This is with reference to your editorial, ‘Reaching out’ (March 26). Considering that the presence of internationally significant banks and businesses are a precondition for IFCs, along with a favourable tax treatment, lack of or less regulatory controls, it is a welcome move. By virtue of abundant liquidity with global funds being routed through IFC, not only would financial risks be diversified, IFCs can also serve as investment centres free from exchange control and monetary restrictions.

Rugmani Vinod

Thiruvananthapuram

Why women directors?

The SEBI directives on the compulsory posting of woman directors in companies needs to be challenged. If the intention is to uplift women and empower them, what is required is to give good educational opportunities to girls and women from lower middle-class and middle-class families; then they themselves will qualify for such appointments. It is the women in the lower rungs of society who need encouragement. Women in the higher social strata can take care of themselves, or their family members will take care of them. By forcing all companies to appoint women directors, what do we expect to achieve?

N Krishnan

Email

Gutsy Khemka

The cat is out of the bag in the wake of the comments made by the CAG on the land dealings between Robert Vadra and the realty giant DLF. Sycophants among the Congressmen had been vying with each other to defend Vadra. At this juncture, one’s heart goes out to the gusty IAS officer Ashok Khemka who was vilified and persecuted for refusing to be a mute witness to the murky dealings. Let everything connected with the deals come to light so that the truth triumphs.

CG Kuriakose

Kothamangalam, Kerala

Better work culture

In light of the manipulation of examinations reported from some parts of the country, it is heartening to see that good education is being given its due elsewhere (‘Plagiarism costs IIM B topper gold medal’, March 26). Ethics and good governance should form part of the work culture.

RS Raghavan

Bengaluru

Drinking at the workplace

It is good to hear that with immediate effect, all Kerala government employees, including teaching and non-teaching staff in educational institutions, will face disciplinary action if they are found smoking, drunk or using intoxicants during office hours. The order also warns senior officials who are authorised to take action that they too will be penalised if they do not act against erring officials.

The drawbacklies in the penalisation of the senior official. They are often afraid of unions and in most cases, the union leader is the immediate superior officer. This means the order will remain only on paper. If implemented sternly the month of March will become the month of punishment as all retirement functions are held in March and all such functions are celebrated with liquor.

KA Solaman

Alappuzha, Kerala

Anti-gay India

For all its self-trumpeted ‘progressivism’, India showed its true ‘regressive’ face when it voted in favour of the anti-gay resolution at the UN. India’s stand was based on ignorance and prejudice and it betrayed lack of understanding. Thankfully, two-thirds of the votes cast in the general assembly went in favour of extending staff benefits to all same-sex couples. It is unfortunate that there are still countries which fail to accept that homosexuality is genetic and forms part of the great game of evolution. When biology is at work in the animal kingdom, outdated religious or moral values cannot be brought in to discriminate against individuals for their sexual orientation and deny them their rights. Each individual is unique and must be free to live in accordance with their sexual proclivities without shame or guilt. A genetic predisposition to homosexuality is unalterable and normal in nature’s scheme of things. Even if a person so chooses , it is not the state’s business to disapprove.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

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