Many Indians and the world media are excited in India’s development. But please read the following two developments carefully. “In August 2007, the Arjun Sengupta Committee reported the deeply disturbing, if widely accepted figure of 836 million Indians – that is over 75% of our people, “the poor and the vulnerable” – surviving on a daily average expenditure of under Rs. 20 a day.” (Quote from intended dinner address entitled ‘Political Framework for Inclusive Growth’, at University of Stanford, 5-6 June 2008, by Sri. Mani Shankar Aiyar, Hon. Indian Minister of Panchayathi Raj; published in the Hindu News paper from 6 to 11 June 2008). Kerala, the most literate state of India, with very fertile soil and good rain fall and with the highest foreign remittances in the world, is now unable to produce the food materials and consumer goods needed there. The money spent in the state for the affluent life style evolved there also comes from outside – the NRI remittances! Kerala now tops India in alcohol consumption, crime and suicides!

India’s parliament and her state Assemblies are routinely the venues of accusations, counter accusations, acrimonious verbal attacks and sometimes, even manhandling. Lot time is wasted in futile arguments, boycotts etc, and some parliamentarians are absent many times; thus real legislation and reform does not take place. The basic reason for egoistic, dogmatic and/or aggressive, argument is uncontrolled emotion typical to people of tropical origin. This type of emotional vehemence is unusual and rare in the parliaments of countries with a cold climate.

If one reviews the gov'ts in the world, the best democracies now are Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, etc - the coldest countries! These countries have a social-democratic system with a better and equitable distribution of wealth among their citizens. The worst democracies and non-democracies are in Africa and in the Middle East!! People of warm and hot climatic origin are fast in thinking and action; since decades the African-Americans and Africans are winners in most sprint events in the Olympics and other competitions. Most of them seem to lack the capacity for deeper thinking, patience and perseverance to plan and work hard for a definite objective. But, they want things easily and immediately; for that they seek the backdoor approach or aggressive options. Rulers of such countries use corruption, oppression, suppression, aggression etc to achieve their motives.

A world which has been made very complex and highly efficient thru scientific and technological advancements brought about by very intelligent personalities is gradually slipping out of control. One can see it everywhere; just see, how smart the mobile phones are! Normal people use only about 10 percent of its utility; they use only about 10 percent of their own intelligence as well! Children and youngsters are becoming addicts to TV, computers, mobile phones, drugs etc. Consumerism, commercialisation and exploitation on the one hand, poverty and despair on the other hand. The world is gradually slipping into the hands of social parasites and barbarians infested by greed, dogmas, hatred etc!

In my search for an efficient model of development, first I discovered Singapore, the most successful city of 20th century. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew the 1st PM and founder of modern Singapore said that liberal democracy as practiced in Europe is not suitable for the nature of the people of his country. According to him, Asians are more intelligent than the Europeans. He also questions the effectiveness and rationality of the popular ‘one man one vote system’. In Singapore, he devised a system of administration dominated by highly qualified technocrats, and known as ‘Meritocracy’. He introduced the four intellectual personality traits analytical thinking, logical understanding of cause and effect, concentration to the point and imagination, as the standard for his executives. These are known as the Helicopter Qualities and were adapted from the Shell Oil Company. When average personalities remain ‘pedestrians’, persons with these qualities can conceive and plan fantastic objectives and ‘fly’ to achieve them. Mr. Lee has been in the Singapore cabinet since 1959; that is 49 years now. He concedes that he could achieve the great development in Singapore because of the unique circumstances and exceptional personalities who worked with him in the early days of independent Singapore. The 84 year old Mr. Lee is 'Mentor Minister' since Aug 2004 - probably world's only Mentor Minister!

US, world’s largest economy, and the most technologically advanced superpower of the world, has about 15 percent of population below poverty line; some Indians I met there say it is much more! Globalisation, initiated mainly by the Multi National Corporations in the US is spreading the capitalist-dominated market economy and poverty worldwide. There is saying about the American way of life; ‘they spend money which is not earned, for things they don’t need, to impress people they don’t like!’ The whole world charmed by the sexiness of this flamboyant lifestyle is trying to copy it by all means. Commercialisation and provocation of emotions are used in anything and everything, for the exploitation of the common man. Sophisticated techniques and technologies of the media are utilized for this.

The number of billionaires and millionaires increase worldwide together with poverty and the cleft between the rich and poor. Thru this extravagant way of life, resources of the world are misused and depilated. The natural balance of the eco systems on earth, which was intact over millions of years, is toppled out of balance. Human values and valuable principles of the great Indian culture such as mediocrity, respect to all forms of life and other resources are disregarded. The whole world, which could live mostly in peace, prosperity, harmony and happiness, is made a hell. France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Switzerland, the US etc are all considered democracies; but are quite different in details and function.

After years of search I discovered world’s most democratic, systematic and very efficient process known as Porto Alegre Innovation. This innovation is in Participative Budgeting (PB) process and it transformed the city which was bankrupt in 1988 (by spending 96 percent of its revenue for salaries and routine expenses), to the city with the best quality of life in Brazil in 12 years!

Because of its efficiency and effectiveness, it is adapted in over 35 developing and developed countries world wide! A careful adaptation of the of Porto Alegre Innovation in PB process, without loosing and/or changing its important features, in India's villages, towns and cities is the only way for a FAST development of India. Decentralisation up to the wards is the success formulae of Porto Alegre and Singapore.

As common people are not sociologists and economists, without a tangible model within one’s reach, the common man will not understand that fast development is possible. Without a model in front, politicians and even experts will discuss and dispute schemes endlessly. This will have to be forced by public campaign and pressure, and also thru setting up a few model villages and towns in each district, so that common man will see and be convinced. Real decentralisation up to the wards and using the Porto Alegre PB process for efficiency will transfer India in 15 years. But, politicians cannot implement serious schemes for fast development in India as she is 'a functioning anarchy'; and most of them will not do it as they lack vision, have narrow perceptions, other interests etc. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is also thinkable.

I request personalities who understand and agree to the above – only if you agree, otherwise, you cannot have the passion - to join hands under the group 'Great India 2025' herein. About 50 suitable persons will be enough!! The Porto Alegre Innovation, which is world’s best democratic process known, can transform almost any village, town or city in any country to a modern and wonderful model within 3 to 20 years, depending on their size, population, resources etc. Countries where PB is now adapted include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Canada, England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain etc. England has declared PB as its national strategy, in March 2008. Details of Porto Alegre Innovation is bloged herein; a version with photos and references is on www.karammel.com.