Opinion Stick to numbers

He seems to forget that Air India exists for the comfort and affordable travel of Indians travelling within the country and abroad.

The Indian Express

September 20, 2011 03:07 AM IST First published on: Sep 20, 2011 at 03:07 AM IST

Stick to numbers

The CAG has done sterling work in exposing recent scams. However,he seems to have the mindset of the licence-permit-quota raj of the past when it comes to national economic policies (Unfair India,IE,September 17). He seems to forget that Air India exists for the comfort and affordable travel of Indians travelling within the country and abroad. It exists to meet the needs of Indian citizens and not the other way around. It cannot act as a monopoly fleecing Indian passengers with its exorbitant airfares. The state carrier should be restructured and run free of political and bureaucratic meddling. If it still cant provide competitive airfares to Indian citizens,it should be closed down. The CAG is welcome to conduct audits and expose scams,but is ill-advised to speak on national policies. Sadly,the CAG seems to understand little of how the contemporary world and,more importantly,how our neighbourhood are moving towards effective economic integration. I suppose he could say next that we should end all free trade agreements with our neighbours because some sections of our industry are too scared to compete even with Bangladesh or

Sri Lanka.

G. Parthasarathy

New Delhi

Grow wings

SHEKHAR GUPTAS assessment of the CAG report on the civil aviation ministry has made it clear that not just the reports suggestions but the very approach by the CAG in reaching its conclusions is flawed. Civil aviation,like Indian Railways,is a victim of political opportunism and it needs much more than a report to set it right. Jet Airways sinking fortunes were reversed with efficient management. Air India needs to shun unhealthy practices and ineffective management.

Shamael Jafri

Pyarepur

Top class

THIS refers to Schooled in elitism (IE,September 19). Our education system and curricula are designed to churn out a standard basic profile in students. It is like a forge hammer that tries to beat everyone into the same shape and size. Students,like seeds,just need nurturing. Education has to be a facilitator encouraging every child to develop his/her innate abilities.

Rajashree Pande

Mumbai

College debate

BY taking a jibe at Ajay Makens educational background,Mani Shankar Aiyar seems to have diverted attention from the CWG mismanagement and his obstructionist role that Maken was referring to in his letter. For the sake of a better debate,Aiyar should have responded to those allegations. Instead,he seemed to suggest that certain words are patented by the alumni of some educational institutions. The alumni of such elite institutes must be assessed by the value they add to their work to justify their educational background.

Kamalesh Nair

Kottayam