039 If Mr. Rahul Gandhi wants to be an honest politician !

If Mr. Rahul Gandhi wants to be an honest politician !

reference : https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/congress-will-reinstate-old-pension-scheme-in-gujarat-if-elected-rahul-gandhi-1157873.html

Date: 30th Oct. 2022. place : Twitter. Mr. Rahul Gandhi is reported to have promised as under :

It is the Congress' firm promise – fixed jobs for contractual workers, bringing back the old pension scheme and timely promotions. Implemented it in Rajasthan, now employees will get their due as soon as Congress government is formed in Gujarat, he ...

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views with no malice, and not intended to be imposed on others :

Mr. Rahul Gandhi , has hitherto been represented by media as good natured person , uninterested in leading Congress party or in becoming Prime Minister of India . Now he seems to be a changed person . Without foreseeing into future he seems to have made an onerous promise .

BJP's Vajpayee Government of 1999-2004, discontinued the old pension scheme for Government Employees in India in 2003.

between years 2004 and 2014 , Mr. Manmohan Singh , Ms. Sonia Gandhi , and Mr. Rahul Gandhi had the needed de facto and de jurie capabilities to to reinstate the old pension scheme . Had they done so , nobody would have dared to question them . Will they say , that no Government employee or no Government employee union has ever approached them ?

Mr. Rahul Gandhi cannot make promises because somebody prompts him from behind . he should make time for himself to study the subjects of Public finance , and Public financial administration . Till such a time , he and Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge can form a kitchen cabinet or a shadow cabinet . While that may take sometime , they can form a panel of financial experts , who have a capacity to get elected as members of Parliament, so as to stake their claims to become Finance Ministers in waiting . The Experts should discuss their "future policies and practices" to solve India's Financial Problems. They should not be from the stocks of Delhi/London School of economics, or the IMF/World Bank/Harvard Trainees.

Who is going to be India's Finance Minister if Congress wins ? That people of India may desire to know. If Mr. Manmohan Singh is going to be repeated , then India will not find any difference in Economic Policies, because Modi is also continuing Manmohanamics just as his "mArga darshak" Late AB Vajpayee was.

I am not a dog paid by BJP / AAP or some other party. As a Leftist, I believe that Manmohanamics has failed, though temporarily it helped India to overcome the Foreign Exchange Crisis which arose when Chandra Sekhar was PMOI, and India was forced to export gold to pay for its imports.

Mr. Arvind Kejriwal has rightly identified the Financial condition of India as frightening and precarious. But, he is making many "unattainable problematic promises". Some of the promises, he may be making, knowing pretty well that they are unattainable, just as Mr. Modi's promises of creating 2 crore jobs per annum r bringing back all the Indian moneys stalked in Foreign Banks. If anybody makes UNATTAINABLE PROMISES knowing pretty well that they are unattainable, they will be playing with the emotions and trust of nearly 600 million Indian voters. Their promises tantamount to frauds. All our political leaders and rulers have a right to make skyhigh promises. But they must keep in mind, the emotions and beliefs of the 600 million voters.

To continue.

038 MCQ Quiz on Monetary Policy of India, and its Central Bank

All the 1.3 Billion Indians may not know that Indian Economy is passing through a Critical Phase. A question will arise? Should all the 1.3 billion Indians know about the vicissitudes and vagaries of Indian Economy? Definitely not. Because we have to exclude decripitly aged and sick persons, children. At least the 900 million Citizens who are going to elect their 542 Members of Parliament with just a click of the button on the EVM should know? Real problem is, "Do the Indian MPs know about the intricacies of the Indian Economy? Critics can always say, Should all the 542 MPs know? Critics, I hope know that the 542 MPs pass the Annual Budget of the Country, mostly through Voice Votes or just by guillotining.

I undertake English, Hindi, Telugu language Translations. My labor charges: Ind. Rs. 110 per input page. E-mail input files to y b h a s k @ g m a i l .com. No need to phone.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS TEST No. lfina9316

Here is a 10 Multiple Choice Question Test on your favorite subject. These questions can be answered online, and score can be checked by clicking `getscore` button at the top of the questions or at the bottom of the questions. There are minus marks of 0.5 (half mark) for each wrong answer. If any questions are left out, there will be no change in score. Answers for each question can also be checked by moving your mouse on the word `mouse` at the end of each question. You can try and retry any number of times.

You will get your scoresheet here

1) RESERVE BANK OF INDIA~S BENCH MARK INTEREST RATES are decided by
a`RBIs Board of Governors b`Monetary Policy Committee of India c`RBI Governor d`RBI~s Central Board of Directors --mouse here to see answers.


2) Mr. Shaktikanta Das in 2019 is:
a`India's Finance Secretary b`Governor of RBI c`CEA (Chief Economic Adviser d`Chairman Monetary Policy Committee --mouse here to see answers.


3) India's Monetary Policy Committee was created during
a`1999 Vajpayee Rule b`2013 Manmohan Singh Rule c`2016 Narendra Modi Rule d`1974 Indira Gandhi Rule --mouse here to see answers.


4) CHAIRPERSON OF INDIA~s MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE is
a`Finance Minister b`RBI Governor c`CEA (Chief Economic Adviser) d`Finance Secretary --mouse here to see answers.


5) INDIA~S MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE aims to maintain India~s Annual Inflation Rate upto 2021 at
a`4% b`5% c`6% d`7% --mouse here to see answers.



6) INDIA~S MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE, if it fails to maintain Annual Inflation Rate @4% consecutively for three months, is accountable to
a`RBI b`People of India c`GOI d`FICCI and ASSOCHAM. --mouse here to see answers.


7) INDIA~S MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE consists of
a`3 from RBI exclusive of RBI Governor, and 3 from outside b`3 from RBI and 4 from GOI c`4 from RBI and 3 from GOI d`3 from RBI incl. its Governor and 3 appointed by GOI --mouse here to see answers.


8) Out of NINE Central Board Directors of RBI, how many are nominated by Govt. of India?
a`3 b`4 c`5 d`6 --mouse here to see answers.


9) Which of the following is NOT FULLY OWNED by RBI?
a`BRBNMPL b`NHB c`DICGC d`SBI --mouse here to see answers.


10) BFS full form is ___for FINANCIAL SUPERVISION.
a`Bank b`Bulletain c`Board d`Bureau --mouse here to see answers.

037 To export or import wheat? It is always a confusion in India!

From the above Chart what interpretations can be made?

Vocabulary Quiz and Passage Comprehension:--(If you have no time to apply your mind, move your mouse over the word 'Ans?'

1. Identify the word/phrase which is the nearest in meaning to 'plonk' a) put in b) put off c) put up d) put down. Ans?

2. Identify the word/phrase which is the nearest in meaning to 'trudge' a) run b) walk c) hop d) none of these. Ans?

3. Identify the word/phrase which is OPPOSITE in meaning to 'rhapsody' a) ecstasy b) bliss c) rave d) depression. Ans?

4. Which of the following adjectives can best describe the recently unveiled 597ft Sardar Patel Statue in India? a) ginormous b) minuscule c) apathogenic d) none of these. Ans?

5. Which of the following adjectives can best describe a substantially suffering country like Afghanistan a) Reckless b) Dystopian c) Resilient d) none of these. Ans?

036 Why India is neglecting production of Steel?

Why India is neglecting starting new Public Sector Steel Units for production of Steel? Though as per the above 2017 World Steel Production data, India ranks third in World Steel Production, still India is nowhere when compared to China, which is producing more than half of World's Steel.

China still produces Steel Output which is Greater than Rest of the World Countries.

China's Steel Production Trends in 21st Century|in Million Tonnes
2000|128
2001|151
2002|182
2003|222
2004|282
2005|355
2006|421
2007|489
2008|512
2009|577
2010|638
2011|701
2012|731
2013|822
2014|822
2015|803
2016|808
2017|831
2018Oct|617

Recent slight downtrends are attributable to Recessionary Tendenicies in the Rest of the World, which affected Chinese Exports.

Nos. 2 and 3 places

Though Japan and INdia appear to be close to one another at No. 2 and 3 places, we have to keep in mind the comparative geographical sizes and population sizes of Japan and India. For its geographical and population size, India should produce far, far more than what Japan produces.

Nos. 3rd and 4th places, India and USA

Though there is a gap of about 20 million tonnes between NO. 3 India, and the NO. 4 U.S.A., we have to keep in mind that U.S.A. wants to rule the world like an Emperor or a Tyrant Dictator. Then, how can it neglect its Steel Industry?

Above data for easy downloading, is given below in .txt form:

Indian Steel Industry Production Trends|: Crude Steel in Million Tonnes.
2000-01|29
2001-02|30
2002-03|35
2003-04|38
2004-05|43
2005-06|46
2006-07|50
2007-08|53
2008-09|54
2009-10|65
2010-11|70
2011-12|74
2012-13|78
2013-14|81
2014-15|88.9
2015-16|89.7
2016-17|97.4
2017-18|101.2

Though the above graph shows that there are no downtrends in output, when compared to the bursting population of this country, the Housing needs for Steel owing to extra-ordinary urbanisation taking place in this country, it is difficult to regard this progress as commensurate or proportionate. Besides, India is importing Steel. It is exporting "Iron Ore". This is a strange paradox.

China and India, Steel Production Comparison

For easy reference to relative data, it is reproduced below:

Indian Steel Industry Production Trends|: Crude Steel in Million Tonnes.
2000-01|29|128
2001-02|30|151
2002-03|35|182
2003-04|38|222
2004-05|43|282
2005-06|46|355
2006-07|50|421
2007-08|53|489
2008-09|54|512
2009-10|65|577
2010-11|70|638
2011-12|74|701
2012-13|78|731
2013-14|81|822
2014-15|88.9|822
2015-16|89.7|803
2016-17|97.4|808
2017-18|101.2|831

To continue adding / deleting / modifying.

035 What Mr. Bernie Sanders tweeted in respect of Seers and Lamhert, also applies to Europe, India, and China

How right, Mr. Bernie Sanders is, when he tweeted at Click here, if you wish to have a look at: https://twitter.com/SenSanders, about the Seers bankruptcy. He has also added a detailed report by Prospect.org Click here if you wish to have a look at http://prospect.org/article/how-sears-was-gutted-its-own-ceo?fbclid=IwAR0sBwpOijKsBdlZYOl7_t2QI362GYdQRIL7PUhmA-f3Zet9cVo75buemic. The title of this detailed Article is "How Sears Was Gutted By Its Own CEO". This characteristic Corporate Culture of Promoters/present Managers of Corporates looting and hollowing out the Corporates they manage, is a global phenomenon. Working Class, especially the workers of the looted Corporate, and also the Workers of other Creditor Corporates ought to be alert to these developments. As far as possible, they have to predict and foresee the incipient sicknesses in their Organisations sufficiently in advance instead of waiting till a Bankruptcy petition is filed. For learning this alertness, they have to study not only Balance Sheets, Financial Result Statements such as Trading and Profit and Loss Account, Cash Flow and Funds Flow Statements, but also compare what are depicted in them to the actual position prevailing at Field Level.

How Vulture Capitalists hollow out a Company!!!

Bernie Sanders ‏
Verified account @SenSanders

The Sears bankruptcy is yet another example that our economy is rigged for a powerful few at the top. Vulture capitalists have hollowed out a company to line their own pockets. It's time to build an economy that works for all of us, not just the 1%.

The Prospect.org Report which detailed the Hollowing out of Seers by its CEO Mr. Lambert, opened with the lines:

Eddie Lampert not only ran the company; he was also its largest creditor and the guy who sold major Sears assets to … Eddie Lampert.

.... The company that pioneered the 20th-century version of e-commerce—the catalog—did not succumb to 21st-century innovations like Amazon and Walmart. Rather, it was dismantled piece by piece by Eddie Lampert, the hedge fund titan (and former Yale roommate of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin) who purchased it in 2005. Lampert and his hedge fund engaged in relentless financial engineering to suck out all the value from Sears and leave a desiccated husk, which now could face possible liquidation in bankruptcy.

Fate of Seers' Employees

"...Meanwhile, the 175,000 workers who lost their jobs at Sears and Kmart over the last decade, and the 68,000 employees whose jobs are at risk today, have next to nothing to show for it. ..."

Question: Can you estimate the Hollowing out of Indian Corporates done by Indian Corporate Promoters?

Ans: Frankly, I do not know. We can only make guesstimates. As on date, at least, ten lists will have to be prepared. Of course, to start with, there will have to be a Cut-off point to separate High Value Companies and Low value Companies. As a beginning Companies which default amounts exceeding amounts $100 million (say Rs. 750 crore or Rs. 7.5 billion) can be prepared.

Their Defaults to Creditors also need to be shown under three Columns: 1) Defaults to Public Sector Banks 2) Defaults to Private Sector Banks 3) Defaults to Govt. (taxes etc.) and Employees (Wages) 4) Defaults to other Creditors.

Important related links before we start further analyses:

Click here if you wish to go to : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/did-you-ever-think-of-an-ambani-company-going-bankrupt/articleshow/64190348.cms. --This News Report dated 18th May 2018, has, so far, attracted 164 comments. Some of these 164 Comments made by Small Investors, Intelligent Readers, are really valuable.

Click here, if you wish to go to https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/modi-government-plans-smart-move-in-its-war-on-black-money/articleshow/65755394.cms.

Question: What is the use of raking up this issue now?

Ans: Prevention is better than Cure. Losses which may arise from Indifference and Negligence of Stakeholders: 1. Employees may not get salaries for months together. 2. Public Sector Banks will pile up NPAs. 3. Foreign Investors, both Direct Investors and Portfolio Investors will not get dividends. 4. Indian Small Investors burn their fingers when Companies get hollowed out and when the Information becomes Public. 5. State and Central Governments will not get their tax collections. 6. Ancillary Units will lose their Markets for their supplies.

Question: Suggest some solutions:--

Ans: 1) To start with, Inventory Audits (Stock Audits) will have to be carried out for all large Companies by Independent Audit Teams appointed by Creditors and Employees.

2) Diversion(s) of Funds, both Bank Loan Funds, and other Funds of the Companies, in the name of Inter Corporate Investments are vary rampant. Every cheque exceeding Rs. 10 lacs (1 million) and every cash-out-go exceeding Rs. 1 million are to be keenly scrutinised by Independent Surveillance Teams, whether appointed by Financing Banks or Government or any other Institution.

3) Sebi Scrutiny on the basis of the Returns and Statements submitted to them will not be sufficient.

4) "Limited Liability System" DOES NOT appear to be working well in the Indian Corporate Environment.

5) Public Sector Banks, till their NPA Levels are brought down to manageable levels, should not extend fresh Credit to New Companies incorporated with "Limited Liability". Enhancement of Existing Loan Limits to Existing Limited Liability Companies will have to be pre-scrutinised by an Independent Government Regulatory Authority.

6) At least part of the Working Capital Loan Limits granted to Limited Liability Companies , should be extended on "Lock & Key Basis" and "Factory Type" basis. Leaving everything to "Hypothecation" will facilitate frauds by unscrupulous borrowers. However, bringing everything into-under the purview of Lock & Key will not be possible. At the sametime, why do Corporates require 100% of their stocks under their Control?

7) Use of "D.P." System (Documents against Payment. L.R.sand R.Rs will be routed through Banks.) has gone out of vogue. It is to be restored.

To continue adding / deleting / modifying.

034 Public Sector Bank Top Managers should not shame themselves below to a certain degree by accepting appointments in Private Sector Corporates

Public Sector Bank Top Managers ought not to shame themselves below to a certain degree by accepting appointments in Private Sector Corporates, especially those which have dealings during their former Employments. When Managers and Executives advance in their Age, a Realisation has to come that Money, Position, Status and Wealth will only be ephemeral and transient. This is no philosophy. It is 20th and 21st Century Practical proof. For example, Late Mr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh made billions of bucks through his quid pro quo Dealings and benefited his son Mr. Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy. But, could he take his millions and billions with him, when the Helicopter he was travelling collided and crashed with hills of Nallamala? No.

Context

The news of Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya, Former CEO, State Bank of India, India's Largest Bank, and World's Largest Bank in terms of number of branches, after retirement, joining Reliance Industries Limited, as SO CALLED "Independent Director". Link to read: Click here to go to : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/reliance-industries-inducts-arundhanti-bhattacharya-on-board/articleshow/66278321.cms. Now, Ms.Arundhati Bhattacharya will be listening to the sermons of Ms. Nitu Ambani w/o Mr. Mukesh Ambani. Of course, Reliance Industries will be able to show to the Department of Corporate Affairs that they have appointed a Woman Director on their Board, to comply with the New Companies Act. So far so good.

Is the Intrinsic Job Satisfaction of a Public Sector Manager, an Illusory Halo?

Ans: No. Though Public Sector Executives are paid far less than their Private Sector Corporate Counterparts, not only the Subordinates of the Public Sector Executives, but also Public in general (in India) look at them with awe and inspiration. It is what is called "Intrinsic Job Satisfaction" of believing and feeling that "I too have contributed to this Nation". On the other hand, Private Sector Corporate Directorships, Managing Directorships, CEOships, will only be slaveries. In money terms, the Public Sector Managers may be paid a pittance vis-a-vis their dedication to the duty, risks they take, and the tensions they undergo, and the family lives they forego.

My previous writes-up on this subject:

Last time I wrote about this subject, was at my principal blog, on 6th Sept. 2014. Click here to go to http://problemsoftelugus.blogspot.com/2014/09/341-what-greatness-and-merit-does-ms.html, if you wish to read it.. Title of this blogpost was: "341 What greatness and merit does Ms. Chanda Kochhar has, which Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya does n't have?".

On 6th April 2018, at my post No. 1057, what I wrote: Click here to go to http://problemsoftelugus.blogspot.com/2018/04/1057-does-india-need-private-banks-and.html. The title of the Blog Post was: "1057 Does India need Private Banks, and their Super-Efficient Larger-than-Life-Imaged CEOs?".

On 8th Dec. 2016, at my post No. 846, what I wrote: Click here to go to: http://problemsoftelugus.blogspot.com/2016/12/846-some-questions-which-mr-urjit-patel.html. The title of the Blog post was: "846 Some questions which Mr. Urjit Patel may have to answer, now that there is no need for secrecy about demonetisation".

On 9th March 2015, at my post No. 443, what I wrote: Click here to go to http://problemsoftelugus.blogspot.com/2015/03/443-physical-labor-vs-mental-labor-vs.html. The title of this Post was :"443 Physical labor vs Mental labor vs Creative Labor vs Strategic Labor issues in Marxism and Communism".

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views not intended to be imposed on others:

QuestionWill Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya really play her role as an Independent Director?

Ans: I do not think so. It's all mAyA. All is Delusion and Illusion. In Telugu language, my mother tongue, we have a idiomatic phrase "nEti bIrakAy" (English: bIrakAy= rugged gourd vegetable. There is a variety of rugged gourd with the prefix 'nEti" which means clarified butter- Hindi word ghee.) Do they contain ghee? No, not yet all.

There is also a Sanskrit language phrase: "ajA gaLa sthanam". Goats have a sort of two tissues at their neck which are called "goat's breasts". They do not yield milk. Prima facie, they serve no purpose. Independent Directors in Indian Corporates are only goat-neck-breasts.

Corporates are appointing Independent Directors and Women Directors, only because the Companies have no alternative. It is a statutory requirement. Since Independent Directors will be privy to the decisions taken in Board Meetings, the Promoters naturally want somebody who will serve as a showpiece, rubber stamp, nodding their heads, and signing on dotted lines. Occasionally, they will be allowed to raise some minor pertinent rubbish questions to demonstrate that the Independent Directors are not just eating cashews at meetings, and sleeping. Some of such Independent Directors, may even wait for some booze as a gift at EOD (End of the Day), for their sitting-through-sessions.

Question: In your personal view, why did the BJP Government neglect her, without giving her / promising her, any post-retirement appointment, so that Nation can benefit from her Expert Services?

Ans: I do not know. We can make some guesstimates. 1. There is lot of confusion because the Ambani Brothers i.e. Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani seem to be occasionally cutting-out one another, and occasionally helping out one another at the instance of their mother. Superficially it may appear that BJP is favoring Anil Ambani more, while the previous UPA Govt. has favored Mukesh Ambani more. If Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya is regarded as Mukesh Ambani's favourite, probably she may not be in the good books of NDA.

2. It is not clear whether Ms. Arundhati Bhattacharya wholeheartedly and fully co-operated with the RBI Governor and the Finance Ministry, during Demonetisation blues of 2016 November. If the Finance Ministry, and RBI regarded her as fully co-operative in carrying out their instructions, normally, she ought to get some place in India's 2018-19 Financial Set up, even after her retirement. But, of course, in terms of Monetary Remuneration, a Govt. Post, may not be attractive to Ms. Bhattacharya. If she wanted greener pastures to graze after the Cool-out period, well she can avail her liberties.

3. In Family-managed Indian Corporate Giants, CEOs will not normally be professionals. They will be from Promoters Family or their Trusted Serfs. Even when designated as CEOs and MDs, essentially they will have to be HMV Logos. This might have happened even for Ms. Chanda Cochhar, the Former High Profile CEO of ICICI Bank. In return for the Serfdom, the Serf-CEOs will get some bread crumbs, but when a question of bearing blame comes, they alone will have to be accountable and get the brickbats.

To continue adding / deleting / modifying.

033 (1/10 of the Series) Everything is not lost in Indian Public Sector Banks, despite some looting. Much is Media, Political and Social Media Hype

On Monday, November 26, 2007, at my Blog Post No. 021 at this blog, I observed that it is a Custom in India to merge Banks, while in United States Banks get closed and liquidated. Present Context: Notwithstanding much Electronic and Print Media, Social Media and Politically motivated hype about looting of Indian Public Sector Banks, we must say that as far as Indian Public Sector Banks are concerned, "All is not Lost". But, enormous sincere efforts will be needed to restore them to their Equilibrium and Health. That type of hope cannot be nursed with Indian Private Sector Banks. Immediate Scenario: Proposed Merger of three Public Sector Banks: 1. Bank of Baroda, 2. Vijaya Bank 3. Dena Bank.

Present Status: The Boards of the respective Banks are to meet and pass appropriate Resolutions

ybrao-a-donkey's personal view, not intended to be imposed on others: Bank Boards passing Resolutions is only a formality, because they have little freedom or leeway. In fact, that pausity of such 'leeway or freedom', to express a 'dissent', howsoever, mild it may be , seems to be a bane for the Indian Public Sector Banking Industry. Hence, there is no need to rejoice or become agitated. The Boards will fulfill that formality.

Question: How do you view this step of Merger, as a measure of Restoration of Health of Indian Public Sector Banks?

Ans: There is a popular, a somewhat hackneyed joke: A person loses money somewhere on the Road. Starts searching for it on the Road, after going some kilometers. A passer-by inquires.

Passerby: 'What are you searching for?'

Loser: 'I am searching for money, I lost on this Road'.

Passerby: 'Where did you lose?'

Loser: 'Sometime back, near that banyan tree.'

Passerby: 'Then, why are you searching here, instead of near that tree?'

Loser: 'Here, we have street lights. Near the tree, there are no street lights. Shadows of the banyan are dense. In that pitch darkness, I get worried that some thief may attack me.'

Incomplete. Shall continue to add/delete/modify in this post.

032 Run-of-the-Mill rhetoric by IMF Chief during 2015 visit to India

Photo courtesy wikipedia.org.


Ms. Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde  is re to have certified that Indian Monetary Policy rests in good hands.

Another great quote attributed to Ms. Christine Lagarde:

"...He is the one who steered the Indian economy to safer waters after it was hit by the market turmoil following the ‘taper tantrum’ episode of mid-2013. ..."

“India’s monetary policy rests in good hands. So I am very pleased to say that, in a very short time span, India successfully contained its domestic and external vulnerabilities more than in many other emerging economies,”

“I am fascinated by the vibrancy I see wherever I go in India. The world is looking to India to lead the path to higher, sustainable, and inclusive growth,”

ybrao-a-donkey's perspective 


How to define a good hand and a bad hand?


While Ms. Lagarde might have expressed her personal opinion or probably the opinion of the I.M.F., in giving credit to Mr. Rajan for India's emerging out of the market turmoil of 2013, reality may be different.  There may be a complex mix of factors acting concurrently which enabled India to temporarily overcome the market turmoil.  In my opinion, India is riding a tiger, while depending on foreign investments for meeting its imports, and balance of payments needs.  India is successfully rotating its funds like a  landlord who borrows heavily in the neighborhood, incurring new loans to repay old loan.  The landlord's balloon will burst someday or other, but when , where, how, nobody knows.  But, 'why' it is bound to burst, we can foresee.  It is nothing but lack of international monetary resource management prudence.   (Note: The samething which U.S.A. is also doing by acting as 'Reserve Country' for depositing surplus reserves of nearly the whole world.)


India's internal and external vulnerabilities remain what they were, what they are and what they will be.  This is because, India's population is exploding, the population is learning new lavish consumption habits, there are no exportable surpluses of commodities and manufactured goods.  The ugliest thing is, prior to 1991, India used to at least make a serious attempt to correct its balance of trade deficit, and keep its balance of payment current account deficit within manageable limits.  Now, it appears that India is not keen on such corrective  efforts.  Present strategy seems to be, just beg for foreign investments, offering tax sops, vast swathes of lands etc.

Fascination about vibrancy wherever the IMF Chief goes, -- it is nothing but run-of-the-mill rhetoric to please the hosts.


Anyway, India needs no certification from IMF.

031 Budget 2013 will not make any difference

Budget 2013-14 presented by Indian Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram, in Indian Parliament, on the 28th February 2013, will not make any difference for the people or for the country. Mr. Chidambaram is only continuing a decay which has set in, long back. Of course, it is true that, Indian Economy is not beyond Redemption. But Herculian efforts will be necessary.

Who harbinger-ed the decadence of the Indian Economy?

Indian Economy is already moribund. The decay started, the moment, Mrs. Indira Gandhi started steering the country as India`s Prime Minister.

Of course, Mrs. Gandhi, blamed the Chinese invasion and the Indo-Pak War 1965, as reasons for the dilapidation of the Indian Economy. This is only about 10% true.

Not that there was no corruption during the tenures of first-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and 19-month Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sastry. But, during their tenures, corruption did not become respetable.

What is wrong with the 2013-14 Indian Budget?

Ans: We should ask 'What is not wrong with the 2013-14 Indian Budget.

Question: Give one example. Are you not too pessimistic and skeptical?

Ans: I am writing this comment, with full knowledge of what happens on the country-side. For example, the Central Government will allow a subsidised loan interest rate of 4% p.a. to only those farmers who repay the loans in time.

Most Banks and Agricultural-Co-operatives extend their loans only to big-land-owners, in whose names title-deeds and land-records stand, as owners (paTTAdArs) and cultivators (kAstudArs). Even where loans stand in the name of small and marginal farmers, very often, they tend to be either benAmis (proxies or surrogates) or fictitious.

Most absentee-landlords do not till their lands. They lease out their lands for fabulous rents , informally, without getting reflected in land-records. They live in cities. The agricultural loans taken by them will be invested elsewhere, such as purchase of gold or gold-trading-schemes, or for hoarding agricultual commodities, to sell in black-market during scarce-season. The landlords living in villages also do not lag behind. They use the agricultural loans borrowed from Public Sector Banks @4% p.a., for relending to tenant-farmers or small and marginal farmers in the village @24% p.a. Thus they earn a profit of 20% p.a. without doing anything, at the cost of Central Government and the small-marginal-tenant-farmers.

The small-marginal-tenant-farmers have to repay their loans to the landlords, irrespective of droughts-floods-and-pests. All the benefits such as agricultural-debt-relief, msp-minimum-support-price, input- subsidies, crop-insurance-claims, etc. are all cornered by the landlords.

Unable to bear pressure from landlords-cum-money-lenders, marginal-small-tenant-farmers are driven to commit suicides by consuming pesticides.

030 What will Wallmart give?

We have Octopuses everywhere. Global Octopuses. Indian Octopuses. Millions of People believe that Gods and Goddesses of various religions control their lives. But it does not appear to be so. Advertisers, Marketers, Political Scoundrels, Film Scoundrels, Sports Scoundrels seem to dictate our lives and make us idiots of ourselves. Anyway, a question will arise: Who asked you to become idiots? If you decide to control yourselves, will you become an idiot? If a person refuses to be hypnotized, even the best hypnotist cannot take possession of a person.

I am, of late, fully engaged in writing investigative studies of vAlmIki rAmAyaNa and vyAsa mahAbharata, both the Sanskrit versions. Hence, I could not do much justice to this blog, which is very dear to my heart.

I do not believe in fate or providence, as an atheist and Marxist. But today, as though to make me believe in providence or to remind me about my duty to take care of my Indian Economy blog, Walmart.Com draggedme towards it.

CONTEXT
Google search. I have been searching for 'pariyatra mountains', as a part of my search for the location of kishkindha and lanka in the Central and East-Central India.

I typed in the search window: pariyatra mountain.

I got 3810 results from the Google. The ninth result on the very first page is Walmart.com.

Pariyatra Mountains - Walmart.com
www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search...Pariyatra+MountainsCached
You +1'd this publicly. Undo
Items 1 - 16 of 1651 – Shop for Pariyatra Mountains at Walmart.com and save.

I got curious. What the heaven or hell I have to with walmart.com, when searching for pariyatra mountains of rAmAyaNa or mahAbharata?

I clicked the result link, of the walmart just out of curiosity:-
Here is a part of the search made by walmart in their store, on my behalf:

We found 431 results for "
party tray mountains
" in All Departments
We found 0 results for "
Pariyatra Mountains
" in any department
All Items (431)
Show Store Items
BETA
Online Items (410)
Best Match
Price: Low to High
Price: High to Low
New
Best Sellers
Customer Rating: High to Low
Title: A-Z
Title: Z-A
Sort by
Items 1- 16 of 431 total
16 32 Per Page
List View Grid View
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 ... Next
Your Selected Store Has Been Saved

When you browse Walmart.com, you'll see products available online and in the [city name] store. This store is also saved for the Store Finder feature and your Local Ad.
Pick Up Today
New Feature – Pay Online and Pick Up Today
Place your order on Walmart.com and we'll have your order ready at your selected store for you to pick up later.

Please note: If you have Pick Up Today items in your cart, the pickup store has been changed to this new location. Please review your cart – the availability of your Pick Up Today items may have changed.



New - Walmart Express
We've opened a smaller Walmart store in your neighborhood. Place your order online, then pick it up - closer to home!
Close
Your Selected Store Has Been Saved

When you browse Walmart.com, you'll see products available online and in the [city name] store. This store is also saved for the Store Finder feature and the Local Ad.

You can change this store anytime using the View Products in Your Store feature or by using Store Finder or the Find in Store feature throughout the site.



New - Walmart Express
We've opened a smaller Walmart store in your neighborhood. Place your order online, then pick it up - closer to home!
Close


Shop our site and view available products that can be ordered on Walmart.com and picked up in your [city name] store.

You may change your selected store at any time.

Shop our site and view available products that can be ordered on Walmart.com and picked up in your [city name] store. [city name] has also been preselected as your Site to Store location when you choose that shipping option during checkout.

You may change your selected store at any time.

New - Walmart Express
We've opened a smaller Walmart store in your neighborhood. Place your order online, then pick it up - closer to home!
Close
Shop for items labeled home free. When you spend $45 on Home Free items, you'll get free shipping on those items.
Shop for items labeled home free. When you spend $45 on Home Free items, you'll get free shipping on those items.

Wayborn Party Tray
Wayborn Party Tray Wayborn Party Tray
Online
$53.99

Out of stock online
•
Sold & shipped by Wayfair
Features: -Material: Cedar plywood.-Rectangle shape.-Strong and durable.-Do not use inside microwave. Color/Finish: …
Online
$53.99

Out of stock online
Not sold in stores
•
Sold & shipped by Wayfair

5-Piece Oblong TV Tray Set
5-Piece Oblong TV Tray Set 5-Piece Oblong TV Tray Set
Online
$76.00
(70)
•
Free shipping to store
•

Free shipping to store
This handy set includes four folding TV trays and a stand for storing them.
Online
$76.00
......(cut--by me to make this quote short).

ybrems
What "pariyatra mountain" have got to "party tray mountain"?

I know my readers can easily solve this riddle.
I shall continue with my remarks:

Our Prime Minister Mr. ManmOhan Singh and the Finance Minister Mr. praNab mukherjee are very keen on introducing foreign retail chains into Indian Markets. I must say that they do not know the consequences of their actions.

Our India is a country, 90% of whose citizens do not have money to buy a loin cloth, when it is badly needed. 10% of the people may probably need 'mountain party trays'. The 90% of the people may prefer to buy cheap liquor and postpone their purchases of loin cloths. The 10% of the people may also already own posh cars and also mountain party trays. They may also own hundreds of schotch whisky or cobra wine bottles. They may even have sufficient number of party tray mountains.

Thus, do we need a walmart.com to remind us that 431 items are available online and in stores?

029 Spontaneous Response on Indian Budget 2012-13

The mediocrity of Indian Budgets, is not new to us Indians. Ever since the days of Late Morarjee Desai and T.T. Krishnamachari, we have been experiencing them. Hown can Mr. Pranab Mukherjee be an exception?

Question: Can you comment on the budget presented by Mr. PraNab Mukherjee today in Parliament?

Answer: People get the Government they deserve.

Winston Churchill was reported to have said:

"Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all Indian leaders will be of low calibre & men of straw. They will have sweet tongues & silly hearts. They will fight amongst themselves for power & India will be lost in political squabbles. A day would come when even air & water would be taxed in India."

Churchill might have been an India hater and a racialist. Britain too may have high taxes and corruption.
But how, could Churchill predict so correctly?


Incomplete. A lot add here. Shall try to add/delete/modify.

Multiple Choice Questions on Indian Economics

You can correct your answer any number of times before and after you click 'get score' at the bottom. This test is very flexible.

1.Ecology studies

resources environment fauna NOT

2.Malthusian Theory relates to

poverty statistics progressions populations

3.Chetan Anand is associated with

archery badminton cricket discus throw

4.Not a State which had General Elections in 2011

Bengal Kerala Karnataka Tamil Nadu

5.Sania Mirza-Vesnina Women's doubles pair, in 2011 Wimbledon, reached upto

second round quarters semis finals

6.India's economic growth during 2010-11 was

8.5% 9% 9.5% 10%

7.Which of the following is NOT officially a problem in attracting FDI

environmental clearance land acquisition corruption lack of infrastructure

8.DGEN index is a stock-market index in

Bangla Desh India Pakisthan Sri Lanka

9.Kirit Parikh Group 2011's report is about

direct tax reforms indirect tax reforms prices of petroleum products special economic zones (SEZ)

10.India's largest two-wheeler maker

Bajaj TVS Hero Honda Yamaha

11.Indian State with the longest coast-line

A.P. Gujarat Maharashtra Tamil Nadu

12.India's first Land Acquisition Act was made in

1881 1894 1931 1948

13.'Research In Motion (RIM)' is associated with

android iphone blackberry Ubuntu

14.Apart from the increase in global prices of petroleum, the principal cause for high prices of petroleum products in India, is high

refining costs transport costs indirect taxes NOT

15.'Go' and 'no-Go' area restrictions apply to

coal fields thermal power stations irrigation projects all

16.India's fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP is in the range of

1 to 5% 6-10% 11-15% 15-20%

17.PPP model in development envisages

Private People's Partnership Public Private Partnership Public People's Partnership PUblic Private Participation

18.'IIIT' full form is Indian Institute of

Industrial Technology Innovative Technology Information Technology Institutional Technology

19.India's total irrigated land is in the range of

100000 to 500000 sqkm. 500000 to a million sqkm. 1 million to 5 million sqkm. 5 million to 10 million sqkm.

20.Median age of an Indian is

16 yrs. 26 yrs. 36 yrs. 46 yrs.

.

The Story of Arab Shaik and his Camel

The Hyderabad Shamshabad International Airport insisting upon prepayment of landing charges by Air India, can serve as the best example of the proverbial axiomatic tale 'The Arab Shaik and his Camel'.

A desert. An Arab Shaik was camping in a tent. Night time. It was extremely cold outside. His camel was shivering outside the tent. The Shaik took pity on his camel and allowed it to project its head slightly into the tent, to save itself from the cold and hot winds.

The camel used the opportunity to gradually intrude into the tent, first by inserting its left foreleg, then the right foreleg, the left hind leg and finally its right hind leg.

The Shaik started, even in his sleep, to feel that something was pushing him out by neck. He woke up alert, and found to his surprise that the intruder was none other than the camel itself.

The Shaik, with all his energy, dragged the camel out and tightened the tent strings and closed all entrances. He also kept a guard with instructions to watch the camel carefully.

Air India and the Indian Airlines Corporation were the principal carriers of Indian Nation in sixties and seventies.

Indian Railways run their own rail stations and terminals. State- Run Road Transport Corporations and Undertakings (e.g. A.P.S.R.T.C.) build and run their own Bus Stations. On the same analogy, Air India should have been allowed to build and run Internatinal Airports. Indian Airlines could have been allowed to build and run Indian Airline should have been allowed to build its own domestic airport.

The Andhra Pradesh Government procured land from the poor peasants of Rangareddy District and allocated to the Private Airport Builder at prices lower than the market prices. Both the Central and the State Governments have extended numerous tax concessions to the Airport builder to make his project economically viable.

The user charges levied by the Airport on the passengers as well as the Airlines are also very heavy.

Air India is gasping for breathe, as it has a plethora of problems to attend to.

026 WHY BANKS AND DEALERS DO NOT BUY BACK GOLD?

I went to some banks and some gold shops today, to enquire about buying and selling of gold coins. A friend asked me to buy some gold coins on his behalf with his money and send him.

I enquired from the Banks' staff and shop salesmen, out of curiosity, whether they will buyback the gold coins they sell and if so at what rate. Everybody outrightly rejected the idea.

It may be true that Banks are forbidden from buying gold by some Reserve Bank of India guidelines. The Banks may be acting as Commission Agents (middlemen) when they sell gold to public. They do not undergo or undertake any risk when they do not trade on their own and maintain positions. The Banks are already dealing in shares and securities, sometimes on their own account in spite of the associated risk, and sometimes on behalf of their customers. Gold is a less riskier commodity, when compared to shares and stocks. The Banks may, on behalf of their reputed gold dealers, undertake buying gold from public and earn some commission in the process.

Market-making involves a two-sided activity, i.e. a market-maker has both to buy and sell. He charges his profit on both legs. The market-maker need not maintain positions or speculate. It will be sufficient that he keeps his total purchases and sales on everyday nearly equal. This type of cover operations, Authorised Dealers in Foreign Exchange do every day and Reserve Bank of India has some guidelines. Similar guidelines mutatis mutandis may be issued to Banks, when they handle gold.

Traditional gold buying was for ceremonial purposes like weddings. Indians are on a gold buying spree today, to protect themselves against erosion of Indian Rupee. A person, who keeps his money in Banks, at very low rates of interest, becomes a fool. The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister consider that interest rates in India are still high and they needs further pruning. The Heads of Banks do not agree, because they know the market realities. The Government wants to please the industrialists and the lobbying MPs. The Banks reluctantly yield to RBI guidelines.

The 1962 Finance Minister of India, Mr. Morarjee Desai, tried to mobilise gold from Indian public by issuing gold bonds, so as to use the gold for meeting foreign exchange payment needs. This type of foreign exchange stringency does not exist today, because India is sitting on piles of US Dollars received in the form of foreign investments, and the Central Bank of the country, finds it a headache to maintain the exchange reserves without erosion. Dollar has lost 11% of value during the last six months, according to market reports. Reserve Bank's policy of allowing liberal imports of gold, we may have to view, under this focus.

Indians importing gold, appears to be more prudent, when compared to importing liquors and luxuries. Such indulgence, which we normally see in the economies of the Gulf countries, is gradually seeping into Indian economy also.

The unwillingness of Corporate and big gold dealers in India, to buyback the gold coins minted by them/sold by them is not understandable. Do they sell gold coins of lesser purity?

#023 IS INDIAN RUPEE IS GLOWING?

WHAT ONE INDIAN RUPEE CAN BUY TODAY?

After much mental exercise, I arrived at the list of ten items we can buy, if we have only one Indian Rupee in our pocket:

1. One small piece of Idli at some wayside eatery carts.

2. One small piece of samosa (wheat flour cooky stuffed with onions) in some Indian trains.

3. One small chocolete.

4. One Comfit Ball pen - disposable.

5. One inferior shampoo satchet.

6. Two A-4 sized white papers.

7. A pinch of curry leaves or a half-fistful of green chillies.

8. A half fistful of popped rice.

9. A small piece of cut-raw-mango.

10. A small lime fruit.

WHAT WE cannot BUY WITH ONE INDIAN RUPEE IN OUR POCKET?

1. Water (satchet of/glass of, not necessarily purified/mineral water).

2. A Salt packet.

3. A Pocket comb.

4. A vernacular newspaper.

5. A Toilet Entrance ticket.

6. A Railway Platform ticket.

7. A Hand curchief.

8. A milk packet.

9. A tablet for headache or fever.

10.A packet of rodent's poison, if a person wants to commit suicide.

Wither the 3.5% inflation rate announced by Government of India! Finance Minister Chidambaram is worried that Financial Reforms are not progressing at the desired rate!

#022 IS INDIA NOT CONVULSING?

SPEECH OF PRESIDENT OF INDIA
DT: 26-11-2007.
OCCASION: INAUGURATION OF THE 9TH ALL INDIA CONFERENCE OF URBAN COOPERTIVE BANKS AND COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

BLOGGER'S VIEW
Reproduced below, is a text of the speech of the President of India on the 26th Nov. 2007, kind courtesy, the President's Website.

IS INDIA NOT CONVULSING?
The President said "... Pandit Nehruji, said that he wanted to "convulse" the nation with cooperatives ... ".

DICTIONARY MEANING OF CONVULSING
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/convulse.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
con·vulse
1. to shake violently; agitate.
2. to cause to shake violently with laughter, anger, pain, etc.
3. to cause to suffer violent, spasmodic contractions of the muscles.

[Origin: 1635–45; < L convulsus ptp. of convellere to shatter, tear loose, equiv. to con- con- + vul- (var. s. of vellere to pull, tear) + -sus, var. of -tus ptp. suffix] TEXT OF PRESIDENT'S SPEECH

I am happy to be associated with the inauguration of the 9th All India Conference of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies, especially as I have been associated with the working of NAFCUB. The theme of the Conference "Financial Inclusion Through Urban Cooperative Credit Institutions" is topical and timely. I would like to pay homage to Sawai Singh Sisodia whose statue I just unveiled. He came on the scene when the cooperative movement was suffering a crisis. His passing away is a great loss to the movement.

The urban cooperative credit movement in India is a century old. There are over 20 million members of urban cooperative banks in India making it, in terms of membership, the largest cooperative system in the world. It is a vast sector comprising over 1,850 urban banks and around 40,000 credit societies. The reserves of urban cooperative banks aggregate to over Rs.1.1 lakh crore. Though the share of the cooperative banking sector in the entire banking system in India is about 5 percent, it is an important segment considering the number of consumers availing of its services.

Visualizing the importance of cooperatives in the development process, the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Nehruji, said that he wanted to "convulse" the nation with cooperatives. He had an abiding faith in the cooperative system, the objective of which was to give small traders, artisans, factory workers and others access to institutional credit, instead of them going to the private moneylender and then often meeting with disastrous consequences. By catering to the credit requirements of people with limited means in the urban and semi-urban centers, the urban cooperatives seek the financial inclusion of people who are economically disadvantaged and this is extremely important for the equitable growth in the country.

In a fast globalizing world order and growing competition, the challenge is to has a strategy for the urban cooperative banks who have the resilience to adapt to new requirements. A small number of cooperatives have grown to be big entities and are in a position to meet competition, but a number of others need support for their survival.

The strength of the cooperative movement is in its collectivity. Cooperative institutions, particularly small urban cooperative banks and credit societies find it difficult to face competition from bigger players in the field, as the latter have at their command resources, technology and managerial competence, far greater than what cooperative banks have. For the individual banks and societies to be competitive, the sector as a whole must be strong and each unit should be backed by collective strength. The urban banks ought to seriously consider ways of networking amongst themselves and aggregating their resources as well as their requirements so that they have the advantage of size while approaching the financial markets and dealing with larger entities. Such systems and structures exist in many countries, where a single strong apex body is providing the expertise and resources for the grassroots level banks to operate. The possibility of this could be examined in the Indian context. It is equally important to make use of new management systems and technological advancements to modernize the urban cooperative sector. They may also consider mobile banking to reach out to their clientele.

The unprecedented growth of our economy, year on year for the last few years, is also bringing about huge demographical changes. Rapid urbanization through migration is now resulting in a significantly large section of the population in urban areas being financially excluded. To bring them under the institutional fold for their financial and banking requirements is a challenge but it is also a tremendous opportunity for the urban cooperative banks and credit societies. Organizational strengths such as committed leadership, efficient use of resources, transparency in operations and involvement of members are, however, pre-requisites for the cooperatives to be able to take advantage of the opportunities. Improvement in overall governance should strengthen cooperatives and equip them to become premier vehicles of financial inclusion.

The rate of growth of credit by cooperative banks is not keeping pace with the rate of growth of credit by the rest of the banking sector. The share of cooperative banks, both in the agricultural and in the urban sectors, appears to be progressively shrinking. This could, in the long run, have an adverse effect on credit to marginal farmers, artisans and weaker sections of society. It is, therefore, imperative that cooperative banks are strengthened to be in a position to take up financing for the less privileged sections of society. It will be equally important for the co-operative banking sector to set targets and work out innovative strategies to achieve them. The innovative strategies should essentially aim at improving the income levels of the beneficiaries, so that they do not fall into a debt trap.

The banking and the financial sector are essentially based on trust of the depositors and the public. The urban cooperative credit sector must look at all avenues of increasing this trust. Aberrations that may have crept up over a period of time need to be addressed at the earliest. The country has a stake in self-help economic entities like cooperatives.

Economic empowerment of women and involvement of youth is very essential for any meaningful growth. The financial sector in the post-reforms period in the country has been laying great emphasis on young financial professionals managing key posts in the sector. In fact, some of the highest paid professionals in the banking sector are young women. On the other hand, there is no such initiative in this direction by the cooperative banking movement. Youth, as experience has shown, is attracted to and motivated to work in those areas where there is challenge, dynamism, an enabling environment and returns which are commensurate with their efforts. Cooperative leaders will have to do some self-analysis as to whether they are sincerely making efforts to provide all this to the youth so as to attract them. Otherwise, there is a distinct possibility of young professionals ignoring the sector altogether in the days to come. Urban credit societies, along with agricultural societies, can become a significant base for providing a range of activities with the involvement of youth for the creation and equitable distribution of wealth.

Insofar as supporting efforts to improve the economic position and empowerment of women are concerned, there is no route that is better than that of cooperatives and Self Help Groups. Women Cooperative Banks are better acquainted with the situation and requirements of women. They can help channelise the capacities and talents of women and can become important instruments of economic betterment. Women Cooperative Banks, therefore, must be encouraged. Urban cooperative banks should also have special programmes for women. I would be very happy if the management of the movement considers increasing the representation of women on the Boards of cooperative banks and credit societies, to certain minimum levels through changes in their bye-laws, so that economic empowerment of women gets support at the grass-roots level.

I hope that this Conference will rejuvenate the spirit of the urban cooperative credit sector and that the Central Government and the Reserve Bank of India create a sense of confidence among the institutions to meet in whatever way possible the huge challenges ahead and also to make use of the opportunities that the resurgent Indian economy has to offer. With this, I inaugurate the 9th All India Conference of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies.

021 WHY DO AMERICAN BANKS FAIL AND INDIAN BANKS MERGE?

When American Banks fail, they seem to get liquidated and closed. It is not the case with Indian Banks. They are merged, and the dust is swept beneath-to carpets. Private Sector Banks get merged into Public Sector Banks, to convert Private Sector garbage into a Public Sector garbage. Sometimes, Smaller Private Sector Banks get merged into larger Private Sector Banks, with consequential 'bloating' of the Balance Sheet of the now Bigger Guy.

FACTS

In US there are 8000 banks. Three banks failed after 2004. According to Forbes, the three years between 2004 and is the longest BANK FAILURE FREE period since the depression of 1930.

BLOGGER'S VIEW
In India, whenever there is a Commercial Bank failure/sickness/incipient sickness, a merger takes place. Sweeping the dust to under the carpet!

If there is a Co-operative Bank failure, it will be the funeral of the depositors and the respective State Governments.

Incomplete. To complete by additions/deletions/modifications.

#020 WON'T PARLIAMENT BOTHER?

Colossal loot and plunder of public money


Indian Banking Industry works without transparency. Orissia is a dark State, just as Africa is a dark Continent. Nobody knows and cares to know what happens in Orissa.

Here is a link to the Statesman, Electronic Edition dated Nov. 5, 2007.

http://thestatesman.org/page.arcview.php?clid=9&id=202024&usrsess=1.

The CPI (Communist Party of India) is urging our Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan Singh, to investigate into what is happening in the Debt Restructuring Scheme for ICCL (Indian Charge Chrome Ltd.). According to CPI, banks are goging to suffer a loss of Rs. 2,300 crore (Rs. 23 billion or nearly half a billion dollars).

The amount is quite sizeable. The Central Government cannot aquiesce to what the Consortium of Banks led by IDBI is doing?

Whether Public Sector Banks in India function autonomously or not, when huge amounts are written off, the Union Cabinet ought to have discussed and thereafter placed the papers befoe the Parliament. Why it is not happening? The Union Finance Minister, washed off his hands indicating that he was not a party to the merger.

#006 CHITTUU! WAKE UP!

Our Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, to be on safe side, is engaged in cautioning small investors against the booming Sensex. He may be knowing within himself that Indian Stock Markets are nothing less than the Gambling Houses of Makalu or Dubai. While in Makalu which is ruled by China, the so called Communist China encourages Gambling Dens. In Islam, Gambling is called 'Maisir ميسر‎' and is forbidden. But Dubai seems to encourage large Gambling Houses, and punish small time Gambling Organizers. As far as Stock Exchanges are concerned, world wide, they are Government Patronised Gambling Houses. Prime Ministers and Finance Ministers themselves ring "Bells" in Stock Exchanges.

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views not intended to be imposed on others:

Mr. Chidambaram must first caution himself . He seems to be under an erroneous impression that funds are flooding into the Stock Exchanges by true foreign institutional investors. They may as well be true Indian funds ciphoned by bureaucrats, politicians and industrialists re-remitted through Mauritius or other tax havens. Surplus funds of Public Sector Undertakings and Provident/Pension Funds, or even working funds of Public Sector Banks may be finding their way into Stock Exchanges.


The truth will come out when Stock Exchange bubbles burst. Stitch in time saves nine later.

Incomplete. Shall continue/add/delete/modify.

#005 WHY INDIA PAYS ONLY LIP SYMPATHY TO SOLAR ENERGY?

The US wants us to go for Nuclear Energy and import their outdated nuclear plants. We blindly take them. I am constrained to suspect that our officials and politicians were bribed to accept the nuclear fuel and the plants. Otherwise, why the PM and the Officials ignore the Indian Parliament? Why they are in such a hurry? One only hopes that our getting sold out is not true.

Now, let us see how US is promoting the use of solar energy by its citizens, though theirs is a cold country and there is scarcity of sunshine. Here is the link to Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/16/solar-energy-homes-forbeslife-cx_mw_0816solarrealestate.html?partner=playlist&thisSpeed=15000.

How aggressive the solar energy programmes are! The residences generating surplus power can even sell it to the Grid and earn US Dollars. There is a straight 30% tax concession on the capital investment.

Why we do not emulate good things from US? WHEN WILL WE LEARN?

#004 PM SHOULD PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS OF HIS GRAND CHILDREN

Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh used the platform of the birthday celebration of Shri Balram Jakhar, former Union Minister of Agriculture, to drive home indirectly, that we should not dither from the 123 Indo US Nuclear Agreement.

"... If we remain divided, defensive, disruptive in our discourse, our children and our grand children will not forgive us. They will find us wanting in the scale of history for not having had the courage to grapple with the real challenges of our time.


That is what leaders like Indiraji and Rajivji tried to do and in whose attempts men like Jakharji played a vital role. They led India forward through difficult times of uncertainty and change. We must all seek inspiration from their effort and courage and not shy away from dealing with the challenges that lie ahead. Our people expect great things from us, for that is why they still have faith in the institutions of democracy. The world is looking at India with renewed hope, as it did in the first decade after Independence. This is, I believe, is India’s moment, let us not dither; let us not shy away in fear of some ghosts in our mind so that India may truly make its tryst with destiny. ..."

He tried to praise Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi like any other petty Congress leader.

About children and grand children not forgiving: They may not forgive the PM for ditching India into a unilateral agreement which does not even provide for arbitration in case of disputes.

About ghosts: PM must reply why US did not honor the 1963 Indo US Nuclear Agreement unilaterally?

If the PM really wants that future generations to remember him with gratitude, he must gather all the CSIR and Indian Institute of Science fellows, IIT beards before him and venture to produce 25,000 mw of solar power by 2020. They are squandering thousands of crores of people's money without any real service to the Nation. If Thomas Alva Edison can light an electric bulb after a thousand failures, why Indian scientists cannot do it even after 60 years of independence?

I furnish below a link to PM's speech referred to above for those who are interested.
http://pmindia.nic.in/lspeech.asp?id=582

#024 WHERE DID REGIONAL STOCK EXCHANGES VANISH?

The SEBI has directed the closure of Hyderabad Stock Exchange for its failure to demutualise its shares.

ANALYSES AND OBSERVATIONS

This seems to have left the shareholders of Companies which listed their shares only at HSE, in a lurch.

With the development of Computerised Online Trading at BSE and NSE, nowadays investors or brokers do not seem to patronise the fifteen or so Regional Stock Exchanges in the country. Ultimately, the Regional Exchanges may have to dissolve themselves in BSE or NSE Network. In this context it is difficult to expect non-broker uninterested investors to pay for investment in Regional Exchanges. Water does not flow upstream. SEBI has to find alternative solutions without diluting its original intentions.

#025 HIGH WAGE ISLANDS?

The news reports indicate that Mr. Mukesh Ambani is the highest salary earner in India with Rs. 247.8 million p.a. or about USD six million.

OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSES

1. Separately, he and his inter-corporate investment Companies earn millions of Rupees as dividends. The salary of six million dollars he gets may be a pittance for his income. But it leads to competition among CEOs of other Companies run by family princes.

2. Mr. Mukesh Ambani is only a family scion who succeeded to his father's throne. Though the Board of Directors might have elected him as the Chairman, and the shareholders might have approved his remuneration, it is difficult to say that the shareholders might have deliberated in length and applied their minds. Public Financial Institutions have substantial stakes in giant private sector companies and they send their representatives to Board and Shareholders Meetings. It is difficult to say whether they would have spoken out their minds and what was the brief given to them by the Govt. or the Govt. Institutions.

3. In Sultanates and Moghul empires, Princes used to be sent as Governors to the States and their mettle used to be tested in suppressing rebellions by Sardars and local fiefs. In business empires also, princes and princesses who complete their Business Degrees from prestigious schools are immediately inducted into their family Companies as executives or executive trainees with an ostensible purpose of learning the tricks of the trade and also assist the father and uncles.

4. Will paying high wages to CEOs and directors, reduces their tendency to cut corners or receive under the table commissions in purchases by the Companies? This is a multi-billion dollar question. Will their associate Companies stop robbing the Group Companies in handling contracts granted to the associates? This is only a question of speculation, because none of the group Companies will disclose nor the Government will care to check. If Corporate corruption could be minimised by approving open payments, there will at least be a facade of transparency.

#011 IS INDIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY BUILDING CASTLES IN AIR?

This is in continuation of my Review No. 14.

I furnish below a link to the full speech of the Prime Minister at the Valedictory Function of the Textile Millers Meet. http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=30799.

Excerpts from the speech: "It is a misnomer that handlooms have a bleak future. In fact, as incomes rise, handlooms can carve out a niche space for themselves, generating better returns for our weavers. The challenge is to improve them technologically, to provide greater design inputs and to have improved marketing channels. Private industry can be a major partner in enabling this transition of handlooms from low value to high value products. The Ministry can work out appropriate Public Private Partnership models for enabling this transition. "

This blogger's comments:

This part of PM's speech for the handloom sector is only a lip-sympathy filler. He wants the handloom weavers to wait with starving stomachs till the incomes of the people rise and they have the capabilities to buy handloom goods. He wants the Private Sector to make them technologically uptodate. Will they do? In the meantime, if the weavers die? Handloom/Khadi Sector's future is going to be extremely bleak, notwithtanding PM's promises.

The PM speaks of billions of Dollars. Excerpt:

" ... In addition, I am told that the Ministry of textiles plans to create Investment Regions for the Textile Sector. The phenomenon of agglomeration is quite visible in textiles. Such investment regions can reduce transaction costs and enhance competitiveness. Concentrated, contiguous regions with high quality infrastructure and covering the entire value chain can help obviate, to an extent, the burden imposed by multiple levies, high power costs, bottlenecks in shipment and delays in legal clearances. They can become textile hubs with billions of dollars of investment - both domestic and foreign. Developing such regions in a Public Private Partnership mode will enable leveraging of government investments in these regions. The Ministry should finalise this proposal at the earliest. ..."

This writer's comment:
We can see the PM's eagerness for the Investment Regions -- to pump billions of dollars. Naturally, there will be gifting away of agricultural lands to the industrialists both domestic and foreign. There will be abundant tax concessions and more sops to them. Empires are to be created, built and given to them. Otherwise they will not come. But the poor weavers will have to wait, because there is nobody to lobby for them. Here, the PM does not say "at the earliest". That means, the Textile Ministry can sleep in peace.

Quote from the PM's speech:

"...Our government is committed to facilitating the long term growth of the Textile sector. We have reformed the domestic taxation system to encourage growth and value addition within the country. The fiscal duty structure has been rationalized and excise and customs duty rates have been reduced. Except for the mandatory excise duty on man-made fibres, the entire value addition chain has been given an option of excise exemption. We have de-reserved the garments, hosiery and knitwear sectors from SSI restrictions. ..."

This blogger's comment:

Assurances galore. Will the Textile Mills be satisfied?

#003 WHY RBI IS NEGLECTING ITS REGULATORY FUNCTIONS?

RBI jubiliantly announced that inflation rate during the week ended Aug. 18, 2007 was just 3.94%. It found that prices of fruits have gone down by 0.6%.

Does RBI know the grass roots and ground realities?

RBI's principal function is to enforce Banking Regulation Act and Reserve Bank of India Act. A Joint Hindu Family Business in Andhra Pradesh which is not authorised to collect deposits from public as per the law, mobilised nearly Rs. 2500 crore through its offices in more than one State and lost Rs. 1200 crore in accumulated losses. RBI did not know or did not chose to act! This may be function of a Department which is different from the Department which collects price statistics. But then, if there is

perfunctoriness in the main function itself, can we expect meticulousness where extreme exactitude is not expected?

#002 DOES TEXTILE INDUSTRY DESERVE SOPS?

Dr. Rangarajan, Chairman, PM's Economy Advisory Board is in a lecturing and preaching mood, as ought to be for a former RBI Governor.

The Ministry of Textiles and the Textile Industry conducted a brainstorming session to discuss the falling trends of Indian Textile Exports, in the context of appreciation of external value of Indian Rupee. Naturally the Textile Millers expected some sops.

Shri Rangarajan advised them to use the appreciation of Rupee as an opportunity for importing modern machinery and technology. A la the IMF way, he found some structural disabilities in the textile industry's functioning.

FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY ADDED ON SEP 2 2007:
The following problems P1 to P6 and solutions S1 to S6 are this blogger's views. These are not the views of Dr. Rangarajan.
--o00o--

The Economic expert does not discuss the real problems of the textile environment in this country, like a seasoned bureaucrat.

PROBLEMS
P1. Half the people of this country do not have money to buy two pairs of shirts and trousers for males, or two sarees for females. (It forced Mahatma Gandhi to move like a half-naked fakir).

P2. Thousands of weavers in the country die of starvation, but the Economic Advisor is not worried.

P3. The economic adviser is worried about the withdrawal of safeguards in the textile importing countries.

P4. Powerloom sector is also facing crisis.

P5. China dumps its textiles into India indiscriminately.

P6. Indian lifestyles have changed. In spite of giving good rebates/discounts/subsidies by the Government, the people are not likely to buy Khadi/handloom goods. It is a hard reality and harsh truth that handloom/khadi textile sector has to die slowly.

NOW, DISCUSSION OF SOLUTIONS

S1. Mill Sector should absorb the handloom/khadi workers by training them. In case of very old untrainable workers, Mills should contribute to a Pension fund and pay SUBSISTENCE to the starving. Mills make profit at the cost of weavers, hence they have a corresponding duty to feed them.

S2. Govt. has a duty to protect the Mills by banning textile imports from China.

S3. Notwithstanding what the WTO or GATT or some other multilateral agreements may say, the Govt. must ban textile imports from all countries.

S4. The Govt. should buy all the cloth produced by domestic mills and sell to the poor Indians at cost price + reasonable profit.

Dr. Rangarajan should first serve the Indian poor, Indian weavers and domestic mills. His duties to the WTO and IMF can be performed later.

#010 PUBS WILL FLOURISH- EXPLOSIONS OR NO EXPLOSIONS?

Consequent on the fierce bomb explosions at Gokul Chat (an eating house) and Lumbini Vanam (A park and Laser Show Theater) in Hyderabad on 25th Aug. 2007 in which nearly 40 people were killed by terrorists, the Malls in the City are having shivers. The estate owners and business owners nowadays have sleepless nights.

The Government Officials, Builders and Real Estate Promoters are afraid that the explosions will have a fierce negative impact on fresh arrivals of investments into the City.

ADDED ON OCT. 21, 2009
Pubs and wine shops are doing great business in India, notwithstanding the explosions. Shiver and drink! Drink and shiver!

#009 WHY DO SHARE MARKETS PRAISE THEMSELVES AND BLAME OTHERS?

The Indian Stock Markets cry on and cry off. When they cry off, they quote the reason "GLOBAL SUB PRIME LOAN CONTAGION" .

This is just passing on the blame to somebody else.

--Withdrawal of funds by foreign investors by selling scrips, because they require them to fill their losses in the Sub-Prime Loan sector.
--As if the sub prime market loans are the exclusive preserve of only the American institutions. Financial institutions all over the world including Europe and India have sub-prime market loans. Globally, losses take place quite naturally.

In India also, the position is not different. Indian Banks classify their large industrial and trade loans as prime, as per their custom. Their losses in the large trade and industrial portfolio could be quite significant, albeit they may be undiclosed. For the same reason they shifted to retail personal lending, particularly in Housing Sector. But the Banks which lent heavily to housing should face the problem of inflated estate prices. The inflated prices of house-plots and flats is a viscious circle and bank funds could be locked up when the borrowers fail to pay because rental incomes are low and there may be nobody to buy finished houses/flats owing to high registration fees and taxes. Besides, Indians blindly believe in vastu (pronounced vaastu - a concept that a house plan can give auspicious results depending on size dimensions and directions of rooms, amenities like fire, toilet, water, dust bin etc.)and do not prefer second hand properties as they rarely match the vastu needs, unless the properties are sold at extremely low prices in relation to market. Hence there is a danger of bad and doubtful debts, whenever lending is made at inflated prices, notwithstanding the spiralling increase in real estate values. However, the retail house loans are better than industrial loans in terms of quality of recoveries. In case of industrial loans, particularly the working capital loans, the repayments are only book adjustments made by enhancement of loan limits. In a strict sense, they are never recovered. Even term loans can be shown as recovered by granting fresh working capital advances and adjusting a part of it towards servicing the term debt.

Indian Stock markets should, therefore, try to stand on their domestic legs rather than clamoring for foreign buyers and investors. Indian investors both small and large, should learn to invest for dividends. By forming associations they have to participate actively in the management of the Companies, sending their representatives to the Board of Directors. They should not become buyers and sellers of sameday type . By becoming oneday investors for a Company, they will be behaving like those visiting brothel houses. Modern customers and prostitutes do not have lasting relationships. It is the bane of Indian Stock Markets.

ADDED ON OCT. 21, 2009
Markets are glowing now. They take the credit for themselves. Of course, the Government also will claim credit for its policy initiatives.

#015 SEBI CAN SLEEP AND SNORE!

The SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has a proposal to start a Self-Regulatory Organisation (S.R.O.) for Financial Advisors (Broking Houses, Financial Advisory Firms, Finance Media etc.). What for? Anyway, the idea will not work.

It only shows that SEBI is trying to soft-pedal and shirk its own responsibilities. The GOI established SEBI because the Reserve Bank of India failed to regulate the Financial Advisers facilitating frauds by unscrupulous brokers like Harshad Mehta, Ketan Parekh. The Company Law Board, RBI, SEBI, Enforcement Directorate and numerous other organisations have sharp teeth to bite the Financial Advisors when the fraudsters are on the prowl. Yet, nobody does anything. A new institution is started whenever a scam takes place.

Associations and Chambers in India are like gambling houses dominated by big operators. Do they have any traits of self-regulation? They neither like self-regulation or regulation by others. Mr. Manmohan Singh has promised them de-regulation.

016 WHY INDIAN MPS DO NOT DISCUSS ACCOUNTS THOROUGHLY?

The US President, George Bush urged the Congress to concentrate on discussing budget and finance. The powers of the American Congress are mostly limited to cutting allocations. And Bush is asking them to look into the budget.

Why do Money Bills in Indian Parliament do not get discussed threadbare? Why do they get guillotined?

In Indian Parliament, the Accounts of different Ministries get guillotined as a matter of routine (they are treated as passed without discussion or voting). No MP will insist on discussions of accounts of Ministries, except a perfunctory look at tax concessions. The MPs do not bother about the people's money.

Indian Parliamentarians have no time to discuss anything which requires efforts and expertise to comprehend.

Incomplete. Shall add/delete/modify as soon as possible.