Ways to tackle Inflation

The present government has evolved a unique method to fight inflation and that is making statements - 'The inflation may come down by ...' and I/We hope that inflation will go down...

While Reserve Bank of India will take action because IIP numbers and other data shows inflation is going up due to 'demand' side and not due to supply constraints.

Earlier, Food inflation was worry where government cited various reasons however the basic reason was Minimum Support Price for wheat and rice. The government has doubled these prices in last 5 years. The question needs to be asked is how long our government can afford to increase minimum support price to benefit farmers and then looking towards RBI to cool down inflation? This is one more subsidy where corporate sector ends up paying higher prices for its loans.

The government has to decide who are its first customers? Farmers or people living below the poverty lines (government pays farmers higher price to procure wheat and rice and then subsidizes the same to distribute among below the poverty line people) or both? The government can not sustain this revolving door game where it keeps paying subsidy in various forms to both farmers and BPL.

The correct strategy will be to declare farming as business with proper incentive (taking leaf from China of 1979) and improving infrastructure to improve penetration and reach of grain markets so that people decide fair rates. India needs to move faster on agriculture and infrastructure reforms and needs a full time agriculture minister and who is not an affected party due to changes in government policy.

Commonwealth Games

Common wealth games committee has done an excellent job of marketing the games among Indian public. The queen's baton is being relayed all across India and through all states (including north east) however our over worked, very busy media doesn't have enough airtime to cover it.

The people and especially school kids are participating in these events and common wealth 2010 is going to lay foundation for sports development in India. We shall many sportsmen and sportswomen ready to represent India and win medals after 5-10 years.

The government has pulled all stops to use strengths of various agencies. The IRCTC has been instructed to facilitate book tickets online and already worth 10 crores tickets have been booked.

The one concern is food quality being served in Delhi. India is famous for spicy food and many visitors/foreigners/players may like to give all together different experience to their taste buds. The government seems to be in position to ensure safe food. The government has set-up a body named Quality Council of India which in consultation with health Ministry, Delhi will certify food and ensure food sold with its certification is of the best quality. The government is planning to entrust this body of providing certificates to food vendors and other eatable distributers later.

Mr. E. Sreedharan has provided best in class transport to delhi and I still feel bewildered and lost why in delay to set-up same facilities in rest of the 9 metro cities.

All the best to New Delhi and India. This game will be feather in cap of the people of Delhi.

IT penetration in India

The UID project is picking up speed and as we all IT people know, once go-live date of a project comes near, the buzz around the project increases multi folds.

And with Mr. Nandan at the helm of affairs, I am sure he must have taken care of every aspect of the Project. This project is going to be a technology marvel to say the least. The system architecture has to support insertion of 1 billionth plus 1 record in mili seconds and retrieval of record based on unique number, again in mili seconds.

In my opinion, this project is going to be Olympics for existing technologies where technologies has to stretch itself to cater this huge requirement.

India served whole globe with its software services capabilities and Mr. Manmohan Singh has put his finger at right spot to improve government delivery which doesn't inspire confidence among citizens.

Also, this project will inspire rural masses to believe in IT because this is being executed by government and is pure "sarkari". The finger print records and other biometric record, if integrated with bank Core Banking System, may help to increase penetration of banking services to rural areas as well. Second, UID number will help many processes to be completely online thus improving process turn around time. Third, UID number can be used to identify person with complete confidence and private players may throw their hats to develop applications in local languages to improve communication and delivery from all levels of government.

Further, 3G is going to instigate and usage of overall mobile applications because demand will come from end user and application developing company will command more share in revenue with network service provider which is not the case at present.

Successful implementation of this project will trigger various changes in delivery systems of all levels of governance and justice. The power equations will change and citizen would have reasons to demand service rather than begging for it.

I do not any reason why Mr. Nandan Nilekani may not command same aura in Indian history as did Mr. Manmohan Singh as finance minister. Mr. Nandan greatest contribution to this country is accepting this enormous challenge and promise to deliver.