove that last one, but you get the
point.) It doesn't matter what business you're in,
having 300 million new middle class consumers in India
is good for you.
Second, Indian firms will design and sell products
that make our lives better. That's what happens when
you unleash new human potential. Imagine the following
scenario: Your child has just been diagnosed with a
rare form of leukemia. The doctor sits you down and
says, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is
that the disease can now be treated successfully. The
bad news is that the treatment was discovered by an
Indian scientist, and the drugs are produced by a
leading Indian pharmaceutical company." Actually,
that's not really bad news, is it?
Third, at a minimum, Indian competition and
outsourcing by American companies will lower the cost
and improve the quality of all kinds of goods and
services. Do you remember the crap that Detroit
produced before Honda and Toyota became serious
players in the American market? (True, Detroit still
produces a shocking amount of crap, but now we don't
have to buy it, as GM shareholders and bondholders
have learned.)
Cheaper imports from places like India or China are
just like a tax cut; there is more money left in your
wallet at the end of the month. And they create
American jobs, too, which is less intuitive and
therefore often overlooked. If you save money on
cheaper cotton towels, much of that extra cash is
likely to be spent on American goods and services. A
Canadian trade minister made this point to me once
when he asked rhetorically, "Look, a DVD player used
to cost $500. Now it costs $40. What are you doing
with the other $460?"
4. Because it's not China.
China has an economy that's growing even faster than
India's. But China still has some major issues -- like
the whole autocracy and repression thing.
I speak from experience on this one. In 1989, my wife
and I were in Lhasa, Tibet, for several weeks that
coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Dalai
Lama's flight. The Tibetans held huge protests, and
the Chinese responded with a warm-up exercise for
Tiananmen Square: Encircling the city with tanks,
shooting protesters, arresting journalists -- the
whole totalitarian starter kit.
China is a geopolitical problem waiting to happen,
whether it's Tibet, Taiwan, encroachment in the South
China Sea, selling weapons to nasty regimes, or any
number of other problems that stem from being an
autocracy on the move. Which brings us back to our new
ally in that part of the world: India.
If China is the bad drunk at a party where a lot of
liquor is being served, then India is the muscular guy
in the corner quaffing mineral water. He looks like a
good person to get to know. When the U.S. Ambassador
to India David Mulford spoke in Chicago not long ago,
he predicted that the U.S.-India relationship will
become America's most important strategic partnership.
I fully understand that an ascendant India, like any
other economic change, creates problems. The first is
energy. On the fossil fuel front, the whole world is
locked in a zero-sum game. Every newly prosperous
high-tech worker in Bangalore (or Beijing or Bangkok)
wants a car or at least a "two wheeler." That new
demand for oil is a key reason prices are
skyrocketing. The only long-term answer is far more
investment in alternative energy -- but that's another
column.
The second challenge will be taking care of those who
are "outsourced." Capitalism does a great job of
rewarding those who build a better (or cheaper)
mousetrap. It's not so good at taking care of those
who produced the old mousetrap. I've pointed out in an
earlier column that technology displaces more American
workers than trade -- with India or anywhere else --
but that's a semantic point to anyone who gets a pink
slip. The long-term solution is upgrading skills.
I know that there are lots of things to hope for in
2006. Add one to your list: Continued growth for the
1-billion-plus people in the world's most vibrant
democracy. You won't regret it.

Thanks,
Sagar Yerramsetti.

__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about.
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Re: MNCs Sucking up India's IQ - Tom Friedman

Hi group,

This is a nice article and thanks Chandu for putting
the points together and sharing it with the group.
Here are my responses.
Please ignore any spelling or mechanical errors, as I
have not done a proof-reading on my responeses.

Thanks,
Sagar Yerramsetti.

1. Indians are less interested in politics and more
interested in growth opportunities.

It has been the trend but it looks like that the
things are changing for better. We now see Bobby
Jindals, Aneesh Chopras and etc. here in USA and we
see Kalams, Manmohan Sings in India. However we need
more and more such dynamic people who are willing to
contribute their mite towards the development of the
Country/State. I think this group has some ambitious
people who are very much interested and willing to
take on
to contribute their mite via public service either
through active political participation. Let us try to
encourage them and influence them to catalyze the
development back-home.

2. Creation and distribution of wealth depends on
infrastructure, education and governance.

This is really an important point. We collectively
need to address all these 3 important areas which form
the backbone of the overall development of the
country.True we are marching on with our success in
Services Sector in IT and Outsourcing but
a lot is there to bring the rural India into this
development by creating necessary infrastructure -
roads, communication facilities, increasing the
education among rural India and providing them the
fruits of the development through good governance.

3. India has a prime minister who really gets it. You
don't have to start by explaining it to Manmohan
Singh. He's the Deng Xiaoping of India. Who you need
to explain it to is half the Congress party and others
who, in this coalition, are like the ball and chain
around his ankle.

Can we hope that in next generation or two we would
have the successive governments running the affairs of
the
State/Country based on real issues relevant to people
rather than to the party? As we have seen, when the
door for liberalization is opened in early 90s,
irrespective of the party spectrum successive
governments had to join the bandwagon and continue to
follow the path. Things would change for better and
let's be optimistic.

4. I think India's most debilitating liability is the
third leg, it doesn't have the governance. .. Terrible
corruption. Good people-all my dynamic and exciting
Indian friends-wouldn't think of going into politics.
Because they see it as a waste of time, energy and
also as violent and corrupt.

As seen today's article in USA newspapers about
possible involement upto 20 or so Congressmen in a
corruption scandal,
backhome - Questions Scam and MPs Development Fund
Scam and ever growing public corruption - it's
everywhere and only the
degree differs. However, how much is too much is a
debatable question. As long as we have an established
system and the
checks/balances with rule of law and respect to the
authority of the government, the country/society move
forward with
the development. The point number 4 has great
relevance to the point number 2 - good governance.
Let's hope the entry of
dynamic and dedicated persons would tilt the scales in
favor of more development with lesser corruption (no
corruption world in
the Utopian State, which is just a day-dream!).

5. Capitalism makes people unequally rich, socialism
makes people equally poor. India was an expert at
making its people equally poor. It now moves to
capitalism to make people unequally rich. But as a
general phenomena, it has also lifted the floor. India
wouldn't have the largest number of middle class today
if that weren't true.

We need a benevolent capitalism - that is Capitalism
in its ideal format, where the fruits of the free
market economy and individual success or industry
success is shared
by giving back to the society. We need more good
corporate citizens. We have a dubious distinction of
sharp line dividing both afluent and down-trodden
sections, which needs to be
bridged through some massive rural development - may
be we need another white or green revolution that
would help
our farmers, villages to be the part and mainstay of
our development model.

6. My daughter is in love with her iPod. Do you know
where the MP3 chip in her I-pod was designed?
Hyderabad. Not made, not put together by a bunch of
cheap Indian workers, but designed.

7. Microsoft just opened its fourth research centre in
the world-in Bangalore. You think they are there for
cheap labour. They are there for, what they call, an
'IQ suck'. They want to, like a straw, suck out as
much IQ as they can from India.

Both points 6 & 7 are related. Our journey started
providing our brain power for the development of
already developed countries but future looks bright as
things are changingn for better. Recent report
indicated that after China, India is the most favored
destination of FIIs investment. We see more and more
R&D investment is flowing towards India and we are
getting a good breed of new enterpreneurs who
are willing to take risks and innovate. We need to
produce the systems/applications/products using our
abilities and
market them to develop our economy further rather than
keep supporting the products produced elsewhere in the
world.
We see Infosys/Wipro transforming from services
provider to product developers/marketers and same is
true with our Pharama
industries (they used to produce drugs for bulk orders
and now they are a force in the drug industry by
developing generic
drugs). As we move along the road we continue to see
reliance on the servicing model but there would be
surely
a transition from services reliance to the product
development/marketing model with an equilibrium
achieved after a
few decades. I think that some of the people in this
group have some dynamic ideas and enterpreneurhip
tendencies which we
could rarely see 2 decades back and hopefully such
motivated individuals bring fresh air and oxygen to
this transformation.

8. You give a farmer a cell phone and you'll see the
biggest leap in anti-poverty that one can possibly
imagine. This isn't about everyone becoming a call
centre worker in Bangalore. Poverty will really be
alleviated when India, when people who live on the
land in agriculture, become more productive. And
technology has the greatest chance to do that in the
shortest time. You look at the number of farmers in
India
who want their kids to study English.

Points 8 and 10 are kind of related. We need to bring
our rural India in the fold of the global development.
India really shines when the rural India is really
shining. We have to utilize our natural resources to
the
fullest extent to control our drought and flood and
provide the benefit of the new and hybrid variety
seeds and
technological advancement to the farming sector.
Unfortunately we have huge fragmented holdings (the
farm lands as small
as a quarter acre or even smaller) which hinder the
introduction of any massive technology introduction
into the cultivation.
May be like in milk/dairy industry - cooperative
farming can be considered - just a thought for further
discussion!

9. The fact that Indians can now innovate without
waiting in line at the US embassy, without having to
come to cold Minnesota and look for an Indian
restaurant to get their chapati and curry, the fact
that they can stay home, live in their culture, be in
their extended family, eat their native food, wear
their native clothes, take part in the most
cutting-edge innovation, that is really cool.

We know a lot of friends leaving this country for good
to India. This trend would continue as we would
continue to see
more growth opportunities. However, there would
initial hiccups like in any transition mode and those
persons/companies who
stand tall and keep putting their genuine efforts in
the right earnest for the development would reap the
fruits of this
budding and bulging 1 Billion market with vibrant
democracy.

10. When farmers can get more from their land, when
they can understand global markets better, when they
can produce niche products for different markets,
that's when India will really turn around.

--- Chandu Sambasiva Rao <srchandu@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Dear Friends,
>
> In my mind the top ten points made by Tom are as
> below. CliffsNotes
> verison, if you will) I think these are very good
> points for this group
> to take up for discussion. First of all, do you
> agree or disagree? What
> of these you agree with or disagree.
>
> How best to address these cencerns?
>
> Regards,
> Chandu
>
>
>
>
> 1. Indians are less interested in politics and more
> interested in
> growth opportunities.
> 2. Creation and distribution of wealth depends on
> infrastructure,
> education and governance.
> 3. India has a prime minister who really gets it.
> You don't have to
> start by explaining it to Manmohan Singh. He's the
> Deng Xiaoping of
> India. Who you need to explain it to is half the
> Congress party and
> others who, in this coalition, are like the ball and
> chain around his
> ankle.
> 4. I think India's most debilitating liability is
> the third leg, it
> doesn't have the governance. .. Terrible corruption.
> Good people-all my
> dynamic and exciting Indian friends-wouldn't think
> of going into
> politics. Because they see it as a waste of time,
> energy and also as
> violent and corrupt.
> 5. Capitalism makes people unequally rich, socialism
> makes people
> equally poor. India was an expert at making its
> people equally poor. It
> now moves to capitalism to make people unequally
> rich. But as a general
> phenomena, it has also lifted the floor. India
> wouldn't have the
> largest number of middle class today if that weren't
> true.
> 6. My daughter is in love with her iPod. Do you know
> where the MP3 chip
> in her I-pod was designed? Hyderabad. Not made, not
> put together by a
> bunch of cheap Indian workers, but designed.
> 7. Microsoft just opened its fourth research centre
> in the world-in
> Bangalore. You think they are there for cheap
> labour. They are there
> for, what they call, an 'IQ suck'. They want to,
> like a straw, suck out
> as much IQ as they can from India.
> 8. You give a farmer a cell phone and you'll see the
> biggest leap in
> anti-poverty that one can possibly imagine. This
> isn't about everyone
> becoming a call centre worker in Bangalore. Poverty
> will really be
> alleviated when India, when people who live on the
> land in agriculture,
> become more productive. And technology has the
> greatest chance to do
> that in the shortest time. You look at the number of
> farmers in India
> who want their kids to study English.
> 9. The fact that Indians can now innovate without
> waiting in line at
> the US embassy, without having to come to cold
> Minnesota and look for
> an Indian restaurant to get their chapati and curry,
> the fact that they
> can stay home, live in their culture, be in their
> extended family, eat
> their native food, wear their native clothes, take
> part in the most
> cutting-edge innovation, that is really cool.
> 10. When farmers can get more from their land, when
> they can understand
> global markets better, when they can produce niche
> products for
> different markets, that's when India will really
> turn around.
>
>

Thanks,
Sagar Yerramsetti.

__________________________________________
Yahoo! DSL – Something to write home about.
Just $16.99/mo. or less.
dsl.yahoo.com