Kitties lose their bite

If one is not a part of at least three big kitty-groups in the city, then you are just not happening. And city socialites cannot bear that tag.

Housewives love joining kitties because it helps them socialise and bond with like-minded women. Some look at it as a great way of having a lump sum at one shot — use it for business or shopping or travel...

Most kitty parties are extravagant affairs, hosted in expensive restaurants and the women love sporting their designer wear clothes, bags, watches... Most importantly, the kitty pool ranges from '1 lakh (for the small ones) to over '20 lakh. And who wouldn’t like that kind of money!

But with Modi’s demonetisation move, the poor ladies are left stranded. Nobody has cash to pay, and kitty parties do not accept cheques or credit cards! So many have been stopped for the time being, with the plan to revive them next year, after the cash situation improves.

Said one lady, “Ours is a Rs 4 lakh kitty — we are 20 members and each one pays Rs 20,000. But now, nobody has the money in new currency, and nobody wants to accept old currency. How are they to exchange? So we have taken a two-month break”

Kittty parties that are in the mid-term are most affected. Those who have got the money are very happy, those who are yet to get will have to wait for few more months.

“Spending hugely on these parties is also being compromised. Lavish dos are not seen any more. Generally with the kitty amount ladies buy jewellery or plan vacations. Now it’s not possible,” says socialite and MD, Paramount facilities management, Shoba Sudhakar.

The big-budget kitties have been postponed. “Our’s is a big bubget kitty and we were forced to postpone it indefinitely. Nobody wants old currency. Our group is fine with re-starting in February,” says socialite Shashi Nahata.

It’s all about money and that too in cash. “Women get a sum of money to dispose off as they please on things they need or indulge. This is a lull period now. We can pay the hotel bill with a credit card, but for the kitty, contributions are only in cash,” says Sushila Bakodiya of Phankar, ladies organisation.

Says Dr Rummy Azad, a cosmetic dental surgeon, the parties will continue. “Kitties won’t go out of fashion. We are now planning cashless kitty parties where the whole idea is just to meet and bond. The present situation has not bogged us down. We still meet for lunch at home, chat, have a great time and take out chits to see who is going to host next party.”

Open and close
“With demonetisation, we can’t openly spend like before. Now we have to think twice before pooling the money. Many people are leaving kitty groups. It will take some time for things to get back to track.”
— Geet Gupta, founder of Femmis club

Right move
“Demonetisation, aimed at cleansing the system of black money and corruption was a good move. Initially, we were not aware of the consequences, but gradually when the ground realities emerged, we, too, began facing a cash crunch and stopped all kitty parties. We will revert to organising kitty parties only when the current situation improves.”
— Alekhya Reddy, director of Firewater and socialite

Ladies day out
“Demonetisation has hit the ladies party circle and become the favourite topic of discussion now. We also do cashless kitty parties where the idea is just to meet up and bond. The situation has not bogged us down. We still meet for lunch at home, chat and have a great time. We still take out chits to see who hosts it next.”
— Rummy Azad, Cosmetic dental surgeon

It’s about money, honey!
“Women get a sum of money to dispose off as they please — on things they need or to indulge in while keeping up with friends. There is a lull in the party business. We can pay the hotel bill with a bank card, but for the kitty, contributions are only in cash. The party spirit can’t be revived unless the hard cash situation normalizes.”
— Sushila Bakodiya, Phankar Ladies Organisation

No more dos
“Demonetisation has resulted in deglamourisation in social circles. There is a hold on kitties at the moment. Ladies in mid-kitties are the most affected. Spending hugely on launch parties is also being compromised. Lavish do’s are not seen any more.”
— Shoba Sudhakar,  MD, Paramount facilities management

How does a kitty work?
A kitty group usually has 20 or more members that meet once a month. A ‘Rs 1 lakh’ kitty would mean that each member pools in Rs 1 lakh every month, and a lucky draw is held. The person whose name is picked gets the kitty of Rs 20 lakh (for a 20-member group). The next month, she hosts the party while another member gets the kitty. Names of those who have already won are removed. A new round begins after 20 months.Rs

Some kitties operate like chit funds. For example, if the kitty is Rs 10 lakh, each member pays Rs 50,000 in a 20-member group. Here, the one who gets or asks for it first, usually forgoes a small percentage.

Many don’t mind that since they get a whopping Rs 10 lakh at one go, and can use the same for a big purchase or any other purpose. Many businessmen, too, are part of ‘big kitties’, where the amounts are huge.