Valley of Flowers.

Valley of flowers is a beautiful alpine valley resides in Himalaya located 300 km from Rishikesh.  The Valley of Flowers declared as a National Park in 1982 and now it is a world heritage site since 2004. The valley covered in snow in the winter season and converts to youthful beauty in warm summers. Valley has been brought to world’s eye by British mountaineers Franks S. Smythe and R.L. Holdsworth.  The picking season to visit the valley is from July to August when the plant as are in full blossom season.

I started my journey towards Valley on 8^th Sept 2012 from Ahmedabad and reached Rishikesh at evening hours on the second day. I have started the further journey to Ghovindghat from Rishikesh which is around 10 hr journey the duration also depends on the landslides and rains. Buses are only available from early morning hours i.e. from 4 am to 7 am. Govindghat is on way to Badrinath i.e. 24 Km before. One can reach Govindghat by reaching Joshimath from where we have to travel another 21 km towards Badrinath. I reach Govindghat on 10^th Sept 2012 at 5 pm. Govindghat is a small place resides between massive mountains. The place is full of Sikh pilgrims who are on their way to Shree Hemkund Saheeb and trackers of the Great Himalaya. During the winter season the place is almost covered with snow. And dry for almost 8 months for the purpose of tourism.  On second the day my next destination was Ghangaria 12 km away from Govindghat. At Govindghat river Laxmanganga confluences with Alaknada river adding more strength to massive flow.   Deccan Air is providing Helicopter services to Ghangaria which costs around 3500/- INR. Other economic routs are also available in the form of trekking, Doli's and Ponies.  Of course Trekking comes with no charges whereas Ponies cost 720/- INR( through govt. booking centers) and Doli which will cost around 5000/- INR. Here we can test our bargaining skills. 

It took 5 hrs me to reach Ghangaria on pony. Let me tell you the fact that trek on pony really exhausting affair. The whole body is shaken up on the pony. Quite painful but accompanying river Laxmanganga acts as antidote for the pain you bear. The path becomes really wonderful with the sound of river flow.  The rocks in the river are playing havoc with water creating the melody for human ears.        

I reached Ghangaria at 11:30 am. Ghagharia is a base camp for Valley of Flowers and Hemkund Saheeb. At Ghagharia and Govindghat good accommodation facilities are available through the costing part is variable with tourism in-flow. At Ghagharia, Pushpavati river confluences with Laxmanganga.   The govt administration is allowing tourists to enter into the valley between 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, we have to return back to Ghangaria by 5:00 pm or otherwise, the administration will penalize you with 10,000/- INR. I went deep to find out the main cause behind such negative incentives, the area is having the presence of wild animals and there might be the chances of misshaping and during low light trekking becomes quite tough.  The entry ticket to visit the valley is valid for three days by paying 150/- INR for Indian citizens which can be renewed in those days by paying 50/- INR.

The next day I woke up early and entered the track at 6:50 pm. The path is created on beads of rock on stones making tracking a little bit hard. On this journey the accompanying partner is Pushpavati River.  Pushpavati the name is self indicating vis means  ‘flowers bringer’.  I and Pushpavati were flowing in exactly opposite directions. Pushpavati flowing to meet her destiny from her destination and I am searching my destiny from my destination.  The collision of water with rocks in a flow giving milky color to the river.  Neonate waterfalls of the recent rains are adding extra whiteness to nature’s extravagant orchestra. The beauty is purely unbeatable. Waterfalls veined from mountains like blood runs through your wrist or sap passes through the leaf of piple tree and mountains has become indicator of animate thing standing there since unknown era. On 12^th Sept 2012, I was the second person to reach the valley first. It took me exactly 2 hrs 28 min to cover the trek.  The only eyewitness of the millstone is the valley of flowers. This is the autumn season where plant started shading their leaves, flowers started shading their petals and giving efforts to make seeds for next season. Butterflies and Honey bee’s helping in transporting the pollen from their destination to source. I eyewitness the entire show where myriad flowers are busy in preparing themselves for reincarnation.  The massive mountains are standing likes guard to the valley like a protector to the flowers. The glacier of Tipari is a jewel to the valley of flowers along with milky waterfalls. For those who believed in nature God, the Valley of Flower is the perfect place to visit. 

I could see the flowers of various colors, pods, and seeds of the plant.  When you cross the first small wooden bridge you actually started to enter from this point into the valley.   Sunlight, massive mountains and clouds are playing havoc with each other and wanted to prove their superiority with each other. Valley is 8 km pavement supporting the survival of 500 types of flower varieties.  I trek and moved ahead another two km to explore the beauty of the valley. It was the mesmerizing experience for me to visit the Valley of Flowers especially in the autumn season. Really Flowers are living larger than life.                                           

Faith 

Amol Nakve.

      

 

   

In An Antique Land

Hi,

I just read the 'In an Antique Land' by Amitav Ghosh, The novel is the story of two Indians,  Amitav the doctoral scholar who went to Egypt in 1980’s  and  his  search for the Bomma  Indian slave of Ben Yiju an Arab merchant, way back in 1140’s. The book is based on the letters send by master Ben Yuji to his people in Aden(Egypt). Amitav's quest for tracing the Bomma's life through letters and on field visits in India and Egypt has been very well appreciated. Amitav has beautifully pictured the life of rural Egypt in this book and the trade scenario in medieval period. You will find lot of similarities in Egypt and India  The book is highly  recommended to read.

Happy Reading! 

Faith

Amol Nakve.

Veraval.

I happened to visit Fishing Harbor, Veraval- Gujtath i.e. on western coastal region of India. Here I meet Mohan Bhai owner of one of the boat among more than 3000 boats. (population of boats has increased so substantially  that boats are park on land using cranes services.) Monsoon season is very down time for fishing business. According to Mohan Bhai now competition has become too fierce as too many people have entered into this arena. One boat cost around Rs. 30 lakhs INR. 

He is getting labour force( Fishermen) mainly from. Daman-Div, Mumbai and coastal Maharashtra.

15 days work in deep sea is costing him around Rs. 1 lakh which include the cost of 3000 litre diesel. While the estimated earning is around Rs. 3 Lakhs from the 15 days work. But the earnings are not exactly predictable and sometimes it gone upto Rs.  4 lakhs to Rs. 0. It all depends on the seeds available in the sea.

The marine products are later on transported to other part of country, majorly to Mumbai and there are exports of marine processed products to Japan, USA and Gulf countries. 

  Veraval is also famous for Boat making. Many enterprises are engaged boat making. Veraval is providing livelihood for coastal Gujrathi's. 

Regards

Amol.

Economic figures may recover in future, but his childhood cannot.......

(Source: picture captured at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India on 18th July 2012)

Economic figures may recover in future, but his childhood cannot.




Regards
Amol Nakve.

The Thorn Birds

From the very first page of novel -The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough. 

There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and GOD in his heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain…..or so say the legend..

-Amol

Letter to Prime Minister.

Dear Prime Minister,

      I have never intended to write a letter to you. But the current uncertain economic scenario has forced me to write a letter to you to get an expert view from you.   

Today I have been reading many article on web,  news papers with the news stating that the India could be the first nation to have investment rating to junk  status among BRIC. There had been a lot of political view/suggestion made for the betterment of the economic affairs within and outside the country and avoid the further deterioration. This is the only alarm buss by this global rating agency.

S and P were downgraded  India’s outlook  on  BBB- rating to ‘negative from positive’. This was the first instance to wake and act for the reforms. 

      It was clear from the quotes of the some of your colleagues in news which clearly shows  governments denial mode. The report’s conclusion has not been taken into right spirit. There were few example where countries had adopted corrective measures opted for more economic development.  The global rating help to guide investors  to park their money in form of FII and FDI.

UPA I and UPA II agenda were Inclusive Growth of the nation. On social front government has done lot of remarkable work.  NREGA has played catalyst role to ensure the employment of the rural citizen though world bank has slapped the act for stopping the migration of people and real cause inflation. Despite of this I support the scheme as it has created the sense of imp among capitalist to ensure the minimum wages to the labour. Right to Food will also  prove the flagship program by UPA-II. Now World Banks data has also proved that, poverty has also started eradicating from India.  Governments efforts on social front are likely to be appreciated.

     There is lot need to be done for agriculture. Supply for critical  fertilizers is one highly important area where your team member has to focus on as it is having direct correlation with budgeted subsidies. As government has to balance the interest of farmers and fiscal budget. MSP for the farm yield will have to be review after this monsoon to keep it aligned with market standards. I differ your view  stating that fundamentals of our economy are strong because we are agriculture based economy but present scenario is changed, now there are negligible efforts to raise the share of agriculture in GDP( unlike govt. efforts on New Manufacturing Policy).

     Especially when we talk abt inflation the monitory policies were supportive in nature to tame the inflation but the fiscal policies are not aligned with them. Still inflation is real factor to worry and we are just scarifying our growth. And monitory function in case of 2G case, CWG and coal auction has badly affected the government image.  This year budget was really roll back event in UPA tenure, we roll back GAAR, FDI in retail,  ban on Export of Cotton, train fare and others. I do understand running coalition govt is not the cake walk. The people were saying the policy paralysis a lot. But I don’t think your government is observing the this symptoms. The real reason behind all the roll backs was that these were not studied well prior to presenting to both the houses. 

      Sir, you were the force behind the economic reform of 1991. And have the economist as expertise. There are lot of bill pending in houses for clearance & which are very necessary for economic reforms and nation development. One of  them is Micro Finance bill to regulate the sector. This sector had served the financially excluded segment of the society. If this bill will passed as soon as possible then MFI industry will collapse and this for sure, your special intervention is required on this. We all are seeking  your views on the current economic betterment by breaking the silence.               

Regards.

Amol Nakve

Incentives( an Economist view)

Incentives

One thing which I have learnt while reading the book titled Freakonomics by (Steven D Levitt &  Stephen J Dubner) is that how incentive are working. We have basically two type of incentives positive and negative(in economic views). Positives, say like monitory rewards, non-monitory awards and negative are the penalties and punishments.

 There are three favors of the incentives viz Economic, Social and Moral. A single incentive scheme will have to  include all three  varieties. for an example 30%  tax on cigarette is economic incentive, ban in restaurant and bar is social and terrorist raise money by selling in block market is moral incentive.

Idle incentive, should take consideration of all these favors to achieved the required results/changes. Unless these were not put into very appropriate manners it would be quite challenging to achieve the desired outcome.  This is an economic approach towards incentives.

I undoubly  while reading this book believed that HR persons should  be master of an economics to peruse Human asset in all possible direction. The world of HR shall be only limited to business HR but this is time to became an HR economist to serve the stakeholders of the business community. It would be highly recommended to read Freakonomics .

Faith.

Amol Nakve.