No laughing matter this!

Familiar with the laughter clubs? Well, those who are participants of this club, would have all reasons to smile but those living in the vicinity often complain that the ruckus of laughter made by the members, usually middle aged and old retired people, is mind numbing. There are many housing societies where fights have broken out between the others and the laughter club members.

But we should be thankful that we wake up to only sounds of laughter but what about the plight of those in China , where they are unable to relax after work or children are unable to study because of loud music every evening?

Well, its become a national issue in China where old retired people and many middle aged too, put on the music in a portable player and dance away their blues in nearby squares and parks; their form of working out. According to a recent report by China Central Television, as many as 100 million people, mostly women in their 50s and 60s, now take part. And its not just a token dance that they do – right from traditional dances with silk fans, to folk music and contemporary, the seniors go for all dance forms.

Naturally, the Chinese Govt has stepped in and is making efforts to regulate public dancing. The southern city of Guangzhou has announced plans to designate "silent zones" in park areas abutting schools, hospitals and residential buildings, with fines as high as $160 for violators. In prosperous Hangzhou, residential committees have begun a systematic noise-monitoring program, using decibel meters, in areas where dancers congregate. In the central city of Liuyang, dancing groups in one community were compelled by the local residential committee to sign on to a "public dancing communiqué" that limits dancing to after 7 a.m. or before 8:30 p.m.  Wonder when this trend will come calling to India?