5 reasons why you shouldn't vote NDA

During the last few years, India has time and again been jolted awake by rude shocks. Now and then, huge scams have been un-earthed. The United Progressive Alliance(UPA) in adherence to their name, have proved to be progressive... atleast in the domain of "Corruption". It has already been labelled the most corrupt government in History.

When a scam is uncovered, We the people of India... can do nothing but, look helplessly, at TV screen flashing these breaking news. Underneath we are all seething with anger..

and when, elections come, it is our time to vent our anger...

So you too have been furious over the Congress/UPA ? What would you do in elections.. This time Vote NDA?

Here are reasons why you shouldn't vote the BJP or NDA..

Ramblings of an Unhappy Consumer

While various organisations have repeatedly stressed on Consumer rights, no-one has ever taken effective steps to protect and enforce consumer rights! We the people of India, fight with vendors, threatening to report to Consumer Forum.. but we seldon do that.

A very famous adage says, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me".
The emerging enterprise centric India is seeing an extension to this saying ..

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.  

  Fool me again : You're welcome, I am a consumer in India".

Consumerism in India 

Well, Honestly.. In India, It doesn't feel great to be a consumer.
Old customs and kind gestures of enterprises that used to go an extra mile to please and engage customers... is sadly, only a figment of history.

Whatever happened to the people who used to say, "The customer is always right". ?
Today, being a customer is like being an oxen tied to the ploughs of a field.

The Concept of Customer Satisfaction is history

And customer experience? what does that mean...
to pay on time and not get services on time, to wait incessantly,
to keep correcting the enterprise's mistakes..
to boil your blood over frustration... and to keep explaining problems that customer-care executives never understand..

What I have said, might be a matter of strong disapproval for many   "happy consumers of India", but please excuse me, I am a consumer who already has had her hefty share of bitter experiences.

The biggest irony of Consumerism in India is that, while nothing can ensure the QoS (Quality of Services) provided by various enterprises, there are a lot of terms and conditions with an added * which ensure customer loyalty and servility.

If you look closely to the Indian consumer-provider relationship, it will be difficult to understand who is servicing whom..?

Ok.. I am eager to spill my venom.:-) Let's start from the telecom sector.

To vote or not to vote.. that is the question

I am not surprised, when I find forums on the Facebook and other places discussing about the ARTICLE 49-O. What surprises me is the fact that most of the so-called "TRUTH" discussed there is utterly wrong.

There would be instances, when you do not want to vote either of the candidates. read this post on for reasons 

Whoever is aware of ARTICLE 49-O has some misconceptions, which is picked up from internet and spam mails like this:

"ARE YOU AWARE OF YOUR RIGHTS?You can refuse to VOTE if you like none of the electoral candidates. This is article 49-o of Constitution
if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49-O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. 
Not only that, but the candidature of all the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest in the re-polling.  
SPREAD THE WORD. POPULARISE THIS. LET EVERY INDIAN COME TO KNOW ABOUT THE POWER GIVEN TO HIM BY THE CONSTITUTION "

If you have also once forwarded this, and have been taking pride in your act of patriotism, then I am sorry to say,but you have only led some people into further dis-illusion. 

Be Indian, Buy Indian

Who doesn't love Dollars?

A friend of mine returned from the US, last year. I remember how he cribbed about the high prices and the expenditure he suffered in US. Before he left he had purchased dollars @ Rs.44. When he came back, the rate was Rs.42. He was quite disheartened, as there where lot of Dollars spared with him. If he sold the dollars to reclaim cash it would mean a nett loss of 9800/-.As friends, we  advised him to keep the dollars with him and encash them, when the prices went up.
This guy has recently and happily exchanged his dollars at a nett profit of Rs.53408.

Well... that was a happy story!!

But if we look at the perspective of an ordinary Indian like me, who hasn't spent a year abroad.. this is quite disheartening.

The Rupee is constantly falling. Now.. what does that mean to us and our economy?

Dollar stood at Rs.44 a year ago. That means if an Indian bought a hot dog at 2$ from US, the hot dog costed him Rs.88. Today the same hot dog costs him Rs.112.5. It also means that a US tourist coming to India, and buying a tour package for 500$, now needs to spend only $343 for the same  package.

We, in India earn in Rupees. When we purchase from abroad (Import), we squander in Dollars or other currencies.

A breathe of fresh air..

पृथ्वी, जल, वायु, आकाश...  The elements that keep us alive and nourish us. Unfortunately, we the people of India give little importance to the conservation of these elements. In our day to day lives, we inflict innumerable assaults on our environment, which have direct and very serious implications to ourselves.

For example, when you burn waste, you are the first person who inhales all the toxic gases that are released into the environment.Though most of us are aware that whatever harm we do to the nature comes back to us, immediately, we forfeit all responsibility to preserve our environment.

Let's take the scenario of vehicle emission.

WHAT OUR VEHICLES EMIT:

• Hydrocarbons-These are toxic gases which are the major reasons behind smog. Smog is the condition due to which, even on a clear sunny day, if you look at distant landscapes, they will appear behind a thick blanket of fog.  (SMOG = Smoke + fog). Even if you are surrounded by smog, it will not be visible to you, unless it is very very intense. Exposure to Smog, has liver effects.
• METHANE - This is also a Hydrocarbon which has been identified as a greenhouse gas, a major contributor to global warming. 
• Carbon monoxide (CO) - Carbon monoxide bonds with blood molecules and reduces there ability to transport oxygen to organs, which is the main function of blood. In case of being surrounded by intense CO, organs get starved for oxygen. Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a major killer.

• Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) -  NO_x leads to smog and acid rain. Notrogen oxides cause respiratory infection. NO_x is produced when nitrogen and oxygen react at high tempreratures. Therfore more NO_x  are produces when our engines run most efficiently (i.e. hottest) part of the cycle.

• Particles, from fuel impurities –  If inhaled can lead to poisoning and cancer

• Sulfur oxide (SO_x) -  SO_x is produced because our fuels contain sulfur. This can be reduced easily but refineries generally fight requirements to do this because of the increased costs to them.

Most of us today drive motor vehicles. But How many of us have ever bothered to check the emission levels of our vehicles? Only when the traffic cop asked us for a PUC certificate. There is a whole set of rules and restrictions on emission levels in India. If it had been adhered to since inception, the environment in India would have been much more favorable for us. But I really doubt if the enforcement of these standards now could help us.. isn't it a bit too late for liberal restrictions?

Better late than never, we could start mending our ways. 

WHAT CAN WE DO

1> Use public transports. Reduce the number of vehicles on the road. This would minimize the number of accidents also.

2> Start walking. It will also improve your health. 

3> Get your emission levels regularly checked.

4> Turn off engine on traffic signals. Save fuel, save money.

5> Switch to green vehicles. Electric vehicles are the best option. Economical and eco-friendly.

Burning of fuel not only harms environment it also depletes important natural resources. as explained in a previous post

DO WE REALLY CARE?

Ask yourselves?  can you do your bit  for a pint of fresh air. 

If you really care, then do your part just for your own sake.