DK Kapila The Oracle

  Introducing Operational Excellence in Rural Cooperative Banks By Dinesh K Kapila                                           CGM (Retd) NABARD (Published in Business Sandesh 01/10/2025) There are challenges and opportunities for introducing operational excellence within our   rural cooperative banking (RCB) sector. The RCBs are a critical pillar of the nation's financial inclusion strategy, they are hampered by deep-seated issues across financial performance, governance, technology, and human capital. The recent improvements in profitability and non-performing assets are certainly a positive development but are they masking underlying structural inefficiencies that may erode their long-term sustainability. The fundamental challenge is not merely operational but syste...

  A Short Story What is Innocence ? A certain Senior Officer, quite senior really, visited a district whose head quarters was located way up in the mountains. It was the cold season. He was feeling cold, very cold. Night fell., Now the officer in the district was not too aware of worldly matters, aware but not too aware. A Matter of fact guy. A teetotaler. The Senior Guy, left alone, rang up the District Officer and told him, I am feeling cold. Freezing. Do something about it. I need warmth. At the earliest. Our District Officer was puzzled, he asked about the heaters and quilts and got very terse answers, it’s cold, too cold, do something and quickly. He obviously wanted a full size bottle of choice brandy or scotch but wanted to convey it this way. The District Officer got into his car all upset. Went to the hotel, it was a rather good hotel and asked the General Manager, what are the arrangements to heat up the room of so and so. “Sir”, clarified the GM, “it’s all heated up, it’...

  Science and Commerce Education in Rural Areas. Published in Business Sandesh 1st Sept 2025 Dinesh Kumar Kapila. CGM (Retd). NABARD.   This thought was crystallised by Ms Komal Jaiswal, Start up Founder (GreenAffairs). Her work on soil testing (she is deep into it, don’t confuse it with the standard test), then the advisory etc. she generates, lead her to believe one main reason for the lack of diversification or even knowing the correct amount of inputs and the varied aspects of costing is the lack of awareness of basic accounting and science. This thought did come to me twenty five years ago as a DDM   of NABARD in Punjab. Specially as regards marginal or small farmers and their families. These subjects, if taught at the rural schools would be useful.   It’s a fact that the development and expansion of India’s economy depend heavily on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. Alongside commerce as a subject. As the nation expan...

  Floods in Punjab We have huge floods in Punjab. This disaster sort of crept up upon us. It kept building up with rains in the catchment areas. . Much needs to be done. To help the residents of areas affected by floods. We cannot just say the spirit of Punjab. And a request, di not build it into a political issue. Please help. Actually much needed to be done earlier. One Were earthen embankments strengthened with studs, spurs, revetments and aprons before the flood season. Every year regularly. Two Was a scenario analysis done of flooding and measures required. In anticipation. Three Were drainage channels cleaned up and siltation removed as a part of regular integral precautions. Not just now but regularly. Four Why the benefits of implementing the Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojana not realised. Even if not this scheme, then have an alternative insurance product for crops and milch / draught / animals. Five What was the actual budget allocated for flood...