Public concerns

This is with reference to editorial ‘Missing Pieces (July 22)’. Recapitalisation of PSBs is the need of the hour to enable them to lend, which in turn will enable the country to be on growth path. NPAs in PSBs have reached alarming levels and the decision to capitalise them is welcome.

However, these banks cannot be allowed to relax and slow down their recovery efforts of NPAs. Even though, the growing number of bad assets may not entirely be their fault, the working style of these banks must be analysed minutely to understand their inherent weakness. Recapitalisation of PSBs must be in sync with their reorganisation.

Simultaneously, the fear-psychosis developed among bankers due to the ultra-vigilantism of government machineries, which has resulted in overcautious approach of lending, must come to an end. A separate vigilance manual for banks is a must as the lending decisions are taken based on several factors including the status of the industry at that particular period. These decisions cannot be scrutinised in a negative way down the line. Further, in the present circumstances, when merger and acquisition of banks is being pursued for reduction in the number of banks, the capitalisation of select few based on their present state of affairs will be only a time buying approach.

Rahul J Gautam

Bengaluru

Return woes The recent move by State Bank of India to sell NPAs to Reliance ARC can be termed as an instance of operational inefficiency, given that the bank has branches across the country with slight change in the roles of individuals. This would have resulted in putting in a good recovery mechanism as opposed to selling the loans at half the cost. Banks should consider expanding its operations electronically, which will cut down its infrastructure costs.

Vikram Sundarsmurthy

Alapakkam, Chennai

Wrong remedy Doping has been associated with competitive international games from inception. As newer drugs were used by sportsmen, testing methods of detection kept pace. Individual athletes have been banned in practically all major games, including Olympics. But banning an entire country, read Russia, is unfortunate.

In the 1984 Los Angeles Games, one-third of the US cycling team used dope, where they won nine medals — their first medal success since the 1912. IOC did not bar the US in the next Games! IOC would do well to reconsider the Rio ban on Russia. It could instead subject Russian athletes to more frequent tests than prescribed during the events or narrow down the permissible band for select events.

This, while being pragmatic, would also assuage and yet caution other nations and keep the Olympic spirit going unabated.

R Narayanan

Ghaziabad

Rajini mania Rajini mania is sweeping Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country. Rarely has a film caught so much popular imagination and attracted so much media attention as Rajini starrer Kabali . Everything from T-shirts, silver coins, plastic pots and cars to unlikely aeroplane sports Rajinikanth’s images in Kabali . No doubt the superstar acts with panache in this gangster flicker and sends the audienceinto raptures. Rajini style is unique and inimitable. It has swelled his following to millions across the globe over the decades.

Rajnikanth fans can be commended for their choice of the right star to look up to and admire. For all his fame and fortune, superstar Rajnikanth still epitomises humility and simplicity.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Kanyakumari

Absurd drama Sandhya Rao should be applauded for bringing some sanity into the abject Rajini-mania fuelled by the media over the release of Kabali ! (‘So, a film’s been released’, July 22) It is one thing to wait with great anticipation for the movie of one’s die-hard matinee idol and another to get obsessed with it to the exclusion of all other pressing issues. A film should be celebrated based on its successful performance and not pre-release razzmatazz.

CV Krishna Manoj

Hyderabad

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