BHOPAL: On Thursday, the central government said that gold jewellery and ornaments to the extent of 500 grams per married lady, 250 grams per unmarried lady and 100 grams per male member of a family will not be seized during I-T search operations, creating the fear that if it exceeds the maximum limit, it will be seized.
The Free Press Journal spoke to city women to know their opinion on limits on possession of gold jewellery.
Rachna Shewani, Model and Social Worker
For us, gold is a kind of investment and property, not black money. I personally don’t like to wear gold jewellery but I have jewellery which was given by my grandparents and mother. And I am keeping it safe for my children. Isme kaladhan wali baat nahi hai, ye meri khud ki property hai…
Manisha Anand, Trainer and Career Counsellor
I think, it is a commendable decision of the government. Modiji is a strong leader and he must be having long-term strategies to curb black money and use it for development. Waise bhi nowadays no one is interested in wearing heavy jewellery. I also don’t.
Nitu Sinha, Homemaker
I think, it is good not to keep more than 500 gram gold. I have artificial jewellery. So, it doesn’t matter for me. But we live in a democratic country so we can’t compel anyone to do something or not to do something.
Manisha Gohil, Artist
I think it’s good for the common man. Most of people keep gold as black money. So, now they will have to pay tax. What is wrong in it? We should not be scared. Anyways, I have no love for gold jewellery. I have given my all gold jewellery to my mother-in-law to keep.
Zainab Khan, Fashion Designer
How much gold we have is our personal matter. Most of people have inherited gold from their parents or grandparents. Its value cannot be counted in terms of money. We keep it as their ‘amanat’. So who is the government to fix the limit? If the government fixes limit for purchasing new gold, then it’s Okay. I think it’s wrong. The government is playing with our emotions.
Sneha Upadhya, Beautician
See, most of women use to save money from their daily expenditure and invest it in gold. They don’t go to banks. Normally, our husbands gift gold on the occasion of Karwa Chauth. Also, we can’t wear the same thing always. So we have to buy new collections. I think, ye limitation aurton ke liye nuksandeh hai…
Shalini Gupta, Theatre Actor and Director
I don’t know what is happening in this country these days. Our country was known as ‘Sone Ki Chidiya’ and gold jewellery was transferred from one generation to the next. I was married 27 years back I have gold more than the limit. It has been given to me by my grandmother, mother and in-laws, who are no more. How will I prove whether it was bought using white or black money? Why the government doesn’t question Neeta Ambani, when she wears sari worth Rs 75 lakhs. I think the government should take gold from temples not from homes. I think, this is very childish decision of Modiji and I’m totally against it.
Aruna Mishra, Housemaker
I have inherited gold and this custom grows one generation to the next. Gold is money for us and we keep it safe for my daughters. Also it is associated with memories of our dear one. I think, keeping gold is essential for every woman especially married one.
Jigyasa Tamot, Housemaker
I think, it is a good decision. Earlier people used to keep gold jewellery but it is not so now. Nowadays, youth don’t like to wear gold jewellery rather artificial. It is my personal experience of the last 10 years. I myself use artificial jewellery.
