This refers to “Our railway network is a huge dustbin” ( Business Line , March 22). Even if made tongue in cheek, the suggestion to have a Cabinet Ministry of Litter and Garbage (L&G) with inter-Ministerial scope, funded by a tax, does indeed need to be taken seriously.

While it may not result in the immediate induction of Rahul Gandhi into the Central Cabinet, it could address the everyday frustrations of the common man arising from L&G accumulation of all kinds.

This is not just around the Railways’ property, but across the nation, on roadsides, in rivers, around places of worships, and so on, in addition to the shiploads of ‘waste’ generated in greater volumes each day by the use of substandard materials in industry, construction and services.

Awareness of the kind the article suggests, if created in people’s minds by appropriate campaigns, as well as incentives and disincentives for handling waste will go a long way in preventing further damage to health and environment from litter and garbage.

M.G. Warrier

Thiruvananthapuram

New banks

The article “Will new banks be a game-changer” ( Business Line , March 22) makes several valid points. Although it has also been reported that India Post is readying to set up a bank, not much progress has been made. As the article suggests, the Finance and other Ministries should take an early decision on setting up a National Bank of India Post.

In this case, it may be better if the Government decides to establish such a bank by issuing equity capital to both public and private sector banks that wish to reach out to the rural areas but are unable to do so.

It is also hoped that the new licences will be issued in about a year, so that the new banks can offer healthy competition to the public and private sector banks and urban co-operative banks.

Narendra M. Apte

Pune

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