The “Ram-Lakhan Jodi”, as we’ve been called, strike again!
Saks & I are now part of the Channel [V] team - we’ve been roped in by the guys there to write a blog for their new show My India Report along with the 6 participants of the show.
We’ve been spending lots of time (on & offline) with a team of three (very cool) producers from Mumbai; Rakesh, Tatum & Aditya. The blog still needs a bit of tweaking in terms of the layout, but is already online, so do have a dekho (& come back for more, it promises to get better!)
My first post is about “Smoke Free Cities” as the team is now in Chandighar - and as Chandighar is the first smoke-free city in India .
Just little over a month ago, on 15th July 2007, Chandigarh became the first Indian city to go the London way and become 100% smoke free.
This means that no person is allowed by law to smoke in any public place. Offenders are liable to pay a fine of Rs. 200/- for the first offense and within the first five days, 764 people were fined in Chandigarh.
Environmentalists pushing for more smoke-free cities in India, cite studies such as the Seven US City Study conducted between March 25 and April 17, 2004, involving 53 bars and restaurants in 7 cities – which came to the conclusion that Bars and Restaurants in Smoke-Free Cities Have 82% Less Air Pollution Than Cities That Allow Smoking.
The topic is a hot one with Environmentalist pitted against Giant Tobacco Companies – with the Health Conscious against the Perennial Smokers.
What’s your take on the situation?
For people in Chandigarh:
Do you want this law to continue being active in Chandigarh?
Do you agree with the funda behind the law?
Are people really adhering to this law strictly though?And for people everywhere else:
Do you think more cities in India should become smoke free?
Would you stop smoking if it became against the law?
With (partial) relevance to my post above, how many of you remember my post on Saket? lol.
Do visit the blog - My India Report - for daily updated diaries of the participants - and for posts on various topics from Sex to Success, the Environment to Entertainment from Saks & me!
Tags: Channel-V, Indian-Television, My-India-Report, Sakshi-Juneja
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September 7th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Just to make things clear…I am “Lakhan”, the younger one.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Hi…I wud like the law to continue in chandigarh and it shud also come to effect all other cities…
September 8th, 2007 at 1:26 am
no offense, but its chandigarh not chandighar
September 8th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Way to go Mel! Keep rocking
September 8th, 2007 at 11:54 am
When you say public place does it mean public buildings or does it include open spaces such has public parks etc?
September 8th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Niiiice Mel! Congratulations woman!!
September 8th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Awesome… Congratulations!
September 8th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!
Yr gonna be a famous writer soon!!!
September 8th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Cool! Congrats.
One suggestion. I want to subscribe to the blog, but they are offering partial feeds only. Is that they want or is that like it? Full feeds means loyal readers.
September 8th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Congrats!
September 8th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Awesome !
September 8th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Congrats, Channel V yeh!. Hanging with the Rockstars, Party like Rockstars.
September 9th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
Thats so cool. But why are you listed as Melody “Laila”? Last names like this point to a troubled childhood.
September 9th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
hey…so now the celeb quotient has gone up by a couple more notches
also, I have moved my blog from http://www.coherentrambling.blogspot.com to http://www.emptyhead.in
Do visit my new website.
September 10th, 2007 at 1:45 am
@ Praveen:
Would def. be good for India!
@ gps: Hey thx, made the correction!
@ Vulturo: Thank you. As you can see, thought of you recently!!
@ Rahul: Both
@ Well Heeled: Merci Beaucoup!
@ Traveller: Thx! You know everytime you comment I realise my online project is lagging? I will get that done, I assure you.
@ Ana: Thanks lady
I hope you’re right!
@ Ashwin: Thank you. And will check it out with the team/techy guys.
@ Naresh, Marise: Thank you, thank you!
@ Mario: “Hanging with the Rockstars, Party like Rockstars”
Just blogging! That I do anyway in my spare time
@ Gigo: Thank you.
Incidentally, I am credited as Melody Laila because that’s what my name is. ‘Laila’ is Hebrew, and the word is actually in the original Hebrew Bible. Other names & nicks people call me here. I would lay off the pop psychology if I were you, it can be hurtful more often than not - especially when our facts are not correct to start with.
@ Ashish: lol to the notches thingie. Will check out new site.
September 10th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Wow! Congratulations! The blog looks good.
Where do you find time to do all this!!
September 11th, 2007 at 10:44 am
hey…wer did my comment go??
anywyz, did chk out MIR.. it’s cool…
September 11th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
@ Sam: What comment??
I saw your comments on MIR. Glad you like
September 12th, 2007 at 4:04 am
No offense meant. Was just alluding to the leg pulling you might have received in school. So what does Laila actually mean in Hebrew. I am guessing it is from the old testament.
September 15th, 2007 at 1:56 am
I smoke, hell smoke a lot (20+). I think, law should remain in effect as long as there are designated places for smoking..
Probably, something like California, where it was quite strict yet tolerable (from active-smokers POV). There are clear and well defined rules, which makes things easier. We need something like that in India to have better implementation, avoid corruption/exploitation by cops.
-abdul