Trustees: Under the lens | Photo Credit: Jinda NoiphoNorms for trusteesDragging bank CEOs and board into a legal tangle is an old tactic loan defaulters employ to delay recovery proceedings.Recently, a large private sector bank’s CEO became a victim of this tactic, with a FIR being filed by an uber-rich trustee of a cash-rich Mumbai trust. Stung to the quick by the FIR, the Bank disclosed that the Trustee and related parties owe “substantial amounts” to it, which remain unpaid.Is it not time the Government arrived at “fit and proper” criteria for trustees too (they cannot be trustees if they wilfully default on loans), just like RBI has for bank CEO appointments?Culinary celebrationsFather’s Day, Mother’s Day, Lover’s Day and Environment Day, etc are passe. Here comes World Poha Day, also known as Vishwa Poha Diwas, which was celebrated on June 7. It was a day to recognise the cultural significance and health benefits of poha, a flattened rice dish that’s a staple in many Indian households.Poha is a versatile dish, enjoyed as a traditional breakfast, an evening snack or even a light meal. Coming soon — Rice Day, Wheat Day, Dal Day. This is all very well, if only prices of agriculture commodities remain within the common man’s reach.Eastern inspiration‘Why is India not like America, Japan or Europe? These questions are often asked in movies. “However, if we want to become like that, shouldn’t we also have the self-discipline like those people have?”Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said this at his address on the World Environment Day celebrations. The Cleanliness Mission launched by the State government is the first step towards creating awareness about segregation of garbage.“You should take responsibility for the schemes introduced by the government for environmental protection as your own project,” he told the audience.No more fellow travellersThe ambitious Kaleshwaram Project of Telangana at the banks of Godavari continues to generate political heat. You may ask, so what is new as most projects draw political attention.What makes this different is one Cabinet Minister coming forward to depose before the Justice PC Ghose Commission which is probing into alleged irregularities in the project.Telangana Agriculture Minister T Nageswara Rao has categorically rejected the claims made by BJP MP Etela Rajender regarding the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, calling them “false, misleading, and part of a larger conspiracy to deflect from the ongoing investigation.”“The Cabinet Sub-Committee on which I served never deliberated on the Kaleshwaram project,” said Rao.“The Government Order sanctioning the project was issued before the committee was even formed. It was never discussed or approved by the Cabinet during the BRS regime — a fact I can personally attest to.”The Minister went on to say that he will cooperate fully with the probe. “I will submit an affidavit, along with all relevant documentary evidence, to refute the baseless claims made by Etela Rajender,” he said. “Dragging my name into this issue is unwarranted and an attempt to create confusion to protect those truly responsible.”Both Rao and Rajender were ministers in the erstwhile BRS government in Telangana. The project is the brainchild of former Chief Minister and founder of BRS K Chandrashekar Rao.Published on June 9, 2025