If you thought about a Rolls Royce, you are wrong? What about a Ferrari? Nope not that. How about a fancy high end music system, that make Audiophiles drool? Nope, you can get that from somewhere.
Basically, all consumer goods save this item are available in stores. They may not be cheap, but if you have the money then you can buy it. If something isn't sold in India, then just pick it up on your next trip abroad. No, the thing that you cannot buy (at least without jumping through hoops, paying a few bribes) is a humble cooking gas connection from the Govt owned petroleum companies. So, if you do have a connection, then make sure its the first thing on your list that you bequeath in your Will.
Today, I stood in line for an hour and a half, then ran to a public Notary to attest a copy of my Dad's Id, my electricity bill and a got a declaration written out in Stamp paper, got back in line (at 1.00 PM), had a cop shout the choicest words at me, just so that the Govt. have the pleasure of allowing me to buy cooking gas from them. Apparently, all the money that I give them via the various taxes is not enough.
Why not go to a Private company for cooking gas? Because they are twice the rate and twice as unreliable in terms of service. Book a Cylinder today and get a replacement on Mar 15th. Not that the Govt companies are any better. Book a Cylinder today and you may get a replacement by Feb 15th.
This drive to collect information was with the noblest intentions in mind. Weed out illegal "consumers". But given that there are 15 million consumers and the ineptitude of our Govt, a deadline of 10 days was set. Imagine the Govt going through 15 million consumers' papers and removing the illegal ones. Heck, these guys won't even be able to go through 100 different set of papers.
Basically, all consumer goods save this item are available in stores. They may not be cheap, but if you have the money then you can buy it. If something isn't sold in India, then just pick it up on your next trip abroad. No, the thing that you cannot buy (at least without jumping through hoops, paying a few bribes) is a humble cooking gas connection from the Govt owned petroleum companies. So, if you do have a connection, then make sure its the first thing on your list that you bequeath in your Will.
Today, I stood in line for an hour and a half, then ran to a public Notary to attest a copy of my Dad's Id, my electricity bill and a got a declaration written out in Stamp paper, got back in line (at 1.00 PM), had a cop shout the choicest words at me, just so that the Govt. have the pleasure of allowing me to buy cooking gas from them. Apparently, all the money that I give them via the various taxes is not enough.
Why not go to a Private company for cooking gas? Because they are twice the rate and twice as unreliable in terms of service. Book a Cylinder today and get a replacement on Mar 15th. Not that the Govt companies are any better. Book a Cylinder today and you may get a replacement by Feb 15th.
This drive to collect information was with the noblest intentions in mind. Weed out illegal "consumers". But given that there are 15 million consumers and the ineptitude of our Govt, a deadline of 10 days was set. Imagine the Govt going through 15 million consumers' papers and removing the illegal ones. Heck, these guys won't even be able to go through 100 different set of papers.
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