The airline industry, globally has been going through bad times since quite a number of years, especially so in India. Take the majors Air India, Jet Airways and King Fisher. All of them have huge mounting losses and have been struggling to keep afloat. Today's newspaper (Mail Today, Delhi edition dated Dec 22, 2011) says that the accumulated losses of Air India is Rs 43,777 crores and the government owes the airline Rs 435 crores towards the foreign visits made by the ministers. The employees of Air India have not been getting their salaries regularly. Shame on you, babhus....
Be it the airline or any other industries, at times like this, they resort to innovative ways of doing cost cutting. At times, it sounds penny wise and pound foolish or it can be paisa wise and euro foolish!!!
At my earlier organization, there were such instances. They went to the level of stopping the newspaper that was kept at the reception table which costed less than 50 paisa those days. Naturally, many of the employees were upset and they showed their protest in innovative ways!! There was a writing on the wall of one of the toilets saying "Due to the present cost cutting initiatives, the toilet papers must be used both the sides"!! Someone scribbled below, "Why use toilet papers? Let us use the papers from the in-house magazine"!! And someone added, "Please avoid glossy papers for the magazine if it's to be used for this purpose"!!!
One of the big airlines in India, of late, have started their share of cost cutting measures. Salary being one of the big ticket items on the expenses, their attention is turned towards it. Senior managers found some of their perquisites cut till further notice. Some section of the staff are given 2-3 days compulsory off from their work and a few days of salary cut every month. So far, it makes sense.
On the air, in a non-budget flight, they have stopped giving chocolates, toothpicks, salt and pepper, the famous "mouth freshener mint". It leaves wonder how much money can be saved by stopping toothpicks and such items. The menu cards given at business class have been stopped, instead you get a "Udupi hotel" experience. The hostess comes to you and rattles out the menu of the day and takes your order. One can't but imagine, a cap on the head, a pencil tugged behind the ear - a typical waiter in an Indian udupi restaurant!! The brewed coffee is replace with the standard nescafe instant coffee powder sachets...
Here are some more "innovative" ways to cut costs:
- All obese people may be made to pay extra in line with the charges collected for excess baggages!
- The welcome smile by the hostess will henceforth be charged!
- The usage of toilets may be charged, in proportion with the usage. The first 250 ml is free and anything over and above may be charged!! Toilet papers shall be made available at a cost. Coin operated flush is one more option!!!
- The bus service used between the aircraft and the terminal may be charged. Standees get concessional fares.
- Instead of the step ladders, ropes may be provided. All passengers must use the rope to get into the aircraft and step ladder usage shall be charged.
- There will no more be loaders and all the passengers should on their own, screen the bags, check them in and load them into the aircrafts. If you need help, you pay.
- The food (if at all provided) will be served on banana leaves - one leaf for every three passengers. Bring your own plates, if you don't like this!!!
- Windows and aisle seats are charged extra.
- You may be offered a young pretty girl seated next to you. Of course, on payment of extra money. On a similar note, if you do not want a fat one next to you - you pay!!
- Overhead compartment spaces may be given on rent.
On a serious note, the government should take this matter with a high priority. The surcharge and tax on the aviation turbine fuel - ATF (which is one single major expense for the airlines) is extremely high and a reduction on these shall certainly help the industry and help them to keep the airline business alive!!
How the government is going to get Air India out of its Rs 43,777 crores loss, is a "million" dollar quetstion!! :)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Chennai Music Festival - Cribs
I had been to Chennai for this year's music festival from the 1st of December till the 13th of December. I came back with a mixed feeling of joy and sad. Joy because so many people get platforms to display their artistic talents, sad because of our inability to make it into a world class event...
Quality of the programs:
There is no yard stick to determine if a particular artist has attain a certain proficiency level to perform in a concert. The selection of the artists, I guess, goes by the word of mouth, the influence you have with the sabha organizers, the money power and so on. The main performer does not get an opportunity to select his accompaniments. This results in a complete mismatch of talents thereby bringing down the entire quality of the performance. It would be ideal (can it be practical?) to have some standards set for the performer and all artists should be made to clear that level. Something on the line of SEI or ISO certifications done on the industries.
Respect for the artists (especially the juniors):
There is hardly any attendees for almost all the junior artists at all sabhas. This is very true for the odd hour concerts (10 AM, 2PM...) In some cases, the number of people on the stage are more than the number on the audience!! If a popular artists happen to perform at the next slot, then there is an inflow of people towards the end of the program of the junior artist, disturbing the artists. The payments given to the artists is nothing short of an insult. I have seen some of them getting as low as two hundred rupees which may not even cover the transport expenses!!
Sabha infrastructure:
In most of the sabhas the sound system is in a pathetic state and is handled by a set of people who have no formal training or a good experience or an ear for sound. Either it is too loud or the balance is not proper etc. After the first few minutes, the sound technician (if you may call him that) vanishes and the performer and the audience have to put up with whatever is available. The air condition system seem to function with no temperature control. It is freezing cold in most of the sabhas. There is no provision to get a glass of water even when you attend the morning concerts. The canteen is not opened nor there is a water dispenser anywhere. The status of the toilets are in a sad state in most of the sabhas. Most of the organizers can be polite and nice to the visitors than behaving in an arrogant and autocratic manner.
Chennai infrastructure:
Chennai faces the same infrastructure issues as any other Indian states. But one can not escape the harsh treatment of the auto rickshaw guys especially when its late night (read after 8pm) or when you are with an elderly person or when you have to go to some far away places. Its sheer robbery. The public bus service is a good state during day time. But that too trickles down to a very few at night. The noise level in general is extremely high in chennai. Every transport vehicle (public buses, private buses, water tankers, trucks etc.) is fitted with an air-horn which is used indiscreetly. There is absolutely no respect for hospitals, schools, temples... To add to this is the noise created by the loud speaker menace at the road-side religious setups, at functions like marriages, ear-piercing ceremony etc... The condition of the sidewalks are not at all conducive to those who prefer to walk. After the change of government, it is seen that mountains are garbage are seen at all places. One wonders how the city is surviving without the attack of any major plagues.
So much for the cribbing.
I only wish and pray that the Tamil nadu government realizes the potential of this December music season and gives enough attention and focus to improve the facilities available and make the city more visitor friendly.
This certainly deserves the rank of any other major festivals across the globe. There are ample opportunities for the artists at all levels. They get an excellent exposure to perform and make their talents known to the world. There are varieties for the audience - music, lecture demonstrations, dances of all forms, theater, interaction with the artists, talks etc.
No doubt there are improvements every year...but we have a long way to go if this has to be made at par with other global events.
Quality of the programs:
There is no yard stick to determine if a particular artist has attain a certain proficiency level to perform in a concert. The selection of the artists, I guess, goes by the word of mouth, the influence you have with the sabha organizers, the money power and so on. The main performer does not get an opportunity to select his accompaniments. This results in a complete mismatch of talents thereby bringing down the entire quality of the performance. It would be ideal (can it be practical?) to have some standards set for the performer and all artists should be made to clear that level. Something on the line of SEI or ISO certifications done on the industries.
Respect for the artists (especially the juniors):
There is hardly any attendees for almost all the junior artists at all sabhas. This is very true for the odd hour concerts (10 AM, 2PM...) In some cases, the number of people on the stage are more than the number on the audience!! If a popular artists happen to perform at the next slot, then there is an inflow of people towards the end of the program of the junior artist, disturbing the artists. The payments given to the artists is nothing short of an insult. I have seen some of them getting as low as two hundred rupees which may not even cover the transport expenses!!
Sabha infrastructure:
In most of the sabhas the sound system is in a pathetic state and is handled by a set of people who have no formal training or a good experience or an ear for sound. Either it is too loud or the balance is not proper etc. After the first few minutes, the sound technician (if you may call him that) vanishes and the performer and the audience have to put up with whatever is available. The air condition system seem to function with no temperature control. It is freezing cold in most of the sabhas. There is no provision to get a glass of water even when you attend the morning concerts. The canteen is not opened nor there is a water dispenser anywhere. The status of the toilets are in a sad state in most of the sabhas. Most of the organizers can be polite and nice to the visitors than behaving in an arrogant and autocratic manner.
Chennai infrastructure:
Chennai faces the same infrastructure issues as any other Indian states. But one can not escape the harsh treatment of the auto rickshaw guys especially when its late night (read after 8pm) or when you are with an elderly person or when you have to go to some far away places. Its sheer robbery. The public bus service is a good state during day time. But that too trickles down to a very few at night. The noise level in general is extremely high in chennai. Every transport vehicle (public buses, private buses, water tankers, trucks etc.) is fitted with an air-horn which is used indiscreetly. There is absolutely no respect for hospitals, schools, temples... To add to this is the noise created by the loud speaker menace at the road-side religious setups, at functions like marriages, ear-piercing ceremony etc... The condition of the sidewalks are not at all conducive to those who prefer to walk. After the change of government, it is seen that mountains are garbage are seen at all places. One wonders how the city is surviving without the attack of any major plagues.
So much for the cribbing.
I only wish and pray that the Tamil nadu government realizes the potential of this December music season and gives enough attention and focus to improve the facilities available and make the city more visitor friendly.
This certainly deserves the rank of any other major festivals across the globe. There are ample opportunities for the artists at all levels. They get an excellent exposure to perform and make their talents known to the world. There are varieties for the audience - music, lecture demonstrations, dances of all forms, theater, interaction with the artists, talks etc.
No doubt there are improvements every year...but we have a long way to go if this has to be made at par with other global events.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Why I hate to visit Chennai!!!
Even today, the minimum fare on an auto rickshaw in Mumbai is Rs 11 and if you give `15 to the driver, you get the balance of `4 back.
In Chennai, for a minimum distance you pay `30 after much bargaining and listening to the abuses and curses from the driver. Any balance amount to be returned is always rounded off to the nearest `10!!
If we assume 75,000 autos and they make ten trips a day and overcharge each trip by `5 - Overcharged amount per day – `37 Lakhs and its more than `136 Crores per annum. This is on a conservative assumption and the actual amount involved is multifold.
No wonder much interest is shown to rectify this issue!!
During Sep 2010, the Madras high court has given orders to the state government to regulate the auto fares. Nothing seem to have done as yet. So much respect for our judiciary systems!!
If a set of people misuse the system its called corruption and if thousands of such people misuse, its accepted and tolerated even by government and the judiciary system!!
For this single reason, I hate to visit Chennai.
Ref: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article799375.ece
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)