Letters: Perks as status symbols

Devesh Kapoor, in his article "India's front rows" (November 27) provides a well-argued cause for why the perks enjoyed by public officials in India have become a matter of concern.

The consequences of excessive and offending display of the perks have defeated their very purpose. Perks are now seen as status symbols rather than performance motivators. Their abuse by public figures has lowered their status in popular perception. This is truer of politicians than bureaucrats.

However, in the "whew" inventory of perks, meant for the subordinate judiciary, the author included items that were more in the nature of benefits - house rent allowance, hill allowance, medical allowance and so on. House rent allowance is a benefit, while a fully-furnished house is a perquisite.

Y G Chouksey Pune

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