The Namo Demo Effect

The November 8^th 2016 was like any other day for me and I was to travel next day to Hyderabad. Having worked in Government and coming from a Middle class family, my family existence was more or less hand to mouth and a little quarterly incentive used to bring cheer to me and my family. Having said that I hail from middle class family most of my transaction were through either debit card or Credit card. On 7^th I had drawn my travel advance from company to the extent of Rs15000 and for convenience it was in denomination of mostly 1000 and 500. Out of the blue came this sudden announcement from our great prime minister that Rs1000 and Rs500e are withdrawn and we need to exchange it for legal currency. I had to rush to my Bank to do the needful and understood that I can deposit any amount I want but will get only Rs2500 for withdrawal. The bank proudly made me a recipient of  one Rs2000 and a Rs500 currency. Its different matter that I ended up standing in the queue for over 5 hours without anything to eat, no breakfast nor Lunch. Courtesy my bank some water dispenser was placed outside but none were ready to go and fetch in fear of losing their place in the queue. Its not just me who suffered but also the entire Banking staff trying to cool tempers of senior citizens and angry account holders. Along with me was Subramanian whose daughter was to get married on the 10^th and he had no clue what’s he going to do. He had tied a bag to his waist and cried over my shoulder about his fate. He borrowed money from a money lender pledging some gold to pay for the caterer and the flower arrangement vendors who want only cash. He was impressed that I was well qualified and was looking up to me to suggest some solution. Guess what in over 20 years for teaching and training several thousands of students who look upto me as a great friend guide and philosopher, here I was standing in the queue when I felt my entire education was at loss and totally useless. My MBA did not have a chapter on Demonetisation and in My Bcom never studied banking in such a situation. I felt that my education itself paralysed. I could only convince Subramanian that the bank may have some solution in such an emergency, which unfortunately the bank did not have it on the 8^th of November. In one day the whole world looked so gloomy and as I reached home I switched on the TV. I felt like shouting “India Wants to know, how PM will handle this situation when the Bankers are themselves clueless”. Shockingly Arnab Goswami was asking the same question with “BREAKING NEWS” showing serpentine queues at every bank. No ATM’s were working, news of people fainting or having heart attack made my wife sympathise with me for having been starving all day. I just narrated my plight to my wife about having only Rs2500, she was not disturbed, she just smiled and ask me “How much do you need”? I just calculated that for my auto/taxi/ food / miscellaneous for five days I need at least Rs 5000 in smaller denomination. She put her hand on my shoulder and told GOD is there don’t worry. Only women can have this continued faith in god in all circumstances. She went into the room and came out with her Cadbury chocolate tine and emptied its content on our dining table. She had carefully saved Rs100/50/20/10/5 and both of us slowly started counting. She said that this box was actually meant for our pilgrimage hundi offering and wanted me to promise I will return back soon. For once my faith in GOD was revived. There was Rs6800 and she said she will spare Rs5000 and she will put back rest in the box. I just said om namo Narayana and was glad of my grihamantri who was always cool and composed and had solution for all problems. I also realised that qualification makes a person wise but competence makes a person perfect which was my wife. I also realised that every women would be doing this now and make their men to have truce with the NAMO DEMO EFFECT.

The next day I hailed a cab to reach airport, first question asked was cash or OLA currency, he apologised and said I need cash sir otherwise how do I fill fuel?. From then to now I don’t trust digital money for cabs, early morning I may be the first customer digital money will not be a good start to him. The driver Shankar spoke well and said that OLA has no doubt made him efficient in business but the time they take to transfer his money after their commission takes longer period. He said for everything he trusts god but transaction preferably in cash

In the last one year though no ACHE DIN have been seen but my trust and faith in god has increased. My erstwhile company has been playing truant in settling my dues but NAMO has made me a new man. Now I have unlearned all the learning, threw all my MBA theories to wind and my faith in my wife has increased 100 times because she had several such Cadbury chocolate boxes which helped me tide over for 6 months for my petty cash. Its different I owe her and almighty god lot of money and faithfully looking forward for my IT refund to clear these debts. I hope the IT commissioner reading my article? 

The Rathore's and Manu Sharma's of India

The ruchika case is no surprise to people of India. It once again proves a point that money makes many things and justice is JUST ICE and we are left cold with the verdicts again and again. Let us not blame the Judiciary system, the CBI, the Police or the Politician but blame ourself for the blunder of tolerating such non-sense for all these years. Take the Uphaar Cinema case, Jessica lal Murder case and now the ruchika all perpetrators got away lightly and that too after so much protest from people for justice. Manu Sharma was also granted parole and was free man while the victims families are always under threat.

We can hold candles and hands together and express some temporary support for a national cause and be vociferous on a TV channel if we get a chance and later allow the rot to continue and dismiss it to its fate. After all we have our own lively hood and schedules which are more important to keep our own lives moving forward. Anyway neither we or near and dear are not the victims as of now and lets sit and wait for our turn to come.

Just take a look at all the politicians who are part of the country policy makers, 80% have criminal records and fat bank balance and rule the country through their muscle power and money and keep counting money as common man like us keep paying our taxes honestly and they buy the most expensive cars, remodel and renovate their houses, make foreign trips and want their family, friends, companions ( Read Concubines) step children et all to accompany them, after all its the tax money we pay. Okay boss let them enjoy..... we have only elected these scoundrels after all..... They want to enjoy all the PERKS and not pay taxes but surely want to tax our PERKS..... Anyway we don't protest.

Its time we asked questions as to how our tax money are spent? Lets petition them from going on foreign Jaunts to study all sort things around the world and continue to keep our country from progressing. Because if people progress, become learned and get empowered, they will ask questions.... so keep them ignorant, in poverty and cut off from all infrastructure growth so that they worry only about that and leave the scoundrels to do what they want.

I admire Mr.Ramesh Ramanathan and his wife swathi for the JAGORE campaign. Its time we wake up and do something to weed out these politicians and bring educated youngsters to work for the cause and growth of the country and not like our Humble farmer Devegowda who humbled everyone in the country to make himself and his family members from rags to riches story and continuing to sing the same humble tune.

JAGORE JAGORE JAGORE...... Lets commit to voice our protest in every available forum and fight injustice and make life enjoyable for the common man like you and me.

Angkor Wat Artisan Company, Angkor Wat, SIEM REAP

The Anqkor Wat Artisan Company(AWAC) was established with French assistance in 1992.The structure of this company and the activities are very relevant to ourproposed initiatives in rural enterprises development - Orissa handicraftpark, Tripura Bamboo Mission, Pochampally Handloom Park, etc. AWAC was established with the purpose of providing structured training and employment for local poor people and provide employment opportunity. The craftsman have formed a association and hold 20% equity in the company which was also the model suggested by RCM for the Orissa arts & craftsmen.The photographs of the centre also has basic information on the skill training as well as duration of the course.

The project was initially promoted through overseas assistance (French) and today it is a profit making company, with the profits being ploughed back to the development of the artisans.
It has a central workshop, high-end sales shop, tourism and other amenitiesa s Hub, and some artisan activities in clusters as Spokes. In the centralworkshop, about 6 crafts are operated with artisans working. The visitors are taken through the workshop. Thus the workshop serves the objectives ofbeing a shop floor as well as tourism. The workhops buildings are basicfunctional structures with local architecture style.
The artisans working in the project are minority share holders of the company, through their association, while the majority stake is held by the founder of the project. This is something very similar to what Fab India does in India and also what ILFSCDI have been planning to do in some clusters in the form of producer companies.

Cambodia Garment Training Center (CGTC) visit by ILFSCDI Team

A training center has been established by Ministry of Commerce, Kingdom of Cambodia and METI, Japan at Phnom Penh with the assistance of Japan Government. JUKI has been providing technical & advisory support in running this center. JUKI has also deputed Mr.K.Sakae a very senior official from Japan to head the Training Centre. The Cambodia Garment Training Center (CGTC) conducts courses on:

a) Basic Course for Sewing Operator for two weeks of seven hours duration. The basic course has only 3 exercise but more emphasis on straight line stiching and speed.

b) Supervisor Basic Training Course ( 4 Weeks)

c) QC Training (1 Week)

d) Machine Maintenance Course ( 5 Days)

All the training are on paid basis sponsored by exporters or paid by students themselves.
A comparison of our project SEAM with this center shows that our programme is much better in terms of outreach, industry linkages for placement,volumes, support to beneficiary trainees, etc. However, they seem to have greater emphasis, as compared to us, on the quality of the training.
Mr.Sakae was kind enough to share some of their documents like trainer manual,the type of stitches, assessment criterion, machinery layout, etc. these documents wiill be given to the "Module Customisation team" who will analyse them and appropriately customise and improve our training material.

ILFSCDI Limited Signs MOU with JUKI, Japan & IIGM

Mr.RCM Reddy, MD & CEO ILFSCDI Ltd signed MoU with M/s. Juki, Japan represented by its MD Mr.Nihei at Singapore at the JUKI International office . JUKI are the world leader in apparel technology and the MOU is for technical cooperation in two major areas:

(a) Training for employment in apparel industry and

(b) Technical services for SME sector in establishing apparel manufacturing units.
While several specific components have been mentioned in the MoU, it was decided that the cooperation could begin with smaller initiatives: (a)Training of Trainers (TOT) (b) Developing a training manual and sewing standards, (c)Organising training for our specialists providing services for setting up of Production plants and (d) Organising seminars/workshops related to quality, productivity enhancement in apparel industry and Industrial engeenering (IE).
We can immediately make use of their support in the assignments being handled by our technical services team in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. IIGM who represent JUKI in India will work closely with our Technical Consultancy team to implement directives and plant design suggested by JUKI.
In lieu of the support provided by M/s. Juki in the above areas, ILFSCDI will be endorsing their machines for our training centers as well as the apparelunits with whom we are working.