What is the Indian government upto?

It is not a good time if you are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur, in fact you would dread stepping in to face the Indian government on your own. It would be so much easier for the budding talent to ensconce itself in a cosy little corporate office and allow others to take the risk. I mean, the very basis of entrepreneurial spirit is the ability to take that all important risk. It is not easy and the government has just decided, for reasons best known to them, that laissez-faire is not for them. I have never had a high regard for ministers and ministries and as far as I am concerned, the dumb just got dumber.

I just cannot fathom the reason for the government to bring in a legislation that interferes with telecast rights for sports won in an open and competitive bidding. This government wants to dictate what is right and what is wrong thumbing their noses at market forces. Which businessman in his right mind would invest in India after this? For those of you not in the loop, Nimbus a private broadcaster won the telecast rights for all BCCI hosted cricket matches for a certain number of years at a certain price (I am purposely avoiding cluttering your mind with figures because that is irrelevant here). State run Doordarshan had every opportunity to bid for the rights and chose not to. Now they have demanded (and got it) that feed for all sports events of national importance be provided to them free of cost. What's more, the government has just passed a legislation making this law. Anyone heard of fair play? What is even more rubbish is the attitude of the BCCI and Nimbus.Instead of standing up for entrepreneurship they have floated a proposal to meet the cost of upgrading all Doordarshan transponders allowing them to encrypt the signals.

What's more, we today have the news that the government has finally succeeded in arm-twisting the cement industry to stop price hikes. It actually qualifies for an entry in Ripley's Believe It Or Not. The industry has assured the government that cement prices will be frozen for the next one year irrespective of increase in cost of inputs and also agreed to pass on any sops (read reductions in excise and a host of other governmental cess) to the consumer. Now you go figure. Holcim must be wondering what hit them. The poor guys thought there was a great story waiting to unfold in Indian infrastructure and wanted a bite of the cherry. They just might be feeling that they have bitten off more than they can chew. And they will not find anyone in a hurry to buy their stake if they want to sell. In case someone is wondering who Holcim is, they are a Swiss cement manufacturer who bought substantial stakes in Indian cement companies providing fortunes to the original Indian owners.If an individual cheats you put him behind bars and what happens when a government cheats, good question.

The government can raise tax rates, pile on the cess and the cess on the taxes and whatever. They draw up grandiose plans each year allocating crores of rupees for education, agriculture and all nice-sounding themes. All of course, funded by the poor tax-payers. And never have I heard a concrete proposal for deployment of these funds or a proper review of similar schemes of yesteryear.Where does all the money go, your guess is as good as mine.

So what does the poor Indian entrepreneur do, God save him!