Fail

Welcome to the dreaded word in Indian education system "FAIL". It means you have no right to further study. It means that you have no right to live a life less mediocre. It is a weapon in the hands to teachers to decide the fate of the students.

Latest suicide by an IIT girl reinforces the same fact. She had been selected for MBA course in IIM and MS in US. Other institutes had found her eligible for further study but two professors disagreed. They 'failed' her and so her chances of further study and also any kind of employment were wiped-out. She chose death over a life of a 'failure'.

Who the hell gave someone right to officially declare that the other person is a 'failure'. Power corrupts and abolute power corrupts absolutely. Indian education system has given too much power to the teachers. They are regarded as experts in their field and their word is considered final in their subject. What they say, others follow. They start thinking that they are GOD. All teachers develop a big ego.

It has never made sense to me. Why does education system have such a thing. The teacher can decide that the student cannot proceed to next level. Why not just give whatever marks he has received and let him proceed in his life. Let the student have an option to give the exam (by paying examination or course fee again) and let him prove that he deserved more than what he received. If he feels what he received is what he deserved, he will at least continue his life with the fact that he is weak in one or two subjects.

If a person is weak in couple of subject does not mean that he is not eligible for a decent future life. A journalist needs more skills at languages than mathematics. A geologist needs more skills at geography than history. I have an engineering degree in computer science and in last five years of my professional life, I have not used skills of at least ten subjects I studied during my study. Even if I had failed in those subjects, I would be equally competent in my current job and responsibilities. So why the word 'FAIL' exists at all?

Happy Republic Day !

I wish my dear country a very Happy Republic Day !!!!
Cant explain how happy I feel about it. Its 58th republic day. Good work!
And I miss writing. I have not written for so many days.
God knows what all stuff lies in my mind. I have to let it out someday....
I hope to come back again soon!.
C U!

JAI HIND !

No Tax Exemptions

I heard that government is seriously planning to revoke all tax exemptions! What are they planning? I am not against paying taxes but taxation should be rational.
Even if we pay taxes, the roads are bad.
There is no proper drinking water.
Electricity is interrupted often.
Health is poor.
There is no social security system.
Even after that if there is some constructive project, they beg for private participation.
Don't get me wrong, but are the fruits of our taxes truly reaching us? And, if we save money in government funds, why should we be taxed? And, if the tax exemptions go, will anyone save anything in government funds (PF, infrastructure bonds etc)?
First of all, everyone needs to save for his future because there is no social security in India. If they do not save, everyone will be at the mercy of their children. To be self-sufficient and not be a burden, we must save for old-age. Note: I am not talking about investments which is a mode of earning. Since government does not provide social security, health-care and food, it has a moral responsibility to promote savings. And moreover, if these savings are going to government pocket, so, there must be tax exemption on those vehicles.
The exempt, exempt, tax policy is flawed in principle. First of all, there is no tax exemption, it is only a rebate that we get. People are saving for the future, no one knows what will be the tax rate/policy 20 years down the line. Now, if a person saves thinking that he will have a certain amount of money in old-age. Now in reality, no one can predict the inflation or the future tax rate. So, the person with savings gets only a fraction of what he has saved. He will feel cheated. How will he survive the old age?

If government is planning no tax exemptions, let it be this way:

1. Tax the whole salary, no rebates. After that there should not be deduction on withdrawing that money. This is regarding the government funds.
2. Cover more junta in tax net. Currently only 11% of the population pays taxes. The total revenue will increase.
3. Why will anyone save in government funds? Guarantee that the returned amount will be 8-9% interest. And this should be a no-risk fund.

And be accountable, the returns of taxes should be visible in the quality of living provided to the citizen.