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Net neutrality campaigners should receive a shot in the arm after e-commerce major Flipkart walked out of a preferential deal with Airtel Zero. With Flipkart’s rival Snapdeal also expressing its inability to join Airtel Zero, the growing outrage against sabotaging equal internet access is plain for all to see. The widespread outrage in the internet community and the feelers that the government has sent out that it is in favour of net neutrality could have influenced the move. However, with several other online players not keen to walk away from deals they might derive from Airtel Zero the concept of net neutrality could yet be defeated.
NJ Ravi Chander
Bengaluru
Sanguine on arms imports
The Rafale deal reopens our entire approach to defence empowerment. Weaponry will stay dictated by superior technology, else they remain only prized toys. More so where planes are concerned — safety and fuel efficiency in commercial ones and manoeuvrability and fire power, in the military. One cannot fault the purchase of Rafale on quality.
But we need not have gone through an elaborate bidding process only to settle now on a government- to-government deal. It would certainly call into question our intent on future big ticket purchases through open tenders.
Our achievement in space technology is more on account of our distinct edge in computerisation. We were set back two decades on solid fuel propulsion engines, as we became an outcast after the Pokhran test.
But weaponry requires constant upgrade through research in every sphere. And India has not built up that prowess as yet. Work on the indigenous Arjun battle tank began way back in 1972 and it took the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) three decades for the first one to be inducted into the Indian army. Private enterprise could be relied upon to do it faster. But that is a matter of political will together with a clear vision to place indigenous research and development on the highest pedestal.
R Narayanan
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
Being really rational
While Dravidar Kazhagam leaders thump their chests for having organised a ‘discard thali ’ function in Chennai, one really wonders what they have achieved through this symbolic act.
Will women in these families be allowed to do what they feel like? A progressive or rationalistic outlook is not blindly discarding tradition. It is the ability to work hard and realise one’s potential overcoming all odds.
S Ramakrishnasayee
Ranipet, Tamil Nadu
Opt for frontloading
This refers to your editorial, ‘Time for a cut’ (April 15). The past experiences of our interest rate moves clearly indicate that we must always front load monetary policy decisions.
The Reserve Bank should cut rates as soon as possible so that the 0.25 per cent cut can have some positive impact on the economy. The RBI will have more comfort if the country gets a normal monsoon this year.
It is clear the RBI will consider growth or the lack of it while moving on monetary policy. Exports are weak because of bad demand in Europe and other developed nations including the US.
The FII inflow in to our bond markets is more than our equity markets: foreigners are playing for a stable currency and rate cuts rather than growth. The government needs to do more to get growth on track; then we will be in a better position to handle the US interest rate hikes which are coming later in the year.
CR Arun
Give women infra support
To facilitate women reaching top positions, HR and training policies need an overhaul to proscribe women’s attrition at the middle management level (‘Women on top’, April 14). Also, we need to give women maternity support, childcare facilities and flexible working hours. Without these changes at the ground level, appointing women as directors will promote only nepotism in corporate governance.
VK Sridhar
Erode, 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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