Push for digital payments
The Reserve Bank of India will continue to promote innovations in payment systems with soft-touch regulations within regulatory guardrails and expand the reach of UPI for more efficient cross-border payments. Apart from the RBI, the government and other important stakeholders, like banks and payment system operators, have also taken several initiatives to encourage the adoption of digital payments. While these efforts have produced results, as seen in the huge growth of digital payments, there is still much more to be done. Areas of focus include soft-touch regulations to continue promoting innovation, raising awareness, and enabling more efficient cross-border payments. The central bank has adopted a soft-touch approach to regulating payments in a big way. Innovations with soft-touch regulations will lead to a renaissance in cross-border payments.
Jayanthy Subramaniam, Mumbai
Throwing baby with bathwater
The railways have blocked platform access in 60 stations to persons who do not have a confirmed reservation. This appears to be because of the huge surge of passengers at the New Delhi station during the Kumbh Mela rush. The knee-jerk reaction ignores the fact that most trains in India carry many more passengers than there are reserved seats. This would be the case even in the stations where entry is proposed to be restricted, perhaps even more so. Trains have coaches termed ‘general coaches,’ where seats are not reserved, and these coaches are jam-packed, providing relief for thousands who need to travel. Many of these passengers also buy tickets. Moreover, many passengers with reservations do not show up, either because of a change in plan or because they did not know their waitlisted tickets had been confirmed. An equal, and generally greater, number of passengers hence board, hoping to be accommodated after their tickets are checked. This brave tribe will now be kept away. Have the railways estimated the number of unreserved tickets sold and the number of waitlisted tickets that are not cancelled before a train leaves? Apart from withdrawing citizens’ traditional right to get on somehow and use scarce train facilities, the railways will bid farewell to a part of their revenue.
S Ananthanarayanan, Panaji
On record drug haul
The Crime Branch of Goa Police, in a raid some days back, seized 11.67 kg of raw hydroponic plant weed, a contraband drug from a non-Goan at Guirim, Bardez, which is valued at around Rs 11.67 crore. Beyond doubt, it was a remarkable haul. However, if the police have worked on the case for over a month, as claimed by them, then they should have revealed the name of the accused. There is no need for the police officers who take press conferences not to disclose his name and his place of origin.
Abhay Kharangate, Panaji
‘Premature’ statement
This is with reference to the news report ‘Atishi: AAP to contest Goa polls independently’ (NT Mar 11). With two years to go before the 2027 Goa Assembly polls, former Delhi Chief Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi has fired her first salvo at the Congress by categorically stating that AAP will not align with the party in the next Assembly, panchayat, and municipal elections in the state, as the Congress cannot be trusted, given its past record of defections. The question, therefore, is what makes Atishi so confident of coming to power in Goa in 2027, despite her party’s dismal performance and defeat at the hands of the BJP in the recently-concluded Delhi Assembly polls? Additionally, AAP’s poor track record over the past five years speaks volumes about its failed promises to keep the people happy on all fronts. What are the chances for the party in Goa, I wonder?
A F Nazareth, Alto Porvorim
Divisive comments
Raghuraj Singh, a UP Minister, recently advised Muslims to wear a ‘Tarpaulin Hijab’ on Holi, saying those who want to avoid colours should stay indoors. He warned against attempts to disrupt Holi celebrations in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at an event in Aligarh, the Minister of Labour and Employment extended this advice to men as well, stating that if they want to keep their caps and clothes clean, they should either wear a tarpaulin hijab or stay indoors. Singh dismissed concerns about Holi colours affecting certain people, stating, “If people have objections, they should wear a well-covered hijab made of tarpaulin. We cannot restrict colours to 20 or 25 metres.” If this is not plain Muslim-baiting and dog-whistling, then I don›t know what is. The complete silence of Yogi Adityanath on his colleague’s divisive comments is ample proof that he tacitly approves of his minister’s utterances. The BJP›s minions are looking to engineer large-scale riots by creating disturbances, dancing maniacally, reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, and forcing minorities to chant Jai Shri Ram near mosques during Holi festivities in the run-up to the 2027 state elections. It is an attempt to paint minorities as troublemakers.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
