Apropos, ‘How do we interpret the IMD forecast’, (April 18). A forecast of good seasonal rainfall directly impacts the increase in acreage of Kharif crops and leads to better farm output.
This, in turn, boosts the rural economy and contributes to the overall economy, where the majority of the workforce depends on agriculture and allied activities. It provides enough water for irrigation but also for hydro-power generation and increasing storage of reservoirs for drinking water needs.
However, normal cumulative rainfall does not guarantee uniform temporal and spatial distribution of rain across the country, with climate change further increasing the variability of the rain-bearing system, leading to frequent droughts and floods.
N Sadhasiva Reddy
Bengaluru
Banking blues
The news ‘RBI penalises Kotak Bank, IDFC First Bank, PNB (April 18), is a sad commentary on the regulative environment.
Though the RBI and other regulators are vigilant and impose fines on the errant entities, but mere fining hardly does justice.
Fining the entity actually burdens the shareholders, whereas the perpetrators go unpunished. There should be a system where the errant personnel are asked to pay up and/or face termination.
Jose Abraham
Kottayam
Obesity worries
With reference to the article ‘Tackling childhood obesity’ (April 18), childhood obesity is a public health challenge which affects children psychologically as well as physically.
Overweight children have an increased risk of developing various non- communicable diseases. Parents and teachers must encourage children to adopt a healthy diet. A holistic approach where parents, schools, local authorities and government work together to address childhood obesity in India is the need of the hour.
P Victor Selvaraj
Palayamkottai (TN)