VisVoice

  Kashmir Valley: Refreshing memories for a life time Visiting the Valley : Two decades ago, I never imagined that I will ever make a trip to the beautiful Kashmir Valley in my life time. However, things have changed, much faster in the last two years. Post COVID, Indian tourism has surged and Jammu & Kashmir (J & K), back on its moving wheels, is no exception. Even then, when we, as a group of fifteen senior citizens (barring one in her fifties)*, planned a 5 nights - 6 days trip to Srinagar and its surroundings, (through e-Routes - a Coimbatore based travel firm),  in the third week of March 2024, two  fears remained- (i) Is all that good we hear about “tourist are most welcome to J & K”  really true? or are we  in for an avoidable risk? and (ii) Are we wiser enough to visit the valley in the month of March, braving cold weather and heavy snow.  I am happy to share that the just concluded trip to Kashmir will remain the most cherished travel m...

  Com. K.S. Krishna retires from SBI on 31st March 2024 Shri K.S.Krishna, loves to be known as a comrade, retires as  Special Associate from State Bank of India (SBI) on 31st March 2024. It will be a gross understatement, if I say that it will be a great loss to the banking fraternity.    Once in a generation or a period more than that, one comes across a trade union leader, who keeps abreast of himself with what is happening to the bank concerned financially, in addition to spearheading the interests of his comrades. His analytical comments about SBI results, quarter after quarter, stands as a testimony to that.  My first interaction with him was when I represented SBH, as the acting Managing Director, in the structural meeting of Associate Banks Department (ABD) of SBI and State Sector Bank Employees Association (SSBEA) in 2015 in Chandigarh. I found him simple, humble but yet well grounded and stood firm, when the staff related issues were discussed. He held ...

Singling out the largest PSB in the electoral bonds issue: Unfortunate   The then Finance Minister, who brought the electoral bonds scheme (EB) in 2017, was a reputed senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India (SC). As a FM during the first term of NDA in 2014-19, he is also accredited with the implementation of GST, insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), Demonetisation, merger of railway budget with general budget, etc. When the electoral bonds scheme was introduced and implemented as part of Money Bill, both the Houses of Parliament had reputed legal counsels of SC as MPs. The scheme was rolled out, even after RBI pointed out that PML Act 2002 will be compromised, as identities of intervening persons in the electoral bonds, which are bearer instruments, might not be known at all, though identity of original purchaser is established due to compliance of KYC. Its suggestion that the need of electoral bonds can be accomplished through the existing physical and digital payments was...

  Rebuilding Trust in FIs is the need of the hour Serious Irregularities persists across Financial Institutions (FIs):  Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in the last two months, indicated in no uncertain terms, that  when persistent non-compliance/serious material concerns are noticed,  it will go to any extent, even if it means stopping a business in full/part so as to  protect the interests of customers. . While the fines and penalties imposed on some entities in FI sector can be termed as ‘operational and procedural non compliance issues’, the same cannot be said in respect of at least, the following three FIs. 1. A Payment Bank was directed to not to accept new deposits/credits into deposit accounts/PPIs/Wallets, etc. as it repeatedly non-complied with the regulations in force and there existed confirmed material supervisory concerns. 2. A NBFC, having one third of its credit portfolio under gold loans. was found to have (i) seriously deviated in assaying and cer...

  HAPPY   INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Good morning all. It is a happy coincidence that Sivarathiri came on International Women's Day in 2024. Shivam and Sakthi convey the same meaning 'power' and 'enlightened spirit'. Shiva is called 'Ardha Nari' because he has given equal share of his body and soul to Uma Parvathi. Who could have demonstrated more, the importance and significance of women in human life.  I always admire the compassion, the women have for others, as it helps to demonstrate that 'emotional intelligence' is always a step ahead of 'Artificial Intelligence'. Happy International Women's Day. May God continue to bless human race thro' women.  Regards.  V. Viswanathan 8th March 2024