OSTENTIOUS WEDDINGS AND OTHER CELBRATIONS The BJP Govt is seriously toying with the legislation to curb ostentious expenditures particularly on wedding celebrations. . It should be extended to any celebrations The BJP legislator is supposed to have spent Rs 500 crores on wedding. Let Govt not use the same soap to wash all linen .The BJP party in intrusive actions want to control and interfere with the private lives of citizens. India is a democracy, but authoritian actions by self righteous BJP is a cause for concern. Earlier we have seen BJP interference with what we eat, how we dress how much our money we can withdraw and forcing pseudo Nationalism indicating increasing sense of intolerance on religious freedom .There are numerous ways by which ostentious, vulgar display of wealth can be curbed, specially by the political class with ill-gotten , unaccountable resources both before and after elections and opulence displayed at their celebrations.
The celebrations of weddings is a personal matter of individuals and legal curbs with aim of subsidizing weddings of poor is totally misplaced priority. All such regulations are fertile grounds for corruption and greasing the palms of authorities that enforce . Govt is not sanctioning loans to celebrate weddings and the matter of expenditure is best left to individuals who are best judges of expenditures involved .The BJP party wants to project itself as the savior of poor and their concerns .It must be understood that various expenditures on wedding services are quiet a burden and various specific cesses collected are not diverted properly towards the avowed goals. There are organizations who encourage mass celebrations of weddings at common place to reduce the burden of expenses and Govt has never contributed, appreciated such occasions. It is only a matter of convenience and such movements are not popular and are limited in society. It is a totally objectionable premises in a democratic country to control personal limits on wedding expenditures by the strong arm of the administrations, The govt is touching dangerous grounds of personal judgments on what is fair and just for individuals in their own capacity. Permitting leverage to Govt to control our private lives is a dangerous precedent fraught with serious consequences of personal rights , liberties and freedom. Anyway where will be the line drawn on ostentious celebrations? Who has complained about such expenditures for the Govt to bring in legislation curbing personal freedom to decide? Various acts of corruption are still not tamed by the Govt and there is no serious thought about doing so in near future The curbing of monumental wastages in Govt functioning should be the first priority of control instead of tinkering with private affairs of individuals. The weddings are a moment of joyous , happy occasions that couples want to denote for as life long memory of the most eventful day of their life and new beginning. Nobody is under any obligation to imitate and resort to wasteful expenditure which they can ill afford just to conform to societal norms of approval and acceptance. Some communities do not serve alcohol and vegetarian dishes as part of tradition also indirectly controlling expenses Weddings in the west are strictly limited affair to friends and relatives The guest have also to contribute towards expenses. Here in Goa the guest numbers may run from 300 to 500 minimum and celebrations starts day in advance and continue for days afterwards with customs and traditions, let the people decide for themselves how to limit the fun, numbers and expenses The day when numbers are controlled things will automatically fall in place. It is only the weddings of political scions that are unwieldy and are a pompous show of wealth funded by others on their behalf which is abhorable.The overbearing ombudsman by way of legislation is least people want . It is absolutely not true that couples take loans to celebrate weddings .Both the parties contribute to share the expenses and prepare well in advance factoring all expenses. The investment and demand by way of jewellery, if any, can be back breaking at times, but things are changing for better. Let not Govt be kill joy in the name of reforms to limit expenses and extort further taxes to pay Paul by robbing Peter .In may states The Govt makes token provision to fund expenses of poor weddings from public resources .Hope better sense will prevail in stead of curbing distastefully the joy of people Nelson Lopes Chinchinim
