This is with reference to ‘A different paradigm for CSR’ by Vinita Bali (January 10). If implemented in the right spirit CSR can work wonders, but the company must choose a leader who has expertise and sincere feelings for the deprived. This is not a routine job to be assigned to HR.

Selected NGOs can be consulted for guidance, instead of merely handing over a cheque. Often, it’s not just monetary benefits that are needed, but also emotional and moral support. Employees with a proven track record of integrity and social responsibility should be assigned CSR duties. They should not only ensure end use of funds but also proper monitoring.

Many employees are interested in giving back to society but are too willing to quit their jobs for various reasons. Such employees should be given a sabbatical or half-pay leave, in order to do thi. In any case, CSR should be made compulsory for all government organisations/PSU undertakings.

Veena Shenoy

Thane, Maharashtra

The voter’s smart

The Opposition is demanding postponement of the Budget in light of elections in five States: the idea is to lure voters. Voters understand real intentions. This was proved by the demonetisation effort. Hoarders are few; the majority proved they are most tolerant people in the world. Whenever the Budget is presented, it will not affect the voter.

Mahesh Kumar

New Delhi

Movie mad

This refers to ‘Dangal’s hold on fans gets it top box-office rank’ (January 10). There could be two reasons for films raking in huge collections in a short time. First, producers make thousands of prints and release in theatres and multiplexes simultaneously in cities and towns.

Second, the tickers are highly priced. Earlier, only a limited number of copies were made and the films were released in a few halls in cities and then in towns; besides, tickets were priced low. Thus, producers took a long time to recover costs and register profits. Also, now people don’t mind spending on entertainment, and movies are the cheapest available entertainment.

HP Murali

Bengaluru

Demonetisation blues

It is unfortunate that demonetisation has dented the economy of the nation very badly and the damage is going to be mind-boggling. While everyone shared the agaony, it is the daily wage workers depending on their day-to-day earnings who had to bear the brunt of this demonic onslaught.

Another section that’s been severely affected is poor farmers who lost their due to the sudden cash crunch faced. While this is the situation, the PM’s appeal to all citizens to go cashless and opt for the digital mode has only sprinkled salt on bleeding wounds. We will have to wait years to see some benefit from this draconian exercise, it at all.

Tharcius S Fernando

Chennai

Salute the jawan

It needs great courage for an ordinary BSF constable who is used to taking orders to speak the truth about the plight of jawans at the borders.

So we salute Tej Bahadur Yadav for posting the videos showing the kind of food served to BSF jawans despite the attempts by ‘powerful superior officers’ to discredit him as a habitual offender, an absentee and an alcoholic.

It is sad that jawans have to survive on sub-standard food in difficult terrain to protect the borders, rain or snow. The videos posted on the social media showing half-burnt paratha and watery dal without basic ingredients nail the lie that the daily rations for the BSF jawans are of ‘good quality’, in ‘sufficient quantity’ and supplied in variety. The higher officers come under suspicion of unethical behaviour.

The BSF jawans tasked with guarding the frontiers come from humble social backgrounds. This is possibly a reason why officers think jawans can do without good food. It is now incumbent upon the home ministry and BSF’s chiefs to take remedial action and not hand out penal action to the whistle-blower.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.

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