World Skill Day Thoughts

To raise awareness about the importance of investing in youth skills development, the United Nations General Assembly has decided to celebrate the first World Youth Skills Day (WYSD) on 15 July 2015.WYSD celebrations coincide with an important year of setting the agenda for the future: a new climate agreement and the adoption of the Sustainable Development goals are just around the corner. That is why this year’s theme is “Youth skills for work and life in the post-2015 agenda”. WYSD is in line with the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, which propose two goals on education and skills for employment:- Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.- Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. In this context,

As the PM launched the World Youth Skills day today, we would like to seek your inputs on key areas where India has a skills gap.

It is critical that we identify these gaps accurately because by 2020, 60% of India's population of 1.3B will be in the working age group of 15-59 years. If adequately skilled, such demographics have the potential to make India a global HR powerhouse.

We look forward to your inputs!

Need is in the skill gap assessment - sector wise and regional wise. Sector Skill Council must look in to the skill demand in the sectors and regional wise. Based on the demand, efforts need to be put to bridge the skill gap in regional basis. Local self governments should monitor the training under NSDC/SIA.

Second, systematic efforts is vital to professionalize all the skill/vocational jobs. grade it as per the VQF. For eg. a person who do the cleaning work should feel proud of his job by its brand and demand

Thirdly, Industry Participation is essential in imparting the training. TSP should be empanelled to provide skill training

Fourth, Special attention requires in language training and professional grooming. Let's compare the standards of private and government schools. why our government schools are not sought after? training imparts is not in par with the current standards. It is a need of this hour to ensure transaction is in a professional and scientific. English language proficiency, comprehension and communication ability should be assured in schools.

Lastly, Government should start a job a portal/job register/mass recruitment drives to assure placements

All the best to Skill India Scheme !
Paul

Apathy to Sports; A challenge to Youth

Dear Friends:

Below are the key issues and root causes as identified by you for the current state of sports in India.

Kindly review them and help identify specific actionable solutions that will address these issues and root causes.

We will soon be meeting with the Ministry of Sports to review the final whitepaper and request actions on it.

We look forward to your inputs!
Rajendra Pratap Gupta


Root Causes for Current State of Sports

1. Many leaders of the sports bodies do not have actual experience with the sport itself
2. A lot of money allotted for the athletes is lost to scams
3. Corruption, black money, scams have become part and parcel of Sports in India
4. Lack of proper monitoring of sports bodies by the Government
5. Lack of proper policy and lack of strict enforcement to encourage and nurture talent
6. There is corruption in recruitments and selection process
7. Lack on good sports medicine hospitals in the country
8. The upgradation of equipment and facilities is running far behind schedule
9. Sports academies lack the basic infrastructure
10. Sports are still not considered a career option in India
11. Parents think of sports as an extra-curricular activity
12. Cricket has become a glamorous game which involves huge money. Hence other sports do not get equal importance
13. The financial support given by the Government to the athletes is very poor
14. Lack of quality and experienced coaches
15. Coaches treat their job as any other Government job
16. Academies are run with the intention of pure profits
17. Schools convert the sports grounds into classrooms to admit more students
18. There is a lack of a sporting culture in India
19. Girls are discouraged from playing sports
20. The number of playgrounds and parks in the cities are continuously decreasing
21. No weightage is given to sports in prestigious exams like IIT, AIIMS, PMT, IMA etc.

State of Sports in India - Key Issues

1. Many Sports bodies are headed by political leaders.
2. Free medical care isn’t being provided to the injured athletes.
3. Equipment & Facilities aren’t being provided to the athletes.
4. Sports are not being encouraged in schools and colleges.
5. Parents pressurize their children to focus on studies rather than focusing on sports.
6. There is no importance being given to other sports except Cricket.
7. People do not see sports as a lucrative career option.
8. Most of the athletes quit athletics because of financial problems.
9. Most coaches are not doing their job properly.
10. There is lack of sports academies with hostel facilities.
11. There is lack of honest sports administrators.
12. There is favoritism in selection process for the state and national games.
13. Academies don’t have specialized coaches for different sport.
14. There is lack of funds in sports education & training colleges.


"Athletes who brought laurels to the nation are languishing in poverty, thanks to Centre's apathy" , "Poverty forced this champion archer to sell her bow" . These headlines in national dailies are suffice to explain the real state of affairs in sports.  It is a stark fact that many national/international champions are trained their own created turf. The apathy of government to promote talented sportsmen seems gruesome. Providing reservation, government jobs will not be solution to nurture sports in India, it may only tempt people to focus on the former.

For instance, cricket is a game close to the heart of millions, being government hardly provides any financial aid at the grass root level. It is a legacy created by the magnificence culture and boom intrinsically. The same should happen for all other games including athletics. Though, we are blessed with demographic dividend and bulge, we even fail to over speed small countries bring international accolades in sports.

Government should initiate sports at grass root levels. Development of play grounds, open spaces, and stadiums can make a change. However, an institutional mechanism need to be brought in to this level.

As Yoga Divas, Swatch Bharath, government should start a year long celebration to promote sports. Organize regional level, panchayath level and grama sabha level sports festivals to create enthusiasm and spirit in the mind of our generation. Keeping in line with the fundamental duty of developing sportsman spirit among people, government should design decisive plans and implement it with multiple vigour. As a tool to reach at the grass root level, government take it to the fore of the agenda. When people succumb to life style diseases and fight obesity, sports becomes an ideal strategy to tackle this menace.

Though we have a department of Youth Welfare and Sports, it seems one of the weak ministries in India. This reflects in the ground level.  Kindly give due importance to youth by focusing on sports to develop healthy individuals and to bring fame to our country while knowing we have a lot other things to address.

Seems no end to Manual Scavenging

 

About 1.8 Lakh households in India earn their livelihood (per SECC data) by manually cleaning human excreta from houses not connected to sewerage lines.

We would like to seek your inputs on how through building toilets, technology, process and monitoring, manual scavenging can be abolished.

FYI..Though the parliament had enacted an act in 1993 banning manual scavenging of household toilets along with a year's jain and a fine of Rs 2000 for anyone engaging manual scavengers, not a single person was prosecuted. In 2013, the definition was widened to include manual removal of excreta from sewers and railway tracks and punishment was increased to 5 years in jail.

We look forward to your inputs!
Swachh Bharat Mission

It's an age old issue. Though centre has given a mandate for sates to submit list of manual scavengers, no one turned-up . But reported that their states are manual scavengers free, even though its a day light practice. Thus put lid to the opportunities of poor people to be rehabilitated. Many elite village leaders are reluctant to abolish this practice being these recalcitrant authorities need them to take - away their excreta, otherwise they may lock poor citizens with their iron fist.

Without any second thought, it's shame to our executives who failed to suppress this social evil, considering, not a single person has been prosecuted as per the act in 1993 banning manual scavenging of household toilets .

Time has come give way for privatization in social schemes, being our government and politicians failed in certain issues consistently. Why don't we discuss about privatising implementation of social schemes - a result -oriented and time - bound basis?

Treatment for Prisoners

Friends,

With this post, we would like to discuss issues with the current state of Jails/Prisons in India.

In India, majority of the people remain in prison pending trial or conviction. Statistics from Human Rights Initiative reveal that over 65% of the prisoners are under-trials and they may continue to be held in overcrowded prisons for years. The occupancy in prisons exceeds by 41.4% over and above its sanctioned capacity. A huge majority of these under-trial prisoners are poor. They are denied bail for want of monetary security. And trials take years. Often, they have no lawyers, live in pathetic conditions, do not have access to adequate medical care, and are likely to be tortured or exploited in many ways.

With this post, you may share every issue that you are familiar with including prison oversight, management etc as well as systemic issues that exist.

We will review the root causes and solutions separately to put together a whitepaper that can be shared with the key stakeholders for actions.


We look forward to your inputs!
Rajendra Pratap Gupta

The fundamental principle of Jurisprudence may be '100 culprits may let go free but no innocent should be punished'. Contradictory to this, many of the prisoners (40-60%) left behind bars may not be the real culprits. Heaping up pendency also a brewing concern.

1. Massive program to dispose pending cases using lawyers, legal students, private firms as an immediate priority
2. Setting up of Mediation centres on Panchaytah Basis
3. Set - up industrial parks in jails and utilize the potential of prisoners/labours
4. Make disposing cases as a right service eg. say dispose case in 6 months
5. Last, but note the least - always go for explore the roots - criminal are being created because of poverty, suppression, torture, bad childhood experience. Find the causes and treat this syndrome to improve quality of life of people. 

Enough for All - Need Inputs

Here are some of your key inputs on what can be done to ensure "Enough for All" in India so every citizens like in developed countries can afford the basics. Some of the proposed solutions are general and we suggest If you have any specific solutions, kindly share those.

"Enough for All" in India - What can be done

1. Focus on rural upliftment by encouraging the agricultural growth
2. Create more jobs by industrialisation under Make in India
3. ‘Food for Work’ scheme should be implemented in the PM Rozgaar Yojna
4. State Government should set up a fund to help people with education loans and help them buy cars at low interest rates (like in Malaysia)
5. Minimum wages should be fixed by the Government
6. Not paying income tax should be made a criminal offence. This will ensure higher collections and hence the Government would be able to invest more in people
7. A mass medical insurance scheme should be started by the state Government which can be availed by the citizens by paying a small annual fee
8. Tax on essential items should be reduced
9. Give a boost to agriculture and support farmers to produce more for our own domestic needs
10. Our current unemployment schemes should be redesigned
11. Use post office as multi facility outlet for delivery of all Government given benefits, local JanDhan Banks
12. Food for all should be ensured at reasonable rates through a well-managed, corruption free Public Distribution System
13. More PDS outlets must be opened to make distribution easier
14. Government housing projects should provide houses at low rates
15. Measures should be taken to improve productivity of the farm sector, even if it means taking help from countries like Israel, who are considered to be the best in segment
16. Cooperative societies should be given insurance and incentive so that all small farmers are encouraged to join
17. Vocational education could be started from the middle school so that a person has certain skill sets till the time he passes school
18. More schemes should be launched to make small business opportunity available to people
19. Entrepreneurship needs to be encouraged by facilitating laws and rules
20. All licensed Banks & financial institutions should extend self-employment business loans , cottage & micro industrial loans and very low interest rates.

Keys
1. Minimum Support Price for all agriculture crops should be fairly assured.
2. Develop Large Scale agri malls for farmers to sell their products directly and get rid from intermediary
3. Ensure lending to the priority sector reach at the actual beneficiaries
4. Implement insurance plans for crops/farmers
5. Attract FDI in agriculture sector and promote mechanisation
6. Massive investment in food processing/value addition sector
7. Low cost housing scheme/design/plans needs to be developed
8. Privatize PDS Sector
9. Implement Liberalization with more vigour, however, it should be conditional basis.
10. Implement skill development schemes and link it with industry partners

AMRUT for Urban Rejuvination

500 cities of India have been selected for AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) Mission which focuses on rejuvenation of existing cities. 50,000 Crores have been allocated to AMRUT over a 5 year period.

The purpose of AMRUT is to (i) ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a sewerage connection; (ii) increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (parks); and (iii) reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (e.g. walking and cycling).

You are requested to share your inputs on the implementation approach for AMRUT. How can an effective structure be established to ensure accountable and timely delivery, the role of state, civic bodies and citizens.
1. Pollution Free Vehicles
2. Should not allow private vehicles to enter the city; however, Common Parking Facility and public transportation services in all levels should be ensured. Also those who wants to enter the city with their own vehicles, high toll charge should be charged.
3. Develop Open Spaces like parks, play ground, recreation centres
4. Made cities slum free or orphan/beggar free. Space can be allotted for commercial purpose provided they should create flats/apartments for destitute.
5. Make mandatory Rain Water Harvesting - Provide financial as well as technical support
6. AMRUT should hail India culture, heritage and traditions; buildings should be in par with theses standards.
6. Private participation must be ensured to complete the projects timely

Red Bus doesn't make your Day Red Letter

First time when I booked a ticket in Red Bus I didn't receive any message to produce my mobile ticket. Last time I booked a ticket, which was the most terrible experience. My boarding time was 11.44 P.M. Around 5 evening a person called me an intimated, the bus will reach at your boarding point only on 2. 30 AM. While I was reluctant to comprehend, he said, "it's the usual time of the bus, and this adjustment was made as per the instruction from Red Bus". But he assured bus will reach at my destination at correct time. I inquired for refunding; I had no other options, but to relay on Red Bus in this late hours.

The problem was not with the timing. But the last bus from my town to the boarding point is 10 PM. I should wait at the street in the midnight around 5 hours. However, I found a lodging at the city. Around 2.00 AM, I called them, desperately they said, we will reach the place around 3. 30.

Very terrible ! Stay in a Nasty mosquito claded place in a midnight time.


At last bus came.

I had to leave for an urgent program from my destination. However, the bus reached at the point only around 2 hours.

Dissatisfied with my experience I sent a mail to Red - Bus. After a few minutes, I received a reply.

Dear Customer,

We are sorry for the inconveneince caused.

With reference to your below email, we wish to inform you that we have forwarded your request to the team concerned and we would keep you posted within 3 working days. We request you to bear with us while this process is completed.

Veena M,
Your friend at redBus.in

Also, after a few minutes, I received another reply and further no response. 

Dear Customer,

We regret the inconvenience caused to you.

This email is to confirm your request, for the refund amount of Rs. 1800/-.

During your transaction attempt, the money was deducted from the account but the ticket was not confirmed. We acknowledge that your money is received by us and it will be refunded to your account.

We have initiated the refund amount of Rs. 1800/- to your card /account today. Your bank will process this refund and it may take up to 7 Bank working days to refund your money.

Please note: The refund will be in the name of Redbus/Pilani Soft Labs Pvt. Ltd.

In case the amount is not refunded, kindly get in touch with your bank.

For all further communication, please remember your reference number is:42817160.

For additional assistance, please feel free to get in touch with us at care@redbus.in.

We hope to serve you again in the future.

We value your feedback. This helps us to stay in touch with your needs and to improve our service. Click the link below to share your email experience.

https://docs.google.com/a/redbus.in/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dG1wYWtzSXJDWkdVcDhDVDA3TWVhUnc6MA

Suresh.D

Your friend at redBus.in

However and At last, please remember about the conditions of Red Bus

1. redBus responsibilities do not include:
   • (1) The bus operator's bus not departing / reaching on time.
   • (2) The bus operator's employees being rude.
   • (3) The bus operator's bus seats etc not being up to the customer's expectation.
   • (4) The bus operator canceling the trip due to unavoidable reasons.
   • (5) The baggage of the customer getting lost / stolen / damaged.
   • (6) The bus operator changing a customer's seat at the last minute to accommodate a lady / child.
   • (7) The customer waiting at the wrong boarding point (please call the bus operator to find out the exact boarding point if you are not a regular traveler on that particular bus).
   • (8) The bus operator changing the boarding point and/or using a pick-up vehicle at the boarding point to take customers to the bus departure point.
2. The departure time mentioned on the ticket are only tentative timings. However the bus will not leave the source before the time that is mentioned on the ticket.

Happy RedBus Ticketing !

Customer is the KIng ?

Sue Your Exploiter

Below are the key issues as highlighted by you on Misleading Advertisements. Kindly review them and help us identify Root Causes for these Issues. Once we know the Root Causes, we will work on specific solutions that can be submitted to Government for implementation.

We look forward to your inputs!

Key issues on Misleading Advertisement

1. Some ads promise treatments which are not supported by medical science
2. Many travel related ads mislead people by giving not quoting the all-inclusive prices
3. Newspapers/channels do not object on publishing misleading ads
4. Misleading advt. cheats the public and causes lot of complications when they use the product
5. Many ads in newspapers promise jobs but people end up getting duped of money
6. Many fake real estate ads promise plots/houses at a low cost
7. Many ads mislead the consumer by targeting their emotional side
8. Many ads mislead by writing the negative things in very small letters
9. Another way in which consumers are misled is advertising by threatening the consumers on possible health hazards
10. Many agencies which are not genuine are easily advertising their products and misleading consumers
11. Many ads objectify women
12. Many ads promise to make you earn a quick buck, but instead they just dupe people of their hard earned money


It's a crucial issue ought to be addressed with high priority. The problem lies in the incapability of common public to sue their exploiters, being they are giants compared to the small specks - citizens. Also, people are not aware about the power of laws in prevail to act against misleading advts. In west legal firms are in the forefront like media to help people; For eg. when a person complaint about a product, these firms put advs in commercial channels to local radio and seek similar any. Complainants can sue the culprits through these firms w/o any cost, but the a part of the compensation will be demanded as legal charge. This kind of legal activism is not existing in India. However, big corporates found a good market in a country which is most populated.
Also, there are numerous advertisements come with indecent representation of women, which are not being prosecuted by judiciary or govt - a sad state of affair should be condemned.
I became a victim of such offers may times. But I do away from proceeding with complaints. Though I am well educated, I feel it as a wastage of time and resource because our opposition is very powerful. A feeling of helplessness !
Advertisements which are likely to influence badly with hallucinations/imaginations - children should be banned.
The consumerism attitude also nurture and foster big dream ads.

Very threatening and day light plundering happen in hospitals or by doctors. They force or tempt patients to follow their prescriptions blindly. Even an educated person can't free from this kind of exploitation, being its a monopoly of doctors and a matter of life - I feel worried and depressed by this many times.

There should establish a watch dog to monitor advertisements like film screening committee
Legal firms/advocates should reach the grass root to help consumers
Its all about the consumers to keep themselves away from succumbing to misleading advertisements. Creating an ever time alertness is the only solution
Work for Needs and Away from Greeds !