Invoking GCO again

I

Sir,

The original guest control order was issued when there was shortage of foodgrains in India. Now our country has godowns full of foodgrains. The rationale behind enforcing this order at this time seems to check wasteful expenditure. But, for a middle class family and in villages marriage ceremony or any other ceremony is an occasion for get-together of relatives who otherwise don't meet for months together due to preoccupation with earning of livelihood. In these families, the expenditure on the meals for 400 to 500 guests hardly exceeds fourty thousand rupees. But, these solemn occasions do provide some fun and entertainment from otherwise hard life. However, for neo rich class (majority of which have riches beyond their known source of income), these occasions serve to flaunt their wealth. Even if some restriction is imposed on the number of guests for this rich class, they have number of ways to entertain any number of guests. As a matter of fact, this rich class is hosting regular weekly parties and this guest control order will not affect them in any way. On the contrary, the common man will be harassed by the authorities. So the Govt should take some rational decision so that sentiments of people are not hurt. The best way to restrict wasteful expenditure is to fix the ceiling on expenditure on meals including the rent of hall to Rs 1.00 lac for marriage functions and Rs 50,000/= for other functions.

The Govt can also discourage wasteful expenditure if its functionaries don't accept gifts of any kind on Diwali, Eid and other festivals. Also, ministers can lead from front if they take simple meals consisting of not more than one nonvegetarian and two vegetarian dishes while on tours. Such like measures by the higherups can have far greater impact on controlling wasteful expenditure than the guest control order.

Yours etc....
MS Jamwal
Sainik Colony

II

Sir,

Going by the media reports there is mixed response to the Govt move depending upon the interest of the concerned involved. Considering that like dowry the extravaganza on marriages is a social evil and reforms are required to be brought about in the society. Times are gone when the solemnization of marriages used to be simple affairs both in terms of the number of baraties/guests as well as preparations to be served on the occasion. But with the passages of time, the display of wealth with un-number of stalls put up on such functions have become a routine and normal practice. Every body knows that the expenditure on such functions is rising with the passage of time and almost seems to have a crossed all limits besides becoming a status symbol.

The marriages with exorbitant expenditure solemnized particularly by those having enough of money attract much attention of the public and generally become a talk of the day. People spend money on such occasions more than their known resources by borrowing money from their kith and kin's and other available sources etc thereby troubling themselves after the function. Since those falling in upper strata of population can afford expending to such an extent, nobody will grudge their doing so but going by the society in which we all are living such celebrations will definitely have an adverse effect on the overall social scenario. I feel everybody is appreciative of Govt's move including those opposing but having some reservation with regard to its implementation from the published date when the marriage season has already set in and most of the families have made booking by paying advances even to the owners of the Banquet halls. They have called for its postponement for a period of time in view the booking already made. Their concern is seemingly genuine too considering the financial losses to which they will be exposed to bear with both by the Banquet hall owners as well as the families solemnizing the marriage if the order is given effect from the date made public by the Govt.

Therefore, such reforms are need of the hour and the public in general and the social organizations involved in bringing about social reforms in the society in particular will appreciate such gesture on the part of the Govt though there may be many other aspects of the problem with regard to its practicability in view of the presently ever enlarging social engagements as well as the interest of those involved directly or indirectly in the organization of such celebrations which are needed to be taken care of by the Govt while implementing the said order. Hopefully, deferring the implementation of the order by a suitable period and utilizing that deferred period for educating the public through the media abot the true intent of the Govt move.

Yours etc....
Ravi Sharma
Shakti Nagar,
Jammu