1. This refers to the article “Between a rock and a hard place” (The Hindu, April 17, 2008). Clearly, the increase in food prices has falsified the myth that the market can heal all the wounds. That we exported food grain for European cattle in 2002 and 2003, when millions were starving back home is appalling. There cannot a bigger irony than the fact that a country declares food surplus when the people in its backyard are struggling for survival. – Anadi Mitra, Bangalore.
2. The article rightfully points to the fallacy of liberalization and trading in food commodities by big multinationals. Despite the government’s efforts, farmers are more vulnerable today than ever before. There is an immediate need to press the emergency button for some corrective action. – Tarun Kumar Pithode, New Delhi.
3. Inflation has always been a blessing for those who can dictate prices. We should guard against the possible subversion of the economy by interested forces from within and outside the country. Economics has gone beyond conventional wisdom. Strategic calculations now use economic subversion as a means to bring around countries. The clamour to permit FDI in the retail segment is an indication of this. – A.P.Govindan Kutty, Painkulam.
4. The only way in which I can express my admiration for P.Sainath’s article is to quote Eric Gill’s words in a letter to Ananda Coomaraswamy: “You hit the nail on the head bloody right, bloody hard and bloody often.” – Ramaswamy R.Iyer, New Delhi.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 18, 2008 (“Letters to the Editor)
Grateful thanks to M/s.Anadi Mitra, Bangalore; Tarun Kumar Pithode, New Delhi; A.P.Govindan Kutty, Painkulam; Ramaswamy R.Iyer, New Delhi and The Hindu.
