Wednesday 27 May 2020

How should India end its lockdown?

India has had a lock-down for many weeks now, but the number of infections keeps rising. The purpose of the lockdown was to reduce the number of infections, but the government doesn't want to admit its failure. So it says lockdown reduced the rate at which virus infections were rising. So the lockdown is successful as per the government.

Now obviously, a lockdown can't continue for many months. It would destroy the economy and cause deaths due to starvation/malnutrition/diseases. So at some point in time, the lockdown will have to end.

In my opinion, the lockdown should be ended immediately with the following rules in place

  • Face mask compulsory in public.
  • Hygiene e.g. No spitting, no throwing garbage on road, no cow/dog shit on road, etc.
  • Social distancing. Every business has to think and have a plan e.g. Doctors may see people by appointment so that there is no crowding in dispensaries. Restaurants will permit take-aways, but no eat-in. Office canteens will deliver food to cubicles of employees. Online training in schools with students attending school only for practicals that can't be shown online.
  • Businesses that can't follow social distancing will remain shut e.g. Gyms, swimming pools, sports complexes, playgroups, nursery, Jr Kg, Sr Kg, etc.
  • Allow private cars/buses to ferry passengers. This will reduce crowding in public transport.

Monday 11 May 2020

Investment in Stocks

Three companies have invested in RIL: Facebook ($5.7 billion), Silver Lake Partners ($750 million), and Vista Equity Partners ($1.5 billion). That's roughly $8 billion (₹60,596.37 crores) in three weeks.

USA FED is printing a lot of dollars. This cash is in search of a good investment. So some of this cash has found its way to RIL stock.

Stocks will continue to rise in nominal terms in-spite of Covid-19 scare for the same reason.

Wednesday 6 May 2020

Aarogya Setu App in India

Aarogya Setu App is a mobile application is from the Government of India. The purpose of this app is Contact Tracing i.e. warn the owner about potential infection.
Lakhs of people are using this mobile App in India. The app has been mandatory in some parts of the country.

Some problems with this App are

  • The app violates individual privacy. If I am near an infected person in a public area, the government will come to know about it. It can forcefully quarantine me.
  • This App has been hurriedly developed. There is no "proof of concept". So it is likely that a non-infected person will be marked as infected. He/She may be forcefully quarantined by Government. In this Quarantine, he/she may get infected. Now, the Government will say, "See, our App works. We found an infected person with our App"
  • The App is not open source. (The equivalent App used in Singapore is open source). So we have no idea about privacy violations by this App. We have no idea, which governments will be automatically alerted if I am near an infected person. We have to take the word of government regarding privacy issues. Now, how many people trust their government?
  • The App uses GPS continuously. Many smartphones don't have a built-in GPS like GLONASS. It is not clear about how this app will work on these smartphones.
  • The App uses Bluetooth continuously. Many smartphone users use Bluetooth for listening to music. It is not clear, whether music-listeners will still get to hear clear music after installing this app.
  • Using GPS and Bluetooth continuously is a huge drain on the battery. People will have to carry power banks or charge their smartphones in shorter intervals.
  • Many people in India don't carry a mobile phone. So how can it be made compulsory?
  • Many people in India carry a feature phone like JioPhone. This app can't be installed on a feature phone.

So I would recommend

  1. Don't install this App.
  2. If you have to install this app, then tell the official that you don't have a smartphone.
  3. If the officer insists on physically searching you, then show him a feature phone. Say that you don't carry any smartphone.
  4. If the officer still insists on physically searching for a smartphone, then carry two smartphones. Install this app on one of the smartphones. Keep this smartphone in "Airplane mode" most of the time. Use it only for showing to officers that you comply with rules.
  5. If you have only one smartphone and you are being forced to install this app, then disable the app after installation. Enable the app, only when you have show proof of compliance. Disable the app asap, after proving your compliance.
Anyone, who uses this app regularly is a moron.

Friday 1 May 2020

Are Indians eunuchs?

The Indian government is extending lock-down. This is a violation of personal freedom of Indians. Why should Indians tolerate this injustice?

Break the lock-down now. Come out of your homes. Who can stop us? Police personnel is only a fraction of Indian citizens, in terms of numbers. They too will run when Indians come out in full might.

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is cooperating with it.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.