Who had stolen my idea

I had posted an idea on Learning Management System (LMS) being hosted a SaaS offering as LotusLive [http://rishibhargava.blogspot.com/2008/02/integrating-lotus-learning-management.html] - but apparently, some senior folks had other thought and they had converted this as BizTech projects and I was not even informed and again as usual, it comes to only YOU as an individual in an organization and others will just ride on you.

FixMyRoad.in - Idea of a social website for citizen's grievance about Indian Road infrastructure

Every Indian citizen knows that Indian Road Infrastructure is 15 years backwards than most of the advanced economies. Two years back, I came across a Web Site titled : FixMyStreet (Great Britain) and I liked that idea and concept. I know, many readers may feel that it is local municipality, corporation, state governments, central government, national highway authority of India's responsibility to fix the road. But imagine how much private sector and to a large extent public sector companies will benefit from the good and drivable roads:

1. Public opinion is alert to find fault but, since it finds fault with almost every-thing, public criticism fails to count as it should. A sharp, clear discussion in our schools, at least once each year, of what constitutes a good road, of what material it should be made, and what it should cost and who can build it most economically, would in a few years give us a public opinion that would do much to insure efficient road makers and efficient use of public money in building roads
2. Motor Vehicle and Life Insurance Companies will have to shell out less as claim amounts (which currently run into several crores or rupee/year (because of lesser accidents)
   
3. Lesser bio fuel consumption (hence oil marketing companies may not like it)
4. Lesser wear tear of the vehicles and that may actually bring the cost of vehicles down.
   
5. Good road will also allow lesser traffic congestion, good public health (dust free - hence lesser breathing related diseases)
   

I have even started educating my son on the importance of having good roads. Now, when my son sees a bumpy road in Bangalore - he tell me that road construction folks have taken all the money and did not fix it.

I also want to implement the similar citizen portal where people can contribute the following:

1. It should be available to all the citizens of India.
2. People can register themselves (via some verification mechanism)
3. They can upload photos of the roads in their locality along with the details like when the road originally constructed (if known), last time it was repaired, material used during road building, phone numbers of Junior Engineer (PWD), Assistant Engineer (PWD), Contractor's name, phone numbers, photo etc.
4. The locality/town/city wise reports will be sent to district magistrates for their review and copies of hte same to state PWD and central PWD, road & transport ministries.
5. Allow people to discuss the problem
6. Get the updates from respective authorities on tentative dates, cost of the road/patch work etc and post it on the site
   

Now, I have the idea and many more (which http://www.fixmystreet.com/ is not offering) - is it worth patenting :-) ). Probably not..It is a social cause. I want to make it happen, but I could not get help from my organization (as such social causes does not come under their purview). In that case, how can I go about doing it..I just don't want to start it as a blog - but want to roll out as citizen's portal, which represents Indian Public. I liked Jaago Re's campaign during 2009 assembly elections in India and I want to emulate them..but, I lack the funding, infrastructure and team to do it...Any volunteers, please contact me @ 9008176536.

Mumbai, having seen Kasab killing so many citizens, still begging for justice. Congress, like Afzal Guru, is allowing the case to be dragged till it can to win minority votes. If our dear minorities decide, the congress will come back to power and then they will hug Kasab, apologise regarding any discomfort he had in the jail, invite him to become citizen of India, offer him to run from Azamgarh on Congress ticket.
I think that will be true justice to Kasab to the service he had rendered to India. Hail Congress and hail Raul Gandhi..oops, Rahul I meant..I hope Bianca not listening..

From another blog:

"The revelation in New Indian Express, Chennai of the false claim of Mr. Rahul Gandhi made in his sworn affidavit that he holds a M Phil in Development Economics from Trinity College, Cambridge University calls from an immediate Notice for perjury to be sent to him by the Election Commission. Otherwise, I shall move the Courts for action.

The revelation confirms the disclosure I made after a visit to the Department of Development Studies, University of Cambridge in 2005. I was informed by the Department’s library and revealed in its computer, that Mr.Gandhi did not complete his M Phil degree because he had failed the National Economic Planning and Policy exam and hence could not fulfil the mandatory requirement of writing a M Phil thesis (much less defend it). Also, Trinity College does not award M Phil degrees, and Development Studies Department has nothing to do with the Economics Department.

Moreover, according to University records Mr.Gandhi as Raul Vinci had given his citizenship as ‘Italian citizen by birth since born to an Italian mother”, and holds an Italian passport in that name. He also paid his fees from a numbered account in a tax-haven bank.

Incidentally, Mr.Gandhi had failed the first year B,A in St.Stephan’s College in Delhi because, as his sister had in Jesus and Mary College, he failed the Hindi compulsory course exam."

Narendra Modi, sprit of Gujrat and great people

I had been commenting on Times Of India Online articles recently, but due to some weird reasons, none of my comments are being published..So, I have decided to provide a link of the same article appeared on TOI Online and comment via this blog.

Mr. Modi is one of the best leaders I have seen and admired personally for these reasons:
1. He has been creating job opportunities to his state people and encouraging companies to setup shops in Gujrat. He may be giving land at cheaper rates to many companies - but all this is ultimately helping the people of Gujrat only.

2. Gujrati muslims, who are against Modi on Godhara carnage, should not forget that it is because of him and his pro activeness, they are able to eat three meals a day, pray five times in a day. Not very far from Gujrat, we have Pakistan and we can compare the lives of hindus living in Pakistan and of muslims living in Gujrat and very clearly, we know who is safer where and who is able to lead better life.

3. Modi had been demolishing temples in Gujrat for road widening and other construction work for cities development work. We don't see too many Hindu organizations complaining about it or shouting/protesting loudly. There were few folks, who objected (VHP), but again Modi had his own way to deal with them. But how many muslim leaders have come forward to support in such initiatives, and we talk about one Babri Masjid.

4. Gujrat had seen so many natural and political calamities, but I am full praise for the people of Gujrat. They have never say die spirit and after every such calamity, the whole state bounces back.

I think, we need Mr. Modi in every state to clone the success story of Gujrat..Sonia Gandhi calls Modi "Merchant of Death". Such a moron she is..So many leader from Congress (Renuka Chowdhary, Rahul etc), Lalu (an other clowns) have tried to belittle Mr. Modi by saying all kind of words. But who had achieved such a success consistently. When industry leaders call him as Prime Minister material, then we should respect him for what he has delivered.

Times of India and many news channel which are pro-congress should think about it and change themseleves. Don't stick to "old lady". Hail Mr. Modi.

The menace of "Amway" social marketing in India

While returning from Mumbai around 3 months back, I happened to meet with a gentleman working with Standard Chartered Bank in Bangalore..As good passengers, we exchanged our phone numbers, interests, hobbies, work related trivial matters etc..

After reaching back to Bangalore, I got a call from him regarding an exciting business opportunity and his eagerness to meet me at my place..I readily agreed..What started since then was his four visits along with his wife during off hours and explanations regarding how one can make money by joining Amway band wagon..While, I tried to give him pointers that I was not keen in joining this network, he kept on insisting and also gave me two CDs to listen to what others are preaching about Amway..While, the products from Amway could be of superior quality, but such tactics leaves one with bad taste in mouth..

I think, I would call this tactic as social marketing and including the spouse in the whole cycle as cheap way to earn money..I am not saying that people are entitled to earn extra money in whichever way they think is right, but leave others who are not keen..

After, I had refused to entertain his further calls, I am not getting his pestering calls any more..I am not in favour of rejecting people out right. In this case, I thought, this person is educated, well mannered, but even then, such a behaviour is uncalled for..Some one should take strong actions against this type of propaganda marketing..

The mentality of India's premier space agency towards its employees

I happened to meet a senior person associated with India's leading space agency recently and it was shocking to learn thier vision towards the young generation employees - no wonder, they think their employees as mere utilities to develop some programs for them..

I was reading an article on how NASA is considering their employees as assets and how much attention they give to their employees productivity and satisfaction..While, in India, the agency think tank thinks that mere pride for working for nation will attract the talents - they may be right to some extent, but not in longer run..ultimately the apathy towards the employees in longer run is proving costlier to them..While, they may be able to launch the space missions with small budget, but the delays, lack of vision and leadership is technology is proving costlier to them..While, NASA on the other hand, spending lot of money in research and development of their employees..They spend considerable amount of money and energy enhancing productivity, ways to keep the satisfaction level high all time..

While, in India, nationalism can be used as a tool to lure the talent, but common sense prevails in longer run and that is the reason, we see brain drain..The current recession is seeing more job applications coming towards them, but in good times, this will never be the case, because of the lack of positive thinking and thinking to save money on trivial matters, while spending lavishly on road shows like statues, momentos, models...They try to put their resources on working on such things, which will demoralize their work force and no one wants to work on such trivial work, for which off the shelf products are available - this is called re-engineering by exploiting the workforce. People had joined this organization to do space research and development, not developing something which is not of their interest..

Look how NASA has allowed its workforce to collaborate on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2208274185 in keeping their interest in mind..Nothing wrong, they did not even spend any money to do this...All that was required is the thought process, which I have to accept is lacking with India's Government Organizations..

One of te worst person to have met today

I happened to meet one of the worst and arrogant person of my professional career..Unfortunately, as an IBMer I was supposed to be cordial with him and had to respect him as a client (but not done any tranactions as of now), otherwise it would have been disaster..

You can find him @ http://www.medwasteind.org/members.asp and http://mod.nic.in/samachar/aug1-03/html/ch19.htm

I am not sure how such folks become eligible to head some of the prestigious posts..I guess the tail of old british raj still wagging..Such a mindless person..Fortunately, I had to tolerate him for only 25 minutes..Only thing that restrained me was me representing IBM, otherwise he did not deserve the treatment that IBM had to give him..Probably sitting on the other side of the table had his mind upset..