DK Kapila The Oracle

Breaking Myths - SHGs Succeed in Punjab Also (This has appeared in the May 2010 issue of the E-Mag of the Chandigarh Management Association pl for which I am thankful to them) Punjab, the name is taken to imply a prosperous state where the concept of Self Help Groups (SHGs) is alien and not required as in the comparatively under developed parts of India. This is a myth; the concept is required, there is a deep hunger for credit and easy access to credit amongst its women and once shown the pathway; the concept is adopted enthusiastically. The only difference, if any, is in the quantum of funds sought for from banks or vide internal loaning as also subscribed to; both are higher than the conventional amounts in most parts of India. Normal subscriptions will often start at Rs 100/- per month per member (Rs 20/- or os in most parts of India); loans from banks or the demand for a loan would also start at a minimum of Rs 25,000/- or so as gainst Rs 10,000/- in most parts of India; but...

The Violence at the Panjab University Campus – The malaise is deeper. The recent and repeated incidents of violence at the Panjab University Campus and at its affiliated colleges in Chandigarh mask a deeper malaise. The attempts to combat violence by students by a law and order approach will not work until and unless parents and society as such join in to control the situation. A law and order approach is certainly required to combat the violence with a firm hand before the university joins the likes of various universities in central & eastern India with a tarnished reputation. Already the university has lost ground and its flagship courses do not attract talent or employers with the same enthusiasm as earlier. The violence if left unchecked due to various factors will simply hasten the process of furthering the slide of the university. Panjab University also seems to be afflicted by a diffused sense of responsibility between the Vice Chancellor and the Senate, in any case a se...

Dear Friends, This is a complete article written by me, the slightly edited / abridged version appears in The E- Magazine of the Chandigarh Management Association at  http://cmaupdate.blogspot.com/ I am thankful to the CMA for publishing the article and the sound editing. My own article has some views which may not acceptable to all and hence the complete text is pasted below.  Happy reading and remember views are welcome. Rural Industrialisation and Its Attendant Issues. By Dinesh K Kapila Agricultural expansion is not enough to conquer poverty; this is the most important issue while discussing the rural non farm sector, of which Rural Industries are an integral part. The World Bank has also observed in its communications that the rural farm and non farm growth is widely shared, with a privately held and competitive agriculture & a vibrant agri business being vital engines of economic growth. Moreover, family farms and non farm enterprises provide ample remunerat...

DO I KNOW YOU By Dinesh K Kapila I think it was WB Yeats who remarked something like " the centre does not hold and things fall apart'. Our present day competitive and goal oriented, as also work obsessed life style seems to cut us off from our relatives and friends alike. As the poet said of the political world, similarly the old generation, which is the epicenter of family life gets ignored in the pell mell rush of affairs. Gradually, the generations move apart as do the cousins of all grades and types. Even real brothers and sisters drift away, some do realize it but even in their sadness and realisation, the sheer pace and demands of sundry other issues pushes away any initiative to reach out. A self confessed workaholic like me realised it rather harshly the other day. In fact it has set some gray cells thinking overtime as to whether I need to renew old ties on a priority basis. A colleague at the office had some work, which could be facilitated by some connections. T...

I have sent this artcle to a journal - maybe they publish or do not publish, but I have decided to put it on my blog. Do read but THE COPYRIGHT IS MINE PLEASE - No reproduction without permission. Comments / Reactions are welcome but comments may be couched in polite language pl.  Gender Equality – Which are the Behavioural / Cultural Traits which hold Back North West India? The Kapila Gender Sensitivity Test. By DINESH K KAPILA North West India has some of the worst affected districts in the country as regards female foeticide and ranks quite low on female nutrition rates and other gender related issues. The Gender Equality Indices rank North West India uniformly low. Economists are of the view that this would ultimately impact adversely the socio economic development of the region quite seriously. But what does an average person in the towns and rural areas of North West India perceive to be gender related behaviour – how does he or she know which attitude or c...

Today I share with you the essentials of our argument or rather conflicting viewpoints. Here am I, reaching middle age, a developmental banker, with access to a host of data on our nation’s development and policies as also insights. Then my dad, a retired senior army officer, 83 years, very aware and has written four books also on Military History and Strategy. His latest book, Flashpoints In South Asia, deals with India’s standing in the region. Incidentally, he is a social worker also and runs The Institute of the Blind at Chandigarh in an honorary capacity for the last 25 years – it’s rated A class. Now the conflicting viewpoint, I say that India is not progressing as the wealth is not trickling down to the poor, the rural infrastructure is horrendous in most states, 240 million Indians go hungry poor every day and 2 million children die at birth annually due to malnutrition etc. Then we have the disparities in wealth which are increasing rapidly, only thing being we pretend tha...

Starting Out Blogging The First Blog – 26 August 2009. Now why am I blogging – well just thought why not share my thoughts, growing towards the fifties, balding, weight on the higher side and all that and feeling life may just be passing you by so why not start of a new path or maybe there is so much you see but cannot express to all you meet, I myself do not know but am starting out hoping to make it a weekly affair. I plan to be scatter brained at times and may be focused at times, but shall endeavour to pose qustions always. It could be anything including as to how could Sharukh Khans’s character in Raab Ne Bana Di Jodi state he sees God in his wife in a song – I mean come on; its his wife ! One cannot make love to God or can you – let me know. And who am I and where am I and what not – all this would come out as we proceed along – that’s hoping some one reads this blog also. Any way, comments are welcome but keep the nasty ones couched in good humour! Any way I plan to blog on defe...