Australia mining

This refers to ‘Australia’s mining success matters for India’ (October 8). Australia, we learn, will produce 900 million tonnes of iron ore at a cost lower than what it was eight years ago. It means the country’s continuous investment in research and technology is reaping rewards. They are also able to produce better quality thermal coal than what India produces domestically or imports from Indonesia or South Africa. It is in the larger interest of Indian mining companies to jointly work with their Australian counterparts, getting their workers trained to meet the growing demand.

Noida

For five days from October 6, the IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in peninsular India, based on which even NDRF teams have been in full preparedness in three districts of Kerala. The already frightened residents of Kodagu, Karnataka, who faced the unprecedented wrath of nature's fury during August, were expecting a major disaster and believed that the IMD has issued warnings based on satellite-based information, on which India spends huge sums. The prediction has gone awry, and the people only hope such botched weather forecasts don’t get repeated during the days ahead. Our weather department must become technically more professional and reliable.

Sakaleshpur, Karnataka

This has reference to ‘IL&FS effect’ (October 8). The proliferation of NBFCs happened in the last few years as bank lending was rationed and NBFCs found a good opportunity to lend wherever banks cannot lend. As per RBI data, 11,402 NBFCs were registered as on March 31, 2018. Of these, the asset quality and solvency of small NBFCs are not known. If NBFCs are going to resort to securitisation of their receivables with banks to tide over the current conditions, it shows that their business model has failed and they have only limited capacity to weather the market conditions. With the monsoon not being very good, higher delinquency can be expected in the retail lending business of NBFCs. The RBI may consider increasing the net worth criterion for NBFCs and also encourage consolidation in this space.

Mumbai

The award of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Iraqi Yazidi anti-rape activist Nadia Murad has commended itself to the whole world and drawn attention to the ‘epidemic of sexual violence’ in war zones not only in Congo and Iraq, but also in many parts of the world. Indeed, the recipients deserved the award in full measure for their tireless fight against the use of rape as a weapon of war. It is no small ‘feat’ that Denis Mukwege has treated thousands of victims of sexual violence. He has earned the epithet (and affectionate name) Doctor Miracle for his amazing ability to repair, through re-constructive surgery, the horrific damage inflicted on rape victims by armed men.

Nadia Murad has shared her story of torture and rape by ISIL fighters and sale as a sex slave honestly and matter-of-factly so that the world is galvanised into remedial action to end sexual violence in conflict zones. Using human bodies as a war weapon is absolutely dehumanising and repugnant and it cannot continue in a civilised world.

Maruthancode, TN

The shrill public outcry forced Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to cut the excise duty on petrol and diesel. To save the measly reduction of ₹1.50 per litre from being dubbed as mere tokenism, he forced oil marketing companies to slash the prices by a rupee. However, in the daily pricing environment, just a week is enough for them to recover this loss without it being noticed. The Minister was quick to rope in the States as partners in distress. The appeal to follow his ‘people-friendly’ decision with matching cuts in VAT was seen as a clever political ploy designed to influence the impending elections.

Kozhikode, Kerala

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