The comments in the editorial “One bad apple?” (August 8) are prejudiced against public sector banks and biased in favour of privatisation. The manner in which you have argued for the implementation of the PJ Nayak Committee’s recommendations makes this clear.

The Nayak Committee has recommended repeal of the Bank Nationalisation Act and SBI Act, which is preposterous given the unparalleled contribution of PSBs to the economic development of the country.

The banking system was insulated from the recent global financial tsunami only because our banks were predominantly under the public sector. Further, given the present economic scenario of stagflation, PSBs have a great role to play in not only achieving total financial inclusion but catering to the needs of all segments of the economy. You have linked the SK Jain bribery episode to the inadequate pay packets of CMDs. While this needs to be substantially increased, emoluments alone do not guarantee integrity.

What PSBs need is better regulation and monitoring by the Government and the RBI and not de-regulation and private control. The Syndicate Bank-SK Jain bribery episode is another reminder of the need to plug the loopholes in the banking system to weed out corruption. In this context, t the Nayak Committee recommendations of distancing the Government from PSBs must not be given importance.

CH Venkatachalam, Gen Sec

All-India Bank Employees’ Association

English is English

“English Vinglish” (August 11) highlighted the importance of the English language for administrators. Before this attitude begins to infect other governmental services and academia, the Centre should include the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) in the UPSC selection process. You have aptly stated that English is the window to the world of development. The Centre is unnecessarily poking its nose into the objective selection process of the UPSC.

The administrators cannot close their eyes to the reality that English is the lingua franca of the nation and the world. Two decades back, Japan, despite its technological advancement and innovative prowess, realised the handicap it faced because of lagging in English. They have now learnt their lessons and are setting up industrial establishments in every nook and corner of the world. While India is yet to attain equitable growth in all spheres, discarding English voluntarily is at our peril.

B Rajasekaran

Bangalore

No better alternative

It is true that Narendra Modi’s reputation as a firm and fair decision-maker has suffered a dent by yielding to the demand that civil service aspirants can choose which kind of selection process they will adhere to.

Those demanding Hindi as a replacement for English have neither done enough work to make Hindi a language for administration and business communication, and nor have they taken pains to learn English.

I too wish to transact in an Indian language as China, Japan and France do. This cannot be achieved by imposition. Unless we develop a national consensus on an alternative to English, there is no escape from it.

YG Chouksey

Pune

Avoid playing politics

There should be no doubt about English being the link language in this country. The civil service aspirants should be good at learning new languages, even if English is among them. If an IAS officer from Tamil Nadu is posted in West Bengal, won’t it be necessary for him to learn Bengali to carry on good administrative work in that State? He can’t say he will not cross the borders of Tamil Nadu. As citizens, civil service aspirants who are against English are against learning new languages.

Our civil service aspirants should learn at least three languages to be better at work. It is true that the memory of politicians is short; the ruling party has forgotten the nature of the mandate it got from the people.

The Government should avoid politicising this issue which will put the future of this country at a cross roads.

CR Arun

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