ADVERTISEMENTS, FOR WHOM?

Very often, and very often, we do see release of advertisements by the govt in most of the newspapers be it regional or national papers. I have been able to outline three different kinds of advertisements. Basic principle of advt is a target audience

1—Ones released in memory of the great heroes. Recent example is the one released on Rajiv Gandhi’s anniversary. The cost is said to be around Rs 300 crores. Each one of us may have an opinion of him, but he was the PM of the country. They ensure that a photograph of the PM along with other ministers is prominently placed. The ministry which releases the advertisement ensures that the photograph of the minister in charge is placed next to the PM and other VIPs. Certain VVIPs cannot be ignored. Such advertisements could be accepted. This category of ad has a target audience

2---Ones released as a piece of information to the general public and for benefit of every section of society, like the dates for polio drops. They ensure that a photograph of the CM, PM and all other possible ministers is prominently placed. Certain VVIPs cannot be ignored. Such advertisements are good and accepted. This category has a target audience.

3---Ones that are being released—God knows for whom and for what purpose. I would refer to an ad in the HT 29/08-Workshops on Designing and Implementing CITIZEN’S/CLIENT’S CHARTER & GRIEVANCE REDRESS MECHANISM. The advt carries a photograph of the PM and the minister Chavan.—

Ref to an advt HT 31/08 Awards to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises. This advt carries photograph of the President, Prime minister, Chairperson KVIC, Sonia Gandhi and a minister in charge. These two are only examples. These ads do not convey any message in public interest, the venues mentioned here are not open to public, volunteers will not be a part o the discussions, there is no public participation.

Who is the target audience?

What is the purpose of these advertisements? It is tax payer’s money being spent on unproductive issues. Some sycophants may be at their best trying to please those in power .It may also be an opportunity to keep the media on the right side of the powers. Is it?

It is estimated that govt spends over Rs 10,000 crores / year on such advertisements.

As per the industry norms, legally, the advertising agency is entitled to a 15% commission. In this case, the commission amount works out to be about Rs 1500 crores. No one needs to be a MBA to understand as to what COULD be happening to Rs 1500 crores

Your guess is as good as mine.

Let us CHANGE INDIA for INDIA OF TOMORROW.

Posted 31/08/10, b k chowla

LETTER TO THE PM

Dr Manmohan Singh,

Honourable,Prime Minister,

In 2004, after,” Vajpayee govt” was voted out and you took over the challenge of India’s governance, eyebrows were raised and finally country settled to one of the two remarks (1) A historical accident (2) Divine intervention. I believed in the latter. I still do.

AAM AADMI--PAPPU was happy to see you as we remember you brought back the gold which was pledged by “Chandrasekhar Govt”, you brought about end of inspector raj, you started the process of liberalisation, a greater financial discipline was brought in, and you were trying to bring in governance and of course your level of honesty and integrity.

From the point of view of PAPPU, regretfully, he feels let down. PAPPU only wants the basics -FOOD-SHELTER-HEALTHCARE.-64 yrs is too long a wait.

PAPPU has no interest, nor bothered, nor concerned, nor understands GDP, SENSEX, NIFTY, FDI, WPI INDEX, NUKE DEAL, CIVIL NUKE LIABILITY and some don’t even know the expanded form of these abbreviations.

PAPPU is not concerned about embarrassment to UPA by RAJA, PAWAR, MAMATA, PATEL, ALIGIRI KALMADI,SHIELA DIXIT,—KASHMIR SITUAION, MAOISTS-NAXALS-MANIPUR,MPs SALARY.

NCAER report states, Indian spends, per capita, Rs 370/month on food, i.e. Rs11.94p/day for three meals. Just for comparison, it is less than price (Rs 12/bottle) of one bottle of mineral water often seen on tables/dais of meetings of political parties.

NCAER report says, per capita, an Indian spends Rs 37/month on health care—which is less than the cost of one Crocin tab /day. VIPs get life time 5 star medical treatment for free in India or overseas.

INFLATION is killing.Highest in 63 yrs- Planning commission, FIMIN and PMO have announced so many dates for inflation to come down that it is more like a jigsaw puzzle .PAPPU does not want to know inflation in %, he wants MEHNGAI to come down. Food grains are rotting due to lack of space, but PAPPU is starving while Rats and Monkeys are on a feast.

Can any economist, economic advisor, CA, cost accountant tell PAPPU, as to how can a couple with two children and incomes of Rs 50000/month fulfil its commitments (WITHOUT BEING CORRUPT)?

SUBSIDY on LPG used in PAPPU’s kitchen has been withdrawn. But, kitchen in Parliament house gets subsidy--TV channel showed the price of a plate of chicken curry at Rs 26.50p for MPs whereas; raw chicken in the market is @ Rs 280/kg.

CORRUPTION is shamelessly visible all over. “law will take its own course”. But, the truth is well known. Every morning PAPPU gets up to read a new scam with amount running into crores, thankfully he doesn’t know of number of zeros in a crore. Why won’t PAPPU become corrupt? He may.

HOUSES, built by state for the poor, allegedly, get usurped by the politicians under “CHIEF MINISTER DISCRETIONAY QUOTA “Sir, Where should the poor stay?

It seems, time has come to wield the stick without worrying about consequences.

People must not lose faith in Govt and democracy.

Sir, you are known for your honesty, integrity, national commitment. When the history gets written, PAPPU would hate to see any negatives when history of “Dr Manmohan Singh Govt”is written.

It is the winning side which writes history.

My apologies,if any remark has hurt you.

let us CHANGE INDIA for INDIA OF TOMORROW.

posted 21/08/10,b k chowla.

GANDHI V/S GANDHI

1947-----GANDHI had a stick.

2010----GANDHI has a remote.

Happy Independence Day.

let us CHANGE INDIA for INDIA OF TOMORROW.

posted 15/08/10. b k chowla

IS ANY ONE ACCOUNTABLE?

We are lucky that we are living in a democratic country.

Perhaps, we are too lazy, have a laid back attitude and are diseased with chalta hai attitude. May be we are justified in blaming the system for all the ills, but we must ask ourselves as to why don’t we raise our voice and make government accountable for the policies-actions they formulate. Let us not forget, those in Delhi have been voted in by us to GOVERN, not rule, and be accountable. We are indifferent towards the missing links, and are being taken for granted.

There has to be accountability by the politician.

ACCOUNTABLE?-NCAER report says one Indian spends Rs 36/ on health care per month,which cant buy one Crocin tab/day. VIPs get free treatment.

ACCOUNTABLE?-Govt spent Rs 2.62 crores buying generator sets for schools, but “forgot” to install those while warranty period has expired. Gensets are still lying unattended.

ACCOUNTABLE?-DU north campus has 200 students in MA English class with seating arrangements for only 120.Students keep standing while class is on.

ACCOUNTABLE?-A junior staff taking bribe of Rs 300 gets a sack and VIP misappropriating 300 crores+ faces unending enquiry and goes scot free.

ACCOUNTABLE?-Rs 17000 crores worth food grains rot outside govt warehouse due to lack of storage space while poor die of hunger. Parliament canteen gives subsidised food to MPs.

ACCOUNTABLE?-PFI threatens to make Kerala a Muslim state, Assam has Bangladeshis walking in and being used as Muslim vote banks, Srinagar burns while govt and media spark Hindu terror scare.

ACCOUNTABLE?-Illegal mining is flourishing in Karnataka, AP, Haryana with political connivance while illegal exports are flourishing.

ACCOUNTABLE?-We play Dalit politics, caste politics, religious politics, minority politics, region politics, state politics and still have unrest in most of states.

ACCOUNTABLE?-Govt’s own report suggests that 30% of medicines in the market are spurious.

ACCOUNTABLE?-Houses meant for the poor get allotted to favourites across party lines under Chief Minister’s Discretionary Quota Scheme.

ACCOUNTABLE?-The number of cases pending in the courts will take more than 300yrs to dispose of

ACCOUNTABLE?-Soldiers posted at Siachen are being fed with food packs which have expired 28 months back. These soldiers guard Indian Territory.

Who should be accountable for CWG mess? By the time the games get over, everything would have been forgotten and “settled”

It is time that we started asking questions, we might get some answers.

PAPPU is still awaiting ROTI-KAPADA-MAKAAN.

let us CHANGE INDIA for INDIA OF TOMORROW.

posted o8/08/10, b k chowla