Sell yourself, not this ridiculously

Popular persons promoting various goods and services should be very careful in promotional advertisements. Because of their acceptance in society, particularly among the youth and lower tier of the crown and glory of all creations who are not much of a thinking class, what the hero or heroine thinks, acts and promotes is mimicked.

No doubt, mimicry has gained more acceptance than other basics in the world of make-belief. If we dwell deeply on the goings-on in society, one should recognize the fact that commoners always want someone to lead them.

Suppose those who lead others fall in the category of misleaders, society would have to bear the pangs. The latest report about popular actor Jagathy Sreekumar refusing to do any more promotional advertisements for Sikkim, Bhutan lotteries is relevant in this regard.

The pit-falls into which the gullible public plunge have been unraveled these days in popular dailies. Though belatedly, Jagathy Sreekumar has decided to call it a day

Anand Sharma not game for revoking the rubber decision

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma has categorically made it clear that the slash in import duty for rubber cannot be withdrawn.

Various MPs from Kerala have been after him seeking some favour to save their skin. No MP can justify the reduced import duty. That is why they are doggedly after some authority to get the order revoked.

On Wednesday also the MPs surrounded the Commerce Minister and wanted him to do something.

But the Minister was vehement in his justification of the decision saying the import duty was cut on the advice of an expert committee.
Earlier, there were reports that Rubber Board had wanted no reduction in the import duty.

The decision in question is that for import of one lakh tonnes of natural rubber at 7.50 per cent. Earlier, the import duty was 20 per cent.

Anand Sharma has maintained that the import of one lakh tonnes would not have serious impact in the market.

However, the rubber growers are concerned about the decision which may mar their prospects. Now natural rubber is fetching more for them in the internal market compared to the prices ruling in the international market.

Can’t we do something without any controversy?

Would it be possible to do any good deed without creating a controversy? The instant case refers to the confusion created by someone with regard to conferment of an honorary doctorate on Viswanathan Anand, India’s own chess emperor of the world.
Hyderabad University, which is a Central varsity, wanted to honour Viswanathan Anand and another with a doctorate.

But the extra-curious officials raised a question whether Viswanathan Anand was an Indian, as he has been living in Spain for quite some time.
Cannot an Indian live some time in another country? Was there any doubt about Viswanathan Anand being an Indian when he used to bring laurels for the country in the chess field?

Things are apparently ridiculous, as one ponders over the issue. Thankfully Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal reacted quickly and set the doubts at rest and apologised to Viswanathan Anand and wanted him to accept the honour.
For the present he may not be able to receive it as he is preoccupied with his various championships. Let us hope he would receive the title and receive the honour.

MPs’ salary hike and other things

There can be not much of a dispute regarding the need for our MPs to lead a decent life. No one wants our MPs to lead a miserable life. There are unconfirmed reports about a lot of persons or agencies offering a helping hand to our Parliamentarians one way or the other.

No doubt, a salary of Rs 16,000 per month is too measly. Now that has been raised to Rs 50,000 per month. Fair enough, but their allowances have been raised only to Rs 20,000 from Rs 14,000 per month.

MPs’ minimum pension has been raised from Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000 per month.
In fact, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned over the division in this regard. Some MPs want a hike in pay of up to 500 per cent.

There are other sumptuary provisions like air travel tickets, free train tickets, phone call charges, office expenses and what not. More than that, all MPs are members of several parliamentary committees. Attendance of these committees will fetch them a lot of money.

There may be objections to the pay hike, even though there is merit in the argument that the MPs’ economic life should be wholesome.

The Constitution of India is framed by “We the people of India” and so MPs themselves can decide on their pay hike. “We the people of India” phrase largely denotes MPs even though it was originally intended to mean all the literate and illiterate human beings of India.

There can be much disparity with regard to pensions for ordinary mortals. There are lakhs of workers under the Employees Provident Fund scheme who receive a monthly pension of roughly Rs 500 per month.

There is a wide chasm existing in this regard. Forget about the plight of ordinary people toiling to fetch a livelihood, fighting between below the poverty line and above the poverty line, standing on the fringes of the demarcating line.
Judges, MPs, officials, workers and pensioners definitely deserve salubrious salaries or allowances. Corporate growth and empowerment of the moneyed class alone should not be the only factors of the economy. All the poor people should be roped in and offered a helping hand. Mind you, we don’t have a welfare scheme as existing in capitalist economies, even though we have opened up our economy.