Owner value

This refers to ‘Much maligned, more misunderstood’ by Bandi Ram Prasad (April 29). The author has shown the brighter side of public sector banks. However, one cannot agree with the conclusion that what matters both to the society and markets is the contribution and performance of institutions rather than issues of ownership. As everyone knows, there is severe strain of NPAs on these banks. Still, the public continue to have faith on these banks, as they are owned by the government. One cannot ignore this fact.

S Kalyanasundaram

Email

Deal and drought

The Italian court’s verdict on Agusta Westland chopper deal could not have come at a worse time for the drought-affected people in India. Nearly a third of the population is struggling to cope with the worst drought in living memory. But the verdict in Italy and resultant damaging attacks in India have overshadowed the widespread suffering caused by the drought.

Politicians, inside and outside the Parliament, are at each other’s throats in the furtherance of their self-interest. They show no qualms about reducing politics to an arena for mutual recriminations with people as passive spectators. It is a pity that the grim drought scenes have not moved the political class to take effective action for drought mitigation.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

No Sanskrit , please

Smriti Irani says Sanskrit will be taught in IITs. Unsurprisingly her baiters have found another issue to settle their scores with the minister by attacking her. At a time when her popularity at its lowest ebb why did she have to make such statements? Maybe Sanskrit is a highly scientific language but why bother now? I know the academic pressure that the students face in IITs. Whole day of studying is not at least half-enough to excel in the subjects they study. If a subject like this is added in the curriculum, it would add to the miseries of the students and still burden them more than ever before.

KS Jayatheertha

Bengaluru

Look at waste generation

The analysis 'How to deal with packaging waste' by Venkatesh Ganesh (April 29) was well-timed and valuable. Waste management is a formidable challenge facing all cities today and all of us including the industry need to pitch in for this. Needless to say media can play an important role.

Unfortunately, the debate on waste management mostly focuses on the management part. This almost exclusive focus must shift to the ‘generation’ side, i.e., how to reduce waste generation? We look forward to more such useful articles and viewpoints on this growing burden.

V Vijaykumar

Email

Sad turn

This time in Kerala the election campaign has become purely a matter of mudslinging between leaders of various fronts. Chief minister Oommen Chandy filing defamation case against Left veteran VS Achuthanandan and the latter’s stance to countermand it are indications in this direction.

K A Solaman

Alappuzha, Kerala

Neat move

The single common entrance examination (NEET) for admission to MBBS and BDS for which the apex court has given its nod can definitely revolutionise the medical education across the country. The argument by some State governments and political parties that rural students cannot step up to this entrance examination is not correct. It is imperative on the part of State governments to make the standard of science curricula on par with the national level and make many students of rural and urban background crack the test.

What the nation needs is committed teachers. Of course, they must be willing to work in any area (rural or urban) assigned to them. If teachers prioritise physical comfort and push commitment and sacrifice, which are the essential ingredients of the noble profession, to the background, then there is no way out to improve the quality of education in the country.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet, TN

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