India trip 2004
www.infrasys.biz
FEBRUARY 16, 2004 - CHENNAI
Meet SHANTA SHEELA NAIR
I met Shanta Sheela Nair, by appointment at her offices at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat at 9:30 am. For those unfamiliar with the name, she is the Secretary for Rural Development, GoTN. Her photograph appears with Ilango Ramasamy in the opening page of the serve-a-graam group site. I had met her on my last visit to India in Feb 2003 and have since corresponded with her sharing many ideas. She was instrumental in identifying some of the waste management sites I had recently visited.
She is a remarkable woman. Hard working, serious about the job she is assigned to do; with a vision and a commitment to that vision. A realist and an optimist. I think she represents what I hope is an evolving breed of administrators in India.
I spent well over an hour discussing how GoTN and infraSys could work together towards that common goal and vision. The Department of Rural Development welcomes private involvement where it is appropriate and the motives are clearly beneficial to the overall welfare of the rural community.
Such areas include the inclusion of SHGs (Self Help Groups) in income generation activities, innovations in low cost rural housing, waste management and infrastructure - areas that infraSys is already interested in.
Income generation and marketing also figured in our discussion. I
proposed to her that the emphasis perhaps could shift from rural-to urban marketing to rural-rural marketing. In other words why not emphasize the producer as the (first) customer. She was very
receptive to the idea and we agreed to explore this further.
We also discussed marketing techniques. I feel in order to achieve
this shift, it may be necessary to use some of the seductive methods that the MNCs and NCs use.
I am very hopeful.
Meet DV SRIDHARAN
I you have not visited www.goodnewsindia.com you must. Its name says it all and DV is its founder, creator, writer, manager and maintainer. Tired of the routine dosage of bad and depressing news in the media, DV created this site to highlight the positive in India.
An energetic optimist (I took to him instantly) he sees the potential that is in India. "Indians are not starving or dumb. They just need to be led to a higher plane of comfort and opportunity." That is a quote.
We met at the Woodlands Drive-in which is no longer a drive in. Over some Bisi-balay-huli-anna (hot-dal-sour-rice) a Karnataka specialty and Thayir Vadai we exchanged ideas and views. DV is an ex marine engineer who packs a "punch" and he can land it where he chooses and now it is falling on highlighting the best in India. His interests are many and it includes the pongam tree and the potential of biodiesel.
I am glad he made time to meet me and I am even happier to know I have his support and goodwill in what I want to with infraSys. He is himself good news! Thanks DV.
Once again visit his website which he himself refers to as
"for an affectionate but truthful look at India, visit http://www.goodnewsindia.com " NEXT TOP
There is a reason why these two photos appear next to DV Sridharan's name. He is working on a scheme to convert all this into something useful.
