India has emerged as the second most attractive location for FDI in the world after China (?Incredible India: An investors dream?, Oct 17). However, it is well behind countries like China, South Korea and Mexico in the field of research and development. In India, students and the highly educated working class hardly show any interest in R&D. As a result, most of our research centres are running without talented scholars. Even Microsoft India has recently highlighted the country?s failure to churn out more research scholars. Second, public sector companies are the ones largely involved in R&D activities in India. Therefore, to enhance standards and competition in the field, private sector players should be encouraged on a larger scale. Finally, there is a need to earmark more money for R&D activities.
?P Senthil Saravana Durai, Hyderabad
Bus mess
It is years of sheer governmental neglect and complacency that have brought this mess (?All the perfumes of Arabia…?, Oct 17) to Delhi. When the Delhi Metrorail was built, the city?s development planners apparently thought that it can provide an antidote to the dilapidated public transportation system. It did to some extent, but meanwhile, road transporation went from bad to worse. Recent reports have vivdly indicated how subcontracting system thrives with a wink and a nod from politicians and law-enforcers. In the name of revamping the city?s bus fleet, what Delhi got was crony privatisation.
?NK Agarwal, New Delhi
