A glimpse of India's General Budget, 2010

Today, the Union general budget was read out by India's honourable Finance Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee. He came at around 11 am in the Parliament, making all hopes go high, with increased expectations for something good in the long run.

With the prices of food grains and other consumer items reaching sky high, it was quite expected that Indians were looking up to this man to shower in some news that will bring relief of mind and more important to the pocket of “aam admi”.

The general budget 2010 has already led to the rise in fuel prices, with petrol Rs. 2.67 per litre and diesel Rs 2.58 per litre in Delhi. In general, the Finance Miniter has said that the prices of fules will go up by Re. 1. The changed prices will be implemented from tonight only.

For the individual service taxpayers, the budget has brought in good news, as there is no tax for up to Rs.1, 60, 000, a rate of 10 percent for up to Rs. 500,000, then 20 percent for up to Rs.800,000 and finally 30 percent for high income persons.

Pranab Mukherjee also announced the establishment of a National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) for funding research and innovative projects in clean technologies. The Finance Minister proposed to levy clean energy cess on coal produced in India as also imported.

Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) is increased from the current 15% of book profits to 18% of book profits.

Among the consumer goods, there will be hike in prices of TV, refrigerator, AC, cigarettes, jewelry, cars and liquors.

Among the commodities that will remain low in price are CDs, mobile phones, toys, gaming software’s, etc.

Buying my first Mobile Phone

How can I ever forget the day, when I arrived at a popular phone shop in the Dalhousie area. It is quite a big shop, with lots of mobile phones on display. Salesman and woman are there to make you have the best buy and help you select from the vast array of colourful handsets with latest technology and features.

I, with my parents went up to a corner of the shop and asked for a Nokia handset (it was my personal favourite brand since I thought seriously of buying one). They showed me many kinds, and tried to convince me of why not trying of some different brand like Sony or LG?

I said no, as I chose to stick to Nokia only. I liked the 1600 model, which was low at price and again very trendy to carry and handle. The sales girl explained to me how to operate it and what its features are. I was really excited to finally bag a mobile and hence was literally ‘on top of the world’.

My parents were happy to gift me my chosen handset and we happily left the shop. As a bonus, I got a silver coin with the image of Ganeshji engraved on it, as a memento for purchasing from this shop. It made the occasion all the more blissful and memorable.

Later, once more I happened to visit the shop, to exchange my old 1600 handset with a new one. This too a Nokia model 2760 – looked ravishing and girlish.

Women are born Free

Women are no slaves in this society. They have their own identities and self-respect to live life in their own terms. Torturing women, beating them has become a regular feature in the world since ages. In this male dominated society, women are believed to be pawns in the hands of greedy selfish husbands or relatives.

There are thousands and thousands of untold stories everyday, of women dying in pain and agony. No one is there to pay heed to their words or bring them justice. In a country like India where majority of people live in villages, there asking for any betterment of the girl community is treated as something highly extravagant and sheer ‘non-sense’.

However, if the picture in rural areas is like this, then the cities and metropolis is no exception. Here, everyday, unlimited number of girls is molested and physically and mentally abused. And, what is more shocking is that, in many a case, they are manhandled by their own relatives and persons they know and have grown up with.

Today, women are increasingly becoming a target for harassment in both public and domestic areas. In public places, such as in bus, trains or simply on the road, girls have to move carefully or else some cruel eyes are watching you to get the better of you at any time!

Another area of torturing women is at home. Whether it is some uncle or brother, man-handling continues relentlessly. With marriage, girls think of some better life in the house of her husband, but only handful lucky girls get to see that. In other cases, women end of their life getting everyday beating and mental exploitation by their in-laws. They beg for some peace and happiness, but all in vain, since the in-laws want more money and dowry from the bride’s father or else random oppression goes on.

Sitting in this 21st century, we are witnessing so much development in almost every field, be it science and medicine, education and technology. But, in one way, we, women are stuck in that dilapidated old-age, where mental and physical harassment was a regular feature.

At present, women are dominating and actively participating in every aspect that was initially believed to be falling within the male vicinity – going to the space, flying a plane, climbing the mountain or exploring the unknown zones of the earth. Girls have become and always were mentally head-strong and brave-hearted. We never feared the tough and moved elegantly with great determination and love for something new and different.

Women of today are crossing every line gracefully, balancing home and work. On one hand, they are showing their love and care for the family and on the other hand, they are simply rocking in their workplace, understanding their duties and performing likewise to earn appreciation from seniours and the management.

I am proud to be a woman and will always be. Hats off to those who are fighting courageously every day, every moment and adding more strength and will power to their existing self.

India did it again!

India is still ruling high in cricket. What a majestic win for the Indian team and that too at the Eden Gardens!

As Kolkatans, we are definitely proud of this historic win. By sealing vistory, India has retained its position as World Number 1 in test rankings.

The match in Kolkata was really nerve-racking. At the last moment, India needed just one wicket, but the way Morkel was batting, it seemed bowlers will not make it. But it was Harbhajan Singh who did 'magic' with his spell. He took Morkel at the time when there was just 9 balls remaining for the day.

Eden Gardens roared at the joy and people started dancing and shouting like crazy. There was cheerfulness and the much wanted smile on the faces of the players.

Indeed, we needed this win badly!, as India has lost the first test match in Nagpur. This match levelled the series to 1-1. Harbhajan Singh has become the hero of the day, with his teammates patting him for his heroic deed.

It is really lucky for Indian cricket team to play in the “city of joy”, as the name implies.

Where is Peace?

Now, I hate to go through the newspapers every morning. It’s simply disgusting, being filled up with news of violence, sex scandals and bloodshed all around the place. The recent bomb blast at the German Bakery in Pune is yet another eye-opener of the callousness on the part of the police and intelligence bureau to act on time. Had they known about the probable terrorist attack before, this thing would not have happened.

But, who can ever foretell the future. The innocent youngsters and people, who were in that bakery on that day, were least aware of the dangerous consequences they were going to face minutes later. The crowd was in a joyous mood, with Valentines Day knocking the door.

The waiter, Remal noticed the bag that was kept under the table and was going towards it, when someone stopped him and told him to bring bottles of water. Just a few minutes later, everything was blank. People were spot dead, some limping in pain and majority in a state of shock.

Who loves to see pictures of dead bodies and bloodshed early morning? But, this is life and we have to accept it. Newspaper agencies are ‘on their toes’ to print in some fresh violent scene or men crying in pain to get maximum attention.

There were debates and talks over this issue, when many Indians showed objections over publishing bloody images and brutal pictures in the very first page of various local and national newspapers. But, the media persons are least bothered and they are carrying on the saga with closed ears and eyes.

Everywhere there is war, with people killing each other over wealth, anger or to take revenge. At one end, there’s the increasing threat of price rise of almost every commodity and inflation, and on the other, there’s butchery, violence and rage.

Peace is nowhere and seems to be living in a distant land, far away from mankind. We wish her to come back in this world and make it a better place to live happily and with a little less tension than what it is now.