This is with reference to ‘Coming, A savings account with your health insurance policy’ (May 29). It is indeed a welcome move; interest on the savings account, if more than the traditional 4 per cent and tax free, will be a boon for the scheme.

The policy sounds appealing with a unique combination of schemes. We need to be aware of its various advantages and disadvantages. This product can be a potential hit like any other savings product if the interest is linked to the PPF or EPF and there is a lock-in period with insurance benefits.

Kamal Anil Kapadia

Mumbai

Join hands

This refers to the editorial ‘Shared responsibility’ (May 29). Any member of the banking staff may work for more than 30 years and as the paternity leave is available when there are less than two surviving children, practically it may be availed only once in a lifetime. It will be just half a day per year of service. It is minuscule when compared with the total working hours in a year. As rightly suggested, the private sector must also come forward to implement it. It will be a token of acceptance of fathers’ role in sharing responsibility with mothers.

S Kalyanasundaram

Email

The big slice

This refers to the article ‘Beware the rate cut brigade’ (May 29). One thing which is very clear from the incoming economic data, is lack of demand in the economy.

The equation can change with a rate cut from the Reserve Bank which makes banks pass on the rate cut to their customers. The popular view on the currency is that it is overvalued, which in effect has affected our exports.

The proponents of this argument have taken this too far; if you analyse the inflation differential and the changes in productivity the rupee is fairly valued. The dip in exports is because of lack of demand in our export markets.

The domestic cycle is turning, the Reserve Bank has clear data on inflation and its expectations, as well as data on the lack of growth and the need to boost it. The past cycles have clearly shown that front loading of rate cuts has yielded better economic results.

CR Arun

E-mail

Time to take off

The NDA’s one year in office has received much acclaim thanks to the credibility that the BJP has built up over time. Building credibility is critical to achieve success. This is reflected in the fact that expectations of people from the new government have increased manifold and they are confident that things are indeed changing. The BJP has crossed its initial hurdles, to take the country on a higher growth pedestal. A conducive atmosphere has been created for promoting more investment and the government is showing greater resolve towards addressing the vital issues concerning the economy. Global ratings agencies have reaffirmed their faith on India’s outlook, which again is a good sign. It’s now time to take off.

Srinivasan Umashankar

Nagpur

No fiction, please

This refers to ‘Modi took economics lessons from Manmohan’ (May 29). Rahul Gandhi making a sweeping remark that the incumbent Prime Minister was taking lessons from his predecessor, without knowing what actually transpired between them, shows up a weird imagination.

HP Murali

Bengaluru

Problem of hunger

According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, there are 194.6 million hungry people in India. It is not a mere statistic, it involves pangs of hunger as a daily life experience. We claim that we are poised for growth and development.

But sadly we are no nearer to a hunger-free India. The failure to ensure food security to all the citizens is a sad commentary on the priorities of successive governments since Independence. To quote-Tamil poet Subramania Bharati, “ Thani manithanukku unavileiyal, intha jagathiniye azhithiduvom ” (“Even if a single man goes without food, let us annihilate the whole universe”).

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

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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