A LONG WAY TO GO
This is in reference to the article, 'Strategising the big leap' (July 15). India needs a quantum leap not just in investments but also in collective thinking and implementation if it has to achieve the goal of becoming a USD 5 trillion-economy by 2025. While incremental economic linkages will undoubtedly benefit us, we need to attract foreign investments into next-gen areas if we are serious about leapfrogging into the next growth decade. By saying no to blockchain and related investments, we have already driven USD one trillion FDI flows to Dubai. Add to that the constant tax flip flops, change in government policies and vicious tax raids — all these are culminating in a wild investment environment. For starters, we should delink the agrarian purchases from an MSP model to a marketplace model by collaborating with agri-techs and focusing on exports. Next, inland transportation needs to be rejuvenated by focusing on water-based transport and improving the railway's ecosystem to reduce the increasing reliance on airways. Focus on exporting manpower which, in turn, will lead to increased remittances will also go a long way in making India a power to duel within the coming years.
— GAURAV GUPTA, GURUGRAM via email
WORRYING DECISION
This is in reference to "Kohli, Bumrah rested from
West Indies T20s: Ashwin returns". For Bumrah it is understood from the perspective of workload management, as he normally plays all the three formats and is India's number 1 bowler. But it defies all logic to see Kohli being rested at this juncture because he is going through a prolonged lean patch which cannot be overcome by sitting outside. Only by playing more and more matches can he return to his old self. And if he is being rested on his own request to the BCCI and selectors then it is all the more worrying, because then selectors will have to answer one key question, whether they will be equally accommodative for any lesser player too? From the forthcoming T20 World Cup's perspective, his form is very critical for the fortune of the Indian team, because there are more than few players eyeing that spot like Samson, Iyer, Deepak Hooda etc.
— BAL GOVIND, NOIDA via email