Apropos Kanika Datta's column, "Technology, the god with clay feet" (October 8), Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of Digital India is indeed beset with hurdles. While technology is a double-edged sword capable of yielding decent or deleterious results, depending on the purpose, India continues to be essentially a tradition-bound country, despite the spread of education and exposure to modernity. Even the technology-savvy - like Modi - are anchored in rituals and customs.A major hurdle in breaking away from incongruous old ways is the hold family values and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have on politicians and the masses. Dowry deaths and honour killings are taking place even in rich and well-educated households.A discipline-based organisation, the RSS has not been at ease with changes taking place the world over in social, economic, scientific and religious spheres, considering them a threat to national culture. Assimilation of different cultures has been one of the strengt

Letters: Technology vs tradition

Business Standard

The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Delhi convenor Ashutosh said: "For an honest MLA of any party, it's impossible to sustain the family… with such a meagre salary. (The) dishonest don't need salary." Does this mean the poor and the middle class, earning meagre salaries, should become dishonest? How are these people surviving? If this is what the AAP government in Delhi thinks, it must provide the required money to every Delhi citizen. Is the AAP ready to do that?But why would politicians listen to the poor? If genuine demands of the poor were met by plugging loopholes in laws, the powers of politicians would be stripped off. Who would ask them for favours then? The real voters are the poor, who are easily exploited by politicians to vote for them through false promises and short-term benefits.Mahesh Kumar   New DelhiLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmail.inAll l

Letters: Exploited by politicians

Regulation of pesticide use in farming is too lax

Toxic food

RBI must assess both risks and benefits of its recent moves

Deepening financial markets

Claiming that he was the "most popular campaigner" among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allies in the Bihar polls, ex-Chief Minister of the state, Jitan Ram Manjhi, said Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) would post a better strike rate than all other National Democratic Alliance constituents. Given his clout, he said, the BJP-led alliance should have given him more seats as people "everywhere want to see me". Such was his following that even Ram Vilas Paswan, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief and popular dalit leader, had to request him to address an election meeting in Alauli, where his brother and state LJP chief Pashupati Paras is in the fray.

Popularity contest

With India-Australia free trade pact talks gaining pace, representatives from Australia were relieved to find India's key negotiator being replaced after over three years. One of them said the Australian team had "a hard time" carrying on the talks given the "old-school approach" of the negotiator. The new chief negotiator for the India-Australia pact talks has the experience of handling Pakistan for close to five years and will hopefully use his diplomatic chops to good use.

Old school versus new school

In August, the Supreme Court restricted the use of the government's biometrics-based identity number, Aadhaar, to only the public distribution system. Those who opposed this pointed out to the judges this week that the Supreme Court rules demanded Aadhaar details from those who wished to file public interest litigation. Thus, the court was violating its own order. Opposing the argument that the number violated the right to privacy by carrying personal details, the Attorney-General contended that a person's cell phone carried more private information than the Aadhaar. "It can even trace the unfaithful," he added. The judges asked what if the phone was switched off. "The sim card can still say a lot more," he insisted.

Of Aadhaar cards and smart phones

This refers to the report "Panel proposes 316% rise in salaries for Delhi MLAs" (October 7). According to the report, the speaker of the Delhi Assembly had appointed an 'expert committee' which has recommended a hike of 316 per cent in salaries for Delhi MLAs-the rise being from Rs 12,000 to Rs 50,000 per month, apart from suggesting 'suitable' upgradation in their other allowances too.  The report also reveals their salary and allowances were last revised by 100 per cent in 2011 when Congress' Sheila Dikshit was in the saddle.It is a different matter that the Delhi Congress Committee chief Ajay Maken has now termed it 'unfortunate' for a pro-poor Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to seek a 400 per cent hike for its all-powerful MLAs. Let us remember that the AAP has 67 MLAs in a 70-member house where the BJP has an insignificant three while the Congress party has none. So the reason for his complain is easy to see.This unprecedented hike might come in handy and might facilitate a suitable rise in

Letters: Gift for Delhi MLAs

Apropos the report, "Nayantara Sehgal returns Sahitya award, protests rising intolerance" (October 6), kudos to the 88-year old author for returning the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in protest against what she called the 'vanishing space' for diversity. The serial assassination of free thinkers and rationalists like Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and Kalburgi has exposed a violent trend in the society. The so-called love-jihads,  the  attack on churches have already sparked off riots in Uttar Pradesh, parts of Delhi and other regions. The lynching incident in Bisara village on the suspicion of beef consumption has stoked communal fires once again just before the Bihar Assembly polls. Most politicians and their parties are trying to avert the issue, and playing the blame game keeping an eye on the vote bank. In such a situation Sehgal's renouncement of the prestigious Sahitya Akademin Award deserves praise because it can shake the conscience of the nation and evoke a sense of n

Letters: Where is the diversity?

Democracy does not limit itself to just ruling by elected leaders as representatives of people. True democracy is far beyond this definition. Some elected representatives  of people in India tend to behave in a manner that makes us wonder whether we live in a democratic regime or not. Coining popular phrases and impressing the media will not be enough; leaders have to understand they are leaders of the people, for the people and accommodate viewpoints of the masses. A more important role is to be played by us, the citizens, in the form of active political participation-because the success or the failure of a democracy primarily depends on its citizens.Shweta Sharma  KolkataLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business Standard, Nehru House,4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. New Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmail.inAll letters must have a postal address and telephone number

Letters: Democracy in India

Millennials buy insurance for family covers

Click on graphic

Indian millennials (25-35 years) are a high spending group who spend almost 69 per cent of their income every month. According to an ICICI Lombard General Insurance survey, 50% of the income is spent on family and household items followed by EMIs and premiums. But they spend only 5% of their monthly income on health and medical expenses

India is frittering away its political capital

Big Brother in Nepal

Best to avoid basing policy on poverty estimates

A pinch of salt

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, considered one of the Congress' most powerful CMs, is reeling under a spell of bad luck. The 81-year-old politician's sixth innings as chief minister has seen him fend off a series of corruption allegations. As things stand, he is still trying to get over a September raid of his residence by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a disproportionate assets case against him. To top it all, the state is in a spot, with its once flourishing hydel power projects finding no takers. An anxious Singh has called a two-day meeting of investors, 'Emerging Himachal', in New Delhi to woo investment by offering a slew of incentives, including full exemption from luxury tax, stamp duty and central sales tax.

Unlucky spell

Uncharacteristically late, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari walked in just after K K Kapila, chairman, International Road Federation (IRF), had started addressing the gathering at the ninth regional conference of the IRF. Kapila stopped his speech immediately to welcome the minister to the event. After the formalities were over, the minister made a speech and left the venue. As the session resumed - and much to the amusement of the guests present - the anchor announced, "I would like to invite the speaker whose address was disrupted by the minister, back on stage."

Disrupted speech

As Assembly polls in Bihar draw near, the war of words has become more intense. And, the key players are drawing heavily from mythology, films, religion... you name it... to embellish their barbs. Rashtriya Janata Dal President Lalu Prasad, for instance, described Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah as a "narbhakshi" (man-eater) while Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi called Shah a "jallad" (executioner). On his part, Shah called Lalu a "chara chor" (fodder thief) at a rally in Begusarai. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the BJP stood for "Barka Jhootha Party" and called former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi "Vibhishan", the brother of Ravan, who switched over to the side of his opponent, Ram, in the epic, Ramayana. Not to be left behind, BJP MP Ashwini Choubey called Congress President Sonia Gandhi "Putana", the female devil who tried to kill Krishna.

War of words

With reference to the report, "Phone frauds gain traction" (October 5), it must serve as an eye-opener for us in the wake of increasing instances of 'telephonic frauds'. With the advancement of information technology, cyber crimes are gaining serious proportions. The latest fraudulent technique, 'vishing', has made inroads into our houses, offices, places of entertainment, shopping complexes etc. But the manner in which banking frauds are freely taking place through unsuspecting yet dubious calls ought to make us cautious and alert - more so, when such incidents usually do get reported in the media. Too much reliance on 'bankng at your doorstep' may sometimes prove counterproductive.Yet most of us continue to have a casual approach and remain largely indifferent to incidents of 'vishing'. How many of us are careful not to disclose our PIN while using the ATM -whether it is at a bank's onsite outlet or an offsite one? Are we watchful when offering our credit cards to the salesman to mak

Letters: Beware of 'vishing'

With reference to the report, "Debt recast for power discoms: Centre likely to put the ball in states' court" (October 5), the proposed financial restructuring plan to address the issues relating to the large debts of power distribution companies is a radical one and needs to be implemented soon. Simultaneously, the Union and state governments should enforce tough measures to prevent power theft and leakages and thus improve the efficiency of these discoms.At a time when the banking industry is weighed down by growing stressed assets, the government should try to repay the defaulted principal and interest amounts due from power companies. This will provide significant relief to the banks. Instead of restructuring the defaulted loan amounts, banks should insist on the recovery of dues. State governments should take advantage of the proposed reduction of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management limit and initiate steps to repay the defaulted amount owed by these firms.V S K Pillai

Letters: Repay discoms' debt

Call drops are a way for mobile operators to make money as subscribers have to call repeatedly to finish their conversations. Every such call is charged fully. Also, like unwanted emails and SMSes, everyone is forced to hear unwanted messages like "call again" or "try again after sometime as the person you have called is talking to someone else" or "to avail of" such and such "service, press the star button".There should be a way to stop such unwanted 'fraudulent' messages, which cost the callers. In fact, all such 'services' should be banned.Mahesh Kapasi   New DelhiLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmail.inAll letters must have a postal address and telephone number

Letters: A way to make money

The errors are more in case of the under privileged as deletions and omissions appear to be higher for lower SECs and lower castes

Business Standard

Business Standard

Page 390 - Business Standard

Letters: Technology vs tradition

Letters: Exploited by politicians

Toxic food

Deepening financial markets

Popularity contest

Old school versus new school

Of Aadhaar cards and smart phones

Letters: Gift for Delhi MLAs

Letters: Where is the diversity?

Letters: Democracy in India

Millennials buy insurance for family covers

Big Brother in Nepal

A pinch of salt

Unlucky spell

Disrupted speech

War of words

Letters: Beware of 'vishing'

Letters: Repay discoms' debt

Letters: A way to make money

Delhi's 'faulty' voter list