Poor leaders

This is with reference to Ranabir Ray Choudhury’s ‘Ringing in change’ ( Business Line , February 3). It is a tragedy that even after 67 years of Independence, millions are living in squalid conditions in India. Lack of meaningful employment and inequitable distribution of wealth are stumbling blocks to the nation’s progress. Nani Palkhivala once said, “India is not poor but our leaders are poor”. This is the real tragedy of India.

CG Kuriakose

Kothamangalam, Kerala

Sham surveys

Most of these audience research surveys are a sham. Earlier, TAM TV ratings were in the eye of a storm. Many channels disputed the TAM rankings. Now, the Indian Readership Survey is following suit.

In my house, we subscribe to Business Line , which is read by me, my father, my brother-in-law and my cousins. If relatives visit us, they glance through it. So, do not believe these sponsored surveys.

Pravardhan

Bangalore

Evidence please, Kejriwal

It has become a fashion for the Delhi CM to hog the limelight by issuing headline-grabbing comments (‘Kejriwal names Rahul, Chidambaram in ‘corrupt’ list’, Business Line, February 1). It is time he went back to his earlier method of exposing wrongdoing by furnishing the evidence for it.

HP Murali

Bangalore

Pandora ’s box

It was interesting to see the responses that Kejriwal’s corrupt list has evoked from those featured in it. Among them, Veerappa Moily’s abusive response shows his dismay. Kejriwal has opened a Pandora’s box when general elections are near. This can be a big nuisance for these politicians.

VS Ganeshan

Bangalore

Direct investment

The editorial, ‘Investment atrophy’ ( Business Line , February 3) emphasises the need for capital formation in manufacturing. This can be done by the government by clearing stalled projects and making its own direct investments in, say, railways, roads and extraction of coal, and similar projects. The government can generate funds by cutting subsidies and unnecessary spends. Allowing moderate participation of private players in such projects will prevent delay in execution and help circumvent bureaucratic lacuna.

NR Nagarajan

Sivakasi

Skill gap

This is with reference to ‘Who will pay for a skilled workforce?’ by Mayukh Choudhury and Santanu Paul ( Business Line , February 1). Industries have been reluctant to finance skill development as aspirants have been found unsuitable. Most of these people come out, or drop out, from the education system with little cognitive knowledge, aptitude and attitudinal grooming.

Industries do not feel encouraged to invest in them, unlike in Germany where industries provide full support to learners. These companies should be persuaded to channelise their CSR spends towards skill upgradation.

RK Arya

Faridabad

The article threw light on a big issue that needs to be addressed by policymakers urgently. Besides the government, business organisations should also take steps to offer a skill-rich environment.

Suman

Hisar

Missing the point

This is with reference to the editorial ‘LPG largesse’ ( Business Line, February 2). It is a clear case of misdirected subsidy.

It also shows the lack of understanding of the prime ministerial aspirant of the economic consequences of such largesse. The subsidy bill is likely to touch ₹3 trillion against a budgeted target of ₹2.21 trillion.

S Kalyanasundaram

San Jose

Preferential treatment

Aarati Krishnan’s article ‘Games multinationals play’ ( Business Line, January 31) was a great read. To add to the article, there are companies such as Coca-Cola which continue to get preferential treatment from regulators so that they do not have to list in India. If this is not kow-towing to multinationals, what is?

Andrew

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