Young MPs = Better MPs?

PRS Legislative Research is a Delhi based non-profit which "is an independent research initiative that aims to strengthen the legislative debate by making it better informed, more transparent and participatory. PRS is the first initiative of its kind in India"

They have been tracking parliamentary procedures pretty closely, and recently came out with Vital Stats in 2007 for the Indian Parliament. Interesting snippets from the report:

• The total working hours of the parliament in 2007 was 40% lesses than that of 2006
  
  
• In addition, fewer number of bills were tabled and passed in 2007 as compared to 2006.
  
  
• Finally, Members of Parliament between 25 and 40 years of age, participated in far lower number of debates as compared to the older MPs (both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha)! That goes against the premise that the 'young MPs' are out to change the world and the portrayal(by the mainstream media) that they represent the new face of Indian politics.
  

You can download the entire report here

Blogging from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I flew into Kuala Lumpur yesterday to attend the "Third Global Knowledge Conference". The conference is a annual gathering of folks interested in using information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve the lives of people in the developing world.
The theme of this year's conference is Emerging People, Emerging Markets, Emerging Technologies. I'm in Young Social Entrepreneur track of the conference, representing Profits for People.

So far I have been quite excited about things that I have seen here. I think we have reached a stage where ICT for Development is not just a buzz word anymore, but could actually help improve standards of living, even for the poorest of the poor. Below are some technologies, ventures and ideas that excited me in the first look. I hope to post more detailed posts on on each of them, in the next couple of days.

• Intel's Classmate PC. I got a chance to try out this tiny Windows XP running PC, positioned as a competitor for the hundred-dollar laptop (which BTW is sold now for $200). Intel might be actually onto something here with this macine

• OneRoof is an innovate franchising business, focusing on creating jobs and delivering information at affordable costs, by setting up a One Roof branded computer center. They are currently expanding in Tamil Nadu, India.
  
  
• Microsoft Unlimited Potential Group, a recently formed group within the tech giant seems to have an interesting mission, creating sustained social and economic opportunity for the next 5 billion people