'No bargain' auto-rickshaw

Autorickshaw drivers have a reputation for fleecing customers. However, in recent days fare-paying passengers in Chennai  notice a refreshing change in auto-drivers. I have heard people saying they have sighted autos fitted with fare-meter ; and some, adding they have even traveled, paying the metered fare.

Such refreshing change may be partly due to a  raise in fare by the authorities. More than this, we have had a spurt in community groups - such as Namma Auto, Auto Raja and  Book My Call Auto - that are engaged in mobilizing auto-drivers, to adopt decent behaviour and fair practices. Anubhav  Agarwal, a computer professional, teaming up with sociologist Aishwarya Raman, to create the special interest group - Auto Raja - says over 200 auto drivers have signed up with their group.

They represent just a drop in the bucket, taking into account the thousands of Chennai autorickshaws, over 70 percent of which are not owner-driven.  Anubhav concedes that their work and mission can't be expected appeal to a majority of drivers, who hire vehicles, paying  hefty retainer to benami  vehicle owners.

The challenge faced by special interest groups such as AutoRaja  is in mobilizing a critical mass of Chennai auto drivers for adopting fair practices. As for fare-paying passengers, the challenge is in sighting a  metered autorickshaw. The Times of India reported seeing an auto-driver displaying the official rate card on his  wind shield. Another vehicle, the newspaper said,   had a 'No Bargain' sticker, citing officially prescribed rates.

Buying organic, what and where

Those who favour organic would find much info. about Chennai outlets  in The Hindu MetroPlus.
But first, I must tell you about our neighbourhood organic outlet, at Kazhipattur that caters to residents on Navalur-Padur stretch of OMR.
It is an initiative by  Mr Elango S, at Akshaya Adena (B203), Khzhipattur.
Speciality : Rice (Ponnin, Kaikuthal, Red rice and Kavuni), Cooking Oil (Groundnut, Gingilly oil) Amla Juice, Spirulina Products, Filter Coffee,Millet Vermicelli.
Free Home Delivery - between 4 PM to 11 PM, with bill.
Organic Certification
How to order:
Online through Organic Store, OMR website
E-mail - contact@organicstoreomr.in with your home address and items list.
SMS 97 9099 7077 with your home Address and list of Products.
As Ilango's is our neighbourhood store, and it started functioning recently, your comments would help the store owner to improve service.

Vaer, Online
Online shoppers through website - Vaer - can  have their organics home delivered - fruits, veggies, home and personal care items, and grocery - all organic.
Our greens are Rs. 20 a bunch. Which is the same as the regular market price. And delivery is free. Says shop founder Kayalvizhi Raja.
We offer a mixed box of mangoes. Even if people order just one variety, we try and send a couple of different types along with their order, complimentary.”
Vaer focusses on local foods in their ‘Country Special’ section, such as coconut palm sugar, karuppu kavuni rice and ragi pappads.
“Yes. Organic food doesn’t stay fresh for long".
Call 094446-67070; they are on Facebook

 Organic Green Store
At Anna Nagar, Periyar Nagar; known for its cold-pressed oils: coconut, sesame and groundnut
Run by He
malatha, they have vegetables delivered on Saturdays, by 20 plus farmers across the state.
No. 2, B-Block, 2nd Avenue, Chinthamani, Annanagar, Chennai-6001020; Phone: 96262-78090

Adyar ReStore
A not-for-profit,run by volunteers.
Specialises in traditional grains. On offer is a range of millets. Their ‘multigrain kanji mix’ made with red rice, millets, thinai, samai, samba wheat, etc. is one of their signature products. Besides vegetables, they stock foods such as organic jaggery, handmade peanut butter and freshly made sambar powder
ReStore organises vegetable and fruit bazaar on Tuesday and Saturday between 12 noon and 7 p.m.
ReStore Adyar Centre, No 27/ 10, 2nd Main Road, Kasturba Nagar, Adyar, Chennai-600020.
Phone: 044-24430093

Dhanyam
T Nagar
Says co-founder Madhusoodhanan K, they get fruits and vegetables twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday) from Kodaikanal, Tirunelveli, Erode, Gummudipoondi and Coonoor.
Grapes and pomegranates come from Karnataka and Maharashtra.
No.24, North Boag Road, T.Nagar Phone: 28157654

Sunday Shandy
Luz Church Rd.
Initiative by organic farmer P B Murali, with Ranganathan - “We had the market on Sunday initially but since it interfered with my farm activities, it has now been shifted to Friday. The other days, I sell packaged organic products,”
Pineapples from Nagaland, apples from Himachal Pradesh and sweet lime from Krishnagiri… Murali sources his organic products from all over the country.
"I specialise in organic mangoes and grow mostly Alphonso, Banganapalli and Imampasand varieties on my farm." Murali also sells unprocessed milk every Wednesday.
Shandy held every Friday between 3 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.
No.177, Luz Church Road, Mylapore
Phone: 93806-91203

Cash can't buy creativity

I admit Dan Pink  isn't  a name I was familiar with  till my neighbour  Kalayani Rangarajan made a reference to his work in her e-mail about a seminar  on motivation  to be held  this Friday,  at VIT University campus on Vandalur-Kelambakkam Rd., Chennai.. Dr. Rangarajan  is dean of  VIT Business School, and the seminar - a Corporate Conclave addressed to senior executives - takes off  from  Dan Pink's proposition on  'what motivates people to better their performance'.  Many of us can't be faulted for thinking cash rewards can motivate people to do better. This would be true in case of  shop-floor staff engaged in routine, repetitive work - machine operator, meat-packer or beedi-roller.
Money could be an answer in case of a strata of workers. But is it the only motivational factor ? Or is money an answer, at all ?  Dan Pink would have us believe money isn't what motivates people. In this regard he talks about three things -  autonomy, mastery and purpose.
This,  then, is the issue that speakers at the corporate conclave would address. Dan Pink, in his the book - Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us -  trashes the carrot & stick approach that companies adopt to motivate employees. The practice of giving cash rewards for better performance; of punishing those failing to deliver, says the author,  is outdated, unexamined, and is rooted more in corporate folklore than on scientific findings.
Many senior scientists, engineers and other professionals engaged in open-source  programme  tend not only do a better job of whatever they are good at, but they also give it away free to all-comers. It is not profit, but it is purpose that motivates people to do what they do in their discretionary time. Wikipedia is an example, says Dan, of what can be accomplished  if companies re-think the way they run business. Another example he cites in support of his case is the practice adopted at Google, where employees are allowed to spend  20 percent of their Google time (one day in a five-day week) doing their own thing; to work on their pet interests or project.  
VIT's Corporate Conclave
3 p m - 6 p m
March 1 (Friday)
VIT campus, Vandalur-Kelambakkam Rd.
Those interested can register their names for participation at this link.

Getting waste-wise

We all know of the process of converting household organic waste into manure. Most of us wouldn't  give it a try,  Why ?
Because:
1)  we think we can't spare the space;
2) It's messy, smelly, would attract flies.
3) Can't  find anyone for its up-keep.
4) Lack of consensus, in the case of apartment buildings.
Anusha Parthasarathy's article in The Hindu  citing residents who are using organic converters, says:
-  Not much space is  needed. A small green patch,  or balcony would do.
-  Maintenance costs get reduced if it is a community initiative, says the Bangalore-based 'Daily Dump' founder Poonam Bir Kasturi.
 -  Navneeth Raghavan, Chennai, lives on 4th floor, uses 3-layered terracotta pots - 'Khambas' for composting - leaves them in her balcony. No stink during decomposition and we have a solution to keep away flies, says Navneeth (.9840082607)
- 'Daily Dump' has changed the way Preethi Sukumaran and Sruti Harihara Subramanian think of household waste - everything that comes into the house is looked at,to see if it can be recycled or composted.
- Preethi carries own containers and oil cans to grocery stores - packaged grocer covers are washed, dried and put into the recycling bin.
- Preethi keeps separate kitchen bin for plastic, paper, and other recyclables. Uses stainless steel water bottles, instead of plastic ones.
- Rinse-water from hand-washed clothes is used  to mop floors and clean toilets.
- Water used to wash vegetables or rice is recycled for plants.
- Sruti sustains her terrace garden ...with Khamba compost....'Throw organic waste into it. You get microbes and additives to mix in'. Sruti, who runs Ashvita Bistro, Alwarpet, uses a Khamba there as well, and retails the compost sets.
- Singapore-based blogger Bhavani Prakash  has written an e-book called  '50 Ways to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly'
OMR Greens can consider setting up a pilot khamba compost unit - with contributions from a few volunteer households in gated communities. If apartment owners association designates a small patch for trial plant, OMR Greens, can take the idea forward.
Related links:
Eco-soap, detergents retail  Krya,  Boxtree
Recycler Kuppathotti

At our Chennai backyard

An untrained eye can't spot the row of birds in flight in necklace formation. We see them every morning  over our backyard on OMR, Chennai, headed  towards Kovalam sea-front.
You need better camera, and a proficient lens-man to capture this morning scene with all details in sharp focus. This one, posted for SkyWatch, is shot by a novice, with an amateur camera.

SiliconIndia start-ups networking

SiliconIndia plans to hold, what they call the 'Startup City' event on Saturday, Feb.25. Founders of 20 startups make presentations on their products and services.They say, there are over 500 start-up companies in Chennai alone. Registration is free (click it).
Among the speakers are:
Sridhar Vembu, CEO, Zoho Corp
Murugavel Janakiraman,Founder & CEO , Consim Info(Bharath Matrimony)
Ravichandran L,CEO, Chennaionline
Adhil Shetty,Founder & CEO, BankBazaar.com
Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman & Managing Director, TVS Capital Funds
Venkatesh Peddi,Assistant Vice President, IDG Ventures India
Rama Bethmangalkar,Principal , Ventureast
Kannan Lakshminarayan,Founder & CTO , Vortex
Rahul Chowdhri,Director, Helion
Kalpathi S. Suresh,Chairman & CEO, Kalpathi Investments
Kailash Katkar,Founder, MD and CEO , Quick Heal Technologies
Amit Patni,Co-Founder & Chairman, Nirvana Venture Advisors
Venue: Green Park, N.S.K. Salai, Arcot Road, Vadapalani, Chennai
Time: 8.30 AM to 5:30 PM
Day: Saturday, Feb.25