The Below the Line item on Gujarat’s chief secretary, Gangaram Aloria (‘Simple is as simple does’, June 22) was heart-warming. While Aloria’s simplicity and unassuming lifestyle are worth emulating, the gentle message that he is sending out is powerful. May Aloria and his tribe increase for the good of society.

CG Kuriakose

Kothamangalam, Kerala

Diverting attention

India celebrated International Yoga Day in a grand manner. It must be remembered that the majority of the people in the country do not have two square meals a day. Can they do yoga exercises to find peace? The government must first eradicate poverty for its yoga policy to be successful. Otherwise, it (yoga) will be seen as one more trick by the government to divert the attention of the people from the innumerable problems the latter have had to put up with.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet, Tamil Nadu

Urban woes

This refers to the editorial, ‘Maximum mess’ (June 22). When municipal bodies run short of funds, they need to utilise what’s available wisely. However, in the public perception, the elected representatives of local bodies count among the most corrupt. The nexus between city fathers, contractors and municipal officials is responsible for many of the ills people face due to heavy rains — recurring road repairs, ever increasing potholes, and a malfunctioning sewage and garbage system. Moreover, many city fathers use the opportunity to feather their own nests. Our cities need visionaries.

YG Chouksey

Pune

If BSE Brokers Forum have decided to built another office in GIFT city, Gujarat, because of the frequency of disruptions in Mumbai, it is a really dangerous sign. What we need is a complete overhauling of the civic bodies. When the Prime Minister addresses the chiefs of municipal bodies this week, he must draw the roadmap for improvements in their working. Even if they are flush with funds, it will boil down to how judiciously they utilise them.

Bal Govind

Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Good old government

I was in Sabarimala recently and I faced a huge problem with my cell phone network. No private cell phone network was functional in Sabarimala. The only functional network was BSNL. Which proves the point that there is no such thing as a free market. And when you leave it to the market forces, many important services will not be available for the masses where the market senses that its returns will be low or that losses can happen in that geography. That’s why we need to have government services even when they make financial losses. The government should try to run these services professionally and design the cost structure on economic terms, not political, and make the services viable in the long run.

CR Arun

Email

Purely adulterated

This is with reference to ‘When star power scorches’ by Sravanthi Challapalli (June 12). I suspect that one of the ‘lassi’ products in the market has flour/starch added to it. My friend feels it is gelatine — to thicken it we presume. All three are edible but have no business to be in lassi where curd, water, agents of sweetening and flavouring are the only expected ingredients. A fruit flavoured version of the lassi separates into a gelatinous substance and curd when left undisturbed. Which authority should be asked to look into this?

AKR Rao

Chennai

Misplaced idea

This refers to ‘Tatkal dynamics’ by R Srinivasan (June 20). While airlines cater to primarily rich and business people, the railways are meant for the general populace. Hence, equating the economies is doing injustice to the majority. If every essential service provider levies charges based on the demand-supply mechanism, it would lead to a bigger gulf between the rich and poor. The dynamic pricing of tickets a misplaced idea and should not be considered for essential services.

RS Raghavan

Bengaluru

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