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Smart city – A plea from the NRK Community- DON’T MISS THIS BUS |
Posted Date: 27 Jun 2006 Posted By:: AJITH KUMAR Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Points: 1
Responses:
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This is a Genuine plea to our Government ,in particular to our Honourable chief
minister ,Mr. V.S Achuthanadan.
Let me introduce my self. I am a member of the huge NRK educated community, forced to stay out of the state, for a better career & living. I have been living in Dubai, near to the Dubai internet city feeling the pulse of their activities, on a day to day basis for the last 6 years . Sadly we are now monitoring the unhealthy debates (part of political gimmicks) on proposed smart city, just like millions of NRK’s and residents who are loosing faith in our current political system, keeping mum, cursing the fate of democracy in Kerala - which is day by day deteriorating qualitatively. If there is a misunderstanding on this project , that is to be further studied in detail ,rather than pinning it down by tightening the strings. The new conditions government, is proposing is almost like premature killing of this programme, upsetting the dreams of an educated IT community in Kerala.
Being aware of the activities of DIC, from a neutral platform, I could very well emphasise that the debates going on here are simply unhealthy, not in tune with
Qualitative interests of our state. Ruling front has to understand that if you are pinning down this project knowingly (whatever be the political reasons behind it)or unknowingly, this is going to be one of the biggest blunders state had ever done, which has got farsighted consequences(impact even on the proposed future investment propositions from other corporate giants).
To my understanding, West Bengal , Andra pradesh, Tamil Nadu , Uttar Pradesh,Uttaranjal are after DIC offering them everything possible to set up similar hubs in their states. DIC is even otherwise considering these locations too, as they will not invest in a single location and risk themselves( because of the political uncertainties in certain states).we shouldn’t therefore let them drift away for others to take an easy run.
DIC has got qualitative preference to Kochi, primary influencing factors being kochi’s strategic location in the IT Map, availability of qualified resources especially speciallised IT Manpower ,Proximity to the airport, nearness to the Dubai ‘s proposed investment on the container terminal and above all the trust and confidence Dubai government have on the skilled & unskilled sincere and hardworking keralite manpower who had contributed a lot towards building up of today’s Dubai from sand with in a short span of 4-5 decades ( strictly in adherence with the vision & political will power of their administration).You would wonder the developments we have witnessed in Dubai as a city in the last 5 years.
The current allegations/the threats a few seen on the smart city are base less. Dubai govt-the facilitators of smart city will not runaway with land, buildings, or installed infrastructure . in the worst case ,Even if they run away with the human resources, it would be good for those who are moving with them in terms of their career and individual growth ambitions.
Alternatively think about the economy of Cochin as an economic block. With this kind of a project scope of smart city, It is peanuts for them to generate 33,000 direct jobs. Forget the direct jobs, The biggest gain is in the amount of indirect jobs (up to the level of auto drivers, taxi drivers, cleaners, real estate, construction, etc etc) it is going to generate in and around cochin. Think about the amount of economic activity which is going to initiate. Those who critisise these kind of projects and those who cry for the fate of unemployed youths in the state, please understand, you cannot create jobs from vacuum, this is the only way to do that. Creating avenues/Platforms for the direct & indirect jobs is the only way to uplift the poor. It is quite commentable that the VS govt is giving equal importance to the Agriculture segment, Conventional industries, Coastal development and infrastructure development, which can uplift the living standards of a majority of people, if properly monitored and executed. I was really moved by the way our chief chief minister has responded to the blocks on the proposed vallar padom container terminal project. such a govt, why upsetting the dreams of our state, by blocking the smart city project.
I have travelled globally extensievely on business - Middle East, Europe, America & Asia . Very hardly we could see blocks like our tiny kerala where we are blessed & rich in everything, except the political purity and will power and direction towards a common collective goal - welfare of the people. Lets all be frank in accepting that. World is changing, changing very fast- It is high time that the our state administration should change and start sincerely focusing on the welfare of the people ,other wise you would be changed if not today tomorrow. Irrespective of ruling or opposition, the political bodies shouldn’t upset the growth prospects/ambitions of the state. I am genuine and neutral in making this statement, as I firmly believe I am qualified professionally( I did my B Tech from REC Calicut, MBA from Cochin university and an additional one from IGNOU, Possess around 17 years experience ),to evaluate a business proposal, which is my business speciallisation
Being so ,we urge the political bodies to stop the unhealthy debates and request LDF & UDF to collectively welcome the smartcity project & similar projects which would be a fatal milestone in the qualitative growth ambitions of the state. Like VS announced today the plans for five IT parks in Kerala, lets propose projects of the size of smart city in all the districts in Kerala . We have to change keeping pace of the international community.lets prove to the world,we are still a gods own Country and we could also dream and facilitate infrastructure to do things here. I am sure investments will pour in to the state with the influence of the powerful NRK community & the intellectuals & visionaries inhouse who are capable of doing wonders in the state, if you facilitate infrastructure, cleanliness and bring in 2-3 projects of similar scope.
We need trend setters like Dubai internet city who has got vast experience in building up similar infrastucture in practically no time to keep it rolling. They were proposing to come to us with a working model ,an extension what they are doing here. .For us kerallites, genuinely it would be a learning programme too, on how things can be done differently. They were supposed to start the activities by bringing in big corporates from different part of the world. To facilitate this, there has to be infrastructure with in the city. Some IT buildings alone cannot facilitate the infrastructure demand of this kind of a project concept. So please do not put conditions which are not practical for an international business.So please do not let it go to West Bengal, who is attacking on our weak ness
From my international experience,We are even otherwise lagging a lot behind the developed international community,inspite of being blessed with every thing. . We do not have time to waste any further. We have virgin possibilities in Tourism incl Health Tourism in all streams , Medical , Education, IT, Pharma , Bio/ Nano technology, Marine, Handicrafts, still unexplored.We are a sleeping giant , lets realize our potential and work towards a common dream – welfare of the people. Be proactive to the growth ambitions. Uplifting the poor, our own brothers and sisters , will then automatically become a biproduct.
Dear FRIENDS, This communication is not for taking a political mileage on the administrative flaws of LDF/UDF . It is not late, Lets together try to convince our LDF Government, urge VS, I still believe he will deliver good governance for the welfare of our community and they would be still open on this. Better late than never.
I wish if some body could take this request to our honourable chief minister,VS, as I don’t have any access to him. MY INTEREST IS I SWEAR IS NOT POLITICAL
Ajith Kumar (areekara@yahoo.com)
PS :- DIC- Dubai Internet City
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Responses
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#2468 Author: Dr. Suma Thomas Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 28/Jun/2006 Rating:  Points: 1 |
I am also an NRK, living outside for better pay and lifestyle. We face many difficulties living outside in another country, and I am sure most of our NRK brethrens would echo our feelings. In our country, I find articles in the newspaper crying out to curb brain drain - with a plea to educated youth to remain in the country and serve our motherland. I feel most of us would love to do exactly that.
But, in order to do that, our country also has to offer us a better standard of life and a better working atmosphere. But what do we find here? A young scientist interested in research is scorned upon in most instituitions. And, his senior colleague would create as many obstacles as possible to prevent him from doing his work. And ultimately, out of frustration, he would look for greener pastures abroad, and another country would make the best out of his talents.
Coming to Smart city project, I think most of us are yearning in our hearts for it to start functioning. It would open us so many job opportunities starting from managerial posts, down to class 4 employees. And, we know so many other states, including Bengal is trying to woo the project to their state. So many professionals working abroad are waiting for it to come up, to return to their homeland. This is a golden opportunity for the State Govt, which keeps promising more job opportunities for everybody, to prove that they really mean it. By letting it out of their hands for very insignant reasons would be a great disappointment for most of us.
Nobody will be willing to start a project of this magnitude without expecting some benefits for themselves. They would initiate such a project only if it is profitable to them too. So, I feel that both parties should come to a reasonable compromise, and should let this project make a kick start in cochin.
| | #2469 Author: AJITH KUMAR Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 28/Jun/2006 Rating: Points: 1 |
Very true Dr.SumaThomas. But these responses has to reach places, i mean to the government administartive power centers . I Sincerely wish this coud create some ripples in circles.
My background is also not IT,eventhen I thought of responding as I sincerely believe this has got some thing to do with the growth ambitions of the state.
when we were doing the finals of Engineering, i hv also attended many group discussions where the debate was on the subject " introduction of computers- boon or bane"
There were hartals then against the introduction of computers.then fear was many will become jobless
after 15 years, we are again discussing a subject in principle the same introduction of mega projects - boon or bane. what an irony computers/IT has become a hot subject for debate
200,000 IT jobs in next 5 years with out smart city/ 233,000 IT jobs with smart city.
| | #2470 Author: aneesh Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 30/Jun/2006 Rating: Points: 1 |
Let the smart city go to any other states like bengal or Tamil Nadu. That is good for all the IT firms going to join on this enterprise. Atleast our country will get the benefits from it. Is it possible to make it success in cochin with 50% of the days with 'harthals and Bandhs' in Kerala. Our politician are big flop in Kerala. None of the polictician like to develop the state. The same conidtion is their if it is congress or LDF. All they are aware about making some money for their own. You know, last time Ganesh Kumar was transport minister for less than one year and in the first time of the history of transport dept. it was going well, without credit, he was removed from that position and after that it began to run on loss. This was only an example.
If you want to visit Kerala, you need to be cautious about the time you are having, becoz you will not be able to came back in time bcoz of harthals.
| | #2471 Author: Dr. Suma Thomas Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 30/Jun/2006 Rating: Points: 1 |
Yeah, let it go to some other state. And let our malayali brethren go to other states and work. While working in their own state in comfortable conditions, they'll find some reason or the other to strike and close down things. But the same malayalis, when they work outside Kerala in sweltering heat and extreme winters, they work without a murmur or complaint. So, it is better for anybody starting a venture of this magnitude to start it in any state other than Kerala if it has to work peacefully. And, here they keep crying out to create more job opportunities! It'll never get any better. Better to be resigned to our fate!
Dr. Suma Thomas.
| | #2472 Author: Riva T Philip Member Level: Silver Member Rank: 0 Date: 03/Jul/2006 Rating: Points: 1 |
Dear Ajith and Suma,
Kerala's stupid peoples doesn't deserve a mega project like Smart City. they deserve to be live in Middle Age by pulling Human Rickshaw. Keralites are basically anti-Development, anti-Education, Rude, Rough, and Stupid. They may have education, but lacks wisdom. That is why these shameless peoples elected anti-Development militants - CPI (M). Now Achu is destroying Kerala. They are encouraging gundas and unleashing violence all over the state.
It is better for DIC to shift to progressive states like Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Haryana, or Himachal Pradesh.
I myself is a Malayali and I don't likes to return back to my home state because of their stupid Communism.
May I will return. But that will only after eliminating Communism from Kerala. That is, cleansing all Communists from the state.
Regards,
Rivaji
| | #2473 Author: HPite Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 259 Date: 06/Jul/2006 Rating: Points: 1 |
I compltely second Rivaji.
People get what they deserve.
| | #2499 Author: AJITH KUMAR Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 12/May/2007 Rating: Points: 1 |
Hats off to VS. Finally smartcity becoming a reallity. congratulations.
personally i never expected this kind of a delivery from VS when his govt got in to power. against all odds he did it.
we also have to congratulate UDF/ Ak Antiny/ ommenchandy for initiating this project in principle. And for remaining as a responsible, productivre and responsible opposition.
grt going VS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. A real golden feather in your cap. 1500 Croes of investment is just nothing . but the concept selling you are doing and the goodwill you have generated out of that is justoified beyond the numbers. Pl keep it up
He managed a real good deal for the state. eventhough there is an opportunity cost for not getting it done before three years
| | #2501 Author: suresh Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 06/Jul/2007 Rating: Points: 1 |
There is nothing great going to happen in smart city.It is going to be another 'CENTER OF EXPLOITATION OF EMPLOYYES' like Technopark Trivandrum.In fact you dont have to construct this kind of parks to invite investers.Just give them good industrial environment .No industry including IT is going to sustain in kerala
Because we dont have leaders with vision..We never had such leaders even in past.All current leaders like VS,OMMAN CHANDI,pINARAYI aK ANTONY ETC.. ARE a burden to people.They have no commitment to people.They just eat out public money .Mallus alwyse vote to defeat themself!!
So dont expect much from smart city..It is just a land trade..No good company will come with good job in these park.It will offer some bpo jobs & Poor quality programming jobs/maintainace jobs through some small companies like us technology or ibs or nest..No good employee caring ,Technology oriented company will come to these park..Wipro,infy etc are just starting on an experiment basis..They will close their shop soon...
| | #2504 Author: Vijay Menon Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 12/Jul/2007 Rating: Points: 1 |
Hi Everybody,
I was born in kerala. Then, like many others moved around India and then came to UK, i will move back to Bangalore- in 5 years after making some money.
There are some basic things that are lacking in the development of kerala. First, I totally agree with the sceptics. with what all has happened in kerala for last 50 years, one can never hope for progress, it will remain a low value state where militant labor, unreasonable wages, strikes, low quality job, poor work ethic, will rule; small kirana stores and construction people thrive off petty NRI money.
Let us look at the basics. Kerala is not a rich state like say california or even Maharashtra or Gujarat. So when you want to create a strong economy to create jobs you need a growth center like bangalore, hyderabad, mumbai; you concentrate on one city, like you see every state has one great city- Hyderabad, Bangalore, New delhi, Mumbai etc.; they should have moved the capital to kochi, even the new kerala legislature should have been built in kochi, they made a huge blunder. Kerala can only afford to have one major city, PERIOD. It must be Kochi.
Why didnt kerala invest all its money and effort in building kochi as the growth engine; the roads in kochi are worse than even backward Patna. Even if Trivandrum was the political capital there was no need of a big airport there; state and center- AAI should invest in Cochin airport and increase their share to 25-49% to expand runways; international flights should only go out of Kochi, that will make CIAL profitable. Why did the Technopark go to TVM and not Kochi; that was the biggest blunder made by govt. TVM is a very boring sleepy city for young professionals, my freinds working in TCS used to go to kochi by train to have fun and enjoy in the weekends. Kochi must have been chosen for Technopark. TVM should have legislature and some institutes that is all was needed there. They should get an AIIMS in TVM. But Kerala never had focus like other states, things just kept drifting. If there is going to be a fourth metro in southern india it must be Cochin, we need to seal that deal.
Today, there is a glimmer of hope- with DIC, Container Terminal etc but still where are the roads, where is the civic infrastructure, power plants, the CIAL airport is too small not viable/profitable at large scale, infrastructure is thinly spread across the state, calicut and TVM must not have international flights, only domestic should be allowed there, to make CIAL large and profitable. cochin port one of the greatest natural ports in india is languishing because of strikes and high labor cost- east coast in TN is actually strategically poorly located, not even an open sea, but Tuticorin is booming because of the parasite workers of Cochin port, what is the power infrastructure in kochi, there is no focus.
where are bus stands in cochin, in shambles and dirty ; why does chennai has a big railway station and cochin looks like some village train station, even though one of the highest number of trains to all over india go through cochin. communist govt didnt give a damn, congressis are always corrupt, where is the hope.
Still, we have to dream and hope. cochin is such a beautiful city, it could have become the paris of India; cochin is more popular among scandinavian travelers than indians, they love the city; but alas, have you seen the condition of roads in rainy season, the killer red private buses, no traffic rules, no sewerage system, absolutely no garbage disposal, viral disease, mosquitos.
I mean, how come all other smaller cities like Lucknow, Bhopal, Patna, pune, vizag etc got more central investment than kochi, why???
The answer lies in the 50 year old history of our neighborhood. see, from 1950 onwards, somehow the tamilians convinced New Delhi that all of southern india means TN or chennai, just take care of chennai; so they built wide roads, offices, govt depts, BARC, all central companies in chennai; tamilians told center there is no need of thinking about other cities, even bangalore was like a small town in terms of infrastructure till 1990. tamilians fooled all other southern states, see what happened to mullaperiyar, now they want to steal kerala's water , the only thing left. But Bangalore and Hyderabad woke up in time and they are now ahead of chennai in the race for investment, but kerala slept and is still sleeping. communists are busy distributing chicken, goat etc to tribals, that is their highest priority. my dad was a die hard communist, but communists have failed the educated and enterprising people of kerala.
first of all, kerala MPs need to start fighting for their share of central investment. tamilian central ministers have repeatedly thwarted investment in kerala- vallarpadam- balu tried his best to kill it, they want only TN ports to grow, dayanidhi killed nokia in kochi, took it to chennai, BMW went away. why didnt kerala get a railway division, TN has always thwarted those efforts; but still Kerala sleeps. how can a rich state like kerala in terms of human and natural resources be in such shambles. It is really amazing.
we still need to dream and hope, communists are changing a little , may be... let us hope, but threatening Tatas, reliance retail, or tourists to Munnar is not the way to go...all investors will run away, already any investor is scared to death when they hear the name communist... Pinarayi vijayan seems investor freindly and modern thinking but then you have to wait 5 years for VS to go away and may be Chandy to come. In 5 years, everybody will race far ahead of us.
We must generate public opinion in kerala- invest in one city more and more- that is Kochi- it should become the Bombay of kerala- no other city can bring in investors and create wealth like kochi. create raod network between ALuva, Fort kochi, Vypeen, Kakkanad, Tripunithura and other kochi suburbs, we need at least 10,000 crore rupees investment in kochi infrastructure, it has to come from central govt, let us face it- kerala state can only buy chickens and goats for its people... kerala politicians need to be aggressive to fight for kerala and not allow tamilians to pose as the only people in south, and keralites are anyway far different people from tamilains, not much in common. I appreciate the stand taken by communists and congressis in the mullaperiyar issue.
If DIC can bring the investors back to kerala that would be a great achievement. DIC need not be only IT companies- the large MNCs in FMCG, Health care, tourism etc can make kochi as their base.
Jai Hind
Vijay Menon
| | #2505 Author: suresh Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 13/Jul/2007 Rating: Points: 1 |
I think vijy's arguments are basically flawed..Nothing will happen if vs goes and Pinarai or O.chandi comes back.Main reason is both of them are corrupt..They are not investment friendly,they are actually corruption friendly..already it is obvious from many political issues in kerala...If ur points are valid ...why did nothing happend before VS?.In fact VS is better than these people...But none of these people have a vision about development.We need educated politicians like manmohan ,kamal nath,or chidambaram or sm krishna (karnatak former CM) ..Not people who came through SFI or KSU
Also we cannot develop based on one city..you cannot expect one city to be good for all kind of industry..We should think about developing whole kerala as an entity like singapore/malasia
About our mps I agree ...they are a shame to kerala..when speaker asked them shut up they sit down like school students..They are there only for getting pension and salary.We need a party like DMK or TDP or AIADMK..not Congress or cpm,or bjp
| | #2507 Author: Vijay Menon Member Level: Bronze Member Rank: 0 Date: 15/Jul/2007 Rating: Points: 1 |
Mr Suresh,
you totally misunderstood the moot point I was stressing.
let me clarify- first of all, kerala is not a separate country, it is part of our great nation called Bharatvarsh or India. we dont need regional, chauvinistic, parochial and secessionist parties like DMK, AIADMK, TDP, Shiv Sena, akali dal etc. we need only national parties; if Cong, BJP are corrupt, people need to change them, good people should join them, it will happen in time... it is good that kerala doesnt have regional parties, because kerala society is politically enlightened and aware. we dont elect cheap, third rate people like movie stars as our politicians and leaders, and worship them, that is ridiculous and stupid. Only mistake we made was to promote the communists, they have destroyed our state's economy and the whole society and created goonda raj, that is why you see the reaction from RSS goondaism happening now, it was inevitable, as you sow so you reap. If only the communists had changed their name and nature to Social democrats like that in Eastern Europe, good people might have joined them and they could have done good for kerala and Bengal, but they are still stuck in the 100 year old time warp.
Regarding Kochi:
We need to develop one city- Kochi in order to market kerala as a good investment destination...you go anywhere in the world people know about Bombay, Delhi, Bangalore..so kerala also needs the brand equity, and let us be practical, kerala doesnt have the money to invest in many cities, we need to prioritize and focus, you cannot spread your resources thinly across many cities, that is foolish...it never works.
another very imp aspect is...what is meant by real development...kerala is a state with great eco-diversity, very rich in natural resources, we should preserve that at any cost. So we want to develop Kerala to become like New Zealand or Switzerland or Belgium, not to become like NewYork or Shanghai.
so we should never allow polluting industries or any manufacturing to come to kerala, we should close down all steel, cement, chemicals, textiles industries immediately, these goods are cheap to import from other states. we should only concentrate on services sector- IT, Biotech, telecom, financial services- kerala has so much money in banks- education, health care, tourism, art and culture etc...
we dont want the whole state to become a concrete jungle, or a garbage heap, the environment needs to be protected at any cost; the countryside and small towns should remain as green and pure as it was 30 years ago, they are all getting polluted and dirty because of population and unplanned development, the only thing countryside/ small towns needs is roads, power, telecom, water supply... not companies and offices, that will be a disaster...when cochin increases its business activity, it will definitely get polluted and crowded... that is OK...we can afford one city- Kochi to become like that- an urban concrete jungle.
Most important issue- we must reduce kerala's population from 3 crore to 1.5 crore, the environment cannot sustain such a large population for long time, kerala is a very small state with limited resources. Everybody must work towards that - ONLY HAVE 1 or MAX 2 CHILDREN.
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