Comments
This is with reference to the change in child labour law to allow under-14s to work in family enterprises and the entertainment sector (May 14). This move is absolutely wrong. Any child labour is injustice to the child and should be punished severely. If both parents are in the beedi industry and the child is made to work in the beedi industry, imagine the injustice we allow.
The other basic point which gets missed is the wish of the child. We should give the child the freedom to choose the career he/she wants. Parents should not thrust a career on their child just because they happen to be the parents. Changing this law will lead to its misuse. Already we have an enforcement problem in this country; let's not make laws which can destroy a child’s future.
CR Arun
That the NDA government allows child labourers (below 14) to work in non-hazardous family enterprises or the entertainment industry is meaningless. Child labour laws must reduce the number of school dropouts and help utilise the demographic dividend (which the nation is expected to enjoy for five more decades) in the optimum manner. In India, exemptions in laws are major loopholes which encourage corruption.
S Ramakrishnasayee
Ranipet, Tamil Nadu
Comprehensive data base
This is with reference to ‘Going hammer and tongs after defaulters’ by Arpinder Singh (May 14). Borrower frauds happen through various methods such as the opening of accommodation LCs, overvaluation of stocks, transactions with promoters’ companies, diversion of funds through other bank accounts, over-invoicing of exports and so on. The level of sophistication has increased and banks have to monitor accounts very closely. The disparity between the utilisation levels of credit and advance tax paid, venturing into unrelated businesses, frequent investment in capex and so on are also indicators that something may be amiss with the borrower. The major challenge for lending banks is that funds are routed through other banks and diverted while loans remain unserviced. The RBI should consider developing a data base which will capture all account details, including that of current accounts held by a company, with the entire banking system.
M Raghuraman
Mumbai
It’s not all roses
With reference to R Srinivasan’s ‘What the Modi sarkar is getting right’ (May 14), it is neither a question of leveraging technology nor conviction; the government is simply pushing in many schemes for the poor to prove that it is working in all directions. There is a cost and benefit analysis involved before any scheme is launched. In Jan Dhan Yojana, the account has been opened without the account holder adding his money. It was believed cash transfer would be done. It is difficult to cite how much cash transfer with respect to the schemes has been done, and if the accounts are in operation. Is overdraft facility being given?
The same is the case with insurance. Agreed, a negligible premium can be given by a poor person. But as per the actuarial sciences, the premium charged from the cross-section of insurers must be potentially enough to mitigate the claim at any point in time. The benefit given in this manner is as good as a dole. Then how are the schemes useful for uplifting the poor?
RK Arya
Faridabad, Haryana
The ad blitz
Notwithstanding the Supreme Court not allowing the photos of politicians to appear in government ads, it is not convincing how the photo of the Chief Justice of India is allowed. The Prime Minister is the head of government and the President is the constitutional head. Hence it is proper for their photos to appear (subject to clearance from them).
However, it is right that the photos of other politicians should not appear. Taxpayers’ money should be judiciously used. But we have to see how far this will be obeyed. In spite of the apex court’s orders, banks and other institutions continue to ask for the Adhaar card.
KV Seetharamaiah
Hassan, Karnataka
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