City residents ring in 2017 with all hopes

Free and fair elections 

As an officer, I can only eat, drink and sleep ‘elections’. We hope to have free and fair elections in 2017. On a more personal note, I hope the year brings good luck, happiness and more smartness to the city. — Apneet Riyait, ADC (D)

Economy should look up

After demonetisation, the economy took a dip. We expect things to look up in 2017. On the fashion industry front, innovation is the need of the hour. This industry needs more recognition from the government. We need more forums to bring together the people from this industry, particularly in cities like Ludhiana. Besides, more visibility is imperative for Punjab-based designers. And it’s time for a change of perception – designers make outfits not just for the well-heeled or the rich; wearing designer clothes is the prerogative of all those who desire so.” — Sonu Gandhi, Fashion Designer

Focus on responsibilities, commitment and declarations for the coming year

When we talk of expectations, we shift the responsibility to the other side and become passive. And whom to expect from is a big question for me. So, rather than talking of my expectations from the coming New Year, I would like to focus on responsibilities, commitment and declarations for the coming year. First and foremost is holistic health. Increase your awareness to right food according to your age, constitution (prakriti in Ayurveda), health issues. Avoiding the bad combination of certain foods (eg. milk with fruit, salt or pickles) is to be learnt to avoid autoimmune diseases. Choice of organic foods and avoiding processed foods are important. Avoid jumping to pump in synthetic chemicals we call medicine at any minor symptom. Rather, try to build your immunity and let the body fight minor ailments with diet and herbal medicine. Even many killer lifestyle diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer can be prevented with diet and lifestyle changes. Learn these from your Holistic Doctor. Regular, recommended exercise is very important for health. Even more important is a mind in balance and peace. Replacing aggression with compassion and care makes your relationship better. Make a commitment to increase reading. Reading makes you aware of yourself and your world, and graduates you from an aggressive human-animal to a thinking human being. Serving the people and animals around you gives you happiness and peace which you can never find in parties and shopping. Learn the 'Art of Slow living', a newer but very powerful practice. Slow driving, slow eating, slow talking will transform you into a new person in New Year. Sarve bhavantu sukhina, sarve santu niramaya (Let all be happy and healthy).” — Dr Suneet Aurora, Ayurvedic expert  

Smooth roll out of the GST

The inconvenience caused to the industry and common man due to demonetisation should start showing signs of improvement, proving the step to be beneficial in the long run for everybody in the country. The general budget of 2017 should be full of substantial reliefs for the common man and industry, to partially compensate for the losses the industry has incurred due to demonetisation. The bank interest rates should start coming down from January onwards to reach up to 7% by 2018. The Indian Parliament should transact some constructive business for the welfare of the citizens of India and for some amendments in the laws to create an environment of new investments and faster development and job creation. I hope for a smooth roll out of the GST. Hopefully, the income tax rates and rules would be amended in such a manner to make tax evasion unattractive and difficult. I also expect that in the coming Punjab and UP elections, the people only vote for and elect the honest, upright candidates with a clean image.” — Ajit Lakra, Managing Director, SuperFine Knitters Ltd.

Time to do introspection

As a teacher and writer, I believe that New Year provides us an impetus to bring in positive changes within our own selves. It’s the time to do introspection. Also, it’s the time to make a promise to inculcate at least one good habit. This is my suggestion to my students and to my own self!” — Karamjit Grewal, writer