Still we are trying to solve social problems with technical solutions

As an engineer I always thought we can implemented this technology here and there and get this done. There were lot of technical solutions available, why can’t we just use it and solve issues ?

Well that’s how an engineer thinks. He thinks life is about problems and solutions. If engineers could solve all problems (and if at all, all were really problems it could be solved) then we wont need any other professions right ?

But then some are basic needs not issues and not problems. Say for example energy. This is a nice article I read. http://www.pluggd.in/power-theft-smart-grid-solution-hameshaon-297/

Just implement this and power theft will stop. Well we also though by moving to private sector we can solve power theft but did we ? The problem is social and not technical.

Yes, we can use IT here to do analytics and predict the amount of power needed and thus router the right amount of power to the right region via intelligent and smart grids.

But can we automatically detect theft and stop it. The answer is no. When the employee from power companies go to check, the hooks are removed (someone tips off the thieves and that someone is an insider) and the hooks come back once the check is complete. If you detect a theft using some form of technical means what can you do

1. Check the place ? Hooks are gone
2. Cut power ? You are penalizing the legal customers too

In developed countries when someone complains (has the guts to complain firstly) he/she knows that action will be taken. Here firstly he/she wont have guts to complain (most power thieves are anti social elements or protected people*. Also whoever can put hooks can easily pull a connection out too). Even if they complain, all the power supply will do is come and remove the connection. To do that they would need police escorts else they might be killed.

India also provides free power (or for $1/month) to poor people and free to farmers so that their kids can read and water pumps can run. These people think its their right and thus waste power. Where a rich, bill paying person makes sure he/she efficiently uses power, the free boarders use it indiscriminately. In Gujarat just for analytical purposes when government wanted to install meters in farmer’s homes they had to involve the local police else employees where beaten up. Now the question is how many of these meters will be allowed to operate correctly.

The problem is enforcement and law and order related. Whether its India’s traffic discipline, energy theft or governance, its all how much rule of law stands and how much they are enforced. An do this, first society has to change and obey the law of land.