I am not actually a fan of Artificial Intelligence, particularly of the frenzy it has evoked, but neither a hater of it, for sure. I have always maintained it that if the end objective and purpose of any application, innovation, tool and technology is for larger good without compromising anybody or anything, it must be welcomed and supported. The picture of politics all around the globe was never this gloomy in the history of civilization and despite 63% of World Countries (123 of 195) having a Democratic System of Governance, Democracy never seemed to be so much abandoned by its protagonists and exploited by its beneficiaries who have a singular and similar agenda of gaining absolute power that is believed to corrupt absolutely...!
In this context, no matter how utopian, romantic and hence impractical it seems, César has nailed it by marrying AI with Democracy, at least in his imagination and envision, that is! I couldn’t help but rejoice even with just the idea of having my own Personal Representative in a Democratic System who could learn about facts, analyze them rationally, think independently about the issues at hand and express it's opinion in policy matters that would lead to Strategic Decisions that could become the legislation in process. It doesn’t get any romantic than this, only if it could be made possible by one way or other!
I know and understand, as well as César, that this is neither fantasizing the situation nor promising something that can never be achieved – neither of us is a politician, you know! However, no matter how perfect this idea of having your own 'Avatar' in a Democratic System that will keep an eye on all the developments and keep all the developments in check gives a stimulus to the proactive mind and make positive vibes run down the spine; it would have a fate of struggle and strongest resistance from all the political powers of the world as it will try to keep a watch on them and govern their actions – exact role-reversal of the situation that they have toiled to create for centuries together!
Nevertheless, with a political fact that we cannot even bring a Lokpal Bill in effect that is principally agreed by all the politicians, presumably, I am not living in a fool’s paradise to assume that what César proposes is imminent anywhere around the globe, let alone in this part of the world. However as the all-time-great Shayar Ghalib has said it precisely and profoundly –
“हम को मालूम है जन्नत की हक़ीक़त लेकिन
दिल के ख़ुश रखने को 'ग़ालिब' ये ख़याल अच्छा है...!”
We know very well about the situation of Heaven
The very thought of it soothes Ghalib’s mind, nevertheless!
If you still read a Viewspaper (Spell-check – the tiniest yet most dangerous form of Artificial Intelligence [don’t believe my words? try texting a message with Wi-fi and be ready for the disaster when AI changes every instance of Wi-fi to Wife!] tried to change it to Newspaper – the classic example of how ‘technology’ decides what you have in mind or how you ‘should’ think!), I bet you would find at least 10 reports of death in one way or other per day, no matter where you live and which Newspaper (damn that spell-check!) you read. One third of it would be because of disease (resulting from any and every reason), one third would be accidents (killing included) and one third would be suicides, on and average; natural (?) deaths are not considered as they don’t make NEWS! This statistics, and the root-cause of all three, itself makes a statement about the present condition of the society and it becomes scary when it reveals the fact that most of the deaths of Farmers and Soldiers are either by suicides or accidents they meet with on road, rail or in air rather than ‘on field’. We seem to have decided committing more to ‘Amar Jawan Amar Kisan’ than ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’, isn’t it?
This is a concern and a question too. Democracy is not about just casting your vote, never in exchange of a favour, but it is about having an opinion and a responsibility to carry that opinion on your shoulders. Opinion is neither a tradable commodity nor can it be exchanged for a material gain or thing, it needs to be formed, nurtured, developed and expressed at the right times in right ways; election being one of it! And a prerequisite quality of any ‘view’ or standpoint is being well-informed. The ‘i’ borrowed from the Social (and) Media seems to have replaced the ‘we’ in the ‘well’ making it ill-informed. It’s a scientifically proven psychological fact that if anything is said repeatedly, mind starts to believe it just because of the ‘echo’ effect, imagine what could happen when every type of available media is put to work of amplifying what you want to present as a rosy picture of anything – in plain language advertise it!
By the way, have you realized that Advertisement has become the barometer of performance lately? If you haven’t, pick up any Views-paper and try to find a ‘News’ in it amidst the propaganda or get down on the main road of your village, town, city or metro and look-up for the sky, your ‘vision’ would be blurred by the hoardings filled with sky-rocketing promises… It’s a show business after all, you know!
But this is neither an advertisement or any type of propaganda, so let me stick to my objective and to drive my point home all I need you to learn about a catchy term or phrase used in any type of mass communication to add some spice to the info and popularize it. You must have heard terms like ‘Believe it or not’ – there is a very famous Ripley’s series of true, weird and unbelievable stories with this name. Another similar phrase is, ‘Do you know?’ These could be very popular Song Numbers nowadays, but it generally is meant to share something important that you ought to know, otherwise!
It’s not time yet for Big B to call you on the Hot Seat in the next season of KBC but there’s no harm in refreshing the General Knowledge once in a while without any specific purpose, particularly for the questions that would never appear on KBC, not even as a Jackpot question, isn’t it? As an Independent, Reflective and Responsible Citizen with a Voting Right of a Democratic Republic Sovereign Nation, let us do this exercise for Alternative Inclusive Sustainable Development so that we could live and let live...!
1. Do you know India is an Agrarian Economy basically and it is one of the biggest in the world?
2. Do you know farmer families of half of the nation have ANNUAL income of ` 20,000/-?
3. Do you know in last 50 years Agriculture Income increased merely by 20% vis-à-vis average income of all other sectors, including Teaching profession, increased by 250 to 500%, that is more than 10 to 25 times of Agriculture?
4. Do you know besides lacking overall long-term availability of reusable water resources, 21% of the country’s diseases are water-related and 163 million Indians lack access to safe drinking water?
5. Do you know out of the 10 cities with highest pollution in the world, seven are in India and our Capital Delhi NCR is at no. 11?
6. Do you know more than one third of the world's malnourished children live in India, among these, half of the children under three years old are underweight and a third of wealthiest children are over-nourished?
7. Do you know there are about 20 million street children in India, largest number in any country of the world?
8. Do you know about half of the children in 7th Standard cannot write their name correctly or perform simple Maths operations like addition and subtraction?
9. Do you know 7th Pay Commission would cause a fiscal deficit of 5 Lakh Crore Rupees in effect?
11. Do you know we had a ‘Haircut’ worth few Lakh Crore in form of NPAs settlement of top borrowers?
12. Do you know there is a Corporate Stimulus package of some Lakh Crore since 2009?
13. Do you know there is an Economic Policy that governs concept, design and format of all other policies?
14. Do you know these are some of the fundamental issues of prime importance that YOU should care for?
15. Do you know every point above is actually a dot that could be connected to reveal a pattern?
16. Do you know there is a possible solution to every situation including Kashmir?
17. Do you know that YOU are responsible for everything mentioned above and much more unsaid?
18. Do you know that YOU and ONLY YOU can change this...?
19. Do you know that being free citizen of a democratic country - thinking independently, reflecting on things conscientiously and asking questions are three of your Fundamental Constitutional Rights?
20. Do you know being 135 Crore means those many Heads, Hearts and 270 Crore Hands?
21. Do you want to be a proactive responsible citizen or a reactive reckless puppet...?
We are done with Unit Tests and Final Exam is just round the corner. Brace up, pull-up your socks and do your homework right, for this would be the crucial exam for rest of your and future generation’s lives.
Rampant Urbanization is a Global Phenomenon that is taking the world by the storm and hence it becomes imperative to think 'Sustainability' of Cities. This Collection of TED Talks regarding this is quite insightful as it tries to shed some light on the Civic Sense and Civilization Dynamics that cannot be ignored any more.
NO development in itself is bad unless it is integrated into the very objective of it to the core. Ever since the Social Integration gave rise to Professional Networking and GREEN remained to be associated with Currency rather than Nature, the Urbanization changed its face from being mere migration of villagers in search of better livelihood to making most of every resource, including human, to exploit it for increasing our own profitability and rising market share.
Again, increased productivity or structured growth are neither bad traits nor could be overlooked in today's data-driven market competition that has become ruthless long back; however the eternal question that still remains is...
“When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money...?”
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, the think-tank of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India is the Chief Architect of the CSR in the Companies Act 2013 Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014. It’s been 5 Years since this CSR Act came into force and the first High Level Committee to review the provisions and implementation of the newly formed CSR Act, 2014 was set up on Feb 3, 2015 under the Chairmanship of Anil Bajaj. This committee submitted its report on Sept 22, 2015 and one of its recommendations was to have a review after first 3 years of this legislation being in force. CSPM – Centralized Scrutiny and Prosecution Mechanism was set up for effective implementation of CSR and 12 member panel headed by Regional Director (Western Region) Manmohan Juneja was set up on April 4, 2018 to take care of CSPM and deal with the violations of CSR.
In it’s another initiative IICA has invited Public Comments for High Level Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility – 2018 constituted to review the existing framework of CSR Act. Although this absolutely democratic move in its nature is highly commendable, it also implies the fact that the statutory compliance expected by the Corporate Companies for their CSR undertakings didn’t turn out as expected by the legislation. If we are to accept this as the fact that there are gaps between the Idea - Concept - Formulation - Implementation of CSR regulation by and large, we must rethink it from a complete different perspective altogether – strategic, to be precise, rather than regulatory.
Trying to practice as a sincere CSR Consultant or Professional (not agent!) by following the Rule-book of CSR for over 5 years now, I live and practice at Pune (MH) India and apart from being the Topper of the First Academic Course of PG Diploma in CSR by Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, I also try and educate the stakeholders of CSR about it through my writings, counseling and workshops under Be[a]Cause. Although I am not sure whether these qualify as Comments/Suggestions or not, I have certain observations that I would like to share in this context that might draw few new strides in the CSR space for some fundamental reform, I would like to believe.
It is neither a secret nor some sensitive information anymore that the Schedule VII – the governing document detailing the Focus Areas for CSR is based on the SDGs that have evolved from the MDGs. Also there is no need to make an issue of Corporate World’s reluctance towards following it religiously or take it to the boardroom for deliberation as it’s been looked at like just another tick-box Compliance activity HR should take care of, if not as 2% additional Tax Burden, that could be used as camouflaged PR, if possible, to gain some mileage for the Rupee spent in its name. There’s the first fundamental catch and the revision here should be about the perspective and not the consequence, I believe. Otherwise any comment on the existing regulation like adjusting its scope and reach or reinforcing the monitoring and prosecution mechanism to make it more effective would only resize and rescale the dynamics of CSR but would not help bring in any Structural Change in the Framework itself that is much needed.
Previously 'Millennium' that evolved to become 'Sustainable Development Goals' for the World are drawn from two basic principles of Social Equality by Inclusion and off course Sustainable Development by Resolution. Social Equality is an age-old concept that expects the well-to-do class of the society to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate masses and lift them up for leading a socially respectable decent life. There are many theories and narratives over this concept across the history of civilization and though many of them have debatable and differing principles, it is not only a proven fact but almost an experienced phenomenon around the globe that the Classes cannot survive without the Masses and Masses could prove disruptive to the society if their exploitation crosses the threshold of tolerance. This analogy of societal difference yet coherence gives way to the First Principle that no Corporate (representing Class) can survive, let alone thrive, without the Consumers (represented by Masses).
Secondly, Sustainable Development has many definitions in various parts of the world but in spirit its meaning is very simple – using the finite natural resources conscientiously so that the balance of our ecosystem is maintained and the power wars that could erupt for owning the scarce resources that are left, starting from water – the primary source of ‘Life’, are avoided. Basically living the 4R principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover (or Recreate) by consuming less, producing less waste, reusing the used resource as far as possible and stop all losses and wastage of resources by recovering them.
However this minimalist approach of living is generally seen as conservative, regressive and promoting Enoughism juxtaposed to Consumerism. Corporate world literally feeds on Consumerism and in the wake of global marketing, mass production and faster logistics, is forced to the cut-throat competition of increased production with profit maximization. ‘Numbers’ is the only attribute that drives the Corporate Culture and if they are burdened with additional ‘Taxes’ – Corporate perspective of CSR – they would try and increase the profit even further causing more externalities, eventually defeating the very purpose of Sustainable Development – the core of CSR!
Now this is a real Catch-22 situation that cannot be handled by a mechanism of legislation – regulation – prosecution – penalty alone. A little creative thinking is needed to find a way that will lead to a win-win situation. The only real long-term (if not sustainable!) solution to this situation is to educate the entire humanity about the implications of using the finite resources for their infinite wants and running out of basic essential resources to survive that we can neither produce nor recover, only conserve. This seemingly impossible task, apart from being a very long-term strategy that very few would be ready to embrace, is intrinsically philosophical for the world that is changing every second with AI, Bullet Trains and Hyper loops. Thus the most simple and sustainable solution proving to be redundant for a Modern Man brings us to the first principle of communication – the answer should be in the same language in which the question is asked!
The ultimate aim is to transform CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility into CSV – Creating Shared Value, for very simple reason – responsibility is a burden, creating is fun. However it cannot be a Quantum Leap or a Leap of Faith as this is not any fantasy with cinematic liberty but a real life situation with all its realistic constraints. The transition has to be smooth and should not create any critical outcome that would be more difficult to handle than the situation at hand. The starting point of this long-laid process would start with changing the perspective from statutory to strategic. No smoker has quit smoking even with the statutory warning on Cigarette packs changing from ‘Injurious to Health’ to ‘Smoking Kills’; it’s very human to ignore the warnings of long-term consequences for instant gratification.
Behavioral Change has remained the biggest challenge even for the most evolved clinical psychology and it takes time, indeed. Therefore changing the mentality of the Capitalist mind and divert it from profitability to social value is not a cakewalk for sure; it will take years, if not decades or centuries, even for a smallest shift in the direction. This would need a 3-phase approach of Awareness, Impetus and Policy. Following could be a very broad level road ahead with lots of intricacies that need to be allowed to evolve in due course based on the progressive elaboration principle of development –
Awareness – Designing, Organizing and Delivering Awareness Programs at mass-level to sensitize the people for the concept of Sustainable Development and the Doughnut Theory.
Impetus – Promoting all efforts of Sustainability by publicizing the Sustainability Reports of Companies with all statistics in the layman language and validated verifiable facts and figures.
Policy – Framing a CSV Policy that would define, empower, promote and reward all attempts of Creating Shared Value with reasonable monetary compensations and special social status.
This might seem extremely ideological at the moment, just like Mahatma Gandhi’s words in 1946 – “As for the present owners of wealth, they would have to make their choice between class war and voluntarily converting themselves into trustees of their wealth. They would be allowed to retain the stewardship of their possessions and to use their talent to increase the wealth, not for their own sakes, but for the sake of the nation and, therefore, without exploitation. The State would regulate the rate of commission which they would get commensurate with the service rendered and its value to society. Their children would inherit the stewardship only if they proved their fitness for it..." “All the capitalists have an opportunity of becoming statutory trustees. But such a statute will not be imposed from above. It will have to come from below. When the people understand the implications of trusteeship and the atmosphere is ripe for it, the people themselves, beginning with Gram Panchayats, will begin to introduce such statutes. Such a thing coming from below is easy to swallow. Coming from above it is liable to prove a dead weight..." "My theory of trusteeship is no make-shift, certainly no camouflage. I am confident that it will survive all other theories. It has the sanction of philosophy and religion behind it..."
It is not just about Water... It is about all those resources which are common to all yet are distributed unequally just because some people could 'trade' them!
Well, Total Equality could be an Etopia but at least a little Empathy towards the less fortunate ones shouldn't cost a fortune to the privileged ones.
THINK and BE CONSCIENTIOUS with every single ACT of yours as it could mean LIFE to someone somewhere.
The message is good, the narrative is relevant and the presentation is impressive with only a little loud and irate voice in between; had it been kept convincing, just like other voice-overs, it would have made great video message spreading the awareness using the same technology that is being blamed in the video message!
Every argument ‘against’ the technology is alarming and considerable. However, just keeping away from Social Media for a day (forget the week, mad or what!?!) cannot even be a solution at all, let alone ‘Sustainable’!
Whenever human mind is forced to abandon a thing or a thought, the urge and craving for it increases manifold, that’s the character of the human mind. So ‘putting it away’ cannot be the solution for anything, in general and for any addiction, in particular.
It is not to say that any addiction is good, but for the sake of discussion – and comparative analysis – all other addictions, including smoking that is being compared in the message, are engrossed into by an addict with its own choice and discretion by fully understanding and accepting the ‘cost’ and 'price' of it in terms of own physical damage as well as adverse social and environmental impact of it.
In the case of Technology driving the thoughts and controlling the actions of individuals making them completely dependent on the gadgets that use them as puppets, it is not just scary but disastrous to the entire human race that is the most evolved species of this only livable planet known to man.
Just like Morphine that acts directly on the central nervous system to decrease the sensation of pain making the feelings numb, this mindless over pour of useless, deceptive misinformation is killing the capacity of human brain to think independently, reason logically and act (or react!) socially and responsibly.
The sight of people seating together with ears deafened by head(less)phones and bent necks with eyes glued to their phone-screen is nothing short of an Armageddon that is imminent. All that this population with (hell)-bent necks and thumbs as the only active organs of the body, figuratively and otherwise, needs is a 'Purpose' to commit to – bigger than their ‘Self’ and beyond the spikes in the flow of the dopamine. Rest all will fall in place almost magically.
Way to go... PS - Actually I watched this video through a LinkedIn Share and the subject and concern expressed in it is very dear to me as I have always maintained my position against the excessive, mindless and absolutely addictive obsession of Social Media, I wanted to comment on it. My comment, as usual, exceeded the Characters limit for a LinkedIn comment and I am forced to write this post outright... Thanks for reading it here all the same.
Committing your life to a 'cause' takes courage, determination and grit no doubt, but it starts with compassion, empathy and sensitivity - for others! Keeping moving on the chosen path of 'liberation' in spite of all the adversities and obstacles faced in the path requires a being of mettle. It gives you immense pleasure and satisfaction to see such efforts getting recognized with 'Noble Prize' as, it doesn't get any better. However the story continues as it refuses to rest on the laurels of any Prize - even a Nobel!
The Journey of Kailash Satyarthi towards liberating every child from drudgery and slavery gets filmed and this creative effort of documenting the predicament, the principle and the process in a documentary has come out so well that even this documentary bagged Grand Jury Prize, US Documentary, Sundance 2018!
'Price of Free' is such a quintessential case-study for all those who look forward to commit to a 'cause', undertake a social initiative or enterprise and aspire to have some purpose of life bigger than their self and be of use to a larger good!
