INDIA VS PAKISTAN

India and Pakistan are always at loggerheads since independence. I wonder why?

Partition was a harsh reality.  It was based on political aspirations of the leaders. Thousands of the lives were lost. But why do we fight now when:

1. We share almost same culture
2. Our food habits are same.
3. Indians love their TV drama. Pakistanis love our cinema.

4. We love their singers and they enjoy our songs.

5. Both the countries are not expansionists.

6. Kashmir is mere an excuse. It’s part of India is a reality.

Then why to fight?  Why to waste billions of dollars on defence?  Why not spend on education and health care? Why leaders fail understand this?  Or existence of the country itself depends upon  belligerent attitude towards India!

China is bigger threat to both the countries. It will simply eats away Pakistan in the guise of funding. Better Pakistan realises this early. Otherwise, let it also face fate of Sri Lanka.

Life is short

“Good morning Khatriji.  What a pleasant surprise”, I responded on hearing  ring on my mobile phone.

There was pin drop silence from other end.

I said, “hello sir....”

“Pradeepji, I am his wife. Khatri sab is no more”. The choked voice said.

“Very sad” I responded.

“Since everything happened so fast, I am clue less and checking from his mobile contacts, if you have anything to do with him”,  she said.

I was stunned and felt sorry for her.
Mr Albela khatri was very young.

A few days ago, I called my doctor Mr. Gill on his mobile.

“Good morning Dr sab.  How are you?”, I said.

“uncle papa ab nahi rahe”, his son responded.

I was taken aback. Dr Sab was hardly 45 and cancer took toll of his life.

Life is short. Nobody knows what  is there for us tomorrow.

Let us avoid jealousy, learn to love each other, respect friends and burn “ego”.  Ego is the sign of inferiority complex.

If you can’t help someone. Atleast don’t harm him.

Key role of HR Managers

I checked in Hotel Taj Palace, Delhi at midnight sometime in last year and the executive at the desk welcomed me.

“Sir, it’s already midnight so I kept all your documents ready, kindly sign the form and you can go to your room.

Sir, though you have booked a normal room, we have upgraded to our club room, I hope this is ok with you?" the executive smilingly told me further.

I said, “Thank you.  In the morning my friend will join me for breakfast, please book a table for two."

He said, “it's alright sir. You need not worry. Enjoy yourself”.

“Sir, breakfast will be complimentary for your friend too", he said.

“Noon is checking out time, but I want to spend more time here. Is there any issue?” I said.

“Absolutely not sir. I will do the needful. You can stay up to 4 pm tomorrow.” He said.

This gesture of the reception desk executive has made me a permanent customer of the Taj Group of hotels.

And this incident was not in isolation. My subsequent experience has always been like that.
Having stayed in many hotels, I feel there is something different in Taj, which makes it unique despite comparatively high tariffs.

Now the next question is whether it’s part of their organizational policy or something beyond that.

Here, comes the role of HR managers. A very sound HR practices must have gone into the building of work culture at Taj and therefore, their executives make the experience different.

Traditionally, the HR function was known as Personnel Management or labor-management or Workforce management but now it is re-cherished as Human Resource or Asset Management.

Many organizations though very good at innovative practices when talking about their product management but fail to recognize their most valuable assets i.e. Human Resource.
The great entrepreneur and visionary industrialist late Shri Dhirubhai always used to say, “people are biggest asset” and rightly so today RIL is India’s biggest company and a Fortune 500 company.

So what is the role an HR manager is expected to play to channelize the Human Assets?

The first and foremost important task is to recruit suitable candidates for the function. The person doesn’t need to be highly qualified or have relevant experience. A candidate with a strong desire to learn will excel even if he doesn’t have qualifications or experience.

The next best action will be to organize a structured induction program for the selected candidate whatsoever position it may be. A new employee in the organization must know about the product, services, area of operation, competition, management people, cross-functional areas, ethics policies, welfare policies, and so on.

The market is fast evolving. Artificial Intelligence is taking a big toll on manpower. New technology is replacing the outdated method of work. So instead of hard work, a Smart work concept is taking place. Therefore, periodic training programs, organizing seminars, and encouraging employees to be more participative in the overall affairs of the organization is another crucial function which HR Managers must undertake.

The high attrition means loss of many productive hours and high cost of replacement. Therefore, the periodic study on the behaviour of the employees, their satisfaction level, their money as well as the psychological requirement is a must for a growth-oriented organization. Its rightly said, “Employee doesn’t leave and company, but leave the Managers”. Therefore, HR managers must play a vital role in checking such practices.

Another area where HR Managers are challenged is to design an appropriate compensation package for each grade of employee. It's difficult to fix the same compensation for the same nature of the job, but then it’s the HR job to design packages in such a way that recruit doesn’t pose a possible threat of dissatisfaction among the existing employees. The employees' welfare measures like a good workplace, medical facilities, conducting team building programs, retirement benefits, etc are other key areas where HR Managers need to sink in.

The organization itself is nothing, without good human resources.   And therefore, a strong investment in manpower and upgrading them from time to time become the key areas for any HR Manager.

Letter to PM : Strong foundation of India

Respected Prime Minister,

My views to build India as a strong nation:

1. Primary education: Currently quality aspect is terribly ignored in primary education in India which is should be the best as this is the very foundation of the nation. Teachers are very low paid. In some states, their salaries are as low as Rs 5000 per month which is even lower than domestic help. Select the best teachers with the best remuneration. Attract talent. A movement should be done to bring the best minds to education instead of going them to join white collars jobs.

2. Basic health care: The successive governments have tried to improve health care in villages, but the budget allocation is minuscule in comparison to the requirements. Encourage establishing more medical colleges, attract students from rural areas, and let them serve villages at least for 3 years. A healthy citizen will build a healthy nation.

3. Rural Economy: We are a nation of an agricultural economy. But unfortunately, our farmer who feeds us is again one of the most neglected persons. He always toils in poverty. He is often a victim of drought or flood. If some time production is more then the market price becomes less than his cost and he has no choice but to destroy his crop. And this is practically repeated every year. It’s criminal. Let our farmers prosper. Provide him storage facility, provide him market, provide him minimum guarantee price. Our most agriculture prosperous state like Punjab is marred with migration to Canada, Australia, and US. Please check it.

4. Research and Development: The Indian taught IITiens, Engineers, doctors are serving USA. No issue. They send hard-earned dollars to us. But we rarely hear any new patent, copyright, or development to their credit. We need very strong R&D departments insulated from political interference. Encourage technocrats to work here. Pay them handsome salaries. Let the nation shine with new technology, medicines, or new methods to its credit.

5. Social security and social recognition:

There is hardly any incentive for tax compliance and therefore the rate of the direct taxpayer is abysmally low. Introduce social security measures like old-age pension, unemployment allowances, free medical care, free primary education which will deter people from tax theft. Reward the taxpayers publicly. Surely results will be tremendous.

6. Role of Babus : So far the role of bureaucrats in India has been perceived as “dadagiri”. Now reverse their role. Give them targets of employment, give them targets of productivity, give them the target of a green and clean environment. Surely, these people will work hand in hand with the industry.

Sir, these are very basic things which could be implemented. Only you require to push and engrave your name permanently in the history of India as a Revolutionist.

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KICK START ECONOMY: POST LOCKDOWN

India is going through a very perilous economic condition.    Due to complete lockdown in the country for the past 45 days, the economic activities have come to a grinding halt.  However,  with the phased relaxations announced, the business has slowly started picking up.    But this  complete closure  has given a big jolt to the overall economy and as a result, unemployment has grown manifold.  The wheels of the manufacturing sector have stopped moving and the service industry has also received a severe jolt.    But India has always shown resilience to such adversity and in fact, its right time to convert this adversity into an  opportunity. 

Today a normal businessman is grappled with innumerable compliances.  The focus is more towards inspector raj rather than devoting the time in actual productivity.  A businessman has to constantly encounter with labor inspector, GST inspector, IT inspector, Vigilance, Pollution Control Inspector, Weight and Measure Inspector, Accounting compliances, Food and Drug Inspector and compliance with a  plethora of laws.    Every inspector/officer has his own whims without any accountability.  Productivity reduces considerably in such an environment and resultant low employment.  The government will have to do conscious efforts to remove such barriers. At least for the next 12 months let the industry function without any interference or such hindrances . The positive results will far outweigh the concessions so allowed.  Further, the     Government officials should also  be made accountable for each of their actions.    Use technology, minimize human intervention. 

Judicial accountability is another subject which successive governments have  failed to address.  There is no timeframe for deciding any case.  It starts from the lower court to close at the Supreme Court,  which takes years together to reach its finality.   By that time, either the litigant or the business itself is finished.   An Independent judiciary doesn’t mean no accountability.  Justice delayed is justice denied and as such the trust of the common man has been diminishing,  which ultimately gives rise to the corruption as one explores softer options to get the things done. 

The government should establish a single-window system in each city to help the industry to be known as ‘Udyog Mitra”.  An industrialist should find all answers through “Udyog Mitra”.  The suggestion should be in writing and binding.  No other department should question once the businessman acts as per the  advice received from such  Udyog Mitras.  

Though the government has given moratorium in the payment of interest on  bank loans, that is not enough.   The liability of payment remains while there is no income.  In other words, the liabilities are piling up when the demand is uncertain.  This will surely worsen the already deteriorated situation.  If interest waiver is not possible because of the negative impact on the economy, let it be deferred for a reasonably  longer period and there shouldn’t be  any compounding of such  interest.  Yes, Central Bank should find some ways to help banks so that depositors shouldn’t suffer.

Incentives play a major role in production and productivity.  The government should declare the policy of incentives like cash subsidy, relaxation in tax liability, providing cheaper land, helping in storage,  low interest rates  to those industries  who meet the targets of production and employment. 

The “AtamaNirbhar Bharat” policy of the government will be successful not by simply slogan writing,  but by being competitive.    If China supplies  at cheaper rates, then whatsoever we may say, our movement of “Make in India” will not be successful.  For example, if a person wants to buy TV and Indian make of similar quality  is costlier than that of China, majority of  the customer will go for Chinese  make,  regardless of his  patriotism.  To be competitive, don’t leave only on the entrepreneur, incubate and help him, give him support.  Only with the State help, China’s industry could grow to the extent of World domination.  The sinister policy of China on the spread of Coronavirus has isolated it from  rest of the world.  It is  high time that we  woo  investors and make India  a  world class  manufacturing hub.  Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have always been fore-front in Industrialization.   The other States have a tremendous opportunity now and make concerted efforts to bring top-notch brands to make their State manufacturing capitals.

Infrastructure projects like road, power, hospitals, warehousing, cold storage, hospitals, schools, bridges, dams, railway lines, whose work came to a standstill in the wake of  the lockdown  should be given a booster dose.  This will provide large employment as well as high consumption of cement, steel and fuel.  This will provide the required lifeline to the other ancillary industries.

Real Estate is another industry that provides massive employment , but is  sadly  ignored by and large.   They have suffered very heavily due to the lockdown.  Projects have been further delayed.  Workforce has left the sites.  Bank defaults are there.  Real Estate industry is a consumer of cement, steel, fittings, furnishing and many allied products.  Concerted efforts should be made to revive this  industry.  Provide them moratorium in interest payment, tax payment, relief on delayed projects.  Case to  case study can be made through independent authority and efforts should be made to kick-start the stalled projects.   The courts are inundated with revenue matters.   Historically, the property registrar office is filled with corruption.    Throw away such a system.  If the passport office could be overhauled and become completely transparent, let property registration be also handled through the online system. 

Recently the government has announced a package of Rs. 20 lacs crores to revive the economy.  Now the government has to ensure that benefit reaches the needy immediately.  Corrupt practices should be dealt  with heavy hands.   Unless there is trust in the business community, and they are allowed to do business unimpeded, unemployment will keep on rising. 

There is a big migration of farm as well as other industrial workforce to their native places due to the closure of industry in urban centric places.  This idle labor force is now the biggest challenge to the government.  Without any productive employment, poverty will rise.  Concerted efforts will have to be made to relocate them where they can be gainfully employed.   A large workforce is concentrated in UP, Bihar and Rajasthan.  The affected States should help the industry and farm sector to bring them back to the work.   They must open help centers for these workers to disseminate the required information and facilitate their relocation at the respective work places.   Today, most of our labor force is equipped with SMART phones and with the use of   technology, they can be reached immediately and as per their skill, they should be immediately engaged.  All safety norms should be applied strictly so that we can fight pandemic as well.  

Pradeep Kumbhat

6.6.2020

Future of Retail Malls in India

The Shopping mall culture in India is relatively new.  It started from 2005 and now almost all major towns in India with a population of one lac or above have atleast one Mall.  Their number now stands around one thousand or so.   Gradually,   the numbers are increasing.  Some of the prominent and iconic malls of India  are Select City, Delhi, Ambience Mall, Gurgaon, Elante Chandigarh, Lullu Mall, Kochi, Sarath City Capital Mall, Hyderabad, HiLite Mall, Kozikode, Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Bangalore, Phoenix Marketcity Mall, Chennai, Mantri Square Mall, Bangalore, The Forum, Bangalore. Phoenix Market city Mall, Mumbai, Great India Place, Noida, Pacific Mall, Delhi and so on.

The shopping Malls provide large employment directly and indirectly.  In Malls, the  customers enjoy more an experience rather than mere shopping.   Average customer spends minimum 3 hours in a Mall.  Besides, normally visitors in a Mall environment are mostly in groups like family or friends.  So they have multiple options of entertainment viz coffee shops, pubs, restaurant, cinema and of course shopping itself.  And as such the popularity of the good shopping complexes have grown leaps and bounds.  In case of extreme hot or extreme cold weather the shopping malls become ideal destinations for day long hangouts as these complexes are centrally air conditioned. 

After advent of modern shopping malls, there was fear that high street retail will vanish.  It was also feared and mom and pop kirana stores will also suffer badly and slowly but surely they will also be finished.  But reality is something different in India.  In fact the high street retail has also evolved, kirana stores have adopted to the new reality and they came out with new avtars of modern retail. Now the front counters have gone in stand alone shops, side counters have come up.  Customers have choice of picking up the stuff of their choice unlike earlier time where customers used to wait for shop keepers to show the options.  Most of the high street shops are centrally located.  The Kirana shops are traditionally found place close to residential colonies where customers including children can go easily and bring the stuff fast.  As against this, the big retail malls are normally found place either in new townships within city or at the outskirts of the city where huge land parcels are normally   available. 

The construction, development and running of a shopping mall poses big challenges.   In India, the land prices are exorbitantly high.  Running of an air-conditioned shopping complex is a tedious task of balancing various expenses like power, security, maintenance, parking, etc.  This adds to overall cost to the retailers. While the margins are thin, its very difficult for the retailers to sustain after bearing the cost of rent and common area maintenance expenses.   Therefore, there is very high degree of churning in the  Malls.   There are very few Malls in India which are successful and rocking.  At the same time at least 50 percent of the properties in India which were meant for Mall remained incomplete.    In Punjab alone, there are minimum 25 such properties which were started between 2006-2013 have not yet seen the light of the day.    Some Malls were initially started but subsequently failed and now they are simply vacant or underutilised.   The main reasons for their failure is very high cost of funding, poor selection of the site, dispute between landlord and developers and in some cases the developers simply ran away after feeling the heat of the market.  The vacant or under-utilised assets are national wastage and therefore, serious attempts should be made to put them to use.

Now the World-wide Pandemic of COVID 19 has forced government to lockdown the complete economy except essential services.  After two months of lockdown government of India has taken measures to open the market again.  But unfortunately, the shopping complex and multiplexes are at the last priority.  Its generally believed that these are places were virus may spread due to closed environment and fear of overcrowding.   This is where the problem has started.  Malls have their fixed expenses of maintenance.  Retailers do not have any source of income and as such they stopped payment of rent and CAM.  There is huge tussle going on between Mall owners and retailers.  Many retailers have given the notices of vacation of the premise as uncertainty of lockdown will pile up their liabilities.   Going legal way is not a solution.  The situation is extra ordinary, a pandemic, a natural calamity, a government action, forceful closure and so on.  The Court will have to go through many aspects to arrive at a decision.  This may take years together to decide.  Better, Mall owners discuss with the retailers their problems and find a solution before the situation goes out of control.

The Pandemic has opened the gate of high street retail again.  While the Malls are still closed, government has given relaxation for high street shopping albeit with certain restrictions on timing and days.  But the retailers have now realised that on high street they can at least remain afloat.  In Mall death is sure shot in case of such lockdowns. 

The COVID 19 has taught us that the life will not be same again.  Malls will be requiring adopting new methods, new technology, social distancing norms, sanitization and so on.  Even after opening, the next six months will be crucial for retailers as a few customers will find entry in the Mall.  The restaurant and Cinemas may still take longer time to get permission.  And therefore, the major entertainment factor will be missing in the Malls.  Now it’s up to the Mall management to restructure their maintenance expenses and help the retailers with rental discounts for some time.    This is the only way retailers can survive and, in the process, Mall will thrive. 

Pradeep kumbhat

30.5.2020

INDIAN ECONOMY POST LOCK-DOWN PERIOD

My views about post lock-down period in India. 

1. Economy will bounce back 

2. There will be huge surge in demand for personal vehicles viz cars and bikes 

2. People will buy life style products  viz cloths, accessories.  Huge demand will be there for mid segment branded items. 

3. Work from home will be new norms. But at the same time, huge demand will be for small offices. Working in a office environment gives lot of  psychological as well as physiological advantage. 

4. Demand for mid range housing will surge.  People will love to own their own houses instead of high rented accommodation. Owning a house gives lot of mental strength to live dignified life in a stressful situation like lock-down. 

5. Rental of commercial properties will come down atleast for next 12 months. People will shift from high rental properties to low rental properties. 

6. A wave of churning will takes place in Malls.  Developers will shift to revenue sharing models. Attempt will be made to rationalise common area maintenance charges. 

7. Deposits in Nationalised and big private banks will surge as the safety of the money will be the prime objective of the middle and upper middle class. So the interest rate will come down. 

8. Huge investment will be there in infrastructure projects thereby creating more demand in overall economy. 

9. Higher allocation in MNREGA will give rise to consumption.

10.  Demand for electronic products like laptop, computers, mobile phone will increase as more and more people have developed habit of working from home and also students will be  taking online classes. 

11. Huge investment is expected in medical colleges and pharma facilities to cope with increased demand of good medical care. Accordingly associated industries like surgical equipment, lab chemicals, furnishing facilities will also get jump. 

So no need to panic.