The article “A tale of two Krishnas” by Y Harish Chandra Prasad (March 5) was well written and carried a fresh perspective of the issues that Andhra Pradesh is facing as a result of the Centre’s insouciance in dealing with the Srikrishna Committee Report and the hasty dealing of the Krishna River Water Disputes Tribunal Report submitted by Justice Brijesh Kumar. For our federal structure to work, the Centre must not only decentralise and move more decision-making capabilities to the state, but it should also look at what is within its jurisdiction and act in a timely manner without ambiguity.
The Centre’s plan to introduce a microfinance Bill that leaves little space for state laws is an example of usurping states’ powers (“Microfinance Bill to leave no space for state laws”, March 5). The Centre’s aim of spinning microfinance as a poverty alleviation programme and not a money lending activity would push the scheme out of the state list and make it a part of the Central list, thus rendering the existing law that was introduced in the Andhra Assembly null and void.
This is another addition to the long list of areas in which the Centre is abusing the spirit of our federal structure. A participative approach is needed to address this problem.
Aditya Rao, Hyderabad
Readers should write to:
The Editor, Business Standard,
Nehru House,
4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi 110 002,
Fax: (011) 23720201;
letters@bsmail.in