On leadership

This is with reference to ‘How to solve the problem of PSB leadership?’ by Anil K Khadelwal (March 18). The banking sector has not been able to throw up many leaders. Does only the leader have the magic wand to bring about a sea change in PSBs? What about second level and field level leaders, and branch heads?

Will the new CEO will have a free hand to appoint them or will he be a pigeon among the cats? There is need for leaders at all levels — CEO, regional head, branch head — so that they can infuse a fresh set of skills, brand equity and sense of job satisfaction. Who will bell the cat?

RT Rajasekaran

Bengaluru

Welcome to Mudra

This refers to the editorial, ‘If small is to be beautiful’ (March 18). It covers an entire field of financing; micro units form a major sector and are significant employment providers. A major problem they face is following the procedures set down by banks and fulfilling their various conditions. The easy way is to go to private financiers; they are ready to offer the required help. The formation of Mudra Bank with the aim of ensuring finance to the micro units sector is a welcome development. But there is need for wide publicity in the rural areas; people there should be educated on the requirements to be met.

TR Anandan

Coimbatore

Bitter reality

The Supreme Court has ruled that reservation should be given only to the most distressed, and it has said that politically organised classes such as Jats cannot be included in the OBC List. Frankly speaking, the Centre and State governments have milked Articles 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the Constitution (which guarantee ‘Right to equality’) to garner maximum votes in the elections and in the process, made many ‘Backward’ people ‘Forward’ (economically) and many belonging to the ‘Forward Class’, ‘Backward’ (of course, economically). This is the bitter reality.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet, Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court has done well to quash the decision to include the dominant Jat community in the central list of OBCs in nine States. In the judgment running to 64 pages, the point to be underlined is its observation that the government routinely discouraged the identification of a group as backward solely on the basis of caste. The authorities concerned should understand what this means.

The reservation mania has gripped all parties with an eye on votes. The reservation policy should be gradually phased out. If at all reservation is necessary for some more time, it should be based purely on the economic status of a person. Caste should cease to determine the need for reservation. It is appalling that in recent times many court verdicts are observed more in contempt than in their implementation.

One classic example is the insistence on Aadhaar. Even though the Supreme Court order dated September 23, 2013, clearly stated that Aadhaar should not be insisted upon to give service to the people, it continues to be demanded. It is hoped this order will not meet the fate of the Aadhaar order.

KV Seetharamaiah

Hassan, Karnataka

Aadhaar or niraadhaar

The Supreme Court has again warned the Centre and State governments not to deny subsidies to persons without an Aadhaar card. The Unique Identification Authority of India has miserably failed to carry out its responsibility of providing the Aadhaar cards to the citizens even after collecting their biometric and other details long back.

For instance, my particulars and finger prints were collected in May 2013, but till today the card has not been delivered to me. I have come across hundreds of such cases of negligence but all efforts to contact the authority have not brought any result.

KK Sharma

Kolkata

Refreshing piece

It was refreshing to read S Sriram’s write-up, ‘The customer is king. Really?’ (The New Manager, March 18). He has explained very clearly why it makes little strategic sense to outsource the crucial areas of a business organisation. One may also add that even when non-core areas of business are outsourced, enough care must be taken to ensure that the organisation’s name is not sullied because of inefficiencies of the outsourcing agent. The RBI has repeatedly advised banks to enforce appropriate discipline on outsourcing agents keeping in mind the requirement that risk management principles of banks apply with equal force to activities of their agents also.

KR Srivarahan

Chennai

Attacks on Christians

The intruders into the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ranaghat in Nadia district did not merely commit the heinous crime of raping an old nun; they desecrated the chapel, giving room for suspicion that it could well be a ‘hate crime’. While the inability to apprehend the culprits even after four days after the commission of the crime speaks poorly of the State administration, it has to be held against the S angh Parivar that it has created an atmosphere where Christians become an easy target for hardened zealots masquerading as ‘dacoits’ and other criminals. It is simplistic to see the crime merely in gender terms. The TMC has a point when it holds “religious fanaticism” responsible for the crime. The VHP’s intriguing contention that “rape is part of Christian culture” is laughable. The rising communal incidents mark a retreat from secularism with far-reaching implications.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Don’t blame the farmers

This refers to the item, ‘Land bill: Opposition appeals to Pranab (March 18). The Economic Survey had looked into 600 large private projects which are stalled for some reason and found that 585 were stuck because of bad market conditions. And the other reasons listed out by the Economic Survey are lack of promoter interest, irrational exuberance in the past, credit bubble, and environmental clearance. Land acquisition is not the main reason for big projects getting stalled and this is being pointed out by none other than the Chief Economic Advisor.

Why is the government pushing for this land Bill then? Farmers are always willing to give land for roads, schools and hospitals. They want these facilities to come up in their locality. But the problem begins when the government acquires land for the private sector. Here the farmers don’t trust the government and they have valid reasons to do so. Any doubts? Look at past instances when the private sector has made a killing at the expense of farmers. Consent is very important when you acquire land. Don’t say farmers are against industrialisation and development. Don’t expect farmers to sacrifice so that some private corporation can profit from it. It is completely wrong to say that land acquisition and farmers are the reasons big projects are stalling. The Economic Survey points out the facts and it is very clear for us to see.

CR Arun

Email

Erratum

b In the report, ‘Managing growth with low risk’ (March 16), the credit rating of DHFL Ashray was wrongly stated as AA. The rating of this NBFC deposit is currently AAA. The error is regretted.

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