Friday, September 14, 2018

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Prevent a financial crisis' that was published in Newsband


Prevent a financial crisis
Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan cautioned on the next financial crisis that could be building up. He is worried about bank non-performing assets (NPAs). According to him, three major sources of potential trouble: Mudra credit granted to micro and small enterprises (MSMEs); lending to farmers through Kisan Credit Cards; and contingent liabilities under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs.
The risk is that these will drop under the radar and build into a large credit issue in course of time. Rajan’s advice on loan waivers has been made by him and others in the past. But the political class has chosen to turn a deaf ear to this advice. The former RBI Governor has strongly defended the RBI against criticism, often unfair, over its policies on NPA recognition and resolution. He denies that the economy slowed down because of the RBI.
His suggestions include professionalising bank boards with appointments done by an independent Banks Board Bureau; inducting talent from outside banks to make up for the deficit within; revising compensation structures to attract the best talent; and ensuring that banks are not left without a leader at the top. But the political parties have chosen to pick only the points that are convenient to them.  Politicians only take those suggestions which would help them. So even in his tenure Congress took only those points that suited them.
Farmers keep on asking loan waiving even though some are earning decently from crops and this could affect our Indian Economy. It’s like reservations, as of now some communities are asking for OBC and then tomorrow some other communities start agitation. This may continue until the end of humans in India if it goes like this.
The political class, irrespective of parties, ruins our economy through their vote bank politics. They pick up from the advice of the economists only those points that suit them. This haphazard approach ruins the economy.
95% of Indian citizens wanted Dr Raghuram Rajan to continue as RBI Governor whose highly intellectual services are very much required for India. But we failed as there is no system or forum to represent public voice to retain such talents.
Loan waivers are done at periodical intervals to satisfy the political needs. Raghuram Rajan's views are not likely to be heard, especially on the 'present climate of run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election'. Is pursuing Democracy a very costly exercise for us??
Politicians and people who call for free loans to farmers and small businesses should take note of Rajan's warnings. It is a well-known fact and general experience that people who borrow money will not voluntarily pay back unless forced, even when their situation improves.
It is a reality that our politicians are busy in debating during whose period this NPA increased significantly instead of giving solution to tackle the situation. The ruling parties treat the banks as their Treasury and feel the money deposited by public as their personal property. India toils and its effort (result) is absorbed by developed countries. Best brains are sucked by others and India is left only as a producer and not as a beneficiary. This must drastically change for India to improve.
This is a timely warning from Raman. If it is not taken in the right perspective and redress on recovery not given it will erode the rudimentary roots of banking. In future, loan waivers and humongous loans to few corporates must be stopped and further amplication in NPA quantum will be unberable. The financially viable defaulted borrowers property must be sold.
Foreign buyers may be encouraged in this regard and they be encouraged to revive such assets and realise them on war footing. Bank is unsafe for investors due to ineffective mechanism of NPA recoveries. This is the real story of Indian economy and banking system.

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