Why does Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa request the Prime Minister to release fishermen arrested for repeatedly violating the territorial waters of Sri Lanka? Such requests have been increasing. Is it that the fishermen are not aware of the consequences of such violations? Does it fall under the category of Amma schemes such as medicines, free computers, laptops, TVs, marriage assistance, free cycles, food, and other freebies at the cost of taxpayers? Does India not take action against intruders from Pakistan, Bangladesh or China? If so, why should the Sri Lankan government not follow the same principles and act against the violators?

Monideepa Banerjee

Mumbai

Unfair tax

Wealth tax is levied on the nonproductive assets, mainly those which do not generate any income. How far is this justified? When, for instance, property is not rented out, there is double taxation if you take into account property/municipal taxes.

According to press reports, the forthcoming budget covers watches that cost more than a certain threshold value, archaeological collections, drawings, paintings, sculptures and works of art, bank deposits outside India, cash in hand of more than ₹2 lakh, and so on. It seems an additional tax of 10 per cent is proposed if annual earnings from dividends on mutual funds and equities exceed ₹1 crore.

If such illogical measures are introduced it will only prompt people to evade taxes. Since wealth tax does not yield much revenue, it is better to do away with it.

Mahesh Kumar

New Delhi

No difference

“The numbers game” by Nilabja Ghosh (June 30) should prompt policymakers to view things from a different perspective. Economic figures may not reflect the ground realities in different regions and segments as the figures compiled present only an overall picture. Even if GDP grows above 10 per cent it may not bring cheer to the poor and marginalised.

They will feel the difference only when they too have basic necessities like food, shelter and clothing. The menacing growth of inequality in resources and income has to be tackled head-on.

CG Kuriakose

Kothamangalam, Kerala

Some compensation

This refers to the article “The ground beneath your feet” by A Srinivas (June 30). When we take the land from the farmers we should give them the price linked to the market price or else we should create an escrow account and share the profits from that development project. We cannot take land from them without giving them jobs in the project for which the land was acquired or a steady monthly income.

We can create a system where we recognise their land as an investment in the project and pay the same return on capital as the company which has taken over the land makes as a whole, or a minimum of 16 per cent, and pay at least twice the government guideline value in that area. The lump sum should be for 50 per cent of the value and the other 50 per cent should be taken as investment. Even these measures will not be sufficient compensation but something is better than nothing.

CR Arun

Email

Right decision

This refers to your editorial ‘Monsoon Blues’ (June 30). The decision of the Government to release an additional 50 lakh tonnes of public rice stocks into the open market is correct.

But much more has to be done to monitor prices. The state governments do not seem to have taken serious note of the Centre’s recommendation to delist fruit and vegetables from the purview of the APMC Act.

Only Bihar and Kerala have scrapped the Act so far and it is reported that there is no impact on the price front in these states. It is ironical that the opposes the move to scrap the APMC Act.More release of foodgrains in the open market should be considered which will arrest the price rise as well as control the fiscal deficit.

S Kalyanasundaram

Email

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