Reform surgery done with precision

Reform surgery done with precision
This is with reference to ‘Just what the doc ordered’ (Sept 15). The edit was very apt. Indian PM Manmohan Singh has performed reform surgery with precision. As rightly mentioned, the government ought to explain the delay in ushering economic reforms. Regional parties playing to the gallery will not yield desired results but will adversely affect the economic growth of the country. One pertinent question that arises is for how long are we going to survive on subsidies? The government should devise means and methods to reduce trust deficit amongst people by recovering money lost in the frauds, scams, black money perhaps it will enhance faith in the Govt governance. It is wise to sacrifice upfront rather than repent later.
—Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai

II
The Manmohan Singh government has finally announced big bang reforms (Foreign hand in deshi markets’, Sept 15). This action indeed reveals that when pushed to the wall even the meekest act. Nevertheless the Government deserves to be commended. The opposition’s rant that FDI in retail will destroy the Mom and Pop stores is an extremely wicked and mindless stand. I wonder why no retailer in the country has so far not reacted to the relentless tirade coming from Sahara group’s “Q Shop” advertisement which calls the Mom and Pop retailers as murderers and thieves. Top cricket players featuring in this AD never applied their minds while portraying those crony characters and may have done the same for a small packet and to show their gratitude to Mr Subroto Sahara.  But it also goes to establish that really no Mom and Pop guys cares for such blasphemous portrayal. What then opposition is talking about, if not for their own fortunes.
—N K Gupta, Navi Mumbai

Ban gutka
I was shocked to read the report, ‘Students picking up gutka lessons at school!’ (Sept 15) where the students are following the footsteps of their teachers and are having gutka. There are many teachers and other staff members who also take tobacco and even smoke in the school premises. There is an urgent need for the state government to completely put a ban of the use of gutka, cigarettes and other tobacco products in the school premises and staffers who are caught with tobacco products on their person should be fined. This will curb the use of tobacco products in schools and other educational institutions.
—Cajetan Peter D’Souza, Ghatkopar

Suicidal FDI move
This refers to news ‘Foreign hand in deshi markets’ (Sept 15). The UPA government’s (read congress) FDI decision is desperate and suicidal. Walmart and other retail MNCs have never generated additional job either in US or else where. They have only eliminated the mom & pop stores, employed few in the guise of automation/standardisation, arm twisted farmers, suppliers, and fleeced the consumers. India’s wealth is it’s 70 million below-40 population and we need infrastructure and other investments that can create more industries/ jobs to engage this generation. We do not have good roads and power that is essential for storage and supply chain network. These retail giants are in operation in India for the last five years. Has the government analysed how their operation helped our economy? Further, 30 % local sourcing of supplies and the absence of proper infrastructure will encourage them to go for “cheap” import from China or else where.
—N Ramamurthy, Chennai.

II
Manmohan and company believe they can get out of all their troubles by bringing in some drastic fiscal measures like FDI in retail, aviation etc (Foreign hand in deshi markets’, Sept 15). It also expects that the new measures will divert people’s attention from coal scam, the diesel hike, LPG cylinder supply restrictions etc. But it is to be seen whether the Trinamool, SP and other colleagues will allow Congress to escape! .
—VS Ganeshan, Bangalore