managing water resources

India is facing huge crisis of water with rivers drying up, even when there are floods during rains.

There are several reasons for this, but the most important reasons is massive deforestation in hills. Most of the rivers have their origins from  hills, where water seepage from roots of trees accumulate and form into stream becoming river downstream. Thick forests in hills obstruct the rainwater to flow downstream. Branches and stems of trees absorb a large part of rainfall, which continue to seep even after rains stop. This ensures water in rivers throughout the year. Good flow of water also does not allow the dust to settle in riverbed, thus keeping the depth intact.

Massive deforestation in hills has simply disturbed the ecology. Moreover, filling up of  ponds, which helps storage of surplus rainwater to be used later in lean season. Most of highrises today ensure that entire surface is covered by concrete and the garden is created by using artificial soil and grass. All these ensure that rainwater is not allowed to be stored or absorbed by the trees. 

This is the time, when elites both by way of money or education mostly living in cities think over it. They should force highrises to have proper rain-water harvesting system, so that groundwater level is maintained. They should ask the builder about the safeguards for this. They may also ask for fruit trees and kitchen garden within the complex to ensure greenery and absorption of rain water. Further, they should take a vow to plant a tree, whenever they are on a tour, specially to hills.

Small baby steps by citizens can do wonders.  

Creating employment is philanthropy

It seems strange that how employment generation can become philanthropy. Employment is generated by businesses, which make profits. But, we fail to understand that unless the people are employed and have earnings, they cannot spend and ultimately businesses will fail.

This is the fundamental rule of marginal propensity to consume that more the disposal income in hands of lower starta of the society more the propensity to consume or spend. This consumption create demand and hence jobs. Businesses make profits only when their products are sold and consumed. 

Though, nobody is accepting a recession, but negative interest rates in many countries is just the symptom of that. Moreover, investors like softbank are ready to burn their money just in the hope that they can make money, when competitors surrender. All this indicate that there is more money with investors than the entrepreneurs need. Is this not recession?

People are afraid that if they start small, they will be wiped out by the large corporates due to economy of scale. If scale is only important, then why the large corporates indulge in outsourcing. It is the right time, people come forward and start or support small businesses just with a view to create more employment. Just put a small money on it and help control law and order around you as jobless youths are more prone to be rowdies.

In India, there is huge crisis of health and education facilities, mainly for the poor. There is huge opportunity for business as well as philanthropy in this area. Whatever you do, society will benefit.