Escaping Flatland

Various explanations have been provide for India’s cornering of the worldwide IT outsoucing and BPO markets - from low wages to the availability of local talent to English-speaking skills to the 12 hour time-difference. But they miss a key point: Indians are good at following rules and processes. Tell us what to do, write the rules, and we will follow them. To the ‘T’. Just look at the multitudes of companies certified for ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 awards. Give us some more time, add more constraints, and we will figure out how to break the system. Just look at the plethora of companies with SEI CMM and Malcolm-Baldridge awards. Delhi-ites even have a word for it: Jugaar.

Jugaar (n): The act of finding a loophole and exploiting it. Such exploitation could be a source of competitive advantage, but is willingly shared with friends and foes, typically to gain bragging rights - far more valuable currency than mere rupees.

The government decrees: Photography is prohibited. Making it difficult for honest bloggers like me to trace photos besides the official variety. Junta responds: Flickr Metro Photos.

The government decrees: Do’s and Don’ts on the Metro [Link].

Don’t share your card or token with another person on the same journey.

Don’t travel on the roof of the train. (Travelling on the roof or any other part of the train, not intended for the use of the passengers, will result in a fine of Rs. 50/-or imprisonment of 1 month or both.)

50 bucks? That’s too little, I think. A cuppa at Cafe Coffee Day.

Walking on Metro tracks without lawful authority will be punishable by imprisonment up to 6 months or a fine of up to Rs. 500/- or both.

Unauthorised sale of tickets shall be punishable with a sentence of upto 3 months and/or fine up to Rs. 500/-.

Is there a black market for metro tickets, I wonder?

Any Unauthorised sale of articles at Metro Railway premises shall be punishable with a fine of up to Rs. 500/- or imprisonment up to 6 months

So, no New-York-Metro-style soliciting to bored passengers, or DTC-style moustached peddlers of herbal toothbrushes (aka neem tree branches), fertility drugs (aka deer scrotum) and lady hair flowers (aka chameli garlands).

Don’t use the lift, it is meant for the physically challenged

Physically Challenged? PC-speech arrives in Delhi!

Wiki’s take.