tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post6445242444421123751..comments2024-02-21T14:35:34.003+05:30Comments on randomthoughts: VILLAGES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENTJ P Joshihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08806649492059145583noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post-79795660302507410962009-03-18T22:39:00.000+05:302009-03-18T22:39:00.000+05:30Piper: I see positive signs of it already happenin...Piper: I see positive signs of it already happening for this general election. The younger generation is taking a stand on issues and there are media organisations taking up people's issues and giving a lowdown on the candidates. Our diversity is our biggest strength in the long term but sometimes in the short term it becomes a weakness, as our politicians exploit it for personal gains. It is going to happen in this election too. This election is going to throw up a very fractured mandate, I believe, with regional parties dictating terms and issues. Depending on which way the electorate votes it could be good or bad... we will have to wait and watch. I am only hoping that developmental issues stay on the forefront with any government that forms after this election. Hoping for the best.J P Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08806649492059145583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post-54305520034394180682009-03-17T22:38:00.000+05:302009-03-17T22:38:00.000+05:30Its too herculean to change the way the government...Its too herculean to change the way the government functions. What we pbly need is an extensive 'people`s movement' - involvement of the common man to bring out a gradual change. Grass root level change. Involvement of students in spreading awareness amongst people. An active movement to counter the corruption and coerce the government into doing some good.Piper ..https://www.blogger.com/profile/02315500028808314079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post-44179749451914706112009-03-16T22:13:00.000+05:302009-03-16T22:13:00.000+05:30LVS: I have been to Kerala only once in 1995 in a ...LVS: I have been to Kerala only once in 1995 in a bus from Coimbatore to Guruvayoor and back. I did find the state very horizontal like you say - village and cities merged with hardly any vertical structures. I donot have any first hand knowledge of the present state in Kerala, but if like you say there is hardly any difference in the infrastructure as compared to Tattenhall, then it is very good indeed - has the heavy influx of Gulf money anything to do with it, or do we underestimate the good that the Communist government has done for Kerala. I am not too sure how this has come about. I would love to have your take on this - you always have some amazing facts - I am always fascinated with your research.<BR/><BR/>What you are saying about world bank is true, but wouldn't it be better if we got newer townships built around groupings of rural dwellings than have all these people moving into existing towns/ cities that cannot cope with the influx - leading to regional politicians like Raj Thackerey to incite violence, against the spirit of the constitution of India???J P Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08806649492059145583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post-51010167212616987722009-03-16T21:44:00.000+05:302009-03-16T21:44:00.000+05:30Indyeah: I agree, our infrastructure is woefully i...Indyeah: I agree, our infrastructure is woefully inadequate to support our growth, even in the cities. In Yelahanka, Bangalore, we have power cuts for about 3-6 hours every day. Our office comes to a standstill, home is another issue altogether - we are planning to invest in an inverter - Chennai has been the only city where we had 24 hours electric supply during the three years that we lived there.<BR/><BR/>Yes, dedicated NGOs and RTI can help in many ways and are already doing so, but like you say numbers are small. Large SEZs would help open new towns and also help in providing employment to the local rural population, besides other professionals.J P Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08806649492059145583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post-84881340712231534922009-03-16T21:35:00.000+05:302009-03-16T21:35:00.000+05:30Usha: Yes, the need of the hour in India is better...Usha: Yes, the need of the hour in India is better infrastructure - both in the cities, and villages too. Villages are lagging way behind, as per my understanding - otherwise why would the businesses not move there. Corruption is really a problem with most government agencies involved in any kind of development work - hopefully with RTI and the help of some dedicated NGOs we would see some improvement in this biggest bane of our society. <BR/><BR/>My last friday evening at that place was dedicated to daffodils - the really beautiful flowers heralding the onset of spring in that place - I have brought some photographs - am planning to post them on my blog for people like you who appreciate the work of William Wordsworth, and for those who really admire the Daffodils - as soon as I can upload it from my camera.J P Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08806649492059145583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post-84309991915271825532009-03-16T11:27:00.000+05:302009-03-16T11:27:00.000+05:30Last week I was in Kerala and there the villages a...Last week I was in Kerala and there the villages are exactly like the one you have described here. In terms of infrasctructure, it is hard to mark a line and say this is where the urban areas end and rural areas begin. <BR/><BR/>Recently a world bank report "advised" India not to be alarmed by the fact that some areas are getting more developed than others. In fact they said migration to such areas should be encouraged. They quoted examples of developed countries to say that this was natural. <BR/><BR/>While there is some merit in that thought, I totally agree that we must provide basic infrastructure in all places.L. Venkata Subramaniamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08013877791567403788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post-75103133423189979422009-03-14T10:11:00.000+05:302009-03-14T10:11:00.000+05:30A very thought provoking post sir!I started readin...A very thought provoking post sir!<BR/>I started reading about Tattenhall and smiled thinking as to how this is such a far cry from the image of village I have in my mind..that is the villages in india..<BR/><BR/><BR/>and then I reached this part,''With rapid development taking place in India, the migration to the cities is accelerating as there is no infrastructure to support businesses in the rural areas, which still house over 70% of our population''<BR/>so true..We are unable to provide any basic facilities properly to our villages(or the cities for that matter)<BR/>and when we cannot provide the most basic facilities poperly then Tattenhall looks like afr fetched dream..:(<BR/><BR/>infact even our cities lack a good stable infrastructure and good airports...<BR/><BR/><BR/>and yes as you rightly say, slums keep increasing in the meantime ...<BR/><BR/><BR/>yes our politicians have their own agendas..Mamata Banerjee is just plain irritating and someone ..the govt needs to deal seriously with these kind of characters..<BR/><BR/>the ideas are few and far in between..<BR/><BR/>I am hoping that armed with RTI files will move more quickly and loans will get passed sooner without the need to grease palms...that farmers can have adequate transport and storage facilities...<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>these and a lot of other things..<BR/>but I really dont think the govt will be able to (or wants to or i8s motivated to)do all of this..so the only way is NGO's and self help schemes..and co-operatives like The mahila Griha Udyog or Amul or SEWA...and setting up of more cottage industries...<BR/><BR/><BR/>these ideas are being practised but in very low numbers..Indyeahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05915739361027887530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276301849041707629.post-64556675867436318182009-03-14T08:34:00.000+05:302009-03-14T08:34:00.000+05:30The only way forward for us in India is to provide...The only way forward for us in India is to provide basic infrastructure to our villages so as to help provide better opportunities to the 70% of our rural population. This will also stem the migration from rural to urban areas and also help in slowing the buildup of slums in our cities.<BR/><BR/>This is an observation that certainly is keen and thought provoking. The heart of India lies in its villages, and yet, not much has been done to assuage the heartburn of the villages, right?<BR/><BR/>If only one were able to ensure that the progress in infrastructure we grant the cities, were also given to the villages, and surely the Government Agencies have been allotted and earmarked certain amounts for deployment in the said areas, we would be able to paint a prettier picture, both in villages and cities. <BR/><BR/>You do say it true, when you say that with development in villages one can reduce the overcrowding and slum settlements in cities. <BR/><BR/>But the keystone to existence in our nation is corruption, which has been the major obstacle to development! In the absence of a mechanism to check that, it can only be the involvement of Corporates, of like minded individuals, SEZs as you say, that could carry forth some hope!<BR/><BR/>By the way, that was a lovely picture, of Golden Daffodils? Seemed to be so :)Usha Pisharodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569968324374522544noreply@blogger.com