Life, a question mark!

Every passing day is a question mark,
Speed of life seems to be at snails pace.

Every second is filled with fear,
With emptiness around nothing left to cheer.

Began the journey with success all time high,
In the middle of nowhere today, I don't know where am I.

Difficult it is in tuff times to face the world & hold your head high,
You know it is all time low
When you can't raise your head even at your place.

Because of my karma, I am where I am,
Heavyweight liability, yes, that's what I am.

Even in the dark, I assumed I am still worthy,
New year trashed those beliefs,
Outside world said I ain't worth a penny.

Carefree attitude, happy go lucky was the motto always,
Stripped of happiness, rejected by luck,
Staring in the dark, clueless, of what lies ahead.

Even in the palace, I feel like a beggar,
With all the comforts around, still can't taste the platter.

Friends and family are still there around,
Though a question arises, do they even deserve me for crying out loud.

Invoking sympathy isn't my intention,
Just trying to give a way, for my frustration.

No matter how life is, I have to live,
Questions which are staring, answers only I have to seek.

In the path of tornado, I know one day it will pass.
Sun will light the day and stars will again twinkle in dark.

-SR.

Net Neutrality

Latest news is the government still not making it's stand clear whether it is standing for net neutrality or will support the powerful telecom lobby who want to become the dictators on what should we watch on internet. Already the government is imposing bans on anything and everything since they have taken office, be it at state or in the center. They want to control on what we should be eating, they want to control on what women should be wearing, they want to ban on which jokes should we be laughing (AIB). And when all this wasn't enough, now they want us to surf only that portion of net which they will provide us and not what we want to see.

People are not taking this upcoming law seriously for only one simple reason, they are not yet aware of the gravity of the situation and it's repercussion once the law is implemented. The initiative taken by various Internet Activists and by AIB is helping poeple to understand the actual meaning of the problems ahead, is commendable. It is not that the government is playing it's cards holding close to their chest. Somewhere in the final days of March '2015 the Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI) has uploaded the content of the same on their website and have given the nation less than a month to reply with their queries and criticisms. If the government does not receive enough replies it will go on and implement the rule after April 24th.

I agree they have uploaded the contents in public domain. But the way in which they have put forward, itself will take days together to decode the entire draft document. Starting from it's name, Consultation Paper for Regulatory Service of Over-The-Top services. Half of the population who is using the net will give up here itself assuming it is related to some technical problems of telecom companies or some future plans to provide additional services. Also, like the AIB video specified, the document uploaded on the website of TRAI is in middle of 4-5 windows, with a continuous screensaver above easily acts as a distraction. Even if poeple stay on after clearing the above hurdles they have another big thing coming. This consultation paper is over 100 pages long. Now considering the reading capacity of the current 140 words internet generation another big chunk of users will give in. Hence indirectly, this is keeping people at bay so government can impose it's law in a dictatorial democratic way.

So what is this all about? And why is it so much essential for all netizens?

Net Neutrality is Internets guiding principle. It mainly preserves our right to communicate freely online. This is the definition of an open Internet. Net Neutrality means an Internet that enables and protects free speech. It means that Internet service providers should provide us with open network and should not block or discriminate against any applications or content that ride over those networks. Just like our phone company should not decide on who should we call and whom should we not? Similar law applies to the internet. The companies should not dictate which site one should visit and which one shouldn't. And this is exactly what TRAI wants to do. They want to have the final say on what we should be viewing and what we shouldn't be.

Without Net Neutrality, cable and phone companies could carve the Internet into fast and slow lanes. An ISP could slow down its competitors' content or block political opinions it disagreed with. For example, if a giant eCommerce company like Flipkart pays crores of rupees to a telecom provider to ensure it's website reaches all it's users. The telecom company might put them on fast lane and it's competitors, amazon, on slow lane. Nothing is more frustrating these days than slow internet. Hence people will prefer flipkart, thus creating a discrimination. ISPs will be charging extra fees to allow the few content companies that could afford to pay for such preferential treatment — relegating everyone else to a slower tier of service. For example; if a new entrepreneur wants to venture in the eCommerce world who has relatively less capital at disposal might never be able to sustain the competition. This would destroy the open Internet.

Without Net Neutrality, the todays free net will be charged on each and every click of ours. There will be different packs for different websites. So the basic charge we will pay to for a Net connection will be a name sake charge. To access websites, we will have to pour in more cash. Hence the big companies with ample liquidity in their balance sheets will be able to carve their way to reach the customers by paying hefty cash to ISP. This will indirectly create monopoly in the market thus wiping out all potential competitors who have comparatively less amount of fund flow to fill the coffers of ISP.

The ones in government are trying to forward a theory that by providing websites for free, they want to give the internet access to poor. But the hidden meaning between the lines is by implementing such a law they want to keep the country poor and make the telecom companies richer. It will be the easiest way to kill competition or take head on with business rivals whom the ISPs don't want on their network.  Take these following examples. Owner of Airtel, Sunil Mittal, will always prefer his son's Hike Messenger over Whatsapp or Wynk over Youtube. Reliance has already gone ahead with this Facebook-driven evil scheme called Internet.org - where you can access Bing for free, but you have to pay to access Google - and you have access to BabaJobs for free, while you have to pay for Naukri.com. The biggest irony is the same Mark Zuckerberg support Net Neutrality in USA and pays for discrimination in other countries.

Now lets come to some arguments of our beloved telecom companies. The telecom companies are arguing that they pay huge amount for infrastructure while the application developers are earning hefty by using their networks. But isn't it a simple logic that if you haven't developed it, how can you demand income for it. Also being an ISP you are entitled to charge consumers more for faster overall access speeds, for instance charging more for 2mbps broadband connectivity than 1mbps. But you cannot suppress accessing speeds of specific sites.

Now considering the income generated by telcos. When we look at the publicly-quoted revenue figures of Indian telcos one finds that, like in any other business, some did very well, some did very badly and others did okay. Like in any other business house. And when we look at them historically, they've all more than recovered the amounts they bid for the spectrum. No one is the loser. And most importantly they knew the risks involved when they went for bidding. And they have not invented themselves technologically. So how are they expecting us to pay extra. This is action by force.

Also the forever law breakers are now teaching us law. Cellular Operator Association of India have argued that Voice calls license in our country are governed by the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 which doesn't allow any one, other than telecom companies who hold the license. to provide voice services. Hence they believe that OTT services should not be allowed to provide call services as there are many licensing procedure to be followed and they are not fulfilling any criteria. If in the 21st century we are going to be governed by 18th century laws then the mistake is not of the OTT service provider but the law needs to be changed to suit the current scenario.

Such petty arguments are put forward by TRAI to snatch our internet freedom. Hence we have to step in to save our internet. Please log on to savetheinternet.com and sign the petition. Answer the questionnaire put forward by TRAI and sent it to the given mail address. We need huge numbers to stop this anti net neutrality step taken by the telecom companies. The government says they have appointed a committee look in the matter. But we all know how the governmental process works, almost at the speed of light in opposite direction though. And this pro business government might think more number of times before going against the business class vis-a-vis the people of the country. So we as netizens have to take things in our hand. If we want a free internet, we have to raise our voice for the same. Only they can we have net neutrality else we will be dancing to the tunes of telecom companies.



-SR

Mourning In Happiness

The CWC 2015 Semi Final defeat has left me mourning in happiness. Sad for obvious reason. Our team, our flag was defeated and we had to surrender the title of World Champions. And happy because, since Day one I wanted them to lose (except pakistan game). There is a bit of history in this paradoxical feeling.

When one hears the name Bharat or Hindustan or India many things will strike your minds. Some might remember it as the birthplace of human civilization. Some might remember it's rich culture, traditions. Some might remember it's history of being conquered by foreign invaders. Some know it as the greatest example of Unity in Diversity and many more. But the late 20th and early 21st Century generation immediately remembers its craziness for a game turned religion, Cricket.

There is lot of fodder for the opportunist political class to divide the country may be on sectarian lines or by communal violence etc. But only one thing is enough to bring the country together, stand shoulder to shoulder, sing dance cheer passionately in one voice for one team for that one game. It's cricket.

Now when you have a religion then it must have a God. And even this one is no exception. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the man who dominated most of our childhood, who taught us to dream, who took his team and country to far greater heights in this game. But this is not about him.

The descent for the love of the game began in 2012 when the IPL betting scandal surfaced in public. That time I never knew this incident will force me, in near future, to celebrate Indias' defeat which then I couldn't even dare to dream about. It's not the wrong things that transformed me from a die hard cricket lover to hater. The same stuff also surfaced sometime back in 2000s when few Indian and South African players were convicted for quid pro quo. That time the ones involved were banned from the game. Justice was meted out. But this time, the way in which they made a mockery of the game, insulted the fans, altered laws to suit their interests and denied justice outrightly made me anti national incase of cricket.

Everyone is aware about the initial timeline of how things leaked out and how small players and bookies were being arrested. Those were none of my concern. The real sharks who were behind all this, how they were allowed to walk free shattered all the respect I had for the institution. Let's see how the main sharks made this public game a private enterprise.

MS Dhoni, captain of the India and also of the Chennai club. Popularly known as captain cool. Though he implemented his cool behaviour in the wrong place this tim. Of all people, he should have taken a stand to save the dignity of the game. Instead he decided to do everything opposite. Dhoni lied to the probe committee appointed by Supreme Court under Justice Mukul Mudgal that Gurunath Meiyappan (Srinvasans' son in law) was not the Team Principal of Chennai and was not involved in any activities of the club. He, basically, repeated the same line as said by Srinivasan himself to the media after the scam surfaced. His lies were proved when the Mudgal Committee, with enough evidence, concluded that Meiyappan wasn't just a cricket enthusiast but a Team Principal in true sense and had full access to all the activities of the club. 

Does such blatant lies suits the First Person of Indian Cricket? When the probe committee also found that Dhoni, being the captain of National team and Chennai Franchise, is also an employee of India Cements a company owned by N. Srinivasan the picture became clearer. Whose interest was he serving? National Interest, Games Interest or Employers Interest? I still remember his face during the presser before the ICC Champions Trophy. He didn't even answer single question related to the scam, instead kept smiling at the reporters when they posed questions. One could easily hear a reporter shouting, "Mahi you cant stay quiet, please answer. The country wants to hear". But the captain didn't budge. During the investigations it was also found that Dhoni was party to the betting transaction along with Meiyappan. This was the reason why the Mudgal Committee included his name in the secret report of names given to Supreme Court. 

And after all this, today he is still getting all the respect. I don't deny his playing qualities, which are truly exceptional. But that does not give him the authority to treat the game as your private property. 

The head of cricket in India, bccI Chief. People were expecting some concrete action atleast from him. However he was willing to go the distance to save his son in law from the clutches of law. He even appointed a random probe withing the bccI and acquitted his son in law of all wrong doings. Denying to attend a single presser, he finally decided to give interviews to various news channels. And what historic were those interviews. Can one imagine in a Arnab Gowami interview, noise levels not measured in decibels? For every single question he had fixed answers, investigation is On, matter is sub judice, courts will see. He was the first person who coined the term Cricket Enthusiast for Meiyappan. It always made me wonder, if every cricket enthusiast is privy to team news, place in the dug out with all the players were strategies are discussed, can attend all team meetings, sit in auction then shouldn't I also be the one among many who must get the opportunity to share the table with Ambanis and raise the bat during bidding.

With this we come to the main culprit or the representatives of larger sharks, Gurunath Meyippan. His role in betting was proved when Mumbai Police handed over the transcripts of calls between him and Vindoo Dara Singh, through whom he placed his bets. The latter also confessed that everything in the league is fixed. They knew whether the next ball will be a Wide or No or Six or Four or Wicket. They knew the teams' final score even before the game begins. They knew the game results. And we, as fans, are asked to buy tickets, come and shout for them in the stadium, get entertained by the cheerleaders. And just in case all these wrong come out, respect the Institution and Move On. Irrespective of the culprits being brought to justice or not. Also not to miss Raj and Shilpa Kundra, owners of Rajasthan franchise who were also suspects for placing bets.

Another wrong doing along with the betting scam was the Conflict of Interest Issue incase of Chennai Franchise. When a business deal went sour with the Kochi, Hyderabad and Pune franchise they were immediately removed from the league. So when the IPL rules strictly specified that bccI office bearers cannot hold posts in IPL, why was Srinivasan adamant on denying it even when he was owner of India Cements, bccI president and majority stake holder in Chennai franchise. When other clubs can be suspended for not following law, why Chennai is exception? Why rules are molded to suit their needs?

Even the Supreme Court made the Mudgal Committee a toothless tiger. Why statutory powers under Criminal Procedure Code weren't given to them. Most of these accused preferred to utilize the right to remain silent, thus keeping many question unanswered.

These were the prime faces. The show didn't stop with them. After all this, the thing which hurt me the most happened during the trials of the case in SC. bccI was adamant that their body is private, not answerable to anyone. They cannot be brought under RTI. They cannot be questioned for any of the actions undertaken by them. Even when Supreme Court was of the view that the game has attained it's popularity only because of it's fan following. If the same fans are feeling cheated or kept in dark then they deserve explanations. bccI counsel had went to the extent saying we don't select Team India, we select Team bccI. So why should we be answerable to anyone outside the bccI.

Such extent mockery of the game and fans, why, only to save some powerful peoples' interests? Is this the same game now whose victory we celebrated bigger than Diwali. And wet eyes displayed our emotions when the team lost. I was among the many who used to stand outside TV shops even if a Test Match is being played. Cricket was always more than a game. It was never about winning trophies. That was never our concern. I still remember the home Test series between India-Australia. We had already lost the series and last match was just a formality to be played in Mumbai. Both teams played the best 11. Inspite of losing the series, Wankhede Stadium was full house, roaring, cheering, shouting even for a Test Match. It was one of the low scoring game wherein  the game was over in just 2 days. India gave a target of 104 and got all the 10 Aussie wickets for just 91. That victory was celebrated more by the Indians then the series victory celebration of the Australians.

As the CWC 2015 came near, Supreme Court also gave a balanced decision on the IPL case. They appointed another committee to decide on charges of those involved in betting. Acquitted Srinivasan completely but barred him from contesting bccI chairman polls. Since the committee is to submit it's report in 6 months hence SC allowed the Chennai and Rajasthan clubs to feature in the 8th season of IPL. Srinivasan was also quick in moving his pieces and brought back Jagmohan Dalmiya, CAB Chief, and got him elected on the top post in bccI as his opponent Sharad Pawar was ploughing his way back in the hot seat.

Team Srinivasan is so much blinded by power. They allowed a bilateral series to pakistan even when the country keeps carrying proxy war in J&K. During the voting for the position paper which was tabled by India, Australia and England to take control of ICC, bccI had argued that the game has maximum viewership in India hence we should get more share in the revenue. They had also said if the paper is rejected bccI might withdraw from ICC. Now all this was possible because of the fans, but still they preferred to ignore them. 

At the end of the day what they implied was pretty clear. We will continue doing this who is going to stop us. We will continue mocking the game and fans and take your passion and love for the game granted, who will stop us. We know you will forget quickly, so why should we change our techniques. Even the senior players stayed mum in this tornado for the simple reason maybe why Dhoni kept quite. For them the employers interest was much more important than the game or the fans.

Hence the question stays intact. Who are we in all this? There is a private entity who says we don't select Team India but still use the Indian Flag. There is a captain who almost owns the game. He felt like retiring in the middle of the series even when the team is losing, no one questions him. Domestic Cricket has no importance today. Performance is no more a criteria. Entry into the national team is either by becoming player of Chennai club or employee of India Cements. The perks of being a Chennai player is you have immunity from all the applicable laws in bccI or for that matter even ICC.

As a fan I feel so much disgusted and let down. My voice won't reach anyone, I am aware of and hence it won't matter to anyone. So in silent protest all I could do is become a cricket hater. I may be happy for few seconds seeing bccI defeated. But as a hardcore fan I am mourning the ouster of India from the CWC and seeing the fans game dying a slow death. Coz one just can't the cricket out of an Indians heart. And when that fan is a Mumbaikar, it's IMPOSSIBLE.



-SR.

Progress Nevertheless

Neighbors house was also our house. Today, one misses a dearly neighborhood.

Once upon a time we were also acquainted with their extended families. Today we don't know exactly how many members actually stay, next door.

We exchanged love, shared happiness, supported each other in sorrow. Today an occasional smile is hardly visible.

We could blindly trust our neighbor by leaving our keys at their house. Today we fear even if we are their in our own house.

One phone connected so many families. Now there are many phones but it allows to block people rather than bring them together.

Being a Maharashtrian, I still loved south Indian pulav, chicken and paysam since childhood. Coz we exchanged our culture with whole heart. Those days when we were specially invited if our favorite item was cooked in their kitchen. Now you find discrimination in housing complex on basis of religion and Veg-NonVeg eaters.

Festivals were celebrated in true spirits together. Environment filled with different colours, lights. Traditional display of our culture. Today its main intention is photo shoot.

Bonding with neighbors was natural. Today it seems to be done out of obligation.

We had less carpet area, still everyone was welcome as they were big hearted. Today its vice versa.

There were actual people living around us. Alive. Lively. Now we are surrounded by robots.

Yes we did progress, nevertheless. But something was lost in the process. The price paid seems to be heavy sometimes.

-SR.

 

Deep Blue Sky

We look up to search answers
We look up to express frustration
We look up to seek explanation
We look up and demand justification

Just gaze at its beauty once
Split by lightning, crushed by storms
It has seen day, it has seen night
Still it never wonders why

Tells us how small we are in the cosmos
Life is too big to be consumed by petty setbacks
Spread your wings fly high
Arise again like the deep blue sky

-SR.

Woh7Din

Long time it has been I raised a toast for myself
Lifetime it seems the fat lady may have resigned herself.

Plenty is at stake on the outcome of August, this year
Won 7 Din had lot in store to instil fear.

Status quo unchanged when first result were declared
Nightmare had come true mind said it is unfair.

Err must be from my side I consoled
Fingers crossed eyes set on remainder goals.

Stooped further down the rate of growth
Speechless was I in the corner only to loathe.

Second outcome didn't change things
Trembled with the thought what third brings.

Finally heard the voice of cheer
Hand to cling in the darkened sphere.
 

Seventh day paved the way to winning post

You only live once, so
Bring a roast, raise a toast and Make the Most.

-SR.

PS: Written in August, 2014.

Walk On...!!

Just the beginning, struggle is far from over
For one rejection, I should cry never.

Myself to be blamed, reasons are not new
Yesterday's cheer can be today's gloom.

Failed expectations rising steadfast,
Taste of success seems a distant past.

Darkness roams around in broad day light,
Pathway seems to be lost in sight.

Still I can't give in,
I can't stop to try.

Can't let failure sweep me in the wave,
To see it through I have to be brave.

Whatever happens in the fight,
Have to push forward with all my might.

For the sun will rise after the storm,
New light, one day, will illuminate the dark.

-SR.

खेळ हे मनाचे

राग इतरांचा नेहमी माझ्यावरच का निघतो
प्रत्येक वेळी मीच बुजगावण्याच्या पत्रात का अडकतो |

युद्धाचा निकाल शेवटच्या क्षणातच का फिरतो
विजयाची आशा उंचावते तेव्हाच सुर्य का मावळतो |

खोटं बोललो कि कोंडीत सापडतो
खरं म्हटलं कि रेजेक्टं होतो |

कमवायच्या वयात फुकटचा गिळतो
रीटायरमेंटच्या वयात घरच्यांवर नोकरीची पाळी आणतो |

प्रत्येक चेहऱ्यावर एक प्रश्न दिसतो
उत्तर देताना मात्र मी हथबल होतो |

कधी कधी डोळ्यांन समोर मीठं काळोख होतो
भीती ने जीव कासावीस होतो |

गपचूप काही क्षण रडतो, डोळ्यातलं पाणी पापण्यांच्या आताच लपवतो
मग हळूच स्वत:लाच सावरतो
मनातली भीती पानावर उतरवतो
आणि पुन्हा कामाला लागतो |



-SR.

एका मैत्रीची गोष्ट

आज आठवली म्हणून सांगतो एक गोष्ट,
गोष्टीमध्ये एक होती ती आणि एक होतो मी |

आजही आठवतो कॉलेजचा तो पहिला दिवस,
पुढच्याच बेंच वर बसली होती ती |

शांत, निरागस हाताची घडी तोंडावर बोट,
मला वाटला जास्त बोलकी नसावी ती |

सत्य मात्र वेगळच होतं,
आणि अवघ्या काहीच दिवसात,
पूर्ण क्लास ची लाडकी बनली होती ती |

क्लास मध्ये असं कोणीच नाही
जो तिला ओळखत नसे
नुसता मित्रांचीच नव्हे
तर टीचेर्सची सुद्धा फेवरेट होती ती |

समाजसेविका होती ती बीकॅफ ची
कोणासाठीहि निस्वार्थ मदत करण्यास कायम तत्पर |

पाणी गिला है आणि तेल ओईली है असं तत्वाञान शिकवणारी
मूर्ती तशी लहान पण खोड्या करण्यात कीर्ती तिची महान होती |

तिच्यातला बिंदासपणा कायम आकर्षित करायचा
तिच्या बद्दल मुलांन मध्ये असलेला रेस्पेक्त पाहून खूप बरं वाटायचं |

तिची अदा इतर सर्व मुलीन पेक्षा निराळी होती
तिच्या सारखी ती एकुलती एकचं होती |

चेहऱ्यावरचे तिचे भाव कायमच हसरे असतं
मनातले मात्र कायम लपवून ठेवायची ती |

काय जादू होती तिच्या डोळ्यांमध्ये माहित नाही
एकदा पाहिलं कि पाहताच राहावं असं वाटायचं |

तिला हसताना पाहिलं कि दिल गारडन-गारडन व्हयाचं
तो काळ ती वेळ तशीच थांबून राहावी असं वाटायचं |

त्या एका क्षणात काळजाचा ठोका नक्की चुकायचा
जेव्हा चेहऱ्यावर आलेले केस मागे टाकून ती वर पहायची |

तिच्या गोड मिठीत सारं काही स्थब्ध व्ह्याचा
आभाळाच्या कुशीत असल्यासारखा जणू मी स्वतालाच विसरून जायचो  |

आठवत नाही पहिल्यांदा केव्हा बोललो
सेकंद ईअर मध्ये मात्र आम्ही बेस्ट फ्रेय्नड झालो |

दिवसातला एक क्षण नाही जेव्हा तिची आठवण नसे
आयुष्यात घडणारी प्रत्येक गोष्ट तिला सांगण्याची घाई असे |

मनाच्या कोपर्यात दडलेल्या गोष्टी सुद्धा तिच्याशी शेयर करायचो
तिच्या सोबत असताना मी, मी म्हणूनच वावरायचो |

शब्दांची गरज फारच कमी वाटे,
अवघड वळणाचे शब्द सुद्धा अर्थासह डोळ्यातून एकमेकांनं पर्यंत पोचायचे |

हे नक्की मैत्री होती कि प्रेम ते कळतं नव्हतं
पण जे काही होतं त्याने आयुष मात्र खूप सुंदर झाला होतं | 



-SR.

Budget Synopsis

The Union Budget presented by FM Arun Jaitely received mixed reactions across the spectrum. Its not something new, of course. Opposition can never support the Rulings. Lot of things attracted many attentions. The biggest, for me, was the rise of Service Tax to 14%. It surely is going to make huge holes in every pocket. Almost entire salaried class monthly budget will have impact of this rate increase. Alongwith this another cess namely Swach Bharat Cess is to be introduced on certain services. The other big thing was reduction of Corporate Tax from 30% to 25% in the next 4 years. Whereas no relief was given of any sorts in the Income Tax slabs. Abolishing Wealth Tax by adding a surcharge of 2% too the Super Rich is an appreciable move. GST yet to see daylight as FM promises its rollout next year. There was no mention at all of the Direct Tax Code implementation.

I am not any economist or expert to provide any guidelines or here to decode the budget. This is just a brief synopsis of the important aspects mentioned in the Budget Speech.

- FM began his speech by describing the changes in the economy since NDA took over the reigns in May 2014. Consumer Price Index, which is a tool used to measure inflation, came down to 5.1% from 11.2% in November 2012. Similarly the Current Account Deficit is also expected to be below 1.3% of GDP. Estimated GDP for the year 2014-15 is 7.4% according to the revised estimates while for the year 2015-16 is 8.4%.

- Financial Inclusion
Jan Dhan Yojana launched by PM Narendra Modi, as a necessary step to achieve financial inclusion, has been a huge success. In 100 days, over 12.5 crore bank accounts have been opened across the country.

- Monetary Framework with RBI
The understanding between RBI-Government is to keep the Inflation rayte below 6%. I am a bit sceptical about this understanding between the government and the our Central bank, RBI. Government involment in Monetary policy is not a good sign with reference to the indendence of RBI. Government intentions will always be motivated by political sentiments which is not good for our economy in the long term.

- Amrut Mahotsav
The vision of PM Modi led Team India for 2022, when our country will be celebrating 75 years of freedom:
    >Roof for each family. To build 2 crore houses in Urban areas and crore houses in Rural areas.
    >24 hours Water, Electricity. Toilets in every household & connected roads.
    >At least one in the family will be employed.

- Cooperative Federalism
In order to empower states with more resources the government has developed a 42% share of the divisible pool of taxes for the states which will result in transfer of Rs.5.24lakh crore in the year 2015-16. Whereas further Rs.3.04lakh crore will be transferred by way of grants and plan transfers taking the total share of states to 62% of the total tax receipts.

- MUDRA
SC/ST/OBC entrepreneurs are owners of 62% of small business houses. They are deprived of finance and find it difficult to find access to the system of credit. Hence government has proposed the formation of MUDRA i.e. Micro Units Development Refinance Agency with a corpus of Rs.20000crore and credit guarantee corpus of Rs.3000crore. MUDRA will refinance the Micro Finance Institution through Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana where lending priority will be given SC/ST owned enterprises.

- NBFC
Non banking Financial Companies registered with RBI having asset size of Rs.500crore will be considered for notification as Financial Institutions in terms of SARFAESI Act, 2002 in order to bring parity between NBFC and Financial Institutions.

- Jan Suraksha
  >Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana will cover accidental death up to Rs.2lakhs with a premium of Rs. 12 per year
  >Atal Pension Yojana will provide a defined pension depending upon the contribution and its period.
  >Pradhan Mantri Jyoti Bima Yojana will natural and accidental death within the age group 18-50 up to Rs.2lakhs with a premium of Rs.330 per year.

- Atal Innovation Mission(AIM)
AIM, under NITI, will provide an innovation promotion platform involving academics, entrepreneurs and draw upon national and international experience to foster culture of R&D and scientific research.

- SETU
Self Employed & Talent Utilisation will be setup, under NITI, to support all aspects of start up businesses and other self employment activities in technology driven areas.

- Gold Monetisation
FM has proposed a scheme which will replace present Gold Deposits and Gold Metal Loan Schemes. This new scheme will allow the depositor of gold to earn interest in their metal account. Also an alternate financial asset or Soverign Gold bond will be developed for purchasing metal gold. Bond will carry fixed rate of interest and will be redeemable in cash.

- Act East Policy
Government plans to cultivate extensive economic and strategic relations with South East Asian countries. Private sector, through SPV, will set up manufacturing hubs in the CMLV countries i.e. Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos & Vietnam.

- AIIMS IIM IIT & Others
In the year 2015-16, government has proposed to establish AIIMS in J&K, Punjab, TamilNadu, Himachal Pradesh, Assam & Bihar. An IIT is proposed in Karnataka while the present Indian School of Mines in Dhanabad will be upgraded into IIT. Horticulture Research Institute will be built in Amritsar. Two IIMs are proposed in J&K and Andhra Pradesh. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education is proposed in the states of Maharashtra & Rajasthan. Centre for Film Production, Animation & Gaming is proposed in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

- Governance of PSBs
In order to improve the governance of public sector banks it is proposed to establish an autonomous Bank Board Bureau. It will help in developing differential strategies & capital raising plans through innovative financial method and instruments.

- Tax Proposals
  >GST to be implemented from next year.
  >Corporate Tax will be reduced to 25% in the next 4years. Exemption will also be reduced in phased manner.
  >Service Tax will be charged at 12% in order to bring it closer to GST rate which is expected to be 16%.
  >Comprehensive law is proposed to be established on black money to specifically deal with money stashed away abroad.
  >Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Bill to be introduced to curb domestic black money.
  >General Anti Avoidance Agreement implementation is deferred by 2years to resolve certain contentious issues.
  > Wealth Tax to abolished and additional surcharge of 2% will be added on the super rich who have taxable income over Rs.1crore.
  >Contribution made to the Swacch Bharat Kosh will be 100% exempt.
  >Swacch Bharat cess of 2% or less on all or certain services to be introduced for financing and promoting Swacch Bharat Abhiyan.
  >Health Insurance Premium deduction increased from Rs.15000-25000. For senior citizens the amount will be Rs.30000 and in case of super senior citizen not covered in Health Insurance, Rs.30000 will be allowed as deduction towards expenditure.
  >Transport Allowance limit increased from Rs.800-1600 per month.
  >Additional deduction of Rs.25000 proposed in Section 80DD and 80U.

- Among Others
  >Defence budget for the year 2015-16 will be Rs.246727crore.
  >Establishment of Public Debt Management Agency to bring external borrowings and domestic debt under one roof.
  >Proposal to merge Forward Market Commission with SEBI to strengthen regulation of commodity forward market & reduce wild speculation.
  >Soil Health Card Scheme to be launched to improve Soil fertility.

-SR.