UTTAR PRADESH MEDIA: The real reporters

IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri: The New Age Woman

UNICEF trains children of Lalitpur to change the world

Far from newspaper offices in Lucknow, a group of children in two of the six blocks of Lalitpur is writing of issues as they see them. They belong to one of Uttar Pradesh's most backward districts where the under five mortality rate stands at 159, only 55 per cent households have access to clean drinking water, just 23.3 per cent children receive full immunization and barely 17.2 per cent of the households have access to toilets.

These are the child reporters (CRs) who have been active since 2006 in a UNICEF supported programme. It aims to use children as fact finders based on the premise that they would be more knowledgeable about local issues and as first generation literates would be looked upon with respect by both their families and villagers. And also, they can be brutally honest.

At village Jamalpur, Uma Devi Bhargava, a class six student for instance is quick to refute the village pradhan's (also called Uma Devi) contention that she undertook surprise checks of the mid-day meal. Bhargava says: 'She is lying. We are forced to eat undercooked rice which has midges and weevils rolling out. For the last one month there has been no food, but our Pradhanji is not bothered. And why have a man who does not know how to cook in the school.'

Fifty-six children of the Talbahet and Birdha blocks (32 girls, 24 boys) aged between 8 and 14, sketch, write reports and poems that are then collated into a news booklet called Balvani (voice of the children). Though the selection process of CRs is by force narrowed down as school teachers are asked to identify bright and articulate children, the writings have begun to have an impact. Thus when 12-year-old Anup Singh's sketch of a sleeping teacher in a class full of children (apparently born from his experience at his primary school in village Sunaora) published in the inaugural issue of Balvani (May-July 2006) reached the district officials, the teacher was immediately suspended.

At village Jamalpur, Madhu Raja, a student of class seven is working on a report on how school principals ask for money during enrollment. For Sonam Vishwakarma of the same village, each day is a new learning experience. 'Only yesterday I came to know that education till class 12 is free. I can now grow up to be anything. I have to pass this message to all the children in my village', she says. It was on Vishwakarma's insistence that two children from a Sahariya (tribal) hamlet approached the village headman to insist that the well in their hamlet be cleaned. 'The well was cleaned within three days and the children couldn't thank me enough', she beams.

In November 2009, at the first national convention of CRs in New Delhi, attended by 70 CRs from 14 states, seasoned media persons who came to interact with them, were stumped. Senior Hindi journalist Ram Sharan Joshi complimented them on being 'the real reporters, authentic, genuine and grass roots.'

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Inter-state VAT variations are proving to be the chronic ulcer for trade and commerce in the country. And the problems are visible. Will the yet to be implemented GST prove a breather? Finds out Savreen Gadhoke

This outflux of diesel buyers from Delhi has cost the petrol pumps in the capital city about Rs. 350 million in net earnings within just the first month (April 2010) of the increase in VAT. As industry sources confirm, revenues of diesel sellers have dipped by 40% in Delhi and is expected to fall further by around 80%. Understandably, the worst affected are the oil shops that lie on the border areas of the capital. A field enquiry suggests that those in areas like Ghazipur, Anand Vihar (East Delhi) and Dilshad Garden (North-East Delhi) have seen their monthly revenues fall by as much as 70%.

There is another negative spillover. The month of February 2010 saw the minimum wage levels of unskilled labour being increased by 33.5%. At a time when revenues have fallen, it becomes hard to imagine how the gas station owners can adhere to the rule of wage increase.

So do they have an answer to this bonehead play? The gas station parties believe they do ' retaliate. Adopting a demonstrative method, the Petrol Dealers Association of Delhi and NCR has announced that petrol pumps in Delhi will go on a 24-hour strike every Monday, starting May 14, 2010, so long as the VAT increase is not annulled. Till date, there have been three such day-long shut downs' on April 9, May 14 & May 24. The Association has also threatened to go on an indefinite strike from June 14, 2010, if its demands are not met.

The predicament of the gas station owners in Delhi is just one of such instances, where variable inter-state VAT is bringing about great inconvenience to trade and commerce. While these variations have negatively impacted businesses in certain states, they have also given rise to smuggling and black marketing. This defeats the intention of introducing VAT in 2005. It was conceived with a view to make accounting more transparent, to cut trade barriers, curb tax evasion and boost tax revenues. Items were classified into various categories such as essential, nonessential, luxury items with taxes ranging from 1% to 20%. VAT rates for each state is decided by the individual state governments, and this has led to non-consistency in the taxes levied on similar product categories.

Poultry is one example of how variation in VAT has affected the trade between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Kerala has depended on Tamil Nadu for poultry supply, for decades. There was no state tax applicable on poultry till Kerala agreed to the VAT regime. Thereafter, consumers buying poultry had to pay 12.5% more on the purchase of poultry in Kerala, while the commodity was kept free of VAT in Tamil Nadu. The effect ' during 2004, around two million live birds were transported from Tamil Nadu to Kerala, post-VAT, the trade almost came to a halt. This gave rise to smuggling of live birds from Tamil Nadu into Kerala to bypass VAT and earn that 12.5% on bottomlines by the traders. The act has become so severe and organised now that even after the strengthening of check posts on borders by the Kerala government, smuggling continues through parallel roads and country routes. Kerala's coconut farmers also faced troubles when the state government levied 12.5% VAT on copra and other coconut products. Subsequently, the government was forced to waive-off the tax to support exports to Tamil Nadu. While TN levies a VAT of 12.5% on automobiles, marbles, tiles, refrigerators, ACs and timber, the state of Puducherry charges just 4%. So why would you buy your next car or your new twin-door refrigerator in Tamil Nadu? A VAT of 12.5% is levied on silk in Karnataka, J&K and Maharashtra, while in Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Bihar & Uttaranchal, the tax applicable is just 4%. Tyres and tubes attract 8% VAT in Haryana, while in Delhi they attract 4%. The stark difference shows up as on as much a burger at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Delhi levies a tax of 12.5% on a KFC snack, while the hungry buyers end up shelling out 13.5% more as tax in UP! Naturally, these differences in VAT hamper sales of certain commodities in selected states. 'Traders are at a disadvantage due to variations in VAT. If any commodity is charged 12.5% somewhere and the neighbouring states charges 4%, certainly, the higher VAT state will lose. And, if that commodity is a high value product, the difference is much. So, obviously the buyer will get it from the adjoining state,' says DP Nag, Secretary, Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industries. The culprit ' the Constitutional right that the states have, exercising which, they can charge VAT. And this causes discrepancies in prices, despite there are friendly treaties and trade agreement between neighbouring states.

Be that as it may, VAT, which was implemented with a view to simplify the taxation structure has had negative impacts on certain businesses. However, efforts are being made by various state governments to keep the VAT rates in sync with the neighbouring states. For instance, the Chief Ministers of Delhi, Haryana and UP are soon scheduled to meet to mull over how to reduce variations in VAT levied on diesel, so as to save the aggrieved diesel retailing lot of Delhi. But the truth is: despite efforts on the part of the state machineries, uniform tax remains the only working hypothesis. There is some hope with the Ministry of Finance's target of implementing Goods & Services Tax (GST) by 2011, which will impose uniform tax rates at a national level. But as market experts believe, it seems a far-fetched dream for now. 'At this juncture, no state can be tamed. The GST regime is showing some hope, but the road to that is not as easy as we have a Quasi-Federal Constitution. Under this, states enjoy some autonomy, particularly in List II, where states enjoy full rights to tax as per their whims. Will any state want to lose that autonomy,' questions Ramendra Nath Ganguly, former Assistant Commissioner ' Sales Tax, Ministry of Finance.

A uniform GST is a dream. The asymmetrical VAT is reality. Simply said, the answer lies in market economics, and only the simple Marshallian Law of Demand and Supply can perhaps wipe off what the traders hate for now.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

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Sound of music

Prof Rajita Chaudhuri on 'THEY ARE COMING TO GET YOU – NOT ALIENS SILLY'

The multi-faceted and free-spirited Sophie Choudry returns with an album of original tracks, and a brand new channel on YouTube. Aakriti Bhardwaj in conversation with the remix queen of India

Sound of music You have studied at the esteemed Sciences Po Paris and LSE. How did a career in veejaying and music happen?

I was a very good student, I got four A's for my O level. At the same time I was determined to become an actor. Whilst I was studying, Biddu, who is my mentor and guide, launched me in a girl band Sansara and that's when we first came to India for work and did the videos for Yeh dil sun raha hai. It became really popular but like most girl bands we couldn't stand each other! Then I went back to complete my graduation.

With your latest album Sound of Sophie, are you sort of returning the favour to Biddu?

Not at all! Biddu is the man who launched me, I did my first two albums with him, he's the reason I moved to India. It was Biddu who said, "Kid, you need to move to India for one year and see what happens if you are serious about this." In one year, I became a VJ; Babu chhail chhabila happened. He has done me a favour in Sound of Sophie as he's completely retired from music and the last song he composed was If I can't have you for my album.

Of your various pursuits ' music, dancing, acting, modelling, anchoring ' which one is closest to your heart?

It is really hard to say. Veejaying was wonderful; it made me a household name. Acting is exciting; you wake up being someone different all the time. Singing is really the extension of who I am. That is where I creatively express who I am. I think singing gives me a three dimensional way of enjoying it: one, for the music; two, my music videos are like mini movies and I get to fulfil my fantasies in there, and three, for my live performances where I instantly reach out to my audience. Has there been a conscious effort to steer clear of remixes?

The reason I had to produce this album is because I did not want to do any remixes. When I did Ek Pardesi, it was so big that I don't think I'll be able to repeat that kind of success. I really think that phase is really done with. Today, film songs are becoming remixes. 'Aa Dekhen Zara' did a remix. If the film people are doing remixes then I don't think pop artists need to do it; pop artists need to create something original.

You are the first in India to be signed by YouTube to launch an official celebrity channel. How do you feel about it?

I am having a ball with the channel. I have got all these subscribers and I have got thousands and thousands of 'views'! I have only been active on it for a month but my video uploads have already had 200,000 hits. I am considering breaking my second video on YouTube exclusively.

Tell us about your forthcoming film Alibaug.

I'm grateful to Sanjay Gupta for giving me such a beautiful role. I play a girl called Nisha, and everybody feels that her life will turn out to be perfect ' she marries her college sweetheart ' but ends up going through a divorce. She transforms into 'real' woman ' strong and independent. She is a practicing psychiatrist whose own life is pretty complicated but she handles it with a lot of grace.

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board
Run after passion and not money, says Arindam Chaudhuri
IIPM BBA MBA B-School: Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize To Irom Chanu Sharmila
IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri: The New Age Woman

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LET YOUR HARD WORK SPEAK FOR YOU

Arindam Chaudhuri (IIPM Dean) – ‘Every human being is a diamond’

How would you market an NGO? Do celebrities matter for them? How does an NGO break through the clutter? 4Ps B&M chats up with a practitioner and an expert

Who are your major fund providers and how challenging is it for you to market a social cause to them?
Our major fund providers are foundations and trusts. It is really difficult for us to market ourselves as we look after people who are at the end of their lives. In fact, our break through occurs only when people, who have a cancer patient at home, personally experience palliative care/hospice services and realise how valuable they are.

Many corporates have their own CSR programmes? What is it that further motivates them to invest in social sector through NGOs? How do you convince them?
I think the best way to convince them is to show them your work. We invite our potential donors to visit our Day Care and Home Care programmes and give them the first hand experience of what we are actually doing. Often people in corporate world are also looking for volunteer opportunities – to be able to do some thing that is hands on. Further, those who have experienced cancer in their personal lives are highly motivated to give back.

What role does branding and advertising play in your fund raising strategy?
Branding and advertising do not play much of a role unless one finds a sponsor. Further, as it’s an expensive exercise therefore we rather like to spend every single paisa on our programmes. Fundraising events, such as our annual walk-a-thon, ‘Walk for Life’, are ways in which we ensure our visibility. We also celebrate World Hospice Day.

What strategies do you adopt to break through the clutter and ensure that people and authorities notice your efforts?
This is very difficult as we do not have the funds nor do we wish to allocate funds for advertising our brand. Our work and the transparency of our functioning speak for us. Information about us is generally conveyed by word of mouth by our beneficiaries, through our volunteers and friends who are associated with us and via our publications.

There are several celebrities that can be seen associated, both directly and indirectly, with some or the other NGO? Do such associations really make your job easier?
Our experience with celebrities has been limited to our events. We have found that it requires a great deal of investment, both in terms of time and effort on our part, which could be used with greater results elsewhere. However, the sad truth is that the media is more likely to highlight the event if a celebrity is attending it.

How important is transparency when it comes to operations?
For us this is the most important area. Therefore we have an active managing committee, a functioning executive committee and SOPs for all our activities and programmes. In fact, there is a monitoring process in place for all our programmes and activities.

What are the important changes required, both in terms of policy & operations, to ensure that the social sector bears fruits in the long run?
The government must accept its responsibility of being the spearhead for bringing about social change. Organisations like ours, with limited means and capacities, should be used judiciously. We can serve as replicable models, provide training, fill gaps in delivery of specific services temporarily as well as monitor the implementation of programmes at the ground level. It is also important to make us part of the policy process so that we can share our operational experiences as providers and consumers. This feedback will make for more effective policy making at the government level.

Harmala Gupta is the Founder-President of CanSupport, a Delhi-based NGO that works for cancer patients

For more articles, Click on IIPM Article.

Source : IIPM Editorial, 2010.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
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