Indian Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sitaraman will be presenting her maiden Union Budget on Friday. This Budget must have been prepared in the backdrop of a slowing economy, delayed monsoon, which undoubtedly reduces agricultural activities, in main Khareef season. The sluggish domestic growth is compounded by lackluster global growth, which in turn reduce the demand for our Exports.

As a retired PSU employee I'm more concerned about raising of Income-tax limit. As high inflation is continuing, it’s the right time now that the Income-tax exemption limit of Rs 2.5 Lakhs (3lakhs for senior citizens) is raised to Rs 8 lakhs to make it at par with the rule of recent reservation policy under 10% quota. This way all eligible persons under this reservation policy will automatically out of Income-tax net. Also, the ensuing budget must provide for lower rates of taxes as it results in a greater number of transactions in white, and black money is reduced, while economic activity increases and our Gross Domestic Production and revenue also increases.

In fact, I have a different approach to this matter--as the elections proved that majority have adored our PM,  for taking very bold decisions like GST, Demonetisation, So-called surgical strikes, fighting black money there are several problems like unemployment, black money stashed in foreign banks, corruption in the whole system, by just one more bold decision of abolition of Income Tax altogether. The whole black money will come out in the market. With the growth in production and consumption, the industries will employ more, so the educated youth will become busy because of employment thereby we can see a surprising decline in crime rate even.

Several countries do not impose Income Tax and this is the disease which keeps our people corrupt. Abolition of Income Tax will transform our society into a healthy nation. Problems in the nation are many and some times we the people of India feel hopeless.

Last Thursday will go down in history as one of the darkest days for our democracy. There could be nothing more shameful and deceitful than the proposal of merger of four Rajyasabha members of TDP with BJP. The question here is not switching loyalties, since “Ayaram, gayaram” concept is not new. Congress encouraged it and it appears BJP is taking it forward at a much faster pace. In what way is it a different or principled party, I don’t know. The question here is about ethics which BJP and its camaraderie boast about. This latest development of Thursday is nothing but a clear threat to democracy and its a big challenge to the Chairman, Venkaiah Naidu as well. No doubt it’s a big set back for CBN and TDP, but it’s a clear case of political opportunism for survival. Mr. Sujana Chowdhary and CM Ramesh both are facing very serious criminal cases, and it’s not that BJP is not aware of their dubious deals. But as I know this act of BJP may not be of much use as Ramesh and Chowdhury are industrialists, TG Venkatesh also is an industrialist but he must be having little political clout in his home district, while Garikapaty is a Telanganite. By admitting them they feel, they are out of being hounded by Central Agencies investigating into their deals, and the day is not far off, the agencies may come out with the plea that they don't have any evidence, and they may be freed.

The recent statements of the ruling dispensation, after assuming office, raised hopes of a refreshing new era. However, this crossover, confirms that political morality remains as low as ever. The BJPs dire need for a majority in the upper house is understandable but not at the cost of democratic principles. There is an immediate need to revisit the anti-defection law. People have very high expectations about the second innings of the present government, when there are core issues such as faltering economy, and agriculture, and I was under the impression that BJP will encourage healthy democratic practices. But I wonder what signal does the party want to give the nation by accepting highly tainted politicians. BJP has demeaned its image by itself. But as I understand, the party’s political priorities overrule, honour and decency in public life. All that matters to it, is the numbers game. And it doesn’t have it in Rajya Sabha to push its hidden agenda. And it doesn’t appear, that it is looking at “one nation one election, but it’s blatantly and outrageously pursuing “one nation and one party” theory. Earlier it used to say “congress mukth Bharat" but now it may be planning “opposition mukth BJP”

Does the world’s largest democracy really need so many elections? India consists of 29 states and 7 UTs of which 2 have assemblies. Therefore theoretically there could be 31 elections, in a span of 5 years, which essentially means the country will be doing little else except electioneering. This is what our Honourable PM and BJP say. But the political spectrum is divided over this issue.

The idea of simultaneous polls is not new. In 1951-52 the first General Election to the Lok Sabha was held simultaneously with State  Assemblies. This practice continued till the general election of 1967, after which it got disrupted due to premature dissolution of some state  Assemblies in 1968 and that of Lok Sabha in1970.

Simultaneous elections may call for prolonging or shortening the tenure of state or Centre as and when required, thus leading to a resultant turmoil which will be unimaginable with our current political system. The “one nation one election" idea may look good on paper but it’s against the federal spirit of our nation. As I said above, though concurrent elections were the norm in the past, I don’t think, there is any point in reopening it as it’s a closed chapter. Instead of this, the government should focus on many burning issues such as agrarian crisis, unemployment, water scarcity in Chennai and other places rather than pull a rabbit out of the hat. 

If it’s sincere, electoral reforms are the priority to some extent, because, the parties that are opposed to the idea feel that the saving on account of repeated polls wouldn’t be more than 5000 crores in five -year period. Again it is also felt that the present system has an advantage as they help in better decision making both at center and states. We have seen, Centre and States revised their policies midway on many occasions only because they were criticised during every election. GST is a major example, initially, it had many flaws but following repeated criticism during state elections, several corrections were made.

Another major issue that needs to be addressed is what if there is a fractured mandate in a state or at Centre? If such a government looses majority before the end of five years, will that government continue to exist without a numerical mandate for the remaining period? What if the government falls? Will there be a President’s rule for The remaining part of five years? 

When I have discussed with people who have in-depth knowledge in State Administration, they say that the purpose to prioritise such issues, is the best way to divide non-BJP parties and divert the attention of voters from real issues, as the debate for and against would continue without break until 2024, and the ruling party can use this issue with a claim that their government wanted to save not only money for the nation but wanted the voters to stand in queue only once in five years to form the government. As for as the proposal on the face of it ordinary people would say it's good one but it was because of opposition, it couldn’t be implemented.

A strong central government is welcome, but it shouldn’t have total control on finances to subdue alternate views of governance at the regional level. If the proposed idea is implemented, state issues will automatically be sidelined and it will weaken India’s federal structure. The priorities of States and Centre level governance are different and can be best addressed by the federal structure of the country and not by imposing from the “top” or the presidential form of administration.

Our community in Hyderabad is facing a severe water problem. Not only Hyderabad, but it may also be a nationwide phenomenon because of the severe drought conditions across some regions. With country staring at possibly longer heatwave spell, the situation might worsen. However today we stand at a crucial crossroads -- to survive using judiciousness or perish due to ignorance and recklessness. The current water crisis which has only been aggravated due to this unrelenting summer must have forced number of people to leave their homes, abandon their cattle and sheep since they do not have water to provide for them. My neighbour working for a software company has told me that their counterparts in Chennai, are given work from home facility because the employers do not have enough water to sustain operations. And some other firms have asked the employees to bring their own drinking water since employers cannot guarantee drinking water during the working hours. Surprisingly, when I was searching for some other details on this, I have come across some startling revelations, which might jolt one into action. It is mentioned that by the end of May, 43% of India was experiencing drought conditions. Furthermore, the country had witnessed a drought every year since 2015 (other than 2017). In terms of groundwater, the situation is even grim according to a report. The groundwater which serves 40%of India’s needs, is being depleted at a frightening unsustainable rate. The 2018 report of NITI-AYOG says that 21 Indian cities including Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad will run out of groundwater by 2020 and that 40% of India’s population will have no access to drinking water, by 2030. The year 2030 is less than 11 years away. This means that in little more than a decade, more than one in three people in the country will not have access to drinking water. To bring this point closer home, it’s likely that only two or three of us will essentially have access to drinking water by 2030. This is all due to the cumulative effect of poor water management and climate change. Meanwhile, the underground water has severely depleted in several regions creating an acute water shortage. The way forward is to introduce irrigation reforms, rejuvenation of rivers and well-planned transparency in urban water management to augment resources for sewerage and waste water treatment are essential. A comprehensive water policy that focuses on reusing waste water is the need hour. And another most important step would be increasing vegetation in urban and rural areas is a must (for better rainfall and better air quality etc).

Yesterday was back to school day for most schools. I was standing outside my community and watching the hustle and bustle of kids trying to catch their school bus. But what caught my eye was heavy bags on their tiny shoulders. Those bags weighed more than the child's weight. 

I wonder, do schools and governments even care about them? 

 According to my knowledge, the Central government has advised the states, to lessen the burden of school bags for school going children and do away completely with homework for children studying first and second classes, which if it is true, it’s praiseworthy. I really hope the state governments should heed to the sensitive and wise advice immediately. 

In fact, schools can provide book-shelves to every student, and the government can also provide financial support for this. Schools can also change their academic schedule in such a manner that they divide weekdays according to the subjects so that instead of carrying all books every day, a student can use only 3/4books on a particular day. It was even suggested that the pages of textbooks and notebooks should be reduced to half or say 50 pages. Textbooks could be published topic wise or chapter wise. Now the existing system has been stealing all the enthusiasm, creativity, and the spirits of a child in the name of modern education. The elements of morals,  ethics, arts, and creative skills that help one’s overall development are gradually missing in primary education. The reform should start from the very beginning of school life. There should be an innovative solution or we might find schools being the place of least interest for the children of the next generation.

News Papers Headings ”Phir Ek bar Modi Sarkar, Predict polls” a couple of days ago.  Exit and opinion polls at times gauge the mood of the nation very well, but most of the times they fail to predict the final result with reasonable accuracy. A small sample survey can not be considered as the pulse of the people. What better example do we need other than Australia, where the ruling Conservative coalition won surprisingly in the country’s General Election, defying all opinion and Exit polls. Now in India, all Exit polls have indicated a victory for NDA. The favourite illustration critics present for condemnation is the projections of 2004 General Election -Indeed both opinion polls and Exit polls blundered perhaps blinded by the rhetoric of “India shining.”

In 2004 NDA was projected to win between 230 & 275 seats, and UPA in the range of 176-190 seats. Actual results found the pollsters on the wrong side of both trajectory and tally -the NDA won 187and UPA 219seats. The BJP won 138 and Congress 145 seats. Five years later 2009 the Exit polls got the trajectory right but missed the tally --the trajectory for UPA was a low 185 and high 205. And for NDA it was 165 and 195. On the results, day UPA won 262 and NDA got 159. The performance of the pollsters in 2014 was similar -- they got the mood of the voters but missed the tally by a wide margin.

The concept of Exit polls used across the world is an innovation of Warren J Mitofsky. While at Census Bureau Mitofsky designed a number of surveys. He also devised a random digit dial long system for phone polling voters and went on to create the CBS News/New York Times poll. Success Mitofsky underlined, required trained interviewers, an established pattern, and preciseness in calculations.

In India, it’s a different story altogether. Are the psephological surveys such as Exit polls scientifically and logically conducted without partisan biases and prejudices? Do they conduct sample surveys of political preferences of illiterate masses, living in the remote rural areas, hilly terrains, and ghettos? Is it not a fact that psephologists simply conduct interviews and elicit views with the urban voters who are found to be indecisive and apathetic and take the entire process as a joke cracked by vested interests? The truth is the electoral results are decided by mute but mighty masses who despite their vast illiteracy keep their ear to the ground and assess correctly the contesting candidate’s credentials and pass judgment on his performance and promise.

Here the polling is over and results are preserved in EVMs. When people have been patiently waiting for months for results this time, and results will now be out in a day or two, I fail to understand what purpose does it serve to announce Exit poll results now? At most the TRP ratings could be increased for the news channels which in turn promotes immoral betting activities, in the society. Is it fair to encourage public towards speculative activities, instead of educating them in superstitions and other false beliefs?

Predicting an election in the world’s largest democracy has to take into account several factors ranging from caste religion, region, money power to voting percentages. We need fresh methodology and techniques as the results of every election redefine the rules of psephological surveys.
This election what was astonishing to me was, scant concern for corruption issues, was surprising as it was the focal point in 2014 election, and what was equally disturbing is the lack of interest in addressing the most dreadful problem farmer death and peripheral issues related it. All this the ruling dispensation had conveniently side-tracked and the opposition has fallen in the trap. In 2014 it was Modi wave, this time around there is no ”wave” or “under current” being felt by man or woman on the street. So just let us wait for the real verdict on 23rd of this month.

BJP supporters and BJP leaders have taken this notion that Congress has not done anything for the development of the nation in the last 67 years, has taken a propgandic proportions after Modi took over as PM.  So today I would like to jog the memories of BJP leaders and supporters. They try to create an impression that in the last seven decades Congress did nothing, and in their speeches, they give an impression as if India has evolved as leading democratic power only in these last 4 years. And as if only Modi has to be credited for India's economic, financial and infrastructural development.
India got its freedom 3 years before Modiji was born. In 1948 immediately after partition, a war took place between Pakistan and India, and we won.  About 500 princely states, including Hyderabad, got merged in the Indian Union, due to untiring efforts by Patel, Dy PM. Indian Constitution, one of the best in the world was prepared and executed W.E.F 26th Jan 1950.   Indian Govt under Panditji had hosted Asian games in New Delhi in1951 (4th to11th March). Govt under Nehru introduced India’s first five-year plan which defined the model of centralised economic planning and Development. By the time Modiji was 2years Old, First general elections were held in1952. PM Nehru being a great visionary, he could establish Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay on 3rd Jan1954, which was later renamed as Bhabha Atomic  Research  Centre. Several very important Public sector undertakings like Bharat petroleum, BEL, Hindustan Antibiotics, Hindustan shipyard were made operational, but unfortunately, now if you see many of the PSUs Navarathna companies are ready for privatisation and reasons for it, I want you to comprehend.

Indian Army once again moved into action to liberate Goa, from Portuguese, which was made a Union Territory in Indian Union. This was all done by the Congress government when Modi was not even 11 years old and a year later Pondicherry ruled by French, got merged in Indian Union. In1961 Govt Established, IIMs, in Calcutta, and Ahmedabad and Later IITs at Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and Delhi were established and they are all one of the world’s best Institutes, and you know these institutions and Dozens of Indian Universities, have produced top-notch professionals in few thousands since then. We have built BhakraDam on Sutlej, which was the third largest reservoir, and it was described as "New Temple Of Resurgent India” Rihand Dam In UP was also constructed which is India’s largest artificial lake.

When Modi was just 14, HAL was formed in 1964, which was a consortium of Hindustan Aircraft Ltd, and IAF Aircraft Manufacturing Depot, Kanpur, which has already started manufacturing Aircraft’s and Helicopters and if you remember, the same HAL was to be given the Rafale, but who snatched away, and how it happened, is anybody’s guess. Remember, when Modi was 15 years Old, India fought another war with Pakistan 1965, and Indian Army reached Lahore outskirts. Just for crossing the border we are doing a lot of chest thumping in the name of so-called surgical strikes now, and it was 65, our army reached Lahore. In1967, by the time Modiji was 17, the foundation for the Green Revolution was laid,  farmers harvested the first crop of high-yielding wheat. From the era of hand to mouth we became self-sufficient, in production of wheat. If you remember it was Indira who released a special stamp in 1968. The Govt of India created ISRO in 1969 and in the same year, Indira nationalised 14 major scheduled commercial banks for the nation’s development, the same year Tarapur Atomic power station was made operational, which produced 210MW of power.

In 1971 we fought a 3rd war with  Pakistan(Our Modiji must have been 21 years old), and Bangladesh was created as an Independent Nation.1974 Pokhran Nuclear tests were conducted much before our Modiji entered politics. We got our super computer and Application of Information Technology was completed, and when he became 41years, Narasimha Raoji As PM liberated the economy while Manmohansingh was FM then, who was made PM subsequently, in 2004-2014.

Much before Modi became PM Indian government took initiatives for “Chandrayan, Mangalyaan, GSLV, Mono-rail, Nuclear sub-marine, Agni missile, Chetak, Arjun tank, Sukhoi, Dhanesh, etc. Therefore, what I want to reiterate here is, that India as such a very powerful nation with a robust economy and with all this, it is proved beyond doubt, that lot of efforts have gone  into building this great nation, now our great people will blame Nehru for anything and everything very unfairly, which really pains. I had to collect a lot of information, to answer those who say “kuch bhi nahi hua sattar  sal me.” Even after all this history, which they  may hesitate to read, as they think, it’s only surgical strikes that are great, they forget that our forces, are capable of attacking enemy at any point in time, because they do their job, but taking credit by ruling dispensation, was never done by either Nehru or Mrs. Gandhi. And infact credit was given to the forces only.