The day CAC course begun I could not resist to think about a small story I heard long back in my childhood. It goes as.....
When the universe was created a debate started between 'Devs' (Gods) and 'Danavas' (Demons) who are more powerful and it seemed to take the shape of battle. Indra meanwhile thought lets ask 'Brahma' (The Creator of Universe) whom he bestowed with greater powers and virtues and somehow convinced the two sides to refer this debate to Brahma. Meanwhile hearing this Brahma replied that both are equally important and powerful as the 2 eyes complement each other and both eyes together makes the 'vision'. Needless to say both sides persisted so Brahma told them to come on feast next day where he will announce his decision. Next day Devas and Danavas appeared for feast but they were surprised by the condition to eat. The winner would be the one who finished first and had minimum wastage of food. Each one of them were given a spoon with a long handle and they had to eat grasping the end of spoon and they were not allowed to use hands. After much of time passed Danavas began to eat with spoon but it wasted a lot of food wheras Devas decided to feed other Dev with his spoon while other reciprocated the same. With this method thay managed to eat fast with zero wastage and were announced winners.
So, within each of us lies the Deva and Danava and it is we who decide the winner...the Deva will work together, learns to share and prefer win-win situation(abundance mentality) for all. Whereas Danava will be selfish, selfcenterd and have scarcity mentality. The human mind is its own place and can make a hell of heaven or heaven out of all. If we think world as a one family and if we work together and learn to share world would be better place but only question is 'if'....
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Rich and Poor Kids in the World of Social Capital
Is social capital real? Or is it some artificial extension of economic capital? There is argument that when 'social exclusion' came into fore about the marginalisation of some individuals i society, social capital was brought in as a solution. In any case, many of the entrepreneurial firms, and family businesses in India seems to be thriving based on the principles of social capital. However, danger is that the threat of 'crony capitalism', which is challenging the Indian growth story (http://www.tni.org/article/indias-crony-capitalist-model) could be the flip side of this social capital based growth.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Scarcity and collective action
Is scarcity really a determinant of collective action? We could make argument for and against such a statement. What contexts of scarcity may generate collective action, and what may demobilise collectives?
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Collective Action
"Collective Action" most of the times seems to strike the cord among the poor people. The very reason for this phenomena may be that the poor are not economically sound enough to pool in enough resources for a particular activity. If they are made aware of of a potential income source which can be tapped then obviously the people will come forward together, which would not only benefit them but the entire community. Moreover one can also say that collective action is simply not for the poor. Everyone can reap the benefits out of it. With time people have begun to understand the positive aspects of collective efforts and nowadays this is also visible in almost every sector starting from the ground level to big organizations.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Payment for Envrionmental Services
Payment for Environmental Services (PES) has become an important strategy to manage common pool resources. Crux of the strategy is summaries in a CIFOR paper: http://www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications/pdf_files/OccPapers/OP-42.pdf
Let us imagine the classical problem of regenerating a river, that was dead because of 'tragedy of the commons'. How are the differential benefits in up-lands and low-lands creating a new collective action problem when we regenerate this river? Do you think PES is the right solution to commons management?
Let us imagine the classical problem of regenerating a river, that was dead because of 'tragedy of the commons'. How are the differential benefits in up-lands and low-lands creating a new collective action problem when we regenerate this river? Do you think PES is the right solution to commons management?
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