MACHOS VS MIOS

                                                MACHOS VS MIAOS

Me: Hey, Chachlu, long time no see. What Happened to you?

Chachlu: I went on a holiday to Goa with school friends and we had a whale of a time. I wanted to stay there for more. But mummy, as usual said that I must return to finish my holiday homework.

Me: How is everything in your colony?

Chachlu: As usual fighting, fighting, and more fighting.

Me: What happened?

Chachlu: It is Swartznegger Machos versus Popeye Miaos.

Me: what do you mean?

Chachlu: The Arnolds want macho machines to run. But Popeyes think that by eating spinach one can become strong.

Me: Don’t be joking.

Chachlu: you see Thatha; Gymwallas want the Gym for work out. But Popeyes say, it pinches them to run it.

Me: I am really more confounded than confused? What is the problem of using Gym? After all it is to make one healthy. All the developers build Gym, theatre, Swimming pool, shuttle courts and so on, so that we all can enjoy them.

Chachlu: Your are very correct. They do it so that the apartments are sold. They don’t care about whether they are maintained or not.

Me: You see, if you run it properly, there should be no problem

Chachlu: It is not a question of proper running but a question of affordability.

Me: How come:

Chachlu: For example, the running cost of a Gym consists of the electricity charges for running the air-conditioners, tread mills, and also for maintaining them.

Me: How much?

Chachlu: Our Gym contains 3 air-conditioners and two tread mills. On an average, it is operated for a total of about 6 hours per day. It is run for about 300 days in a year. On an average about 20 people use it in a year.

Me: So, what is the problem? It is good that it is drawing people throughout the year.

Chachlu: At today’s power rate, it comes to about Rs one lakhs per year. Added to this is the annual maintenance cost. The total cost will be about Rs 1.50 lakhs per annum..

Me: That is quite an amount.

Chachlu: With this money the Popeyes say they can buy water for one and half months for everybody.

Me: So, can’t an association afford it?

Chachlu: Certainly not. Most of us are living in a middle class colonies. We all collect a base rate of Rs 2 per square foot. This goes for maintaining the very basic necessities like security, housekeeping and electricity charges for lighting, lifts and pumping. In some colonies, they can’t afford any repairs even.

Me: What is the major expense?

 Chachlu: You know that in many places, metro water does not flow even with the pipe lines laid. So, they all have to buy water. For a colony having an average strength of about 120 families at any time, the money paid for buying water comes to about Rs One Lakh per month. In essence, the maintenance charges collected goes towards maintaining the essentials. I will say survivals. Rest are all luxuries.

Me: What is the remedy? Can’t you raise the maintenance charges?

Chachlu: For the pleasure of a few, do you want the entire colony to pay for it?

Me: Is there no way that the Gym can be run. After all people want an outlet?

Chachlu: Yes. Provided the built up area is large. Let me explain. It is affordable if a colony has atleast 5 Lakh square feet built up area. The money collected even at Rs 2 per square foot/month brings in Rs 10 lakhs to the kitty. This can take care of everything including a swimming pool. The breakeven built up area can be taken at about 3 Lakh square feet.

Me: What happens to the lower built up area colonies?

Chachlu: Consider that in a colony of built up area of about 1.50 Lakh square feet. At Rs 2/sq.ft per month, they would be collecting Rs 3 lakhs. This can just sustain the essentials of the colony assuming that no major expense crops up.

Me: Then what about the patronage of the gym?

Chachlu: if the gym patronage is just 50 numbers at any time in the year. Then each has to contribute about Rs 3,000 per annum. If it is 100 then it will come down to Rs 1,500 per year. In essence, if there is no financial patronage, you close it or allow it to die. No other option. Look at some of the gyms like Talwalkers or O2. To breakeven, they have to have at least 200 fellows at any time. The pity is, having paid a huge sum, many members have to wait long to get a chance to do the workouts even.

Me: One last question. What about the cinema theatre, which also contains ac’s, and projector equipments.

Chachlu: First of all, there are no moving parts in the equipments. Second, on an average it operates one day in a week and that too for about 3 hours. The overall annual cost with four air conditioners will be about a maximum of Rs 3,000 only. In the ultimate analysis the participants are the children and their families including thathas and pattis.

Me: Very good. So what picture is going to be shown in your colony?

Chachlu: Finding Nemo. Boring.

Me: When Patti used to bathe you in a tub, she gave you a plastic Nemo to play with. You will be squealing with joy every time it slides out of your tiny fingers.

Ramanis (C/2)