Engines of growth

It is true that MSMEs are India’s engines of economic growth. However, their full potential needs to be utilised through skill development by empowering the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development with strong budget provisions for imparting state-of-the-art skills by teachers of proven merit. There is also unlimited scope for the private sector to collate data of demand and supply of skills required by the MSMEs on a regular basis. The ancillary section also needs special attention. 

S.N. Phadnis, Mumbai

Qs for Tarique 

When the economic expert and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus could not put the economy of Bangladesh back on rails (nor control inflation), how can you? For the last 50 years, since independence, Bangladesh could not get peace and stability in spite of governments with an absolute majority or army rule or dictatorship. How will you ensure that? Election speeches and false promises are different from an organised and realistic work plan that is required to put Bangladesh back on the rails of stability, peace, prosperity and progress.

P.V.P. Madhu Nivriti, Secunderabad

An uphill task

The news, ‘Extremism buried cheers for Space’ (FPJ special), rightly captures the emotions of Bangladeshi citizens, especially the youth. The last 15 months were a nightmare for them, which finally ended with the election results in which the BNP had a landslide victory and the NCP as well as the Jammat were rejected by the people. Now there is a feeling of respite, but the new government has the uphill task of rebuilding the economy, tackling unemployment, and ensuring the safety of minorities in the country. 

Maya Hemant Bhatkar, Pune

Rural prosperity

While the National Livelihood Mission mobilisation of 10.05 crore women is a monumental feat, the ground reality remains a mosaic of structural debt and stagnant growth. Beyond the Lakhpati Didi success stories, statistics reveal a sobering truth of over 68% of SHG members struggling with acute financial illiteracy and nearly 53% facing severe repayment distress. The mission’s heavy reliance on debt financing often masks a debt trap cycle where loans fund consumption rather than production. 

Dr Vijaykumar H.K., Raichur

Ind defeat Pak

Kudos to Men in Blue for registering a solid victory in the much-hyped T20 World Cup match against their archrival Pakistan at Colombo on Sunday. Played against the backdrop of a boycott call from Pakistan, the clash reinforced India’s dominance against their Western neighbour in the shortest form of cricket, as they won the match by 61 runs. If anything, the match once again reiterated how one of the great cricket rivalries is now dead. The current Indian team is simply far too good and consistent for Pakistan.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

What negligence

In this nation, a completed project—a road, a bridge or a facility—awaits for days or months on end for inauguration, timing the event with an election or the convenience of the dignitary. However, our civic administration spends neither effort nor time to oversee and monitor quality. The fall of a parapet slab of the metro in Mulund has claimed lives. Every overhead construction on a busy road, or otherwise, needs to be done with absolute care. Sadly, that time and earnestness is assigned to the VIP inauguration.

R. Narayanan, Navi Mumbai

Great initiative by Mumbai police

The Mumbai police coming out with a special helpline and bike squads for stranded students in peak traffic to reach exam centres deserves applause. Parents are truly grateful to the men in uniform for this wonderful gesture, which otherwise would cause anxiety and stress to those stuck in traffic for hours before the exam deadline. Mumbai police is one of the best in the world and carries out services even beyond their tasks and assignments. They work tirelessly without complaining in spite of the poor pay scale and deserve better remuneration from the govt. 

S.N. Kabra, Mumbai

Sheer strength

According to a video that has gone viral on social media, an elderly woman courageously thwarted the attempts of a scooterist to drive along the footpath at a busy junction in Kozhikode (Kerala). What is commendable is the gritty determination of the 73-year-old to take the scooterist head-on, despite no one coming forward to defend her. Had the pedestrian been a young lady, there would have been a mini traffic jam, with people from even unexpected quarters rushing to her aid to pin the lawbreaker down!

P.G. Menon, Chennai

Put a curb on polluting cars 

Apropos the news “Mumbai Forum for Clean Air launched” (Feb 15), there is a need for the concerned authorities to keep a check on not only those industries and factories that are polluting the air but also on vehicles that have not got the mandatory PUC done and are contributing to the air pollution immensely. 

Cajetan Peter D’Souza, Mumbai