Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Sunday 3 April 2016

Ambiguity is Bad !


Ambiguity  is  Bad  !

Where  ?

*  Health Ministry wants warning images on cigarette packs to cover 85% of the surface , against earlier rule of 40%
*  A Parliamentary Committee had recommended 50 %

Reaction :

*  From friday ( 01 April 2016 ) , all cigarette factories have shut down in protest ,
According to Tobacco Institute of India , this will cause,
   #  Daily revenue loss of Rs 350 Crores
   #  Threatening livelihood of 45.7 million people dependent on the Industry
   #  Increase in trade in illegal cigarettes ( which already causes an annual
       revenue loss of Rs 9,000 cr to the exchequer )

What should Government do ?

 Negotiate with the Industry and reach Agreement , using my suggestion as under :
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Source : My Blog dt 18 Aug 2013

 Going Up in Smoke ?

 

Yesterday , Times of India reported :

India's tobacco industry supports 38 million people ( 380 lakhs )


Every year , some 6 million ( 60 lakh ) people die in India thru use of tobacco ( mostly cigarettes )


Of these , some 6 lakh die by inhaling smoke of other cigarette smokers


So what can we do to save these 60 lakh ?


Immediately close down entire tobacco industry ?


And jeopardize the lives of 380 lakh  ?


Obviously , we cannot adopt a mutually exclusive solution !


We must find a solution that , not only saves those 60 lakh but also continue to provide livelihood to 380 lakhs


That cannot be done in one - or even five - years , but it is entirely possible to solve this problem over ,
20 years , as follows :

*   Thru appropriate legislation , phase out tobacco industry by 2033

*   Immediately stop expansion of existing units

*   Do not allow new units to come up

*   Place a recruitment freeze in tobacco industry - no fresh hiring at any level

*   No replacement for retiring employees , after 2018

*   Provide incentives to industry to redeploy capital / manpower in alternate industries - especially those industries with large scope for creation of new jobs

*   Give generous tax-breaks to industry to remain profitable , even as they wind-up operations

*   Provide incentives to put up new-industry projects in less industrialized regions

*   Provide incentives for re-training existing workers in new skills in demand by others

*   Subsidize Voluntary Retirement Schemes of industry


This is just a partial list . I am sure , if there is political will , experts will come up with many more viable suggestions

Hint :

If Shri Piyush Goyal can plan on banning all petrol / diesel driven vehicles on roads from 2030 , then banning cigarettes from 2036 , ought to be a " Child's Play " !



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03  April  2016




hemen  parekh


Marol , Mumbai , India


( M ) +91 - 98,67,55,08,08


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