This is with reference to ‘Degrees, real or fake, count for nothing’ by Rituparna Chakraborty (June 24). It is rightly said that “Experience is the biggest teacher in your life”. In India we see car and scooter mechanics doing good business, but who don’t have degrees. Similarly, there are many who run coaching centres.

When we join the teaching profession after a B.Ed degree, we draw up good lesson plans but we fail to understand children because of lack of experience; 10 years later we may have no lesson plans but we are good teachers because of experience. Many business startups and successful entrepreneurs don’t have degrees but the spirit of doing something makes them successful in life. Small children are experts at using computers. Do they have degrees?

Pankaj Bhanwani

New Delhi

While lakhs of students graduate every year, employers look for experienced candidates only. The concept of trainees/apprentices is not common and this forces many unemployed people to accept jobs that have no relevance to their educational background. The overemphasis on degrees has left students exam-oriented. Students should be encouraged to take up part-time jobs as they do in countries like the US. PSUs should take the lead in offering such opportunities. This will improve the employability of fresh graduates. Also the curriculum should provide space for vocational training.

M Raghuraman

Mumbai

Food is for all

The National Food Security Act is a landmark legislation, yet the government is lukewarm about its implementation. After all, it would not have won so many seats without the votes of the poor constituting the majority of the electorate. It is incomprehensible why it has not occurred to the government that it is not possible to “develop human resources” or “tap the human potential” to the full without universal supply of basic food.

There are systematic attempts to reduce the scheme as a token gesture towards alleviating hunger contrast, with its concessions in crores being given to corporates as “incentives to growth”. The government shows a callous disregard for the most impoverished sections of society when it wilfully tries to phase out and eventfully wind up the Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

The insistence on “citizenship” documents is just a ploy to exclude even the most deserving families from the PDS. Those who get subsidised menus to satisfy their palate in the Parliament canteen should give a thought to their less fortunate compatriots struggling to stave off hunger.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Bold step

This refers to your editorial, ‘Plastic payments’ (June 24). The proposal for incentivising electronic payments by grant of tax concessions may be treated as the maiden step of the government in its fight against black money. Congratulations to the finance minister for embarking on this difficult path in a country where corruption is deep-rooted. Cashless transactions would naturally pave the way for a reduction in the circulation of counterfeit currency. More and more such bold steps are required to persuade the people to go in for electronic transactions and popularise electronic payment products.

Rugmani Vinod

Thiruvananthapuram

Too many questions

With reference to Karnataka filing an appeal in the SC against J Jayalalithaa’s acquittal, how can an authority of the status of the High Court afford to misjudge the case of a prominent political personality? If it is proved that the HC was wrong, who will be held accountable? If the SC reverses the decision of the HC, what would be the fate of the chief minister?

Vazuthur Raghavan

Bengaluru

Fair and square

This refers to ‘True and fair’ by Mohan R Lavi (June 24). If the Management Report (MR) of banks are audited, it will go a long way in bringing out a true picture of the functioning and financials of banks. In the present day financials, essentials are highlighted while vitals are concealed.

CG Kuriakose

Kothamangalam, Kerala

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.

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