In midst of Anti-Reservation Ire
India's political scene is made hot because of new reservation policy of Indian government. Ironically, it all started by not a formal announcement of the policy but a casual remark by the HRD minister Arjun singh in a press meet. On April 5, when the media approached Arjun Singh after a function in New Delhi seeking clarifications whether his Ministry proposed to implement reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in educational institutions, including Central professional institutes such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The Minister replied in the affirmative and explained that Article 15(5) of the Constitution had come into force on January 20, 2006, after having received Presidential assent, thus facilitating the advancement of the socially and educationally backward classes in matters of admission to educational institutions through reservation of seats and other means.- Castes/classes considered as socially backward by others.
- Castes/classes which mainly depend on manual labour for their livelihood.
- Castes/classes where the percentage of married women below 17 is 25% above the state average in rural areas and 10% in urban areas; and that of married men is 10% and 5% above the state average in rural and urban areas respectively.
- Castes/classes where participation of females in work is at least 25% above the state average.
Educational
- Castes/classes where the number of children in the age group of 5 to 15 years who never attended school is at least 25% above the state average.
- Castes/classes where the rate of student drop-out in the age group of 5-15 years is at least 25% above the state average.
- Castes/classes amongst whom the proportion of matriculates is at least 25% below the state average
Economic
- Castes/classes where the average value of family assets is at least 25% below the state average.
- Castes/classes where the number of families living in kachcha houses is at least 25 % above the state average.
- Castes/classes where the source of drinking water is beyond half a kilometer for more than 50% of the households.
- Castes/classes where the number of the house-holds having taken a consumption loan is at least 25% above the state average.
Is the 11 indicator's sufficient or sacrosanct? Can't a powerful caste group lobby with the government to include their caste in OBC list? Vatsan was saying its better to get your caste moved to OBC category from FC, rather than fighting with the government in roads. That idea can become true in near future
Sources
[+] Comments on Mandal Commission Report by Dinakar Sarikar.
[+] Cover story "Examining Reservation" by Frontline Magazine
Read more!

Long living debate in journalistic world is about the humane nature of journalists. When a journalist and camera crew covers a self-immolation story, shouldn't they try to save the life of the man involved rather than keep camera rolling. I was going through 
Cafe coffee day is my favorite company in recent times. I
Those days, coffee plantation owners sell their products to coffee boards of Indian goverment. Post-1992, they were let off in the free market. Siddhartha started his Amalgamated Bean CoffeeTrading Limited and started trading coffee. He entered in coffee powder retail market first. The Barista evolution in India in 1990's and Star Bucks influence lead him to cafe retailing in the brand name of Cafe Coffee day. Now CCD has more than whopping 300+ retail outlets all over India. They cover a huge retail area in Bangalore itself. In Indiranagar where I am residing, there are four CCD outlets in the near vicinity and still all are brimming with crowds all through the peak hours and in weekends. Coffee days are identified as youth icons and their 23% percent of business comes from teenagers. Remanining market percentages are shared by adults in age group of 20-29 years. His aim for the company is to become "StarBucks of India". With the profits of CCD, Siddhartha has diversified to technology ventures with his new company. It had invested in best known startup companies in India like Ittiam. Way to go indeed!
Now some economics funda, their profiit model could be explained as pyramid model. Defining pyramid profit model: these companies offer different product ranges for different segments of people in society. Basic ingredient is same, but quality and frills are changed to accomodate multi level society. A classic example of this profit model is retail petrol pumps, where you could see them selling petrol/diesel in different price tags with a differentiation in oxidiser content. I could see a tint of saturation logic of Walmart model too. Saturation logic symbolises the company to open a lot of retail units in the same circle and saturate the market. Which will provide a tough challenge to its competitors to enter that retail region. Walmart is often quoted/fussed about for sticking to this saturation profit model, they started in rural america, slowly saturated the market and then went further towards urban area. By the time walmart entered urban area, they had become a giant with big market in rurals which can never been taken away from them. By the time other retailers had woken up to competition from Walmart, they had scaled new peaks in revenues.


early in the morning, go to dance class in the evening, practice for CAT and fall into bed damn tired and enjoy dreams . I love reaching office early in morning and I found 3 advantages: you are off the prime time bangalore traffic, you get plenty of time to plan your day and work at your pace and ofocurse he-is-a-good-and-sincere-worker image from your colleagues ;).
