Ownership of Thoughts

SWAMI SUKHABODHANANDA





Every one of us is preprogrammed, in accordance with the culture, family , society or religion we are born into and grow up with. Most of us are indifferent to the fact that we operate with little awareness. So, we end up living in a self-made prison.Once a philosopher asked a cobbler -himself a Sufi saint -to repair his shoe. The cobbler expressed his inability to do so as he was about to close his shop for the day . “Please, this is urgent,“ the philosopher pleaded. “You may please borrow my shoe for the other foot,“ said the cobbler. “But I don't wear another's shoes,“ said the philosopher. “If you can borrow someone's ideas, why not a shoe?“ asked the cobbler. Truly , our ideas are largely borrowed ones.Myths and disempowering words and thoughts have invaded our inner engineering.
Can we observe how we touch the outer world with our inner thoughts and attitudes? If our thoughts and attitudes are negative, a negative system gets created. Then the negative system takes control of our life and develops its own survival mechanism and we become its slaves.The art of wise living is to dismantle the negative system from our lives. We have to learn the art of inner separation: not allow negative thoughts and attitudes to eat into our lives.
Identifying with negative thoughts and emotions leads to chaos and conflict. Any thought or emotion that passes through us is not ours. The traffic on the pavement does not belong to us,... neither does the traffic of thoughts. We should learn to select and reject, only then we will not find ourselves in prison.

Why India doesn’t trust its private sector

Excessive government intervention and uncertain regulatory environment have affected outcomes in the market

The Indian economy has made enormous progress since the 1991 economic reforms. All political formations in power have taken this process forward. The latest Economic Survey, in its second chapter, “The Economic Vision For Precocious, Cleavaged India”, has beautifully mapped some the developments in the Indian economy. For instance, India’s trade to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio has doubled to reach 53% over the last decade ending 2012 and is higher than that in China. The flow of foreign direct investment has also picked up significantly in recent times and the contribution of the private sector has increased over the years. However, the latter’s failure to gain the trust of Indian society has been an enduring problem.The survey has made a sharp observation in this context: “All states, all societies, have some ambivalence towards the private sector. After all, the basic objective of private enterprises—maximizing profits—does not always coincide with broader social concerns, such as the public’s sense of fairness. But the ambivalence in India seems greater than elsewhere.” It further added: “It appears that India has distinctly anti-market beliefs relative to others, even compared to peers with similarly low initial GDP per capita levels.”

India’s ambivalence towards the private sector should be cause for concern as it can affect economic growth in the medium to long run. There is enough evidence to point to the vectors of concern. For example, there is notable resistance in the political establishment to privatizing public sector companies, and several sections of society expect the state to take more responsibility. Since this can prove to be a serious bottleneck, it is important to examine why—despite visible gains from economic reforms—India is still not certain about the role of the private sector. There could be three broad reasons.

First is the legacy of the pre-reform era when the private sector was seen with suspicion and the government wanted to control practically every part of the economy. There were controls on production and profit was a bad word. As the survey also notes, industrial licensing meant that the incumbents were seen as benefiting. Even though India has opened up the economy, economic reforms have been half-hearted at best. Businesses close to the ruling establishment are still seen to be gaining, though steps have been taken in the last few years to bring more transparency. Also, the government has been fairly reluctant in creating more space for the private sector—often fearing political backlash. This is one of the reasons why privatization has been slow. Montek Singh Ahluwalia has appropriately described the Indian situation as having “a strong consensus for weak reforms”. Excessive government intervention and uncertain regulatory environment have affected outcomes in the marketplace.

Second, India’s experience with the private sector has also been fairly mixed so far. On the one hand, sectors where private participation is allowed have made significant progress. On the other hand, there have been governance issues which have dented confidence. The private sector is seen by many as excessively driven by self-interest without adequately acknowledging the interest of other stakeholders, including consumers. India’s telecom sector is an example. While penetration has increased significantly over the years with extremely competitive tariffs, the quality of service has left much to be desired. Further, high-profile cases where promoters are seen to be gaming the system have not helped.

Third, the state has not been able to create the necessary capacity in the system required for the smooth functioning of the private sector. For instance, according to the World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking, India has one of the lowest rankings in enforcing contracts. The inability to enforce contracts or delays in the process affects outcomes in the private sector. Regulatory gaps and lack of clarity in rules in some areas and the excessive compliance burden in others affect the smooth functioning of the private sector.

India will need to overcome these challenges to be able to grow at higher rates in the long run. For this, the government will have to work on multiple fronts. It will first have to create more space for the private sector and allow the markets to function. This will, among other things, lead to more efficient allocation of resources. Simultaneously, the government will need to build capabilities to be able to intervene if markets fail. It will also need to create a regulatory environment where consumer interests are well protected.

But the private sector must also do more, especially on the governance front. For an example of what a failure to do so can cause, one need only look to the US and the populist backlash catalysed by the sentiment that government and business interests no longer coincide with those of the broader society.

Source: Mint epaper, 7-02-2017

Ireland extends stay-back option to 24 months for post-graduate and Ph.D students

The possibility of gaining valuable post-study work experience makes Ireland a very compelling option for Indian students with the added advantage of a world class education that offers better value for money

Minister for Education and Skills of Ireland has agreed to give permission to double the ‘stay-back option’ for Masters and Ph.D students from 12 months to 24 months. The Irish government is making it easier for Indian students who have graduated in Ireland to stay-on after they finish studying. This new decision will allow eligible graduates who have studied in Irish higher education institutions and whose award is granted by a recognised Irish awarding body at Masters or PhD level, to remain in Ireland for two years to seek graduate jobs and employment.

Giles O’Neill, Manager, Education in Ireland said, “The extension of the post study work visa will benefit Indian students. We can foresee many bright students from India availing of this opportunity and on completion of their education joining the Irish workforce and contributing to Ireland’s talent pool.”

Rory Power, Director – India & South Asia, Enterprise Ireland said, “Irish institutions have been welcoming Indian students for over 100 years; many of whom have made an important contribution to Ireland’s global success. It will also give Indian students even more opportunity to launch their careers in dynamic sectors such as ICT, bio-pharma, engineering, medical devices, food science and financial services”.

This decision of extended stay will be applicable to the non-EU/EEA students at level 9 and above of the National Framework of Qualifications. In the past, Indian students in Ireland have seen attractive opportunities that they were able to avail due to the one-year stay back option.

The possibility of gaining valuable post-study work experience makes Ireland a very compelling option for Indian students with the added advantage of a world class education that offers better value for money.

Source: DNA, 7-02-2017

Women’s reservation is still a point of contention

After Nagaland, who will revive the Women’s Reservation Bill?

The women’s reservation Bill is stuck in the collective throat of the Central Government like a huge fish bone that it does not want to swallow and dare not spit out. Women’s reservations in elected bodies challenge gender based inequality in politics and in decision making powers, and therefore strengthens democracy in a wider sense. Even though it has proved successful in local bodies the next logical step to extension in Assemblies and Parliament is thwarted by the insecurities and sense of entitlement of entrenched male privilege. The women of Nagaland have the support of women all over the country and those opposing reservations in the name of identity no doubt have the secret support of those in power in Delhi. The Bill,passed in 2010 in the Rajya Sabha is still valid. The Government needs to, prioritise it and ensure its passage in the Lok Sabha.

Brinda Karat, Rajya Sabha member

My team and I provided training to men and women equally in the 48 panchayats across West Bengal, and collected the data along 600 data points. This was for a whole year, with the help of some local NGOs. The findings were insightful. Initially, both men and women were poor in financial and conflict management and were unable to provide effective solutions when there was trouble. When the training was complete, women seemed to respond far better than men in most of the data points. This included superior leadership, a sense of compassion for people, and better problem solving. The women in the study went far deeper into problems presented to them as opposed to their male counterparts. The only reasoning I can offer for those who are anti-reservation is a sense of insecurity which sometimes manifests itself in violent ways.

Debasis Malik, Professor, SP Jain Institute

We are primarily a male dominated society and our women have always been treated as second-class citizens. It is almost as if they are threatened when females make it to top positions, in both grassroots and corporate positions and get things done. Women have made their mark in almost every field, with defense being the most recent and heartening. Imagine where they would be if parity was actually afforded to them. The reservation aspect is good, and is not being given the importance that it deserves.

Source: DNA. 7-02-2017

Rewiring the WTO

Growing disenchantment with the existing model of globalisation is also a historic opportunity to frame new rules granting equal opportunities to all in the global marketplace

The visit of Roberto Azevêdo, Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to India, from February 8, comes at a juncture when the framework of global trade rules is undergoing a shake-up. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) — which had almost become the standard bearer of trade rules — has been dealt a death blow by the Trump presidency.

The TPP found itself in this position after the United States orchestrated the move to make the WTO virtually irrelevant during the 10th Ministerial Conference of the organisation, in Nairobi in 2015. The conference ended without a decision on the most important area of work of WTO members — the Doha Round negotiations. These negotiations were mandated by the Doha ministerial conference in 2001 to review extant trade rules in order to make the WTO more responsive to the needs of the majority of its membership — the developing countries. With the Nairobi ministerial failing to decide on the future of the Doha negotiations, the WTO’s relevance has been questioned since the organisation does not have a work programme.

The developing world has largely been questioning the relevance of the WTO for some years now, when the richer nations gained the upper hand in setting the priorities for the organisation. As a result, the efforts of the developing countries to amend several important agreements and to make them more responsive to their development needs have been seriously undermined. Similarly, issues of critical concern to the least developed countries, especially their inability to increase their presence in the global markets, have also been put on the backburner.

Silence on food stockholding

The skewed rules in the areas of agriculture and intellectual property rights have been flagged by the developing countries as their particular areas of concern. In agriculture, WTO rules have been loaded in favour of the developed countries, while the interests of small farmers have almost been completely ignored. India flagged the important issue of food security and argued that the sovereign states must have the right to decide the manner in which the poor should be provided subsidised food. This issue arose after questions were raised as to whether public stockholding of food, which is at the heart of India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), meets the WTO disciplines on agricultural subsidies. After India countered the viewpoints of the countries questioning its PDS, an understanding was reached where even if India breached agricultural subsidies’ disciplines to meet its food security needs, no penal action would be taken against it through what is commonly called a “peace clause”. But India’s insistence that there should be a permanent solution to the problem of public stockholding for food security purposes has been met with deafening silence.

While the developing country issues have not seen any progress, Mr. Azevêdo’s predecessor, Pascal Lamy, had lent support to the fast tracking of negotiations for an agreement on trade facilitation. This area covers all the measures that countries need to take in order to reduce transactions costs. Trade facilitation was not exactly an area that excited the developing countries for their shares in global trade are at very low levels. Moreover, by accepting the commitments under the agreement, they were required to undertake changes in their customs procedures and facilities, which seemed a daunting task for many of the poorer countries. The critical element was the availability of financing facilities for undertaking the modifications. However, despite their initial opposition, the developing countries eventually accepted the Agreement on Trade Facilitation at the end of the Bali Ministerial Conference in 2013.

Four years later, e-commerce

In the run-up to the 11th Ministerial Conference to be held in Buenos Aires in December 2017, ground is being prepared by the major economies for another exercise at “cherry picking”. The issues that have been identified for inclusion in the WTO are electronic commerce and investment. Their inclusion has been supported by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the B-20 (Business 20, representing the business groups of G-20 countries).

The ICC and B-20 tabled a proposal in September 2016 for the adoption of a “WTO package” on e-commerce. Interestingly, this proposal speaks of promoting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the better adoption of e-commerce. The proposal argues that an effective e-commerce environment would level the playing field between large and small businesses, thus enabling the latter to overcome the hurdles in accessing markets. The ICC-B-20 have proposed that the “package” should also provide capacity building resources to the developing economies, “including targeted assistance to ensure that MSMEs can get online and expand their business through e-commerce”. This approach is similar to the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility, the window for supporting developing and least-developed countries to implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement. However, the biggest challenge for the WTO is to garner financial resources, since it does not have a financing arm.

The WTO Director General has given strong endorsement to e-commerce. He has pointed out that the increase in Internet penetration (43% of the global population) provides the basis for “changing the traditional way of doing business and conducting trade”. But the number that Mr. Azevêdo cites is far removed from reality. In 2015, Internet penetration in the least-developed and low income countries was 12.6% and 9.4%, respectively. Even for the low middle income countries, the figure was below the global average. These disparities in Internet penetration should make it clear as to who would be the likely beneficiaries from e-commerce.

Divisive issue of investment

The issue of including investment in the WTO has been a deeply divisive, almost right since the inception of the organisation. While previous attempts to include an investment agreement have been met with much resistance from the developing countries, the latest bid comes at a time when the investor-friendly bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are under the scanner. The focus is on the investor state dispute settlement process, using which investors can sue their host states in private international panels. India has unilaterally revoked a majority of the 73 BITs that it was a party to and has adopted a new model BIT that would be the basis of its future BITs. The new model BIT vastly truncated the powers of the foreign investor and their right to initiate disputes.

It is quite clear that the inclusion of e-commerce and investment in the WTO would further drive the wedge between the rich and the poor nations. The growing disenchantment with the existing model of globalisation has provided a historic opportunity to frame new rules that give equal opportunities to all countries and their citizens in the global marketplace. Can Mr. Azevêdo be the harbinger of this new regime?

Biswajit Dhar is Professor, Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Source: The Hindu, 7-02-2017

For Harvard students, India Conference is ‘crucible test of leadership skills’

Students at Harvard are working hard to ensure the success of the India Conference, scheduled for February 11 and 12. A team of volunteers has so far raised funds, written to speakers, secured confirmations, and put together panels and themes from which audiences can get “valuable takeaways.”

Speakers will include former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, former CAG Vinod Rai, politician Shashi Tharoor, filmmaker Deepa Mehta, fashion designer Manish Malhotra, Bollywood actors R Madhavan, Viveik Oberoi and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan, the younger brother of Chiranjeevi.

The theme of this year’s conference is India - the Global Growth Engine, where everything from gender equality to demonetisation to Kashmir will be discussed. Rahul Srinivasan, co-chair India Conference at Harvard and master in public administration (MPA) candidate, 2017, at the John F Kennedy School of Government, is excited as it’s turning out to be a “mega event with 1,000 people expected to attend.”What support is Harvard extending to the students? Srinivasan says no funding comes from the institute as such events are “a crucible for students to develop their leadership skills. All of the challenges we face get converted to opportunities for us.”

And there’s no shortage of helping hands. Srinivasan says he and about 80 volunteers from across campuses, including his institute, the Harvard Law School, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Medical School, are helping put the event together.

Hindustan Times is knowledge partner for the event.

Source: Hindustan Times, 6-02-2017

Bright Sky of Freedom

DADA J P VASWANI





Sant Kabir in one of his dohas tells us that men who carry money with them on dark nights are likely to be waylaid and robbed. But equally , men who live and walk in the darkness of ignorance and unawareness are also likely to be looted -only , the thieves and robbers in this case are the enemies from within us! And the treasure they loot is not material wealth but the treasure of the spirit. There're five thieves who ensnare us.Their favourite hiding place is in the darkness of our ignorance. They are kama, krodha, lobha, moha and ahankara -lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. We have to be cautious not to fall into their trap.Charles Dickens, in The Tale of Two Cities, writes about a man who had been imprisoned for several long years, until he was almost forgotten! At long last, he was set free. They led him out of his dark cell into the bright and beautiful sunshine outside. For a moment, he gazed at the blue sky and the bright sun -but his eyes were dazzled. He turned and walked back to his cell, covering his eyes with his hands. He had grown so accustomed to the darkness that he could not face the light any more! The dark cell seemed to him to be a secure haven. Like this man, we are chained by our negative emotions. We have become almost comfortable in the darkness, bound by these familiar and `secure' chains. We need to cast off the shackles.