Economy

A blind adherence to regulations today made a bank manager give a suggestion that was, at the very least, inappropriate.Let me recount how this came about.My maid, before she came to work for me, opened a savings account. Not being aware of the options, and being barely literate, she slowly wrote her name on the specimen-signature card. She then realized that she would have to sign exactly the same way whenever she wanted to withdraw money; so she started worrying about not being able to.She therefore requested me to come with her to the bank, and ask them to change…

A blind adherence to regulations today made a bank manager give a suggestion that was, at the very least, inappropriate.Let me recount how this came about.My maid, before she came to work for me, opened a savings account. Not being aware of the options, and being barely literate, she slowly wrote her name on the specimen-signature card. She then realized that she would have to sign exactly the same way whenever she wanted to withdraw money; so she started worrying about not being able to.She therefore requested me to come with her to the bank, and ask them to change…

Christmas is over...spare a thought for those who sell knick-knacks like these cheap Santa caps, have so many of them left over...unsold, not putting even the meagre money in their pockets that they were hoping for. Street vendors are not like beggars; they are trying to make money honestly, and it is extremely hard at the bottom of the selling pyramid.

Christmas is over...spare a thought for those who sell knick-knacks like these cheap Santa caps, have so many of them left over...unsold, not putting even the meagre money in their pockets that they were hoping for. Street vendors are not like beggars; they are trying to make money honestly, and it is extremely hard at the bottom of the selling pyramid.

Tipu Pasha of Book Bonanza. Pic: Amith Kumar A few days ago, Amith Kumar introduced me to a rather unusual bookshop in Jayanagar—Book Bonanza.  I have always been a lover of second-hand books, Somehow, these, to me, have the lustre of the previous owner, in addition to their contents, and so are greater treasures than usual. When I walked into the bookstore, I was quite thrilled to see books stacked up along all the walls, and piled up along bookshelves, too. All sorts of books, fiction and non-fiction, best-sellers as well as arcane treatises, jostled each other, and in front…

Tipu Pasha of Book Bonanza. Pic: Amith Kumar A few days ago, Amith Kumar introduced me to a rather unusual bookshop in Jayanagar—Book Bonanza.  I have always been a lover of second-hand books, Somehow, these, to me, have the lustre of the previous owner, in addition to their contents, and so are greater treasures than usual. When I walked into the bookstore, I was quite thrilled to see books stacked up along all the walls, and piled up along bookshelves, too. All sorts of books, fiction and non-fiction, best-sellers as well as arcane treatises, jostled each other, and in front…

A surge of promotions by e-retailers brought out the brick and mortal merchants in full force. They are demanding that the government should do something to make sure that the deep discounts from e-commerce companies are not life-threatening to the old retailers. There is a concern that some of the discounts from deep-pocketed web sites are 'below cost' sales, which are anti-competitive. (a) Direct intervention by government would be wrong. There is a Competition Commission of India, which is the appropriate body to look into unfair trade practices, and it should be left to the CCI to deal with this…

A surge of promotions by e-retailers brought out the brick and mortal merchants in full force. They are demanding that the government should do something to make sure that the deep discounts from e-commerce companies are not life-threatening to the old retailers. There is a concern that some of the discounts from deep-pocketed web sites are 'below cost' sales, which are anti-competitive. (a) Direct intervention by government would be wrong. There is a Competition Commission of India, which is the appropriate body to look into unfair trade practices, and it should be left to the CCI to deal with this…

A good opportunity for those who have finished Std 12 and interested in vocational training. Center located in South Bangalore.  Labournet is starting a new skill development course next week.   Name of the course :  Home Appliances Repair Training   Qualification:   12th  Pass  onwards , ITI passed or failed  and  any Graduate Age: 18 Yrs- 30 Yrs   Course Fee: free Course duration: 50 days = 200 hours    Total intake: 60 students (male/female) Certification: Bajaj Electric and NSDC   Course will take place in the Gottigere Center, Bannerghatta Two batches possible (morning and afternoon batch)   For more information, please contact…

A good opportunity for those who have finished Std 12 and interested in vocational training. Center located in South Bangalore.  Labournet is starting a new skill development course next week.   Name of the course :  Home Appliances Repair Training   Qualification:   12th  Pass  onwards , ITI passed or failed  and  any Graduate Age: 18 Yrs- 30 Yrs   Course Fee: free Course duration: 50 days = 200 hours    Total intake: 60 students (male/female) Certification: Bajaj Electric and NSDC   Course will take place in the Gottigere Center, Bannerghatta Two batches possible (morning and afternoon batch)   For more information, please contact…