Shameful paradox

This is with reference to ‘PM launches 16,320 crore power for all project’ (September 26). Non-availability of electricity is why many industrial and small-scale units close down. It is pathetic to see many areas going power-less while India boasts of becoming a superpower in the near future.

However, people have to be educated on various methods of saving electricity which will enable us to divert supply to backward areas/villages. Conservation of electricity is very important; this is possible only with people’s participation. State governments must arrest power thefts and stop giving free electricity to the politically powerful.

Veena Shenoy

Thane, Maharashtra

One hopes the announcement promising electricity to over 4 crore poor families is transformed into reality. Consumption expenditure will increase leading to an increase in the welfare of people. In other words, GDP will increase in the economy.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet, Tamil Nadu

GST an ordeal for CAs

These days, CAs are spending most of their time filing GST returns, what with every return generating an OTP that the CA has to obtain from the client and feed in. Conceptually, GST is a welcome move but its implementation was not properly anticipated.

Each time a problem surfaces the department patches up, then another problem pops up. To add salt to the wounds, the website doesn’t work well. The last dates has to be deferred each time. Looks like CA firms must deploy one qualified CA only to attend to GST.

Ashok Jayaram

Bengaluru

Capable women

Compulsory reservation for women everywhere is absurd. Capable women hold top positions in almost all fields on their own merit. It is true that unless women are recognised for their achievements, no country can make progress. A lot of young women are now discovering their strengths. Women should come forward to take on new challenges. The state should help them, but not through reservations because that implies their achievement is not due to merit.

Mahesh Kumar

New Delhi

Merkel magic

This refers to the edit, ‘Two cheers for Merkel’ (September 26). It was largely expected that the anti-incumbency factor would work against Merkel. Electorates are springing surprises all over the world. What is also surprising is that the far-right Alternative for Germany will enter parliament. Merkel has joined Helmut Kohl and Konrad Adenauer as Germany’s longest serving leaders.

Deendayal M Lulla

Mumbai

Not a good idea

The decision of the TN government to appoint a one-man commission to probe the death of former chief minister Jayalalithaa is nothing but politics. Like AIADMK partymen confessed to having lied about their leader's health, the government ordering a probe marks a low in Dravidian politics. Succumbing to public sentiments sets a bad precedent.

R Prabhu Raj

Bengaluru

Agri attitudes

This refers to ‘Solving food challenges with more research’ by MS Swaminathan and Jean Lebel (September 26). Production has stagnated due to indiscriminate use of chemicals and overemphasis on water-intensive crops.

The agricultural sector is under the spell of soil fatigue, technology fatigue and farmer fatigue. Climate change and high volatility in the prices of agri commodities have halted growth. The challenge of feeding a burgeoning population can be addressed only by the joint efforts of the Central and State governments, and the scientific community. Scientists must develop disease-resistant and climate-resistant high-yielding crop varieties. Farmers must be ring-fenced from crop failures and price crashes. The cultivation of protein-rich crops must be promotedand agriculture should be developed into smart value chains owned by farmer collectives and driven by customer preferences.

Philip Sabu

Thrissur, Kerala

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