Co-operative hsg societies should co-operate more

Participants, including the Venus Vipers (team in the centre), which won the tournament, at Garden View Apartments in Royal Palms, Goregaon East. Pics/By Special Arrangement

The Women in Blue's historic World Cup victory at DY Patil Stadium on November 2, has had unexpected but welcome fallouts. A housing society in Goregaon East held a two-day, five-over ‘Women's Premier League' with four teams comprising six players each to unite residents of more than 360 flats.

A report in this paper said, teams and captains were chosen based on the drawing of chits. Keeping the names of the teams neutral, they decided to go with planets, and ended up choosing Mercury Mavericks, Venus Vipers, Mars Warriors and Jupiter Giants.

It was challenging coordinating practice time, but eventually, things fell in place, and society members even helped players with small children, looking after the kids as they practised. Husbands pitched in, and entire families were excited and involved. Most of all, it brought a society together where members bonded and even neighbours who may not have had the time to talk to each other, given the dizzying pace of the city we live in, did so.

Housing societies are often torn apart by internecine battles. Sometimes committee members working gratis, giving their time, are targeted. At other times, there are allegations of corruption against some committee members. Posh societies have even hired bouncers at election meets, with the invective and aggro competing with polls in the public sphere. Socety uplift or improvements are stalled many a time over these deadlocks and fighting. A housing society is the base unit of society. Let every member work towards unity and for harmonious living. Differences may exist, but they can be debated rather than hurling abuse and insults. Co-operation is key and can unlock closed hearts and minds, lock loose lips and ensure a smoother functioning of this small but vital segment of society. More power to initiatives that unite, like this intra-housing society WPL.