WEEKEND LIGHTER: RBI, the wrong tree to bark at!
WEEKEND LIGHTER: RBI, the wrong tree to bark at!
(August 26/27, 2017)
Section IV Abdul
Kalam’s material possessions
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M G Warrier
Note: This Blog is getting on an average, over 💯 pageviews daily and over 4000 pageviews monthly. Many thanks to all of you for the support.
M G Warrier
I
Cover Story
RBI, the
wrong tree to bark at!
This refers to
the interesting indictment “Monumental failures of RBI” (Business Standard,
August 23) by Gajendra Haldea who says, ‘India’s central bank has failed in
regulating the banking system’. Having spent 10 years in the Finance Ministry
and almost equal period with the Planning Commission (which had to be
dismantled recently at Modi’s hands!), Haldea must have done his homework well
before making this sweeping statement. I trust him, because Kanika Datta had
found out long back that Gajendra Haldea is an ‘Inconvenient truth-teller’.
The author has
got his statement that ‘RBI has done a commendable job in managing the monetary
policy, but as a regulator of the banking system, it has failed the Indian
economy.’ acknowledged by the then RBI governor Raghuram Rajan in May 2016.
This introductory assertion is not substantiated much in the article, as
perhaps, because the divisions in finance ministry with which the author was
associated didn’t expose him much to the role of RBI in Banking Regulation and
Supervision or the relationship issues between GOI and RBI. The concluding
observation that RBI is trying to catch fish without wetting its hands is a
merciless one attributable to ignorance of RBI’s history.
Having said
that, the issues raised by the ‘Inconvenient truth-teller’ need to be
addressed. There is always ‘scope for improvement’. RBI’s institutional
structure need to be strengthened, expertise and professionalism have to be
infused, legal constraints, if any, in performing the central bank’s mandated
role need to be removed fast and last but not the least, the
pre-FSLRC(Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission) prestige of Reserve
Bank of India need to be restored. FSLRC which was to work on ‘financial sector
legislative reforms’, wasted all its energy on weakening RBI with a vengeance
and is responsible for the present chaotic situation of Indian Financial
System.
M G Warrier, Mumbai
II
Links
and comments
PSU
Banks consolidation
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/balderdash-and-worse-on-a-cure-for-baldness/article19525281.ece
BALDERDASH AND WORSE ON A CURE FOR BALDNESS*
Anand R Raghavan
Excerpts:
“After
a few years, the bald patch at the back of my head made itself visible in the
mirror.
An
unexpected traitor who arrived with the swiftness of shock. I gave up and went
back to my mother. She was always a persuasive and positive person, but those
powers seem to reach their zenith as mine collapse. So she took me to another
homeopath, a low-profile but highly endorsed gentleman.
His
clinic was reassuringly spartan. It reminded me that glitzy marketing very often
decouples capability from wealth. I walked in, sat down and asked him if he
could treat my balding condition. He said he could, but before that, I must
first accept that I was balding. It was a piercing precondition.
In
that dingy room across the table from this sage-like doctor, instead of
disappointment I felt sheer relief. Years of accumulated ruminations leaked out
of my skin and flowed back into the earth. Shortly thereafter I began shaving
my head, and set myself free.
My
mirror is now relieved of the burden of my memories. The world looks different
now, even though most potatoes still look the same.”
*The Hindu Open Page, August 20, 2017
Keshav’s paintings @kamadenu
RBI Governor’s speech, August 19,
2017
I'm comfortable with the
concluding paragraph.
M G Warrier
III
Recent
responses
Art of listening
This refers to
Sanjeeb Mukherjee’s report “CEOs raise questions over multiplicity of
regulators” (Business Standard, August 22). Among the living world leaders,
Prime Minister Modi is one who has understood the value of listening and
‘making others listen’ in governance. Modi gives his audience enough
opportunity to interact, respond and deliberate on policies and issues
concerning everyday life of citizens as much as nation’s concerns about
economic growth and defense preparedness.
The conscious
effort to ensure people’s participation is evident right from his first
Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort in which he mentioned
about inadequacy of toilet facilities in schools as a reason for higher school
drop-outs among girls to the present interaction with young entrepreneurs and young
CEOs. Mann Ki Baat and quick response from PMO to any reference from citizens
reassures citizens that airing of grievances is not a one-way traffic.
Seminars and
interactions like those being held under the auspices of NITI Aayog serve more
purposes than their declared objectives. When professionals meet in such
environments, they get opportunity to exchange notes on individual concerns and
initiatives with like-minded people in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
Political
leadership, media and analysts need to cover the multi-dimensional impact of
such initiatives and give a little more time and space for taking the debates
forward in national interest. This is necessary to make the Modi-Vision of
“Cooperative Federalism” a reality.
M G Warrier, Mumbai
PSU Banks and taxpayers’
money
In his column “Snakes
& Ladders” (Business Standard, August 21), Ajay Shah has raised a very
relevant question, “Should we recapitalize the banks?”. The facts and figures
that follows the question, with a feast of links for further reading and the
columnist’s association with national level commissions/committees like
Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission (FSLRC) adds credibility to
whatever arguments he may support! So, for once, let us join the chorus from
the audience, “No…No…Not at all, if it’s with ‘taxpayers’ money!!’. Still, we
have to search out a solution, as we need banks to survive.
Recent
revelations show that banks were only conduits in a larger scenario of sweeping
out nation’s savings to different pockets within the country and abroad.
Bluntly put, like Airlines, Railways and other Transport Systems helping
smugglers or thieves shift their ‘loot’ to safer havens. The example is in the
context that sizeable bank credit has been deployed in dead investments or were
diverted willfully.
At this stage,
GOI need to make a realistic assessment of wealth with the nation, by
separately accounting assets with each industrial group, each family with
wealth above a cut off level, say 50 crores, each individual whose networth is above Rs10 crore
and each institution which has declared assets over Rs100 crore. Those who have
illicit wealth could get punished, while others who possess genuine savings can
contribute to nation-building. This approach is likely to release enough
resources to meet the present short-fall in meeting fiscal responsibilities.
Details of rewards and punishments could be worked out with the help of eminent
economists and concerned ministries.
M G Warrier, Mumbai
IV
Leisure.
spirituality
Doing duty without hatred towards others
Looks, Prthu's advice to his
Praja is right.
Each one of us can check and
try to follow to the extent possible.
M G Warrier
Abdul Kalam’s material possessions
It
is well known that Abdul Kalam, who came to be known as 'People's President'
among India’s countrymen, lived a modest life till his last breath. A lesser known
fact is that the scientist who revolutionized India's nuclear prowess did not
possess any valuable assets of his own even after his five decade long public
service.
According to a media report, recently, Kalam's prized possessions were listed out by his close acquaintances. The findings did shock everyone who could not believe that Kalam lived such an unbelievably simpleton life. The inventory included:
According to a media report, recently, Kalam's prized possessions were listed out by his close acquaintances. The findings did shock everyone who could not believe that Kalam lived such an unbelievably simpleton life. The inventory included:
2,500
books, a wristwatch, six shirts, four trousers, three suits, and a pair of
shoes.
The
'Missile Man of India' did not even own a TV set as he was always averse to
watching TV, citing that the Idiot Box is nothing but a waste of time. Kalam
also did not own a fridge, car or even an AC machine.
Kalam, throughout his life, never accepted any materialistic gifts from anyone. If only the gift was a book, Kalam would accept it and the rest were returned back politely. And during his tenure as the President of India, all the gifts from the foreign governments were duly transferred to the Indian government's toshakhana. Even the government's two-storey bungalow that was allotted to Kalam now lies abandoned.
One wishes the humble life Kalam lived and the achievements for which he will be remembered act as an inspiration to his peers, politicians and even the one billion plus countrymen.
Kalam, throughout his life, never accepted any materialistic gifts from anyone. If only the gift was a book, Kalam would accept it and the rest were returned back politely. And during his tenure as the President of India, all the gifts from the foreign governments were duly transferred to the Indian government's toshakhana. Even the government's two-storey bungalow that was allotted to Kalam now lies abandoned.
One wishes the humble life Kalam lived and the achievements for which he will be remembered act as an inspiration to his peers, politicians and even the one billion plus countrymen.
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