Future Belongs To?

For those of you who read the 1970's classic by Toffler, Future Shock, I bet would have been mesmerized by the capacity of someone to think out of the box. At least I was.

So here is my uncanny attempt on who will be a Future Leader. (Some of the ideas here are already made into movies / were the sources) Lets see if we could mix some mythology to make things interesting.

1. The competencies of Nations would be redefined not by the number of nukes they possess but how effectively they shield their resources against nukes. The future belongs to that nation which first comes up with a metal / fiber which can withstand nuke impact. Is it possible? Oh my freaking Kevlar! yes!
   
   A Hindu Mythological story thus goes that, baby Hanuman - a just born monkey god leapt up to Sun. There must be something either an ornament / pendant made by a unique material or food which could have kept him alive
   
2. According to Criminal Psychology, people with better Social relations are less prone to commit crimes. Be it Communism, Democracy or Monarchy, nation which realises the importance of equality to reduce crime so that all citizens can continuously strive for the future will be decisive factor
   
   Indians still cherish and most often use the word 'Rama-Rajya'. Just Google the term for the rest.
    
3. Its not about Mass Production, its about quality. Its not about 'how' much one has produced but 'what' is what matters. Ask a soldier what do they pack as food? Nuts. Chocolates. Canned food.
   For all those Dragon Ball Z lovers, remember Sensu Bean. (Sensu Bean is a small pea sized pill which gives instant energy)
   
   Sage Viswamitra, a renowned sage to Hindus, teaches the art of preserving energy to Ram and Lakshman. This art is called Bala-Atibala.
   
4. Its not about decoding your enemy's messages but also about learning how to communicate with other animals. A step forward, using them in your military armed forces. Its not about training them. Its the next level. Animals are known to have better senses than humans. They can predict an impending danger - Natural or otherwise. Its about involving them in your team. Plants perform precise arithmetic calculations at night to survive! Who knows what mysteries they reveal.
   
5. Underground housing, think of a sky scraper / colonies built inside earth or Ocean. Of course, it will be masked with challenges. Ants have been doing so since ages, a leaf or two could be picked up from the tiny creatures.
   
6. Causing Earthquakes at will: Imagine you possess a competency to cause Earthquakes on any part of earth! Won't this take warfare to a new level. Tesla has already demonstrated this by inventing a device which can cause Earthquakes using natural vibrations. According to Hindu mythology, Earth is supported by 'Astha Diggajams' (Eight Elephants). This may Eight tectonic plates. It is a matter of figuring out natural frequency and matching vibrations.
   
7. Beat the speed of light:  If one were to travel beyond the speed of light, one would need material / alloy which can withstand friction and should be able to reintegrate itself at halt.
   There is a pillar in India (Iron Pillar of Delhi) which is made of an alloy which wouldn't rust with time.
   
8. Getting close to Zero: Its reducing the point of impact to a point which is close to Zero. Human body has an amazing immune system which daily destroys at least one cell which can potentially turn into a tumor. Its about striking the cell precisely close to 'Zero' second. On the other hand, devising weapons which give us the capability to strike close to Zeroth second.
   
9. How do you preserve knowledge? In case of a D-Day, how well do we encapsulate and protect information? DNA! Yoga? Telapathy?
   
   Well that's all folks I think these are some of the points which might determine the competitive advantage of nations or probably Earth. More for later. See you around.
   
    

Rise Of Nations Extended Edition Start Game Strategies

Rise Of Nations, I learnt about this game in early 2004 and till date this has kept me hooked on. Of all the war-strategy variants AOE - 1,2,3; Travian, Age of Mythology etc., I like this game a little more as this game I feel is much closer to reality with respect to ages, warriors, military technologies etc., Of course, there are some drawbacks - Natural resources can't be unlimited etc., 

Anyway, if you have laid your hands on this absorbing game you'll slowly realise that this is much more than a game and you will need a strategy in place.

I will mention the strategies I have used to gradually increase my level:
*All games were practiced with Toughest level. Custom teams (Teams of 4). No Wonder points / territory victory. Conquest mode.

Before you jump to play, make a note of all the nations and their advantages and pick 3-4 Nations which suit your game style. Practice a lot with those 3 or 4 Nations in various scenarios . I personally prefer:

Lakota (you need not build farms / granaries which translates to at least 20 citizens count saved and I can use the numbers saved on farmers for producing military units. On the other hand, number of citizens at the beginning of the game are less when compared to other nations)

Egyptians (You can build wonders an age ahead. Building a Super-collider at Age 7 can work wonders. You can construct 7 farms / city but which according to me is only helpful during the start game)

Americans (You get a free scholar when you build a University, since they have power of innovation. They have other advantages of cheaper military unit upgrades, First wonder built instantly etc.,)

1. Map - I have practiced a lot on Australian outback where you get your own island, then slowly moved to East meets West and then Random Land map
2. Custom teams. Usually Teams of 4 and 8 Nations
3. It is ideal that you keep changing your opponent nations to assess the strengths of each nation

Start Game: The initial 10 - 15 minutes of the game. There are several strategies, how you would begin your game.

Sharpening the Axe move: Ideal for Land / Sea maps

One of my cousin uses this trick frequently. He usually picks Egyptians. Uses all the available food to produce citizens and then builds farms with them. Each farm constructed gives +20 food.

Simultaneously scout is set on search for ruins which are usually (not necessarily) found along the edges and these ruins usually yield Timber as citizens are put for farming already.

Military is researched first and a Barracks is built. 1 Slinger 1 Archer and 1 Slinger are created in that order

Once army is built / being built citizens are put to collect Timber

Commerce is researched if the Map has a Sea and a Dock is built with a Fishing boat reaping +10 Food and Gold (no need for a caravan for sometime) and +10 Food and Metal (even before reaching Age 2 you can accumulate metal). Create merchants and collect as many Rare Resources as possible especially Dye, Silk, Papyrus (papyrus reduces Science costs which in turn reduces other research costs) Furs, and Silver

If there is no sea, Civics could be researched with a village constructed between Mountains or next to a forest

Fisherman Move:

You can try this with Lakota especially if the map has Sea and have to take your chances as it is slightly risky

Set out scout in search of Ruin Bonuses

Research Commerce. Build a Dock. Build two / three Fishing Boats. Put them on Fish and accumulate Food and Gold. Whale will yield Metal only if you have reached Classical age. Keep an eye on other players' age advancement.

Build enough citizens for collection of Timber (Food is generated automatically)

Build a market and try to collect Rare resources

Build a watch post / Lookout

Research Classical Age as soon as possible and guard your fishing boats

Once any enemy reaches Classical age immediately Research Military:

Apx time spent by enemy

Time to research Commerce 2 - Coinage needed to colonise - 18.3 Seconds
Time to Build Trireme 15 Seconds
Time to Build Bark 10 Seconds
Time to build a Slinger 10 Seconds
Time to build an Archer 11.3 Seconds

Assuming you'll be attacked with 2 Slingers and 1 Archer; you'll have a min. of 49.6 Seconds

Time you will have at your disposal apx
Time to research Mil 1 - 13.3 Secs
Time to build a barracks - 28 Secs
Time to create a slinger - 10 Secs
Time to create Archers - 11.3 Secs

You'll need 72.6 Seconds

While researching Military simultaneously build one Tower towards Enemy cities or most likely on a route your enemy can attack you.

Garrison your Archers and extra Slingers in the Tower. You can eject them from the opposite side, and you can create your chances by attacking the enemy from behind

Essentials for start game:

• Try to collect Marble and Tobacco
• Colosseum is a must have - Guard it with your ass, you'll thank heavens for the extra population limit during end game
• If you're not an offensive player construct Terracotta army
• Have a sizable army
• If you have more of any particular resource, sell them in market
• Move your capital when needed

PS: You can share your Start Game tips too! 

Paper Paper tell me who is the Hero?

There were men. They produced Goods and services. They exchanged these according to their needs.

There were men. They were intelligent. They realised that not all Goods and Services have the same value. They sold their Goods and services for Valuable metals.

There were men. They traveled a long way to make a fortune. They realised carrying heavy luggage consisting of valuable metals is tiring and prone to theft.

There were men. They worked with iron and steel. They sensed a need. They provided these travelers or anyone in need a place to deposit their valuable metals in a safe and issued a Depository receipt.

There were men. They just deposited valuable metals but never bothered to withdraw. They instead found it convenient to exchange receipts as they were 'backed by valuable metals'.

There were men. They looked at the probability of these account holders squaring off the accounts and found it minimal. They printed fake receipts and issued to those in need charging a nominal interest. Before anyone realised the system was full of fake receipts.

There were men. They were sensible enough to realise the snowballing danger. They regulated they printing of these notes through Central Banks empowering them with the sole authority to print notes.

There were men. They assumed the role of a Big brother and kept printing notes with no real value back up.

There were men who realised that their neighbour's Five Rupee coin could be used to make Shaving Blades and could be sold with a profit of Seven Rupees (or higher per coin)

Not Manufacturing! Not Services!

There are historically troubled men. They still believe that the currency notes they hold has value. They refuse to let go of the system they had started. They sold Goods for Paper! They have Trillions of such paper receipts! They boast of one of the highest Purchasing Power but wonder with what?

There are common men who hold these Green notes so dearly that a kid wondered and asked, 'Paper Paper tell me who is the Hero? Is it you with no Value or is it Gold with real value?'

Pro - Tip: With an inflation of 10 % it nearly takes 7.27 years for prices to double. So, any investment you make keep this principle and Rule of 72 in mind.

Suggested Reading:

One - Month Money is a good book and definitely an eye opener.

Some images of inflation and how 'Paper' currency was treated

Paper - with or without value?

Zimbabwe Billionaires!

Banana Money - Issued when Japan occupied Singapore

Gold Rush - Chinese Hyperinflation

Hungary - Notes being swept

Invasion Money - Rangoon Streets

Paper cash used as Firewood

Sources: All images are sourced. Rights vest with the respective content owners listed below.

Bangladesh smugglers interested in Indian 5 Rupee coin

http://villageofjoy.com/billions-of-zimbabwe-dollars-and-zimbabwe-inflation-in-2008/

Zimbabwe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d1WRpEl3vw

Why can't we just print money to pay off debt?

USD vs Mark

Banana Money

Chinese Tale

South Sudan - Inflation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperinflation

Invasion Money

Post Dated Cheque

Men of The Queen realised India's importance as an ally during the Second World War. They had sent Sir Cripps on a mission to persuade India to enter the war and help them. Well it was sort of Mission Impossible as Indians were eyeing nothing less than Independence. Turns out Cripps wasn't even close to Cruise. Mission failed. Gandhiji commented on British proposal as, "Post dated cheque drawn on a failing bank."

History is a remarkable subject. It tells us tales about the past and gives us a second chance only for us not to repeat the same mistake. Albeit the mistakes and opportunities can never be the same. It is upon the wise to draw inferences or parallels, learn from mistakes or the successes of the past and act according to the situation to grow from strength to strength. 

Whats the bank which is failing here? It is our ability as a Nation to provide quality education in Government run schools especially for North Eastern states. 'May' could well be the shortest month when you spell it but that's the only best and cute part. It is the time of the year when usually class X and XII results are declared. Mercury soars not just externally but internally as well making it one of the lengthiest month. What did the waiting culminate into for students of 73 Government Schools from Manipur? A failure. Ok if CBSE is relatively tougher than State Board examinations. Consider the following results from Nagaland.

               

If 35 is a pass mark, Government run schools haven't even passed the examinations! Consider Meghalaya for the last 5 years the pass percentage in state held Xth standard examinations has never crossed 60%. Out of the 11 Districts 5 Districts have under 50% pass percentage. The pass percentage of 10th and 12th standard students from Guwahati region is also the lowest amongst all other regions with 64.9% and 60.2% respectively.

While it is imperative that standards for education in the North Eastern region has to be improved significantly, a similar trend of Government schools not doing well could be observed across the nation as well. Consider the % candidates scoring 10 CGPA.

Stark contrast in Results

It is high time we stopped ignoring the seven sisters and make strides for an inclusive growth. One of the asset any state would want to possess and be distributed equally as much as possible amongst its citizens is the amount of knowledge. This knowledge divide is increasing YoY between Rest of India vs North Eastern India and time to act is now. By the time we realise the importance of North Eastern region of India, hope the solutions wont be post dated cheques!

Sources:

http://thetypicalindian.com/news/cbse-10-results-73-schools-in-manipur-have-zero-pass-percent

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/CBSE-X-boards-Huge-drop-in-Delhis-pass-percentage/articleshow/52485669.cms

http://www.belvoireagle.com/education/nbse-hslc-class-10-hsslc-class-12-result-2016-declared-www-nbsenagaland-com-21526.html

http://cbse.nic.in/attach/PRESS%20NOTE%202016%20FOR%20CLASS%20XII%20(stat).pdf

http://cbse.nic.in/attach/Press%20Note%20for%20class%2010th%20-%20Stat.%202016(2).pdf

http://megresults.nic.in/sslc_abstract.pdf

Expired Medicine

Its a cliche that Boy / Girl friends come with an expiry date. Though its an overused term and lost its original effect, it does signify something, if a relationship is not mutual and is not an equal give and take it will plunge and may eventually end.

Though a Government needs to take care of all its subjects equally, there should be special consideration towards working class who pay taxes. This Income tax is in turn one of the prime source of income for Government. Its a concerted relationship where working class and Government benefit from each other.

Coming back to reality from theory, one realises that some of the benefits an Indian worker gets for working in India are wildly unreasonable. These benefits would have worked well in 1960s. One hand we are talking about Make in India, world class technologies, Mangalyaan but our acts are not in sync with our thoughts.

Recently Union Minister, Hon. Arun Jaitley proposed to levy tax on Employer's contribution of Provident Fund, clearly a proposal which wasn't well thought out. His office had to later come up with several iterations and after some violent protests in Bangalore they had to roll back the proposal. People at the age of 58 or 60 should be treated as adults. Instead of touching one of the 'Exempt - Exempt - Exempt' category benefit, if Government's intention is to provide its working class a corpus post retirement it should create opportunities to save more at present times. After all the value of a Rupee today is far greater than a Rupee several years down the line.

Consider House Rent Allowance, a Benefit which has partial tax exemption. In 1960s India would have boasted four major Metro cities and would have been fair to give an exemption of 50% for people residing in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. Even after 70 years of Independence if we still have just 4 metro cities it clearly shows the lack of India's glorious growth or the statistics are merely numbers on paper.

Should different cities have different HRA exemption rates?

Consider Bangalore, it levies highest Service Tax, Road Tax in the country. Tenants shell out 10 months of Rent advance. Its population will soon be the highest in the country and people living here are from various parts of the country but still a 'No Metro status'. We are planning to construct smart cities, now should smart cities be given Metro status only Government has to answer.

My high school fee in 2002 was INR 250 per month. It gave some tax relief for my Father. In 2016, the Tax relief on Children's education fee exemption is guess what? INR 200! A Lifetime imprisonment in India ends after 14 years! Even if the exemption is increased from INR 2,400 Per Annum to INR 4,800 Per Annum it will be a relief but it won't aid in savings because the reality is on 50,000th Floor!

Quality vs Compromised education!

These are just two points. There are other ludicrous benefits like LTA, why should someone be restricted to have their holiday within the boundaries of India? These benefits when being offered often leaves us Indians with a feeling that the government is giving its people a dosage of expired medicine which doesn't cure the ailment.

(For starters:

Pratibha Patil Foreign trips

"We are not committing a big crime...don't you send school children on vacation?"  - A response from Karnataka MLA

Study (read as junk) report by Karnataka MLAs )

Or why should dependent status be given to girls till they get married and is on the basis of age for boys? Hello there Deepika!:D 

It's high time we realise that the medicine subscribed to us during the 60's expired long back. Its time we look at a medicine that will revitalise the relationship!

PS: I have written a note to PMO office through http://pgportal.gov.in and Registration Number is PMOPG/E/2016/0174433. I shall update the post if I hear back from the authority.

In case you want to share your ideas / suggestions you can use the following toll free number 1800-11-7800 and record your message for the Prime Minister in either Hindi or English

Why are villages important?

What is one major problem which India has herself got into? Extending Reservations beyond agreed time period. For what joy? Not for Tinder Joy, Not for mockingJay! Its for Votes. What did it lead to? First phase of Massive Brain Drain. Its one part if people left the country for better jobs or for better living conditions, but, people also left us for availing of good education! Does the name 'Nalanda' reverberate in the background?

Now, if you step back a little and observe, we are staring at the Second phase of Brain Drain coupled with Grain Drain. This however is internal, Sociologists term it Urbanisation. For a country which has a rich heritage and has its roots buried deep into villages, the following statistics may sound alarming: By the beginning of the 20th Century, 11% of India was residing in Urban areas, where as by the beginning of 21st Century the percentage clocked at 31% and is rapidly increasing. Cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad have witnessed close to 100% population growth rate in the last 10 years! Its one part if people migrate to cities which are equipped and ready to handle such huge inflow but its entirely a different story line if they are migrating to cities which are half crippled themselves! All the knowledge which dwells in the villages will slowly lose its way in the mazes of the Urban jungles and will never be found again. This will be a double whammy!

The problem is primarily two fold: 1. Dwindling Arable land and 2. Migration

Fortunately or unfortunately India is an Agrarian based economy. We should strengthen and always guard our foundations. Sadly, every year 30,000 Hectares (74,131 acres) of arable land is turned into non arable land. What's the opportunity cost? Even if we assume that per acre production of Cereals in India is 2,953 Kg per acre (avg production of last 4 years. Source: Worldbank); it translates to 21,89,08,843 kgs of grains! If an average person consumes 8 Kgs of grains per month, 21.89 Crore kg grains could be used to feed 22.8 Lakh people per year. 

Grain down the drain not an uncommon sight

Adding to reducing arable land woes are the storage facilities. It is not an uncommon sight in India to see the produce being dumped at Market yards for the lack of support through Minimum Price or over produce.

Thanks to various conditions, Tropical unfavourable climate, Internal government inefficiencies, Globalisation etc., India is losing 2,000 farmers every day. That is not a great news for a Country whose Glorious Past, Magnificent Present and Stupendous Future depends on its villages, for you save villages India will be saved.

Imagine a body builder with thick muscles, if we puncture him with a needle, won't he feel the pain? He certainly does. However hard you may work to strengthen your outer muscles, your core remains soft. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that we stay in the global competition by looking at the country from a Macro-Economic perspective. The growth should radiate from with in by strengthening the domestic demand, financial inclusion and building necessary infrastructure.

For the staunch believers of John F Kennedy's quote, let's see if there are some ways, how you can build Rural India.

Sources:

http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/with-population-on-the-rise-and-agricultural-land-shrinking-india-might-become-food-deficient-254964.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Cultivable-land-continues-to-shrink/articleshow/21852689.cms

http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Agriculture/Cereal-yield/Kg-per-hectare

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.YLD.CREL.KG

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/GzUIDPQXzktVDBEiE2ZPfI/Per-capita-nutrition-supply-in-India-among-the-lowest-in-the.html

http://worldfood.apionet.or.jp/alias.pdf

http://cpsindia.org/index.php/art/123-articles-by-jk-bajaj-and-md-srinivas/food-consumption-in-india-and-the-world

http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0172e/x0172e04.htm

http://mospi.nic.in/mospi_new/upload/nsso/63R_1.0.pdf

http://in.reuters.com/article/india-wheat-food-malnutrition-crops-idINDEE86101620120702

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/2400-MT-wheat-rotting-in-govt-granaries-for-past-2-years/articleshow/19924192.cms

image: https://www.yahoo.com/news/indian-wheat-rots-open-bumper-harvest-082549835--finance.html

Assumptions: The figures mentioned in the post are taken from various publicly available materials and assumed correct.

The Biased Indian

Imagine a scenario, there are 3 Men, two White and a Black. Apocalypse has arrived and there is a Space craft ready which can carry two people safely to a distant planet. The question is will a White man choose another White man or a Black Man? Or Vice versa.

This is a question which all People who club and advocate Equality and Democracy at the same time have to ask themselves. In a country where not every one has an equal opportunity to contest elections though being part of Nationalist parties (Yes contestants are decided by parties basing on candidate's caste! very rarely merit) and we are fairly happy assuming that Democracy gets us equality.

Now, if I were to ask you the same question as above, will an MP work for the benefit of his / her own community or for every member in their constituency, given the fact that, the very basis on which s/he was chosen was because of the 'caste' and they came into power basing on caste based votes?

Its ironical that we keep preaching 'Equality' everywhere but the very basic government form that we adopted is tampered enough into a rotten system. Five years is sufficiently long period for the all the 'Netas' to serve and damage the system. One particular group of Society will continue to grow stronger and establish Monopoly over a period of time exploiting all the opportunities. One or two groups may reach a position of close contenders and the resultant situation would be Duopoly or Oligopoly. This is true especially when Politicians have vested interests in Businesses. Any Democratic form of government plagued by corruption allows unequal distribution of Wealth, Power and Income opportunities.

So where should equality preaching prophets turn to? Socialism? Aren't we Indians tilted towards 'Equality', heavily biased towards an imperfect Democracy? Where Rich will almost always kiss ??!!

PS: This post though it might have started on the basis of Racism. I do not see any difference between them though :) Couple of my friends asked me to add more content, well for the moment this is just to spark a thought. Will beef it up when time permits.

CON TO BE, IN YOU BE

This is a responsive post and an attempt to meet a friend's challenge.

Right, here goes the story:

One day, Adi Sankaracharya was walking along a river bank. He was stopped by a man in his early twenties. He bowed reverently to the Guru and spoke, "My name is Mimamsa, I have couple of questions on your Advaita Philosophy. With your kind permission, I shall ask them. Could you, Oh embodiment of Knowledge clarify my doubts and lead me to the path of knowledge?"

The monk smiled and nodded his head.

Thus with the monk's permission, Mimamsa asked the following questions:

1. If Soul is eternal, why do I need to take a human form?

2. Why should there be any sufferings?

3. Why doesn't god intervene whenever there is a suffering?

Thus replied the monk, "Let's start with you. Currently you're in a human form and alive. What happens when you're dead? A life form, let's call it soul, will leave your current body and sets on its own course. It takes a new body and starts to live in the moment again. The soul never dies. It's the bodily forms which perish. Depending on the past and current actions of yours, you may be born as a human or in some other form. So, no one but you and your own course of actions decide what you'll be. You're the creator of your own destiny.

To ensure all this is done properly, there is a Supreme soul, God. Like drops of Rain which shower on Earth, with an ultimate purpose to join its origin, the Ocean. The routes taken by each drop could be different but the destination is same. All souls, try and reach the Supreme Soul. The course could be different but ultimate objective is the same.

During the course of this journey, you'll face certain difficulties. These are like different check points. It is to ensure your learning. Imagine a class of students who are being taught sword fight by a Master. He will shower his knowledge equally on all the students, it is the ability to grasp and to practice the learning which separates leaders from the herd. A Master doesn't intervene when he is testing the capabilities of a Student or if he assigns a particular task with an increasing level of difficulty because he knows that, all the hardships which his student will go through will only make him better. In lieu of such students who earned full faith of master that they will finish a task, he concentrates on students who are faltering, he corrects their stance, teaches and concentrates more on those who need him. Sometimes Master lets the best student lead the class too! At such instances, students realize that they are no different from Master. In fact they are not different from Master but they are the Master (That which is I)

The better you deal with difficulties, the lesser you'll depend on God. The lesser you depend on God, you'll realize that you and God appear to be separate entities but in fact are the same.

Well that's end of the story. For those who read the above and thought Wtf!?

Imagine you're playing a video game with 100 levels each with increasing level of difficulty. You're on level 99. How difficult should the ultimate level be? Not easy right? Here is where a quote from Swami Vivekananda makes lot of sense, "No knowledge comes from outside; it is all inside".. you have the knowledge of clearing 98 levels, so the summation of your current knowledge (1+2+3+..97+98) is much more than the knowledge required to clear level 99. When you failed initially during all the levels till 98, you haven't given up. Have you? Why should you give up now? Smile at the adversity and keep moving ahead.

Image sources:
1. azquotes.com
2. quotesmessages.net

The Next Gen Benefits

Why do you think Pavlov is darling for many? He brought out an important concept, 'Conditioning'. What should Government ideally be using this concept for? For the benefit of greater good. Really? How? We are in a country where fortunately or unfortunately we are low on civic sense. Let us accept it and face it.

According to Confucius, "Government Exists for the Benefit of the Governed".  Ideally rulers to induce good behavior adopt several practices. 1.Constant reinforcement of  good practices 2. Provide incentives to people who display Good behaviour 3. Penalise the subjects

One of the serious problems which world faces today is Pollution. What solution did Delhi Government come up with? Odd and Even! How does it solve the problem? It probably prevents further damage, but the problem is left hanging in mid air. It also will have a probable damage - Those who can afford and currently with an 'Odd' number registration, will buy a second car with an 'Even' number registration and guess what Pollution levels won't come down! Will they? When constant reinforcement and levying taxes doesn't work, Government should realise that there could be a third way of addressing the problems - declare incentives to people who adhere to law and respect Natural Resources.

As an example, let's take power consumption. Climate change is it for Real? Yes. Almost all Governments agree too. The fault with current Government slabs is that, it doesn't incentivise people with Good behaviour and those respecting Natural resources.

Scenario

If in a state with 85,500 citizens, if government revises slab rates across, it is a loss - loss situation. 1. The over all consumption of people won't come down because they don't see any motivation to do so and 2. It is an erosion of that much extra wealth of citizens on expenses.

Are the current solutions of reinforcing people with switching off lights or levying extra burden by increasing prices working? No. This is where, Government should take measures to increase good behaviour by pulling in more people to  the bracket where they consume lesser Natural resources . Consider the following table:

Pulling in people towards lesser consumption

If through some measure, people's consumption comes down, you could see a significant reduction in expenditure and so will be the usage of Coal over a period of time

How do we achieve this? As a solution, consider not increasing prices for citizens under "0-100" slab. Pass the additional burden upwards. That should motivate people to reduce their power consumption as they see an incentive to be in the lower pool of consumption.

Incentives

As a hypothetical situation, it serves as a punishment for those who neither realised the importance of Natural resources yet nor respect them. If the entire country is a team, those with lesser income are allowing their better off counter parts to use resources and are receiving rewards. In the end, this post is an example of how we could look at solving problems differently but the time is definitely ripe to look at offering benefits differently.