Issue No. 191 I July 2017

EDITORIAL

Confusion reigns with the implementation of GST. Although it is touted as the biggest reform measure of independent India, it has left many people wondering what to do with regard to various aspects governing their business and personal life. Those adversely affected are the ones who did not pay any taxes prior to this. Be that as it may, it will make the country more tax compliant and reduce the burden of the middle class who hitherto bore bulk of the burden of tax collections in the country. The effects of GST on the Society's functioning and the impact and implications are under the scanner. As per the rules registered, co-operative societies also come under the ambit of GST, not because of individual maintenance subscription which is less than the threshold limit of Rs. 5,000 per month but because we cross the Rs. 20 lacs turnover limit and for income from maintenance of rented spaces and periodic let out spaces like the community hall, badminton court and lawn. The financial impact of GST on the Society will be to the extent of extra administrative work on account compliance requirements. The members will be apprised of the impact on monthly maintenance during the AGM by which time greater clarity will emerge on not only the GST issue but also on the proposed increase in minimum wages.

We are a nation of all shapes and sizes and we in Yamuna are no exception to it. Some are vertically challenged and some others are horizontally challenged. In order that all residents make a transition to the ideal body structure and fitness, which brings with it the added bonus of good health, an outdoor gym has been installed in the corner of the main park courtesy BJP MP Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi. Mr. P. K. K. Nair liaised actively with her to bring this to fruition. But don't throw caution to the winds. When you start exercising, please don't go from zero to hundred in one outing. Your muscles need to get acclimatised to the new regimen, otherwise, you could end up with a lot of aches and pain. Please phase your exercise schedule so that you ramp up to peak levels over a period of three months. The gym has found many adherents already with many ladies, some men and children seen exercising their muscles.

AAP has announced that all surgeries in Delhi will be done free. While it is a noble gesture, I wonder whether it will ever be practically implementable. With all hospitals overcrowded with paid patients, why would hospitals entertain patients for whose operations the hospitals have to claim payments from the Government, knowing full well that the wheels of bureaucracy do not move without the lubricating effects of liberal amounts of grease. You could visit any hospital, Government or private – the availability of rooms is not there. No surgeries can be undertaken if there are no rooms, as rooms are required for post operative care and recuperation. I have reasonable cause to believe that this initiative will be still-born.

At some time or the other, we have all been victims of the pernicious practices of the private health care providers and the pathetic  state of the public health care system. Some doctors and diagnostic labs have converted medical care into a cynically commercial activity. What is a matter of intrigue is the candour with which some doctors have commented on the several fault lines that plague medical care in India. Instances of malpractice, unnecessary tests and treatments, commissions and kickbacks on referrals to other doctors and diagnostic labs are rampant. Canons of medical ethics are cast aside as blatant advertisements on medical miracles which even God could not have conjured are used to entice gullible patients. Patients on ventilators are kept alive just so the hospital can extract more money although they clearly know that the person will eventually leave the hospital in a hearse. In other cases, because of the sundry and unnecessary tests, indebted families run out of money much before they run out of hope. It is a cruel world made worse by the ones who ply the trade which we ironically call health care.

With the arrival of the festival season a tad early this year, many of the festivities will have to be conducted when the weather is not so conducive. One may have to also bear with rain disruptions as some of the functions are bang in the middle of the monsoon season. However, the sheer joy of celebrating the festivals overcomes any discomfort. Since the success of the variety entertainment programmes rests on the active participation of the residents, I would request them to come forward and volunteer to do things which are their forte. I am giving below the table of the calendar of events for the period August to December 2017 and request residents to plan their holidays avoiding these dates.

In a swift Machiavellian move, Nitish Kumar and Modi pulled the carpet from under Lalu Yadav's feet to unceremoniously unsettle the Mahaghatbandhan in Bihar. It caught the UPA napping and all they could do was to kick and scream from the sidelines. In this entire narrative what has come out clearly is that the Opposition does not have a unifying force. The Congress which hitherto played that role has a Vice President  who cannot inspire a class of juveniles leave alone lead a coalition of disparate parties, united  just to cobble up strength to form the Government. It takes very little for the fabric of unison to be torn asunder and the FIR against Lalu's son was all it needed for Nitish Kumar to pull the plug.

			CALENDAR OF EVENTS AUGUST – DECEMBER 2017
DATE	TIME		EVENT	VENUE
14.8.17	6.30 PM		JANMASHTAMI VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME, BREAKING OF DAHI HANDI AND FOOD STALLS	BADMINTON COURT
15.8.17	9.00 AM		INDEPENDENCE DAY FLAG HOISTING,	BADMINTON COURT
			SINGING OF PATRIOTIC SONGS, DISTRIBUTION OF SWEETS
3.9.17	12 NOON		POOKALAM AND ONAM LUNCH	COMMUNITY HALL
	ONWARDS
23.9.17	6.30 PM		DANDIA, MUSIC AND FOOD EVENING	BADMINTON COURT
30.9.17	4.30 PM		RAMLILA AND BURNING OF EFFIGY OF RAVAN	MAIN LAWN
14.10.17	6.00 PM		DIWALI MELA/JUMBLE SALE/JAM SESSION/RIDES/FOOD	BOTH BADMINTON
			FORTUNE TELLING/GAMES AND LOTS MORE	COURTS
8.10.17	9.30 AM		AGM	COMMUNITY HALL
19.10.17	6.30 PM		DIWALI ILLUMINATION COMPETITION	BETWEEN THE BLOCKS
28.10.17	6.30 PM		MOVIE SCREENING AND POT LUCK DINNER	BADMINTON COURT
1-7.11.17	6.30 PM		BADMINTON & TT TOURNAMENTS	BADMINTON COURT
12.11.17	9.30 AM		SPORTS DAY	MAIN LAWN
18.11.17	6.30 PM		QUIZ COMPETITION WITH ANTARIKSH DAS	BADMINTON COURT
2.12.17	4.30 PM		ANNUAL DAY – REFRESHMENTS, PRIZE DISTRIBUTION, VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT AND DINNER	MAIN LAWN
10.12.17	10.30 AM		HERITAGE WALK/NATURE WALK	FROM A BLOCK GATE
24.12.17	6.00 PM		CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL/CAROL SINGING/WINTER RAMP WALK. MUSIC/DANCE/FOOD STALLS	BADMINTON COURT
31.12.17	MIDNIGHT		CAKE CUTTING AND USHERING IN THE NEW YEAR	COMMUNITY HALL

The main lawn sports a verdant look thanks to the  efforts of Mr. S. Krishnaswamy who despite his knee and back problems worked tirelessly to make this happen. We are indeed grateful to him.

SNIPPETS

Riya Ramabadhran has joined BITS, Pilani to do Computer Engineering She pretty much got admission in most engineering colleges but placed her bets on BITS, an institution with pedigree. We wish her good luck.

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Mr. Praveen Kohli has migrated from C-203 to E-003 with his family. No more trudging up two floors. C Block's loss is E-Block's gain.

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Venkat Iyer and Sudha Iyer have moved out of B-303 to Coimbatore to settle down there to lead their post retirement life. We wish them good luck.

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Anisha and Sukam have moved out of H-208 to Gurgaon to be close to their place. of work They stayed in Yamuna for less than a year, so many residents may not be very familiar with them.

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R. Sriram Raju and Sudha Balakrishnan of A-103 have moved to Bangalore after living in Yamuna for seven years. Sriram who was working with Bombardier has been hired by Alsthom to be head of Asia Pacific operations from Bangalore. It is a great career move for him and we wish him good luck. Sudha who was very active in the Diwali Illumination Competition with her illustrations will be sorely missed by A&B Block residents.

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Mr. Lutz Konermann has moved into C-206 from Zurich with his wife Farida Pacha and son Rehan. Lutz holds dual nationality being both Swiss and German. He used to teach film making in Ludwigsburg University in Germany before deciding to make films. He makes both documentary and feature films. He met his partner and wife Farida in Mumbai during one of his film making projects. Farida who is a Gujarati is also a documentary film maker. Lutz loves travelling and sings German songs. Farida, apart from travelling, is also a keen bird watcher. Rehan is joining MMI for his schooling. He loves to play with Lego sets and solve Sudoku puzzles and is also fond of climbing. Rehan speaks German, English and a bit of Gujarati. Yamuna. welcomes them.