Speed up Kavach
This refers to the news report ‘RailTel poised for ₹ 1,000 cr Kavach bids’ (February 13). Railways’ plan of completing the entire 68,000 route km (rkm) by 2030 appears to be a bit long period.
Taking safety and security as top most priority, the Railway Ministry must allot more funds towards Kavach implementation with a plan to complete the task by 2026.
In parallel, the Ministry can seek additional funds from the Centre for fast completion of Kavach.
RV Baskaran
Chennai
PLI revamp
This with reference to the Editorial ‘Performance appraisal’. It is indeed heartening news that the PLI scheme is being reviewed. The PLI was launched with much fanfare and has not lived up to expectations.
With total budgeted outlay of ₹1.97 lakh crore, only 9.14 per cent allocation has been utilised that too when the government has expanded this scheme to as many as 14 sectors.
And if some of these sectors will not benefit from the PLI scheme then it should be withdrawn. The objective of attracting investments and creating jobs must be achieved.
Bal Govind
Noida
Inflation worries
It is intriguing to observe that the National Labour Bureau, Shimla is yet to release All India Consumer Price Index Number (AICPIN) for Industrial Workers in respect of December, 2024, which is crucial for quarterly payment of DA/DR relief to various emplyess , falling due in February, 2025.
The IBA/RBI have to wait for the Centre’s relevant notification, enabling them to issue their own circular/s for making an updated payment of DA/DR to their serving employees as also Pensioners/Family Pensioners.
Since these Pensioners & Family Pensioners are eligible to receive the same in the month of February and August alone (on half-yearly basis), the Centre must act fast.
Kumar Gupt
Panchkula (Haryana)
Support palm farmers
Apropos “Palm oil imports plunge to 13-year low” (February 13). This is mainly because palm oil output in Malaysia has slumped to 9-year low (February 13). However, this is the time for domestic palm oil manufacturers to recognise the hard efforts of local palm farmers by incentivising them and offering realistic prices. The Ministry concerned must intervene in this issue without leaving it to the discretion of SEA.
Rajiv Magal
Halekere Village (Karnataka)