Letters to the Editor

How Super Business Edifices Are Possible This refers to your cover story on start-ups ( Snip, Snip, Snip, January 29). It was an interesting investigation of the changing forms of the start-ups in India. The findings have confirmed that only start-ups who tailor their business propositions to the unpredictable demands of the market scenario will rule the roost. The primary speed and multiplication of various start-ups are being impeded by the shrinking elasticity of financial availability on account of ballooning operational expenses (opex). The Internet business firms are hit hard by the adverse business environment and the dwindling business prospects are forcing them to prune their opex and reduce capex (capital expenditure). Fierce competition among the e-retailing entrepreneurs is inherently advantageous to the customers rather than cartelisation of operatives as seen in the oligopoly in the telecom sector fleecing money of the clients with tricky offers at exorbitant rates and deceptive tariffs. High business ethics, appreciation of the sentiments of buyers and maintenance of professional decorum are essential characters for any venture and e-retailers cannot take exception to them. For the moment the freespending has come to an end for start-ups. Super business edifices are possible only when inclusive fundamentals are strong. B. Rajasekaran, Bangalore Some Measures to Check NPAs This refers to your special issue on “India’s Best Banks” ( January 29). In India, it is always a big challenge to deal with the nonperforming assets ( NPAs). However, there are some measures – like proper and timely monitoring of loans of specified amounts and pre- audit sanction from specialised agencies to contol diversification of funds – to check the NPAs. And government’s decision to select and appoint statutory Central auditors to individual public sector banks must be withdrawn. Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi Anniversary Issue: Quite Mind-blowing This refers to your 25th Annivesary Issue of Business Today (January 15). Compiled with worth-reading articles on new technologies and innovative routes to drive India towards becoming a smart nation in various spheresfields like governance, infrastructure, transport, agriculture, banking and health care, etc., the edition was quite mind-blowing. But here the “smartness” parameters need to be well defined. Whenever academicians discuss smartness parameters in B-schools, they usually touch upon the acronym SMART, which has different variations, used for providing a more comprehensive definition of setting goals – S: specific, significant, and stretching; M: measurable, meaningful, and motivational; A: achievable, acceptable, and action-oriented; R: realistic, relevant, reasonable, and result-oriented; T: timebound and tangible. Let us hope for the best smartness in all areas in times to come. J.S. Broca, New Delhi It’s High Time to Control Road Mishaps, Pollution This refers to your article in the Anniversary Issue ( Smart Transportation and Cars). Car accidents are rampant in India. Due to the space crunch on roads and in dwelling units for the majority of population, rules are being frequently changed in the major metro cities of the country. Simultaneously, the number of cars and other light vehicles in India is increasing exponentially. So, government should immediately make a rule of “one-car-perperson only” to check road mishaps and pollution levels. Mahesh Kapasi, New Delhi Send all your comments to: editor.bt@intoday.com