Opinion Postal inclusion
This refers to Banking on openness (IE,July 3). The fact that banks have penetrated only 50 per cent of Indian households
Postal inclusion
* This refers to Banking on openness (IE,July 3). The fact that banks have penetrated only 50 per cent of Indian households,66 years after Independence,and 50 years after bank nationalisation is truly shocking. One of the applicants for a banking licence is the postal department,which has a staggering network of offices in the country,particularly in rural areas. One wonders why granting new bank licences has taken all these years,and why the government hadnt thought of using our post office network as an instrument of financial inclusion before.
M.D. Kini
Labour costs
* THIS refers to When incomes grow,but jobs elude by Sonalde Desai (IE,July 3). Desai rightly says that insufficient manufacturing opportunities are the reason for the crowding of workers in agriculture. Thanks to our rigid labour laws,despite being a labour-surplus country,large manufacturing firms producing labour-intensive products are largely absent from our economic landscape. Labour costs are rising in China,and a large number of manufacturing jobs are expected to migrate elsewhere. The government must seriously think of reforming our labour laws to take advantage of this.
Manish Kumar
Patna
Repeat offender
* THIS refers to Beni targets SP chief again,Congress regrets remark (IE,July 3). Beni Prasad Verma allegedly said Mulayam Singh is not competent to even sweep the PMs floor. These are the words of a senior member of the UPA government,and a Union cabinet minister. Mulayam is not only president of the Samajwadi party,but is also giving the UPA outside support. The Congress has distanced itself from Vermas statement. Why does the PM,as the head of government,refuse to take action against Verma who is a repeat offender? Verma must tender an apology immediately. Failing this,the SP should withdraw support.
C.K. Sardana
Unequal treatment
* IT IS disappointing to note that the alleged killing of youths by the army in the Valley is not receiving the front-page treatment that a similar crime taking place in Delhi or Mumbai would have received (Protests erupt in J&K after 2 civilians killed in firing,IE,July 1). Just as atrocities on the state such as Naxal attacks should be covered prominently,atrocities by the state,too should be given high-visibility coverage.
Had these killings occurred in Mumbai or Delhi,the story would have been the central focus for at least a week. The denial of the same attention to Kashmir sows seeds of discontent among the people of the troubled state. At a time when the Valley is relatively peaceful,the Centre,state,media and army should all join hands to make the most of this opportunity.
Ravinder Kaur
Samrala
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