oh Bloody screwed up country this is ....
The perk given to employee is going to be taxed and they want to implement it April 2009. The Govt should know that only the salaried are paying the taxes properly. They do not want even to wait to bring this in 2010 - http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/govt-widens-tax-net-for-perks-applicable-right-away-for-entire-year/380059
But on the other side, the MPs are allowed to travel with any number of relatives, which earlier was restricted to their family alone. Mr Chidambaram says that there is no financial implication (see the link http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/21/stories/2009122159320900.htm)
Of course, he is right – when he taxes perks, the Govt. is going to get billions of money that will meet the travel expense of bloody, useless, non-contributing MPs
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Karpagambal Mess @ Mylai - Mess of a place
Last weekend, I visited the renovated Karpagambal Mess at Mylapore to get some Dosas for dinner at home. The earlier building was cramped, poorly lit with unclean wash area and third rated furnitures.
I thought the new building should have got rid of those unhygienic factors. But utterly poorly planned (borrowing Amul's Utterly Butterly delicious). Note down these. If you still want to visit, I pray to God to give you the patience to spend the time there.
1. Very poorly planned. The bill counter where that old thatha sits has a glass window with a small opening for giving and taking cash. One has to bend down to tell their order. If you bend, you are bound to bump someone with your back. Why can't they have a small opening like bank counters at the face level so that one can easily convey what they want.
2. No separate space for people who have come to eat but had to wait. They have to stand next to the table where they sense that the persons eating are going to complete thus causing uneasiness to those eating.
3. The parcel area can just accommodate one person to service. But there are 3 people. If one extends his arm, it bangs the other. Apart from that that area has a lady washing the vessels and other arranging something.
4. The food taste is nothing great. There is NO homely touch as it is claimed or reputed for. A Dosa cost 28 Rs for which one has to endure the time, crowd, hygiene.
Gone is the old Karpagambal Mess - Food costs like any other place. So it is no big regret if you cannot have food here. They can change the name to "Karpagambal Hotel" for being Mess(y).
I thought the new building should have got rid of those unhygienic factors. But utterly poorly planned (borrowing Amul's Utterly Butterly delicious). Note down these. If you still want to visit, I pray to God to give you the patience to spend the time there.
1. Very poorly planned. The bill counter where that old thatha sits has a glass window with a small opening for giving and taking cash. One has to bend down to tell their order. If you bend, you are bound to bump someone with your back. Why can't they have a small opening like bank counters at the face level so that one can easily convey what they want.
2. No separate space for people who have come to eat but had to wait. They have to stand next to the table where they sense that the persons eating are going to complete thus causing uneasiness to those eating.
3. The parcel area can just accommodate one person to service. But there are 3 people. If one extends his arm, it bangs the other. Apart from that that area has a lady washing the vessels and other arranging something.
4. The food taste is nothing great. There is NO homely touch as it is claimed or reputed for. A Dosa cost 28 Rs for which one has to endure the time, crowd, hygiene.
Gone is the old Karpagambal Mess - Food costs like any other place. So it is no big regret if you cannot have food here. They can change the name to "Karpagambal Hotel" for being Mess(y).
Friday, November 27, 2009
Pratibha Patil Flys in Sukhoi - Who Cares?
The President post is a waste in India. Except for few like Rajendra Prasad and Dr.Radhakrishnan, others have been mere rubber stamp - wasting country's money on foreign trips, needless meeting, living in that big Rashtrapathi bhavan.
If Dr.Abdul Kalam had flown the Sukhoi, there is some relevance - India's rocket man deserves. What has this lady done to deserve a front page news?
They don't contribute anything to common man (for that matter - no politician does). Pratiba Patil is the worst of the lot. It is time we abolish this post. Defense decisions can be taken by those who are in the defense - Major General, Navy Admiral and Air-force Chief and not a politician.
Unless our country stops these kind of news from becoming headlines, we will continue to be "we are like this only".
If Dr.Abdul Kalam had flown the Sukhoi, there is some relevance - India's rocket man deserves. What has this lady done to deserve a front page news?
They don't contribute anything to common man (for that matter - no politician does). Pratiba Patil is the worst of the lot. It is time we abolish this post. Defense decisions can be taken by those who are in the defense - Major General, Navy Admiral and Air-force Chief and not a politician.
Unless our country stops these kind of news from becoming headlines, we will continue to be "we are like this only".
Thursday, November 12, 2009
I've got Ration Card !
This is a delayed post. I wanted to write on this and drafted, but I can say that I was so elated that I forgot until I picked the draft again today.
After a long wait, I've finally achieved what many Indians could dream of - getting a ration card (oh yeah - certainly tough task than owning a house). The problem is that you got only one govt. office to run to; whereas for buying a house, you got choice of builder, price, location, loan.
The submission of application form was not an issue. Once your application is checked and everything is right, they give you a piece of paper with a seal which is mostly illegible (and they call it as acknowledgement slip, but that's the only piece of paper that is accepted by Gas cylinder agencies to book and refill).
But while collecting (requests in the morning and all receivables in the evening), I found everything printed right except that they changed my area to Parangimalai instead of Nanganallur. When asked, the lady just smiled and said "saar - that's small printing mistake sir. What you do is to write a letter and submit to change the same". Bloody - I have to submit a letter for the mistake they committed. I just gnashed my teeth and started writing one there itself. Immediately she told that I have to come in the morning and submit as all requests have to be given in the morning. I did that the next day and waited one more week to get the updated card.
The cost - I almost spent one full day. But I am proud of what I managed to achieve - owning a ration card with my picture at the front and mentioning me as 'Family Head'(ache)
One good experience was that I wrote a request letter in Tamiz language after a very long gap. I then used Google's Indic to put in a word document and print the same
After a long wait, I've finally achieved what many Indians could dream of - getting a ration card (oh yeah - certainly tough task than owning a house). The problem is that you got only one govt. office to run to; whereas for buying a house, you got choice of builder, price, location, loan.
The submission of application form was not an issue. Once your application is checked and everything is right, they give you a piece of paper with a seal which is mostly illegible (and they call it as acknowledgement slip, but that's the only piece of paper that is accepted by Gas cylinder agencies to book and refill).
But while collecting (requests in the morning and all receivables in the evening), I found everything printed right except that they changed my area to Parangimalai instead of Nanganallur. When asked, the lady just smiled and said "saar - that's small printing mistake sir. What you do is to write a letter and submit to change the same". Bloody - I have to submit a letter for the mistake they committed. I just gnashed my teeth and started writing one there itself. Immediately she told that I have to come in the morning and submit as all requests have to be given in the morning. I did that the next day and waited one more week to get the updated card.
The cost - I almost spent one full day. But I am proud of what I managed to achieve - owning a ration card with my picture at the front and mentioning me as 'Family Head'(ache)
One good experience was that I wrote a request letter in Tamiz language after a very long gap. I then used Google's Indic to put in a word document and print the same
Friday, September 04, 2009
TNEB honors Transgenders
The below registration form for payment of TNEB bills Online is self explanatory. Check the options available for 'Gender'
I haven't come across any government dept. application forms having this "unique" option.
Hmm ...Hope they don't bring another option to recognise 377 !!
I haven't come across any government dept. application forms having this "unique" option.
Hmm ...Hope they don't bring another option to recognise 377 !!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Why Advani was not expelled for praising Jinnah?
Advani praised Jinnah when he visited his tomb in June 2005 and described the founder of Pakistan as "secular" and an "ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity". It is not my words, but from the link - http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050605/asp/nation/story_4828954.asp
So, why Advani wasn't expelled for praising Jinnah and poor Jaswant was done in? It will be one of the mysteries. Advani has shamelessly agreed to take this decision of expelling such a senior person like Jaswant whereas his praising of Jinnah was left untouched.
BJP - Bharatiya Jokers' Party. How else one can describe this national party which was considered as the best opposition for the Congress party and only alternative for a stable govt. at the centre? After Vajpayee, the only other person who was capable of holding this party's future was Pramod Mahajan. After his unfortunate death, the party started deteriorating (or decaying) and lost its way. The loss in general election was yet another step in the melt down. Unlike the Congress party, BJP totally lost it plot to stage a comeback even though it has a good mandate.
So, why Advani wasn't expelled for praising Jinnah and poor Jaswant was done in? It will be one of the mysteries. Advani has shamelessly agreed to take this decision of expelling such a senior person like Jaswant whereas his praising of Jinnah was left untouched.
BJP - Bharatiya Jokers' Party. How else one can describe this national party which was considered as the best opposition for the Congress party and only alternative for a stable govt. at the centre? After Vajpayee, the only other person who was capable of holding this party's future was Pramod Mahajan. After his unfortunate death, the party started deteriorating (or decaying) and lost its way. The loss in general election was yet another step in the melt down. Unlike the Congress party, BJP totally lost it plot to stage a comeback even though it has a good mandate.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Dr.Kalam scores over SRK
So much of fuss Shah Rukh Khan is making for getting detained. Yes, he may be an icon, but he is expected to go through checking process like any other citizen. What is the problem in it? Let him know the difficulty of thousands of others who undergo such experience. Being an icon may be of help in India where our people go to the extent of sacrificing their life, but it can't be the case everywhere. After all, I don't need to believe SRK is going to wear a Gandhi cap, hoist a flag and render the anthem at Chicago. Most likely, it will be just another "party", some felicitation and loads of fun!!
How decent Dr. Abdul Kalam had been when he was done the same by Continental Airline. SRK speaks as though he hates America and feel humiliated, but can't he take a leaf out of how Dr.Kalam reacted and be matured on his reaction? If SRK had just told "if this can happen to the most talented scientific pioneer of this country, why my case has to make so much news"
The bloody TV news channels have their tongues out - they got news for another one week - from how SRK packed his suitcase to what happened after he was cleared.
This country can never change until it stops treating cine people like larger-than-life heroes
How decent Dr. Abdul Kalam had been when he was done the same by Continental Airline. SRK speaks as though he hates America and feel humiliated, but can't he take a leaf out of how Dr.Kalam reacted and be matured on his reaction? If SRK had just told "if this can happen to the most talented scientific pioneer of this country, why my case has to make so much news"
The bloody TV news channels have their tongues out - they got news for another one week - from how SRK packed his suitcase to what happened after he was cleared.
This country can never change until it stops treating cine people like larger-than-life heroes
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Is India free of Racism?
The recent attacks on Indians at Australia have brought the issue again with both the countries heavily involved in solving this.
Our news channels line up and flash pictures and videos of whatever they could get and repeat them, until they grew tired of it and get a fresh one. But honestly, does anyone think racism is happening only in Australia and not in India? It happens, in our country albeit in a different tone and manner. Let me cite few instances.
Whenever water sharing problem arises between TN and Karnataka, the same “friendly Indians” clash against each other, abuse public property and cause huge loss of time and money to everyone. Rajinikanth apologizes on what he thinks as a mild remark after his pictures are burnt and movies are stopped from being screened.
The North-East student / people were beaten and driven away at Mumbai, because Raj Thackarey and Co thinks they don’t deserve a place there.
Last, but the giant comes in the form of Government offices. The list of people seeking help after submitting forms at government offices are tested to their limit of their patience until the “officer” himself grew tired of this and “clears” the file or the well-to-do applicant “smartly” treats the officer and gets his work done. Not even one department is untouched. If you achieve what you wanted to do in one single day, in any of these below, it is a miracle
1. Property tax, water tax, Electricity Boards – Bribes are well-defined if you make a “smart” approach and still, they will make you visit their offices more than once to get your files “through”. By that time, apart from bribe amount, you would have also spent few hundreds to treat them with snacks and coffee at their canteen
2. RTO offices – Without a driving school, it is next to impossible to get a license on your own.
3. Ration shops – You need to bunk office for at least 2 full days to get some thing done. One for submitting the form and another time to collect. They will make mistakes (spelling, wrong address being printed) and ask you shamelessly to come again to correct it. And they don’t work on Saturdays!
4. Passport offices
5. Police station – At the Pazhavanthangal police station, my neighbour had a servant maid who was staying and working at their house. When she passed away due to health reasons and when the hospital declared it as an accident by mistake, we had to go to the police station to certify that her death was due to natural ailment. The police babu asked us to come one morning at 7 AM with 5 witnesses. We were asked to buy 20 A4 sized papers (because that bloody station didn’t have papers). Luckily, I had some A4 sheets at home which they used to type out the content.
Aren’t we ashamed having this and criticize another country? As long as our country is with the white clad, un-educated, rowdies in the name of political netas, it will never change. Yes, I do vote, but do I have an option to Say ‘No’ during voting? There is a form which can be filled and given. But it is not kept confidential and my life is dear to me as they will come to know with full details of the person who have said ‘No’ If the number of such ‘No’ reaches a certain number, will that politician be disqualified as he is not fit to contest?
Who will change these? The legislation has to be passed in the parliament to make this happen. But it is the same group of rowdies who are sitting there and deciding; how can we expect them to pass this legislation which will put them into difficulty?
Our news channels line up and flash pictures and videos of whatever they could get and repeat them, until they grew tired of it and get a fresh one. But honestly, does anyone think racism is happening only in Australia and not in India? It happens, in our country albeit in a different tone and manner. Let me cite few instances.
1. Property tax, water tax, Electricity Boards – Bribes are well-defined if you make a “smart” approach and still, they will make you visit their offices more than once to get your files “through”. By that time, apart from bribe amount, you would have also spent few hundreds to treat them with snacks and coffee at their canteen
2. RTO offices – Without a driving school, it is next to impossible to get a license on your own.
3. Ration shops – You need to bunk office for at least 2 full days to get some thing done. One for submitting the form and another time to collect. They will make mistakes (spelling, wrong address being printed) and ask you shamelessly to come again to correct it. And they don’t work on Saturdays!
4. Passport offices
5. Police station – At the Pazhavanthangal police station, my neighbour had a servant maid who was staying and working at their house. When she passed away due to health reasons and when the hospital declared it as an accident by mistake, we had to go to the police station to certify that her death was due to natural ailment. The police babu asked us to come one morning at 7 AM with 5 witnesses. We were asked to buy 20 A4 sized papers (because that bloody station didn’t have papers). Luckily, I had some A4 sheets at home which they used to type out the content.
Aren’t we ashamed having this and criticize another country? As long as our country is with the white clad, un-educated, rowdies in the name of political netas, it will never change. Yes, I do vote, but do I have an option to Say ‘No’ during voting? There is a form which can be filled and given. But it is not kept confidential and my life is dear to me as they will come to know with full details of the person who have said ‘No’ If the number of such ‘No’ reaches a certain number, will that politician be disqualified as he is not fit to contest?
Who will change these? The legislation has to be passed in the parliament to make this happen. But it is the same group of rowdies who are sitting there and deciding; how can we expect them to pass this legislation which will put them into difficulty?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
"Aham Brahmasmi" - Better than "Jai Ho"
After so much of news about 'SM' at the global stage combined with statistics of earnings in theatres across US and the recognition for Indians (AR Rahman, Russel Pookutty and Gulzar), it is natural for every Indian to feel proud and the urge to watch the movie. But SlumDog turns out to be a Damp Squib - a simple normal logical movie with so many glitches and a background music which was a kind of normal AR music and the characterisation just on par with some of the good Hollywood / Bollywood movies. First, the marketing arm of 'SM' has to be credited for lobbying such a below par movie to be recognised at BAFTA and Oscar level. Exposing the reality about slum life is okay, but would the same director dare to show NY's downtown (or) poverty stricken African's lives with the same amount of liberty he has done in this movie?
We have to accept that AR has been recognised for some good scores he has done for movies such as Lagaan or Swades. I don't think AR / Gulzar / Rusel would have got their names mentioned if the same movies had been made by an Indian production company and an Indian director. The Pathetic state is that, well made movie like Lagaan fail to win an Oscar whereas ordinary movie like SM made the win look so easy.
Naan Kadavul - a strong script and a daring one is well made. There is no flirting by the director to project the reality; expect the worst when you sit for the movie and you will like it. Maestro has come out on the top with the background score and memorable songs; the tunes ideally suited for the situations.
We have to accept that AR has been recognised for some good scores he has done for movies such as Lagaan or Swades. I don't think AR / Gulzar / Rusel would have got their names mentioned if the same movies had been made by an Indian production company and an Indian director. The Pathetic state is that, well made movie like Lagaan fail to win an Oscar whereas ordinary movie like SM made the win look so easy.
Naan Kadavul - a strong script and a daring one is well made. There is no flirting by the director to project the reality; expect the worst when you sit for the movie and you will like it. Maestro has come out on the top with the background score and memorable songs; the tunes ideally suited for the situations.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Raju (Caught and Bowled) 7000 cr. But what about the obvious others?
Ramalinga Raju got into headlines and would be there till another breaking news gets caught with the media.
Yes, we do all agree that 7000 crore is a big money, worthy of investigation and need to find out the root cause of this scam. This should not certainly end up questioning the credibility of the entire Indian IT sector and must be an one-off case.
But, the puzzle here is that, there are so many other criminals in the name of corrupt politicians who are still out there with big scams against their name. They shamelessly go about like displaying a Param Vir Chakra. Their exploits in accepting bribe and getting their name mentioned is obvious to the entire India, but still, has anyone been treated like how Ramalinga Raju is being treated now?
The political scoundrels are still out at large and they would continue to do so because Indian law and order system is IMPOTENT when it comes to punishing politicians.
Yes, we do all agree that 7000 crore is a big money, worthy of investigation and need to find out the root cause of this scam. This should not certainly end up questioning the credibility of the entire Indian IT sector and must be an one-off case.
But, the puzzle here is that, there are so many other criminals in the name of corrupt politicians who are still out there with big scams against their name. They shamelessly go about like displaying a Param Vir Chakra. Their exploits in accepting bribe and getting their name mentioned is obvious to the entire India, but still, has anyone been treated like how Ramalinga Raju is being treated now?
The political scoundrels are still out at large and they would continue to do so because Indian law and order system is IMPOTENT when it comes to punishing politicians.
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