News and Views, Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Posted : September 22, 2004 at 9:59 am [IST]
Do Machines help at home?
We keep on buying domestic appliances-washing machines, vacuum cleaners, microwaves, deep freezers. Idea is to cut down the time taken by conventional means to do the day-to-day works at home faster. In good old days, these were not easily available in the country or the quality used to be poor, so many of my friends used to buy them abroad during our official visits and bring them with lot of troubles at custom counter. When my wife returned from USA, she brought a vacuum cleaner. I brought once a VCR, an organizer, and then in another visit one portable CD player. I got a good food processor with number of attachments from my company. Mostly I have found them lying idle. Perhaps we buy them as others are having them. Last time when my wife was in Kolkata and I was left out alone to manage every thing myself, I tried to use microwave, but failed to get anywhere. The sellers of these appliances never train you, but for giving an operating manual. Who does bother to go through it? Most of the devices are never utilized to its capabilities, not even a calculator.
In ‘Times of India’ September, 20004, I came across a study on Australian households. Findings are: ‘Domestic appliances hardly reduce the overall time spent doing house work.’ “Despite the microwave’s to cook food in a fraction of the time needed by conventional stoves owning a microwave has no significant effect on the time-use patterns of women.” I feel happier now and have stopped grumbling about the non-use of the gadgets.
Have a measurable parameter for quality control.
NDMC and others in road building and repairing business find it difficult to control the quality of road repairs. Very soon, NDMC shall be evaluating the roughness index of the roads by a bump integrator technology. Though it means a cost, this is the way to remove subjective judgment. I only pray the equipment is not damaged or readings manipulated to reach the acceptable level.
And the unemployment
According to one estimate, over 41 million educated and qualified persons are registered with the employment exchanges of the country. It is painful to find a large number of graduate engineers working in call centres and a large number of graduates applying for peon jobs. Is not our education system lacking something? Why can’t we enshrine ‘the right to work’ in our constitution?
Since 1980, as many as 30 countries including 18 developing countries have incorporated the right to work in their constitution. Another 25 countries have guaranteed ‘working right’ to their citizens. But in 57 years, India couldn’t do it. Can we do that in coming years? With exploding population and where religion becomes a bigger issue in fighting a national priority such as family planning, it is difficult to hope for it.
And then the trade unions and inflexibility
Unionised labour had in many developed countries such as US, Germany, and UK forced big companies to agree to several benefits including pension benefits in last four five decades that are now driving these companies to bankruptcy. Are we not falling into the same trap? What will be the effect of higher interest on EPF being pushed by leftists? With the dependence of UPA on leftists, we can’t even dream of labour reform.
In the textile sector, we are about to squander the opportunity for huge exports because of inflexible labour laws. For example, Arvind Mills ( 20,000 present workforce) and many of the textile companies can procure export orders and treble its work force , but won’t because , should the business dry up it will not be able to downsize. Why can’t the trade unionists take some inspirations from the Chinese success story?
Good days for FMCG
Overall capex ( capital expenditure) investments by FMCG firms will peak at Rs 650 crore - (HLL 250, Nestle100, Colgate 70, Britannia 55, Dabur 53, Godrej 22) this fiscal.
The companies are trying to reduce outsourcing increasing their net benefits. It is good time. All these companies are doing good export business too. But most importantly, the prices are coming down and so the consumers are happy.
And then do you know?
” A bird’s eyes contain cells that can detect magnetism as well as light. Birds see it much the same way as they observe trees, rocks and other familiar objects. Earth magnetic field helps migratory birds to find their way to distant places that are beyond imagination..
” Indians are becoming more airborne. Recent report indicates nearly 25% surge in air travel among Indians - both for within the country and to overseas.
” Bharati Enterprises has set up a company- Field Fresh-a Rs 250 crore 50-50 JV with UK’s Rothschilds to export fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Indra
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