Vibrant Gujarat Summit’s second day, from Journalist’s diary

-On first day of summit, he was seen in kurta paijama, but on second day, he was seen in impressive suit. Modi took a round of Mahatma Mandir complex in the morning and checked the things himself. He checked a wall mounted kiosk to see whether it functions properly or not.

-On second day of summit, several sector wise seminars were organized. Whenever Modi visited the seminar there was a halt given to the speaker. Modi used to distribute certificate of appreciation to those who signed MoU of large amount. Rest of the certificates were distributed by the ministers.

-Water resources minister Narottambhai Patel started reading his speech in English in one of the seminars. People thought that he was just reading the English. But when in same seminar, the central government guest said that Gujarat government’s Mission Mangalam was originally an idea of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Mr. Narottambhai started argument in fluent English and showed his fluency power. Narottambhai told the central government secretary that it could be an idea of Dr. Kalam, but then a political will is needed to implement it and the Gujarat government has it.

-In one seminar, state Urban development minister Shri Nitin Patel said that earlier the state was obliged to supply water for drinking purpose, then there was irrigation purpose, but now as more and more industries are coming to Gujarat, the state has new front in the sector of water supply, and that is the industrial front, as more industries need more water. Patel said, how Gujarat government brings water for industries based in Kutch from river Narmada in central Gujarat. Patel said it needs lifting exercise at three to four places to bring water to Kutch from Narmada, and therefore the cost of bringing water is to high. Therefore the government has decided to focus on more MoUs in water recharge, solar energy and related sectors. According to Patel, this would create win win situation.

-Vivek Debroy is dancing orator. When he speaks from heart, his body language looks like he is dancing. Speaking today at a seminar on social responsibility of industry, Vivek said that CSR(Corporate Social Responsibility) is nonsense. He said companies do CSR for their business related gains. Vivek praised Gujarat, but was critical about NAREGA.

-Shri Sanjay Lalbhai of Arvind said the emergence of Bangladesh was thank to the labor pool available there. He said he is facing shortage of labors in Bangalore. According to Sanjaybhai, the textile units that generally are located in urban areas historically, will have to go to rural areas to get committed pool of labors. He said in such areas, women can be trained and employed.

-Sanjay Lalbhai said there’s a great demand of organic cotton for last some years in the markets of west. He said he tried to convince Gujarat farmers to grow organic cotton, but Gujarat farmers were not ready because they are BT cotton growers and they get high yield that way. While doing organic farming, one gets low production in initial years. The Gujarat farmers were not ready for this. Therefore his company went to dry areas of Maharashtra’s Vidarbh and Akola. The farmers there successfully grew organic cotton in large area. The product was used for international brand wears such as Levise, Wall Mart, Marks and Spenser among others. The people from these companies themselves visited the fields and were satisfied. Sanjaybhai said lately there’s a model where initial yield will not be affected when choosing organic way. Adopting such method the company would try to enter into 50,000 acre cotton growing field.

-Vibrant Gujarat Summit’s valedictory function witnessed Japanese girl singing Hindi song of film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. The song was ‘Nibuda’. She also sang one Japanese-English song. Three Japanese girls who learn Indian traditional Kathak dance in Ahmedabad’s Kadamb institution performed Kathak on Japanese-English song on the stage.

-Technocrat NRI Gujarati Sam Pitroda in his speech said that 2G scam came out in big proportion because of the successful bidding of 3G. He said technology and automation are two answers for the problem of corruption. He said the 3G auction was honest and smooth thanks to the fact that it was done completely electronically. Pitroda said that digital money would fast take over the traditional cash transaction.

-One person present in Ship building and ports seminar asked a question that while ships are faster than before, the paper work is increasingly becoming slower. To this a European gentleman replied that in Europe or Durban the ships are stopped only due to traffic congetion, but they are never stopped for documentations. The gentleman said that automation is right answer to kill such paper work and procedural documentations.

-HDFC’s Shri Dipakbhai Parekh said that they had carried out a survey and in that it was found that rural people’s first priority area is education, second is health, third is agriculture related issues. But in the cities, housing is a big problem. 60% of Mumbai’s population live in slums because they can’t afford to buy a house. Housing finance and banks have grown at the rate of 30% yearly, but that serves just the middle class. Parekh said, every year his banks in Mumbai witnesses demand of finance for buying house in new area. Fifteen years back people came to buy house in Bandra, ten years back in Borivali, when Borivali also was out of bound of their pocket, the people came to buy house in Nalasopara. Interesting thing is that while city is expanding in this speed, the infrastructure provided by local authority does not expand in same speed, because local body can’t charge for water, or street light or for cleanliness. Most of the local bodies are making loss.

-The speech of Mangu Singh from Delhi Metro Rail Company was realy interesting. Singh said that as their project was under implementation in capital Delhi, it was under constant scrutiny of many VIPs. Mangu Singh said that they call a train late when it is just 60 seconds behind schedule. He said while construction was on, each day delay meant 1.6 crore extra burden on project. Even Managing Director of the project would wear helmet while visiting the sight. Mobiles and Laptops were given liberally to the employees for increasing their efficiency. The success of the project is success of contractor was one motto, and performance is the best publicity was another motto. Mangu Singh said they people continuously were in communication with the people. It was necessary to tell the people that this work was for their better life.

-According to Gujarat government official, the govt has received two detail project reports from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for construction of Metro train in Ahmedabad. While one route is 10 km long connecting Vastrapur and Kalupur, the other is 33 km long between APMC in Ahmedabad and Akshardham in Gandhinagar. There are 40 stake holders involved in this project, and couple of round of meeting with them are completed. The decision will be taken soon while also considering that L&T’s proposal is similar in nature.

-In valedictory function of the summit most of the industrialists sitting on dais were Gujarati or Gujarat based barring one Mr. Biyani of Fortune group. While in last summit the Speaker of Gujarat Assembly was sitting on stage, this year state Revenue minister Anandiben Patel replaced his seat. Speaker was not seen during both days of summit in Mahatma Mandir complex.

-Narendra Modi started his speech today saying that the guests should note down 12-13 January 2013 dates to attend the next summit. Modi clearly punched Congress party by saying this, as Gujarat assembly election is scheduled to take place in December 2012. While Congress party is criticizing the conference, Mr. Modi indirectly showed amazing confidence that 2012 election will be his.

-Modi in his valedictory speech said that while people say that Modi dreams, the fact is that Modi doesn’t watch dreams, but he plants dreams, Modi said he is Sankatproof. He said the God sends trouble every day to his life because he has trust that this man would give a suitable fight to trouble.

-Modi said, the success of this summit is not under doubt by anybody this time, in fact the discussion taking place this time is that all other states of India and the government of India should do what Gujarati is doing.

-Modi thanked media and said, this whole summit has been covered in entire media very positively, and this is the example that shows all are wishing that Gujarat should progress.

-Modi asked the captains of industry that they should organize their annual meets, conventions in Mahatma Mandir now onwards, even if the rental prices are bit higher here. Modi also said that wedding functions would be allowed in Mahatma Mandir.

-While on first day of summit, Modi behaved liked Hugging saint and hugged almost each industry captain who completed his speech in inaugural ceremony, on the second day Modi was seen hugging just one person and that was Mr. Sam Pitroda.