More Export, less Taxes
Much of the economic reforms so far have been half-baked, but in one area our economic structure has truly been transformed. Exports, which used to be only 5 per cent of gross national product (GNP) in the 1980s, have now …
Small Power Units To The Rescue
For decades, we have regarded large power stations as essential and small generating sets as expensive stand-bys, to be used only when grid power fails. This is why we have been so keen on setting up new megaplants, of which …
The high Cost of Mr Munde
Dear Mr Gopinath Munde, As head of the committee that suggested scrapping the Dabhol project of Enron, you must be a happy man today. We all agree with you on the need for transparency. But surely transparency demands that your …
Slaves To Tandoori Socialism
It\’s official, straight from the horse\’s mouth. At a training camp for Congress Party workers, Prime Minister Narasimha Rao bemoaned the fact that his partymen had become slaves to power and alienated from the people. Voters have known this for …
The End of Capitalism
Forbes, the US magazine, has just produced its annual list of the wealthiest people in the world, and the top position goes to Mr Bill Gates. This whizz-kid\’s computer software company, Microsoft, started as a subcontractor to IBM and soon …
The high Cost of Delay
On returning to work after four weeks\’ leave, my colleagues tell me that Enron remains the hottest topic in town. and that I simply must write about it. I have long argued that the ideal solution is for the Maharashtra …
India\’s unsavoury Health Secret
There is now universal agreement that public health is a basic need for all developing societies. So much has been written about the need for clean water and air, vaccination, and the control of killer diseases like malaria. But there …
India\’s unsavoury Health Secret
There is now universal agreement that public health is a basic need for all developing societies. So much has been written about the need for clean water and air, vaccination, and the control of killer diseases like malaria. But there …
Let thousand Telecoms bloom
I can buy soap or garments from scores of different manufacurers. But I can get a telephone service from only one supplier — he government. Inevitably, the monopoly supplier is inefficient and callous. The telephone goes dead twice a month, …
The Banias who run Star TV
So Nikki Bedi and her phalanx of teeth are off Star TV, for reasons she could not possibly have anticipated. Her chat show specialised in mild sexual titillation, which is why she. invited Ashok Row Kavi, the celebrated gay journalist …
