Small Car Big Dreams

It will be a wrong denial from me to say I don’t want to be the owner of a Nano. Now I feel I will see it run the roads before I take my final decision. At last the much awaited Nano was commercially launched in Mumbai on Monday March 23. For the first time in January 2008 when the Tatas announced to bring out the cheapest car in the world, so many people started dreaming of owing a car of their own as this would cost only one lakh rupees. Expectations had been mounting in the hearts of the people for their Lakh Takia Car.

It took more time than expected for this small car to hit the market. Its arrival was delayed because of the dispute over the land issue and shifting of the plant from one state to another. But after all within months the wheels of the little Nano will run the streets of this country…maybe in July.

The other day my neighbourhood tailor said, “Madam, I had bought a second hand scooter three years back. I dreamt of riding a car and I think I can afford to buy a car. My wife feels frightened to sit on the bike with two kids in the congested Delhi roads. Madam, how long will I have to wait if I book my Nano now?” How could I give a prompt reply when everything rested on the production and allotment from the dealers? All that I could tell him was to speak to the dealer.

There are millions of people in this country who ride two wheelers. If wishes can always be true then the dreams of many of these two wheeler riders will be fulfilled. Being cheap it is affordable. Along with it this car will give the owners a safe ride. Small families of Papa, Mama and two children had trouble moving on two wheels and now a small family can feel safe in a car of their own.

Though many are happy for the small car, there arise many questions that remain to be answered.

Nano will no doubt be another car added to the number of the existing cars in many families in Delhi. Auto rickshaw owners are thinking of plying this small car on the streets in place of auto rickshaws as they feel running on four wheels is safer than three wheels. No doubt this can lead to more road congestion. Another thought that creeps into the mind is about the material used for the body and the amount of safety it can give. No doubt many two wheelers will go off road and many more four wheels will move on the roads…there is risk of increasing pollution.

But along with the negative points there are positive points too. Being a small car it can be parked in small spaces…less parking constraints. It is said to be fuel efficient. No doubt it will provide better safety and security to its riders than two wheelers. The dreams of many will come true.

At last many thousands and millions can now say Nano is no longer a dream. After all this Small is Beautiful.

Should the Government Consider Raising the Entry and Retirement Age Limits in Jobs (Government & Public Sector)

Try a Turnabout

Whether you understand the economics of the present world scenario or not, you can hear about the Recession and Economy Slow Down making rounds in each and every part of the globe. This recession period jumped on this world that is trying its best to make developments in every sphere, Advancement being the buzzword. No one thought that the meltdown would come and cause a spill of grave concern.

The main area hit by this recession is the job world. The print and electronic media and research shows huge cut down in jobs, affected people are left with tantrums, trauma, to fill up their lives with.

The scenario in India seems to be a bit better. Private company workers are a worried lot while the people in the Government and Public Sectors are happy to play safe in their Sarkari Jobs.

The recent placements in the premiere B Schools—the IIMs show that the public sector banks have hired quite a number of them. Some pass outs are preferring government jobs, compromising with a smaller pay packet than they would have expected if the recession had not hit the world economy.

With elections round the corner, the present care-taker government can do little. Once the elections are over, whosoever comes to power has to chalk out better plans for a Better Tomorrow.

It is high time the next government gives it a thought to increase the entry age into public sector and government organisations to 36 years and at the same time raise the age limit for retirement in these sectors by two years, i.e. up to 62 years. This will be a great relief to some young people who have lost their jobs in the recession, being a part of the private sector and can try for secured government jobs and also in the public sector. As for those who will retire at 60, can work for another two years, their experience will be the guiding factor for fresh recruits.

All said and done, nothing is EASY but there is always the word POSSIBLE.