G plus volume 1 issue 21 by G Plus

VOL 01 | ISSUE 21 | FEB 22 - FEB 28 , 2014

`10 ges 24 Pa

`52 CR GHY GARBAGE PROJECT DOWN IN DUMPS

Kate Upton Catching Up, Pg 24

Weightlessness

Hawker strike in the city

PG 04

Dental Implants Wassup @

WARD

NO 03

PG 07

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Lead Story

`52 CR GHY GARBAGE PROJECT

DOWN IN DUMPS The city garbage collection system, managed by Ramky, has not been up to the mark in terms of efficiency. What is it that has gone wrong in a project which was meant to make Guwahati a clean city free of garbage and filth?

RAHUL CHANDA

ince ages, Guwahatians have been sick and tired of the hazardous and rotten odour across the city because of the unplanned and inappropriately managed wastes of around 2,80,000 households allover. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) is the local body, which is responsible for the maintenance of the garbage of the city and the body claims that it is working overtime to make the city look clean and garbage free.

GMC claims

To solve the everlasting garbage problem, GMC did a detailed study in 2008 and scrutinised the various ways in which the garbage could be managed and even recycled into power energy. The body prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR), which had some compositions. The major findings of the report had some important components, which had to be mainly worked on to initiate the plan.

DPR components Equipment for house-tohouse collection Equipment for secondary collection and transportation Treatment and disposal of waste The entire plan had an estimated budget of `52 crores. To get the financial help, the DPR was submitted to the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. The DPR was then verified and checked by the ministry. The Government of India then sanctioned Rs 35 crore for the project. Sources in GMC said, “After the government sanctioned `35 crore, there was a gap in funding of `17 crores. GMC did not have the money and neither was the government helping out for the rest of the `17 crores for the project.” GMC then thought of getting a private partner for the project.

The tender

In the year 2008, GMC floated a tender inviting private companies to participate in the project and also generate revenue in the meanwhile. The only company, which applied for the project was Ramky, and the project was awarded to the same company. According to the agreement,

“Till now Ramky has invested around ` 55 crores in the project but has not been able to generate any revenue. In fact it has just incurred loss by investing a lot in the project” – Ramky official Ramky was expected to make sure that certain things start working efficiently.

Ramky’s role House to house garbage collection Secondary garbage collection and transportation to sanitary land field Conversion of waste to energy Sale of energy So, Ramky was made responsible for taking care of the entire garbage system in the city and convert Guwahati into a clean and green city. Even Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi directed Ramky to leave no stone unturned to keep the city clean by strictly supervising the collection of garbage by NGOs from households and commercial establishments. He asked the organisation to provide necessary dustbins, machineries and equipment for disposal of garbage to

make the city clean. The Chief Minister also asked Ramky to upgrade its technology to make it environmentfriendly and to prevent damage to roads and pavements during the process of garbage clearance through machineries. But, did the plan work?

The failure

According to GMC sources, the garbage management project is a total failure. The source said, “Ramky failed to generate revenue from the user charges as they covered only 50% of the households of Guwahati. They were able to only collect 60% of secondary waste. The result is that the project was a total failure and the city remains dirty as it was in the past.” Moreover, according to the GMC, till date, out of the government sanctioned `35 crores, `22 crores were released to Ramky. An additional `10 crores were pumped in by the company to run the project. Recently, Ramky has sent a termination letter to the GMC, saying they want to terminate the agreement and will work only till 31st March.

The Ramky story Ramky Guwahati project manager Anupam Mishra agreed to some of the facts narrated by GMC regarding the project, but he explained the reason of the failure from their part. He explained, “Till now Ramky has invested around `55 crores in the project but has not been able to generate any revenue. In fact it has incurred loss by investing a lot in the project.” He further went on to explain why the project failed. He said, “There are approximately 2,80,000 households in Guwahati. We started collecting door-to-door garbage in Guwahati, but after a month, when we went to collect the user charge from the households, which was `50 per house, the citizens denied to pay stating that, they were paying the property tax and scavenging tax to the government. We then went to the government in the hope of asking for a way to generate revenue and provide service. The government asked us to cover 1 lakh households and they would pay us `45 per household. We started doing that and covered 1

lakh households. So, we were getting `45 lakhs per month from the government as the user charge for primary collection. However, the garbage of another 1,80,000 households, which we were not collecting was always a concern,. Similarly, secondary collection of waste was also not 100%, and if we talk about expenditure, we spend around 95 lakhs per month.” On enquiring about the waste sale and energy production, he informed us that the plant is already ready in Bora Gaon, but it had not started yet because of some technical issues. Ramky has decided to terminate the agreement with GMC, and will only work till 31st March of this year.

The solution

According to the GMC, the city cleaning job will be taken over by the GMC again and they have already formed a committee, which is working out the future plan of action. The councillors of all the wards will be involved and this will help in directing the ward households to keep the locality clean and also in helping in collecting the waste. The question here is that as soon as the GMC election took place after 10 years, and the mayor and councillors of 31 wards were elected, the elected members started accusing Ramky of not working efficiently in keeping the city clean. Why did not the GMC raise any voice all these days when Ramky was not working? Even Ramky might claim that they are incurring losses and hence want to give up, but why did they did not analyse the effectiveness of the project and agree on covering only 50% of the households?

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

G-View

Is the anti-tobacco act aiding the illegal tobacco business?

The recently passed anti-tobacco bill might be getting the right kind of nods from a large section of the society, but for the hundreds of people who earn their livelihoods by selling these products, it comes as a shocker and they are seeking aid from the government for alternative means. mrinmoyee hazarika

s soon as the Governor of the state signed the much hyped anti-tobacco bill during the last assembly session, it became an act. However, the success of the act solely depends upon the right enforcement of the same. The act bans manufacturing, trade, advertisement, storage, distribution, sale and consumption of non-smoking tobacco in the state. Following the act, the state government has imposed a complete ban on non-smoking tobacco with immediate effect. But the very resistance from the paan shop owners who have been demanding to include some other clauses in the act has raised questions on the implementation of the act successfully in the state. Because of the ban on smokeless tobacco products, the traders of the city have started trading those items secretly bringing it here from the neighbouring areas.

Their demands

The paan shop owners are demanding that the government create alternative income sources for the lakhs of pan shop owners of the state, who are now not allowed to trade any form of smokeless tobacco including zarda pan. This has eventually lead to the loss of their business and the pan shop owners of the city have come together and threatened to stir against the government decision. “With the recently passed antitobacco act, the government has imposed ban on all forms of smokeless tobaccos which indeed is a welcoming

move. But what about the livelihood of lakhs of paan shop owners in the state who have been living on the meagre income out of their business? Because, with the ban on all forms of smokeless tobaccos, the customer flow into the pan shops will fall drastically and will eventually affect the financial condition of the traders,” Prantosh Roy, general secretary of All Guwahati Traders Association said. In order to secure the lives of the pan shop owners of the state, the association has demanded one-time government grants to the traders involved

in the business. In the meantime, it has also asked the government to impose ban on cigarettes and liquors. “We are demanding the government to grant interest free loans (from `50,000 up to `5,00,000) to the traders and exempt the license tax from the traders for a period of five years. Otherwise, we would continue our protest,” Roy added. He also mentioned that the association would organise a general meeting on 2nd of March at Paltan Bazaar and hold a 12-hour ‘paanshop bandh’, starting from 5 am in the city on the very same day.

The irony of reality

Even after passing the anti-tobacco bill, the city markets are still flooded with gutkha packets. The traders too are trading these items, though secretly and charging high prices on it. Confessing about the ongoing trading of smokeless tobaccos, a city based pan shop retailer said, “After the ban on smokeless tobacco, I did not find such items in Fancy bazaar or any other markets in Guwahati and that is why I went to Barpeta road and bought such items for my shop. While travelling from here to Barpeta road, I had to spend money and obviously I had to pass it on to my customers” When asked about the illegal trading of gutkha and other forms of smokeless tobacco, Balram Sarker, general secretary, Greater Guwahati Pan shop business association said, “The health minister Himanta Biswa

“

We are demanding the government to grant interest free loans (from `50,000 upto `5,00,000) to the traders and exempt the license tax from the traders for a period of five years. Otherwise, we would continue our protest” Sarma has forced us to become thieves and smugglers. Because, if we do not have anything to trade in our shops, how would we survive and support our families?” The general secretary of All Guwahati Traders Association has also acknowledged the fact that the zarda packets are now being sold at `50 to `150 in the city, since the traders cannot sell it openly.

Authority speak

When we contacted the authority to enquire about the illegal trading of smokeless tobacco going on in the city, state nodal officer, National Tobacco Control Programme, Arundhati Deka told G Plus, “The anti-tobacco bill has just been passed and it needs a system to implement the act. Till now we have not issued formal notices to the whole-

salers or stockists. As soon as the gazette notification of the act comes out, we will send notices to the traders. By next week, we will be able to send the notice and over due course of time we will enforce the act successfully” She also added, “Informally, our officials are making rounds to the pan shops and production centres of the city. The DS group has stopped producing gutkha and our officials have sealed such items found with the wholesalers of Fancy bazaar. Besides, the trucks coming from West Bengal carrying such products are also being barred from entering the state. ” Responding to the demands of the All Guwahati Traders Association and Greater Guwahati Pan shop business association, Arundhati Deka said that the health minister had mentioned about banning smoking tobacco after banning all forms of smokeless products in the state. “So far, the state government has not decided about providing alternate ways of livelihood to the pan shop owners. Maybe, in due course of time, government will think about it. But, there is a national scheme of alternative agricultural cropping for the farmers,” Arundhati Deka said. All said and done, even the authority is showing their willingness to implement the anti-tobacco act in the state thwarting any kind of protest or agitation. But will they be able to check the illegal market of such products which has already started taking shape in the city under their noses?

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

In The News

District admin orders monsoon readiness In a recently held meeting, the District Administration has instructed all the concerned departments to take the necessary steps to reduce and prevent water-logging problem for the coming monsoon season. mrinmoyee hazarika

head of the monsoon season, the local administration has started gearing itself up to face the torrential rain and its aftermath - water logging. The Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (M), Ashutosh Agnihotri had called for a meeting on February 10 to discuss about issues related to flood, urban flood and landslide. In the meeting, all the concerned departments (GMC, PWD, Railway, ASEB etc) were directed to submit a contingency plan for the coming flood season for the year 2014. In the meantime, the employees of GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation) have already started the de-siltation of the drains of the city. The first phase of which started from last month and it is expected to be complete the de-siltation work by 31st March of this year. “Currently, altogether 35 groups are working under us to look after the de-siltation of the drains located even in the small lanes and by lanes of every wards of the city. On an average, a set of ten people are working in a group and presently they are engaged at various locations of the city,” an official source at GMC told G Plus. The source also mentioned that

the GMC has 93 drains under it. During the first phase, which started from last month, de-siltation work of eight drains located in different areas of the city have started. De-siltation work of another 11 drains will be started in the second phase and the cleaning of the remaining drains is expected to be completed by end of April. “There are six cross culverts on the GS road and de-siltation of those culverts is not an easy task. We will use JCB and three de-siltation machines, which we own, to clean the difficult

and underground drains (4 nos). The GMC has taken over eight drains from out of around 100 drains that belong to the PWD and de-silt those drains. Besides, we will borrow water masters from GMDA to de-silt Sorusola and Borsola beel and the same will be started within the month of February itself,” the GMC source said. Currently, de-siltation of drains located at GS road (from Ganeshguri to Bhangagarh), from Chandmari to Ulubari overbridge, Udalbakra (from Lalganesh to Powerhouse), from B.

“

Last year, we had issued notices to all the commercial establishments asking them to have their own garbage bins. We have also directed them to dispose their waste at the nearest GMC bin points between 7 pm to 6 am” Barooah inner drain to Nandan Hotel, Athgaon kabarsthan drain, Pakitola inner drain, from AT road to Sorusola beel, Juripara inner drain are going on under the supervision of GMC employees. During the meeting held at the conference hall of the DC office, Kamrup (M), the GMC was directed to cancel the trade licenses of the commercial establishments that do not have proper waste disposal and do not comply with the time-frame prescribed by the GMC for disposing the garbage. A strict vigilance and action to the establishments who dumps the garbage in the natural channels and drains was also directed to GMC.

“Last year, we had issued notices to all the commercial establishments asking them to have their own garbage bins. We have also directed them to dispose their waste at the nearest GMC bin points between 7 pm to 6 am. We have become stricter in this regard and will cancel the trade licenses of the commercial establishments who violate any rule of GMC,” a source added. Moreover, the water resource department was also directed by the local administration to start digging of the Bahini and Bharalu river immediately before the onset of monsoon. NHAI was directed to do a technical survey for diverting the water coming from Meghalaya to the Deepor Beel which will reduce the water logging in Guwahati city to some extent. ASEB was also directed to check and cover the naked electrical wires and electrical establishment so that any kind of accidents could not happen in future. “The Deputy Commissioner further mentioned that cutting of hills in Guwahati was banned. All the concerned circle officers and OC’s of police stations were directed to keep a strict vigilance in this regard and take immediate and necessary steps to prevent the same. Violation of the order may lead to legal action as per DM Act2005,” a statement from the district administration, Kamrup (M) stated.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

In The News

Bus conductor pushes man to death

Passenger’s death makes authorities huddle Mrinmoyee Hazarika

Right after the death of a passenger after he was allegedly pushed out of a bus by a conductor, the authorities have decided to tighten the noose on all city buses with even the passengers coming under the scanner.

he fatal accident of a passenger caused by the irresponsible and reckless behaviour of a bus conductor led both the transport department and the traffic police to act strictly. It was alleged that a passenger in his 50s died on the spot near Panbazar only because he did not have the right amount of bus fare with him. According to witnesses, the bus conductor got involved in an argument with the passenger and pushed him out of the bus, which eventually led to his death. Right after the incident, the enforcement branch of the DTO, Kamrup (M) sped up their drive on city buses plying on road. Moreover, on Thursday, a meeting was held at the DTO office, Kamrup (M) among the transport officials, traffic officials and the representatives of six city bus associations. Blaming the bus owners for their inability to control the bus drivers and conductors, Dilip Das, DTO (enforcement), Kamrup (metro) told G

Plus, “In the recent meeting held on Thursday, we asked the representatives of the bus associations to form a core committee to provide counselling to the drivers and conductors. Sometimes, the city bus owners who hire drivers for their buses again hire other drivers to do their job. The bus owners are only interested in collecting fares from the drivers at the end of the day and do not have any control over them. It has gravely affected the whole city bus service since the bus owners do not know who are driving their buses on the road and cannot take any action against the errant drivers” He further mentioned that in order to control the unruly bus drivers and conductors of the city, the enforcement branch of the DTO, Kamrup (M) had seized 12 city buses in its special drive held last Wednesday. All the seized buses had issues related to faulty documents and an amount of Rs 24,700 was collected as fine on the spot on the same day. “It has been a long time since the

city bus owners have not applied for conductor’s licenses. This is a mandatory process for the conductors if they are collecting money from passengers. But, we have observed that most of the conductors do not have any valid licenses and do not have any right to collect fares,” Dilip Das said. Another irregularity on part of the bus conductors is that they do not issue tickets to the passengers in return for their fares. Similarly, most of the passengers do not ask for any tickets and instead wish to travel on lesser fares.

“We are planning to impose fines on the passengers who travel on the city buses without a valid ticket as well. There is a provision in the Motor vehicle act, 1988 under which fine can be imposed on passengers who travel without tickets,” Dilip Das stated. Moreover, during the meeting held at the DTO office on Thursday, the bus owners were asked to prepare a database of the drivers and conductors and submit the same to the police stations as well. The haphazard parking at the city bus stoppages too has been causing a

great amount of chaos for the traffic scenario of the city. Therefore, the idea of building up of different bays for different lines of city buses at one stoppage was suggested during Thursday’s meeting. “When so many buses reach at the same time, it becomes tough for one or two traffic policemen to control the buses. Moreover, if the passengers or the public break traffic laws it would become hard for us too though, the responsibility to regulate the traffic is on us since we work on road,” Pranab Jyoti Goswami, SP, traffic, Kamrup (M) told G Plus. The traffic SP also blamed the bus owners for the unruly behaviour of the bus drivers and conductors. “There are issues that the bus owners do not sufficiently pay the drivers and hire them without checking their backgrounds,” the city traffic SP told. He further said that currently around 500 personnel are working under the traffic police department and it requires another 500 personnel to control the city traffic chaos.

HAWKER STRIKE DEPRIVES CITY READERS RAHUL CHANDA & SUBHOJIT ROY

The strike by the newspaper hawkers has caused a lot of problems not only for the publishers but the regular readers as well.

t is believed that the main conveyor of news is newspaper. Although there are many other sources of news like magazines and books in print media, radio, television channels and internet connections in electronic media, word of mouth, telephone and wireless communications no other source ever could come near the newspaper in significance and importance. But since the last few days, Guwahati readers are getting deprived of their usual habit of reading newspapers as the All Guwahati Newspaper Hawkers Association (AGNHA) has been on strike since the 16th of February..

Hawker woes

A 46-year-old hawker Surender Sharma has been distributing newspapers in areas like Paltan Bazaar, Marakhali and Chatribari for the last 20 years. He said, “We are on strike at present because the newspaper agencies are not giving us the legitimate money which we deserve for our services. I personally get 22% from the agency and if I demand 27%, which everyone else is getting, the agency says that this is all that we can provide you.” Similarly, general secretary of AGNHA Kamalendu Ahmed said that they claim that the hawkers get 27% as a commission for every paper they distribute, but when a hawker is not able to collect all the bills on time

and deposit to the agency, 5% of it gets deducted. He said, “We deal with people from different class and sections. We distribute papers to politicians, professor, engineer to even thieves and burglars. Everybody is not the same and the dealings vary. If we are not able to submit the bills on time, which happens on a regular basis, we get exploited off the hard work which we put in round the year.” President of the association, Dilip Barman said, “We have proper evidence that the agencies get 40 to 50% commission from the publishing houses, and what we get from them is 27%. We formed our association in September 2010 and since then we have been getting a uniform commission of 27% till date. We have submitted our concerns to the labour commissioner more than five times

and they have not been able to solve the problem. The agencies also do not want to come to a solution; they just claim that they get 35% from the publishers, which is false. We will fight for our rights.”

Agencies

The recent newspaper hawker’s strike in Assam has created a ruckus among the newspaper agency and the publishers. A meeting was held by the All Assam Newspaper Distributor’s Association in Guwahati on February 21 to tackle the situation. The strike that started on February 16 saw a huge amount of loss for the newspaper agencies. According to a newspaper agent of Guwahati, the strike was initiated by the hawkers without any prior notice or information. The Hawkers

The hawkers are demanding a 35% of the commission instead of 27%. We agents get an overall 35% commission out of which we pay 27% to the hawkers, leaving us with a marginal 8% of profit. It has affected the sales tremendously and we are trying our best to stabilise the sales through our newspaper stalls across the city Utpal Bhattacharya, newspaper agent

Association has demanded for a pay raise and has also pressed demands for providing the newspapers directly to the hawkers instead of the agents. “The hawkers are demanding a 35% of the commission instead of 27%. We agents get an overall 35% commission out of which we pay 27% to the hawkers, leaving us with a marginal 8% of profit. It has affected the sales tremendously and we are trying our best to stabilise the sales through our newspaper stalls across the city”, said Utpal Bhattacharya, a newspaper agent who has been in the business for around 30 years. He further added that the agencies are not at all ready to start any sort of negotiation with the hawkers association. “Any raise to the commission of the hawkers will only result in shutting down of our agencies and will affect our livelihood. Moreover, the payment from the hawkers is consistently withheld”, stressed Utpal. The leading news agencies of Guwahati have lambasted the hawker’s association for the uncalled strike. Meanwhile, the hawkers have also demanded for medical benefits for the sick and aged hawkers. It now remains to be seen how long the hawker’s strike will continue despite the recent appeal from Journalists’ Forum of Assam to settle the differences between hawkers, agents and newspaper owners without affecting the distribution of newspapers.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

In The News

THE WEEK THAT WAS

Road accidents on a high

ith an objective to make the trial process faster and to bring down the list of pending cases a new judicial district court has been inaugurated at Amingaon by the Chief justice of Gauhati High Court Abhay Manohar Sapre on February 19. The High court said from this time, the existing judicial district with its head-

quarters in Guwahati will be known as Kamrup (Metro), as the new judicial district court at Amingaon will be called Kamrup. All cases falling under the jurisdictional area of the new Kamrup district, which were earlier pending in the district courts of Kamrup (Metro), Guwahati, will henceforth be transferred to the Amingaon district courts. Those pend-

GMDA organises 2-day urbanisation workshop

ing before the MACT, family courts and Juvenile Justice Board situated at Guwahati will not be shifted. The Kamrup district judiciary at Amingaon will presently have five courts, including those of the district and sessions judge, chief judicial magistrate, civil judge, additional chief judicial magistrate and munsif-cumjudicial magistrate (first class).

City boy invents microchip-run-system Cartoon exhibition

city school boy, Afreed Islam has successfully designed a virus-protected microchiprun computer system to transform traditional comport devices. The tenth standard student from Guwahati’s Little Flower School launched the ReVo BOOK, an ultra-slim computer system on February 17. Compared to the hard disks available, Afreed’s microchip is four times faster, lasts longer and there is also no chance of losing data. Minimum power is required to run the ReVo BOOK and its portable size is a bonus. The ReVo BOOK is embedded with a microchip and a hybrid operating system. Where most computing devices use mechanical hard

wows city

T disk drives to boost up operating systems, Afreed’s invention replaces both mechanical and electronic hard disks with a microchip, doubling speed and storage capacity. Afreed is hopeful the ReVo BOOK will be immensely beneficial in offices, banks, academic institutions and industries apart from domestic computing.

Green Cab service launched in Ghy

reen Cab, a new radio taxi service has been launched in Guwahati against the over-charging autorickshaws on February 16. At its first phase, the service, started with a total of 20 cabs, all are Tata Nanos, will ply at government-prescribed fares.The cars are GPS (Global Positioning System) equipped and operate only within greater Guwahati. Rhino One, a city-based firm, with the support of the regional transport authority (Kamrup metro), has introduced the service. The Kamrup district transport authority opened up licenses for the taxi service last month. Kokeela Mazumdar, chief executive officer of the firm said that by March, the fleet will have at least 50 cabs. According to the new fare structure which will be

followed by the Green Cabs, passengers have to pay Rs 30 for the first two kilometres and will have to add another Rs 3 for every subsequent 200 metres. Passengers will have to pay 50 per cent more fare than the normal fare from 10pm to 5am. The cabs will also charge Rs 3 for every five minutes of wait time once the journey begins. Passengers can book vehicles on the spot or through telephone and even through the internet. People will also be able to make payments through debit or credit cards if they are not carrying cash. Basic facilities like first aid box and a fire extinguisher is also available in the car. Another important feature of Green Cabs is a panic button which passengers can press in situations of crisis or danger.

he socio-political scenario of Assam through the stroke of an artist’s paint brush has attracted the crowd of the Guwahati city. With a view to amuse the viewers and also to give them some food for thought, the 34 years old artist Nituparna Rajbongshi has taken the satirical style to demonstrate Assam through his cartoon sketches. From the UPA’s food security schemes to rhino killings in the state, the cartoonist has drawn them all. He has 50 such pieces to showcase. The cartoon exhibition got started on February 17 at city’s State Art Gallery, which will continue till February 22. Rajbongshi said these sketches are a result of his observations. He has drawn events from the recent past, both in the country and the state, which touched our lives. The importance of cartoon as a form of storytelling is on the rise among the youth. “People like seeing issues that affect them or trouble them in the form of caricatures. Globally, the influence of cartoons has been very significant and it is a powerful medium,” he added.

n recent times, Guwahati has seen tremendous growth and upliftment in various fields, be it infrastructural, educational, health or any other field. But this development is certainly not enough to stabilise the ever growing population of the city. With people flocking in from all around the northeast to Guwahati, the concrete jungle is getting denser by the day and requires a proper urbanisation scheme. Guwahati metropolitan development authority initiated a two day workshop on ‘Guwahati City in Transition- Urbanization and Green Growth’ from February 21 at Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara. The workshop was attended by Capt. Robin Bordoloi, MLA; Shri VB Pyarelal, Addl. Chief Secretary, Guwahati Development Dept; Dr. M. Angamuthu, CEO, GMDA; S Viswanathan, GMC Commissioner; Keshav Varma, Cities International along with many other dignitaries and experts. Major issues such as

Brahmaputra river front development , city regulation, relocation of street vendor without affecting their livelihoods, vehicular congestion problem on roads and multi-level parking facilities were discussed. Capt. Robin Bordoloi addressed the inaugural ceremony where he emphasised on the future projects that are under implementation and also those, which are in the pipelines. Keshav Varma of Cities International emphasised on the proper planning and overall growth of city. “We can’t develop our cities unless we open up the city to dynamics of the market. Requirement for a resilient city with overall employment, industrial up gradation, business opportunities, instilling civic awareness about the environment is an absolute necessity for proper stable urbanisation”, said Varma during the first day of workshop. It is going to be interesting to see how the expert opinions come in play in near future towards the development of Guwahati city.

Separate judicial district court inaugurated

he death of two persons and two other serious injury cases in three different accidents in Guwahati within 24 hours has become a point to ponder. The repeated incidents has not only raised a question over the ability of city traffic management but also revealed their ignorance towards the public safety. Several people alleged that traffic police had failed to control drivers of city buses who constantly flout the 30kmph speed limit inside the city. The first accident took place on February 18 when a bus (bearing registration number, AS-01AY-0072) was heading to Basistha from Jalukbari and the victimof 45-year-old had boarded it near the Kamakhya Gate bus stop. The man and the bus conductor had an argument over the fare, following which the

conductor allegedly pushed the man out of the moving bus. He fell on the road and came under the rear wheels of the bus. The deceased is yet to be identified. Those who gathered at the site alleged that the police reached the spot late despite calling them repeatedly. Several called up police and ambulance repeatedly but the police did not turn up. The person was rushed to hospital by 108 Ambulance but he was already dead. Another 35-year-old pillion rider died after being hit by a city bus near Last Gate. While an SUV hit a motorcycle from behind near Jalukbari flyover. Ashadul Rahman, the rider, was seriously injured. The biker was on his way towards Lokhra. The incident triggered protests and many who gathered at the spot tried to set the SUV on fire.

Stir over GU student’s death The Gauhati University students staged a protest over the death of a student near GU. Angered over the death, they demanded that the four–lane highway that bypasses through the university must be opened for public use within February 25. They also demanded that special bus services must be made avail-

able for the University students, apart from a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for Hussain’s family and a government job to a member of Hussain’s family. Pacifying the agitating students, the circle officer of Jalukbari revenue circle met the students and took their memorandum and assured them that the bypass four–lane highway

would be opened within February 25 and special bus service would also be made available for the GU students. The student died into the accident, was Azad Hussain, a 6th semester student of integrated M.Com student of Gauhati University, who was hit by a bus on February 19 near GU, later succumbed to his injuries.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Ward Watch

PANDU REELS UNDER ROAD DEVELOPMENT

AND WATER SCARCITY

Councillor hopeful development is just months away

PHOTO: SHUBHOJIT ROY

Shubhojit Roy

alking through the Pandu-Maligaon area, one can often see the beauty of simplicity in the old red brick railway quarter buildings. Ward No. 3 of Guwahati stretches from Adabari to Pandu, covering the areas of Sankar Nagar, Ananda Nagar, Boripara, BBC Colony, Triangular Colony, Accounts Colony, Rest Camp and Kamakhya Nagar among others. The entire area is primarily a peaceful region like most of the other wards of the city and like them, there are certain drawbacks which need proper focus and upliftment. On deeper analysis, we found out that, there is not just one problem which plagues the area. To find out more, we went ahead and talked to several residents of the area to understand what they want the authorities to do for them.

TRAMPLED ROADS

Currently, there is a GMDA water supply project in progress in the area which means that half of the roads in the area are dug up and excavated. Add to that the machinery, the bulldozers and huge metal pipes lying around making commuting extremely difficult. “The main Pandu area road is suffering from major road connectivity problem and with sudden weather change, the problems of pedestrians and businessmen have only increased. The GMDA project of re-constructing the road and water supply provision is taking a lot of

Areas Covered

COUNCILOR’S WORD

Sankar Nagar, Ananda Nagar, Boripara, BBC Colony, Triangular Colony, Accounts Colony, Rest Camp, Kamakhya Nagar etc.

No. of Voters 18,500 approx

(as per 2013 GMC elections)

WARD NO

Sub- Division- 3A/ 3B

Major Issue Roadways time and the work is very haphazard and on top of that, they lack adequate man power. The excavated area is now overflowing with mud and slush and making the roads very precarious for pedestrians to walk,” lamented Debasish Ghosh, a businessman of the locality. He further added that the recent rainfall has worsened the condition of the road and the pedestrians regularly require help to walk on the roads.

LIGHT THE STREETS

Since most of the area is covered by railway quarters, there does not seem to be much of a visible street light problem except for certain bye lanes and some interior areas. Howsoever, there are a few of them in need

of fresh bulbs and tube lights. ArindamDey, Marketing Manager at Ratnanjalee Jewels told us that the locality is all right for now except for some age old problems such as proper street lights and drinking water availability in certain railway quarters. Praising the councilor of the locality, he added, “The good thing about this ward is that the councilor is very people friendly, comes forward in the wake of any problem and tries his best to help the people”.

WATER LOGGED STREETS

Certain low lying areas of the locality suffers from water logging and requires attention towards a proper drainage system .Pedestrians

go through a lot of difficulty during the rainy season and have to navigate through knee-length water. Such areas are also prone to diseases like Malaria and others. Arup Sharma, working as a Technical Telecom Assistant in BSNL says, “I have been living here for the past four years and every year, during the rainy season, I have to walk through knee length water while coming to office. Brahmaputra Bridge Construction Colony suffers from water logging every rainy season. Drains here are very narrow and people have to go through a lot of difficulty.” On a lighter note, he adds that the people of the locality are very friendly and welcoming to each other.

Pradip Roy Councilor, Ward No- 3 “Our ward is a very eventful locality with year round festivities taking place. We are doing all we can to develop it more with the help from our ministers as well as our people. The re-construction of the roads will soon be over and there will be better connectivity. Drinking water problem is being solved as fast as possible and we have equipped many homes with water facility. The street light project has been sanctioned for many areas and we are working on the installations. There are some areas which needs more focus and we are working on it.” All said and done, if the councillor’s and some of the residents’ words are to be believed, then the area seems to be heading towards some significant development in the coming months. However, there were a few who feel that the planned work could be more streamlined and could have been executed in a more planned manner causing minimal hassles for the citizens. Well, that part, we believe is till some time away but we hope that too is not too far away.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Space

Concrete dreams of the city Guwahati city is a dream destination to settle down for many people of the region. With the development process in full swing, the city still has a lot of potential and will look to provide space and shelter to many aspirants. Shubhojit Roy

o have a home in the heart of city is a dream come true. With huge infrastructural development and ever-growing constructions, more people are lured in from outside Guwahati towards the aspirations of city life. But the question that arises is how affordable is it to own your own property or start your own business in the city? With such rapid infrastructural growth, the price index of city property is also getting higher by the day. Places like GS Road, Beltola and Zoo Road have a higher property price index in comparison to the other localities of Guwahati. A lot of factors

Area

A 2/3 BHK flat is a necessity more than a luxury these days and people flock in numbers to the builders’ offices to take information about the sites and the areas of a building.

Commercial Space Monthly Rent (Per sq ft) Showroom Space

GS Road Hatigaon Beltola Zoo Road

Non- showroom space

`200 and up `40- `50 `100- `200 `100- `250

`40- `60 `20- `30 `40- `60 `50- `60

Ownership Flat Rates (Per sq ft)

`3000- `4000 `2600- `3500 `3000- `4000 `2500- `4000

such as proper commutation facility, drainage, location security and others come in play while choosing a place

for stay or for business. “What I mainly see in a plot for a flat or apartment is the location, the distance from the

XAGE P60

BIG DEAL MRP

Remote Control Webcam (with Installation Manual and CD)

Take Photo/ Take Video/ Adjust Settings

`1549

Big Deal Price

`399

74% off • Cash on delivery (within Guwahati city) • Delivery charges `50 • Delivery in 5-7 business days • Offer valid till stock lasts

Order Now

8486002304 GPlus introduces BIG DEAL A unique opportunity for our readers to pick up goodies at unbelievable prices. So, stop gawking & start dialing.

main connecting road, comfort and safety. A home that is a little far from the city can be risky and in my line of work, I would prefer living closer to the city residents,”says a city dweller who is a doctor by profession. A 2/3 BHK flat is a necessity more than a luxury these days and people flock in numbers to the builders’ offices to take information about the sites and the areas of a building. The convenient locations and better road connectivity are the main things that people search for while choosing a location for owned property. We did one small survey to find out the average property rates of different locations in Guwahati. Features like open spaces, parking lots, balconies, elevators and a well located place for a flat is a must. The need for a perfect abode around the city is what is preferred most by the buyers. Coming about the commercial and office spaces around the city, most of the builders prefer sites that are inside the city and are located fully in and amidst GS Road, Zoo Road or Ganeshguri. As the demand of shopping malls and shopping complexes are growing day by day, the builders and realtors are investing mostly in commercial buildings throughout the city. Guwahati city has a huge potential for further growth as each and every day a new plot is being land filled to raise a new building. With hopes and dreams of many being fulfilled, be it with ownership of a flat, a shop or an office; the city is ever rising and it is inevitable that soon in the coming years, we will be living in a concrete jungle with high rises all around.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Business

The cost of democracy

Democracy comes at a price. Every election, political parties and individuals end up shelling out king’s ransoms in the name of publicity drives and campaigns and several sectors stand to experience a windfall during the upcoming LS polls. shambhavi

he festival of democracy, general election 2014 is expected to cost `3,500 crore, which is an increase of at least 15 percent more than the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. However, this is just the Election commissions’ estimated expenditure, which excludes the expenses of political parties and the money shelled out in security. In the Northeast, which accounts for 24 Lok Sabha seats, it is expected that more than `250 crore will spent by political parties. It is time for the market to tune to the business of election and get back the much needed liquidity. In the business of election, the first beneficiary will be the tent house makers, whose bill will run into several crores as political rallies requires makeshift pavilions made as per the security establishments’ requirements. Then comes the hospitality chain, which has to supply food-stuff, packet lunch and snacks in rallies, party offices, volunteers and press conferences. The bill here too runs in Crores. It is also time for the printing and advertisement industry to make fast bucks, as parties are readying publicity blitzkrieg. Assam government is unleashing publicity campaigns highlighting its accomplishments. The government has formed a panel of senior ministers to chalk out a massive publicity drive following BJP’s Prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi’s rally in Guwahati recently, which garnered unprecedented foot-

Some politicians hire the services of the security guards for a duration of two months. For every person hired, they are being paid Rs 5000 per month and in some cases food and accommodation is also being provided” falls, not seen in the political rallies in the state since 1980’s. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has constituted a panel, which will highlight the state government’s achievements since 2001. The publicity drive will draw a comparison of projects and funds Assam got during the two terms of UPA and NDA government. Assam’s agriculture minister, Nilamoni Sen Deka said that the idea is to reach out to the people. “We have done work and we want to highlight those using different media.” The season of election is also a time for writers to earn as fiery speech writing takes centre stage. So budding writers get an opportunity to earn fast bucks. Running parallel to them are the private security agencies, which get assignments for guarding the camps of political parties set up in different

corners. Politicians in Assam hire private security guards. There are over 55 professional security agencies operating in Guwahati alone. Some of them operate within Assam and others cater to all the Northeastern states. Sources in the industry, on the condition of anonymity said, “Some politicians hire the services of the security guards for a duration of two months. For every person hired, they are being paid `5000 per month and in some cases food and accommodation is also being provided.” With each election, the region has witnessed an increasing use of choppers to reach to geographically dif-

YEAR

COST (in crore)

1952

`10.45 cr

1957

`5.9 cr

1977

`23 cr

1980

`54 cr

1989

`154 cr

1991

`359 cr

1996

`597 cr

1998

`666 cr

1999

`880 cr

2009

`1,400 cr

2014

`3,500 cr

World Bank launches initiative in NE

he World Bank Group has launched development marketplace (DM) initiative in the three Northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram. The overall funding for the projects is over US$1 million. The India development marketplace initiative is a competitive grantbased program that identifies and supports non-profit and for-profit

organisations that effectively deliver crucial services to the poor. Development Marketplace 2014 will award approximately 10 organisations with grant funding up to US$150,000 (INR 94 lakhs) each. In addition to the financial resources, the awardees will be supported through a capacity development program delivered with the local partners. Jointly with the South Asia Inclusive

Business Models Group of the International Financial Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Drew Von Glahn, Team Leader, Development Marketplace, World Bank said “DM 2014 will provide an opportunity for innovative and committed social enterprises from across the country to share their work and scale up for improving last-mile delivery of key services and products.”

ficult areas. Logistic specialists like chopper providers, travel agencies wait for the season of election. The exact figures are yet to be known but Northeast India accounts for the largest use of chopper during the elections, the hourly charge of which runs into several lakhs. Interestingly, carrier charge of star campaigners who generally use choppers during campaigns are accounted for in the party’s account and not in the candidate’s. Freebies like yarn, blanket, misquote net, television, mobile phone, cameras and cash used in elections to garner votes is another source of expenditure. In freebies alone, more than `100 Crore is spent in Assam. Corporate donations and donations from the business class is now an established fact in the Indian election scenario. However, if election in Assam takes place during the Rongali Bihu (April 14), organisers of the Bihu functions will get political sponsors. Politicians do not mind spending on anything, which gives them mileage during the elections. However, if Bihu and elections coincides, organisers will get confirmed sponsors while politicians will end up paying more. Election and Bihu will also result in a boom time for the huge work force of 15 lakh weavers in Assam. Election generally sees a surge in both the demand and price of the gamocha. The turnover in the gamocha business comes to the tune of `200 crore every year in the state.

SUNFEAST launches MARIE LIGHT

ade with the choicest of grains, the Sunfeast Marie Light biscuits are enriched with extra wheat fibre, which makes them really Light. The newly launched Sunfeast Marie Light offers a choice of three varieties to pick from - Sunfeast Marie Light Original, Sunfeast Marie Light Oats, Sunfeast Marie Light Orange. The Sunfeast Marie Light Original is enriched with natural wheat fibre, 0% transfat and cholesterol. It is available in packs of 50 to 200g priced between `5 and `20. The Sunfeast Marie Light Oats is India’s first Marie with the natural goodness of three fibres – natural wheat Fibre, soluble oats fibre and extra added wheat fibre. It is available in packs of 120g and 250g at `15 and `30. Sunfeast Marie Light Orange is made with the best quality sunripened oranges. A 120 gram pack is priced at `15 only.

ADB approves Assam Govt. proposal

he Ministry of Rural Development has cleared the proposals submitted by Government of Assam for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Batch II under Asian Development Bank, 2013-14.

A total length of 499.32 km that include 202 new roads and 55 long span bridges worth `326.10 crore have been cleared. Union Minister for Rural Development, Jairam Ramesh informed this to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Health

Dental Implants RENEWED CONFIDENCE

All that you need to know about dental implants

n the pursuit of excellence and happiness of our general health and well being, the role of a perfect set of dentition (teeth) is paramount. A beautiful smile goes a long way in conveying warmth, trust, joy and fulfilment to whatever an individual is trying to express. Contemporary Dentistry has now come to ensure that a smile remains as beautiful as ever throughout the lifespan of an individual. Continual development in the various fields of dental science over time has ensured this. Better technology, materials, techniques and principles have been continually evolving to transform your every visit to your dental surgeon, making every appointment a more pleasurable one than the preceding visit whilst building your confidence and trust in the dental procedures being rendered. This has brought about an increasing awareness towards dental and oral health, which has a pivotal role in the sound health and fitness of a person. But even with the best of procedures , a strict maintenance protocol is mandatory and in spite of this, sometimes a root canal treatment is bound to fail, a fixed partial denture(bridge) is bound to get detached (debonded) , a cast partial chrome-cobalt denture will fracture. A complete denture will become unwearable/break; these could be just a few instances, but might be enough to dishearten someone who has undertaken the dental procedures and strictly followed the guidelines given by his/her Doctor in

of the Dental Office without the tooth at the missing site. This type of procedure is simple and usually indicated in single implant restorations, consisting of a single crown placed over the embedded implant.

In 1965, Professor Branemark, in Sweden pioneered the first successful Titanium Dental Implant after he discovered that titanium naturally binds with the human bone in due course of time. maintaining their dental health. So, the long term viability in these cases become a cause of concern for both the doctor as well as the patient; to this end dental implants offer a viable alternative ,as far as treatment efficacy and long term treatment outcome is concerned. Depending upon the type of restoration treatment and the requisite factors warranting so, dental implants are amongst the Leading dental treatments in the world today. Statistically speaking, there has been a success rate of over 95% the world over. Dental Implantology is the second oldest branch in dentistry,( the oldest being oral surgery) and has been in practice as early as 600 A.D. In 1965, Professor Branemark, in Sweden pioneered the first successful Titanium Dental Implant after he discovered that titanium naturally binds with the human bone in due course of time. Dental Implants are visibly of a screw shaped structure made from a combination of titanium and a few other alloys and have/mimic the shape of the root of a tooth, which are produced by different manufacturers by different specifications to achieve the common goal of Osseo integration (fusion of the Dental implant to the Bone of the Human Jaw). Dental Implants primarily are of two types: 1. Immediate Loading - Single Stage Implant (requires a single appointment to two appointments over a period of one to two days). 2. Progressive Loading -Two Stage Implant(requires four to six appointments over a period of three to seven months)

Health Tip

Dental Implants can be used in multiple applications - for example as a Single Tooth Replacement; as multiple implants in completely toothless jaws to support dentures. The Procedure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; After the patient is prepared for the surgery, the site of the Dental Implant selected in the upper or lower jaw is first prepared by surgical drills, which create a cylindrical area into the bone. Then the dental implant is placed into the prepared area with the help of the surgical drill. After that, depending upon the type of placement option chosen by the doctor and the patient together, either a crown is immediately placed over the embedded implant or the site over the embedded implant in the

bone is covered with the gum tissue by stitches(sutures)to be later uncovered for the placement of the crown. When multiple implants are placed, the procedure has to be a two stage Implant placement. Immediate Loading â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Single stage implant: This type of implant restoration procedure is mostly advised in the restoration of missing front teeth of the upper and lower jaws. In this, the time taken is less as the procedure is completed usually in a single sitting, with a temporary crown given immediately within the first sitting itself and a permanent crown in the next appointment. So, the Patient will not go out

Progressive Loading â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Two Stage Implant: This type of Implant restoration procedure is advised in any number of positions/sites of the upper and lower jaws and can include from single to multiple implant restorations. In this, the time taken is more as it is given for the bone of the jaws to heal and form around the implant/implants placed at various locations in the jaws. Three to four months are required for the healing of implants in the upper jaws and five to seven months are required for the same in the lower jaws. After this the implant sites are uncovered, gum formers are placed on the implant to form the gum around the prospective crown to be placed (2-3 weeks) and then measurements are taken and sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of the prostheses (eg. crown and bridge) planned for the given case and its requirements. These type of restorations are technically more complex as it requires a higher degree of precision due to the increase in the number of implants placed and the required prostheses planned. Either of the two types of implants have been for the past few decades; and also currently are amongst the most reliable, successful and aesthetic dental treatments available in our world today. And yes, as like with other advanced technologies it does come with a cost. Charges for a dental Implant procedure starts at `20,000, depending upon the treatment options planned by the dental surgeon and the patient. Whether or not a patient opts for a dental implant procedure is the exclusive decision of the dental surgeon and the patient - that they have to take together, because for all the myriad dental ailments, the dental treatments that are currently available. All are solutions that will continue to provide relief, comfort, satisfaction and happiness to the Dental Patient.

Dr Ayushman Baruah, B.D.S. is a practicing Implant and Cosmetic Dental Surgeon.

Always maintain the breathing in a proper manner while working out to prevent any kind of back injury. The proper way of breathing is to breath out during the hardest part of the lift and breath in during the easiest part e.g, breath out during lifting the weight and breath in during lowering the weight.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Life

BE HAPPY, YOU DESERVE IT! It is easy to find reasons and excuses to be unhappy. It is easy to crib and cry about one’s own life and then blame everything on destiny and fate. But the fact remains that happiness is what you make of it.

Ritu Gupta is a psychological counsellor dealing with people having individual, marital, job related and child related issues. She also assists Dr. Deepak Goenka with infertility counselling.

ritu gupta

ELLA DIABL

I answer all your questions on life, love and sex

appiness is a mental and emotional state of contentment giving us joy and pleasure. But sadly in today’s time, this happiness has been covered by other hard emotions. There are very few who will actually say that they are very happy. Definition of happiness varies from person to person. For some, happiness is spending time with family and for some it is spending time with friends. Some get happiness by earning money, while for others it is the power to party, which makes them happy. Each person’s definition of happiness would be different. Some who become very distressed and unhappy usually say that, “I wish I could buy happiness.” Happiness is not a commodity that you will find in the market. Happiness lies within each one of us. When we are faced with tough situations that we are not able to handle, we start blaming others for our unhappiness. If you want to be happy, you need to understand that you can be happy and that you should be happy. Many people make the mistake of believing that they do not deserve happiness and accept their unhappy state as their destiny. The truth of the matter is that happiness, like anything else in life, needs to be nurtured. The more we nurture it, the happier we become. Initially it takes a little effort to find happiness but later on, it becomes a habit and we start feeling happy in our own little ways. However, even when you get everything that is supposed to make you happy, life will have its ups and downs. Today your car breaks down; tomorrow you pull your calf muscle. If you look hard enough, you will always find reasons to be miserable. So stop chasing and start living. Wanting more is fine, but do not forget to relax and enjoy life for what it is – in the present. Appreciate the sky you see on

your way to work each day. Cherish each moment you spend with the people you love. Savor every bite of food you get to eat. Enjoying every experience will give you many new reasons to be happy.

FEW TIPS TO BE HAPPY

Understand what will make you happy: As stated earlier, everybody’s definition about happiness would be different. You as an individual have to find out what would give you immense happiness. Once you know you should go after it and achieve it. Nobody else will help you to attain it. You are the master of your own happiness. Make it your habit: Once you have made it a habit to stay happy you do not have to put much effort into it. You will automatically start staying happy and find pleasure in all the small things that you do. Happiness is a choice; you can choose to be sad when everything is going well for you and you can choose to be happy even when nothing seems right. To be happy at all times, you need to make happiness a habit and not just an act. Being happy means you have looked beyond imperfections. Be contented in life: Being happy with oneself and not comparing yourself with others would make you feel contented and once you achieve contentment you start feeling happy. Having a realistic approach towards life and accepting it would make you feel very happy. Each person is unique and has some good qualities so stop comparing yourself with others.

Surround yourself with happy people: Positive energy always make you feel happy so sur-

rounding yourself with such people who will give you positivity and happiness. Value life: You have one life to live and that too, a very short one. By taking stress we make it even shorter so the basic key is to make our life simpler and happy. This can only happen if we understand that happiness is a journey and not a destination. Take out some time for yourself: Pampering yourself once in a while and treating yourself by going for lunch, spa or spending time with your loved ones will give you immense happiness. So try it out Finally, it is important to understand that you deserve happiness. Those who believe that they are not worthy of happiness may subconsciously sabotage their efforts to achieve it. If necessary, tell yourself each day that you deserve to be happy and remind yourself what steps you will take to achieve the happiness you desire. Happiness is hard to define but most people are aware of whether they are happy or not. At the end of the day, bad things will happen to you. You will have highs, lows and a lot of mediums in your life because you are only human, just like everybody else. Many people believe that happiness is a form of luck and that some people are destined to be happy while others are destined to be unhappy. Always remember - never force yourself to make space in anyone’s life because if they really understand your worth, they will surely create one for you. Once we start following this we will be heading towards happy living. Always remember, happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.

Hi Ella, I am a 23-year-old girl residing alone in Guwahati. I had a crush on my boss and he seemed to like me too. One fine day he proposed to me and I accepted it. Our relationship was going on smoothly and I was very happy. We used to go out on occasions and one day when we went on a business trip, we indulged in sex. A few days post the trip he called me into his office and said our relationship would not work out and we need to break up. Till date I am clueless about the reason for the breakup. Now my parents have looked out for a match for me and have got me engaged. I’m worried whether that one night could cause problems in my life. Please suggest what should I do as I don’t have friends or anyone else to discuss this with. -Sujata You boss is an absolute pest and deserves to be whipped. You really don’t need to be clueless; to put it straight he has taken advantage of your innocence to get you into bed, and once he’d had what he wanted he packed you in. Trust me girl, men like these are pros at playing mind games and I am sure that he’s played such nasty games with other women too. Regarding your future bit, there is nothing much to worry, as the existence of a hymen is not really a reliable proof of virginity. Vigorous exercise, horse-riding, gymnastics and the use of tampons mean that fewer women retain their hymen anyway, so just chill and get on with your life.

If you have any queries for ELLA DIABLO, mail it to diablo@g-plus.in

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Money

A safety net for your family SHIELD YOUR INSURANCE POLICY. ROHIT SARAWGI Independent Financial Advisor

ebt is not a financial stress for an individual. From necessary household goods to high-end luxury cars, everything is available on credit these days. We even get incentives on purchases through our credit card. We also get free insurance on buying through equated monthly installments or EMI’s as it is commonly called, from a finance company and we can easily repay in installments without paying a penny towards charges or interest. And over and above, availability of goods or services on credit has become so hassle free. However, it’s still noteworthy that, debt also brings along an equal quantum of responsibility along with it. Things are rosy until our repayments become irregular. And what if after our death, our family, goes through the trauma of having lenders at the doorsteps. It’s a common phenomenon that, after the borrower’s death, the creditors recovers dues from the assets the borrower has left behind. This very thought haunted most of us before taking on more debt and we could only wish there was a way we could secure our family and their assets from our debts. Indian law, under the Married Women’s Property (MWP) Act, 1874 allows us to create a fence to protect our family from our personal debt.

Section 6 of the Act allows an individual to buy a policy for himself and create a trust for the same. This particular policy is free from creditors, court attachments or any of the creditors would not form a part of his estate. However, the law also explicitly states that, if the policy has been affected with an intention to defraud creditors, these laws would not operate to destroy or impede the rights of any creditors to be paid out of the proceeds of such policy. In this policy, the policyholder (the husband) looses all control over the policy with the exception of paying premiums and the policy becomes a property of his wife in the form of a trust where the beneficiary of the trust is only his wife and children. Thus, even if the husband dies before clearing all his debts, still the creditors would not be able to claim the funds from his wife as the policy from the very first day is the property of a trust and not his personal estate. In case the husband has not appointed any trustees, the estate shall be transferred to the Official Trustee of the State. Besides the insurance policy bought by husband for the benefit of his family, the Act also empowers the wife to buy another policy for herself independent of her husband’s which would also consider her separate

property as if she is unmarried. Thus, if one’s wife is an earning member of the family and has an income that is substantial enough to buy life policies, we should encourage the idea as it’s totally in line with the concept of insurance protection, especially if we have taken on a huge debt for our business. Kavita, was surprised when she came to knew this through her lawyer that, she could defend her own insurance policy from her husband’s creditors under the MWP Act. Her husband, who died in a train accident in Mumbai, had taken on huge debt early on in his business for expansion. His personal estates and insurance policies couldn’t suffice the requirement of the creditors. She is happy to have fenced

her own money-back insurance policy which she feels would help her in bringing up her kids in the future. The Married Women’s Property Act is still very uncommon among the general public in India and not many are aware about its features and the protection it provides, however, a policy under this Act is a must for families that have huge debt and do not have sufficient financial provision. The Act has made it very simple for a proposer (a married man) to avail such benefit for the family. One has to enclose an addendum form available with the insurance company to enable a particular policy to be covered under the Act. Such addendum has to be submitted along with the

proposal form i.e. at the time of buying the policy. The beneficiaries, mentioning of the names is a must, can be the wife alone or children alone or wife and children both. The proposer can further appoint a Trustee who can be an individual or a corporate trustee e.g. a Bank or the beneficiary himself. Certain restrictions related to domicile of the proposer and definition of children are there in certain categories which need to be checked at the time of filling up the proposal form.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Food

Sanjukta Dutta food enthusiast

Vegetarian Delights

A group of friends visited my home a week ago and demanded that I cook for them. The challenge was that they were vegetarians and they wanted to eat something different from the regular daalchawal-roti. So, I put on my chef ’s hat and made them dishes which they said were a delight. Well, I am more of a non-veg person, but then I discovered that I don’t fare badly in veg dishes as well.

PENNE PASTA IN WHITE SAUCE (sERVES 4)

hown here is exactly what I cooked for them and served them with buns and garlic bread. They left home contended and well stuffed and promised to come back for more. It is simple to make and gives you a break from the regular food that we cook or eat.

Ingredients (for the Pasta) 1. 250 gms of Pasta (as per your choice here I have used the penne pasta easily available in Guwahati) 2. Vegetables (as per your choice). One can use peas, broccoli, spring onions, capsicum, onions, French beans, carrots etc. 3. Little oil for cooking (replace the refined oil with olive oil) 4. Salt, pepper and chilli flakes for seasoning.

• Boil the pasta in a pan till the pasta is soft and cooked well (prick a fork in and you will know. Now once the pasta is cooked, pour the pasta in a strainer which will also drain out the excess water. Let cold water run through the cooked pasta. This will ensure that your pasta does not stick to each other. Now keep this aside. • Chop the vegetables in your desired pieces. Chop onions and capsicum separately. • Now in a wok, in medium heat, add some oil. Keep it minimum to avoid stickiness. As the oil heats up, add the onions and rest of the vegetables except the capsicum. Stir well and add salt, pepper and some chilli flakes (optional) for seasoning. Here at this stage right before adding the pasta you can also add some mixed herbs or basil or oregano (again easily available in dried form in Guwahati). • As, the vegetables are fried well (let it remain crunchy), add in the boiled pasta in that wok and mix everything together. Check salt at this stage. • Once it’s done, leave the pasta aside and let it cool. It is now time to make the White Sauce to complete this dish.

CORN AND SPINACH

Ingredients (for the Pasta) • Frozen Corn (available in the markets of guwahati and widely consumed here)- 150 gms • Spinach- 4 bunches • Some oil for cooking • Salt and pepper for seasoning.

How to go about it • Boil the corn in a pan for about 10 minutes. Drain the water and allow the corn to cool. • Boil the spinach leaves (wash them properly) for about 3-4 minutes and drain the excess water and put the spinach leaves in a blender and run it till the leaves become smooth in consistency. Keep this aside. • Now in a pan, over medium heat, pour some oil and allow it to heat up. Add the spinach that has been blended. Add salt and pepper and gradually the boiled corn. • Cook for sometime till the corn and the spinach are dry enough. • Add chilli flakes for the heat (optional) • Your Corn-Spinach is ready to be served with the pasta.

Surprise your family and friends and enjoy eating.

1. Butter (the ones available in the market works just fine) – 2 tablespoon 2. Maida (refined flour) - 1 ½ tablespoon 3. Milk (the ones available in tetra packs) – ½ glass 4. Grated Cheese (optional for garnishing) – 3 tablespoon

How to go about it (it’s very simple)

This is a very simple, yet mouth watering dish that can be prepared within minutes and surprise your family, friends and loved ones with your culinary ideas. This particular dish goes well with pasta and white sauce dishes. Let’s see how simple it is-

Ingredients (WHITE SAUCE)

CALORIE COUNT (approx) 1 tablespoon butter –

150 cal

150 gms cooked corn-

140 cal

Cooked Vegetables –

100 cal

• In a flattened pan over low heat, add the butter and allow it to melt. • Gradually add the refined flour and here at this stage keep stirring continuously till the butter and flour is incorporated. This will also ensure that there are no lumps formed. • As soon as the mixture is cooked enough and you have ensured that lumps are not formed, pour the milk into the pan with one hand while slowly stirring the sauce with the other hand. • Continue stirring till the sauce reaches into a consistency that is think enough to be poured over the pasta. • If the sauce is think add some water and if the sauce is too thin, add some milk to thicken it. • Once the sauce is done, pour it over the pasta and mix it well. • Before serving, you can garnish it with grated cheese.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

PHOTOS: PRANJAL PRATIMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PHOTOGENIC

Events

Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla, Principal Secy(Culture), Kumar Sanjay Krishna, CMD, NEDFi, Mr. Muktieh and Anita Deka Mahanta

Bajrang Lohia purchasing a painting.

Dancers performing cancer awareness show.

ODDYSSEY

The first art auction of Northeast India Date: 15th February, 2014 Venue: Hotel Brahmaputra Ashoka

Garima Saikia Garg, showcasing her unique designs with local taste

Few of the artistes who showcased their paintings.

Few paintings

Zublee performing

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Events

6th Pragjyoti International Dance Festival

QUASOFIESTA 2014

Date: 18th February, 2014 Venue: Rabindra Bhavan

Annual Management Fest

Date: 19th February, 2014 Venue: Guwahati Commerce College

‘Canvas of Dreams’inaugurated by Ashutosh Agnihotri, Dy. Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro)

Participants from the SOS Village, Parijat Academy, Shishu Sarathi, Snehalaya, Prerona among others are seen taking part in the event. The event was organised bya Kirameki Foundation, Guwahati

7days

Next DATE

VENUE

EVENT

22 Feb

Dighalipukhuri

Exurbia 2014 pre-launch walkathon

22nd Feb

Hotel Rajmahal

Sunday Night Fever

23 Feb

Ambari Traffic Rotary and back

Assam Vintage Car Pageant

22nd Feb

Club DMD

Smokey Girl & Poison Mr. 909

22nd Feb

Terra Mayaa

Shiva Joerg (Germany)

22 Feb

Assam Engineering College

Insight’14 - Case Study Competition

Want your event to be featured on this page? Just mail us at info@g-plus.in

Canvas of dreams Date: 16th February, 2014 Venue: Dighalipukhuri Park

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Web Watch

New Google rule says all new Android smartphones must come with KitKat

he Android memo is the first indication that Google is cracking down on fragmentation. The issue is one of the top complaints about the operating system from app developers. According to Mobile Bloom, the memo was sent by the Android team to its major OEM partners. Sony, Samsung, HTC, LG and so on all act as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for Google. “Starting February 2014, Google will no longer approved GMS distribution on new Android products that ship older platform releases,” the memo reads. “Each platform release

Marvel’s latest comic-book adaptation, directed by James Gunn and starring Chis Pratt, Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana, is released August 1, 2014

will have a ‘GMS approval window’ that typically closes nine months after the next Android platform release is publicly available.” Any device that does not receive

Google Mobile Services (GMS) approval would not be able to ship with Google’s core apps – including Maps, Now and possibly even the Google Play store.

First non-flammable lithium-ion battery will stop your smartphone, car, and plane from exploding

ithium-ion batteries, despite being one of the most important pieces of modern technology, have always had a particularly grievous flaw: they’re highly flammable. If you puncture a lithium-ion battery, or you charge and discharge them improperly, you’ll usually have a pretty bad fire on your hands or worse, if the conditions are just right, an explosion. Most notably, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was grounded in 2013 due to its lithium-ion battery packs

causing electrical fires mid-flight, but there have also been a fair number of stories about exploding smartphone batteries recently. Now, long overdue, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say they’ve built a nonflammable lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are prone to be incendiary and explosive for two reasons: because they’re pressurized, and because their electrolyte — the charge-carrying liquid that sits between the

positive and negative electrodes — is flammable. The electrolyte in an LIB is nearly always a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent, and most of these solvents are highly flammable. Because of these factors, LIBs are generally manufactured to a very high level of quality, but that doesn’t help you if the battery is somehow pierced (as in the Tesla Model S battery pack that was impaled and burst into flames), or if thermal runaway occurs.

New GPS-based system can tell how far your email has travelled

system that uses GPS technology to calculate the number of miles an email has travelled before reaching an inbox has been developed. The system known as Email Miles uses GPS and internet tracking to determine where a message was sent from and where it was received. It then calculates the total distance between the two and displays it on the screen alongside a map. The creator of the system, Jonah Bruck-

Marvel, Guardians of the galaxy first trailer out

er-Cohen, a design lecturer, said he hoped it would remind people how quickly they can communicate today in a digital world, ‘The Times’ reported. The system shows how indirect the route of emails can be. An email sent from New York to Dakar, Senegal, shows how this works. It travelled 790 miles (1,271 km) to a server in Chicago Illinois, and went 2,163 miles (3,481 km) to Mountain View, California; 1,699 miles (2,734 km) to

Dallas; 4,745 miles (7,636 km) to London; and 2,718 miles (4,374 km) to its destination - 12,115 miles (19,497 km) in all. Brucker-Cohen said the system does all of its time and distance calculations using the internet and a coordinate mapping system. “When all of the mileage amounts are tallied, it adds them all and provides the user with a map, the countries, continents and miles the email travelled,” Brucker-Cohen said.

‘Nude scanner’ mobile app ad banned for being demeaning to women

TV ad for a “nude scanner” mobile app has been banned for being demeaning to women. The Advertising Standards Authority received 26 complaints that the ad, which aired during six episodes of Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, was demeaning to women and was broadcast when children might see it. It showed a phone with the Nude Scanner 3D app giving the impression it was “scanning” a woman’s

body and revealing her naked but with her private areas blurred out. In banning the ad, the ASA said: “Because the ad focused on the product’s apparent ability to enable the user to view naked images of women using the camera on their phone, and had a prolonged focus on the female model, we considered it was unsuitable for a child audience and was likely to be viewed as demeaning to women and, therefore, offensive.”

he first trailer for highly anticipated Marvel film, Guardians of the Galaxy, has been released after premiering during the US talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Facebook to buy WhatsApp for $19 bln in deal shocker

acebook Inc will buy fast-growing mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock in a landmark deal that places the world’s largest social network closer to the heart of mobile communications and may bring younger users into the fold. The transaction involves $4 bil-

lion in cash, $12 billion in stock and $3 billion in restricted stock that vests over several years. The WhatsApp deal is worth more than Facebook raised in its own IPO and underscores the social network’s determination to win the market for messaging. Founded by a Ukrainian immigrant who dropped out of college, Jan Koum, and a Stanford alumnus, Brian Acton, WhatsApp is a Silicon Valley startup fairy tale, rocketing to 450 million users in five years and adding another million daily. “No one in the history of the world has ever done something like this,” Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on a conference call on Wednesday.

Nike to launch ‘Back to the Future’ boots

ike designer Tinker Hatfield has confirmed that the company is working hard to launch the trainers in time for Marty McFly’s ‘arrival’ in the future. In Back to the Future Part II, Marty travelled forward in time from 1985 to October 21st 2015. In one scene, Marty is seen putting on self-lacing Nike High Top that automatically adjust to his feet. Speaking to trainer news site Sole Collector, Hatfield said: “Are we going to see power laces in 2015? To that, I say yes!”. Nike applied for a patent covering “automatically lacing trainers” in 2010. In 2011, the company also unveiled a special limited edition Nike Mag trainers, based on the trainers worn by Marty – albeit without the automatic lacing technology.

A total of 1,500 pairs were made and auctioned off to raise money for the Michael J Fox Foundation. The auction raised £3.4 million for the charity, whose namesake played Marty McFly in the films and suffers from Parkinson’s. His organisation funds research into the disease. If Nike does launch self lacing boots, expect them to land on October 21st 2015 to tie in with the film.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Reviews

Sholay: The Graphic Novel Author: Sharad Devarajan, Sascha Sippy

You should read

F Director: Imatiaz Ali Cast: Randeep Hooda, Alia Bhatt

li’s latest venture, Highway, is not only a terrific movie, but also an achievement in commercial Bollywood cinema. As a bonus, it also has a pleasant surprise: Alia Bhatt is a major acting talent. Highway is a character-driven film in which Bhatt plays Veera, a wealthy Delhi girl who gets kidnapped by a gang of bandits headed by Mahabir (Randeep Hooda). Like in A Life Less Ordinary, Veera is afflicted with a serious bout of Stockholm Syndrome. However, Veera is less like Cameron Diaz from that movie or the lovestruck Faye Dunaway in Three Days of the Condor, and more like Zhang Ziyi in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon – a vulnerable child with a fractured personality. Her attraction to Mahabir is confounding in one moment, heartbreaking in the next and hilarious when you least expect it to be. If you’re an Imtiaz Ali fan, you’ll be stunned by how different Highway is compared to his previous films, in both concept and form. The first thing you’ll notice is how subtle and quiet the film is. Despite a soundtrack by AR Rahman, there is very little background music in the film. There are no tacky reaction shots and no helpful musical cues to spoonfeed the audience. The most dramatic scene of the film is enacted against pin drop silence, relying upon characters rather than background music to move you. There are no song and dance numbers, and the film plays out like an offbeat indie, crossing over to arthouse territory a lot of times. For a film that is being released commercially, there is plenty of unconventional stuff in Highway. Often, the camera just follows Bhatt and keen movie buffs will be able to figure out the scripted scenes from the spontaneous ones, like the one in which Veera is trying to negotiate with a rock on a rapid stream. There’s another really funny bit when Veera pops in an English music CD in Mahabir’s truck and starts break dancing on the highway. Mahabir is a dacoit but isn’t a stereotypical, ‘rapey’ Punjabi gunda, he actually gets annoyed when Veera clings on to him. Highway’s commercial elements arrive only in the second half, but they don’t get in the way

of the story. It doesn’t try to be The Motorcycle Diaries or preach about Mother Nature giving the protagonists a perspective upon life. Veera changes as she travels with Mahabir across deserts and mountains, but the change is gently realized. They’re welded together with the songs and imagery, showing the protagonists driving through various terrains. Two people discover themselves at their loneliest, and with Mr Rahman’s music trickling in the background, it’s tough to dislike what’s happening on the screen. The one legitimate criticism one could bring up is that Veera’s breakthrough scene with Mahabir, in which she opens up to him emotionally, pops up out of the blue. It’s the one time in Highway that the editing is jarring, but it’s easy to glance over because of Bhatt’s moving performance. After watching Bhatt’s debut film, few expected Bhatt to do anything more than the safe and stereotypical song and dance comedies. In Highway, she punches the entitled star kid stereotype and shocks you with both her range and dedication. Despite Hooda’s decent performance, it is Bhatt who carries the film on her petite shoulders without breaking a sweat. The film is practically a collage of Bhatt moments and she pulls off all the moments very well. What could have been hammy and laughable comes across as endearing. She even excels at a tremendous, fiveminute long, single take shot in the climax – a million things could have gone wrong here, but Bhatt hits the right notes, thanks no doubt to Ali’s direction. With Deepika Padukone, Parineeti Chopra and now Bhatt, the future of Bollywood’s leading ladies seems bright. A scary prospect is that Highway might not make money at the box office. Some will no doubt criticize the film’s silences, long takes and lack of naach gaana. That’ll be a shame because it’s not often that a successful commercial filmmaker has the courage to take a sharp left from the blockbuster formulae and make something that’s different. There is so much to appreciate in Highway and if it can goad other commercial filmmakers to take notice and also dare to try something new, we’ll all be richer for it.

or over 30 years the story of SHOLAY has electrified India and the world. Now experience the epic story in a whole new way with this official graphic novel adaptation! A must have collectible book for every Sholay fan. Relive the classic story of Thakur’s quest for revenge against the bloodthirsty and maniacal daaku, Gabbar Singh, and the bond of friendship between Jai and Veeru who have captured the hearts and minds of an entire nation. Discover why SHOLAY remains a beloved and treasured cinematic masterpiece.

The College Dropout MUSIC REVIEW

Artist: Kane Waste

t has been 10 years and one day since the debut of Kanye West’s The College Dropout. We all know the story of Kanye getting into the rap game: how Dame Dash and Jay Z signed him without knowing how far he’d go, how other labels passed on the chance to sign Kanye as a rapper, and how their expectations outside of his talents as a producer were extremely low— good going, guys. Once Kanye cleared that hurdle and seized the opportunity to release his debut album, the next challenge was winning over critics and fans. In 2004, we were still getting our record reviews from major print publications—and sporadically at that. Some magazines reviewed rap CDs late, some early, and some

not at all. Internet journalism was just beginning to become the phenomenon that it is today (although free downloading was already eating into album sales). By and large, the masses still looked to critics—rather than bloggers or social media— to gauge whether or not they should bother listening to (or even buying) an album. Ten years later it’s easy to call The College Dropout a classic (mainly because it is), but because Kanye was still at the start of his rap career, music critics weren’t quite sure what to make of him. As part of our College Dropout week, we asked the writers who critiqued Yeezy’s debut to take a look back, reflect on the decade gone by, and review their own reviews.

Director: Pawan Kripalani Cast: Jimmy Shergill, Nushrat Bharucha, Arif Zakaria, Asif Basra

arr @ the Mall is directed by Pawan Kripalani, who made his debut with Ragini MMS. The film features Jimmy Shergill, Nushrat Bharucha and Arif Zakaria in the lead roles. The movie which is presented and produced by Multi Screen Media (MSM) and Contiloe Entertainment, is based on a haunted mall. Now, lets begin our movie review. Asia’s largest mall which is ready for opening, has a myth attached to it that it is haunted. Mr. Manchanda who is the owner of the mall, in order to rubbish such rumours, and to get a free publicity for the mall announces that he and his board of directors will spend a night in the mall. They aren’t the only ones in the mall Manchanda’s daughter Ahana & her junky friends make their way inside, so does 24 year old Vishnu, the chief of security at the Mall. And soon the inevitable strikes, their stories connect and they are lead to the mysterious past. Pawan has done a tremendous job in making a good movie which keeps you on edge of your seats all the time. The mystery and the horror quotient are nicely intgerated in the movie. Out of the whole star cast, Jimmy Shergill’s performance stands out. And the special effects used in the movie are good in comparison to the ones used in other Bollywood movies. All in all, Darr @ the Mall is a decent movie which the horror genre affectionados should watch atleast once.

NOW SHOWING Apsara Cinema Highway

Daily at 2.00 PM

Darr@ the mall

Daily at 8.00 PM

Gunday

Daily at 11.00 AM, 5.00 PM

Anuradha Cineplex

Fun Cinemas Daily at 12.30, 6.00 PM

Daily at 10.45 AM, 2.00, 5.15, 8.30 PM

Daily at 9.40, 3.00, 8.30 PM

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Your weekly dose of HOROSCOPE ARIES

Your early adoption of some gadget or catchphrase on Monday will have positive repercussions for you throughout the week and might set you on a new path. Your management skills will come into play midweek, and will definitely work to your advantage. The more people you’ve got on your side, the better. By Friday at the latest, your vision will be taking shape in reality and you’ll have all the assistance you can use. Watch out for little frustrations over the weekend — you might tend to blow them out of proportion.

TAURUS Monday will feel a little bit unfair, like everyone has won a prize but you. The feeling won’t last long, because by early Tuesday morning you’ll be feeling grounded and able to reclaim any lost ground. In fact, midweek will be a good time for you to expand your ambitions and set new goals. People whom you don’t know well will rub you the wrong way on Thursday or Friday, but it’s just superficial personality conflict rather than a sign of deeper hostility. Get together with friends over the weekend, especially if you’re feeling down.

GEMINI You’ll be thinking and operating on a deeper level on Monday. You’ll take your current interests somewhere you hadn’t expected to go. Family or business partners might start acting dictatorial on Tuesday, but it won’t last long and you’re probably better off just going along until they get bored. Late in the week you will be open to new ideas and might find someone who’s on your wavelength to expand your conceptual space. The weekend will inspire you to at least think about making a big change in your life. Try to articulate your desire as clearly as possible.

CANCER Do something nice for yourself on Monday, and don’t let yourself make a single sacrifice unless it’s vital to your sense of self. Your sensory and interpersonal awareness will be extremely sensitive through Thursday, so get ready for a barrage of data that might overwhelm from time to time. Your emotions will be out of sync with most people late in the week. Expect to feel a sense of alienation, but also a sense of pride in feeling honest emotions. Stick with big-picture or creative tasks over the weekend.

LEO You’ll be on the cutting edge all day Monday, but not so far out that you make your friends nervous. Midweek brings a strong sense of needs — both your own and others’. Try to help out as much as you can, but don’t neglect yourself. You’ll have all the answers on Thursday and Friday, and your friends and family will be glad for all your help and advice. The weekend will bring an opportunity, but you should be profoundly skeptical. That’s not to say you shouldn’t take it — but examine it carefully first.

VIRGO Though you’ll feel constrained by family or work obligations on Monday, try to just go with the flow and let freedom come naturally. Soon — as early as Tuesday morning — you’ll see a definite payoff, as well as an upwelling of powerful creative energy. Later in the week, you’ll need to be flexible as little diversions and interruptions get in the way of your daily routines. On Saturday and Sunday, you’ll have to be the driving force for the group, but don’t get too frustrated if others dawdle.

TIMEPASS

LIBRA Very early in the week, you’ll feel like exploring some new territory. It might be actual turf, or it might be emotional — go wherever you feel is calling out for you. By Tuesday morning you’ll have reached your limit in at least one direction. It might be an authority figure in your way or a mental block. Later in the week you’ll feel in touch with those around you, and have a much sharper insight into their thinking than you had in the past. The weekend will be busy but slow, so don’t get frustrated if it turns out that no individual project advances very far.

SCORPIO Follow along with the flow around you on Monday — but keep a wary eye on the road ahead. The middle part of the week is great for career moves. You’ll be in the good graces of your supervisors and will have a firm understanding of your ambitions. An unexpected message or complaint comes late in the week from parents, elderly relatives or possibly an old friend. It won’t be pleasant at first, but you can turn it into a positive. Try to stick with creative pursuits over the weekend. Your juices will really be flowing.

SAGITTARIUS Monday is great — you’ll be in the best mood you’ve seen all month or maybe all year. The good mood will last longer if you take time out for artistic culture midweek. Try to soak up something totally new to you. Your social skills will be sharp on Thursday and Friday, which is good timing as you’ll meet one or more new people that will grow into important roles in your life. Be very careful with valuables over the weekend: Your attachments to material things will be extremely tenuous.

CAPRICORN Step into the week carefully and confidently. If you know where you’re going and have the trip planned, there won’t be any problems. Midweek you’ll be rewarded or otherwise recognized for your great performance. It’s a good time to finish up projects and start on new ones. New ideas will be a dime a dozen later on, so try to stall on taking any action that deviates too far from your pre-existing plans. Over the weekend, you’ll be able to get a lot done, even without much help. Music will be a great way to break up the work time.

AQUARIUS Big changes are afoot on Monday, and they’ll be mostly for the good. You might find yourself thinking about new directions. Tuesday and Wednesday will be fairly mysterious — it might seem as if everything just happens on its own, without any discernible cause. Stay flexible and the feeling will pass. Your brilliance will be on display toward the end of the week, and you’ll scoop up some new believers as you rattle off your plans for change. Be careful with spending over the weekend — make sure that you balance your own needs with your generosity.

PISCES Keep your eyes and ears open on Monday — you’ll need to be fully attentive to catch the most important exchanges. The middle part of the week will be focused on group activities. You’ll be able to identify a change or addition that will help everyone tremendously. By Friday, your mind will be working overtime. Give it a rest by taking in a movie or vegging with a video game. Anything that can take your mind off the current situation will be perfect. The weekend will be wonderful for you, and those around you will take delight in your creative impulses.

JUST FOR LAUGHs One night, Mulla Nasrudin’s father noticed a light in his barn. He went to see what it was all about and he found Nasrudin with a lantern, all dressed up. “What are you doing all dressed up and with that lantern?” asked his father. “I am going to call on my girlfriend, Dad,” said Nasrudin. “I

SUDOKU

have got to go through the woods and it is dark.” “When I was your age calling on my wife for the first time,” said the father, “I went through the woods without a lantern.” “I KNOW,” said Nasrudin, “BUT LOOK WHAT YOU GOT, DAD!”

Solutions (Last Issue)

Fun

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Travel

SANT ORINI G Plus Feature

cupied by some villa. And this doesn’t seem to change for years, judging by 2001-2005.

G Plus Feature

antorini rocks in more ways than one. Few will be unmoved by the scale of the island’s 16 or so kilometres of multicoloured cliffs, which soar up over 300m from a seadrowned caldera, the vast crater left by one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history. Lesser islands curl around the fragmented western edge of the caldera, but it is the main island of Thira that will take your breath away with its snow drift of white Cycladic houses lining the cliff tops and, in places, spilling like icy cornices down the terraced rock. Thira is geared to a conspicuous tourism that is underpinned by enthralling archaeology, fine dining, major wineries, front-row sunsets and a vibrant nightlife. There are even multicoloured beaches of volcanic sand. You’ll share the experience for most of the year with crowds of fellow holidaymakers and day visitors from huge cruise ships, but the island somehow manages to cope with it all.

The touring season starts April 1, or around Greek Easter. The period from December through March is very much the off-season and marked by colder temperatures, rain and winds. Although the temperature is rarely cold, the poor weather makes for a less than optimal experience on this beautiful island. Most of the businesses, including hotels and guest houses, may be closed. The air is usually hot and dry during the busy summer months with very little rain between May and September. Ideal times to visit, for milder weather, lower prices and crowds, are April-June and September-October. A popular method of getting around is to rent ATVs, though the “all-terrain” part is a misnomer, as most ATV riders are tourists riding on the paved road. ATVs share the road with other drivers and are usually all over the island. The island is small enough to travel around on an ATV, and is a cost-effective way to self-explore the further reaches of San-

A Popular Method Of Getting Around Is To Rent Atvs, Though The “All-Terrain” Part Is A Misnomer, As Most Atv Riders Are Tourists Riding On The Paved Road.

torini. ATV rental shops are all around the island, so it’s best to ask your hotel owner/concierge on the closest/most trusted vendor. You will need your local driver’s license to ride one of these, and a helmet is recommended. Some hotels advise booking a taxi in advance, as there are not enough available taxis on the island during high season. As is the rule in the Cyclades, taxi fares are typically shared between multiple passengers, so don’t be surprised if your cabbie picks up more passengers during your trip. It takes about 50 minutes to drive the island from end to end (from Vlichada to Ia). Santorini ranks among top destinations for wedding celebrations for at least 4 years -- primarily for sunset and peace, like those in Oia. Couples often arrive with few friends, stay in Ia (places like Fanari Villas). Groups often arrive in the beginning of the week -- judging by demand for cabrios and number of corteges seen on Mondays compared to weekends. While the island is full of mediumand top-cost hotels and villas, there are still lots of abandoned caves and modest private houses where noone seems to live for a long time - even in western Oia where every inch seems to be oc-

Thirassia: small island near San-

torini; place with more authentic villages, buildings and even churches. Take a look at hymnasia: in the yard, pupil painted children on the walls.

Boat excursions: volcano island

(NeaKameni) - hot springs (PaliaKameni) - Thirassia

From Ia: departure from Ammoudi

bay at 10:50AM (starting and end point); a bit later from Armeni bay. 1hr 30min at volcano island; 45min for hot springs; 2hrs for Thirassia (incl. time for lunch). Meals are not included, normally the guide advises you to visit

Captain Jack’s tavern, which is self service if you arrive with a big group or operates with waiters if you don’t. This restaurant serves amazing fresh seafood at the cheapest prices. Testament to how good it is, is the fact you will notice that none of the adjacent restaurants are ever busy. Only this one.

Faros. A lighthouse near Akrotiri,

west of the southern part of the island. Rocky cliff, interesting for taking photos. Although you cannot enter the lighthouse, which is run by Greek Navy, it’s a great and tranquil place for taking photos. edit

A viewpoint behind Iris hotel (close to center of the island): great for taking sunset photos with a sea and palm trees.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

G-Talk

Can the state government influence the judiciary? Santanu Kumar Sarkar

arpita das

Advocate, Gauhati High Court

Banker

POINT

n a setback for the Tamil Nadu government, the Supreme Court stayed the release of seven people convicted of killing former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The decision came on the Centre’s plea to put on hold Tamil Nadu’s plan to release all the convicts. The Jayalalithaa government had sanctioned their release contending that these convicts had been acquitted of the charges slapped under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, or TADA, a central law, and it was not bound to seek the Centre’s concurrence before setting them free. Jayalalithaa clearly sees the Supreme Court decision as an opportunity in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election to capitalise on a perceived anti-Congress mood and upstage arch-rival M Karunanidhi in wooing the Tamil nationalist vote. Consequently, she made plain her intentions to free the convicts irrespective of the Centre’s opinion. Now the Rajiv Gandhi murder case was being investigated by a national investigation body which is the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).The basic civil and criminal laws governing the citizens of India are set down in major parliamentary legislation, such as the Civil Procedure Code, the Indian Penal Code, and the Criminal Procedure Code. The union and individual state governments all each consist of executive, legislative and judicial branches. The legal system as applicable to the federal and individual state governments is based on the English Common and Statutory Law. India accepts International Court of Justice jurisdiction, albeit with several reservations. The executive, legislative and judicial depart-

COUNTERPOINT

“

Jayalalithaa clearly sees the Supreme Court decision as an opportunity in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election to capitalise on a perceived antiCongress mood and upstage arch-rival M Karunanidhi in wooing the Tamil nationalist vote. Consequently, she made plain her intentions to free the convicts irrespective of the Centre’s opinion” ments are different in many aspects and cannot interfere in each other’s work. But, if we talk about the state government influencing the judiciary system, there are certain sections under which state government can interfere and release convicts, but, that can be possible only if the investigation of that particular case is initiated and completed by a state investigation agency and not a central investigating agency. Jayalalithaa’s move was a totally political move and has nothing to do with the judicial department.

he rule of law and the independence of judiciary are the two basic features of the Indian Constitution. The Indian Constitution was prepared on the basis of a three organ system for good governance i.e. legislature, executive, and judiciary. Our country is being run under this three-tier model and upon this, the foundation our country is termed as a welfare state. The aim of separation of the judiciary was adopted based on good causes and to maintain right to equality among the citizens. Both the haves and have not classes of the society get themselves involved to establish their various rights through the judicial system. In order to establish good governance and maintain equal justice delivery system to both the rich and poor sections of the citizens, the judiciary system should not be

“

As per the Article 50 of the Constitution of India, the separation of judiciary from executive should be maintained.

motivated and influenced at any cost. In fact, as per the article 39 A of the Indian Constitution and Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 weaker classes of the people have always been facilitated with free legal aid services. As per the Article 50 of the Constitution of India, the separation of judiciary from executive should be maintained. Though it has not been completely executed till date in our country, but, it is the high time for enforcement of same for the greater and better interest of the people. If the judiciary has to run justice delivery system under the pressure and influence of the state or executives then the rendering of justice delivery system will totally or partially fail to do justice to the people as a whole. There are lots of cases regarding separation or independence of judiciary held before the Supreme Court as well as in other high courts of the Country where the courts held that the separation and independence of judiciary is more essential for the greater cause, so that people can have the enjoyment of rights as guaranteed under the Constitution of India without having any influence or pressure that may infringe the same. Therefore, judiciary should not be used or utilised under any condition, influenced or pressurised for vested interests. Otherwise, the justice delivery system will lose its own stand and status in which the people of this country have believed in. The Jayalalitha government’s decision to free the men sentenced for lifetime imprisonment by the Supreme court cannot be supported at any cost. Because, a state body cannot take decision or put pressure on the judgment of the Supreme Court.

G PLUS FEB 22 - FEB 28, 2014

Catching Up

Headlining acts! Nargis Fakhri WHO’S SHE? Nargis Fakhri is an American fashion model and actress. She has appeared on America’s Next Top Model and made her Bollywood debut with 2011 film Rockstar SO WHAT The actress is all ready to sizzle away alongside Varun Dhawan in the forthcoming flick MAIN TERA HERO Now what? Reportedly Nargis will skip a few days of the MAIN TERA HERO promotion to fly to London, where she will film for an ad campaign with a circus troupe. Word has it, that the ad is one of the most extravagant ones shot, as yet. It showcases Nargis doing stunts with the circus troupe and she’s training in advance to get it all right.

Al Jazeera journalists go on trial in Egypt An Egyptian court opened the trial of Al Jazeera journalists that has sparked an international outcry, as an Australian reporter said from the caged dock that justice would prevail. The Cairo court adjourned the trial to provide a translator for the Australian correspondent Peter Greste and to hear prosecution witnesses. Al Jazeera expressed disappointment that the journalists were not freed and called for a “day of action” in support of them. “What is going on in Egypt right now is a trial of journalism itself, so it is critical that we remain resolute in calling for freedom of speech, for the right for people to know, and for the immediate release of all of Al Jazeera’s journalists,” it said. The trial of journalists with the Qatar-based channel comes against the backdrop of strained ties between Cairo and Doha, which backed deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, ousted by the army in July, and his now-banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Kate Upton WHO’S SHE? “Kate” Upton is an American model and actress, known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Upton was named Rookie of the Year following her first SI appearance in 2011 and was the cover model for the 2012 and 2013 issues. She was also the subject of the 100th Anniversary Vanity Fair cover. SO WHAT Upton attended a casting call in Miami for Elite Model Management in 2008 and was signed by them the same day, and she eventually moved to New York City, where she then signed with IMG Models. During the course of her modelling career she has posed as the cover girl for several magazines including the likes of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Maxim, Esquire, GQ and Vogue. Now what? The 21-year-old super model did recently do a zero gravity photo shoot in a weightless Zero G airplane for Sports Illustrated’s 50th anniversary Swimsuit Issue magazine. For the shoot, Upton showed off lots of skin and her signature curves in a barely there gold bikini from Target. The blond beauty posed seductively while floating in the air and showing tons of cleavage.

To subscribe type GPLUS and send it to 56677

Bloody clashes flare in Ukraine Bloody clashes flared in Kiev between armed radicals and police hours after the warring sides negotiated a truce. Rioters attacked police with rocks and Molotov cocktails pushing them back several hundred metres to positions the protesters held before security forces went into offensive. Ukraine’s acting Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharschenko said he had given orders to arm police with “combat weapons” to protect citizens and property from attacks and for self-defence. The death toll, which stood at 28, more than doubled. Ukraine’s Health Ministry said 64 people had died in the capital and hundreds had been wounded.

pick of the week

What did I just hear?

NRI Dr. Hemant Thatte developed a 21-chemical solution named SOMAH Solution on 20 February 2014. The solution could preserve a donated organ for up to a week before a transplant. SOMAH Solution in Sanskrit means elixir of immortality. In studies conducted on pigs, the solution has been found to be effective in preserving tissues for up to a week.

Contraband Viagra is being sold across Pakistan in boxes that feature the likeness of President Obama. Suppliers of blackmarket Viagra are using the President’s likeness to help sell imitations of the anti-impotence drug, allowing the man with the most difficult job in the world to, unwittingly, help others achieve a similar degree of hardness in their own lives. Obama’s face can be found on the packages of a contraband version of the erectile dysfunction medication in cities across Pakistan.

Parliament clears 29th state A separate state of Telangana is finally a reality. With the BJP not insisting on a division on its amendments, the Rajya Sabha passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014 to create India’s 29th state by a voice vote, amid protests by regional parties led by the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, forcing multiple adjournments, walkouts and an unprecedented expression of dissent by a union minister. The Rajya Sabha took up the Bill after the BJP agreed to the government’s suggestion that its demands for a financial commitment to Seemandhra would be reflected in a statement that the Prime Minister would make in the Upper House. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a six-point package for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, including special category status for five years and tax incentives to promote industrialisation and boost economic growth in both the states.

Kamur of the week POLITICAL RALLY AFTERMATH: After each ‘grand’ political event, the party flags which are put up everywhere, are left strewn around with the flag-staffs sticking out from them. These are practically dangerous for both pedestrians and vehicles. There should be way to make those ignorant fools clean up the mess after they are done cheering and celebrating.

Printed & Published by Sunit Jain on behalf of Insight Brandcom Pvt. Ltd. and Printed at Arkashish Publications (P) Ltd., Katahbari, Garchuk, Guwahati and Published at H/No. 34, K. C. Choudhury Road, Chatribari, Guwahati - 781008, Editor: Koushik Hazarika. Phone: 0361 2737737, Email: info@g-plus.in, RNI No: ASSENG/2013/52641