Readers' Forum

Improving economy of J&K
Dear Editor,
This refers to the column 'Measures to improve economy'. The planning commission has asked the state government to lay more emphasis on agriculture, which is also called as primary sector. It is yet to be developed extensively across the state.
This sector provides employment to almost 70 percent of work force in our country. The developed states of the country at present are depending on the tertiary sector that includes banking, shipping and infrastructure.
This sector has seen a tremendous increase in recent times. The rich states of the country like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have already made a lot of improvement in primary as well as secondary sector or industrial sector.
The primary sector was their main priority in the times of acute food shortages. They have completed the work of improving the secondary sector also. Our state is still working to improve primary sector. Development would be of no use if we do not have well-developed infrastructure, transport, communication, banking and insurance services.
A farmer cannot improve his production if he is not informed about the modern methods of farming. The banking sector is anticipated to provide finance to the farmers. So, there is an urgent need to improve our Primary sector and automatically, the remaining sectors will improve. The concept of balanced growth should be adopted. More important is the introduction of private sector but this sector will only flourish if the people across the state would be able to prevent outsiders from running the economy of the state.
-Aaqib Anwar Butt,
Bhadarwah.

Rising petrol prices
Dear Editor,
For a stable economical-system, prices of petroleum-products do need regular updating in tune with global price-fluctuation of crude oil. But Union government can and must take some steps which can be substantial to provide relief to public by through saving on hidden cost in distribution of petrol-products.
Large overheads and publicity-budget should be curtailed by merger of all public-sector oil-companies in one unified company. Discounts on petrol purchased by affluent class through credit-cards should be abolished.
Meeting of finance-ministers from all states should be convened for uniform tax-structure (local and central) to have uniform net consumer-prices of petroleum products throughout the country.
Price so calculated should be rounded to next complete rupee in case of petrol, diesel, kerosene and CNG, while in case of cooking-gas, it should be rounded off to next ten-rupees. This rounding-off can result in increased earnings for oil-companies.
Only branded petrol and diesel should be sold initially in urban areas, and then throughout the country on all retail-outlets. Since government is the largest consumer of oil-products, only small cars with low fuel consumption should be allowed to be purchased in public-sector. Even financing on cars by public-sector financial institutions should only be for small cars to promote cars with low fuel-consumption.
-Madhu Agrawal,
1775, Kucha Lattushah,
Dariba, Chandni Chowk,
New Delhi-110006.