Bank scam

Sir,

A few days ago a news report was published in this paper (Jan 8) about Bank scam in PNB.

Without being against a particular Bank in question. It is highly important to note that we as consumers should try to do some soul searching. It is natural that you cannot clap without two hands. Here in this case the consumers as well the bank staff has to be wary of the fact that these action of their can land them in trouble.

Many such cases of Bank frauds have been reported. The matter of urgency is that the Banks should develop a near fool proof monitoring system which will give them near hundred percent satisfaction about the credibility of the person who approaches for the loan. In this particular case people who approached the Bank for loans had forged identity cards. They used fictitious names and produced fake documents so that loans could be drawn from the Bank. The height of the boldness of these persons is that they produced documents which satisfy any unsuspecting person about the legality of the person.

As in such cases the bank staff involved is meted out the strictest punishment it is hoped that the persons who approach these Banks with fake papers should be given the strictest possible punishment. The Banks must develop some better mechanism of verification. All Govt. employees must be issued identity cards which contain a microchip in which are embedded their details. This would help the banks to detect fraud person who masquerade as Govt. employees.

Yours etc...
R N Aggarwal
Narwal
Jammu

Fruit insurance

Sir,

A news report was published titled, ''Fruit insurance scheme... (DE, Jan 9).

This step taken by the J&K Bank in collaboration with insurance companies of the country is laudable. It is perhaps for the first time in the country that such a scheme will be launched. It is good that this scheme would cover the loanee orchadist under insurance against such things as drought, hailstorm and market fluctuations.

This insurance scheme was perhaps the requirement of the first growers of the State who face high degree of uncertainly in the fruit growing. The State has been on the fore front of the fruit production in the country. Farmers are hard pressed due to the fact that they are not assured about their vocation. Either their crops are destroyed by the vagaries of weather or some disease epidemic takes into account the safety of their crops from the spurious pesticides which instead of controlling the disease and pests harms them. The Govt should publish the Insurance scheme in the print media so that people come to know about the scheme.

The State Govt should construct better and bigger cold storages in District and Block head quarters so that the fruit produced by the farmers is preserved till market glut is over and fruits are available to people even in off season. This will help the growers to get better returns for their fruit which otherwise are forced to sell the fruit at throwaway prices. However the insurance scheme will have a good effect on the horticulture of the State.

Yours etc...
Mohd Ashraf
Sidhra,
Jammu

A good stand

Sir,

The Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) has atleast for the present taken a good stand. It has for the present been successful in stopping the embers from taking the shape of a raging fire.

Cricket in Australia may be highly important but in our country which has more than eighty times the population of Australia cricket is like a religion. Here we cannot afford to loose grips with reality. Over the years the string of success for the Australian team has made them believe that they are the champions and as such can go away with anything. They think that the way they play cricket in Australia is the best way to play it.

Ask any team which plays in Australia and they would swear that they are put to remarks and jibes which the Aussies call mind games. Whenever they are up against a strong team or a player more competent than them they hurl remarks against him which are not in good taste or in the spirit of the game. There is a game plan in their minds which is to keep all records for themselves. They perhaps want to rundown players like Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Harbhajan, and Kumble who are even better than their players.

This they cannot digest because of the bloated ego of Ponting and Co. This is the reason that the Australian team has come under serious criticism from many of their own legends. They showed dishonesty by upholding the grounded catch taken by Clark. The stand taken by BCCI in the racist remark row on Harbhajan is good. Even tougher postures are needed.

Yours etc...
Mayank Khajuria
Roop Nagar
Jammu