*** To point to totalitarianism or a controlled economy as the only
alternative to what
gave rise to Enron or Enron like results is a false argument.
Actually the argument was quite to the contrary. Totalitarianism ( in the
form of omipresent Delhi rule) or a controlled economy ( through the hangovers
of dysfunctional license raj) has produced ills that affect lives in the
sub-continent that is million times worst that the Enron saga in the US. India
rands 126 out of 177 nations in terms of Human Development Index. And this not
solely an Indian experience.
**** There has to be a reason. What is it/are they? How will they
change? WHO will
change them? WHEN?
Those are the questions that affect Assam, as it does India and
all it controls.
The reasons are obvious - humans like to improve their quality of life. Who
will change - you and I.
When - when we question the relevance of the "dysfunctional set up" and adopt
more pragmatic set up. A FREE market economy supported by an accountable govt
enforcing the rule of law is a tool that has produced result in the rest of the
world.
In the Indian context, we also need a change of the mindset before we can
ensure free FREE. Amongst other things this includes the courage of the nation
to respect rights and sentiments of those who have little faith or trust in the
system that they consider "dysfunctional" and seek a way to "liberate their
lives" from the existing set up some consider beneficial for their own selfish
reasons.
Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
At 4:26 PM +0000 11/20/07, Malabika Brahma wrote:
I agree with the above statement about REAL and FREE. Although there has
been move about "Free" markets in India, the bureaucracy is still too stifling
and still promotes/encourages underhand dealings. Until India remedies the
centrally controlled dysfunctional bureaucratic set up, it will take decades
for the people reap benefits free market economy or to get any social justice.
*** The 'bureaucracy' is only the tip of the iceberg.
Yes, the ENRON saga did happen in a free market economy. But "SOVIET and
EAST BLOCK saga" or "NO REGULAR ELECTRICITY SAGA in the backwaters of Dhubri
district and Namti" also happened in controlled economy with ever meddling
dysfunctional bureaucratic set up.
*** To point to totalitarianism or a controlled economy as the only
alternative to what gave rise to Enron or Enron like results is a false
argument.
The following is a good illustration of that.
ENRON saga in the US led to increased pressure from the Feds for corporate
transparency and accountability, as it should in a country with Free Market
where the role of the government is primarily to enforce the rule of law.
The key phrase here is "as it should". And if we look at the Indian
condition, will there be a dearth of what SHOULD have been? Question is WHY do
they NOT happen? History keeps repeating itself as if it is the ONLY way.
There has to be a reason. What is it/are they? How will they change? WHO will
change them? WHEN?
Those are the questions that affect Assam, as it does India and all it
controls.
>But as market economy grows and if the grip of stifling bureaucracy is
reduced and REAL FREE ECONOMY takes shape, things are bound to change.
*** So the hope is that a REAL and FREE ECONOMY is all that is needed to
deliver India to the promised land and thast it will in due course.
I hope it was merely a slip of the keyboard , and not a well considered
conclusion to bank on:-).
Besides signs of stifling bureaucracy and "deeply faulty systemic and
institutional structures " (to quota c-da) we encounter another symptom with
Indian ethos. On our last visit to India, I had bought hot coffee from Kolkata
airport. The hot coffee was served in ultra thin plastic cups, which proved to
be extremely hot to hold. When I protested and asked for an extra cup to lessen
the impact of burning heat on my poor hands, the sales person displayed the
least concern. The emphasis of Indian business is still short-term profit
with little respect for customer care. I suspect the same applied to the
current cell phone market in India. But as market economy grows and if the
grip of stifling bureaucracy is reduced and REAL FREE ECONOMY takes shape,
things are bound to change. At least that's what we have seen in the rest
of the FREE world.
Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I do not take issue with the proven efficacy of REAL competition and FREE
market forces. But the keywords are REAL and FREE. In a land where the
make-believe is readily accepted in lieu of the real thing by its
intelligentsia EVEN when the truths are open for all to see and that need to
tell the world they are no push-overs as far as modernity is involved, the
nuances of the REAL and the FREE takes on huge importance. One only needs to
look at the ENRON saga. Are there Enron like goings on in the cellphone
industry in Assam? I don't know. But from the comments I heard from users from
Guahati to Dibrugarh to Namti to Tawang--I have to suspect there is.
The fact of Dhubri's or Guahati's or Namti's lack of paved roads, reliable
electricity or potable water or sanitation systems and the governments' failure
that it points to ought not to be issues to be forgotten or explained away as
mere ideology rooted failure of governance and thus implied that it could be
all remedied by the 'free market gods' is where the fallacy is.
That Indian governance is dysfunctional has little to do with ideological
hang-ups but everything to do with deeply faulty systemic and institutional
structures that Indian intelligentsia has neither been aware of nor have been
willing to tackle.
At 9:07 PM +0000 11/19/07, Malabika Brahma wrote:
Soon Reliance and others will be forced to improve their service if they want
to survive and prosper.
But they have achieved to provide at least rudimentary service in 5/6 years
of operation (in cell phones) which government failed to provide for (take
electricity) in last 60 years.
My village in Dhubri district does not yet have regular electricity, paved
roads and clean water supply (we rely on wells) after 60 years but does receive
NextTel cell phone signals.
People who never had land phone lines had cell phones as the first phone.
mc mahant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
.hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt;
FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma } Cellphone Cos are like "Indian IT Miracles".
Each one is a Benami shadow of likes of Eriksson/Siemens/Nokia/Motorola.Even
screws are imported.- mostly from China. Customs do not hold them for Minutes.
And they were/are being milked for Upfront+Below the Table n000Crores@ time for
licensing CeNtrallyat Delhi
Remember Pramod Mahajan's Brother fuming and shooting him dead
-----"You took 5000 crores and did nothing to US?"
Currently there is something bigger happening-all Hush Hush:
Reliance trying to corner huge Spectrum(allowed to be a cOuntry's right by ITU
rules)and all the other players crying out loud"You cannot do that".
So they can Cheat the Economy as they like--Licensed to Kill.
{Compare mine --a few Welding/Sawing machines not released by Kolkata
Customs"Where is it written--the address of the Party to be Notified?"And of
course I have to be penalized for Demurrage that longer.As per Rules.
Nedfi--Oh they are Busy Developing Look East!!! }
mm
---------------------------------
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:50:08 -0600
To: [email protected]
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Assam] Indian Cell Phone Myths
.ExternalClass blockquote, .ExternalClass dl, .ExternalClass ul, .ExternalClass
ol, .ExternalClass li {padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;}
As an addendum to my previous response on the matter of the quality of
private services as in cell-phone, I would be remiss if I did not share what I
heard during my recent trip to Assam:
*** That service is uniformly bad thruout Assam. And the worst is the
darling of the private enterprise
advocates: Reliance; so much so that there was some kind of a 'Bandh' against
purported Reliance deceit of consumers.
I was loaned a cellphone from a new service provider by a relative, which,
amazingly worked from my native village at remote Namti, but would not work
from some of Guahati's most important localities such as Beltola and Rajgarh.
*** Most surprisingly the cell phone service that generally is acknowledged
to be the most reliable across Assam is that provided by the Indian Govt.
operated BSNL, but at a cost. Apparently it is the most expensive of cell phone
services.
So much for the conventional wisdom about public vs. private enterprise in
India, specifically as it relates to cell phone service in Assam.
At 5:06 PM +0000 11/18/07, Malabika Brahma wrote:
Cell phone services are available all over India at a very reasonable rate
with excellent service, however electricity is not.
This is because cell phone was considered a luxury and hence left to the market
forces whereas electricity was considered essential and left for the government
to provide.
Government always messes up whereas fair market dynamics does not.
Utpal
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