Feedback from readers

A correction is welcome

Your cover story Real Estate, Correction or Crash? was timely, as a churn is already evident in the realty space in the country. It gave a clear picture of the actual situation prevailing in the different regions, metros and peripheral towns, and put in perspective all the factors affecting realty prices. True, a crash looks unlikely as there are many genuine buyers in the market, but a correction will certainly be welcome.

Jacob Sahayam, through e-mail

Gung-ho over innovation

The interview with the world famous management thinker and teacher Professor C.K. Prahalad (BT 60 Minutes, May 18) provided some useful insights on product innovation and process innovation, particularly the difference between the two. Indian companies, especially those in the service sector, are now leveraging the benefits of IT to improve their business processes with the ultimate goal of satisfying the customer. This is especially true of the banking sector, which has undergone a sea-change over the last decade. The application of IT in other sectors like healthcare and retail has also made things easier. However, I am not too sure when he talks about the idea of cocreation. I still cannot foresee a car manufacturer, a builder or even an FMCG company sitting with its customers to discuss their needs. If such an interaction does take place, it happens for very rich customers. The idea (of co-creation) does not look like materialising anytime soon. I was quite surprised to know that many innovative processes in financial transaction and other areas of banking originated from the Philippines and India.

B.Rajasekaran, through e-mail

Say no to cheerleaders

I do not agree with the parallel that you have drawn in your editorial, A Flap over Knickers, between the sculptures in the temples of Konark and Khajuraho and the semi-nude cheerleaders on the cricket field. I think Indian cricket lovers are just happy to watch the game and certainly do not need those scantily-dressed girls to pep up their passion for cricket. Also, you seem to be erroneously suggesting that T20 is not just a new format of cricket but also an entertainment package of which cheerleaders are an integral part. But you should know that ‘cheerleaders’ do not gel with our sensibilities, and we certainly do not need them to enjoy our cricket. So, banning them does make sense. Let's not make cricket a Bollywood tamasha.

Mahesh Kumar, through e-mail

Reality of realty

The cover story on Real Estate (BT, May 18) was quite informative. However, you could have explored the scenario in the small towns in greater detail. Your article suggests that a correction is due in the housing space in small towns too, but that doesn’t seem likely. The rates are still beyond the reach of most buyers and are showing no signs of weakening yet. A correction is badly needed at this juncture to bring new buyers to the market, especially the middleclass buyers in small towns.

M. Dadrwal, through e-mail

Commodity cartels a myth

The story on Commodity Cartels (BT, May 18) has exposed the government’s double standards. If the government is blaming business cartels for the rise in prices, it is clear it wants none of the blame for the situation, which could easily spoil its prospects in the upcoming elections— over the next year, 10 Assembly polls and the general elections are due. The story proves beyond doubt that there are no commodity cartels at work. Steel prices have risen due to various reasons, rising input costs being one of them.

R. Nagrani, through e-mail

Correction

In the story, Commodity Cartels: Fact or Fiction (BT, May 18, 2008), Deepak Wadhwan, Senior Advisor (Advisory Services), KPMG, was erroneously mentioned as Ashok Wadhwan. The error is regretted. 

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