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Showing posts from December, 2014

Veteran journalist B.G. Verghese dies at 88 - The Hindu

Veteran journalist B.G. Verghese dies at 88 - The Hindu The Editors Guild of India released the following statement: “The passing of the veteran journalist and sensitive chronicler of post-Independence India’s triumphs and travails is a grievous loss to the world of journalism and to public and humanistic causes[..] A former president of the Editors Guild of India, he continued to guide the Guild and participate in all its activities till his last days. Mentor to several journalists in leading newspapers where he served as editor, prolific author of numerous books including his own memoirs and a biography of Ramnath Goenka, he served as the conscience of the media world. He had a gentle touch [and] a firm commitment to the public interest and humane values, and was firm in the belief that a conscientious journalist should take up an activist role in cause of peace and social harmony. The world of journalism and indeed public life as a whole would be much the poorer with his passing.”(...

Post offices to issue ATM-cum-debit cards for savings account holders | Business Line

Post offices to issue ATM-cum-debit cards for savings account holders | Business Line My VIEW: Making services to clientele more broad-based and customer-friendly is a welcome move from the Department of Posts. However, the proposal to prescribe a fee for issue of ATM or debit card to the Post Office savings bank account holder may end up in making the scheme a non-starter. It is common knowledge that by encouraging use of ATM cards, there will be savings in man hours for post offices as account-holders will not queue up at counters for withdrawal of small amounts of cash (upto the limits allowed for ATM withdrawals). The costing methodology for arriving at profit/losses in ATM maintenance   by banks and post offices should factor in inter alia (a) the low interest paid on Savings Bank accounts from which ATM withdrawals are made and (b) the savings in costs- man-hours, stationery and so on- when transactions are managed through machines, and even if initially it re...

WELCOME THE LAND MARK YEAR 2015

WELCOME THE LAND MARK YEAR 2015 I wish ‘WE THE PEOPLE’(Refer Preamble of our Constitution) a HAPPY, PEACEFUL, HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND PROSPEROUS 2015. I BELIEVE 2015 WILL FIND INDIA BETTER EQUIPPED TO OFFER BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS TO WE THE PEOPLE. For personal comfort, I depend on a communication I received from Prime Minister’s Office in response to a letter I wrote to Hon Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 9, 2014. The response and my letter copied below: Response from Prime Minister’s Office 1 December 2014 Dear Shri Warrier, The Prime Minister has asked me to thank you for sending him a copy of your book titled “Banking, Reforms & Corruption : Development Issues in 21st Century India”. With regards Yours sincerely, Sd/- My handwritten letter to Prime Minister: M G Warrier August 9, 2014 To Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India Maananeey Pradhan Mantri Mahoday Independence Day Greetings, 2014 Kindly accept greetings and best wishes from a70-year old Indian who beli...

Banks are ripping off Consumers in many ways, will Narendra Modi and FM Arun Jaitely question bankers? - Moneylife

Banks are ripping off Consumers in many ways, will Narendra Modi and FM Arun Jaitely question bankers? - Moneylife My VIEW: ALL the issues raised here are very relevant and deserve attention from the elite group of bankers and policy makers who will be in attendance at the proposed interaction which has also been termed ‘brainstorm session’ by a section of the media. Having said that I view it from a slightly different angle.   Both, Prime Minister Modi and RBI Governor Rajan are good listeners and have a practical approach to issues. The coming together of these two and the Finance Minister for interaction with the bankers and the ‘Think Tank’ of the financial sector, by itself sends out healthy signals. The signals include India’s determination to move forward with reforms with all stakeholders on one page. This is definitely a welcome change from the earlier practice of (a) mutual blame game (b) top functionaries in government and organisations speaking out their ...

Teacher education - The Hindu

Teacher education - The Hindu Submitted version of my letter published in The Hindu today(December 30, 2014) copied below. The article under reference was posted here earlier. Letters   Teaching skills This refers to the article “ (December 27). The analysis of the present status of higher education to ‘create’ more teachers equipped with skills to meet present day needs with focus on   need to ensure adequacy of teaching skills has come at the right time. Let us hope the present dispensation in Delhi will take cognizance of issues raised here. While on the subject, allow me to quote one paragraph from my 2014 book* “Banking, Reforms & Corruption: Development Issues in 21 st Century India”: “Higher Education While there is a spurt of institutions to cater to the ‘fast food’ approach of preparing students for job-oriented qualifications, there is a real dearth of efforts to support research and development of teaching skills in base subjects coming u...

A LEAF FROM SPEAKING TREE

A LEAF FROM SPEAKING TREE ‘Religion is so personal’ By: NARAYANI GANESH- Editor Speaking Tree on Dec 28, 2014 KESHAV MURARI DAS, president, Iskcon Temple in North Delhi, is leading a rath yatra today in the Capital. He talks to NARAYANI GANESH about the Gita controversy, conversions issue and need for religious harmony He likes to describe himself as kirtan singer and philosopher who expounds on universal vedantic truths. The 39-year-old came to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) in 1995 when he was barely 20, studying chartered accountancy, and enrolled as brahmachari-member 10 years later. He loves lecturing, singing and creating awareness of Krishna Consciousness, speaking on the oneness of all faiths and masters. He points to the deities to whom evening aarti is being offered, three replicas of those at Jagannath Temple, Puri, and says, “The altar is right now a work in progress; later we will include the main deities of Radha Krishna and others, so t...

There’s no need to be tough - The Hindu

There’s no need to be tough - The Hindu

Test time: high tech, low yield - The Hindu

Test time: high tech, low yield - The Hindu My VIEW: Perhaps the last and concluding para deserves more attention from people who may skip Open page. I suggest readers please mail this article to their friends. The relevant para copied  below: "The next time your doctor spends time asking you about your complaint or examines you in detail rather than ordering a scan or a lab test, don’t think he is wasting time. Appreciate his knowledge and respect for the 250-year-old theory of a humble monk who taught us the correct way to arrive at an accurate diagnosis faster, and at less cost." Thanks to Dr Tiny nair and The Hindu M G Warrier, Thiruvananthapuram

A template for teacher education - The Hindu

A template for teacher education - The Hindu My VIEW: Teaching skills The analysis of the present status of higher education to ‘create’ more teachers equipped with skills to meet present day needs with focus on   need to ensure adequacy of teaching skills has come at the right time. Let us hope the present dispensation in Delhi will take cognizance of issues raised here. While on the subject, allow me to quote one paragraph from my 2014 book “Banking, Reforms & Corruption: Development Issues in 21 st Century India”: “Higher Education While there is a spurt of institutions to cater to the ‘fast food’ approach of preparing students for job-oriented qualifications, there is a real dearth of efforts to support research and development of teaching skills in base subjects coming under science and humanities. The emergence of technology and science as preferred subjects for entering the job market with confidence has resulted in mostly ‘unskilled’ candidates pur...

Modi to brainstorm with bankers on reforms on Jan 3 | Business Line

Modi to brainstorm with bankers on reforms on Jan 3 | Business Line I had sent a copy of my book "Banking, Reforms & Corruption: Development Issues in 21st Century India" to Prime Minister. PM has thanked me for sending the book to him. Hope, some of the suggestions/views in the book get reflected in the thought process of PMO. M G Warrier

A passionate yogi of the world - The Hindu

A passionate yogi of the world - The Hindu

Negotiate, don’t agitate: IBA to unions | Business Line

Negotiate, don’t agitate: IBA to unions | Business Line My VIEW: Wage war This refers to the report “Negotiate, don’t agitate: IBA to unions”(December 25). This season also, the moves from both sides –Government and IBA on one side and the bank employees on the other side- are indicative of the conventional methods deployed in banking industry every time. The tradition is, serious negotiation starts long after the expiry of the wage settlement, management offers half the rise it internally reconciles that it can give, employees through the leadership of unions makes threats about direct action, go on a couple of strikes, government intervenes at some stage and a half-baked settlement is enforced. This method spoils the whole work environment, employees become bad boys in the eyes of public and resultant sagging of morale further damages the already low efficiency of the system. Periodic revision of wages factoring in inflation, skill requirement, changes in service...

Sunday Posts: Lord Macaulay's Speech on Indian Education: The Hoax

Sunday Posts: Lord Macaulay's Speech on Indian Education: The Hoax I AM NOT SURE WHICH IS THE HOAX : THIS ONE OR THE QUOTE FROM MACAULAY'S SPEECH But having seen the quote among my daughter's Face Book posts, my further probes took me to this link. I BELIEVE, irrespective of what others said, or say now, India can regain her past glory(Trust me there was a glorious past, for which we do not need endorsements or certificates), if only WE THE PEOPLE decide to move forward to achieve that goal. M G Warrier I am tempted to trust the version of the excerpt from Macaulay's speech as authentic. My reason: Excerpts from Macaulay’s Minute, dated 2 February 1835. Quoted at page 226, in The Economic History of India Volume I by Romesh Dutt, C. I. E “We have to educate a people who cannot at present be educated by means of their mother tongue. We must teach them some foreign tongue. The claims of our own language it is hardly necessary to recapitulate. It stands pre-eminen...

Rise in global inequality - The Hindu

Rise in global inequality - The Hindu My VIEW: Let us read this again: "Clearly, the current ‘cut off your nose to spite your face’ approach to policy-making has to give way to more constructive means of mitigating inequalities to sustain economic growth. Based on its effectiveness in the developing and advanced countries, the ILO recommends that a minimum wage floor should be set in a manner that balances the needs of workers and their families with broader economic factors. "

New faces of Malayalam cinema, courtesy IFFK - The Hindu

New faces of Malayalam cinema, courtesy IFFK - The Hindu

Refugiado adjudged IFFK’s best - The Hindu

Refugiado adjudged IFFK’s best - The Hindu

Is Dishonesty Inherent in Banking? - Moneylife

Is Dishonesty Inherent in Banking? - Moneylife Please also read online comments. M G Warrier

Wage pact: bank unions for long-haul agitation | Business Line

Wage pact: bank unions for long-haul agitation | Business Line My VIEW: Perhaps time is running out for government and managements of organisations (here there is no differentiation between public and private sectors) to come to terms with the twenty-first century realities of HR management. Unfortunately, trade unions and employees' organisations are also going by the tactics that were relevant, may be two decades before. The bargain from both sides about wholesale wage revision and ridiculously low percentage rises in wage bill in a settlement that is going to last for 5 years signals total disregard to ground level realities. M G WARRIER

‘We needed a father figure to take crucial decisions’ - The Hindu

‘We needed a father figure to take crucial decisions’ - The Hindu MY PICK: QUESTION& ANSWER "Was Justice Iyer an atheist or agnostic? He was neither. He never flaunted his faith in religion. He was not demonstrative. But he believed in the discipline that a trust in God engendered in all of us."

Destigmatising suicide | Business Line

Destigmatising suicide | Business Line

What does zero inflation mean for the Indian economy? | Business Standard Editorials

What does zero inflation mean for the Indian economy? | Business Standard Editorials My VIEW: The perennial pressure being put on RBI for a cut in base rates is not justified by the realities on the ground. For a moment, let us accept that time is ripe for a cut in RBI’s base rate. Then, irrespective of RBI’s decision, market will take cognizance of the situation and start behaving. The recent initiatives by major banks to first reduce deposit rates with a feeble message that once cost of funds come down, banks will consider bringing down lending rates signals this. FM Jaitley has understood this when he made the following   observation in his key note address at the Citi Investor Forum in New Delhi on November 17,which was a welcome departure from the past:   “Inflation, especially food inflation, has moderated in the last few months and global fuel prices have also come down. Therefore, if RBI, which is a highly professional organisation, in its wisdom dec...

19th Intrnational Film Festival of Kerala 12-19 December 2014

19th INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALOF KERALA Today is the 4th day of IFFK. The organisers of the Film Festival have brought several good films and with over 10,000 delegates and 12 screens(with a seating capacity less than one-third of the number of delegates) the task of the organisers to manage the 'SHOW' becomes really tough. New procedures introduced for registration, political decision on issue of delegate passes to one and all who made an application, experiments like issue of reservation tickets for all seats(this was withdrawn on the first day itself) all added to the headache of those who were face to face with delegates. M G Warrier December 15, 2014 Post No 931 Update posted on December 17, 2014: 19th International Film Festival of Kerala(IFFK), 2014 Malayalam Movies* 1 Njaan (Ranjith) 2 1983(AbridShine) 3 Alif(N K Muhamed Koya) 4 Calton Towers (Salil Lal Ahmed) 5 Vidooshakan (T K Santhosh) 6 Jalamsam (M P Sukumaran Nair) 7 Oralpokkam (Sanalkumar Sasidharan) 8 Ast...

RBI and inflation targeting: who is to bell the cat? - The Hindu

RBI and inflation targeting: who is to bell the cat? - The Hindu My VIEW: The hurry with which existing systems and procedures are sought to be dismantled is visible. The only hope is in the capacity of RBI as an institution to protect the interests of the country. M G Warrier

A step toward humanisation - The Hindu

A step toward humanisation - The Hindu My VIEW: Apart from the rights and wrongs of the repeal of a law that is retained on the statute book for protecting the 'strong' rather than 'saving the dignity of human life', this edit throws light on the need for review of century-old legislations which would have been 'right' when they were enacted, but would have become obsolete and even harmful to the present day understanding of human rights. Thanks for the analysis. M G Warrier, Thiruvananthapuram

Shankar Acharya: Politics, priorities and policies | Business Standard Column

Shankar Acharya: Politics, priorities and policies | Business Standard Column My VIEW: Besides being a succinct inducement for NDA government to run faster, if they are serious about remaining where they are even after   2019, the article also serves as a brief to revisit economic reform priorities in the context of promises made by Modi during the run up for Elections 2014 and the hope generated in the minds of people after becoming Prime Minister. It is time to forget the ‘trickling effect of wealth creation to alleviate poverty’ which may suit the objectives of developed nations (which have enjoyed the fruits of industrial and social development for more than a century) and think of management of nation’s resources for ‘elimination of poverty’ and inclusive economic development. Besides slogans like ‘more jobs, less inflation and better public services’, this will call for ground level reforms which will be painful for   the rich and the powerful who so far...

Why the middle class is revolting - The Hindu

Why the middle class is revolting - The Hindu An interesting interview. M G Warrier

Being middle class in India - The Hindu

Being middle class in India - The Hindu

Growth prospects brighten - The Hindu

Growth prospects brighten - The Hindu

RBI’s Half a Prescription of handle bad loans and NPAs? - Moneylife

RBI’s Half a Prescription of handle bad loans and NPAs? - Moneylife

Understanding inflation targeting - The Hindu

Understanding inflation targeting - The Hindu My VIEW: Let us read the following observation again: "The third issue relates to institutional arrangements within the monetary authority to take policy decisions consistent with an inflation mandate. In several countries, a technical monetary policy committee is constituted with members drawn from the central bank, from the government and from outside experts. My preference would be to constitute a committee of the board of the RBI to do this. This is what was done when the Board for Financial Supervision was set up. While constituting the central board of the RBI, this aspect of the work of the bank must also be kept in view. " This is loaded with concern and advice much deeper than what one will find at first reading. It covers need for professionalism, preserving central bank autonomy and respect for words of wisdom coming from 'experience'. Hope North Block and Mint Road takes notice. M G Warrier

Thiruvananthapuram----Mumbai---Thiruvananthapuram

I AM BACK IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM AND HOPE TO BE HERE TILL JUNE 2015 M G Warrier

‘Being the subject of a book didn’t make life lovely in Annawadi’ - The Hindu

‘Being the subject of a book didn’t make life lovely in Annawadi’ - The Hindu My VIEW: Online comments posted on December , 2014: I join John Smith in thanking The Hindu for publishing this interview. Yes, I have read the book. This could be a coincidental tribute to the soul of V R Krishna Iyer who passed away yesterday(December 4, 2014). The book by Ms Boo depicts in picturesque beauty of presentation some of the concerns of Iyer, which he expressed without mincing words in his communications to the Indian public. M G Warrier

Justice Krishna Iyer passes away - The Hindu

Justice Krishna Iyer passes away - The Hindu GREAT LIFE...JUSTICE WHO FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE TO THE LAST...HIS CONCERN FOR HUMAN VALUES WILL KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE.... M G Warrier, Mumbai

Not time yet for a rate cut - The Hindu

Not time yet for a rate cut - The Hindu

Centre invites suggestions from public to help improve banks’ performance | Business Line

Centre invites suggestions from public to help improve banks’ performance | Business Line My VIEW: The Hindu Business Line, December 3,2014 Letters Towards better banking This refers to the report, ‘Centre invites suggestions from public to help improve banks’ performance’ (December 2). This is a welcome move and will give an opportunity to the enlightened public to share their views on the working of PSBs. To make things easier and analysis quicker, the group entrusted with following up on improving services may get hold of a copy of the RBI governor’s speech at Anand, Gujarat, on November 25, and also start perusing articles/reports in the media on net interest margins, HR issues in PSBs, unclaimed deposits and ATM services. MG Warrier Mumbai

Govt asks PSUs to put succession plans in place | Business Standard News

Govt asks PSUs to put succession plans in place | Business Standard News My VIEW: The above link will take you to a January 3, 2012 report on headless PSUs. Now read my response to a revelation made by a central Minister yesterday, that is almost three years after the BS report quoted above: Succession plans in PSUs M G Warrier   Central government has on hand a thorough revamp of selection and appointment processes for filling up top positions in public sector undertakings(PSUs) including public sector banks(PSBs). As the ills are a legacy of long neglect of health, to keep the institutions going some quick first-aid kind of treatment is a must.   The revelations made the minister of state for heavy industries GM Siddeshwara on December 2, 2014 about 32 central public sector establishments(CPSEs) remaining with ‘no regular heads’(ET, December 3), though will not surprise anyone, needs more attention and debate, at a time when the new political leadership ...

Letters: The business of politics | Business Standard Letters

Letters: The business of politics | Business Standard Letters The Context*: RBI Governor Dr Rajan’s views on ‘SAVING CREDIT FROM RICH BORROWERS’   RBI Governor Dr Raghuram G Rajan delivering the Third Dr Verghese Kurien lecture on November 25, 2014 at IRMA, Anand spoke extensively on “Saving Credit” somewhat reminding his own phraseology “Saving Capitalism from Capitalists” as the focus was on saving banking from unscrupulous borrowers. Excerpts: Dr Kurien created a uniquely Indian model that has brought millions out of poverty. A man of strong convictions, determination, and integrity, he truly is a giant of post-independence India. Dr. Kurien showed people the way to remunerative livelihoods, perhaps the best form of economic inclusion. I have little expertise on the technologies and institutions he pioneered, so I will not opine on them. Instead, I want to focus on another instrument for expanding human wellbeing, credit. The Debt Contract The flow ...

FSLRC recommendations will be implemented soon, says Jaitley - The Hindu

FSLRC recommendations will be implemented soon, says Jaitley - The Hindu My VIEW: It will be a sad day for Indian financial sector, if under pressure to show the world that ‘many changes are being brought about in the name of REFORMS’, Modi government goes ahead with implementation of the faulty and half-baked recommendations of FSLRC report, which as described by the eminent economist S S Tarapore, is a by-product of the friction between GOI(read UPA-II) and RBI, without due deliberations and examination of the consequences. Not much research is needed to conclude that finance ministry and FSLRC, in a hurry to resolve certain minor issues, ignored the evolution of the role of RBI and the care with which RBI has nurtured the financial sector. Fed Reserve and RBI function in two different worlds. To say that time is not right for dismantling or truncating the RBI which is doing creditably well as is being admitted in several international forums, would be telling the obv...