Kicking the economy

The Reserve Bank of India has tightened the spending belt by raising interest rates. The objective is to curtail inflation which is growing.

Banks reacted quickly to raise their rates too. The common man is left with no choice than to do without loan applications for fear of default.

Banks are keen to lend at higher rates, but there should be takers. As Morgan Stanley recently said, high rates and poor market sentiment were affecting investment demand. This, it notes, will lead to fewer jobs and consumption expediture.

The investment banker has suggested that a way out of the mess is for the empowered ministerial group to clear a bunch of 30 core projects to resume momentum of the economy.

The United States is in a mess. It has taken half-hearted measures to overcome the debt ceiling and the current crisis. The huge spending cuts, mainly involving medicare- a vital segment - is expected to create a negative effect. Severe job losses are foreseen, if not already happening. But the crisis is not of President Barrack Obama's making. It was there in the making even before his arrival. Only the timing of his reaction -so late in the day - is at fault.

Analysts in Mumbai often say that if the US sneezes, it is the Indian who catches the cold. This shows how much we, as a nation, are dependent on a country that has cold shouldered us whenever we  faced a crisis.

The report predicts a faill in exports is likely due to the Euro zone instability and the US debt crisis will lead to a downward growth trajectory. In the absence of growth revival, non-performing assets will increase, leading to reduced advances (read loans). This will lead to further stagnation.

It is time for Pranab Mukherjee and his team of advisers to act sensibly. The economy needs another stimulus. The earlier  stimulus is gone and forgotten. It is not possible to give a stimulus every time the economy demands it. That itself is a costly affair hitting at the roots of the nation's economy if something goes wrong.

It is time to act fast. If only those at the Centre realised this!

Back-breaking

Back pain is a common complaint with people using two-wheelers. And often doctors suggest that they give up two-wheelers for four-wheelers. While the suggestion would seem appropriate for those with deep  pockets, for most it is a dilemma. The reason for the problem is not far to seek. Our roads need to improve. Quality laying has to come in.Once the gutters are filled and the bumps removed, jerky rides which dislocate the elements of vertebra will become a thing of of past. So will go suspension complaints of vehicles.

A good Collector

These days, people in Madurai, are talking about Collector U Sagayam. He had taken charge for the recently concluded assembly elections in Tamil Nadu which decimated the ruling party like nothing. His strong stance led to a position where money power became useless in generating votes, and people voted as per normal will as against induced will.

Collector Sagayam had made a name for himself even before. He was in charge of Namakkal when, what was the first instance in the case of district heads, he declared his assets. After coming to Madurai, Mr Sagayam has been at work day and night to ensure that the people were taken care of. A very good instance was his surprise check of the government-run Government Rajaji Hospital where the doctors were working as per their convenience. He found a lot of doctors missing from duty and issued showcauses. Attendance improved in a day. Though it is not easy to clean the Augean stables of the hospital overnight, I think a strict Sagayam can definitely ensure proper medicare for thousands of poor patients who are illtreated at our government hospitals.

The Collector also threw open the subway which was created and closed all these years. The only problem is in ensuring the people used it. Which too is not difficult if the Mumbai approach is adopted. In Mumbai, several years back when the subway opposite the landmark Victoria Station (now called Chattrapati Shivaji Station) was thrown open for public use, people still preferred to cross the arterial roads. Policemen started waving lathis and slowly people realised it is better to walk underground than getting hurt. The strategy worked.

Wherever you go, people talk of the Good Collector. Madurai is lucky to have got him. In fact as an Aaavin employee told me: "If we get 10 officers like Sagayam, Madurai will become heaven!" Till we get more Sagayams, we have to support the Collector in all his endeavours to clean up the district administration.

What is life without life?

Often, we tend to look at life with a lot of negativity. This is especially so if we are in a difficult material situation. Happy days are never permanent, nor are sad days. Both change, interchange, alternate, take a break and then stay away for some time. Life has its ups and downs. The common difficulty is in appreciating the great thing called life. As humans, we tend to rush to conclusions about life which more often that not are errant. I know a lot of people who are worried about death. Some of them are really sick and know that they do not have miles to go. Is there any point in brooding over death if there is no medical option to save them? There isn't.
Man should not give up the struggle to stay alive. One does not know if there is a rebirth. People can become practical and live every day with all possible happiness. Giving gets one a lot of happiness. It also provides some satisfation. That one is doing his bit for the world around.
So when the time comes, ie, when the death knell rings, there is no regret in going.
nnaircn@gmail.com

Starting off

My editor in chief, Mr. N. Ram, who visited Madurai recently and addressed our local editorial team suggested that people should becom e more active on the blog space.




I wanted to write myself, but somehow the bug turned out to be starting trouble. Where to start and what to write about were the first concerns. It was then that colleague Mills Abraham handed over an issue of Forbes Life which recalls the near death experience of one of its editors and who, after partial recovery from memory loss, has resumed writing with extra vigour. One read of the story of Charles Assissi, and I am encouraged to share my thoughts with the rest of the world.


So here I am, with the infinite blogworld where there is never a dearth of ideas or space.