I'm Ujjwal, doing Economics honours at Ramjas College, DU. So far, it's been a wonderful experience interning at CCS.
My first topic (the major one) is the "Analysis of the loan waiver in the Union Budget 2008". I would be looking beyond the pros and cons of the issue and looking into the alternate use of government resources. The R Radhakrishnan committee report recommends that rural indebtedness is not the major cause of rural crisis and it is just a symptom, but the Finance Minister in his speech assumes indebtedness to be the major cause of this crisis. Also, he says that around 75-79% of the credit disbursed to farmers is by the commercial banks and rural banks but the committee report gives importance to the role of the moneylenders.
My other project is on the "Private outsourcing of monuments in Delhi". I started my project with the plan of giving recommendations for outsourcing the work at monuments in Delhi, but I realized that private outsourcing(for conservation) is already going on at some of the monuments and there are plans for extending it to other monuments as well. So maybe now I'll be looking at the outsourcing prospects of maintenance of monuments (which includes basic facilities) and even the cost analysis while we consider outsourcing as an option. I had a talk with the Superintendent Archaeological Engineer, Delhi circle and he said that outsourcing the work to private players would be like following the model of MCD, which is quite inefficient i guess!
So I guess its still a long way to go...!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Hey!
Hey! This is Vasundhara Sharma. I am doing Economics from
There exists no market for justice as it is largely taken to be a public good. But in many cases such as commercial or trade disputes, and particularly Lok Adalats, where cases are amicably settled and decisions taken are consented by both the parties, adjudication is a private good. Asking the taxpayer to pay his hard earned money for mediating the conflict between two arbitrary parties, both of which agree on a common decision, which is tailor-made and hence sets no precedents for him or the rest of the country, is preposterous.
Of course, arguments in favour and against the entire idea are plenty. My focus is on how we can allow arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to come up in a big way so that there is lesser backlog of cases, less corruption in the judicial markets, and courts can focus on priority cases. I wanted to see if privatisation of some aspects of the judicial process is the solution, and if it is, is the idea feasible. Particularly I wanted to focus on the commercial, corporate and trade dispute aspects and see if we can allow arbitral tribunals to come up in a much bigger way in order to ease the current backlog.
I was also wondering if the idea of outsourcing Lok Adalats to private enterprises would help make justice accessible to the poor, and to those whose cases are strong, rather than the current system which tends to be biased towards those who are politically and financially strong.
Would love your feedback.
Vasundhara.
An Introduction
Hello there! I’m Sandhya Srinivasan, a first year student of Business Studies at the College of Business Studies.
My first project is about Futures Trading in Agricultural Commodities, where I’ll be studying whether or not the recent ban on futures trading in chickpeas, potatoes, rubber and soy oil makes sense.
My second project is on for-profit education. Vasundhara and I are working on it together. Basically we want to study the feasibility of a for-profit education model for FMS after studying the business model of comparable B-Schools that operate as for-profit educational institutions.
I'd like to begin writing on the blog by congratulating NIMIT on his highly audacious behavior, for which he surely might get kicked by Jyotika( I wish he does.. haha)
Okay now on a more serious note..
Hello, I am Joyeta, who like most others out here, has taken the horrendous second year examinations in Economics. I am from the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University.
Initially I fumbled quite a bit with the topic of my project, which took almost 3 whole weeks to decide. I finally decided to go ahead with the question that was creating a menace in my head... After I met this particular psychologist, who was a complete elitist every possible way, my topic for research stood right it front of me, glaring at me for an answer.
What began, with trying to explore the External Support System and how it works at curbing the High Suicide Rates in Youth, by providing helplines, psychologists, counseling, rehab facilities,etc, finally came down to only one question, ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL and PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS, ONLY A RICH MAN'S DISEASE..??
Where each psychologist, or psychiatrist, charges nothing less than 1500 bucks for an appointment, and lakhs are spent on treating depression etc etc, can a person from the lower economic strata of society even think of affording such a lavish treatment??
On asking a few psychologists about whether they are catering to these sections of society, the only answer I got was, " there is a lack of demand for counselors, psychologists,etc in the lower economic strata of society". And why is that so, on further probing, these psychologists replied saying that the poor have a HIGH THRESHOLD OF TOLERANCE and therefore they do not require counseling, therapy and are strong enough to withstand 'alll" life's challenges...
What surprised me, further was that there was no mention of exceptional cases, are there facilities for those who do seek counseling and treatment.. Do they know helplines exist? and they can calll these helplines in times of need.. Apart from the 100 no, what effort have other made to reach out to these people..???
I, thus look for answers to the questions that shocked me..!
Please feel free to give suggestions on the same, I'd be very grateful!
Okay now on a more serious note..
Hello, I am Joyeta, who like most others out here, has taken the horrendous second year examinations in Economics. I am from the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University.
Initially I fumbled quite a bit with the topic of my project, which took almost 3 whole weeks to decide. I finally decided to go ahead with the question that was creating a menace in my head... After I met this particular psychologist, who was a complete elitist every possible way, my topic for research stood right it front of me, glaring at me for an answer.
What began, with trying to explore the External Support System and how it works at curbing the High Suicide Rates in Youth, by providing helplines, psychologists, counseling, rehab facilities,etc, finally came down to only one question, ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL and PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS, ONLY A RICH MAN'S DISEASE..??
Where each psychologist, or psychiatrist, charges nothing less than 1500 bucks for an appointment, and lakhs are spent on treating depression etc etc, can a person from the lower economic strata of society even think of affording such a lavish treatment??
On asking a few psychologists about whether they are catering to these sections of society, the only answer I got was, " there is a lack of demand for counselors, psychologists,etc in the lower economic strata of society". And why is that so, on further probing, these psychologists replied saying that the poor have a HIGH THRESHOLD OF TOLERANCE and therefore they do not require counseling, therapy and are strong enough to withstand 'alll" life's challenges...
What surprised me, further was that there was no mention of exceptional cases, are there facilities for those who do seek counseling and treatment.. Do they know helplines exist? and they can calll these helplines in times of need.. Apart from the 100 no, what effort have other made to reach out to these people..???
I, thus look for answers to the questions that shocked me..!
Please feel free to give suggestions on the same, I'd be very grateful!
On why I decided to do the project on Public Toilets from a Gender Perspective.
Hi! This is Shahana. I have just taken my second year Economics Hons. exams. I am studying at Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi.
I am doing one project on "Public Toilets in Delhi from a Gender Perspective- with an emphasis on 'facilities' in the slum/resettlement colonies".
The following is a little on why I decided to do this project. I hope it is interesting to read!
People often call me a feminist, I wonder why, because I am not very expressive about women’s issues, it is probably because I study at a "well known" girls’ college in Delhi which is often labeled as a feminist institution. I always wonder, what exactly does feminism mean (and further whether an institution can really be labeled as “feminist”)
The idea of the paper on “Public Toilets in Delhi from a Gender Perspective – with an emphasis on the ‘facilities’ for women in slum areas of Delhi” came up rather vividly. During our first few days with CCS, we “had to” come up with our topics for research. I could not think of what area to pick up which would require some interesting primary research. I was on my way back home from CCS, traveling in a bus on the Yusuf Sarai road and was looking out of the window. When an MCD public toilet caught my attention, it was one of those with old white tiles (many of them were broken!), it was divided into two equal sized cubicles. Though it had not rained that day, I observed that the toilet was full of filthy, mud-coloured water (the height of the water was probably one foot) A man was peeing just outside the toilet. And there was a woman – old, frail, she looked like a beggar; who had a ‘seek ki jharoo’ in her hand and was desperately trying to clean the toilet. What an irony I thought – “She’s cleaning the toilet for men who can anyways pee anywhere they like" (I must make it clear here that the width of the cubicles was only enough to stand and pee - clearly not-at-all female friendly) And further "She can't even use this toilet. What does she go when she wants to relieve herself?" Further down the same road, I saw one of the new, red-brick wall toilet ("jan suvidhaayein" / public convenience - it says).
A typical paid toilet which has a red brick wall charges Rs. 2 per usage of the toilet by a female and Re. 1 per usage by a male (both these for just peeing). However, men can pee virtually anywhere but women CANNOT! It is absolutely essential for them to use a closed area to urinate so they would definetely use a public toilet IF AVAILABLE CLOSE BY TO THEM! But a man has options! A woman, therefore will use and so will have to pay. What a contradiction - "public convenience" for a profit motive!
The issue of public toilets effects, I believe, the poorest women (who live in slum areas) the most. Other women (and of course all men) have options at their homes, workplace (and walls?!) but what about a woman in a slum area?
Further, I wonder; should I be branded as a 'feminist' because I believe that something as basic as a toilet NEEDS to be provided especially to those women in our society who are economically backward?
It is ironical that in Delhi where both, the Chief Minister and the Mayor are 'highly qualified' women who talk about women's empowerment.
And is the issue of public toilets for women isolated? No, there are issue of communicable diseases (one well knows that women are far more vulnerable to UTIs, RTIs and STIs), sexual harassment (women in slum areas, typically tend to relieve themselves at late hours of night or early hours of morning - which makes them all-the-more vulnerable to rape, molestation etc.). "Holding on" for most of the day in a tough task and must be very tough during menstruation.
So, why do we not discuss this issue of public toilets for women? Why are fancy malls (I am not denying that there are toilets in these malls where people like you and me can pee) far more important to us than the basic necessity of public toilets? Is there a policy issue involved? Lastly, we talk alot about "women's empowerment" and "feminism" (I think everyone has their own definition for these two terms!) but what is the worth of all this talk if you can't even provide basic sanitation facilities for the poorest of poor women?
Ok... so that's it!
ALL THE BEST to everyone!
-Shahana.
I am doing one project on "Public Toilets in Delhi from a Gender Perspective- with an emphasis on 'facilities' in the slum/resettlement colonies".
The following is a little on why I decided to do this project. I hope it is interesting to read!
People often call me a feminist, I wonder why, because I am not very expressive about women’s issues, it is probably because I study at a "well known" girls’ college in Delhi which is often labeled as a feminist institution. I always wonder, what exactly does feminism mean (and further whether an institution can really be labeled as “feminist”)
The idea of the paper on “Public Toilets in Delhi from a Gender Perspective – with an emphasis on the ‘facilities’ for women in slum areas of Delhi” came up rather vividly. During our first few days with CCS, we “had to” come up with our topics for research. I could not think of what area to pick up which would require some interesting primary research. I was on my way back home from CCS, traveling in a bus on the Yusuf Sarai road and was looking out of the window. When an MCD public toilet caught my attention, it was one of those with old white tiles (many of them were broken!), it was divided into two equal sized cubicles. Though it had not rained that day, I observed that the toilet was full of filthy, mud-coloured water (the height of the water was probably one foot) A man was peeing just outside the toilet. And there was a woman – old, frail, she looked like a beggar; who had a ‘seek ki jharoo’ in her hand and was desperately trying to clean the toilet. What an irony I thought – “She’s cleaning the toilet for men who can anyways pee anywhere they like" (I must make it clear here that the width of the cubicles was only enough to stand and pee - clearly not-at-all female friendly) And further "She can't even use this toilet. What does she go when she wants to relieve herself?" Further down the same road, I saw one of the new, red-brick wall toilet ("jan suvidhaayein" / public convenience - it says).
A typical paid toilet which has a red brick wall charges Rs. 2 per usage of the toilet by a female and Re. 1 per usage by a male (both these for just peeing). However, men can pee virtually anywhere but women CANNOT! It is absolutely essential for them to use a closed area to urinate so they would definetely use a public toilet IF AVAILABLE CLOSE BY TO THEM! But a man has options! A woman, therefore will use and so will have to pay. What a contradiction - "public convenience" for a profit motive!
The issue of public toilets effects, I believe, the poorest women (who live in slum areas) the most. Other women (and of course all men) have options at their homes, workplace (and walls?!) but what about a woman in a slum area?
Further, I wonder; should I be branded as a 'feminist' because I believe that something as basic as a toilet NEEDS to be provided especially to those women in our society who are economically backward?
It is ironical that in Delhi where both, the Chief Minister and the Mayor are 'highly qualified' women who talk about women's empowerment.
And is the issue of public toilets for women isolated? No, there are issue of communicable diseases (one well knows that women are far more vulnerable to UTIs, RTIs and STIs), sexual harassment (women in slum areas, typically tend to relieve themselves at late hours of night or early hours of morning - which makes them all-the-more vulnerable to rape, molestation etc.). "Holding on" for most of the day in a tough task and must be very tough during menstruation.
So, why do we not discuss this issue of public toilets for women? Why are fancy malls (I am not denying that there are toilets in these malls where people like you and me can pee) far more important to us than the basic necessity of public toilets? Is there a policy issue involved? Lastly, we talk alot about "women's empowerment" and "feminism" (I think everyone has their own definition for these two terms!) but what is the worth of all this talk if you can't even provide basic sanitation facilities for the poorest of poor women?
Ok... so that's it!
ALL THE BEST to everyone!
-Shahana.
A Report Less Ordinary: Part 1
Warning:This report may contain many offensive references to many offense-worthy people; so don't imagine submitting this to your Internship Coordinator, chances are she may kick your ass (yeah, even you get the same feeling when around her, huh?!)
Report: Field Trip- 27 May 2008
To: Jyotika Taneja Date: 27 May 2008
From: Nimit Kathuria
Agenda:
To: Jyotika Taneja Date: 27 May 2008
From: Nimit Kathuria
Agenda:
1. Visit the State Transport Authority office at Rajpur Road and/or Burari & find out the no. of buses at various routes, their owners & other related information.
Expectations:
Expectations:
I planned to just barge in to the State Transport Authority office at Rajpur Road and have a talk regarding the problem with the competent officer in charge of the Blueline buses & also ask him for the relevant statistics, while at it.
Actual Findings:
Actual Findings:
Every thing seemed to go according to the “plan”- I walked into the office, talked to a few people (bureaucrats by the way- but surprisingly very helpful!), who finally directed me to the Secretary-cum-Jt. Commissioner of Transport, Mr. S.S. Sodhi (Pascal, you are going to like this: he was/maybe still IS a Sardarjee btw; not that it matters. Much!). While waiting for him outside his office, my spirits were buoyed by the fact that a lady who was also waiting to meet him in relation to the extension of her bus permit (more on that later) told me something to the effect, “Oh! You’re here to meet Sodhi sir? Very sweet man, he’ll tell you all you need to know! Very sweet man!” Oh yeah! Thanking God (To picture me doing that, watch any of the Amitabh Bachchan movies where he talks to God. If you don't know where to begin: simply watch Deewar (salute to Salim-Javed) or Naastik), I read the sign at his office that announced “Visiting Hours: 12 pm (sic) to 1 pm”. I congratulated myself on reaching there at 12:30. But little did I know then that I’d be kept waiting for another half an hour, apparently because, “Saahab abhi chai pee rahe hain!” Chalo! Jaisi unki marzee! Afterall, pushing files all day long can get tiresome and even they need there chai (;sorry Mr. Vijay Mallya!). When finally allowed to go inside by the peon outside the room (who told a befuddled me, “Don’t tell saahab that I sent you in”), I found a meeting going on. Naturally he was annoyed to find me barging in like that, & needless to say I was embarrassed too! But then it was too late now (Murphy's law, anyone?)! When he had finished looking at me from head to toe & I had finished mumbling my purpose of visit, I got scared! Lol for all you want; you think you are invincible, eh? Try going to that sweet Sardarji Soddhi's office during a meeting; or at least don't make fun of me! Please.
End of Part 1
Keep watching this space for more...
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Hello
Hi Everyone...
Its great to finally have this blog and I'm really excited to meet all of you. I'm an extern from Mumbai and I'm working on the issue of privatisation of water management systems here in Mumbai. I would really like to get to know all of you and your research areas. I do feel like I'm missing out on a lot of interaction with the interns in Delhi, but I'm sure that this blog will serve as a wonderful alternative. It has been 3 weeks into this internship already and I'm really looking forward to the remaining 6 weeks. Happy Researching !
Rupal
Its great to finally have this blog and I'm really excited to meet all of you. I'm an extern from Mumbai and I'm working on the issue of privatisation of water management systems here in Mumbai. I would really like to get to know all of you and your research areas. I do feel like I'm missing out on a lot of interaction with the interns in Delhi, but I'm sure that this blog will serve as a wonderful alternative. It has been 3 weeks into this internship already and I'm really looking forward to the remaining 6 weeks. Happy Researching !
Rupal
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