UID implementation a must
UID implementation a must
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) managed to get a decent majority in the recent polls, indicating it has a clear five-year term ahead (“Give the UID project a chance" editorial, Mint, 12 January). Further, one does not foresee the National Democratic Alliance posing a threat to the UPA in the next general election. This should allay a political party’s worst fear that it may not be able to form the next government. Hence, the UPA must go the whole hog to implement the Unique Identification (UID) scheme with an iron hand—no compromises, no short cuts, no loopholes, else it will lose its objective. There will always be opposition to anything good, but the UPA must push this through. The benefits far outweigh the silly issues being raised by opponents to UID.
This is in response to “How incentives matter" (Café Economics, Mint, 6 January). Not being a qualified economist or even a legal professional, I would like to take a common sense view of legal punishment as a disincentive or an incentive to a criminal. To me, there is a danger of oversimplification in applying the laws of economics to crime. For starters, the former is a domain of rationality and informed choice, and the latter is anything but rational.
With reference to “Arunachal Pradesh, again" (editorial, Mint, 8 January), the decision of the Union government to reduce the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan for projects from the original amount of $2.7 billion (Rs12,339 crore now) to $1.6 billion is not justified—it is yielding to the pressure from China not to develop Arunachal Pradesh, which is an integral part of India. China grabbed a huge chunk of India’s land after the aggression in 1962.
You refer to China’s mercantilist policies in your editorial (“The rise and rise of China", Mint, 30 December)—the view that the Chinese are getting more dollars in return for their efforts has eluded comment. Every year China picks up $450 billion or more; the Chinese themselves know that the value of the dollar is suspect. As the Americans say, it is our dollar, but your problem.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!