If cartels are crime punish them
Sir, This refers to End cartels, PM tells India Inc (DH, May 25). Manmohan Singh says, “Cartels are a crime”. If cartels are crime and are working against the poor-centric “policies” of the government, why does the PM not prosecute the creators of the cartels? What is the point in just “talking” or “appealing” to such criminals and using lofty terms like, “all inclusive”, “challenges for corporate India”, “go against the grain of an open economy”, which mean nothing to aam admi. Aam admi looks for immediate action to cut down the prices of the essential commodities. If existing laws like the Essential Commodities Act, Monopolies Restriction Act are inadequate for taking the action called for, ordinances should be promulgated to give the government powers to curb the evils created by the corporates and help the less privileged. Serious steps should be taken to avoid wasteful and unproductive governmental expenditures that fuel inflation.
Hero Vaz
Bangalore
Layman struggles
Sir, This refers to End cartels, PM tells India Inc. It is heartening that the Prime Minister is seized of the problem of rising prices and the apathy of consideration from the industry to this malady. The common man is struggling because of the increase in price of essential commodities, including that of salt. The cost of advertisement and publicity takes a piggyback ride on the end item that the poor consumer buys. Steps should be taken to put an end to commercialising the essential products.
S Y Ramakrishnan
Bangalore
Great men think alike?
Sir, This refers to End cartels, PM tells India Inc. It should be appreciated that, of late, the Prime Minister has also started giving practicable expressions to the growth of the country, in line with President Abdul Kalam. Asking India Inc to desist from teaming together to promote its own vested interests at the cost of the less fortunate millions of the country is one such wisdom. Could he really do something about it?
R K Divakara
Bangalore
The same old story
Sir, This refers to End cartels, PM tells India Inc. His speech was like a lesson to school children as to what they (businessmen) should do and should not do. The Prime Minister’s call to businessmen to desist from operating cartels to keep prices high because of the recent inflation is funny. All Prime Ministers had emphasised on this issue in their speeches, but they forgot it even before leaving the venue of the speech.
K V Rao
Bangalaore
Lopsided policies
Sir, This refers to End cartels, PM tells India Inc. The PM has asked the captains of the industry to trim CEOs’ fat pay packets. According to him, the wealth inequalities could stir social unrest. In the last three years the chasm between the haves and have-nots is increasing. The spate of suicides by farmers since he took office and the large inflow of foreign capital into the country are clear proof for his lopsided policies.
V V S Mani
Bangalore
Use low-cost machines
Sir, Quality of construction of rural roads can be improved by entrusting the work to professional road builders and making it mandatory on them to adopt mechanisation in cutting, scraping, grading, metalling and rolling with use of appropriate low-cost earthmoving and road building machines. In countries like China, Vietnam, Cambodia, attachable, simple, earth-scrapers, graders, compactors and rollers are employed, which facilitates improvement in road building and the speed of construction.
M N Krishnappa
Bangalore
