Editorials
by Rajen Kumar
APEDA Rendering Lip Service
For over four years now, we have been making relentless efforts to fill information deficit that painfully exists in the country's Micro, Small and Medium Sector. Encouragingly enough,...
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Special Reports
Jan 2012Be Skeptical. Be very Skeptical. Mistake upon Mistake
In recent months, we've had a few slip-ups by the official statistical system in India: • Yesterday's IIP release was preceded by a mistake. Mint says: On Monday, the...
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The Last Word
Jan, 2012
Down the Memory Lane
Zainul Abdin was the only person who would pour his heart out to me in a mix of Urdu-Hindi (Hindustani ) in hush-hush tones during the war-torn Dhaka (then Dacca) in the early 70s where I worked for a news agency -- my first journalistic stint. 
Dec, 2011
The Colonel and His Son
This is the story of a father and his son. It may easily be the story of other households as well, though this one has a different flavour worthy of being shared.
Nov, 2011
SMEs Seminar minus SMEs
Seminar is a serious affair. More so when it is organized for the benefit of an industrial sector which is so vital to the economy. Come October, the seminar season sets in. A day after when the MSME Secretary, delivered his keynote address at one such seminar organized by a prestigious industrial body at a five star hotel, he asked me 'how was the seminar ?' I purposefully kept quite. “How many entrepreneurs were there?” he asked smilingly, I replied, “I hardly found any.”
Oct, 2011
A Tale of two Judges
An advocate friend narrated me two examples of sharp contrast of the working of our judiciary. At 10 am all courts start and the day's files are kept in order on the Judge's table by the reader, well before the the day's proceedings start.
Sep, 2011
Why Anna Hazare is relevant?
The passport office takes the crown. The file moves from section to section, clipped with 'cash' at every clearance. The procedural hurdles have been crossed. But wait. A hammer awaits your head. The speed-post man flashes the passport before your eyes and eyes your pocket! He may not say 'bakshish', but mask it with moonh mitha karwayen'. The dictum: ek haath se doh; doosre haath se lo ! You are in a fix! To get the hint and get the much awaited passport. Or stand up? I know a friend who wanted his passport urgently. He refused to pay the constable who visited him for verification. Not obliging the constable paid him dearly. His verifications report was held up for six months.
Aug, 2011
Did Adi Amma Live a Fruitful life?
A year later, I got the news from the volunteer that Adi Amma was no more. I wonder did Adi Amma live a fruitful life? I wonder what happens to the old and the infirm when their children desert them for whatever reason? Adi Amma was lucky to have the patronage of the society but there are thousands and thousands of such unfortunate who remain devoid of any social security. We have old age homes only in the metros but the problem is big enough to call for our efforts. What it costs to leave your parents to fend for themselves in the evenings of their lives is a question only the concerned can answer.
Jul, 2011
Joseph's Rave Party
How much hope was left in this young entrepreneur? How much passion he still had? At least, I failed to gauge. Neither would I know in the near future? I was depressed as well and wondered if it was a rave party for this young entrepreneur addicted to work and prosperity?
Jun, 2011
Vendors Face Police Ire! But Why?
Rajendra Place complex was built some three decades ago by the DDA to offset the Capital's landmark Connaught Place. Today, the whole complex is a picture of unsightly negligence. It is looked down upon contemptuously as an orphan. Come sunset, the sparsely lit complex turns a haven for addicts. Intriguingly, the same very anti-vendor beat police turn a blind eye to this illegality.
What is World Class Anyway
The fact is that every IIT and IIMs in India has a learned faculty who are themselves IIT and IIM alumni. In IIT Bombay more than half of its faculty is an IIT alumni. There is no justification in comparing Indian standards with those of the developed countries. One must bear in mind that India, all said and done, is far from developed. We have all kinds of problems – resources and environment.
May, 2011
A Pat for the Minister
We have reason to congratulate the MSME Minister who has realized the complexities and has come out with a very valid demand. The sector would remain indebted to the Minister if the SIDBI is made answerable to the sector. Better late than never!
Ganga: Can Batters become Saviours?
It is a great irony that on the one hand we worship the River and call it Ma Ganga (Mother Ganga) and on the other we display little respect to the Divine Mother by blatantly polluting it. Our industry has shown little enthusiasm in saving the River and remains indifferent to the directives not to pollute the Ganga.
Apr, 2011
How secured we are?
Nearly 300 people die every day in road accidents in India. The injured remain uncounted. No TV channel has ever made an effort to highlight the system of getting a driving license in India. Ask any driver using car, auto, bus, truck or even a bike how he got his driving license?
A Passing Tribute
“I am happy, very happy on seeing my students going up the ladder of success.” I thought for a while wondering what I should ask him. “Sir, are you fine, are you still teaching,” was all I could think of asking him as we were so used to answering, never questioning him.
Mar, 2011
Adding Blood to the Sweat
Social security is the dire need in a growing economy like India. We need to have more and more Khushpreets around to make India a vibrant country of 1.2 billion strong nation. Let us add some fresh blood to their sweat waiting to be shed in their effort to survive and lead a dignified life.
Feb, 2011
CSR for the SMEs: Lessons from Alibaba
The onus lies with the governance as much as with our industry leaders, chambers, federations, associations, organizations concerned directly or indirectly with the nation's economic growth. Of and on corrupt practices in the higher rungs get noticed but irregular and corrupt practices at lower levels have become like the regulatory orders.
Jan, 2011
Who will Answer the 'Future' of the Nation?
Wonder, who is accountable to the suffering children of India. The future generations will not forgive us if we continue to be callous towards them. Education is the only door to a prosperous India and the 'Aam Admi' of tomorrow. “If we deny education to our children, we are digging our own graves,” said a twentieth century philosopher.
Dec, 2010
Time to Turn our Post Offices into Modern Communication Centers
How come no one has ever thought of our post offices which continue to emote the stink of the bygone century. A visit to the post office, leave out a few in the metros, you will feel rewound to the olden times. It seems the air of progress and new civilization has surpassed our post offices across the country.
Nov, 2010
The Taste of China: Industries in China
What was most pleasantly striking was my failure to make out as to who is the boss and who is the employee. I found most of them with smiling faces wearing the same attires. With language as the main hindrance, I found most of the shop keepers welcoming me with warm gestures.
Oct, 2010
XIX Commonwealth Games 2010: In Defence of My Country and My Countrymen
The main villain was the media which went overboard and churned out negative stories whole-heartedly without even a logical break. It seems our visual media is more concerned about its TRP and for this it can do anything, just anything.
Aug, 2010
The Moral Progress
He asked Maulvi most ardently if his son had committed any mistake yesterday. Maulvi asked him why he is asking this. The father replied, “yesterday when my son came home, he had no mark on his face. It seems you have not slapped him. I feel sorry and beg your pardon for the mischief he may have committed. But for God sake, you must slap him everyday lest he forgets all his lessons. I want my son to be your obedient student and to become a disciplined citizen.”
Jul, 2010
My Proud BPL Club
The ever rising cost of living (huh, what's this, anyway), hardly casts its ugly shadow on my life. Petrol has risen like our 'astra' missile, but I am undeterred. Water is scarce owing to depleting ground levels and has become costly. Believe me, I can have a heartful bath any time of day and as many times as I wish. Our public transport, rail, air and bus fares, has become unmanageable for many with their limited source of income, I can see. But I am unnerved. The cost of our domestic fuel - LPG - has risen like the acid gas but has failed to touch my life. It will never.
Jun, 2010
Doctors Must Stay Back or Pay Back
The Planning Commission report says that India is short of six lakh doctors, 10 lakh nurses and two lakh dental surgeons. Thousands and thousands of...
May, 2010
Kannan Menon Private Unlimited
About seven years ago on a sultry morning, Kannan Menon, a man of about 20 walked into our office holding a box of writing pens of different qualities.
Apr, 2010
Make history to save the millions from penury
Unity is strength. Who does not know this? We have been taught this umpteen times in school with a variety of stories. Unity is not strength only when we work together or fight an evil together; it is also governing together. It is all the more meaningful when one works together to better the lot of millions of our poor countrymen languishing in abject poverty for years together.
Mar, 2010
Invoke the Sun God to Rescue Us
In millions of Indian homes, the Sun God is regularly worshipped. We have umpteen temples dedicated to the deity. Sun is the single source of supplying energy to our planet. The irony remains that of the 1.2 billion Indians, almost about half of us live without electricity. We ardently and dutifully worship the Sun but have not yet learnt how to invoke the Sun God to our practical advantage, religious sentiments notwithstanding.
Feb, 2010
Delhi - India’s Newest Business Capital
Delhi is fast stealing the limelight from Mumbai which is lacking its luster at least in the industrial and business count. There were times when a shopkeeper in Delhi would sell his wares proudly telling the customer that it is Bombay-made.
Jan, 2010
Soft Facts : Hard Times
Travelling from Pune to Mumbai is always pleasant especially when winter is about to set in. A man, in his mid-forties, holding two handbags, one clinging to his shoulder and the other in the firm grip of his hand, rushed into the Volvo looking for his seat number. Tense but not worried, he placed his one bag on the seat while pushing the other into the overhead shelf.
Dec, 2009
Copenhagen in Every Home
When man invented wheel, little did he realize that he has begun the process of the end of this planet and mankind. Centuries have gone by and our race towards automation continues relentlessly inventing and discovering ways and means to make ourselves more and more comfortable and today our beautiful planet Earth stands on the threshold of imminent doom.
Nov, 2009
De-grading the Grades
A bright-eyed Doordarshan (our sarkari news channel) correspondent visits the HRD Ministry for a conversation with the Minister on the proposed changes in the education system at the CBSE level.
Oct, 2009
Can we manage our marginal entrepreneurs?
An estimate says that there are about 3 lakh small entrepreneurs in the capital city alone running their show from every nook corner of the city. These include roadside vendors, daily-need shops, kiosks etc. The daily business churned by these marginal enterprises runs in millions. They have no accountability and don't either come in any official count.
Sep, 2009
Of Bricks and Bouquets
SME WORLD and economic recession appeared almost at the same time. For SME WORLD, it was like taking birth by the roadside, with no cradle; no piggy back.
Aug, 2009
'My Proud Peaceful Club'
The ever rising cost of living (huh, what's this, anyway), hardly casts its ugly shadow on my life. Petrol has risen like a our 'astra' missile, but I am undeterred. Water is scarce owing to depleting ground levels and has become costly. Believe me, I can have a heartful bath any time of day and as many times as I wish. Our public transport, rail, air and bus fares, has become unmanageable for many with their limited source of income, I can see. But I am unnerved.
Jul, 2009
Death of a Doctor
Having been a witness to 85 springs and seasons, his body lay still and serene, unstressed and unconcerned, as if wanting to tell a long tail, in the chill of December's soothing Sun. He always liked the Sun in winter. “It is the most powerful energy your body needs,” he once told me as he laid back on his easy chair holding a platter decorated with neatly cut carrots.
Jun, 2009
Let's Meet Pain
As I started my car for leaving the electricity office premises, I was confronted by an old man in his seventies. “Beta, one minute please. Do you have time to listen to me? I would be grateful to you.” He said it all as if in hurry. His voice was firm and he sounded confident which is generally missing in an urban begger. My initial impression was he may be in need of some genuine help.
May, 2009
EMPTYNL
As the city temperature threatened to rise on an otherwise normal day, I take my seat with a feeling of comfort. I suddenly notice that my internet is not working. Thinking the failure to be another normal breakdown I decide to wait. A few hours pass but the net would refuse to come back to life. Feelings lost in the world with no access to the world, I decide to dial 1504. Here starts my roller coaster ride with MTNL.
Our roadside entrepreneurs need a stare
Outside the cluster of buildings in the well-known commercial complex of New Delhi, Gopal Prasad, a man in his early thirties, finds an obscure place to lay-out his 'business' on the footpath under the shadow of an imposing tree.
Apr, 2009
Make history to save the millions from penury
Unity is strength. Who does not know this? We have been taught this umpteen times in school with a variety of stories. Unity is not strength only when we work together or fight an evil together; it is also governing together.
Mar, 2009
Insurance Uninsured
Someone purchased a car and got it insured from a public sector insurance company. Getting an insurance policy was a swift affair as within no time the policy was issued. The insurance company was good enough to renew the policy every year without any hassles.
Jan, 2009
Soft Facts : Hard Times
Travelling from Pune to Mumbai is always pleasant especially when winter is about to set in. A man, in his mid-forties, holding two handbags, one clinging to his shoulder and the other in the firm grip of his hand, rushed into the Volvo looking for his seat number.
Nov, 2008
The Ravana and the Gutka
It was a grand finale like every year. The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath were waiting to be consigned to flames in Subhash Maidan in Delhi on the Dusehra day.
Our Achievements
- Winner of appreciation award for promoting SMEs in India.
- 1st ever Indian magazine to penetrate tier II, III cities & the rural belt.
- Industry Partnerships include CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHDCC, AIMA, ITPO, SME Network, Federation of Indian Micro Small Enterprises (FISME)
- Official Magazine Partners for several national & international MSME events.
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The Last Word
Down the Memory Lane
Zainul Abdin was the only person who would pour his heart out to me in a mix of Urdu-Hindi (Hindustani ) in hush-hush tones during the war-torn Dhaka (then Dacca) in the early 70s where I worked...
More
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