Variable pricing

This has reference to the report “Earning over Rs 6 lakh/year” ( Business Line , August 4). The Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas must b congratulated for recommending a discriminatory pricing policy for cooking gas for people earning more than Rs 6 lakh per year.

It is also good to note that people holding constitutional posts and public representatives are required to pay market price for the cooking gas (Rs 646 in Delhi, instead of the subsidised Rs 395.35). The decision to put a ceiling on the number of gas cylinders at four for the purposes of subsidised pricing is also welcome.

K. V. Rao, Bangalore

Bank strike

Bank Unions have given the call for a nationwide strike on August 5 against privatisation of banks and outsourcing of bank work. But looking at the grave staff position, it is impossible to avoid outsourcing of banking work. In the first decade after bank nationalisation, in the 1970s, there was heavy recruitment as a result of rapid expansion of branch network; now these employees are due for retirement.

In some Mumbai-based big banks, more than 200 employees are retiring every month without proportionate replacements, and the banks are not in a position to disburse the terminal benefits to individual employees, even after 3-4 months, though, as per labour law, all the terminal benefits should be released within 30 days of retirement.

After giving the second option of pension last year, each PSU bank has received more than 5,000 VRS applications, but there are no new recruitments.

The majority of the bank staff themselves are in favour of outsourcing of bank work for better customer service and reducing the burden on the fewer employees.

Prashish K. Patil, Mumbai

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