jQuery UI selectmenu callback examples

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Rohan Shenoy

This is for those who are using Filament Groups or Felix Nagel’s jQuery UI selectmenu plugin to style HTML select or dropdown elements.

While the documentation mentions that callback events are supported, there are no usage examples or demos. After a little bit of digging and some experimentation, I found that the following events are supported: open, close, select, focus, change.

Most of us would be most curious for the change event. Below I have shown how to capture the new selected value from the selectmenu.

$('#my_select_element').selectmenu({
	select: function(event){
		alert(event.target.value);
		}
	});

Gumasta or Shop and Establishment License

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Rohan Shenoy

The Shop and Establishment License, also called as Gumasta in Mumbai and neighouring areas is a basic proof of business, just like PAN card and electricity bills or ration card to a person. Most of us have seen this in all shops hung in a frame. It enlists the name of the business, its owners(proprietors, partners, directors, etc.)

Gumasta, Shop and Establishment License

Getting a gumasta is must for any business. The pinch is felt by small proprietary concerns who run their business from home, or want to open a current account for such business.

Documents needed for getting the Gumasta:

No Objection Certificate from the owner of the premise, later to be put down on a non-judical stamp paper of Rs. 50 or 100.
Copy of registered rent agreement(if available; people who do business from parent-owned or family owned home may not require this)
Undertaking from you on plain paper regarding nature of your business.

It takes around 2 weeks to get the license with a few(3 or 4) rounds of the offices. If you need it urgently, the best way is to find an agent.

The office from where you get this license depends upon place to place. If you want to get the license yourself, you can ask any local shopkeeper and they shall guide you.

Tata Walky does not accept Shop and Establishment License(Gumasta) as a proof of business

Posted on November 11, 2010 by Rohan Shenoy

I recently tried for a Tata Walky landline for my proprietary concern, only to learn that I do not have an “address proof”, or rather “address proof as required by Tata Walky”. These guys do not accept the Shop and Establishment License(Gumasta) as a proof of address. This is something totally unheard of for me, because even banks and financial institutions readily accept it. Instead, they give more importance to rent agreements, etc. I run my business from my large house, so where do I get this “rent agreement” from?

Even when applying for a ‘Walky’ connection, the guys at the showroom do not seem to be updated with the latest information. Most of them only know about Tata Indicom. My application was delayed because the showroom where I applied from could not find the tariff page for my plan of choice(Data – 249).

I am thoroughly pissed off by this, and have promptly canceled my application and got my monies back.

Review: The Thane Janata Sahakari Bank – TJSB

Posted on November 9, 2010 by Rohan Shenoy

The Thane Janata Sahakari Bank or simply TJSB is a leading co-operative bank in Thane and surrounding regions. I maintain a current account of my proprietary concern in the Thane East branch of this bank. It been 4 months that I am using their services. I am putting down my experience with them in the short period so far.

Account opening and minimum balance

If you have the necessary documents, you can open the account in a single visit. You will get your a/c no almost immediately against which you must deposit the minimum balance. However, this is only provisional and not final. Though you get the a/c no immediately, the officials insist to wait for a week before you start using the account so that they can forwards the documents higher up and get the final approval from them. Minimum balance for current deposit accounts is Rs. 2000. Strangely, current account opening still requires introduction.

Cheque-book

For current deposit accounts, they charge Rs. 2 per cheque leaf. There are no free cheque leaves. The cheque leaves are not personalized. Though the bank claims that automatic personalized cheque dispensers are installed at every branch, the one at Thane East branch is not working at the moment. Therefore, I am yet to use one of those machines.

Branch timings and branch network

Timings of every branch vary as per the need to the locality. The Thane East branch works on evenings also Mon-Fri, and also on Sundays for the morning part of the day. Its quite convenient at times.

Since it is a co-operative bank, it is understood that it does not have a large branch network like SBI or ICICI Bank. So no complains about it.

Anywhere banking

There are no anywhere banking charges, even for third party cash deposits. In contrast to this, large banks mostly levy atleast Rs. 100 for such deposits. At times, cash deposits made at other branches take longer time to be “authorized” and finally credited to your a/c.

Internet banking

You can view transactions, generate statements, etc. You cannot do online NEFT/RTGS, must visit the branch for that. Cannot see pending inwards instruments. However, the guys at the customer care can see it, so you can just give them a call in case you must. You cannot register billers or pay bills through net banking. You can however transfer funds between your own accounts with the bank.

Mobile banking

The bank sends a SMS whenever funds are credited or deposited to your account. The SMS may be delayed due to network or operator issues. However, there is no information about the transaction such as whether it is a cheque, cash, NEFT, etc. There is something like ‘REF NO’, but it is always zero. May be, they have kept it as a reserve for future use. You can get a record of last three transactions, but you would only get the amount and its type – credit or debit. There is an function called ‘Fate of Cheque’ which I still do not understand even after repeated attempts.

ATM and ATM cards

They do not have those standard Visa or Mastercard cards. Also, its only a ATM card, and not ATM cum Debit card as most of the large banks offer. The bank has recently been a member of the BANCS ATM sharing network, though I hear from a bank official that there are still some hiccups. Have no idea if the issues still exist or have been solved.

Cheque depository machine

This is one of the best facilities because it does not require the branch to be open. You can simply push the naked cheque(without using any envelope) into the machine and also get a photocopy as a counter-foil. See image below.

Staff

Perhaps the most important link between the customer and the organization. I have not had many opportunities to interact with their staff since my account rarely goes on a bumpy ride, but whatever interactions I had in my normal smooth course were quite satisfactory. The staff is customer-friendly, quick to move, knowledgeable.

Customer care

Don’t know whether there 1800 number is toll-free or not, but the waiting times are not long. Usually, you get to directly speak to a human at the first call, unlike large banks where you must screw your ears with the crow-like holding tune and spend extended time on IVR.

Interiors

Though I would not have bothered for the interiors, I thought of mentioning because its completely overthrows the ‘sick’ image of a co-operative bank. I could not believe it when I first entered the branch. Having been to some small co-operative banks before, I really hated the fact that I had to open an account with a ‘co-operative’ bank. But when I entered this bank, I was astonished, and I am astonished to the day!

Overall

Deserves a perfect 9.5 on 10. Half point deducted for not having online NEFT.

WP Kubrick theme – getting sidebar to display on posts

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Rohan Shenoy

By default, when viewing a single post, Kubrick theme does not display the sidebar. However, if you wish to display the sidebar having to change the code, simply delete the single.php file from the themes folder.

I love Kubrick! Even though it does not come bundled with default WordPress installation now, I find it much better than TwentyTen – the new default theme Wp 3 onwards.