‘Reducing indents for clerical recruitment in PSBs worrisome, say unions’ by Vinson Kurien (September 27) covers only one aspect of HR-related issues. Across sectors, trade unions have succumbed to political influence and vested interests, rendering union leaderships inefficient over time.

Inadequate attention to recruitment, training and in-house skilling, and large-scale outsourcing messed up things post-demonetisation. Banks cannot work efficiently without the trust and loyalty of staff and these cannot be hired through service providers. In banking, there is a ‘human face’ to each deposit account and every loan ledger.

MG Warrier

Mumbai

Family matters

AM Naik’s interview, ‘I gave zero time to my wife, no time to my children’ by Ksenia Kondratieva and Thomas K Thomas (September 27) emphasises the dilemma committed leaders face in achieving a work-life balance. His observation that he would not ignore family responsibility if he had a chance to relive the role sends out a message to workaholic managers. Studies show that when managers blend work and leisure properly, productivity and creativity improve.

YG Chouksey

Pune

Misogyny rules

BHU represented the quintessence of traditional and modern. It is is sad to see its apparent degradation to misogynistic attitudes. The girls are at the mercy of unthinking and sadistic authorities, within and without the university compound. The VC cannot escape personal blame.

R Narayanan

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Towards GST efficiency

This refers to ‘Be an early bird, avoid last-minute rush’, the interview with GSTN chairman Ajay Bhushan Pandey by Richa Mishra (September 27). It may be better to have a service pack of 50-100 transfers with advance payment of say ₹200 or 500 collected, issued by the banks to each account holder. This would lead to a single invoice for charges collected in advance, which can be adjusted as and when transfers are done. This would save storage costs as it would reduce volume of small value transactions, reduce length of passbook/bank statement printouts and save time spent inputting transactions.

This system would work for many small value transactions like sale of tickets, meals, bus rides, etc. Why not have prepaid GST digital wallets for consumers? On purchase of small ticket items the wallet deducts GST and purchase value from the account. Refill value of the wallet can be allowed as expenditure up to say ₹5,000 a month.

Ramesh Padmanabhan

Email

Improve the railways

This refers to ‘Why so many travel on the roof of a train’ by Mamuni Das (September 27). There is much to be done to make the railways passenger-friendly. We need more trains on the main routes. The reservation facility could be assigned to organisations like post offices. There is also need for more short distance trains on the main routes so that these passengers don’t crowd long distance ones.

TR Anandan

Coimbatore

Right to know

With reference to the letter by reader Prabhu Raj (‘Not a good idea’, September 27), the people of Tamil Nadu have every right to know the truth behind the hospitalisation and death of Jayalalithaa. After all, they elected her party. It is a matter of deep concern that nobody was given proper access to her.

RS Raghavan

Bengaluru

Timely advice

‘Why India must join hands with Japan’ by Rupakjyothi Borah (September 27) is timely. India’s neutral relationship with North Korea will definitely help it broker peace for Japan. Cooperating on the bullet train will help make Indian Railways safer and cleaner. Besides, India could learn from Japan’s cottage industry concept. Improved trade and industry agreements with Japan will enable a burgeoning Indian populace to enjoy commercial dividends.

B Rajasekaran

Bengaluru

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Published on September 27, 2017