This is with reference to ‘Abolishing mandis is a bad idea’ by V Kumaraswamy (December 25). Getting a fair price for the farmers is fine, but getting the best deal for the end consumer should be the objective. Mandis have failed in this. Price information can be delivered electronically or through IVRS.

Sunderesan Srinivasan

Online

The true solution lies in increased participation of buyers from other locations in the APMCs which make the competition fair. There must be both systems of auction: outcry as well as electronic. Electronic auctions are for standard commodities of predefined quality and anybody across the country can participate. Farmers should choose whether they want to go for electronic or outcry.

Ritesh Kumar Sahu

Online

As correctly mentioned by the writer, the current APMCs have become inefficient but closing them is not a solution. A better way is to create competition, like government has done in retail. There are multiple cash and carry stores, shopkeepers can buy from any one of them.

Something similar needs to be done here too. Let there be multiple mandis , government can own one, another could be a private mandi which runs on commission basis. There should be no limitation on who is buying, the only limitation can be in minimum order quantity. Similarly, all farmers should be welcome to sell their produce.

In the current system commission agents in mandis make the most money. Their role needs to be limited.

Contract farming is another initiative which could reduce prices and would be beneficial for all if implemented in the right manner.

Jim Kim

Online

Not the right picture

With reference to ‘How’s that for Indian culture’ by Nandini Nair (December 26), India has a much lower percentage of internet users compared to the UAE, UK or Australia. Google search does not necessarily represent the national psyche. My housemaid does not know who Sunny Leone is, but she knows who Narendra Modi is.

Raghavan N

Online

Easy information

This is with reference to the article, ‘Not easy to pin down insider trading’ by Lokeshwarri SK (December 24). It is possible to know any “companies’ earnings number before they were publicly disclosed”. Details of advance tax payments are immediately available nowadays. From such payments, “earning number” can be easily collated/derived. In the sixties, my broker used to visit Aayakar Bhavan in Bombay (as it was called then) to fish for information regarding advance tax payments by large companies.

K Mundanad

Online

Be accountable

This refers to your editorial, ‘All is not well’ (December 24). The problem of NPAs continues to be underestimated without any serious thinking on disciplining erring banks and irresponsible borrowers is what is highlighted in the editorial. Bank balance sheets are window-dressed to such an extent that no one can really figure out what is the real strength of our banking system. The evergreening of NPAs is an established practice and restructuring of bad loans is nothing but an official version of evergreening with the blessings of the RBI.

Writing off loans and adding NPAs on a recurring basis have been unfortunately absorbed by the accretion of deposits and addition to capital subscription by the government using tax-payers’ money. The government, RBI and PSBs will have to account for the lapses.

TV Gopalakrishnan

Bengaluru

Well appreciated

The article ‘Why marketers should visit museums’ by Harish Bhat (Catalyst, December 19) is excellent. It offers new lessons and dimensions for marketers.

Uttam Kumar

Online

The argument has been excellently stated and well thought out.

Tanmoy Chakraborty

Kolkata

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