•The austerity measures are no doubt noteworthy. But the Congress must rethink the “measures and consequences”. By undertaking train travel, leaders are causing harassment for the general passengers; the security personnel’s highhandedness too inconveniences people. Besides, when ministers travel economy, why are the seats next to them kept vacant? Are the airlines told not to sell tickets for those seats? If so, are these ministers taking the cost of such vacant seats into account? If the airlines have to go forego the fares of at least 3-4 seats every time a VVIP travels economy, what is the purpose of austerity measures?

— Crishna S. Kumar

Dombivli

Affordable price

•This refers to the editorial ‘Price, rupee, rates’ (IE, Sep-tember 17). As the clock ticks towards October, everybody eagerly awaits the monetary policy change. Late and insufficient monsoon and the global recession have made Indian economic prospects look dismal for 2009-10. Although economics is an inexact science, you have suggested the perfect guidelines for the RBI’s policymakers to design a monetary policy.

It’s common to compare the Indian economy with developed ones, but one rule doesn’t suit all. Indian conditions are different from the US; so we needn’t bother about inflation, nor do we require any increase in rates. Inflation can be handled with selective credit control measures. High growth, coupled with moderately high inflation, is an infinitely better bet for India than moderate growth with low inflation. Indians will have to accept that moderately high inflation is the price of higher growth.

... contd.