With reference to T N Ninan's piece, "The minimum wage temptation" (September 17), perhaps by coincidence, N Sundaresha Subramanian's report, "Proxy advisory company finds Sun's pay cheque for Kavery Kalanithi 'excessive'" appeared in the paper on the same day.
The concern regarding high wages affecting cultivation - and not just paddy - in Kerala is real. Kerala's dependence on "less fortunate" states for workers and the possibility of them outnumbering the non-resident Keralites are issues being discussed in that state.
On the protection of environment or the damage caused by wetlands to dry lands, these issues get exaggerated by certain constituencies for different purposes. If existing laws are implemented, Kerala would be environmentally safe for decades. The state;s environment protection problems are more related to the management of its forests and rivers than paddy fields and plantation crops.
Taking necessary measures to prevent damage to ecosystems and natural drainage systems should be made the responsibility of those who develop land for commercial purposes. While land is parcelled off to builders and companies, the government retains the responsibility of inhabitants and drainage/environment protection, which should at least be shared by those who use the land for commercial purposes.
Regarding the report on excessive remuneration being siphoned off by some in the private sector, time is running out for the government to comprehensively review wages, income and prices policy.
No doubt excessive regulation will stifle economic growth. But where companies, or for that matter, citizens, refuse to be guided by socially acceptable norms and impose self-regulation in profit-sharing and remuneration practices, the government would have to enforce guidelines on remuneration and use of surplus incomes, irrespective of whether the malpractices are happening in the public sector or the private sector. Both the sectors depend on "public funds" or the common man's savings for resources.
M G Warrier Mumbai
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