E-comm policy

This refers to the editorial ‘Stifling e-commerce’ (December 28). Trade aggregators were but destined to rule retail trade in this nation. To them, India’s fastest growing global economy with the largest middle class and a cheap and prodigious producer of goods as China was a combination for profitable venture served on a platter. To firewall our own manufacturing sector and attendant employment, minimum acceptable level of local sourcing were laid out to the entry of retail FDI.

In due course, prescribed oversight on this turned vague and even the provisions of MSME content therein were toned down. Both key objectives thus stand much diluted.

On the other hand, giants like Amazon and Walmart used their monetary clout to buy branded goods in bulk at discounts from manufacturers and render small sellers widely uncompetitive, thus influencing the prices in violation of the FDI norms. With subsidised prices on engineered platforms, they have disabled small sellers in the brick-n-mortar space as well.

After having allowed foreign companies — with some soaps initially — in the Indian e-commerce platform via FDI, squeezing them with lot of restrictions later would strain their operations and also limit the inflow of FDI in future. It is unfair to shrink the choices and benefits available to the consumers simply for the sake of bringing in a level-playing field between online and offline players. If so, the government should also have to consider the long-standing demand of allowing 100 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail outlets without hiccups.

The online retailers pass on a part of the benefits earned by them to the consumers whereas in offline retail outlets, they hardly offer discounts. The offline players should understand that they are better capable of serving the customers than the online players as they interact with the shoppers face to face, deliver the product on-spot and there’s room for quality check, thereby, easily gaining customer loyalty.

Cuddalore, TN

This has reference to ‘Farm loan waiver: With banks demanding repayment, States face a hard toil ahead’ (December 28). The scheme covers only outstanding crop loans. Farmers who took loans for land reclamation/irrigation/other term loans along with crop loans might not get a new crop loan if the other loans are NPAs/overdue for payment. As regards the eligible crop loans as on the cut-off date, the bank has to write off any disbursals made and the interest accrued after the cut-off date, so that the agriculturist can apply for a fresh loan.

Hence, only borrowers whose total outstanding is less than the cut-off limit fixed by the State will be eligible for fresh loans. Indications are that the other State governments are likely to follow the ‘Telengana pattern’ implying that the eligible outstanding will be paid back to the banks in four or five yearly instalments. However, a farmer has to close or renew his existing limit every year to be eligible for an interest subvention if the loan is paid in time.

Coimbatore

The Women’s Wall or Vanitha Mathil in Malayalam to be ‘constructed’ along the national high way in Kerala on New Year’s Day is a laudable initiative aimed at rekindling Renaissance values. As many as 3-5 million women are expected to take part in the programme and make their voice heard. The novel programme, which is likely to enter Guinness World Records, is sure to advance the cause of gender justice. We cannot remain neutral in the political battle between progressives and conservatives.

The Women’s Wall is a valorous resistance against the blatant attempts to reintroduce and restore a hierarchical social order characterised by upper caste dominance.

It is significant that lower caste women will make up the overwhelming majority of the Women’s Wall and expose the caste fault lines in the State and seek to annihilate them.

Maruthancode, TN

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