The Hindu Business Line : Lalu's strategy

"If you do not milk the cow fully, it falls sick," Mr Lalu Prasad is reported to have told officials, on taking charge as Railway Minister, making it clear that he intended to apply the same philosophy to make the Railways profitable.

"Catch the buffalo by the horns and not by the tail," he said, when Railway Board members mentioned risks related to increasing the speed of trains and loads on freight wagons.

The Minister has been successful in turning around the Indian Railways, which has now made a profit of Rs 13,000 crore, without increased fares and freight charges, and he was even asked by the IIM, Ahmedabad, to talk to the students on the subject.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and his team might do well to consider implementing the same kind of strategy to attain 10 per cent growth in the economy.

As of now, most politicians have been implementing such strategies only to fill their coffers and give themselves hefty pay hikes at the cost of the tax-payers. This is a refreshing change.

S. Narayan

Mumbai

Letters to the editor and contributions can be sent by e-mail to: bleditor@thehindu.co.in

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