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This is with reference to ‘Tearing down small-town barriers to encourage innovations’ by Meera Siva (January 24). We have not contributed much to the world in terms of inventions and new ideas. Skype started in Tallinn, Estonia, a small Baltic country.
Our education system does not encourage innovation and research. Dedicated and good teachers are a prerequisite. Lack of government support for research and innovation also puts constraints on talent. Due to lack of support and other hurdles our scientists and engineers are migrating to foreign countries. The PM should call a meeting of experts from different fields to deal with the issue. If we want development, economic growth and employment opportunities , we should encourage innovation and research.
Veena Shenoy
Thane, Maharashtra
Secretive institutions
This refers to your edit, ‘Letter and spirit’ (January 24). One can understand the reluctance of political parties to submit themselves under the RTI Act. But organisations such as the Indian Banks Association and the BCCI are not covered under the Act.
I had filed an application under RTI with United Bank of India to know how they have handled a direction from the division bench of Calcutta regarding dearness allowance payment to retired pensioners. But the bank has refused to provide information on the ground that it is of a commercial nature and also that it is held by the bank in a fiduciary capacity and cannot be shared. The information sought is simply payment to retired employees. It does not and cannot have any bearing on the product or services or clients of the bank. Moreover, they are not going to share any information provided by any of their clients as claimed by the bank. This shows that institutions are not willing to provide genuine information to the public and the purpose of the RTI Act is being defeated.
S Kalyanasundaram
Truth should be accessible
It is frustrating for those seeking information under RTI. The Whistle Blowers’ Protection Act 2011 has also been ruined. The Companies Act 2013 enforces an obligatory vigil mechanism for the listed companies but they are adopted more in the breach than compliance.
The reality is that sought information under RTI is denied for specious reasons including misuse of the clauses under Section 8[1]. The whistle-blowing is intentionally resisted and the whistle-blowers are transferred, starved of due promotions, are tortured and autocratically dismissed with cooked up enactment of disciplinary proceedings.
It is time the government amended the provisions and extended the Act to political parties. The appointment of retired civil servants as functionaries of the RTI is a mockery of justice as the truth will never be revealed. In government organisations also, incompetent, ill-informed and pliable officials are given these positions for obvious reasons. The harassmentof applicants must be made a cognisable offence leading to punishment. If seriousness is not bestowed for this act, it will continue to remain only a paper-tiger!.
B Rajasekaran
Bengaluru
Banking sector is woeful
The RBI’s financial stability report is worrying. Continuous deterioration in asset quality, low profitability, liquidity and shortage of capital are some serious issues. Demonetisation worsened the situation, with everyone from MD and CEO to lower level clerk being involved only in cash handling.
NPAs are showing signs of further deterioration. Bankers have not been able to concentrate on business targets. Former governor YV Reddy’s comment that he would not have accepted the recommendations of the Government for demonetisation for fear of institutional and reputational risks, shows how the present governor has been bullied.
TSN Rao
Bheemavaram, Andhra Pradesh
Erratum
The news graphic ‘World Nuclear Weapon Stockpile’ on page 16 (January 24), which was sourced from London-based agency Graphic News, depicted the map of India inaccurately. The error is regretted.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.
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