How Indian IT sector should reinvent itself

I have been struggling myself to find out the causes, why our Indian IT companies are unable to leave global foot print in the product development domain? why Indian nation is self limiting itself into a global leader only in services exports in spite of having sizable and creative middle class! Let me put my views on that.

Indian Institute of Technologies(IIT's) are leaders in technical education and enhanced India's softpower across the globe. But how many IIT students are pursuing their career in R & D? I think top Indian premier college students are going to abroad[brain drain] and after some time trying to establish start up product development companies in the overseas itself .[most of the start ups in the silicon valley].

Most of our Indian IT companies spends very meager amounts of their profits in the R & D sector. According some reports its less than 1% of their net profits. Need of the hour in the dynamic globalized world is paradigmatic shift from Business process outsourcing to knowledge process out sourcing. For that need to invest on R & D .

Our lack of risk taking attitude also inhibit the innovation. Because of that, most of the time, our IT leaders looking for lucrative and guaranteed revenues in the form of IT service exports. Time has come for out of the box thinking and need more leaders not mere managers. I think we need to collaborate with other IT players and stimulate untapped product development ecosystem.

Some of my friends, who have been working in some software service companies in India, stated that most of the time, they are working under intense stress and strain conditions. Even through few folks are proactively taking initiatives and generating innovative ideas but they tend to fail to transform the same into profit driven business models! Obviously innovation happens only when companies create conducive ecosystem otherwise we are remained to be obsolete persons in the competitive dynamic world.

Based on my experience and observation in Nvidia corporation, Santa Clara, there is good rapport between R & D teams and developmental teams. I think this is one of the ares need to refocus in our IT compnies. And Nvidia company encourages, it's workforce by providing lump sum amount of money for innovative initiates and there is well established healthy environment to transform those ideas into commercial purpose. Thus companies has to promote culture of innovation.

Recently, the group called iSpirit call itself a new generation think tank and hopes to bring about the transformation that will spur the growth of Indian product companies to a new level. In this process, hope is that, India can be rebrand itself as the land of software products.

I think we need to transform our higher education, more industry-academic collaborations, inculcate innovative ethos from childhood and update our skill sets to match according to changing society. I think this is the time for our NRIs to walk extra mile by utilizing their professional expertise and translate into business entrepreneurs like the way Chinese did.

                                                                                                                    Suneel Anchipaka
                                                                                                           anchipaka.suneel@gmail.com

Ambiguity in Supremecourt verdict on Lokayukta selection

Recently honorable Supreme Court had pronounced two contradictory verdicts on the appointment of Lokayukta chief selection process in case of Gujarat and Karnataka state affairs. In Gujarat case primacy has accorded to the honorable chief justice of Gujarat high court, whereas in Karnataka case primacy has given to council of minister headed by chief minister.

According to Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986, in order to appoint Lokayukta chief, The chief minister must consult the chief justice, he must consult the Leader of Opposition and must then forward the recommendation to the governor who must act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. But in this entire selection process apex court subverted Montesquieu theory of separation of powers by rendering executive and legislature redundant organs! And governor directly contacted the Attorney general of India and by passed the council of ministers advice.[It's contradictory to Art.163]

In case of Karnataka Dy Lokayukta appointment process, chief minister had failed to have meaningful and effective consultation or discussion with the chief justice of the high court. By citing this cause apex court quashed selection of Dy Lokayukta and it's followed the spirit of Karnataka Lokayukta Act. More over Supreme court bench stated that, the advice tendered by the chief minister will have the primacy and not that of consultees, including high court chief justice![ contradictory to the Gujarat]

I think judiciary has to respect the balance of power by giving due importance to the legislature and executive then only our Indian democracy will further strengthen. Besides, that governor has to act on the aid and advice of the council of ministers in India’s constitutional set up.


                                                                                                           Suneel Anchipaka
                                                                                                           anchipaka.suneel@gmail.com

How bad medicine turns worse than disease

The Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act(RTE act 2009) came into force from April 1, 2010. According to RTE act, every child in the age group of 6-14 years will be provided eight years of elementary education in an age appropriate classroom in the vicinity of his/her neighborhood. Recently NGO named Pratham, brought out Annual Status of Education Report 2012[ASER] and unearthed how pro-poor polices of government  are u-turning into horribly anti-poor!

According to ASER report 2012, 29.1 percent of children in class V couldn't solve a two digit subtraction problem and only 30 percent of class III students could read a class I text book. Latest report stated that, learning-quality levels has been deteriorated after the RTE act. Let us find out the causes and remedies for the same.

In order to attain cent percent universal primary education enrollment ratio and to reduce education stress levels, RTE act envisaged that, scrap all exams and assessments up to 8th class. This very ill-conceived  initiative reserving the rural school children only for future MGNERGA workers[unskilled manual workers]. If we go in this direction then how can Indian nation will reap demographic dividend and pave the way for robust socio-economic-cultural development?

Poor teaching quality levels is one the grave concern for aspiring super power like India. One of the root cause could be poor quality at the recruitment level it self. e.g. recently former Haryana chief minister found guilty in teachers recruitment scam and it might be pan Indian phenomena. So need of the hour is revamp teacher recruitment and make teachers more accountable to the parents, local community and gross root democratic structures[PRI's]

In the knowledge, globalized and competitive society quality of education is imperative. Here teachers role is instead of focusing only on syllabus completion, should also adopt innovative pedagogic practices, extra curricular and service based learning systems.

Re-innovate the traditional teacher training systems, enhance the quality of in service training and ensure that every teacher should complete training in true spirit rather than business as usual approach. Enhance the teachers ability, aptitude and up to date knowledge levels according to globalized world then only teachers can impart knowledge based education to the students.

Undoubtedly RTE act 2009, improved primary education enrollment ratio, infrastructure facilities and girls toilets. Challenge could be recruiting more humane, sensitive teachers to put our society into equality, egalitarian and gender sensitive.

Finally good teachers are the building block of any progressive society, testimony for that is you and me are here because of them!

                                                                                                 Suneel Anchipaka
                                                                                                anchipaka.suneel@gmail.com

Spectre of Manual scavenging haunting the Nation

In modern civilized India, in spite of 65 years of independence and functioning democracy, still we couldn't eradicate obnoxious practice of manual scavenging! One scholar termed this dehumanizing manual scavenging practice as burying democracy in human waste. In 1901, Mahatma Gandhi stated that manual scavenging as national shame and 2012 our people representatives echoed the same! Then are we moving towards so called egalitarian and inclusive society?

Though this vile and inhumane practice was abolished by law in India in 1993, the practice is deeply entrenched in South Asian societies. Let me discuss why this anti-national and anti-constitutional(Art.17, Art.21) practice has been continuing in one form or other in spite of pressure from ILO and supreme court of India recurrently..

Manual scavenging practice is inextricably linked to deep rooted caste based and hereditary occupation for Dalits and moreover predominantly linked with forced labour/untouchability. According to national commission of safai karmacharis report, approximately 13 lakh citizens are directly or indirectly involved in this demeaning practice across the length and breadth of our nation. Paradoxically Indian railways and municipalities are the largest employers of manual scavenging. Thus state is the largest grass violator of human rights and fundamental rights as well[right to dignity].


The public hearing also brought to light the social pressure for the continuance of the practice. In some areas upper caste people want to promote, protect and perpetuate their dominance by relegating out-caste people into manual scavengers. e.g. In a village in Madhya Pradesh, when a mother stopped scavenging toilets, the scholarship for her son was stopped.


A historic Supreme Court Ruling in May 2009 may help bring an end to this abhorrent practice in India. The Court held government appointed District Collectors responsible for not eradicating the demeaning and hazardous practice. But our public officials have frequently failed in their duties to identify, report and end manual scavenging, demolish dry latrines, and rehabilitate manual scavengers, and on their shoulders rests major culpability for the continuance of the unlawful and unjust social practice.
e.g. Recently supreme court sternly warned District Magistrate for filing a wrong affidavit stating there was no manual scavenging in his district.

I am wondering, why our Indian renaissance movements(socio-religious movements in 18th century) was unable to address this degrading issue as they did to abolishing Sati. To eliminate manual scavenging, we need 21th century social reform movements with proactive engagement from civil society organizations. The fact that most manual scavengers are women, many of whom are older and with poor literacy levels.


The Government of India has operationalised multi Crore rehabilitation schemes like National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers since 1992 and Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers since 2007 along with deciding time lines for putting an end to this practice. Sometimes critics point out that, Indian nation is a softstate, where it can't act firmly on it's own decisions. And our nation has a great culture of passing laws and greater culture of bypassing laws. Need of the hour is to strengthen implementation machinery and inculcate sense of fraternity among bureaucracy towards marginalized sections.

Central government has recently introduced , "The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012", in Lok Sabha to eradicate and to provide skill-based training to those who give up manual scavenging. I  think it's apt to mention renown Sociologist Andre Beteille statement : laws directs what ought to be done but social structures determine what should be done. We need to revamp societal structures and people mindsets then only new bill will be implemented in true spirit.

Finally let me remind you, as a human beings there are somethings can't do to other human beings[Justice Albie Sachs of South Africa].

                                                                                                              suneel anchipaka
                                                                                                         anchipaka.suneel@gmail.com

                                                                     

Is SC/ST Constitutional Amendment Bill(117th) necessary evil!

The Supreme Court in the matter of M. Nagaraj case, while upholding validity of the Constitution amendments regarding reservation in promotion to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, has laid down certain pre-requisite conditions for providing reservation in promotion to SCs and STs, namely the State has to see about backwardness of the class, inadequacy of representation  and efficiency of administration.

To overcome the above pre-requisite conditions, the Government proposed to introduce a 117th bill to amend the Constitution. The Rajya Sabha has passed a Constitution amendment bill to grant reservation to SCs and STs in promotions in government jobs with an overwhelming majority of votes and bill is waiting before the Loksabha.

There are some legitimate concerns regarding the reservation in promotions for SC/ST. Do they really need reservations at promotion level too? Lets me put few pointers which I collected from various sources.

The worst affected in the present system are SC/ST officers for they generally join later(on an average 30 plus yrs) than general category officers due to lack of legitimate structural means, economic barriers and family obligations. If state doesn't provide proper means for them to reach top echelon of admin apparatus then historical disadvantages and widespread discrimination against them would continue to exist!

Supreme Court in one of the verdict assumed that, SC/ST castes per se is backward in terms of socio-cultural and economic deprivations and nature of marginalization they do suffer in the modern civilized Indian society in day to day life. Besides the reasons mentioned above, composition of groups and lack of sizable middle class in this mass community[1/4th of the Indian population] led to as of now there is no concept of creamy layer in SC/ST.

The number of posts of Secretaries or equivalent in the Government of India is 102. Among them, the number of officers from the dalit category is nil and the number of S.T. officers is two.
As for the number of Additional Secretaries or equivalent, the total number is 113, of which the number of S.C. officers is five and S.T. is one.

The above facts shows that inadequate representation in the commanding posts of government of India, where largely key policy decisions has been taking. Without adequate representation at the pivotal positions, there is a large scale skepticism about proactive policy making, due policy monitoring and robust implementation mechanism for the marginalized sections.

There are some studies shows that, Indian nation has been unable to protect Dalit officers within the state and they are suffering with prejudice, social ostracism and inequality in socio-economic life. SC/ST officers are not judged fairly in annual confidential reports(ACR) relating to their performance and are denied promotions or crucial assignments. The above incidents remind us , how vicious cycle of caste perpetuation reinforcing even in rationale admin culture! I think here apt to quote K.Marx statement- if state starts exploitation then who is better exploiter than the state?

Last but not the least, equality with efficiency(Art.335) shouldn't be compromised for efficient and effective governance. For that, state has to consider innovative training mechanism, so that officers shouldn't trap into Peter Principle[employees tend to rise to their level of incompetence].

One of the retired IFS officer suggested that, instead of current system i.e. based on age, should we move to fixed tenure system, where all officers have the opportunity to reach the top. The present system of retirement gives with one hand but partially takes away with the other. I think this idea of fixed tenure needs to be contemplated.

We hope that irrespective of caste politics, bill would pass soon in the budget session, would pave the way for SC/ST officers at the key positions of government of India and bring more inclusiveness in the Indian bureaucracy.
                                                                                                                 suneel anchipaka
                                                                                                                 anchipaka.suneel@gmail.com

Are we living in a civilized society

I was shocked by the recent brutalized gang-rape of a girl in a bus in Delhi[rape capital of India] and it was a blot on human civilization. This time there is a proactive response than expected from all the sections and vociferously condemned the gang-rape incident. I am wondering why gang-rape incidents are recurring phenomena, in the so called modern Indian social milieu?

Is that people are not afraid of police? or low rate of conviction rate? or lack of due respect for the rule of law? According to recent reports, in cases of crime against woman, conviction rate was less than 25 percent! We used to say that, justice delayed is justice denied then are we practicing the same in the Indian democratic soil? Inordinate delays in the trial, inefficient investigation system and apathy of police personnel towards victims, etc factors are responsible for exhibiting animal male behavior.

Are our Hindi films and songs[e.g. Munni Badnam Hui Darling Tere Liye] are adding their part to portray woman as a lust, an object of violence and commodification of body of woman? etc I think, the above would act as a catalyst for erosion of social values and respect towards women. But this shouldn't be mono-causal determinism for predatory male behavior in the modern civilized society!

We often tend to ignore that, equal status and equal dignity of woman is not merely a Constitutional right but also a basic human right. Peculiar Indian scenario is that, we worship woman as a mother and discriminate as a wife. This sort of dual standards, medieval thoughts and hypocritical attitudes might ingrain patriarchal feudal values.

So called khap panchayat leaders simplistically suggested that, to prevent menace of rape, girl should marry at early ages! If that is true, then why recently, 70 year age old woman was raped in Haryana? What is the answer for custodial rapes and rapes committed by army men[north-eastern states]? Here age is not a factor, the reason is that woman is raped because simply she is woman irrespective of age, caste, race and dress.

We have come across some derogatory statements made by one of the senior IPS officer like woman attire is stimulating factor to commit sexual abuse? Is that true? If it is, then why eight men horribly gang-raped a dalit innocent, ignorant and rural woman in Haryana this year October? Whose community do not even have a voice to reveal the same incident because of fear from entrenched upper caste domination, social ostracism and social boycott from that village. So many such type of incidents are unnoticed in our daily lives.

I have come across few reports which stated that, in some societies rape is a crucial instrument of a entrenched patriarchal culture. Rape stops woman from asserting their rights to the outside world, makes them rely completely on male protectors. Thus rape is not only shatters the confidence of the victim but also makes her mentally fragile.  How to curb such type pathological incidents, which are aberrations to the modern democratic, liberal and secular society?

Some member of parliamentarians(MP's) unequivocally argued for death penalty for rapists. But is that solution to avoid committing rapes? Sometimes, It might turn negative side as well like rapist would try to kill victim and destroy the evidence. So why not to use chemical castration.[used in USA]

Why political parties at the first instance are allowing rape accused candidates contesting in elections? If lawmakers become law breakers then how to contain vicious cycle of crime nexus? Need to introspect such type of incidents across the Indian political spectrum.

We need strong, collective, vibrant and democratic women social organizations on a pan Indian basis to mobilize and educate woman, bring awareness and to check bastion of entrenched patriarchal social power in the society. I think best bet is to proactively engage with world renown feminist Eve Ensler led 'One Billion Rising'  campaign for collective social power to achieve common goals of women across the world.

A renown sociologist Talcott Parsons states that, primary socialization is one of the inevitable social intercourse to shape children attitudes and develop gender sensitive mental psyche, which comes from family and mainly from mother. Here Mother role to inculcate gender sensitiveness and respect for women,etc are playing a prominent role.

Need of the hour is woman centric policing, robust criminal justice system, establish fast track courts and use of Information Communication Technologies[GPS], etc for speedy justice delivery system to fill the sens of confidence among the world's largest vulnerable minority[i.e. women community].

Irrespective of the above, everybody will forget what is going to happen to rape victim, but she will remember for the rest of her life. It will be scar to imagine. But by providing proper social assistance, security and rehabilitation measures, etc there could be a possibility to bring back her to the main stream social context.


                                                                                                        Suneel Anchipaka
                                                                                                        anchipaka.suneel@gmail.com

My visit to Temple of Indian Democracy

Today myself along with my friends Manoj, Chanti and Gowri attended Lok Sabha question hour(11am to 12pm). First need to thank our Member of Parliamentarians(MP) because today fortunately without any adjournment, we were able to sit one hour question session. My intention was to realize, the then British PM Attlee statement of 'question hour is one of the surest means to put executive accountable'. partly i was convinced myself based on today's question hour.

After crossing Indian planning commission, constitutional club, etc finally entered into parliamentary premises. Our welcome note was, in front of parliament house, few Trinamool Congress MLA's were  protesting about their assembly proceedings and walkouts! With the help of security guard, we observed few bullet shots on the walls of parliament, that was result of 2001 parliament attack.

We had gone through multilevel security checks(more than seven) and  finally entered into Lok Sabha at 10.45 am. We were looking at architecture, buildings, etc got excited! saw couple of ministers named Finance Minister(Chidambaram), Health Minister(Gulabnabi Azad), and minister of state for petroleum Panabaka Lakshmi), etc. Leader of opposition Lok Sabha(Sushma swaraj), L.K Advani, etc. It was a bit thrilling experience to watch them very closely.

Upon Lok Sabha speaker entering, all members stand up and greeted her as per convention of Lok Sabha. Entire question hour meant for scrutinizing government public policies, programmes and schemes, so that to make governance more transparent and strengthen the parliamentary oversight mechanism over the executive decisions.

We found that, bureaucrats were sitting one side near to ministers to help them out by sending notes, documents, hand written replies, etc. And ministers were simply reading out! Then i realized how body of laymen are functioning with brilliant backup of Institutional memory of bureaucracy. This entire parliamentary exercise was to make democracy more vibrant through debates, discussion and dialogue and it's forum to ventilate common man grievances.  Let me put few questions, which I was found interesting during the question hour:

One of BJP MP raised questions regarding the finance related matters of fraudulent schemes in the market(Ponzi schemes), how such type of schemes are affecting the common populace, and what are the measures taken by government to secure from the same? , etc. But looks like, opposition MP's were dissatisfied with the reply given by minister of state for finance.

With the next query, I was really excited because this sort of question was expecting by me! Truly experienced myself functional value of temple of Indian democracy i.e. Parliament. It is custodian of public interest, safeguards marginalized, destitute and to make governance more accountable to great-masters (people).  The question was, Government after spending 40,000/ crores on drinking water still unable to provide clean, arsenic free to the rural population? One of the reason opposition MP pointed was, lack of inter ministerial coordination(Ministry of Health, Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation) towards sanitation, clean drinking water! Hon' Minister of Health replied for the same but none of opposition MP's were satisfied.(And even myself)

At 11.55a.m, Lok Sabha  staff  was asked us to leave the hall, then we came out and waiting for few ministers from Rajya Sabha(especially for Chiranjeevi). We spoke with Jaya Bhaduri Bachchan and one of the living legend Mani shankar aiyar.

Mrs. Bachchan, while interacting with journalists and she said that - behave like a first Indian citizen then journalist, your not a entertainment channel, don't sensitize trivial issues and trivialize sensitive issues, give due respect to the nation by bringing the important issues, etc. She was informing to journalist about journalist ethics since she had completed her doctorate in journalism.

Mr. Mani shankar aiyar was speaking about India-Pak bilateral issues and how to thrive for amicable solutions towards peace, stability and tranquility in the south Asian region.

One more interesting point was that, I interacted with the Delhi School children who visited along with us and found the following: They were really excited and come across parliamentary working mechanism at the pragmatic level, which was different experience altogether from textbook teachings. Whereas we told about the same through textbook figures during our school days!
That really makes a lot difference on children and their level of real time exposure to the parliamentary working procedures!

It was really a good experience, if one gets chance i would suggest better to visit at least once.

                                                                                                Suneel Anchipaka
                                                                                                anchipaka.suneel@gmail.com