Additional requirements for educating children -Schools Infrastructure, Teachers etc.

Subject: Additional requirements in the next 5 years for educating children in the age group from 6 to 10 years-Schools Infrastructure, Teachers etc.

A broad analysis has been done to arrive at the level of additional infrastructure needed to be planned and created in by 2021 to take to educate the children in the age group of 6-10 years in 2016 (i.e., in age group of 0-5 years in 2011).

Annexure A contains the demographic profile of our country as per the 2011 census data. It gives the number of persons in different age groups. It also give the number of males and females for country as a whole and also separately for Urban and Rural population.

Annexure B groups the data in the age groups at 5 year interval (0 to 5, 6 to 10 etc.) and gives the figures for the years 2011.Column (a) has the age groups and column (b) contains the numbers for population. It also extrapolates the data for 2016 and assuming zero mortality rate, the number in 0-5 year group in the year 2011 are the numbers for6-10 year group for 2016 given in column (c). Similarly the figures for other age groups and ‘males’ and females worked out for rural population. Column (d) gives increase in the numbers in the different age groups, e.g., increase in the numbers in the group 6-10 in 2016 over 2011 is 7,435,005 persons.

From the above data we find that about 75 lakh children were getting added to the school going group in thelast5 years. We should have created facilities in schools for taking care of these additional numbers–an average of about15 lakh every year. Taking the figure of (say) 1000children per school we need about 7,400new schools in 5 years, i.e., about 1500 schools a year. We know that we do not find 1000 children in close clusters for such a neat calculations. Moreover two, thirds of these were in rural areas where the clusters are smaller and there are fewer number of additional children in each locations. The point being made is that we should have opened a lot more than1500 additional schools for each of thelast5 years (2011-2016).How did we do on this front?

This group of 0-5 years in 2011will be in the bracket of 10-15 years in the year 2021. Compared to the numbers in this group in 2011 we would have 10,804,449 additional children in 2021 in this group [138,861,008 (Children in 0-5 years in 2011 who would be in 10-15 years in 2021)-128,056,559 Children in 10-15 years in 2011]. We will need facilities for the educating (class 6 to 10) these additional children.

It is also to be kept in mind that besides the additional infrastructure in terms of classrooms, black boards, table, chairs etc. this will also require additional note books, books, trained teachers, sports facilities and all other systems required to run schools. Moreover, additional infrastructure is also required to create and to take care of these needs.

I trust that all these are being planned and there are Govt and Private Sector including NGOs working in this domain and the additional requirements/needs indicated above will be planned and created so that our children get proper education.

Digital Payments – expectations form a robust eco-system

The Govt has been asking public to switch to digital payments. Besides other benefits this will do away with need to have hard currency for day-to-day transactions. Further, it will keep track of transactions and ensure that the money is in the Bank accounts rather than being stashed away in currency notes.

At the outset it is accepted that is a very good scheme and will help a great deal in the fight against black money and corruption. Another great advantage of electronic payments is that makes the system available 24x7 and money transfers are not restricted to the office hours of banks. Such systems require a robust eco-system to survive and prosper. Following are some points to be kept in mind while developing/ensuring that a good eco-system is available so that public is assured that they are safe doing these transactions on line or through mobiles.

• Privacy Protection: Due care may be taken to ensure that companies providing services in this domain maintain and protect individual privacy. When the payments are made electronically, they leave a complete trail of where a person has been and what he or she may have done.  For example, if I start from my house, pay electronically to the Auto/Taxi driver, then enter a Metro paying electronically, go for lunch and tea in some restaurants in the afternoon and return. The trail of electronic payments will not only be recording/tracking the payments made but will also keep record of what and where I eat, when I eat, how I traveled and where all I have been at what time. Looking to the poor track record of the privacy protection by the mobile companies and almost lack of any regulatory mechanism to ensure that they maintain and protect privacy, one has to find a good model for ensuring privacy is protected in the in the electronic payment system and implement it in foolproof and fail safe manner.

• Data Security: This is of paramount importance because unless Security, Confidentiality and Availability (CIA) are ensured systems implemented do not serve much purpose.

• Dispute Resolution Mechanism: This has to be a very robust system and should be able to provide speedy redressal of grievances. Again track of regularity agency in mobile phone domain has not been something to be followed.  My personal experience have been that I have lost over Rs.4000/- to different mobile companies and I have nowhere to go. Other customers have also lost money and have similar experience. It is to be understood that Rs.5 or Rs.10 loss for each customer and with a customer basis 100 crores would yield Rs. 500-1000 crores. Customers do not pursue grievances for small amount because cost of seeking resolution / litigation is far more than the amount which has been lost.

• Digital Currency: One has to look at the experience of other countries (Cryptocurrencies) for taking precautions and care before implementing it.  The ‘sandbox trials’ (discussed in this paper) may be adopted to ensure minimum damage in trial and experiments.

• Link with Aadhar Number: It is suggested that instead of asking citizens to have multiple numbers we should try having all the numbers link/merge with Aadhar no. Some examples are given below:

• PAN Number: My PAN Card no can be exactly as my Aadhar number or to put it in other words – my Aadhar card number could be my PAN number there is perhaps no need to have another number for individuals. This will also ensure that no person has more than one PAN number. The numbering systems for PAN cards for Legal persons/companies etc could continue on existing lines.

• Bank Account Number: My bank account no could also be modeled in a similar fashion – it could be a combination of the IFC code of the bank/branch and my Aadhar no.  + 2 digit code to meet with the eventuality that I may have more than one back accounts in the same bank/branch. This will do away with the need of numbering and keeping track of different numbers for different purposes.

• Cash Handling Costs: There is substantial cost are incurred in handling cash. Releasing data on this will go a long way in moving people to move to Electrical payment. Moreover, just as the costs of handling physical currency are born by the Govt the costs in case of Digital Currencies may be born by the Govt.

• Incentives: Electronic transaction charges may be removed. We we use the credit cards at restaurants or for purchasing shoes or clothes etc. we do not pay any surcharge. Why should they be charging any surcharge when we purchase fuel at petrol pumps etc.