Kerala CM’s proposal to create a ministry for the elderly reflects a demographic reality. With rising life expectancy, migration of the young and shrinking families, thousands of senior citizens now live alone despite the State’s strong social indicators.

The new ministry’s remit must go beyond pensions. It should integrate geriatric healthcare, home-based care, assisted living, mental health support and legal protection under one coordinated framework. Local bodies and primary health centres can form the backbone of a community care network, backed by trained caregivers and mobile medical units.

Equally important is regulating the fast-growing private elderly-care sector to prevent neglect and exploitation.

R Narayanan

Navi Mumbai

Banks and austerity

This refers to the news report ‘PSBs, financial institutions, insurance cos to implement austerity measures’ (May 19). The slew of cost-cutting measures announced is timely and reduces the fuel import burden.

As a matter of fact, these institutions have already adopted policies to hold critical governance related meetings electronically, though the physical movements of personnel at lower levels could not be restricted.

However, work-from-home can affect confidentiality and safety of public transactions.

With the majority of present-day banking transactions made online, it would be ideal to advise the customers to avoid physical transactions and to introduce the five-day banking concept, a long-standing demand of unions.

Sitaram Popuri

Bengaluru

TVK’s challenges

Apropos ‘What TVK’s win means for TN’s economy’ (May 19).

The article presents the fiscal challenge clearly. A 52 per cent expansion in welfare expenditure without corresponding revenue growth is not a manageable risk — it is a structural problem.

Tamil Nadu’s industrial base is genuinely strong, but that strength took decades to build and can be undermined quickly by policy uncertainty. The private sector job reservation proposal is particularly concerning. Investor confidence, once lost, does not return with the next election cycle.

TVK’s first budget will be the real test. Welfare commitments need not be abandoned, but they must be sequenced against realistic revenue projections, not funded through unchecked borrowing that crowds out the very infrastructure spending the economy depends on.

K Sakunthala

Coimbatore

Directorate for Apiculture

Apropos ‘Benefits of Bee keeping’ (May 19).

It is a well-crafted article, especially at a time when there are efforts to promote organic farming.

It is time to establish an exclusive “Directorate” to address the issues faced by farmers and training them in Apiculture and providing them much needed support in marketing and

switching over to chemical-free- derivatives.

Secondly, FSSAI must crack down on the sale of adulterated honey since it is affecting the genuine honey producers.

Rajiv Magal

Halekere Village (Karnatak

Published on May 19, 2026