दृष्टिकोण – Indra's Viewpoint

I would have skipped this topic if Krishnan, one time potluck friend, had not crashed on this with me today morning. Escorts meant Dr. Trehan till it was with Nanda. I don’t know if Escorts Hospital became a brand name in heart surgery because of Dr. Naresh Trehan or Dr. Trehan became a legendary heart specialist because of Escorts. Escorts Hospital was basically started as a charitable institute of Nanda Group (HP and Rajan) owning Escorts Industries in Faridabad as its flagship company.

Unfortunately, Nanda got the charitable institute transformed into a company and then sold it to Fortis group of hospitals, a subsidiary of Ranbaxy, the reputed global drug manufacturing company. Naturally, Fortis didn’t have any personal rapport or full understanding with Dr. Trehan as Nandas had. Analjit Singh perhaps thought to treat him just as one more executive working for Fortis. And now Analjit Singh has sacked Dr. Trehan, the executive director of Escorts Heart Institute, charging Dr. Trehan for misappropriating the Escorts Hospital resources for his own Rs 1,000 crore Medicity planned in Gurgaoan.

But whatever might have been the reasons; Fortis would not have taken the drastic actions against Dr. Trehan in this manner and allowed so much of media coverage. It will damage the brand image of Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre in the eyes of people at large. Dr. Trehan has become a well-known celebrity figure of the capital and perhaps of the country as one of the best heart surgeons. The whole episode must have hurt the sentiments of a lot many people like me who have been his patients. What I experienced was unique. Dr. Trehan maintained a personal touch that normally lacks. I found a similar doctor in Dr. Devi Shetty whom I met in my HM days. Both the doctors did consider the financial aspects of patients too, as they had that authority negotiated initially with their masters. That loss due the discretionary power of these doctors might have created a sore point with pure industrialists owning the hospital.

Unfortunately, it seems to be an ego war. Analjit doesn’t want Dr. Trehan to run the institute the way he was doing that for so long. Dr. Trehan perhaps does not want to give up so easily an institute that he has built as its main architect.

Actually, soon after the take over of Escorts Hospital by Fortis or almost near around the same time, Dr. Trehan has announced his mega project of medicity. Fortis wished to be a major player in that because of its financial strength. Dr, Trehan wished to get into entrepreneurship independently and make a mark like some other technocrat. He didn’t agree to Fortis terms. And so is this problem. But Fortis would have handled more smartly.

On Tuesday May 22, 2007, as per the media report, Cardiologist Dr Naresh Trehan’s name has been officially taken off the list of doctors working at the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre (EHIRC). New patients wanting to be admitted to the hospital under Trehan’s care were turned away on Monday by the EHIRC management.

On Wednesday May 23, 2007 as reported in media, a case of trespassing and vandalism was registered today against cardiologist Naresh Trehan for allegedly entering Escorts Hospital forcibly.

An ad issued in the public interest by EHIRCL and published May 23, 2007 in the national media is really bad in taste. It blames Dr. Trehan on many counts.

I get reminded of a similar situation. Dr. Devi Shetty who left BM Birla Heart Institute of Kolkata had established his own Heart Hospitals, and running them well.

I wish some respected persons from the industry close to both the parties would have mediated.
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Latest
Doctors seek panel to run Escorts Hospital
Escorts is turning into a jail, fume patients<

Man Mohan Singh has completed three years as Prime Minister of this most populous democracy of the world. Many are trying to grade the performance of this great economist as the head of the government. Expectations were more because of his performance in his last inning as Finance Minister with late Narshimha Rao when he initiated the reform process of Indian economy rolling in 1991. Why has he failed to make a great impact this time? What could have he done with all constraints of his limitations? At least there are some areas where he could have brought about the change with certain administrative reforms? One such area is the removal of procedural speed breakers that make the transportation even on the world-class roads built in last few years slow making the consumables for the most of the population pretty costly.

India ranks globally second in road networks with over 3.5 million kilometres after US. And in last few years, billions have gone in improving its quality including the 6000 km long GQ and in other NHDP projects.

The road transporters carry 70% of the freight traffic. New improved and widened NHDP roads including GQ and other highways would have speeded up the transportation cutting the travel time drastically. However, it has not happened. On one hand, the new roads continue to pass through crowed cities and villages. Bypasses were created and after some years of encroachment even a bypass of the bypass became necessary because of the traffic jams. On the other hand the problem gets further amplified at the toll nakas and “nullifies the gains from fuel efficiency and reduction in travel time due to new roads.”

As reported, for many a logistics companies the toll cost per kilometer has gone up. For example, for one company it went to 90 paises from 10 paises in the last three years.

According to Transport Corporation of India (TCI), “Toll costs have increased operating costs by 5-10%”. Toll costs used be Rs 1400 per round trip on the Delhi-Hyderabad route a few years ago. Today, it is Rs 3,400 for a one-way trip.

Why can’t an integrated system of toll payments, as suggested by the transporters, that can solve the problem, be put in place? And I am sure this one thing that Man Mohan could have got done. Here is a study that appeared in Times of India:

A study of a truck’s journey from Kolkata to Mumbai on NH 6 carrying a 9 tonnes of cargo is revealing. The truck took 8 days averaging speed of 11 kms per hour to cover 2150 kms, as it wasted 32 hours in just waiting at toll booths (1,940 minutes) and border posts (840 minutes).

After completing the loading at 2pm, it could have departed only after 10pm when ‘no entry’ hours get lifted, but the traffic jam at the city’s exit point made it leave only at 4am. The truck reached WB-Jharkhand border at 6pm, but had to halt, as night clearance was not allowed. It took 2 hours for clearance on WB-Jharkhand and Jharkhand-Orissa borders and Nagpur Naka, and 4 hours at Orissa-Chhatisgarh border. When it reached Mumbai at night, and called octrai agents, it waited all night for processing. Can’t the delays of the journey be reduced or eliminated to attain the global benchmark? An Indian truck manages to log just 7,500 kms every month as against 17,500 kms in USA.

Can’t Man Mohan Singh’s government find a solution in a month’s time or at least during the time left before his term ends? This is one thing that can benefit the farmers whom he wants to help. Fresh vegetables and fruits can reach the consumers faster. This can cut down the inflation. This can cut down the wastage.

Is it not one way the country should grade its economist Prime Minister?

We came in Noida in June 1997, bought this house A-54 in Sector 41 and started living in June 1998. We found sufficient frontage that was barren then, Yamuna as usual got busy in building a garden, even though I kept on dissuading her from working so hard and spending so much of money. Over the years, it has grown well with number of trees. Once the Noida authority took over a portion to widen the road. We lost some trees too but then Yamuna again made that up with some additional trees. It serves us well in yond winter. It is enjoyable to sit in sun and waste hours with nothing specific to do. In February 2006, when I was away in Salt Lake, Kolkata, Yamuna got a portion concreted for parking of our small Alto, emulating other neighbours who had constructed nicely built garages all along Block A and Block B facing sector 39. Many of the house owners have spent quite a bit to lay good gardens. Some used for parking the car too. In Noida there is no mandatory provision for providing garage in the house. Every one parks all the cars along the service road in front of the house. With people having more than one car, the parking situation is really critical. For us facing a wide road in the front with some government land for services or social forestry, it was but prudent to use the space for parking. And naturally for safety and easy exit and coming in, gates were also integrated.

All these days, it was going all right. Noida Authority never raised any objection nor even sent any notice directly or through RWA that the householders have gone beyond the rules. Suddenly today Thursday May 23, 2007 there was hue and cry in the neighbours. A large contingent of staffs and some staff members with lot of police men too have appeared with two big bulldozers and are demolishing all the structures around the garden. I went out and wanted to talk with the officer. But he was not only arrogant; he appeared to be a goon. They destructed everything and went back leaving all the materials scattered to tell the story vividly to most of the house owners when they return in the evening after work and see the damages.

But why Noida authority did it and that also without any notice? Is it the arrogancy of the officers or some act to show to new CEO appointed by the new government of Mayawati that they are active? As the media says, each employee of Noida Authority is a billionaire just because of rampant corruption. Why would then they not treat the honest citizens even very senior ones like illegal zhuggiwallahs? But what were they afraid of? The residents had no permanent structure such a walled close garages, as they knew very well that the plot might be required on any day for the road expansion or for laying of drainage or some other service activity. But still they created havoc in the locality for no rhymes and reasons to show that they are in power to do anything wish. This is our great democracy. I am sure if the locality would have just one political goon, the Noida Authority and its staffs would have avoided coming here.

I don’t know why the media has given quite a bit of coverage for the success stories of those who succeeded in the civil services exams this year. At least some of the stories present very impressive performance from the boys coming out from just ordinary families with little means and cracking the toughest examination in the first attempt itself. That is really great. Here are some such performers from Bihar.

Sujit Kumar Singh stood 132nd in the civil services exams. His father, Bhagwan Singh, is a BMP-5 (Bihar Military Police) havildar, who comes from a village in Rohtas. Sujit could do what his father dreamt. Sujit graduated from Hindu College. He missed UPSC last year by five points. As reported, his police father was his inspiration to become an IPS officer, and Sujit aspires to do something for his village. I wish Sujit kept up the promise about his village. Interestingly, Sujit is one among many who leave Bihar for better education environment and excel.

Sanjay Kumar Singh is another student from Bihar is from Paiga village in Bhojpur district. Sanjay ranked 43rd. His father Dadan Prasad Singh is a court clerk in Sasaram.

Interestingly, both Sujit and Sanjay are from the same region of the old Shahabad district of Bihar.

Deepak Anand, who stood 55th in the merit list is the son of a farmer from Sitamarhi district and Deepak was a post-graduate topper in philosophy from Patna University.

I don’t know how many of the successful candidates are from Bihar, or for that matter, statewise. Media in Bihar and other state must cover their stories with all details and publish. That will certainly be service for the students and parents of the states.

Two things are certain that the opportunities are there and the spirited young men are availing. Finance is no more a big problem for an aspiring person to attain his goal.

Some other success stories from the other parts of the country are equally great in dimensions.

Narayan Prasad Jaiswal gives out rickshaws on contract, and does not know what IAS means. His son Govind Jaiswal qualified for the civil services, coming 48th. It was difficult for his father to believe that ‘Govinda’ would become a “collector saheb”.
Living in a 12×8 sq ft rented room on the first floor of a house at Usmanpura, Varanasi, for the past 35 years, his father had been spending most of his earning on his son’s education. After graduating from a local college in 2003, Govinda shifted to New Delhi to prepare for the civil services and has cracked it in his first attempt. Is it not a great performance?

Mohammed Qaisar, 29, is son of power loom labourer Abdul Haque, of Malegaon, Mumbai. He ranked 32nd and all this without attending any coaching classes. ”However, he failed in the personality test in three previous attempts, but then made up this time.”
The family stood by Qaisar, fourth among 11 siblings, when he failed in initial attempts.

Vinod Bahade, the son of an illiterate father and Class-III pass mother, and from a poor family of Visapur village on Chandrapur-Ballarshah road in Vidarbha cleared civil services exam and got 254th position. His family owns a tiny shop selling biscuits and candy. After clearing class XII, Vinod got admission to Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital to become a doctor. Vinod was posted in the interior of Gadchiroli district, but soon he quit the job to qualify for the civil services. Here is one doctor charmed by the lust of civil services.

I am sure if they happen to meet our President, Kalam to take his blessings after getting into this coveted service, his advise would have been:

“Promise that you shall not get allured to do a wrong thing against the interest of the people and the nation against all temptations of cash and kinds offered by the vested interest.”

“Be an example.”

Usually everyone gets afraid of a dragon. Is that the reason that the word dragon is so popularly used with China?

The two news from India and US may provide the clue for the fear of dragon and China.

“The import prices of truck and bus tyres from China are even lower than our raw material costs, and we are convinced that a lot of dumping happens in India,” says an ATMA official in India.

And a NYT feature says, “An Export Boom Suddenly Facing a Quality Crisis Weeks after tainted Chinese pet food ingredients killed and sickened thousands of dogs and cats in the United States, this country is facing growing international pressure to prove that its food exports are safe to eat. But simmering beneath the surface is a thornier problem that worries Chinese officials: how to assure the world that this is not a nation of counterfeits and that “Made in China” means well made.”

How much of these are genuine a complaint? Is it because of free trade and globalisation?

Is China using American tool to be on the top in trade?