Hectic way of ending 2012

Calendar year 2012 is ending on a hectic note for me: Today going to a village near Bibinagar, Nalgonda district for a day for the National Dairy Plan 1 - Baseline Survey Project. Tomorrow night leaving for Puttaparti, to stay there for 3 days- again for NDP I project- Meeting old friends Narayna Reddy and Prabhakar Babu Bisana who will be leading the study in Anantapur and Chittoor District! During the last week,I was extensively involved in the meetings with SERP-WB for their baseline study apart from two days field visit to Ranga Reddy district for pre-testing the questionnaires. Great way to end the year 2012, as I think so!

My views on Midhunam- Telugu movie

>Midhunam- A breeze of fresh air among Telugu movies! Just returned after watching Midhunam (Telugu) along with Samatha, her mother and brother! This after seeing a series of national, global and local movies such as English Winglish (with Samatha and Bhuvan), Cameraman Ganagatho Rambabu (with Bhuvan), Talaash (with Sankalp- when he was here)and Life of Pi (with Bhuvan)! Midhunam is definitely one of the good movies, if not the best movies. The theme is so special. There are only two elderly people (wife and husband) in the entire movie. It is about the life after retirement. In a house located in a rural setting- doing the prosumption work themselves – growing vegetables, making cotton, preparing chappals themselves. The dialogues are too good and sometimes eccentrically written as they are Brahmin couple. Since the husband is a connoisseur of coastal Andhra vegetarian food, all the varieties of food are discussed. As the children are in foreign soil, the parents feelings are well captured. The movie is not a serious one but quite the contrary- full of witty dialogues and lot of pun with Telugu nativity! The title song by Yesudas is one of the best among the recent songs. Director Bharani has done wonderful job! There may be some simple errors which can be easily ignored! I liked it – may be because-I am getting old and appearing old!

Larger role for state?

I dont claim to have read George Orwell's works such as “1984” and “Animal Farm” in their entirety! But from the events and movements of now- in India as well as abroad( school killings in America)- We appear to be pressing the present day governments to stretch as well as stiffen the legal environment and legal code to punish the culprits who have perpetrated heinous crimes. In the process we are asking for a larger role for the State to control our day to day movements. George Orwell in his imagination wrote at length about the increasing role of State and its various manifestations in 1984 and Animal Farm. “Big brother is watching you” is the famous quotation that we all come across- is from “1984”. Later there were many books/novels and movies, which are based on similar subject(s). So the writing on the wall is very clear- We want a larger role for the state! This is at a time when the UK government sold of its Scotland Yard building, one of the London’s famous landmarks! Hope larger role for the State leads to longer peace in the world!

Social Fabric- Urban and Rural

Is social fabric in urban areas on a stronger footing? From the strong and vehement protests in the case of Anti- corruption movements of India Against Corruption and now the Delhi medical student’s rape case, it is now quite apparent that the social fabric of the Urban India is on quite a strong footing when compared to the same in rural India. I am aware that the difference between urban and rural India is quite thin and really abstract! Having said that the differences are quite strong also- based on a no of factors including digital divide, infrastructure, education standards, occupational variations etc. From what I have seen from in the electronic media, print media and social networks, the reactions from the urbane community on issues such as corruption as well as atrocities on women in urban areas are quite strong, forceful, tough postures combined with vehement uproar! The government seems to be not sympathetic towards these protests! It is easy for me to criticize the government! When I heard the news of the incident Delhi, I thought it was a ghastly incident. But I did nothing after that, except this write-up! This may be because I have become insensitive to these things. There may be reason for that also. During my college days, in my native place, when I used to meet some of my friends at the crossroads, on the main road, a woman in literally torn cloths with uncombed hair used to approach us, say hello and ask for money. We used to avoid her. Some of my friends told me that she is a loose women, used by somebody in the village and thereafter left her on own . I noticed such women even in other villages during my travels to villages. Having worked in prevention of HIV/AIDS project for some time, travelled to important cities/ semi-urban areas in India, such no of women are beyond normal understanding. The social fabrics in cities in rural and urban areas for such women more or less was definitely mute or at best isolated and unnoticed. One stark difference and differentiating factor could be the presence of strong student unions in cities like Delhi. The same is absent in many states because the elections students are banned for various reasons. I am not advocating to bring back elections to the student unions. Hoping that the rural social fabric in rural areas rises above for situations beyond mundane price rise, politically motivated campaigns, “Padyathras” etc. May be with the presence of more mobiles, internet, electronic social networks it will happen! May be it is another utopian concept!

Field Fact: Some villages are more equal!

Field Fact: Some villages are more equal! As there is saying - All are equal but some are more equal! Normally, in AP, during winter and rainy seasons villages get 10 to 12 hours of power. In summer they get around 8 to 10 hours of power, if they are lucky. Understand that the scenario is similar in Tamilnadu too. During the field visits in AP, I observed that some villages have almost uninterrupted power supply on long periods- even during the power-scarce period of summer! The reason for this is a lesser known fact! When the electricity board (in this case APSEB) installs the transformer and small grid, whichever village gives them free land, space and related facilities, that village gets uninterrupted power as part of tacit understanding! While many villages may not have electricity, some get continuous supply leading to better drinking water and better irrigation etc. Only privileged officials, parliamentarians and legislators in the urban areas get that kind of supply! Yes- All villages are equal and some villages are more equal!

Mission Impossible!

It is quite an irony as well as coincidence anyway! The name of one of the team members of a 10 month project/mission, that I am part of, starts with Ethan! As the discussions started and we went on discussing the modalities, dos and donts, listing, sampling, protocol, expectations, documentation, mapping, observations and methodology prescribed and proscribed by him, some of our team members including me realised that we are on a Mission Impossible! What a coincidence!

Farmers, walmart and ourselves

Interesting and disturbing perspectives about farming in USA when compared to India- The scene about labour, fertilisers (input costs), grading and quality is the same there! It becomes difficult to position ourselves as mere consumers when the example of size of the onion is mentioned. After understanding the concepts of marketing, positioning, brand building, it appears that farmers dont see the way that the professionals do. This may apply to coops, producers companies as well as corporations! Knowing your onions in New York www.thehindu.com The entire U.S. agrarian structure and policy is geared towards serving the corporate sector and against small family farms

White and white?

We all are aware of black and white! Some of us have seen such movies, photos and videos/clips. It is also attributed to our nature of judgement. So on and so forth! But nowadays people have invented a new phrase, which is a slight variation from black and white- which is "white and white" If a person is described or depicted or positioned as white and white- he could be a politician- after all! May be this is drawn from the general attire they wear in public meetings/ occasions/ national festivals etc If you are already aware of this, then you are in tune with the latest trends of lingo! Otherwise- you are like me- fish out of water!

confessions of unknown IRMAN- 2008 reflections

Confessions of mostly unknown IRMAn! Where shall I start? I think it is better to start from my brief background and initial student days! I am the eldest of my family led by my father who was a school teacher, and later retired as headmaster of Zilla Parishad school. My mother is a house wife. Throughout my schooling days, I was a topper. After Intermediate I was not much attracted to Engineering. Based on my 10th class marks I got national merit scholarship during my Intermediate days. After Intermediate I joined a State government Degree college ( called Silver Jubilee College, as it was formed in the Silver Jubilee year of Indian Independenc) at Kurnool (AP) which offers scholarship that includes food and boarding to its students selected based on a state-wide entrance test. The decision to join this college was taken purely based on the scholarship as I did not want to trouble my parents who have been already burdened with 4 more children to take care of! I did not do too well nor too bad in the academics during my graduation days. During these I heard of Mr Sivakumar who joined IRMA from our college and the concept of Educational loan-cum-scholarship attracted me sufficiently. I wanted to write IRMA entrance immediately after Degree but the idea of travel to Hyderabad to write entrance deterred me. During my Degree days itself I wrote bank clerical exams in the name of another person and that person was called for interview. After completion of Degree (1984) I got admission into University of Hyderabad through a common entrance for MCA and DCA into the first batch of PG Dip in Computer Application. My academic record was not too brilliant there. By the time I completed DCA, I got jobs in SBI and Indian Bank as clerk and admission into IRMA. My father sincerely suggested me to join the jobs. But as a rebellious son who did not want to join government jobs I refused the offers and plunged into IRMA with a view to learn more and do well in life. After joining IRMA (6th batch 1985-87) I realized that most of the subjects required prior experience in the real working experience. I have passed through first two terms with modest marks. During the next two terms I have got less than 2 CGPA. But the academic council decided to continue me based on overall average for the overall four terms. During the course, as an adamant person, I took tough courses such as Management Science Applications etc and avoided being branded as Marketing/Finance person and I wanted to be generalist. During the fifth term the exams were liberal and I scraped through the entire course. I was in the last 3 ranks. After completion of the course I wanted to join big organizations such as NDDB. I also wanted to do computer related jobs as I had the qualification of DCA. I did not get any of them. On the final day of the campus recruitment, I have got job in Amul, where I did my second MTS. During the course days some of my batchmates started a parallel recruitment process with corporate organizations and I played the menial role of preparing the covering letter, photocopying of the same and dispatching the brochures to the Corporate entities. We did not get much encouragement though some got good offers. Anyway I had to join Amul, as I could not show my empty face to my parents. After a few months in production department I was dispatched to Kanjari cattle feed factory of Amul. As a person determined to do computer related jobs, I tried for some jobs in Ahmedabad, Baroda without much success. One of my classmates started a NIIT franchise in Vijayawada offering computer education to students where my next brother joined as a student. When I came on a vacation to my native place which is closer to Vijayawada, I discussed with that friend about setting up a software development unit at Vijayawada. I sent my resignation to Amul through a telegram after completing two years! I dabbled with software development without much success. I had severe depression and did some mad things during that time. I took some treatment from a psychiatrist. Then I realized that I need a job!. I wrote some government competitive exams and was selected for SSC and AIR. Meanwhile I got a job in Tata Consultancy Services in Management Consultancy Division at Chennai (Aug 90). I was overjoyed by the offer and soon joined. After working for projects on Cooperative supermarkets and Industrial Growth Centres, I requested for a transfer to Hyderabad and I got it. I have done some projects for Girijan Cooperative Corporation, Tribal welfare board etc and meanwhile got married. After five years of working with TCS, I was confused and at the same time was asked by the management to look for alternatives. I got an offer from Cooperative Development Foundation (Dec 95) to promote APMACS Act in the state for a lesser salary than TCS. After two years of intensive work for the propagation of APMACS Act, I had got into problems with the management and was asked to leave. I tried teaching at an MBA college, which was a disaster for me. Again I joined CDF back and worked for two more years with some more good work of continuing the propagation of APMACS Act. I visited Germany during these days. My aggressiveness at Germany made me loose my job again. As I did not get any offers from good development organizations, I had to join a grassroot level NGO for a very small position and for a very small salary at a very remote place. I had to live separately from my family for about an year. Later I moved to Warangal for the same organization started coordinating a regional network of NGOs working on NRM and my family joined me. I learnt a lot about NRM and I hade decided to quit as I was not getting well with the donor representative. Again I was jobless for some time. Through a friend I joined MARI, another grassroot organization, for a project on education for remote tribal children. I did some work with Community forestry management, drinking water, child labor and HIV/AIDS. While working with MARI, I got an offer from India HIV/AIDS Alliance as a Programme Officer for a reasonably good salary to run a family at Hyderabad (Apr 2005). I worked with Alliance for about three and half years and was denied promotion more than twice. While at Alliance, I have attended a training programme on harm reduction at Bangkok. Later my efforts on harm reduction resulted in good recognition for Allaince. On 1st of October 2008 I joined as Regional Coordinator for Freshwater Action Network South Asia (FANSA) as its first employee and even now I am the only employee. Before joining itself I was invited for a Governing Council meeting at Amsterdam and I have attended the same. After joining the organization, my first mandate was to make an impact on South Asian Conference on Sanitation. As the only employee all the responsibility of the coordinating the events fell on me. I played a key role in coordinating the CSO meet in terms of planning, mobilizing resources, coordinating with support organizations. I also played a key role in pushing the agenda of Right toWater and Sanitation into the Delhi Declaration. Now we are planning to follow-up on SACOSAN in terms of monitoring the commitments made, mobilizing the civil society and enabling the civil society to play a key role. We also started a global project supported by DFID through its Governance and Transparency Fund. We are likely to get commitments from several international organizations in the near future.

My childhood association with Vuyyuru

ఉయ్యూరు మిత్రులకు అభినందనలు. వుయ్యూరు టైమ్స్ మాధ్యమము లభించినందుకు ఆనందముగా ఉంది. నా ప్రస్తుత పరిస్థితి గురించి నేను ఏమి చెప్పదలచుకోలేదు. ఉయ్యురుతో పెనవేసుకున్న నా గత స్మృతులను నెమరేసుకునే ప్రయత్నము మాత్రమే ఇది. నా బాల్యమంతా ఉయ్యురులోనే గడచింది. నేను పుట్టింది ఏలూరులోని ఒక హాస్పిటల్ అయిన ఎక్కువ కాలం పెరిగింది ఉయ్యురులోనే. ఇంటర్మీడియట్ దాక నా చదువు ఉయ్యూరు లోని పలు చోట్ల జరిగింది. మొట్టమొదట ప్రభుత్వ ఎలెమెంటరీ స్చూల్లో జరిగింది. అది కాలేజీ దగ్గర ఉండేది. అప్పుడు కాలేజీ నడిచేది కాదు. చింత చెట్లు చేమలు మాత్రమే ఉండేవి. మా అమ్మ ఎప్పుడు అంటూ ఉండేది నేను ఎలెమెంటరీ స్కూల్ లో చదివేటప్పుడు పెన్సిల్స్ బాగా పారేసుకునేవాదినని. రోజుకో కొత్త పెన్సిల్ పారవేసుకునే వాడినట. ఆ తర్వాత కటకటాల మాస్టారు దగ్గర చదువుకున్నట్టు గుర్తు. ఆ తర్వాత సుబ్బారావు మాస్టారు దగ్గర 5th క్లాసు దాక చదువుకున్నాననుకుంట. తదుపరి ప్రభుత్వ జిల్లా పరిషత్ స్చూల్లో 10th వరకు చదివాను. నా చదువులు ఫరవాలేదు. మార్కులు బాగానే వచ్చేవి. పెద్దగ ఇబ్బంది పడలేదు. దుర్గాప్రసాదు మాస్టారి గారి అబ్బాయిగా స్కూల్ ఫస్ట్ రావాలనే ఒతిడి ఉండేది. దానిని చాల వరకు సాధించే వాడిని. చాల మంది మిత్రులు ఉండే వారు. పసుమర్తి శ్రీనివాస్, ఫణి, అజయ్, ప్రతాప్, రాజేంద్రప్రసాద్, నరసింహారావు, బ్రహ్మం, దుర్గారావు ఇంకా ఎంతో మంది. ఎవరితో పెద్దగా గొడవ పడిన సందర్భాలు ఏమి లేవు. స్కౌట్ గా ఉండేవాడిని. క్యాంపు లో భాగముగా బందరు, చెన్నై వెళ్ళాను. అప్పుడు అది పెద్ద విజయము. చెన్నై వెళ్ళినప్పుడు మొరార్జీ దేశాయి గారిని చూసాను. ఆయన అప్పుడు ప్రధాన మంత్రి. చెన్నై వెళ్ళినందుకు ప్రెసిడెంట్ స్కౌట్ పత్రము లభించింది. నీలం సంజీవరెడ్డి గారి సంతకముతో వచ్చింది. మార్కులు అయితే బాగా వచేవి కానీ నాయకత్వ లక్షణాలు పెద్దగ ఉండేవి కావు. క్లాసు లీడర్ గ నియమించినప్పటికీ నేను క్లాసు ను నిర్వహించాలేకపోఎవాడిని. ఎవ్వరు నా మాట వినేవారు కాదు. ఒక సందర్భములో ఏడ్చినట్టు గుర్తు. ఈ విషయములో ఇప్పటికి ఇంతే. హై స్కూల్ తర్వాత కాలేజీ లో ఇంటర్మీడియట్ చేరాను. ఇంగ్లిష్ మీడియం. బాగానే కొనసాగింది. రాజేంద్రప్రసాద్, నేను మరి కొంతమంది కలిసి యువభవ అనే చేతి వ్రాత పత్రిక తాయారు చేసే వాళ్ళము. రాజేంద్ర ప్రసాద్ చొరవ, కృషి ఎక్కువ. తనకు ఒక ఆర్టిస్ట్ మిత్రుడు ఎక్కువ సహాయము చేసేవాడు. కాలేజీ అయిపోయిన సాయంత్రాలలో ఎక్కువ రాజేంద్రప్రసాద్ ఇంట్లోనే ఎక్కువ గడిపేవాడిని. అలాగే అజయ్ తో కంబినేడ్ స్టడీస్ చేసేవాడిని. చదువుకు వాళ్ళ ఇంటికి వెళ్ళే వాడిని. కాలేజీ లో క్రికెట్ ఆడేవాళ్ళము. బాట్ తో కొడుతుంటే కాలు ముందరికి వచెది. మంచి స్కోరు చేసిన గుర్తు లేదు. quiz పోటీలలో పాల్గొనే వాడిని. కాలేజీ కి ప్రాతినిధ్యము కుడా వహించాను. గుంటూరులో జరిగిన ఒక పోటీలో పాల్గొన్నాను కూడా. ఒక quiz పోటికి మాస్టర్ గ వ్యవహరించాను రాజేంద్రప్రసాద్ కోరిక మీద. ఒకసారి మాదాల కాసీ విశ్వేశ్వర రావు గారు నన్ను అకస్మాత్ గ తరగతి నుండి బయటకు పిలిచి చెంప చెల్లుమనిపించాడు. తరువాత మళ్ళీ పిలిచి క్షమాపణ చెప్పారు. నా మొదటి రంగస్థల ప్రవేశము వుయ్యూరు కాలేజీ లోనే జరిగింది. ప్రస్తుత ప్రముఖ సిని రచయితా పరుచూరి గోపాలకృష్ణ గారి సూచన మేరకు ఆడ పిల్ల వేషము వేసాను. బస్సు మిస్సు అనే ఆదివిష్ణు గారి నాటకంలో ఆడపిల్ల వేషం వేసాను. మంచి ప్రసంసలె వచాయి. ఆ తర్వాత మిత్రులందరం కలిసి డాక్టర్ ABCD అనే నాటకంలో కమెడియన్ గ వేషం వేసాను. బాగానే మెచుకున్నరు. నియాజ్ లెక్చరర్ గారు మాతో బాగా సన్నిహితముగా ఉండేవారు. దాసరి వెంకటేశ్వర రావు అనే సీనియర్ తోకూడ పరిచయం అయ్యింది. ఆయన రూం లో కూడా ఎక్కువ గడిపే వాళ్ళము. బాలతో కూడా అల పరిచయమయ్యింది. సిల్వర్ జూబిలీ కాలేజీ గురించి దాసరి నుండే తెలిసింది. డిగ్రీ పై చదువుల కోసము వుయ్యూరు వదిలి వెళ్ళినప్పటికి సెలవల్లో పాత మిత్రులు కొంత మంది ( బుర్ర వేణుగోపాల్, పిల్లి శ్రీనివాస్, వెంకటేశ్వర్లు, శివ, కే వెంకట రమణ, సంపత్ మో ) కాటూర్ వీధిలో సాయంత్రం సమయాలలో కలిసి రాజకీయాల గురించి, సినిమా ల గురించి పిచ్చ పాటీ కబుర్లు చెప్పుకునే వాళ్ళము. అప్పుడప్పుడు తమ్ముడు శర్మ కూడా మాతో కలిసే వాడు. అలాగే రాజేంద్ర ప్రసాద్ వాళ్ళ సీతారామ స్టోర్స్ వెనక భాగంలో కుడా అనేక చర్చలు జరిగేవి. కొన్ని ఫ్రెండ్స్ సర్కిల్ కార్యక్రమాలలో పాల్గొన్నట్లు గుర్తు. హేతువాద సమావేశాలకు హాజరయ్యే వాళ్ళం. ప్రభుత్వ గ్రంధాలయం లోకి క్రమం తప్పకుండ వెళ్ళేవాడిని. పుస్తాకాలు చదవటం అప్పుడే అలవాటయ్యింది. లైబ్రరీ అలవాటు చాల కాలం కొనసాగింది. ఇలా వుయ్యురుతో నాకున్న అనుబంధం చిరస్మరణీయం.

Social innovation for the aged

Ancient vs Modern When I visited Katuru (very near to my native place Vuyyuru, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India) on 4 Nov 2012 for the water quality testing project, I could notice two totally contrast and opposite things- exactly situated opposited to each other. One is old and ancient abandoned and dilapidated house.(an image is shown) Just opposite to the above building, a modern technological phenomenon aiding the welfare schemes of the government aimed at senior citizens and other welfare beneficiaries was happening every month. It took me literally by surprise when I saw what was happening. Opposite to the old abandoned house is the Grampanchayt office/Secretariat of Katuru. On that day (4 Nov), the Gramsevika entered the premises of GP secretariat and several senior citizens, widows, were waiting along with some specially abled/challenged. From her handbag, she took out a small machine and placed it on the old table in the GP office. On the side of the machine, she placed her mobile.(please see the image-sorry for the images not being clear enough) One by one the senior citizens started showing their id cards. She fed the id no into the mobile and immediately the senor citizen’s details are retrieved by the mobile including his/her photo and other details. She pushed some other buttons on the mobile for further verification. Then she asked the beneficiary to put his/her fingers on the small machine for scanning. It took less than a minute to scan the fingerprint and then match with bio-metric database. Once it was approved by the system, the small machine printed out the receipt in duplicate. One copy was handed over to the person along with Rs 200 from the handbag of the Gramsevika. All this happened in less than may be 4 to 5 minutes. There was a good crowd before the gramsevika. Normally it happens in the frist week of a month for about 4 days. For those persons, who are identified for the pension scheme and can not come to the GP secretariat/common place, the Gramsevika goes to their house, completes the formalities and distributes the cash! Modern technology aiding the welfare schemes aimed at old/senior people! I am not opening up a debate whether welfare pension is good or not or the amount of Rs 200 is sufficient or not. Simply amazed by the usage of the technology. Ofcourse the next step would be cash transfers to the pensioners bank accounts if the propsed financial inclusion in rural areas is not a mirage! Technology can be effectively used by harnessing its true potential and thus to reduce the side effects of able workers’ migration to urban areas on their dependant senior family members, who are not productive by modern understanding! May be this is called social innovation!

Slice of Life

"Slice of life" The above titled column in the Sunday Hindu was my staple diet on Sundays and/or whenever I get hold of that edition on any day. Really used to like Sri V Gangadharan' style of writing in that column. All the simple and trivial things in life used to get prominent attention in his writings. The people we see in daily life, their words were tremendously reflected in the column and therefore his writing. The idyllic Sundays were spent on this idyllic and ideal writings. If I tend to write on trivial things in life and its several manifestation, I sincerely take inspiration from Sri V Gangadharan's writings! Any mistakes in my writings are mine not his!

Prosumption and prosumer

Prosumption is a word frequently used by Alvin Toffler in many of his works! Prosumption is mixture of Production plus consumption. In pastoral and agrarian economies/societies, prosumption was common as people used to produce things such as food, utensils, cloth and directly use themselves. A slight amount of barter system was there, but not much! When industries came into being, the producers got separated from consumers. Huge production and scale of economy were the buzzwords and therefore huge and massive consumer markets were aimed at. Slowly as the economy veered/ steered towards service sector and the knowledge levels of the consumers started rising aided by technological advances such as internet, new concepts such as semi knocked down (SKD) kits and Do-it-yourselves (DIY) emerged. These new methods enabled consumers to semi-produce the goods that they require for themselves. In the process they become prosumers. Ofcourse all the economies are not on the same plane. Industrialisation is still in its nascent stage in several countries/economies. Even then, the word/concept prosumption and prosumer did not get much deserved recognition from lexicographers as well as thought leaders. Really surprised!