Diwali Sweets

From as long as i can remember in Air Force, sweets during diwali is procured for all the serving soldiers of Air Force, from a sweet shop in Punjab. These sweets are distributed throughout India after transporting it by air, by the Air Force. The sweets are of good quality when set against the price it comes for.

Two years back or so this particular sweet shop was providing Motichoor Laddu for 50 rupees per Kg. Today the price has escalated to Rs.86 per kg, still quite less compared to costs in other shops anywhere in India. No where does Laddus come so cheap. The Air transportation cost is borne by Air Force, as a welfare measure. If one takes into account the transportation charge, the cost of sweets could shoot upto approximately Rs.800 per kg.

This kind of expenditure can be justified, because it for the general benefit of the soldiers. I have had instances of knowing insider news when a regional commander had launched an aircraft to collect his Ray Ban glasses which he had forgotten on his visit to a place. The Ray Ban glass costs approximately Rs.3000 at the max, while procured through CSD canteen. The operating costs incurred by Air Force in bringing his glasses worked out to anywhere approximately Rs.2,00,000. The same commander had once forgotten his briefcase while returning from an Air Force station in another city. In his usual ways, he launched an aircraft to get his briefcase collected. The cost on this occassion for bringing his briefcase should have worked out to around three to four lakh rupees.

There are many kind of such people, who use their powers for selfish ends; never thinking about the huge loss incurred to the nation. But this Diwali its going to be a sweet one for me, as i have ordered 2 kgs of sweets and also my wife is joining from chennai during the festival.