Bind us together

We are on the verge of managing ourselves and off late there seems to some faulty perceptions about each other and a perceived notion of groups being formed and panels being selected to fight a non-existent election at La Habitat.

In actual terms, all these are merely perceptions that people have on each other and nothing close to reality. There are no groups and everyone is aware that when groups are formed within the society framework, it is a big deterrent to progress.

One group is pro-builder and the other as anti-builder is what the common rumours spread across. On what basis this has originated is a big mystery because there is nothing of that sort in real terms. Please do not spread rumours on such framed agendas because what we are witnessing is difference of opinion which is a healthy sign and should not be construed as groupism. Unless there are various opinions, there cannot be a consensus. Take it as a positive sign to make this place the best option in Ahmedabad to live.

In this entire melee we have forgotten what we have been doing for the last two years. We failed to stop two or more hostels from coming up – one boys and the other girls. If you stroll around late at night, you can see a lovers paradise at the entry itself. We already have a guest house and it seems some more are coming up.

Guests coming to La Habitat doesn’t have parking space because Members, despite a valid parking inside, parks their vehicles at Guest parking outside the gate because they are lazy taking their vehicle inside. More people have started parking their cars inside without a valid parking slot making a mockery of those who paid for parking space.

LAAC has written a letter to Torrent to convert overhead power lines on the backside to underground. Torrent has replied they are within the permissible distance. However, our objection was that the trees planted there are not allowed to grow due to safety issues of the power lines. (letter attached). This time they have again cut the trees and it took someone from Narayan Palace bungalows to stop them from cutting the trees as none of our members had any idea of this activity. In actual terms, those employed by Torrent to do this duty were not trimming the trees but cutting them mercilessly. Can our security guys be made aware of alerting the Facility staff if such thing happens? AND CAN THIS COMMERCIAL ACVITIES OF HOSTEL AND GUEST HOUSES BE WIPED OFF?

Be prepared to give Minimum wage to maternity leave to Domestic help

At a time when even a raise of Rs 50 is considered to be a draconian move, will this legislation from government help? Read Further to know why


The first-ever national policy for domestic workers is all set to go to the Cabinet for its approval, entitling them to minimum wages, defined work hours, paid annual and sick leave and maternity benefits.


The thrust of the policy is to bring domestic workers under the purview of existing labour laws, which would help them avail all the rights and protection available to other workers. According to official estimates, India has around 7 million domestic workers. Unofficial reports peg the number at 90 million.


In the works for over two years, the draft of the national policy was prepared on the basis of the report of a task force appointed by the Ministry of Labour in 2009. Now, a cabinet note on it is ready.


Once the policy is approved, domestic workers will be covered by eight existing laws — among them the Minimum Wages Act, Trade Union Act, Payment of Wages Act, Workmen’s Compensation Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Contract Labour and Equal Remuneration Act.


The policy defines a domestic worker as a “person who is employed for remuneration whether in cash or kind, in any household through any agency or directly, either on a temporary or permanent, part-time or full-time basis... but does not include any member of the family of an employer.”


The domestic worker can be part-time worker who works in more than one household. They will have to register as workers with state labour departments.


Sources said establishment of a mechanism for regulation of placement agencies was also the anvil.


“Suitable amendments may be made in all the relevant legislations... to explicity include domestic workers,” the Cabinet note states. The proposal makes it clear that the policy envisages changes in other labour acts too if need be.


While the task force for domestic workers was set up in December 2009, the efforts gained urgency after the Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council (NAC) came up with specific recommendations in April last year. Almost all of the NAC’s suggestions have been accepted.


Implementation of the policy would be the responsibility of the Labour Ministry. The implementation committee will comprise representatives of four central ministries, workers’ and employers’ organisations, representative organisations of domestic workers and other stakeholders. The committee will seek reports from similar bodies in the states and suggest ways to plug lacunae if any.


Importantly, timelines have been fixed. The Labour Ministry will have to establish the implementation committee within three months of the adoption of the policy and produce an implementation plan within three months of its establishment.


Helping the help: Once the policy comes into effect...


* Governments will have to fix a minimum wage for domestic workers. This varies between states, with the current national floor-level figure being Rs 115 per day — around Rs 3,400 a month.


* Women workers will get 12 weeks of maternity leave — six weeks up to delivery, and the six weeks that follow — and equal remuneration as men for similar work.


* They can form own trade unions or join any.
* Domestic workers will get annual paid, sick leave. In Delhi, a worker gets privilege leave of not less than 15 days annually and sick or casual leave of not less than 12 days.


* They will get compensation for overtime, social security coverage, protection against abuse and violence, and will be entitled to a safe and healthy place to stay in and sufficient food.




Read Original Story from Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/minimum-wage-to-maternity-leave-domestic-help-policy-almost-home/946324/1

Voice of dissent can never be tolerated in a democracy

Voice of dissent can never be tolerated in a democracy. Confused? Believe it or not, this is the reality in India. You cannot talk to Medha Patkar and then live in Gujarat because she has fought for some ‘unwanted tribal’ depriving the enterprising people of Gujarat the most precious water from Narmada. You cannot voice your opinion against the large scale industrial loot in the name of economical growth because it will deter foreign investors from coming to India. 

You should be as superman to read any piece by Arundhati Roy because she is a right wing labeled left wing terrorist. You cannot enjoy M F Hussain art because his drawing had hurt somebody somewhere and no one remembers who these people are. You cannot say anything against the religious tourism subsidy being doled out for no reasons to a particular community because it will have major repercussions including cold blooded murder. You cannot object to the actions of a particular chief minister of a state for his role in a sectarian violence because a decade has passed and it is time to forget and forgive and also because he is the darling of masses and a prime ministerial candidate. 


There are other exceptions too. You cannot offer a rose to your lover because a particular Sene has objection. You have to put the local language on your shop because a particular party doesn’t understand Hindi or likes Hindi speaking people. Anti-Hindi south Indian parties indulge in similar but more dramatic activities down south. January 1 is not your new year because there are parties around the globe. Inter religious relation and dialogues have become the biggest taboo. Dating and courting is out question and same sex relations cant even be a thought process.


The biggest of all these is the Kashmir issue. Because it is not debated well, no one knows what the issue is especially the youths. What they know is a piece of land under Indian occupation which is being snatched forcibly by Pakistan. Beyond this even those who hit Prashant Bhushan may not know.


In the process of curtailing freedom of expression, we have curtailed the knowledge acquisition process of an entire generation. No youths want to know or debate any controversial issue because it will label them as right wing or left wing or pseudo secular or a terrorist. Universities and colleges have stopped open debates because it could turn into ugly war. Friends from different religion and caste is a thing of past. Many Hindu youths studying in posh schools have never met a Muslim in their entire life and vice versa with Muslim students.


Where is this leading us to? Make no mistake, we are going to face anarchy – in true Rajnikant style.


And still we castigate our doubts over Saudi Arabia, Iran and other so called conservative countries? At least they accept what they are doing. We don’t.

Your Ramlila Maidan is right in front of you

Dear Members
A deluge of complaints – mostly related to tyre deflation and parking. It seems we are yet to shed ourselves from Parkingson Disease.

There is no way a society/community living can function if its members are unruly. From what is learnt from all these mails are that most of the culprits are tenants. The two kids who goes around puncturing the tyres and switching off the main switches and breaking the lift fire glass are two friends many of you have seen. One is a tenant’s son and the other is an owner’s son. They can be seen with cycles on the pathways during the day and after dark, their main job is to do something innovative. And each one of us becomes the victims of their innovation.

There are members who still have one parking but brings in two to three cars with the pride of having achieved something. They feel they have won a battle against those who have legitimately paid for the parking. And mind you most of them were seen with candles in their hand or arguing in favour of Anna Hazare. Unless you remove the corruption within yourself (corruption may not be necessarily in the form of finance. It can be a corrupt mind) there is no way you can have a decent place to live.

Cars are still seen parked in the play area between B4 and B5 and no members dare to stop this. Members bring innumerable guest vehicle inside with great immunity and park in other’s parking with such shamelessness that even the most hard skinned people will be put to shame. We still have host of people who are refusing to put stickers or fondling with them. Our maids and car washers continue to rule us because the members are yet to brief them on the discipline they should follow. Most of the members take their kids bicycles to their entrance and still keep the trash outside despite knowing how untidy and embarrassing it can be for their neighbours.

And everyone looks to LAAC for help. LAAC is not Anna Hazare that it can sit on a fast and then get the members to do whatever it wants. One of the members is demanding to meet the Secretary of the society without knowing we have not yet formed the society. LAAC consists of each and everyone of you. You are the agents of change. No one in this world can force you to be disciplined. You inherit it from your ancestors. Your actions and words speak volumes of your background, family tradition and approach.

Please be the change. Your Ramlila Maidan is right in front of you. Charity begins at home.

Campus Updates March 2011

Hello Folks
Here are the Campus Updates

La Habitat College of Engineering: Yes, La Habitat in the morning hours looks like a College with a swarm of boys and girls living unauthorizedly despite strong opposition from members and legal notices from the Facility side. They are harmless but it is our endeavor not to make the place a student’s paradise. Neighbours of these students may please pass on the message to these students to find alternative accommodation as soon as possible before members meet to force them out. A police complaint was made, it is now known, and a police team had come for enquiry. If pursued further, they can be evicted forcibly under legal framework. Facility Team should identify brokers who roam around the premises with prospective clients and tell them not so bring such proposals in future. This will avoid unnecessary embarrassment to the owners who rent out to students.

Dhobi Ghat : Second floor garden facing flat of A2 is worth watching. If you can spot this balcony without deluge of wires hanging around with clothes scattered, you can win a trip to Hong Kong. There are so many balconies becoming replica of this at La Habitat. Kindly buy a clothes drying stand which looks better than wires tied around the balconies.

Otla Wash : If people believe they will become clean by cleaning up their balcony daily, they are mistaken. It only makes the common road wet and wastes a lot of water. So do it only once in 3 to 4 months. Instead use wet cloths to clean it.

Wet, Wet and Wetter: The domestic helps who comes to your house to wash your clothes are uneducated. They have no knowledge water conversation. However, you are in La Habitat because you are much bigger in status and academic sphere. But it is generally seen that these domestic helps are given free hand to put wet clothes on the kitchen side balcony in such a way that the water drips down to the dried clothes put below or on the passers by. For Gods sake, be different. Please ask them to squeeze water out of the clothes before putting it to dry.

Summer : Summer is here and many of you may have already given order for new ACs. Ensure you fit it in the space provided and water outlets to the pipe allocated for it. This will help maintain the shape of La Habitat that we are.

Fibre Broadband : BSNL is in. They have installed Fibre Last Mile Connectivity at La Habitat. In another week, the services will begin. Those who are interested, may apply. Ideally go for Rs 499 plan where you get 2 MB Bandwidth and 8 GB usage. This is enough. Reliance, which has installed it services, has gone back on its promise to give back the installation charges in 5 equal installments. This deduction, if not reflected in your bill, you should be contacting them to avail this. And do not expect something called service from Reliance. They are not known for it.

Vacation : The kids are now enjoying their vacation. Kindly make them aware not to uproot the plants. It is observed that parents stand as mute spectators as children use garden for cycling and other activities, which can harm the greenery. Also cricket is a common sport now played in the garden. Ensure that the glasses at balcony and windows are not broken by their long shots. Victims of such damages have all the right to get hold of the culprits and seek damages from the parents of these children. If you are such a parent to whom a complainant approaches, it is wise to settle with replacement of glass than a big quarell.

Sunday Parking: During holidays, a lot of guests arrive at La Habitat. Athithi Devo Bhav  is what we should say when they come. But don’t let their vehicles get in. When they call you for directions, first thing you should ensure is to tell them to park their vehicles outside. They are innocents who don’t know that they are not allowed to bring their vehicles inside. It is for members to make them aware. In the recent times there have been many problems of Guest parking inside. Imagine your guests picking up a quarrel with a member on whose parking they have parked their vehicles unknowingly. When then come, show them the garden and bring them along the greenery. You are certain to get appreciation from them. Also don’t let them inside the Club House, which is built exclusively for members. If you accompany them, there should be no issue subject to the fact they don’t have preference over waiting members.

Problem of Doodhwala

Dear Members
It is noticed that we are slowly and steadily becoming slaves of those people from whom we are supposed get services that can make our life easy.

The mother of all problems begins in the morning itself. The doodhwala is perennially late.

Though the Amul vehicle delivers milk at 3.45 AM, the two VIP's reaches LH gate at 8 AM and doesn't finish delivery even when people begin to make their way to office.

To bring competition in service, LAAC tried to introduce some more guys into the apartment but these two people threatened them with dire consequences if they enter LH premises. They claim they have paid Rs 25000 to get entry into La Habitat. They are not revealing to whom they have paid this amount year back.

And this morning it was noticed that milk pouches that dogs dragged with their feet and teeth were kept back and delivered. Some of you may have got this particular pouch and this type of behavior is unacceptable.

Many of you may not know that these two guys are employees of Pacifica Office located at Satellite Road. Though we don't have the latest update, they used to be the Office Boys of Pacifica office and we believe they still are.

Sanjil, how can you tolerate these two guys at the office when none of the members have the patience to tolerate them just for five minutes?

The other problems are of Dhobis, domestic servants, car wash agents, newspaper boy which we can come to at a later stage.

The best part to solve this problem is to create a Co-operative run by members to deliver milk and other convenient items. Amul is willing to part with a deep freezer free of charge and any one would be ready to work with the salary out of the profit that gets generated from distributing milk.

Question is who will bell the cat? If you have any other ideas, please share. Please don't share the experience with the doodhwala as every one knows it is not pleasant.

Republic Day Update

As usual, we celebrated our Republic Day at La Habitat with the same enthusiasm that our forefathers did 61 years ago. You can see the pictures here

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41395&id=131164236917922&l=ad806e28ae

You will notice the thin attendance to unfurl our national flag on this important day. It is a grim reminder how we don't have the time even to come out of our home for just 10 minutes and salute the flag - just two times a year. But we have enough of ammunition to criticise everything around us. Charity always begins at home.

Freedom is free for us and hence all these philosophical talk will only have nuisance value. The 30 minute program was followed by a Pool Tournament where we had 12 participants.

The tournament, which started at 9.30 went unto 5.30 without a lunch break. The first winner of La Habitat Pool Tournament is Avinash Purswani and the second runner up is Amit Purswani. Both were given cash awards as first and second prizes. You can see the winners in these pictures.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41398&l=f8a5123bae&id=131164236917922