Hello Friends,

I was simply overwhelmed with the quality of debate/interaction that we were able to collectively generate after I published my first communication—or indeed a poser, on ‘India Advantage.’

Keeping in view our objective of fostering the spirit of mutual learning and creating a platform for discussing issues that are relevant for all of us, I’m publishing this next bit of communication. I know, like last time round, we all will be able to chip-in with our valuable thoughts on this piece of communication as well.

Very recently I received a mail from a friend of mine. It was a forwarded chain mail that I was about to dump into the waste-bin, but eventually did not do so. Reason? The contents looked serious enough for me and hence I got those checked for their authenticity from another friend--an expert in the field of Pharmacy. I now have his views on the contents, which have been reproduced in the latter part of this communication.

Contents of the chain mail that I received:

Hi… this is important more so for those who take medication without the recommendation of a Doc.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND ACTION
Pls Read Very Carefully

India has become a dumping ground for banned drugs; also the business for production of banned drugs is blooming. Plz make sure that u buy drugs only if prescribed by a doctor (Also, ask which company manufactures it, this would help to ensure that u get what is prescribed at the Drug Store) and that also from a reputed drug store. Not many people know about these banned drugs and consume them causing a lot of damage to themselves.

We do forward Jokes and other junk all the time.
This is far more important.

Plz make sure u forward it to everyone u know.

DANGEROUS DRUGS… THESE DRUGS HAVE BEEN GLOBALLY DISCARDED BUT ARE AVAILABLE IN INDIA. The most common ones are D cold, action 500 & Nimulid.

ANALGIN:
This is a pain-killer.
Reason for ban: Bone marrow depression.
Brand name: Novalgin

CISAPRIDE:
Acidity, constipation.
Reason for ban: irregular heartbeat
Brand name: Ciza, Syspride

DROPERIDOL:
Anti-depressant.
Reason for ban: Irregular heartbeat.
Brand name: Droperol

FURAZOLIDONE:
Antidiarrhoeal.
Reason for ban: Cancer.
Brand name: Furoxone, Lomofen

NIMESULIDE:
Painkiller, fever.
Reason for ban: Liver failure.
Brand name: Nise, Nimulid

NITROFURAZONE:
Antibacterial cream.
Reason for ban: Cancer.
Brand name: Furacin

PHENOLPHTHALEIN:
Laxative.
Reason for ban: Cancer.
Brand name: Agarol

PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE:
Cold and cough.
Reason for ban: stroke.
Brand name: D'cold , Vicks Action-500

OXYPHENBUTAZONE:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Reason for ban: Bone marrow depression.
Brand name: Sioril

PIPERAZINE:
Anti-worms.
Reason for ban: Nerve damage.
Brand name: Piperazine

QUINIODOCHLOR:
Anti-diarrhoeal.
Reason for ban: Damage to sight.
Brand name: Enteroquinol

And here is what my friend wrote to me—Since I have not taken his explicit permission to quote his name, I’ve not disclosed his name over here:

Dear Abhay,

Unfortunately this is correct!

Our DCGI in Delhi is far less stringent than even a country like Bangladesh! Most of these drugs have gone off the shelves in Bangladesh years back as the Government banned them!

MNC drug lobbies as well as some big Indian players have a lot of clout and are able to prolong the Product Life Cycle in India. The usual gyan given to the public is that the continuation is justified in view of the cost benefit analysis. (the so-called pharmacoeconomics).

Thanks and regards,


Sounds scary!---to say the least!

See you later,

Cheers..Abhay

Hello Friends,

Welcome to Abhay's den. "Den", as you can imagine, can evoke several and disparate imageries for different people. It could mean an ‘expression of power’ to some, an ‘example of territorial supremacy’ for some others or just a ‘personal space’ to some--and so on.

To me, it simply means "my world"-- howsoever limited it may be!

As an integral part of my world, you are reading this blog.

Through this blog, I am attempting to accomplish few things -- I wish to foster a spirit of comradeship, encourage mutually (or indeed collectively) beneficial interactions, share knowledge and valuable experiences and some times simply indulge in sharing pure fun.

My den is ‘liberal’ in thinking. Friends with diverse views (sometimes they can even be 180 degrees apart) are actively encouraged to participate in this wonderful journey of collective interaction. This is a platform that encourages total ‘freedom of expression’.

By now, you must have noticed that I have chosen Taj Mahal as an icon to define my den.

Why Taj Mahal?

Taj Mahal represents the core values that will prevail in my den. It did not take me more than a minute to choose this icon as it signifies several things to me and I am sure it will to my friends as well. While this glorious monument presents before us a heavenly beauty at a physical level, it offers a much more richer gift to the humanity in general and to us, the Indians, in particular. It’s an icon that has put India on the global map of artistic excellence and the sentiments behind its creation signify eternal values such as love and dedication. To me it has always been a symbol of inspiration.

And now, turning on to the first interactive invitation to you, my friends.

Is ‘India Advantage’ diminishing?

The context of this debate is predominantly centered around the industry sectors such as IT, ITeS, Retail and other similar ‘new age’ industries.

While the current boom in the new economy Indian industry was originally triggered by the ‘cost arbitrage’ considerations, there were some other compelling growth-enablers such as the availability of large talent pool, emergence of affluent middle-class etc.

Right from the turn of the millennium, all we have been hearing about and witnessing is growth and more growth. And all the futuristic economic/industry studies are predicting this trend to continue. Great going—so far!

I have no opinion that is contrary to what these various studies are pointing about the future scenario, but certainly have some apprehensions. Of late, and often times, I get a little worried when I see certain happenings around me. Many of these incidents/happenings, albeit solitary, seemingly trivial, make me nervous. Sometimes so much that I feel that they almost overshadow and have a potential of adversely affecting the current ‘India advantage.’

Now let me just illustrate by enlisting a few such happenings/incidents, before I invite you all to share your opinions on ‘whether the India advantage is diminishing?’

*Quite off and on we have read examples of criminal behaviour on part of the BPO employees, where they fraudulently used the customer information that they were privy to as an integral part of their job!

*The salary packages in these industries are sometimes becoming almost unaffordable for the relatively smaller businesses and for those who can afford today are finding it tough to manage the future.

*We have started witnessing ‘unionization’ in the most recently emerging industry sector -‘Retail.’

*There have been more than one examples of such collective efforts by those who work in the fringe functions around the IT/ITeS industries. Flash strikes by the drivers of company vehicles are not uncommon.

*The infrastructure development (at best) is lagging the heightened economic activities in the cities
- Bangalore is the biggest example today
- We still don’t know when & where will the new international airports for Mumbai & Pune will come up
- McDonalds & Pizza Huts of this world cannot make India an international destination but ruly traffic, better roads and a much better collective civic sense on our part can do it.

Folks, please chip-in with your views.

Cheers..Abhay