In the name of welfare - A chapter for Freakonomics

A survey done by the Excise Dept. in Tamil Nadu some time in the mid 1970s gave an estimate of yearly liquor consumption of 25 lac litres in the state. While the figure for Karnataka stood at 75 lac litres. A repeat survey after a decade showed an increase in consumption of around 10,000 litre in Karnataka while Tamil Nadu during this period had overtaken Kaarnatka.

The figures shocked the whole state as this was a period when prohibition act was in force. Every department took whatever measures it could and gave all kinds of explanations.

But as Levitt says – “You need to talk to the right people and look at the right data to get the right answers”.

Following is an excerpt from an interview with a laborer conducted by an organization doing field survey to unravel the causes. This one interview unraveled facts which went on to solve this whole mystery –

Q. How much do you earn in a day?
A. Rs. 12 - 13

Q. How many people are there in your family?
A. Eight. My four children, my parents, myself and my wife.

Q. How much do you spend on food daily?
A. Rs. 6

Q. Rs. 6 for a family of 8! Is it enough?
A. Sir, we belong to a "special class" of people according to the Govt.* My children are entitled for a meal in the school, my parents under Old age pensioners (OAP) scheme are entitled for free rice while my wife being pregnant now and then also falls under one or the other program of Aanganwaadi.

This was a big slap on the face of Welfare Activists.

So much in the name of welfare.


*He was trying to point out that he fell under BPL families category.

Disclaimer: This complete story is an excerpt of an interview with a director of a prominent NGO for whom I was doing consultancy on a project. In the process of capturing the theme I might have distorted a few facts. Kindly ignore them.

One Night @ The Call Centre

A 289 pager by Chetan Bhagat, the author who shot to fame through his 5 point someone. I admired the way the book was advertised by the promoters even before the launch and so couldn’t keep my hands off the book as soon as I saw it on the stands.
As expected, Chetan hasn’t changed his witty, dark writing style. But his overemphasis on this style makes him sound very clichéd at times. The best thing about the novel is its strong characterization.
A story knitted around 6 call centre agents’ life; I prefer calling it ‘One Shift’ rather than ‘One Night’ when almost the hell breaks loose on them.
Chetan, through his character Vroom, has epitomized the discussion for pros and cons of call centre boom in India. While other characters add on spice to the story, through Shyam, Chetan seems to have addressed a problem which almost each one of us is going to face – a bad boss.
On the whole, the purpose of the novel is quiet noble - "To make the youth of today more conscious of the choices one makes in life". But 289 pages leads to over dramatization and the story seems to drag at various points.
I would rate it 3 out of 5.

Bhopal: A case on Brand Management

1945 - 2 big cities of Japan were nuked to ashes. 2 decades later, if one talked about Japan he only talked about its technological and Business Acumen. "Hiroshima and Nagasaki" were burried with the dead in the summer of 1945.
21 years have passed but even today if you hear of Bhopal, you recall the bloddy night of 3rd Dec 1984 and the events that followed (The Bhopal Gas Tragedy). Somehow the name Bhopal leaves a bad taste on ones tongue.
An accidental journey through the city of Bhopal (better known as The City of Lakes) left me spellbound with its natural beauty. I have already seen a number of Jaws fall when I tell them about the beauty of Bhopal.

The semi mountanious terrain of Bhopal gives a feeling of troting on a hill station. A panoramic view from the top of "Manav Sanghralya" (a unique mueseum which is a remake of traditional lifestyles) over the 'Baddi Jheel' leaves one wondering if it was really true.

But even 21 years later, a majrity of the world hasn't seen or even realized this face of Bhopal. Even being a state capital hasn't changed its perception much.
These Politicians and bureaucrats seem to need real good lesons in Brand management and a few case studies like that of Tyenol (The famous J&J drug crisis).

Birthday Thoughts

There are few things I have been always confused of. And celebrating birthdays is one of them.
Now, what do you think is the best way to celebrate a birthday -
1. Party around-cutting cake, blowing candles, dacing whole day long.....
2. Organize a Hawan in your house or any kind of Pooja (Prayer)....
3. Distribute clothes and food to the needy....

Or is there still a better way?

I always prided myself that I am not the normal kind who goes on banging his head whole night long just because one more year of my life was wasted. I always believed that blow off a candle, is a sort of signalling Darkness to overcome your life. So, its better to light up a 'Diya' and invite a bright future.

This break, Preeti knocked me with a brilliant thought -
"Manu, don't you think that B'days are days when we must actually thank our parents to bring us into this world? Don't you think its we who should give presents to our parents rather than the other way round? Isn't it a day to be celebrated in honour of our parents rather than ours?.........."

Now this is something which never crossed my mind...........