Capital challenge

Apropos “Doctor Singh dons his gloves” (Perspective, July 1), to save the Indian economy from the ongoing crisis, we need to think out of the box. Fifty per cent of the salaries and allowances to Indian officials on deputation abroad should be paid in Indian rupees. Most of the money is to be used in India by their dependants or comes back as savings. There is also no rationale in continuing with Indian missions abroad that are economically unviable, or at least the staff strength there should be reduced to a minimum. Information technology can facilitate monitoring from Delhi. For sustainability of public utilities, user charges should be linked to inflation. Also, the government should not hesitate in consulting the vast number of policy experts the country has, in Delhi and elsewhere.

Dr M.M. Goel, Kurukshetra

II

There is an urgent need for crucial reforms to bring the tottering economy back on rail. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s assuming charge of the Finance Ministry has raised hopes. As an economist of stature, he would have his own priorities. His focus would be on the revival of investment through investor-friendly policies and clear-cut rules and regulations. Unlike his predecessor in the ministry, Pranab Mukherjee, Dr Singh should try to win the confidence of the UPA alliance partners and other supporting parties by assuring them that the corporate sector will not be allowed to flourish at the cost of the poor.

D.S.Kang, Bahadurpur, Hoshiarpur

III

The outlook on Dr Singh’s taking charge of the Finance Ministry sounded a little too optimistic. Even as head of the government, the Prime Minister could have done all that is now being expected from him. If coalition troubles held back Mukherjee, so would it be with Dr Singh. The controls that were with Sonia Gandhi would also remain. It would be a miracle if Manmohan Singh is able to change the situation much.

A.K. Sharma, Chandigarh

IV

With the Prime Minister taking charge of finance, the corporate world is hoping to loot the wealth of the county in the garb of reviving the economy. Ever since the so-called reforms started in 1991, business houses have been the largest gainers. Fortunately, the nation is blessed with huge natural resources, but these are being siphoned off by capitalists in collusion with bureaucrats. The slowdown and inflation is a result of that.

S.K. Khosla, Chandigarh

Tame the poachers

Apropos “On the spot in Corbett, to save the stripes” (Oped, July 1), poachers take advantage of lax security systems in our wildlife sanctuaries. If the decline in the number of tigers and other species is not checked, extinction may not be far. Human greed is unlimited, and forestland is encroached upon as a result. Besides, illegal trade in animals and animal parts is also taking its toll. Communities dwelling in forest areas should be educated on these issues, and forest laws implemented strictly to crack criminal networks.

S.C. Vaid, Greater Noida

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