Taking the Soft Option

with the major technological problems of the central, traditional exports such as jute goods, tea, cotton textiles, remaining untouched. Some months ago, a committee to review the working of the State Trading Corporation had, in its final report to the Foreign Trade Ministry, envisaged the eventual creation of an apex public sector holding company, with several individual units under it, looking after and responsible for the exports (and imports) of various commodities. The committee was headed by P L Tandon, chairman of STC. The fate of the committee's recommendation is not known yet. Is the chimeral Trade Development Authority a sign then that the idea of a responsible executive body, such as that suggested by the committee, has been politely shelved?