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Understand demat related problem

Opinions

gdbinani

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4 July 2019

Since MCA as well as SEBI both have decided that except in case of transmission or transposition of securities, requests for effecting transfer of securities shall not be processed unless the securities are held in dematerialised form with a depository. This measure came into effect from April 01, 2019

For everyone’s information I am not only in favor of demat, but also want to have all physical shares converted into demat. For this all concerned authorities not only consider practical aspects but also initiate suitable rectifications otherwise small senior stock investors will never be able to utilize their invested capital in their lifetimes.

I draw your attention towards media reports appearing on 31st March,’19 that still there are 3.33 lakh crores physical shares which is equal to 2.3% of the total listed shares’ market capitalisation and as per my assessment a major part of this is lying with small senior stock investors.

All senior small shareholders want to dematerialise their physical shares but they are not able to do so due to certain problems which are not in their control. Hence all concerned authorities are requested to provide a solution after understanding their problems in order to get wiped out all physical shares from the market i.e. 100% dematerialisation.

On 5th of last month there was an article titled “Can physical shares be accepted in buybacks, companies ask Sebi by Burugula – Editor, The Economic Times but surprisingly it covered only physical shares of listed companies as certain companies asked this answer from SEBI otherwise this matter is also relevant to unlisted companies which is being handled by MCA.

As you all know there are physical shares related to unlisted companies too which is being dealt by MCA & surprisingly small seniors also hold these which came in their possession due to management policy who first floated Public Issue and after listing got delisted and as a result small senior shareholders are in trouble.

Moreover in that article experts like Mr.Anil Choudhary, partner, Finsec Law Advisors said this constraint should not apply to buybacks

1] “When the regulator has allowed investors to hold shares in physical form, you cannot force investors to convert their shares into demat.”

2] “Buybacks cannot be regarded as transfer of securities and accordingly, the restriction on physical transfers cannot be applied in case of buyback,” said Vinita Nair, partner, Vinod Kothari & Company.

Now I hereby mention some major hurdles which these senior small stock investors are facing —

1] Due to frequent transfer they have missed not only so many important information but failed to comply certain formalities related to their investment. Such as–

A] Their physical scripts either lying in parental place OR some time at children’s place OR not delivered to them.

B] Due to change in name OR change in denomination OR other reason arising due to merger / demerger / consolidation etc. scripts with us not valid for demat

C] Due to change in Co.’s address arising as explained in Clause 2 above they feel helpless

D] There are changes in RTA too i.e. old RTA either left OR replaced due to change in management

E] There are companies who got converted from public to Private Ltd. due to ownership change

F] Absence of joint holder due to so many reasons

Due to any of the above reasons, if dividend remains outstanding seven consecutive years physical shares along with total dividend amount gets credited to IEPF even though investor has not surrendered his physical holding .

SEBI should ask all those companies, who have transferred to IEPF to provide all sorts of help so that the legal owners do NOT suffer ( as completion of formalities is tough ) otherwise small seniors investors will never be able to complete the refund process.

Hence it is desirable that all authorities should revisit / reassess to this provision i.e. have a thorough consultation with all constituents

2] There are companies who after strict direction from SEBI started demat process i.e. before that their shares were not on demat platform

3] There are companies who are not on CDSL then our NSDL DP is unable to demat similarly if not on NSDL then not possible with CDSL DP.

4] A married woman, after the death of her father, finds that her father had bought shares in her name long before she was married. The woman communicates with the Company and RTA and faces a tough task as both ask for various documents and after submitting the documents inform that the shares are with IEPF (and are still in her maiden name). This is a classic case, where there is no mention of a likely hood of such incidence, and hence neither SEBI has any answer nor the Company and/or RTA wants to act. So the shares and dividend are sent to IEPF. Are the Shareholder only responsible for running from pillar to post for repeated demands from Companies and/or RTAs ?

5] Judging loss on sale after incurring demat charges they prefer not to opt for demat hence high DP charges is also a hurdle i.e. not economically viable. As such authorities should revisit and amend suitably DP charges.

6] There are a number of companies which got delisted after listing over Stock exchange and in these type of cases Small senior Shareholders are facing tremendous trouble. MCA authorities should provide such an exit route which enable small Shareholders to realise their cost otherwise they will not be able to overcome such problems.

7] It is very difficult to search out these delisted companies’ address whereas IT department is asking to convey their PAN No. etc. which is also worrisome for we seniors. Moreover I do not find PAN no. of even listed companies over BSE site. Further these [ delisted ] companies do not return shares once they get possession of shares. Hence this requires some effective solution.

8] Share holder has changed the residence and is staying with his/her married daughter, for which there is no address proof available. Although the company and /or it’s RTA have the details of share holder’s either PAN or Bank account or email or Mobile number or Aadhar details, they are insisting for the share holder to get the address proof and refusing the transfer.

9] Shareholder has changed the bank account, but the PAN and/or email details are available with the company and/or RTA, which is ignored and transfer is refused.

10] Shareholder has lost the certificate, has requested for a duplicate certificate and for that the company sends a questionnaire to get details as to how the share certificate was lost. Now if it is signed by the first share holder (as the others are staying in other cities), company and /or RTA rejects the request.

Hence considering all above authorities should relax this transfer ban —

1] Transfer for eliminating joint names should be allowed so that seniors get their holding converted into demat a/c style alternatively
2]One format should be introduced which should be so drafted which once submitted duly signed by all joint holders should be made sufficient for converting physical into electronic form in desired style.

In simple words authorities should ensure so that small senior stock investors are not required to obtain repeated signatures from joint holders.

I will also suggest authorities can make it mandatory for companies [ now onward ] not to return transferred physical shares rather effect credit to desired demat a/c. which in turn eliminate a good number of physical shares.

I trust authorities after examining all points deeply will come out with an easy workable solution which in turn provide relief to all i.e. to shareholders as well as authorities themselves besides companies.

Trust readers, in their own interest will pass their opinions / suggestions to authorities so that this problems gets sorted out in an amicable manner as ban on transfer will complicate problems hence our joint efforts is necessary.

G D Binani
Bikaner
[email protected]
7976870397

What should new Water Ministry do

Reports

mauliksisodia

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3 July 2019

0

By 2020, 21 Indian cities are expected to reach groundwater levels of zero, which will affect water access for 100 million people. Nearly half of India is already under drought during the summertime, and the current water crisis in Chennai is the latest example of what could soon happen to the country.

The new government is trying to address water issues in its newest ministry, “Jal Shakti—Water Power.” It promises to bring all the departments on water issues under one minister. (Earlier it was known as Ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation.)

The focus of the new ministry is to expedite its program of linking the rivers of India and to ensure piped water in every Indian household by 2024. This is not a new concept; many state’s government have tried providing running water to households, without much success. That’s because approximately 85 percent of current rural water supply schemes are based on groundwater sources that are not perennial. Because groundwater levels fall in more than half of the country, millions of people are getting insufficient or poor water quality. As a consequence, communities depend on a single or remote source of drinking water, often leading to conflicts and enhanced discrimination against significant fetchers of water, such as females and girls.

Another omnipresent reality is the wasting of water even in water-stressed region by general masses. For hours, you can see the flowing public pipe lines in the drainage or roads without tapping.

The new ministry needs to think ‘small’ in order to really provide water security for India. It must restore the bodies of water and recharge its groundwater. Only when our drinking water supply is based on perennial surface water sources can our drinking water-security be achieved.

Rural India still has enormous potential for soil and water conservation. Government should encourage CSOs and CSRs to play an active role in managing rainwater at farmer and household level. Panchayat or District authorities should restore water resources at community level.

Women farmers in Rajasthan are adopting sprinklers. PC: Maulik Sisodia

Currently, water transport from water-rich districts or states is presented as a water crisis solution. I believe that this is a short-term emergency solution, but not a sustainable solution. For a decade, nearly 150 kilometers away, the town of Jaipur imported water from Bisalpur in Tonk. Now, however, the Bisalpur dam itself is not getting filled— and plans are being made by the local govt to bring water from the Brahmani and Chambal Rivers there. Who knows, these rivers will need water from somewhere else after how many days. It’s an endless game that will definitely result in disputes between donor district, state or basin, and recipients.
Misuse of this imported water is one of the most serious offenses. Users in cities generally don’t know the value of this water and use it in car washing, showers, street cleaning etc. that could have watered many farmer’s fields.

The government must concentrate on managing demand. It should be three pronged strategies, first controlled-supply, second demand-control, and third long-term awareness. In the first step, the government must ensure a timely, leak-proof and safe-water supply rather than 24* 7 supply.

Second, government should encourage and assist consumers by subsidizing efficient water-use products such as sensor-tap accessories, automatic motor controller etc. at household level or drips / sprinklers for farmers. Current public subsidy systems are inefficient, require enormous paperwork and a lengthy process that discourages farmers from adopting fresh irrigation techniques. Controlling water usage at irrigation level without affecting the country’s food safety, is the most significant consideration as it consumes 85% of groundwater.

I work with more than a thousand farmers in Rajasthan who in the last four years have effectively implemented sprinkler techniques. The findings obtained are a 40 percent decrease in water consumption for irrigation per acre, a 30 percent decrease in water loss during irrigation conveyance, which in turn needs less energy for water pumping, an 80 percent decrease in human labor time needed for irrigation per acre, which indirectly decreases weeding time and fertilizer application and agricultural earnings increased by 20% per acre, as crop yields and quality improved by decreasing soil salinity, fewer pest and disease raids, and less weed competition. Surprisingly, the drudgery of women life has been reduced drastically, as she is the one who devotes her time in agriculture but never credited the title of a farmer.

Local communities made a Johad in Karauli, Rajasthan. PC: Maulik Sisodia

Third, water-literacy at the national level should be the primary focus, which has not been seriously done so far. It is high time that special modules are introduced in classrooms on water saving, conservation. The government’s water-related schemes should be known to higher-secondary and college-level youth in order to inform and influence their parents and become concerned. Instead of being an annual or monthly occurrence, efficient water literacy should be the component of our education system.

The Government of India should mandate all local authorities to publish within six months maps of water bodies under their jurisdiction. These documents should be demarcated, notified and gazetted by the revenue department. “No-change in land use” for these water bodies, lakes, rivulets, rivers, drains etc. should be permitted at any cost. Government should also limit the use of waterfront and water bodies, along with rules for the extraction and recharge of groundwater. It should list all forbidden operations, such as unscientific sand mining, dredging and embellishment, etc. that could endanger a water body, should be recognized as offenses charged with maximum penalties under the appropriate Indian Penal Code.

Rivers are being murdered because of their sand. The government must identify the sand’s alternative as a construction material. Imports of sand may be a short-term solution if realistically possible. After all we don’t want our rivers last pictures to be hanged on our home walls.

The new government should launch an aggressive program of nature-based solutions, ecological restoration, ideally to build resilience and generate livelihoods. The philosophy of the new Jal Shakti Ministry should be to preserve river catchments, curb pollution load on the river, and establish a balance between aquifer recharge and discharge.

Mahua Moitra’s anguish and Adhir Ranjan Choudhury’s argument are misplaced

Opinions

G Indira

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3 July 2019

0

Mahua Moitra’s anguish and Adhir Ranjan Choudhury’s argument are misplaced

In the Parliament, that is, in the first session after the BJP led NDA coming to power for the second time, comments of the opposition after of the Presidential address, are note-worthy. It shows, they have still not come to terms with the debacle and their ideology of “secularism”- as to where it went wrong. Even today, they hold the belief, that they are right and the ruling is wrong. Their appeasement of minorities, which has long been Muslim-specific and Muslim-centric, is ever supported by Liberals in India. So, they have no qualms in speaking what they want to.

Mahua Moitra’s spirited speech started off by her ideological background, that’s by the quote of “Maulana” Abul Kalam Azad, the first education minister of independent India. That indicates how she is abided by TMC’s appeasement ideology. Of course, she is cog in the TMC- machinery. It’s not anybody’s business to question the quote she selected, in her wisdom, for her expression of ‘free speech’. Moreover, the man was a secular icon for our liberals, though prefixed with ‘Maulana’. Never doubted, was he, for his secular credentials (like how the today’s Yogi is always). Mahua Moitra’s great choice has appealed to her gallery. Occasionally, she quoted others who are not from minority religion to neutralize the situation. Shouldn’t she have placed one of them in the forefront other than a Maulana?

Mahua Moitra’s assumption of- ‘rising fascism’ in India – was rejected by voters squarely. The kala bhoot (dark ghost/apparition) to scare a child- she mentioned in her speech- probably is the one she is scaring us with – that of her presumed rising fascism. As a matter of fact, her said fascism, is in the West Bengal, in a rising scale, escalating on daily basis. The holocaust she mentioned, is apt, here to compare with the killings of Hindu activists in her state. The only difference is, like in USA, holocaust memorial is not built by the BJP, the party only called the relatives of the victims to the prime minister’s swearing-in to give some solace. Ms. Moitra should know that argument is a double-edged sword. The prime minister gave an apt reply by reminding the emergency days of former prime minister Indira Gandhi to be the dark period in history by making people robbed off their fundamental rights.

Ms. Moitra’s TMC in the state of West Bengal is blind in its love for minorities. Otherwise, why would the minority affairs department send the circular that the department needs to identify state run schools and aided institutions that have more than 70% students from minority community to construct dining halls? The circular itself defies ‘Equality’ of all children. Either dining halls should be provided for all or none. Why discrimination between communities? It’s in a way splitting the society. Even to source money from minority affairs and madrassa- as is said by the Bengal CM, that the step is taken- the basic tenet that particular minority community students are going to get the privilege, is wrong.

In a TV interview, when Ms. Moitra was asked about the “minority appeasement” in her state of West Bengal, she didn’t answer upright, instead she said: appeasement works both ways, in Uttar Pradesh crores of money is spent on cow protection. She should have known by now that there’s a bovine law in the state and the state is Constitutionally mandated to protect. Generally, the interviewer anchors don’t accept counter questioning by saying that’s whataboutery. Here, the liberal anchors are liberal in letting her go.

The leader of the Congress in Parliament, Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was lauded by the liberal journos for his first statement in the Parliament: “The need of the hour was that a clergy needs to begin to see Ram in his mosque and a priest needs to see Rahman in the temple. That’s our idea”. It makes one wonder: in which world is he living? Surreal world or real? The Congress leader of the parliament, is holding on to a worn-out- that was tried, tested and failed earlier-method. Mahatma Gandhi composed and sang the song : Raghupathi Rajaram, Pathithapavan Sitaram, Ishwar Allah tere naam. The song became famous with Hindus, not with Muslims.

To them Allah is Supreme. They would not join with some other name, be it a God from some religion. Adulteration strict no…no for them, only Hindus have that tolerance, for they practice polytheism. This type of vice versa kind of solutions, as far as religion is concerned, don’t work. Prayer is one’s own. What happened to Gandhi ji, is a grim reminder. Despite singing admixture of Ishwar-Allah and by supporting Khilafat, nothing yielded. The country was divided. Would the Congress like to try the same? The Congress and TMC’s secularism is a failed attempt, that is like the old wine in a new bottle, not suitable to New India.

In this context, let the opposition be reminded of their own icons, Marx and Engels what they said from the manifesto of the communist party: ‘ The ruling ideas of an age have always been the ideas of the ruling class’. Now the ruling class is the BJP and their idea of Hindutva. The leaders in the opposition could protest and fight against it with all their limited strength as Ms. Moitra also pointed out. But it seems to be of no avail.

This ruling class with ruling ideas is secured by proponents of Hindutva after tough fight for decades on, to prove against the minority-vote bank-oriented secularism of the so-called secular parties in India. Still secularists are not mending their ways. Hence, Mahua Moitra’s and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury ’s fundamental principles and assumptions are wrong.

Congress party can be revived only with ‘jungle law of male lion’

Opinions

S Ranganathan

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3 July 2019

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Congress party can be revived only with ‘jungle law of male lion’

Revival of congress party with and or without the dynast Rahul Gandhi looks bleak and hence mass resignation of all those who are highly loyal to the dynast is happening at one end and at the other end, all those old generation leaders like Kamal Nath, Ashok Ghelot etc., are rallying behind the dynast to reaffirm their loyalty to the dynast. Ironically none of them are ready to bequeath their position as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan by owing up responsibility for the defeat.

Similarly P Chidambaram on his side has ensured his son becomes the Member of Parliament and he entered into Rajya Sabha through Maharastra. Most of the old generation leaders of the congress party are not only fighting to save their position in the party but also have ensured their children to become prominent in the party.

Blaming the dynast Rahul Gandhi alone and describing the congress party as family establishment due to him therefore holds no water as most of the power brokers in the party have also made the party a family enterprise.

This family exhibition of several leaders prevents them from criticising the other as most of them are sailing in the same family boat by following dynastic culture. It looks like; all these old guards want congress to remain as a family show so that they can mentor their children in politics through congress party. When time comes, they can fly from congress to other parties.

Need of the hour is jungle law of male lion for the congress party. Whenever a male lion encounters a pride and if the male lion is sexually matured and looking for harem, would fight the head of the pride lion and then defeat the existing head and then take over the pride. Then the new dominant lion then would kill all cubs born to the previous lion to make the female lion to come to breeding cycle.

Similar to the jungle law followed by a new dominant lion in his new pride, the new leader of the congress party must remove all the old generation leaders from the party and must make them just to decorate the party in the porch or in the backyard and should offer nothing beyond that. Similarly the children of the old guards who became prominent in the party thanks to their parents must be neutralized and every office bearer of the party must be new, credible and hardworking. At least for another 10 years, the culture of dynasty should not be entertained in the party.

The biggest road block for the congress party to be relevant in Indian politics today is its allies, the regional parties. Congress party was supporting the regional parties for a long while to come to power particularly at the centre and as a result of such politics, the party got reduced to the level of a regional or fringe player, stagnant in most parts of India. Along with restructuring the party, congress must destroy the relevance of the regional parties.

Congress must invoke national spirit, must support the agenda of one India, one ration card, one election and one leader Narendra Modi to lead India to success. By playing fiddle with regional parties, congress can only ruin its prospects and therefore congress must stop the regional parties come to power even if such politics may favour BJP. India needs national parties and not regional parties. If the regional parties are encouraged to form government, only divisive politics and politics of hatred and negativity alone shall breed and the best example is the politics of DMK in Tamil Nadu.

DMK has one only agenda to oppose PM Modi and all his programs even if the programs and schemes are best for the state. DMK is ready to spread lies and distorted information about any news scheme initiated by PM Modi much before the details of the scheme reaches people. The opposition shown by DMK towards one nation, one ration card is the best example.

Congress should not play to the gallery of regional parties and instead must work towards weakening them like how congress party has demolished left in Kerala.

For internal re-structuring, congress must adopt jungle law of a dominant lion. When the party invoke such forceful law, the party may face some freezing movements in Indian politics but congress must show courage to face it because India is in the safe hands of Narendra Modi.

Forget power, resurrect the party with new team and eliminate all old guards and dynast leaders. This is the need for the hour for the congress party. Obey PM Modi and do not oppose, respect him do not abuse, support him do not discredit his clean governance and corruption free administration.

S Ranganathan

Narendra Modi Govt’s Kashmir policy is finally bearing fruits

Opinions

vigoe

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3 July 2019

0

Narendra Modi Govt’s Kashmir policy is finally bearing fruits

The biggest criticism that Narendra Modi and his government had to face in his first term was about the deteriorating situation in Kashmir. Kashmir was a constant thorn in the flesh for the ruling government specially given the tendency of the ‘unbiased’ media to give undue importance to that 10% area of the state which is affected by terrorism while talking about the entire state.

The entire ‘Left Liberal’ gang and the opposition was baying for Narendra Modi’s blood for his policies in Kashmir which first they termed as ‘No-policy’ and then as ‘Muscular policy’. Though Narendra Modi Govt. was able to curb the terror attacks in Indian mainland, the attacks in Kashmir shot up through the roof, mostly due to the pressure put by the armed forces through their operation ‘All Out’.

The tie-up with PDP to form the govt. did not help BJP’s cause either. Though there were varied explanations given by the people in the know-how of things ranging from necessity to understand the governance and politics of J&K from inside to Narendra Modi trying to project a soft-Muslim approach to sheer lust for power; the PM himself termed it as BJP’s ‘MahaMilavat’. The policies of Mahbooba Mufti and PDP ensured that the valley remains on the boil with ample obstacles to be put in Security forces’ operations. She even tried to destabilize the peaceful Jammu region through dubious means such as the mishandling of Kathua Rape case and settlement of illegal Rohingyas in and around Jammu region.

Though the government at Delhi maintained ‘Zero tolerance’ to terrorism and ‘free hand’ to armed forces while fighting terrorism; some of their decisions, for whatever reasons, were not matching with the words. Whether it was the decision of unilateral ceasefire during the holy month of “Ramazan” or taking back cases against thousands of stone pelters; the govt chose to ignore the apprehensions of the security forces.

On the other hand, the number of terrorists to be neutralized kept on increasing year by year. No other period saw the elimination of top leadership of various terror groups as the period between 2014-19. Though the killing of Burhan Wani and its subsequent handling and reportage created a lot of distrust between the people of Kashmir and Delhi; the govt refused to bow down to the pressure being created by the ‘peaceniks’ and continued its ‘zero tolerance to terror’ policy in Kashmir.

The policy started showing results when Baramullah was declared as terror free in early 2019. Many of the experts say that the terror problem has now been confined to just two and a half district and is taking its last breath even in those areas. However, to see the success of this new Kashmir policy just from the prism of terrorism would be repeating the mistakes of Lutyens’ media.

The true success of the Kashmir policy can be seen in last one year since BJP took back its support from the J&K govt and the state came under Governor’s rule. Since then so many historic and first-of-its-kind things have happened in the state that even one of them would have been unimaginable till a few years back.

The central govt and EC were able to successfully conduct Panchayat and local bodies elections without even a single terror incident. This is historic as the local bodies elections are a rarity in the state and when they used to happen, a lot of blood used to get spilled. Just to convey the importance of this, local bodies elections have been conducted only thrice in last 4 decades in Jammu and Kashmir state.

JKLF, Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen and many other organizations were banned which were fueling terrorism in the state either directly or indirectly. This was not a small decision to make as some of these organizations have deep roots within the Muslim clergy and madrassas of the state and had immense political backing from the local political parties and their leadership.

A big crackdown happened on Hurriyat and other separatist organizations and their leaders including some of the big names like Syed Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik, Asiya Andrabi and many others. Most of them were put in custody with multiple cases slapped against them for abetting and sponsoring terror. But more significant than that was the fact that there was not a single protest or rally in their support in the valley! No wonder, with BJP coming back to power with even a bigger majority, these people have agreed for talks for the first time in decades.

With Narendra Modi policy getting a big thumbs up from the Indian public, Amit Shah getting appointed as the new Home Minister of India, BJP raising expectations about the removal of Article 370 and 35A, and the recent developments in last few weeks since coming back to power – delimitation of the state being discussed, reservations bill being extended to the state, no protest or bandh for the first time in the valley on the visit of the Home Minister of the country, extension of President’s rule – it seems a new dawn is on the horizon for Jammu & Kashmir and its citizens.

Eliminating the power of the corrupt

Reports

nikhil

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3 July 2019

0

If anyone is given absolute power over certain things, then it is bound to result in corruption. For example: If an officer in the VAT department (now subsumed within GST), is given the power to settle a case, then the officer over there is most likely to become corrupt. If the police station, has exclusive power to register an FIR, then the police station is very likely to make a very good amount of money. The reason being, to develop systems that create “checks and balances”, on processes that give exclusive authority to any individual, are cumbersome and easily fallible. The below can work wonders, to resolve this:

There can be 2 methods to resolve this:

(1) Method 1:

Lets consider tax scrutiny. It is being planned to shift most of the scrutiny online. This is very good. However, even if some of the scrutiny were to happen offline, that scrutiny will become a source of corruption. This is because the one doing the scrutiny has an exclusive interaction with the one being scrutinized, with the power to settle the case, and the opportunity to make some easy money. Hence, if due to any reason, manual scrutiny is required, it must not be done by 1 individual. It can be done by 3 individuals, at 3 different times (each separated by 2 months). No one can predict beforehand, that for the 2nd and 3rd time, the scrutinizing person will be either corrupt or non-corrupt. Hence the attitude of settling the matter via bribes will be fraught with risks for both the involved parties, and thus be eliminated, with more people preferring to pay the required fine, which they can showcase during their 2nd and 3rd scrutiny. The absolute power given to 1 individual to decide on a matter is taken away. This will most likely be very effective in eliminating corruption.

(2) Method 2:

Long time back, the software systems had realized the power of APIs. When one system needs to interact with another system, there are 2 methods:
(1) Create a specific communication protocol between the 2 systems.
(2) Let there be a common generic communication protocol, through which the 2 systems can interact.

The advantages of the second method over the first one, are very well documented and thus the second method is widely used.

Lets now apply the same methodology to public interaction with government departments. So, lets create a new center, that will act as an API and temporarily call it as “Suvidha Kendra”.

Now, if any user wants to get a task accomplished, then he interacts with the “Suvidha Kendra”. The “Suvidha Kendra”, is a very lean organization, whose only task is to act as an API. It knows the list of documents required to get a task done. It takes those documents, and passes it to the relevant government department. It knows the expected response time and follows up accordingly. It can accept payments and pass on the amount to the relevant departments. Most importantly, it has no idea of the backend process required to get that task accomplished. Any central or state government department, can make any of their process compatible with “Suvidha Kendra”.

So now,
– If I require a birth certificate or a death certificate, I can just walk into a nearby Suvidha Kendra. They will give me a list of documents to submit, and inform me about the timeline. I submit the document to them, and it gives me unique request number, through which I will get all further updates. The transfer of documents is handled by them.

– If my pension is being delayed, then I can just walk into a Suvidha Kendra, and never interact with any other government department. They will handle everything for me.

– If I want to file an FIR, then I can just walk into a Suvidha Kendra, and record my statement and Aadhar verify myself. The Suvidha Kendra, passes all the information to the relevant police station.

– I need to resolve some taxation issue or claim some refund, I can just walk into a Suvidha Kendra, instead of ever going to VAT department. (People who have gone there, will say why they would prefer to not go there).

– A builder wants his sanction plan cleared, he walks with his requirement to a Suvidha Kendra. (No direct government interaction).

– I need Custom Clearance, I can just go to a Suvidha Kendra.

– My passport police verification is not done or is put on hold, then I can just walk into a Suvidha Kendra.

– Any government department, wanting to get some work done from another government department, can also proceed through the Suvidha Kendra.

Suvidha Kendra will thus become a hub of knowledge, interaction and process improvement, with a very lean structure. Any government service, can make itself compatible with the Suvidha Kendra. To make it compatible, means to let the Suvidha Kendra know the API protocol which will consist of: The order to perform some steps, The documents required for each step and the expected timeline for each step. All the interactions at each step will be done by the Suvidha Kendra. Some of the interactions with the Suvidha Kendra will also be enabled online (for example, document upload against a certain unique id of user requirement).

The Suvidha Kendra can send regular SMS updates to the user. If it finds any hiccups in any step of its process for any of its API call, it will document it and devise processes to tackle it (For example: getting a required document which needs to be submitted in a process, might itself require giving some bribe, and thus the Suvidha Kendra will recommend improvement in this very process). Suvidha Kendra will therefore become a hub of knowledge. It will lead to improvement in the government services with every recommendation of processes improvement in the Suvidha Kendra. (Very similar to API Versioning V1, V2, V3.. etc). Being a lean organization, will make it possible to outsource its management to the private sector.

We now have at least 2 points of interaction for the government service – 1 direct, and 1 via Suvidha Kendra.

There can be multiple “Suvidha Kendra” in a single city. So it is not mandatory to interact with any specific center to get the work done. These centers, by their very structure, will be very efficient, and have a very lean structure. Thus if a government process become applicable in one Suvidha Center, then it will get replicated in all the Suvidha Centers throughout the country, thereby giving them the ability to handle these processes.

The Suvidha Kendra is not restricted to processes of only the state government. It can simultaneously have processes of the state and the central government, and even the processes of other states (as it is just an exchange center). The existing online processes have many points of failure, because for some of the many steps in the online processes, these systems do require an interaction with the relevant department, which covertly aid corruption. They are a one to one interaction between the government and the end user. Suvidha Kendras can ensure that the online centers also become corruption free, by optimizing their processes in a quick time.

Open letter to Ms Mahua Moitra

Open Letters

kavita2912

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2 July 2019

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Madam Mahua Moitra,

In your maiden, zealous and passionate speech in the Parliament a few days back,you garnered much praise and applause. You spoke extremely articulately, enunciating every single word with clarity. While you have a great command over the language as one could see in the impeccable English, it your content I have a problem with.

And no, it’s not because you attacked Mr. Modi. I would have had this problem even it were to be Mr. Gandhi being attacked.

Madam you used words like xenophobia, fascism n facts such as identity proofs and lynching.

As I understand it is your highly esteemed leader who is totally xenophobic and fascist in her rule. She gets people chanting “Jai Shri Ram” beaten up. What is this, if not, fascism, Ms. Moitra? Or maybe your definition is from a different dictionary.

Go to a village in the state you hail from. Every non-Muslim house,nowadays lives in fear. Your CM is on a mission to draw out all Hindus from their houses and get them beaten up on the assumption that they must have voted for BJP! Preposterous, to say the least.
Xenophobia, anyone??

The above is as per an eye witness account who says the lady is hell bent on destroying Hindus and another one says no temples are open in villages now “for fear of Didi”. Is that not curbing the freedom to practice one’s faith?
Fear psychosis: early signs of fascism, anyone??

As for identity proof, if you mean Aadhaar card, then why this hue n cry? It was the Congress regime which had this idea and it turned out well. If you have lived here for 50 yrs, why not prove it? I am ready to do so. If you are not, I am sorry but that means you are hiding some facts.

FYI, 80% of the housemaids, who are ostensibly from Bengal, are actually illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. In a country bursting at its seams with teeming population,should we bear excess burden in the name of humanity? Where does this human spirit disappear when TMC workers bash up innocents for reasons cited above?

Also, how many countries would do that? Please think about it. Your party craves for vote banks from one community at any cost.

Lynching is what started in Bengal with a vengeance. With complete support from your erstwhile Didi.
Anything unacceptable to her (read Hindus)and the people were lynched n beaten up.

Alas, your facts and opinion were too biased to realise that you needed to use the same powerful words with the same angry passion to your TMC leader. The moment you do that, I will certainly give you a standing ovation. Till then , what you said was a well aimed barb at Mr. Modi , who has replied to many.

As for your new fan base, I am happy for you. Perhaps they do not know the reality of today’s Bengal.

Good wishes n may you get the courage to speak the whole truth and not just a twisted version of it.

Till we meet again….. Au revoir!

Administrative unification of states under ONE INDIA spirit is must, let us support Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Opinions

S Ranganathan

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2 July 2019

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Administrative unification of states under ONE INDIA spirit is must, let us support Prime Minister Narendra Modi

India has traveled several years away from 1947. The situation, political realities and reasons in India today are completely different from that of 1947 where India was fighting for independence. Although India has moved ahead but had to carry the heavy burden of scams, corruption, nepotism, dynastic politics, politics of maladministration, misuse of power, cutting down the freedom of people and democracy to size by then congress Prime Minister of India by promulgating emergency, tukde tukde gangs cobbling up alliance and forming government to ruin India etc., until 2014. India has really started to prosper and progress meaningfully in the direction it ought to be only after Modi has become the Prime Minister of India.

India needs reforms and innovation in political administration of the state. In the name of federal structure, diversity, plurality, we should not lose our sight in growing India as one nation with one vision evoked by PM Modi – sab ka vikas.

Administrative unification of all states with centre is necessary where the issues of governance, public distribution system, health care, licensing norms, education policy and curriculum design, public expenditure and the appointment of highest judiciary in the state etc., must be brought under central government. States responsibility must be limited to solving local issues and frame methodologies to resolve various issues of the state. Every policy of the state government should go in sync with the national agenda or the vision of one India.

Bringing administrative unification of all states under central government will no way betray or deny the diversity and plurality of the state. Any Indian when move to other countries, they are received legally by the other country only as Indian citizen and not as from Tamil Nadu or Karnataka or Maharashtra etc. Passport issuing authority is central government agency and not the state government. Similarly the appointment of judges in higher judiciaries in the state should not be left with the state but it must be done in consultation with the central government. The PDS system must certainly follow one India, one ration card policy and only then pilferage and misuse funds meant for poor people can be prevented. Similarly the licensing norms for manufacturing of drugs, cosmetics etc., also must be governed by the centre and not by the state. Because of the existing discrepancy, certain drug combinations are not allowed to manufacture in certain state while in some other states, they are permitted, although the situation is changing steadily.

The education policy also must be governed by the central government and not by the state governments. The reason being if the curriculum model followed by the state is not in sync with the India at large, the problem of quality difference is bound to occur. The regional parties are bound to play regional card and divisive agenda to win election. But the innocent people and the future generation shall be the victim of such dirty politics. If people are taught the curriculum with one India ethos, certainly the spirit of one India, emotional and ethical generality, consideration and kindness towards every Indian, we can develop.

Regional parties are bound to divide people by hyping hyper-regionalism and the best example is DMK in Tamil Nadu. To divert and devastate people to make huge political capital, DMK is infusing anti-Hindi sentiments by saying Hindi would eliminate Tamil language. Interestingly several top leaders of DMK are running CBSE schools in Tamil Nadu where Hindi is being taught to the students. If we ask, they would answer, personal business is different from politics.

Once the political administrative/political governance reform is brought in and the central government alone is made as the custodian of all policies of the state pertaining to national agenda of one India, not only we can stop the regional parties playing divisive politics but centre also can reform the state directly without the interference of respective state governments.

The agenda of one India we could discuss today thanks to millions of people who voted massively for PM Modi to be bold, brave and decisive in his governance. Need of the hour is the spirit and sentiments of one India and not state specific, narrow spectrum politics.

To understand it more easily we can take the example of any private school where the chairman or correspondent is the final authority. But the administrative responsibility is given to the Principal, the class teacher is the custodian of the respective classes and finally the subject teachers are responsible for the respective subjects.

Only when the power and vision of the central government enjoys supremacy over the state, India can move ahead in toto where no single state shall lag behind. But due to admitting and yielding to plurality and diversity, some states have progressed while some other states are faring far behind. If congress party had ever invoked the spirit of one India in its long rule, the country would not have been like what it is today (prior to 2014). If the ethos of one India were strong, the development index of Tamil Nadu and Bihar would have been same today and so is the quality of education. Health care delivery system and PDS also would have been excellent today if India has ever moved strongly with the ethos of one India.

Every Indian must take up some additional responsibility and extra time to educate the society about the good and corruption free governance of Narendra Modi and his vision of one India and how such vision can transform the last man in the street.

The regional parties and tukde tukde gangs are opposing such mission of PM Modi because if digitization in administration is done and the central government become the custodian of future of India, the state government formed by most of those corrupt regional parties cannot loot the nation. We must save India by pledging our unconditional support to PM Modi.

S Ranganathan

One nation, one ration card, the greatest administrative innovation of PM Modi to help poor and stop freebie politics

Opinions

S Ranganathan

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2 July 2019

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One nation, one ration card, the greatest administrative innovation of PM Modi to help poor and stop freebie politics

The government headed by Narendra Modi asking all states to implement one India one ration card by 2020 should be seen as one of the most progressive political and administrative steps taken by his government. This step would not only reform India, help poor people to benefit from public distribution system (PDS) but also would prevent freebie politics and politics of exploitation of the weaker section by political parties promise to give rice for 1 rupee done by DMK to win an election.

Centre provides rice and other commodities to the states at a subsidised rate and the state then distributes the same to its people through PDS at a rate fixed by the respective states. The states like Tamil Nadu is giving rice free of cost to people as a poll promise for vote. The union government is likely to harmonize the subsidy norm for various provisions for public distribution through ration shops. Once a proper system and standard is done, every state would be provided with various provisions at a fixed rate of subsidy. If the state government makes freebie culture and exploit the poor people instead of empower them, the state has to bear the burden.

Another important dimension of the above reform innovation of PM Modi is that the ration card provided to the citizens under one nation, one ration card system is valid for the citizens in any part of India. So whenever people re-locate to different states, the proposed ration card will help those people without any hustle.

The public distribution system needs an urgent cleaning and proper harmonization among all states. Corruption and misuse of government funds are happening heavily in public distribution system. Once the system of one India, one ration card is introduced, PM Modi can ensure not only corruption and misuse of government funds meant for poor is stopped but also can achieve the ethos of one India by people when they enjoy the benefit of one India one ration card system when they frequently move to different parts of India.

Today, many people who don’t deserve provisions from PDS are also enjoying the benefit and at the same time many deserving families are excluded from the system, the reason for their exclusion, no one really knows. Bringing the PDS system under digital platform and making even the central government also can monitor the micro details and review the ground truth only then we can make all state governments accountable and responsible.

If one India ethos is not enforced strongly and forcefully, no such reform is possible. Need of the hour is not blocking the check valves of the dam called corruption; the main door of the dam called corruption needs to be closed completely and permanently.

People of India must recognise and thank PM Modi for bringing such a great reform. He could do so only because of the decisive mandate given by people of India. The political will and wisdom of PM Modi needs to be supported by people of this country unconditionally and only then New India can be built. The deserving people must be supported, helped and empowered and those misuses the system must be neutralized and paralyzed.

Only when a transparent system is brought in the administration, accountability and responsibility of all government officials and elected government can be achieved. PM Modi is not just reforming the administration but also fixing spy cameras to stop pilferage and misuse.

It is the responsibility of every citizen in India who aspires for New India, India free from corruption and scams, governance free from dynastic politics and nepotism, governance dedicated for development and sab ka vikas, India that remains as one nation, one election, one tax under one political party BJP and one honest leader Narendra Modi must spread the above administrative innovation of PM Modi to introduce one India one ration card to everyone in the society.

Similarly we also must teach people in our society that the umbilical cord of one India is our sacred and living culture – Hinduism. Hinduism is not a religion and therefore promoting Hinduism is non-religious and not against any other religion. Secular credential of India comes from the Hindu culture being followed by majority community and therefore let us culturally also integrate all people under Hinduism.

S Ranganathan

Maharashtra pushes for buyback of plastic milk packets

Reports

Bhimashankar Sanga

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2 July 2019

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Maharashtra pushes for buyback of plastic milk packets

The glandular secretion from a single ungulate can come in various forms – plastic packets, tetra packs, glass bottles and in unpacked versions. During the Neolithic Revolution, the humans who learned to wring milk around 9,000 years ago hardly wondered about environmental consternation they were unleashing.

Maharashtra’s milk pouches buyback scheme is believed to be the country’s first plastic milk pouches buyback system. The buyback scheme essentially aims to establish a process in place for the collection of used plastic milk pouches from the customers by the retailers. The whole objective is to reduce plastic litter contaminating the environment by rotting in landfills and increase recycling by paying customers. The onus of recycling this hoarded plastic would be either on the milk manufacturer or plastic manufacturer. Maharashtra government had erstwhile exempted milk packets from the state-wide plastic ban and this milk plastic buyback scheme takes care of that leftover dairy debris.

Amul is currently circulating 26 million milk packets and 1.5 million tetra packs of milk per day across India, generating as much waste. India is generating around 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste, every day. Out of 15,000 tonnes of generated plastic waste, only 9,000 tonnes is collected and recycled and the remaining but 6,000 tonnes of plastic waste is not being collected. This discarded plastic ends up indiscriminately clogging drains and water bodies, floating in rivers or piling up in landfills. Chintan, an NGO had conducted garbage audit in Delhi which states that 36 percent of the total branded plastics collected in a sample of mixed garbage is just “low-recyclable value cups and tetra packs” of Mother Dairy, Amul, etc. brands. In Maharashtra alone, around 10 million milk pouches are dispensed on a daily basis. Importantly, only a fraction of 10 million milk pouches is picked up by rag pickers. The plastic in landfills when catches fire, especially during summer, emits cancer causing-furans and dioxins.

According to Plastic Waste Management (Amended) Rules 2018, every plastic manufacturer producing packaging trash has to set up a semi-formal structure called PRO (Producer Responsibility Organization) for waste plastic collection and recycling. A PRO is a borrowed European concept whereby the producer’s responsibility of managing the waste is transferred to the PRO. The PRO will meet the extended producer’s responsibility for managing the end-to-end operations associated with waste management. Dairies should hire the PROs and give them the mandate to collect the waste milk packets. The PROs must work with the state government, milk distributors and rag pickers.

In Maharashtra, effectively implementing the buyback policy for milk packets which are circulated in heavy numbers, will be a challenge for the authorities. The state government is exhorting customers to return milk packets to retailers. Although state government can implement key strategies, adopt new technology, provide infrastructure solutions and plan for waste plastic recycling, successful implementation of waste plastic reduction and recycling strategies require the ongoing support of the local community. State government should seriously think about increasing the sale of unpacked milk and also encourage consumers to buy unpackaged milk from the bulk vending machine. Maharashtra government should also think about building a robust network of milk vending machines so that unpacked milk is easily accessible, thereby reducing the use of plastic packaging. In fact, all the dairies should join hands and frame a policy to eliminate the ubiquitous usage of synthetic polymer for packaging milk products.

The dairies and the cooperative societies will have to take the onus of collection of all empty milk packets for recycling. The delivery boys who deliver milk to customers, can also collect the empty packages from consumers the next day and return to the distribution centers. This will ensure that almost all milk packets make their way back to dairies.

Also, the government should print the buyback details on the milk packets to encourage the customers to return the milk packets. This buyback scheme will reduce the volume of litter from milk packets entering our environment by providing an incentive for the collection and return of milk packets for recycling in exchange for a refundable surcharge.