Empowering women farmers
This is with reference to the article “London gets a taste of Odisha’s green papayas” (March 11). The article made interesting reading and is a perfect example of women empowerment. Women farmers need government help in availing small loans, subsidies and training in marketing their produce . The women should also form small co-operative societies. The youngsters in the villages can teach them to be tech savvy.
Veena Shenoy
Thane
Revamping coop banks
This with reference to the news item ‘Nabard, co-operative institutions to create ₹1000-cr customer service entity’ (March 11). With the penetration of Commercial banks, Regional rural banks, NBFCs and microfinance institutions, the scope for cooperative banks in rural areas is becoming narrow and highly competitive. Lack of technology is also hampering coop banks. At this juncture, the initiative of Nabard and other entities to float a shared services entity to strengthen the Rural Cooperative Credit ecosystem will enable rural customers to access banking services.
Cooperative banks must implement tech-based products and services to reach out to new customers and also help in curbing incidents of financial fraud.
VSK Pillai
Changanacherry (Kerala)
Clean energy imperatives
This refers to the article ‘India must leverage Trump’s fossil fuel focus’ (March 11). With many oil and gas producers coming back to the fray, focus appears to have been shifted to consumption of more fossil fuel. This could trigger a fall in oil prices globally, which is more favourable for countries like India. In the midst of tariff war, India is understood to have agreed to enhance its import of crude oil and gas from the US.
Industry demand is compelling many countries to raise their production of oil and gas. However, the enhanced production and increased consumption of fossil fuel take the Paris Climate Agreement and its decarbonisation for a toss. The US being the largest emitter of greenhouse gas is not keen either on the reduction of release of carbon in the atmosphere or supporting the countries taking climate mitigation steps and its abrupt exit from the Paris agreement is an evidence for this.
As part of the deal on more import of oil from US, India can urge the US to come back to the Paris agreement and push the US to produce more through through renewable sources. India can even show case its performance in producing clean power from renewable energy sources.
RV Baskaran
Chennai
Growing State debt
The growing market borrowings of both the States and the Centre is a matter of deep concern.
This will not only impact the welfare of future generations but will also leave a huge debt burden on them which is unfair. It is also privileging the welfare of the present generation over that of future generations.
This growing debt burden will also adversely affect the financial stability of the economy.
The economists and policymakers seem to be indifferent to this serious problem that needs urgent attention. This large-scale government borrowing must be curbed for the sake of financial stability.
V Gopalan
Chennai
