Category: Indian Economy

4 Lakh illegal rickshaws, 6 Lakh illegal vendors and Why Politics Matters – even to Entrepreneurs

Board FTIDevelopment Related, Entrepreneurship, FTI Member Blogs, Illegal Rickshaws, Indian Economy, Licenses, Parth Shah, Permits, Politics and Governance in India, ToI Blogs, ToI Columns

In an earlier post on entrepreneurship, I mentioned how “the “burden” of government can be very heavy – which is why it takes 11 steps on an average, to start a business in India. Not just that, these 11 steps take about 89 days on an average!  In that same post, I also wrote: “I have nothing against the government trying to help entrepreneurs. It should; it must”.  What exactly did I mean by that?
Did I mean that the government should give handouts to entrepreneurs – or somehow select potential …

Kerela’s development has nothing to do with Communism or Socialist Policies..

Board FTICommunist rule in India, Dakshina Kannada, Debates & Discussions, Development and Governance, Development Models, Development Related, FTI Member Blogs, Indian Economy, Kerala, Political Ideology, Politics and Governance in India, socialism

..so it would seem. Excerpts from “The Dakshina Kannada Model” (written almost five years ago; emphasis added):
Everyone talks of the Kerala model, but to the north of Kerala lie two districts called Dakshina Kannada (headquarters: Mangalore) and Udupi, which, if I am not wrong, are doing just as well as, if not better than, Kerala.
…The state and the district have a lot in common.
…More importantly, the socio-economic profile is similar. People have similar attitudes towards education. The schools in Mangalore are supposed to be the best in Karnataka…Education of women …

Of Islamic VC Funds and Christian Chambers of Commerce

Board FTIDevelopment Related, FTI Member Blogs, Indian Economy, Politics and Governance in India, Politics of Minority Appeasement

Hidden among the news of last few days was an innocuous and brief report which I am certain most of you missed.
It talked about an “Excellence Award” for 2012 that was bestowed upon Dr Augustine F Pinto (Chairman) and Grace Pinto (MD) of the Ryan Group of Institutions by the Governor of Rajasthan, Margaret Alva (thanks to Sh Krishen Kak for alerting me).
What was interesting was not the award but the body that was honouring Dr Pinto and Grace Pinto. This organisation was the Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Now, …