VOL 01 | ISSUE 27 | APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
`10 ges 24 Pa
ZERO
PUBLIC TOILETS FOR CITY WOMEN With the authorities dreaming about a planned city for the future, it is shocking that at present, there is no public toilet for the womenfolk of the city.
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Shailene Woodley Catching Up, Pg 24
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Lead Story
ZERO PUBLIC TOILETS
FOR CITY WOMEN
With the authorities dreaming about a planned city for the future, it is shocking that at present, there is no public toilet for the womenfolk of the city. Mrinmoyee Hazarika
W
ith the issuance of an order on the 25th of March this year to the hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, auditoriums, malls, bibah bhavans (marriage hall) and other public places of the city to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation in their respective premises and toilets, the office of the Gauahti Municipal Corporation (GMC) has showed its willingness to address the long standing issue of public convenience seriously. The order, which has come after a long wait, also clearly mentioned that the GMC had every right to cancel the trade license if any establishments under the jurisdiction of GMC was found to be not complying with its order. The GMC has also directed sixteen bibah bahvans, hotels and restaurants of the city to provide toilet facility to the lady police constables on duty with immediate effect. There is no doubt that the recent action taken by GMC would solve the problem of public convenience to a great extent, if executed in a strict manner. But, the question is how far would the GMC be successful in its venture when it has not constructed any separate public toilet for women on its own since its inception?
The actual picture
Last year, replying to a RTI query filed by civil rights activist and lawyer Bhaskar Dev Konwar, GMC and GMDA (Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority), both responsible for looking after the issues of public conveniences and grievances
of the city have acknowledged the total absence of separate public toilets for the women in Guwahati. The same RTI reply also mentioned that with the help of a private partner, GMDA has been running seven public toilets for men and women in different localities of the city. The cost of construction and maintenance of the toilet is `5 lakh each. On the other hand, the GMC which is the highest form of public body, has replied that no public toilets have been constructed and maintained by them, whereas there exists an amount of `1.64 crore budget provision for the construction and maintenance of public toilets in Guwahati both for men and women. Above all, the most concerning part is that both the authorities (GMC and GMDA) have blamed the lack of suitable land as a constraint for construction of public toilets in the city. “How ridiculous is it for the concerned authorities to blame the lack of land as a hindrance for construction of public toilets in the city? What about the government lands? If they are running out of vacant government land, then they should try to acquire private land for the purpose of constructing public toilets,” Bhaskar Dev Konwar told G plus. Moreover, among the minimal numbers of existing public toilets being run by GMDA, there is only one such toilet at a posh area on GS road, which is also the hub of business activities of the city in particular and
Public toilets under the purview of GMDA Location
Specified area/road
Cost of construction and maintenance (in `)
L-2, G-6 and 1- bath
Machkhowa, opposite ITA
MG road
5 lakh
2009
L-2, G- 2 and 1- bath
Chandmari, under fly over, near parking area
MRD road
5 lakh
2010
L- 3, G- 4 and bath- 1
State zoo, near ticket counter
R G Baruah road
5 lakh
2011
L-2, G-3 and bath-1
Tarun Ram Phukan park
MG road
5 lakh
2011
L-2, G-3 and bath- 1
Nehru park, opposite to GPO
MG road
5 lakh
2011
L-2, G-3 and bath- 1
Ulubari, under fly over
GS road
5 lakh
the Northeast as a whole. “The location of the lone public toilet situated under the Ulubari over bridge, GS road is not at all good. Although, somehow it is usable for men, but women cannot go there and use it and the condition worsens during the night. No women would feel safe to use it during night,” Konwar stated. A PIL No. 68/2013 was also filed by a city-based woman journalist Sulakshana Mithi Kachari at the Gauahti High Court seeking intervention into the matter of a total absence of separate public lavatories/toilets for women in Guwahati.
2012
L-2, G-3 and bath- 1
Silpukhuri, adjacent to the pond
MRD road
5 lakh
Another picture
Year of construction
Number of toilets for men and women
2009
Last year, during the month of March, in order to prove its interest
in the construction of public conveniences in the city, GMC had asked for public bidding (EMD of which is `2,00,000) for the installation of portable toilet cabins in the various localities of the city. The tender clearly mentioned that GMC wanted the supply, installation, commissioning and annual maintenance of 50 numbers of prefabricated high density polythene portable toilet blocks at various places which would have to be fitted with European or Indian type of pot with other facility and not connected to any drain or sewerage. “We have had a talk with the then commissioner of GMC, Kavitha Padmanabhan regarding the installation of portable toilets in the city and accordingly responded to the tender which they (GMC) had published. But, everything went in vain and we do not know what happened to the project since we were never called for opening the tender or for further discussions,” a bidder who placed a bid to the GMC proposal of installation of portable toilets told G Plus. On the other hand, in its RTI reply filed by lawyer Bhaskar Dev Konwar, GMC stated that it has procured portable toilets and 10 such toilets have been installed – 5 at Assam secretariat and another 5 at Kamarpatty, fancy bazaar. But, what is surprising is the fact that the authorities could not foresee the difficulty that public would face while trying to access a public toilet inside the premises of the Assam secretariat. Besides, following the reply as given by GMC, G Plus made a tour to Kamarpatty area, but could not trace a single portable toilet in that area.
mrinmoyee.hazarika@g-plus.in
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
G-View
80%
city street kids addicted to glue sniffing Most of the street children of the city are addicted to glue and adhesive sniffing and apart from a few NGOs and volunteers, there has been no concrete steps yet. rahul chanda
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ational studies revealed, through national household survey of drugs used nationwide, that the prevalence of compounds in drugs used are alcohol 21.4%, cannabis 3.0% and opioids 0.7%. There was a marked variation in alcohol use prevalence in different states of India and current use ranged from a low of 7% in the western state of Gujarat (officially under prohibition) to 75% in Arunachal Pradesh. Talking about Guwahati, which is the gateway to the northeast, the addiction level here too is a cause of concern. More concerning is the fact that the street children are getting addicted to substances and the percentage is increasing with each passing day. For the street kids, to get addicted to alcohol and drugs is an expensive affair and so they have to rely on cheap alternative substances. G Plus checks out what exactly the city street kids are getting addicted to.
Glue sniffing Glue sniffing is commonly called volatile substance abuse (VSA). It is the inhalation of volatile solvents, commonly found in adhesives, for the purpose of intoxication. The ‘high’ is achieved within seconds and the effect usually dissipates within half an hour. Most products are useful everyday items.
It is difficult to prevent access to them as these products are too common to be thought of as harmful. They are commonly abused by huffing (i.e., soaking a sock or rag, then sniffing) and bagging (i.e., spraying paint into a plastic bag and inhaling). According to various NGOs working for child rights, glue sniffing is on the rise among the Guwahati street children and after growing up, the habit gets upgraded to alcohol and drug addiction.
Expert speak Kamrup (Metro) Child Welfare Committee Chairperson Fr. Lukose Cheruvalel has been working for child rights and has vowed to work against glue addiction. He said, “80% street children are addicted to glue sniffing, smokeless tobacco chewing and smoking. They graduate to alcoholism and stronger drugs as they grow up. Once under the intoxicating effect of these substances, one can be severely injured in an accident because of risky behaviour.” He further narrated a story. He said, “Subhah, who was dependent on dendrite, lost both his legs, thigh downwards, in the Guwahati Railway Station when he had an accident involving a train. Manoj, who used to abuse dendrite regularly, lost his left arm also in Guwahati Railway Station. Sariful,
“
while he was in an intoxicated state, lost one of his feet under the train wheels.” Fr. Lukose further informed that VSA can cause severe neurological harm and one can even die of hypoxia (lack of oxygen), pneumonia, cardiac failure or arrest or aspiration of vomit. Once these solvents are inhaled, the extensive capillary surface of the lungs rapidly absorbs the solvent and blood levels peak rapidly. The intoxication effects occur so quickly that the effects of inhalation can be similar to the effects produced by intravenous injection of drugs. As Lukose has a child shelter centre Snehalaya, he comes across such children quite often. He keeps visiting the railway station and other slum areas where he meets the kids who are addicted to glue and other intoxicants and accordingly, his assumption says that there are 80% street children who are addicted to glue.
80% street children are addicted to glue sniffing, smokeless tobacco chewing and smoking. They graduate to alcoholism The initiative and stronger Snehalaya has been trying to help addicted children come out of the drugs as they the habit since a long time. On April 2 , there was a focused group discussion grow up” chaired by Snehalaya Director Fr. nd
Lukose, where people from different sections brainstormed to formulate a campaign to help the addicted children kick away the life taking habit. The outcome of the discussion
was that by April 20 th they will kick start the campaign by gathering the children who are exposed to glue and other intoxicants and give them counselling. There were 25 participants in the discussion. People who participated were social workers, child counsellors, child rights activists, psychiatrists, and member of some NGOs. Fr Lukose told G Plus that there is not even a single juvenile de -addiction centre in Assam. He said that there are some de-addiction centres run by some NGOs, but the irony is that juveniles cannot be put together with adults. He also wishes that sale of adhesives like dendrite should be banned by the government, and if not entirely as it is used for everyday use, at least the sale of adhesives should be banned in small packets as it is cheaper to buy and easily available. The NGO’s efforts can be appreciated for the cause but the fact is that the governments pumps in crores of money every year for the betterment of street children, but till it has only been the NGOs and activists who have been formulating strategies to eradicate such social problems. Where are the authorities and the various social departments? Till when will the administration have to be reminded about what to do?
rahul.chanda@g-plus.in
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
City
GMC SNUBS DC ORDER Fails to act against establishments without dustbins
rahul chanda
S
ummers are in and with early showers, the city gets inundated with urban floods and water logging problems. There are various reasons because of which Guwahatians face water logging problem every year, and one main factor among the many is improper waste disposal of the commercial establishments. Reviewing the garbage management system of the city commercial establishments, G Plus found that there is still a long way to go to tackle the garbage management system by the authorities.
DDMA initiative
According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), they have been working for a long time to make sure that every commercial establishment has a dustbin and the garbage management system is appropriate. In the month of April 2013, DDMA observed that improper garbage/waste disposal of the commercial establishments in the city is creating blockages of natural and secondary drains, which is one of the most influential factors in causing urban floods. The issue was brought to the attention of the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) and the DC directed the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to take strict action against the commercial establishments who do not have their own dustbins and the license of the defaulting establishments should be reviewed and cancelled if necessary. The direction was issued in greater public interest and as per provisions as laid down in Section 30 (III), (V), (VIII), (IX) and (XVIII) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. According to sources in the DDMA, the department has been asking for a report from the GMC since last year time and again, but the GMC has every time snubbed the request and till date, has not sent any
report of their action. To know about their side of the story, we decided to question the GMC about how they are dealing with the establishments who do not have dustbins.
GMC SPEAK
Mumbai might have the largest slum in Asia, but if we talk about the municipal corporation’s effort to keep the city clean, then the GMC workers should take some pages out of their book. These days even if someone spits outside a dustbin in the financial capital, he/she has to pay a fine of Rs 500. It is a must for even the street vendors in Mumbai to keep a dustbin near their shops. When we asked the GMC officials about the actions they have taken and how many licenses have been cancelled, the authorities initially said that they have been taking strict actions against those who do notkeep dustbins near their establishments. On enquiring about the detail of the licenses cancelled because of the reason, GMC asked us to submit an application for the information as it is not readily available. But even after that, the GMC officials failed to provide any significant information and eventually conceded that not a single license has been cancelled. Apparently, according to the GMC’s research and analysis, all the commercial establishments in the city having trade license have dustbins near their establishments and the garbage/waste management system is appropriate. Either GMC was correct on their survey or may be DDMA was just assuming that the observation was accurate.
The facts
Near the Himatsingka petrol pump opposite to the Police Reserve at Lakhtokia, there is a lane going towards KC Das College (KC Road) where there are a lot of commercial establishments. Near Sriram Market
in the lane, we saw a point opposite to Vishal Auto where there was a lot of garbage piled up. Manager of Vishal Auto, Surender Maheshwari said, “We have a dustbin inside the shop and the garbage in front our shop is dumped by almost the entire market. We tried to stop the people from disposing garbage here as the waste gets inside the drain and during rainy season, we face water logging problem. But people do not listen to us. We do not keep dustbins outside our shop as people spit on it and it gets very dirty. We cannot afford to clean it every now and then.” Sanjay shah, a licensed paan shop owner in the lane has been running his shop since last one year and there is garbage everywhere near his shop. He said, “I have been running my shop for the last one year and till date I did not know that I have to keep a dustbin near my shop. Everyone in this lane throws the garbage/waste on the street or the drain and I too do the same.” A shopkeeper in Paltan Bazaar said on condition of anonymity, “We know that GMC takes money from all
“
I have been running my shop for the last one year and till date I did not know that I have to keep a dustbin near my shop. Everyone in this lane throws the garbage/waste on the street or the drain and I too do the same”
the street vendors every day and as we are licensed shopkeepers, GMC cannot do anything against us. We do not keep a dustbin in front of our shop as it is not required. We throw the garbage near the drain outside and every morning the GMC people come and collect it. If we get an order from the GMC, we will certainly keep a dustbin outside the shop as it is just an expense of around Rs 100.” The ground reality says that even trade license holding commercial establishments are not pressurised by the authorities to follow rules which can manage garbage disposal efficiently. GMC might claim that it is doing everything to curb such problems, but only they will know what exactly they are getting paid for. GMC is so confident about their claims that they did not even respond to the DC’s notice for a year. Only authorities can explain how the powers should be distributed among the bodies. The only problem here is that Guwahatians will have to face the problems of urban flood and water logging until there is a change in the system.
rahul.chanda@g-plus.in
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
In The News
Poll campaign expenses under EC scanner
The model code of conduct has kicked in and besides the 70 Lakh cap on campaign expenses, district authorities are trying to make sure that everyone follows the rules.
RAHUL CHANDA
I
ts election time and as always the Election Commission (EC) is trying its best to keep an eye on all the activities of the Lok Sabha candidates in not only Guwahati but the entire country to make sure they all toe the line. During elections, the district administration becomes the district election office of the area and observes the election happenings on a daily basis. This time too, as the Lok Sabha elections are just round the corner, the district administration has sensitised the political parties about the model code of conduct and has formed various squads and teams to monitor the pre-poll preparations.
The Force
Recently, the district administration has seized around 51.54 litres of foreign liquor coming in from Meghalaya to the city. The liquor was meant to be sold only in Meghalaya and one person Biren Mazumdar was arrested in this regard and a political link to the liquor smuggling is being investigated. There are many other ways in which the district administration is keeping a watch to prevent any illegal ways of wooing the voters and for that it has formed certain teams: • • • • • • • •
5 Flying squads 5 Static squads 5 Video surveillance team 4 Video viewing team 4 Assistant expenditure observers 1 Expenditure observer 1 Law and order observer 1 Awareness observer
Squads
Five flying squads move around the four Legislative Assembly Constituencies (LAC) falling under the Kamrup (M) district, to check if there is
There is no limit for the political parties to spend on election campaigns, but whatever a political party spends for a candidate, half of the money is calculated as having been used by the candidate. any poll related illegality happening in the area. There are also 5 static squads dispersed in these constituencies to keep an eye on all the election activities and check if there is any violation of the model code of conduct. There
are five video surveillance teams, expected to record the election rallies and other election campaigns by the MP candidates on camera. There are four video viewing teams, which view and analyses the video footage brought in by all the video surveillance teams. The footage covers the speeches made by the politicos, size of the rally, size of the stage, vehicles used, refreshment distributed and so on. The viewing team scrutinises the footage brought and submits the report to the assistant expenditure observers.
Expenditure observation
All the political parties are already sensitised by the district administration about the election campaigning budget limit of the contesting candidates. According to District Election Officer, the maximum amount a candidate can spend before the polls on campaigning is `70 lakhs. The candidates are asked to maintain a register having a detailed calculation of their expenses in poll campaigns. The candi-
dates are expected to submit the register to the district administration thrice within the period of poll campaign. Whenever there is a rally organised by any candidate the proposal of the rally with an estimated budget has to be submitted to the administration. Later, with the help of the video surveillance team, the footage of the rally is analysed and the findings are submitted to the assistant expenditure observers. The observers then calculate the expense of the rally and find out what the exact budget used was. If the budget used exceeds the estimated budget informed by the candidate before the rally, then a notice will be sent to the candidate to provide the exact calculation of the budget used for the rally. There is no limit for the political parties to spend on election campaigns, but whatever a political party spends for a candidate, half of the money is calculated as having been used by the candidate. So, as a total, the candidate can only use `70 lakhs for the entire poll campaign process. Any candidate exceeding the `70 lakh budget will be issued a notice and the case will be referred to the Election Commission of India. The EC might disqualify the candidate from contesting any kind of polls for three years.
Illegal expenditure
During polls there are two types of expenses - one is the legal expenditure, which is calculated and the authorities are informed about and there is obviously a limit to it. But, to woo the voters, the politicos also shed some money out of their pockets which is unaccounted. This is illegal expenditure, which is mostly used in India to buy the voters. They are given money, alcohol, gifts and so on. The administration is claiming that it is acting strict this time and is monitoring all such illegal expenses
closely. The flying squads and the static squads are keeping an eye on such expenses and if any candidate is found guilty of illegal expenditure used to woo the voters, an FIR will be lodged against the candidate under section 171 of the Indian Penal Code, which can put the candidate behind bars for 3 years. All the liquor shops in the city too have been asked to submit the details of their daily sales and if it is found that anyone is buying liquor in huge quantities, then the use of that quantity of liquor is checked so that it is not getting used for political reasons.
Media check
It is always speculated during elections that there are a lot of paid news being published in various media units. Which media is biased and which is not is an analytical question but the district administration has vowed to check all kinds of paid news if there is any. The district administration has a media cell, which is headed by the district information and public relation officer. According to the DIPRO, all the newspapers are being scanned and analysed to check if there are any paid news published. There is a team of officers sitting in the circuit house viewing the content of all the TV news channels and analysing if there is any paid content being aired. The administration might be bragging about taking the necessary steps to check that free and fair elections happen in the area, but it is a claim which happens every elections and still there are many laws and rules violated. This election too, only time will announce who is playing safe and who is a rule breaker, but a point to be given thought to is that who is to vouch that the authorities are not politically influenced?
rahul.chanda@g-plus.in
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
In The News
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Earth Hour observed in Guwahati
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o mark the day of the Earth Hour 2014, a function was organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) India, on March 29 at Dighalipukhuri Park. This year the Earth Hour period was observed from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. It is a global campaign by the WWF to inspire the individuals, businesses, institutions and organizations to take action against climate change. The theme of Earth Hour is to switch off non–essential lights for one hour. Every year in March it is observed as a symbolic way to support and commitment towards ensuring a better planet
Polling booths declared smoke-free
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ssam has become the third state to declare all polling booths in the state as no smoking zones. The state chief electoral officer has issued a directive to make Assam’s polling stations no smoking zones to ensure that voters are able to cast their votes in a smoke-free environment. Assam will be the third state in the country after Jammu and Kashmir and Bihar where CEOs have issued this kind of directives. The appeal has been made keeping in view the dangers of passive smoking on women voters who form half the electorate. But due to lack of awareness about passive smoking, much care is usually not taken and nonsmokers often feel the brunt of passive cigarette smoking. The directive mentions that as polling booths are public places, the order is in sync with Section 4 of the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products act (COTPA) 2003. The act states that smoking is prohibited in all public places. Section 4 also states that a mandatory display signage must be posted in public areas. The CEO has asked deputy commissioners and subdivisional officers of all districts to take appropriate measures in this regard. On April 1, the Voluntary Health association of Assam had appealed to the State CEO to ensure polling stations be made smoke-free.
for our future generations. At the same time it aims to bring in behavioural changes in its supporters to become more aware and conscious consumers. The event began with the welcome speech by WWF India’s Archita Baruah Bhatacharyya, where renowned singer Zubin Garg was the brand ambassador for the event and a special performance by singer Dikshu was also enjoyed by the visitors. It was followed by screening of films that are specially created for the Earth Hour event. Apart from these, there was also a multilingual rendition of the Earth Hour theme song.
Prime Cabs announces airport drop at just `450
L
eading Radio taxi operator in the City, Prime Cabs launches city to airport drop service at a flat rate of `450 only. With over 10,000 passengers travelling from the city to the airport every day, the new scheme will benefit the commuters and also save them from any unnecessary haggling, bargaining or tracking meters. Prime Cabs is doing an average of 350 drops to the airport on a daily basis with its fleet of 76 cars. Commenting on the new scheme launched, COO of Prime Cabs, Mr. Dhimmant Bansal said, “At Prime Cabs, our focus remains on-time performance and customer convenience. With the new scheme, the pricing becomes even more convenient to the customer particularly for airport drops as we otherwise continue to offer our services at `19/KM.”
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Stir over closure of Bengali daily
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he sudden closure decision of a Bengali daily, Sangbad Lahari simultaneously published from Guwahati and Shillong has rendered 100 employees jobless. Journalist and non-journalist media employees engaged with newspapers and news channels in Guwahati demonstrated in front of Guwahati Press Club against the management of the newspaper on March 30. A notice from the Shillong Times Pvt Ltd, Meghalaya (Ref No ST/63/14, dated 26 March 2014) was issued by S Chaudhuri, general manager, describing the management’s decision “to close down the publication of Sangbad Lahari from April1, 2014”
of Sakaal Bela, a Bengali newspaper, Seven Sisters’ Post, an English daily and Dainik Pratibimba, an Assamese daily did not receive any compensation from the managements, the television employees of Prime News had compelled its management with a series of protests to release three months’ cumulative salary at the time of closure. The agitators also urged Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam and Dr Mukul Sangma, Chief Minister of Meghalaya to take up the issue with the management to continue its publication. Sangbad Lahari was launched in Guwahati in 2009 and later its Meghalaya edition was started in July, 2011.
Surya Gold Cement CITY PARKING FREE, CITIZENS UNAWARE organizes free health arking chaos is a major pain is the model code of conduct in place for Guwahatians and for a long for upcoming Lok Sabha elections. check up camp As such, Guwahatians need not time now, there has always been
S
urya Gold Cement, a leading cement brand of Assam recently organized a free medical camp for the people of Morogdula, Sarurtari and Tamulikuchi village on March 25. Conducted at Tamulikuchi High & ME School campus, the initiative reached out to more than 300 villagers who benefitted from the free check up and medicines distributed at the camp. The camp was organized with an objective of rendering community health services to the people living near Surya Gold factory. Another underlying objective of the camp was to increase health consciousness amongst high school students living in the villages. Five doctors including a Gynecologist of Sonapur PHC examined the attendees. In the camp leaflets & posters on various vector diseases were also distributed to increase awareness amongst the attendees and their family members.
Eulogy
ate Murlidharji Sureka was an individual octogenarian who dedicated his entire life to a very unusual form of social service i.e. cremating bodies irrespective of caste, creed & religion. He used to perform all the last rites rituals from making the “ARTHI” to setting the funeral pyres for the deceased. So committed was this worker in his services to mankind that he not only prepared the departed soul for his last journey, but also used comforted the bereaved family in this time of distress and imparted such spiritual discourse that the family was motivated to stop crying and instead stared chanting the holy name. A truly living legend, a true hero albeit unsung. Not keeping himself confined to this yeomen services, this kind soul was always forth keeping for any social cause whenever he was ap-
due to reasons beyond its control. The protestors covered their mouths with black cloth demanding the withdrawal of the closure notice issued by Shillong Times. The management has however, offered a month’s salary to its employees as a token of support to them, which has been rejected by All Assam Media Employees Federation (AAMEF). The AAMEF president Hiten Mahanta argued that the management should release at least five months’ salaries to its employees with other due legal benefits before closing down the publication. The year 2013 witnessed closing down of three daily newspapers and a satellite news channel. While the employees
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a problem of paying parking fees to unlicensed agents spread out everywhere across the city. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation then floated tenders and made sure that proper agents maintain the parking lots in the city. There are only a few parking lots in the city, but roadside parking is also considered as parking points. The tenders of 35 parking lots in the city under GMC have come to an end and fresh tenders have been floated by the department for around 76 parking lots. At present, till the elections are over, all the parking lots have been made free for the vehicle owners except the Fancy Bazaar basement parking and the Adabari bus stop parking as these two lots are being managed by GMC employees themselves. People have already applied for the tenders floated but the settlement of the tenders is yet to be done as now there
pay any parking fee until the new tenders are settled. It might be good news for the citizens but car theft may be a concern. A city based businessman whose wife is admitted in the International Hospital at GS Road, said that every time he parks his car outside the hospital, he still pays a parking fee of `10. Similarly, one more vehicle owner said that he pays parking fee when he parks his car anywhere on the city. With this feedback, we questioned the GMC authorities about how they have notified the public that parking fees have been waived until the elections. The authorities said that they have informed the media and media has already started informing the public. Parking has been free since 31st March 2014 but people are ignorant about the fact and are paying parking fee to people who are not authorised.
Requiem of love for lonely souls
proached for any humanitarian cause. Anybody who approached him was always had the conviction that he will not be returned empty handed. He use to say “ Everyone loves a person when he is alive , but there is no one to love him after death”. Born in the year 1913 in an ordinary family of Lt. Puranmalji & Lt. Jimmi Devi Sureka in Guwahati, Sri Sureka did his primary education upto class-2 in an ordinary Gurukul. He led a very simple but hard life. Married at the age of 13 to Lt. Mohani Devi he had nine
children. His wife too expired in an early age. Doing ordinary accounts job, he led a life of struggle in which initially it was very tough to make both ends meet. But this never deterred the resolve of this brave heart from his path of social service and righteousness. At the young age of 38 years he started this unusual form of service towards mankind drawing inspiration from his father’s elder brother Lt. Chunnilalji Sureka. Since then till the age of 93 years when he left for heavenly abode on 03rd of April /2006 he carried on this task. The culmination of this service was on a day during the Assam agitation when he had performed last rites of 26 bodies in a single day. He during the course of this journey founded the ‘Parmarth Seva Samity’, a unique organization dedicated to the cremation of any unclaimed dead
body totally free of any charge and in which all the ingredients required for cremation is made available at one place. By the grace of GOD all his children grew up and are well settled. He gave his family whatever best was possible. During his life time and postamously, various organizations, institutions, societies & clubs conferred their gratitude towards him for his outstanding service to humanity. Today being his eight death anniversary LIONS CLUB OF GAUHATI took the initiative to install a marble bust (statue) of Lt Murlidharji Sureka in the constructed shed area in the Bhootnath compound which was unveiled by Sri Ramgopalji Garodia in presence of imminent personalities of the society including area MLA Sri Hemanta Talukdar , Councillor Raj Kumar Tiwari and Sureka family.
7
G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Politicking
PARTY CHANGE
A DANGER TO DEMOCRACY?
G Plus feature
W
ith the 16th Lok Sabha election nearly upon us, many political leaders including MPs have been seen changing the parties at the last moment in Assam and elsewhere in the country. They even gave their reasons to the public about not getting a ticket as desired by them from the party. But this trend which has been on the rise is termed as a ‘danger to democracy’ by many. Several prominent leaders, which include former MPs and party presidents have shifted their camps for the sake of getting a ticket. Twotime Congress MP from Mangaldai, Madhab Rajbongshi has openly said that he joined Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) after his former party denied him a ticket. On the other hand, former AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary joined BJP to get a ticket from Barpeta constituency. And the list goes on. Noted author and educationist Dinesh Baishya termed this bunch of politicians as ‘professional politicians’ who have hijacked the common voters for their own interests. “They are professional politicians who just think of their individual gains and nothing else. The voters or the common people hardly matter for them as they have a set of brokers who will manage votes for them in
Politicians changing parties at the drop of a hat just because they were not granted a ticket to fight elections are not good for the political system, observers feel.
Chandra Mohan Patowary
Mani Kumar Subba
return of money. So, we cannot imagine how dangerous this is for Indian democracy,” Baishya said. Baishya also advocated for a mass revolution to overcome this trend so that democracy can be safeguarded from these ‘tyrants.’ Madhab Rajbongshi who joined the Janata Party in 1977 and became the youngest legislator of the country from Sipajhar LAC had said that he decided to join AGP, as Congress did not give him the ticket from Mangaldoi a week back. In 1994, he joined the Congress and became MP in 1998 and 1999. He, however, lost for consecutive times after that. Former Janata Dal MLA and senior citizen Ajay Dutta said that
Madhab Rajbongshi
Parvez Ahmed
these leaders are opportunists and a burden to any party of a democratic system. “They are the real opportunists who are unreliable and burden to any political party in a democratic system. They can hardly do well for the society and people. People like Rajbongshi and Chandra Mohan Patowary have killed their ideologies for their individual interests,” Dutta said. Dutta further said that anybody can change parties and it is acceptable if somebody is doing it for ideological differences. “But when people change the party at the last moment before the declaration of candidates, it is not at all acceptable. One should at least work for five years for the
Manoram Gogoi
party and should then go for tickets,” Dutta added. Parvez Ahmed, son of former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, also left Congress and joined Trinamool Congress to contest from the Barpeta constituency. Ahmed also met AIUDF leaders but finally joined TMC after the confirmation of the Barpeta ticket. Former BJP state secretary Mridula Borkotoky also joined AGP only to get a ticket from Nagaon. Three-time Congress MP from Tezpur Mani Kumar Subba also filed his nomination as an independent candidate after his party decided against giving him a ticket. AIUDF’s BK Nath also left the party at the last
moment to earn an AGP ticket from Silchar. Journalist turned politician Manoram Gogoi who has joined Aam Admi Party said that it is time to bring about a change for the sake of democracy by eradicating such kind of politicians. “I think people have realised now, the true colour of these politicians who betray the voters time and again. Now, it’s the public who should come forward and seal the fate of these cheaters,” Gogoi said. Senior advocate and the state president of Samajwadi party, Hafiz Ahmed Rashid Choudhury termed the leaders who keep on changing the parties just to become MLA or MP as hopeless. “The leaders who are just committed to themselves cannot do anything for the welfare of the people. Their existence in the democratic system is of no use,” Choudhury said. The youngsters too have been fed up with the trend as they slammed these politicians as a threat to democracy. “This is a serious threat to democracy for various reasons. These representatives should rather concentrate in the development of their people and work accordingly,” said Nanda Kirti Dewan, a leader of All Assam Gorkha Students Union.
ASSAM LACKS WOMEN MPs G Plus feature
E Ranee Narah
Bijoya Chakraborty
ven as every political party, including the Congress, talk of empowering women, in reality the scene is very pathetic as far as female public representative are concerned in Assam. If there are just two sitting women MPs out of a total of 14 seats in the state, the number of aspirants too do not seem to be that encouraging. A mere 14.28 per cent is occupied by the women MPs in the state. Besides Lakhimpur MP Ranee Narah of Congress who is also the union minister of state for tribal affairs, Bijoya Chakraborty of BJP is the other female MP who has been elected from Guwahati constituency. So far, for the first and second phase of polls in the state, altogether five female candidates are in the fray out of a total of 86 candidates in Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Koliabor, Tezpur, Autonomous Districts, Karimganj and Silchar. Ranee Narah, who has filed her nomination from her constituency, is very high on confidence while Congress’ Sushmita Dev, daughter
If there are just two sitting women MPs out of a total of 14 seats in the state, the number of aspirants too do not seem to be that encouraging. A mere 14.28 per cent is occupied by the women MPs in the state.
of former union minister Santosh Mohan Dev has also filed her nomination from the Silchar constituency. Sushmita is also a sitting MLA from the same seat. Pratima Engheepi of CPI (ML) is the candidate for the Autonomous Districts while Jinti Gogoi of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been chosen to give a fight against chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s son, Gaurav, from the Koliabor Lok Sabha seat. Ribulaya Gogoi of All India Trinamool Congress is also in the fray from Jorhat constituency against Congress’ Bijoy Krishna Handique. Besides that, for the third phase, sitting MP of Guwahati, Bijoya Chakraborty will fight to retain her seat with Congress’ newcomer Manash Bora and senior Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Birendra Prasad Baishya. AGP has given ticket to Mridula Borkakoty who was with BJP earlier to fight for the Nagaon seat, which goes to polls in the third phase on April 24. Jonjonali Baruah, a sitting MLA of Morigaon will also fight
from Nagaon from a Congress ticket. Another AAP candidate Namrata Sharma will contest from Mangaldoi. Congress has so far three, AAP has two, CPI (ML), TMC, AGP and BJP has one female candidates each. In the past, the likes of Mofida Ahmed and Renuka Devi Barkataki of Indian National Congress were elected from Jorhat and Barpeta constituencies in 1957 and in 1962 respectively. Though these ladies were the pioneers, after that there was a huge gap in the field. Barkakati also went on to become union minister of state for education, social welfare and culture in the Janata Party government led by Prime Minister Morarji Desai from 1977 to 1979 after she was again elected to the 6th Lok Sabha from the Guwahati constituency as a Janata Party candidate. There are 15 women MLAs in the Assam legislative assembly out of the 126 seats and 12 of them are from the ruling Congress.
8
G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Ward Watch
WARD NO. 20
DRUNK AFTER DARK?
JAPORIGOG
SHUBHOJIT ROY
Major Public intoxication Issue T
he Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden is spread over 432 acres of land that falls under the Hengrabari Reserve forest and is adjacent to the Japorigog locality in the east. As soon as you enter the Japorigog road, you feel that well, here is a locality in the city with well-paved roads. The area looks well planned and maintained, but truth is not always what the eyes see or the mind believes. There is a major red alert concern in the area that shadows the entire infrastructural development of the locality. The area faces major problem of public intoxication after dark. G Plus found out the hows and whys!
Local liquor effect
It is strange that even after the availability of many places where people can sit and drink, quite a few youngsters still prefer drinking around in the open. Such actions of public intoxication may have a negative impact on certain societies. According to Priyanka Goswami of the Karbi Namghar Path in the Japorigog locality, such activities represent the society in a negative light. “As soon as the sun sets, you will find some women selling local liquor in the area. They hide it with their clothes and it will seem like they are
Sub Division
20A/ 20B/ 20C Concentrated Region
Japorigog carrying a baby, but the truth is that they are selling liquor illegally. The young boys who intoxicate themselves with the same, roam the area in inebriated condition,” she elaborates. She further adds that the women in the locality are usually scared to pass through the roads alone at night. Talking about other problems in the locality, she says, “As the area is close to the zoo, it lies in the green belt zone and construction of big buildings are restricted. But still there are some construction going on in the area that looks to be illegal.”
The adrenaline rush
So, what would a young person do after he is drunk and feels driven and enthusiastic? Well, some of the youth
own motorcycle and for them, there is no better place to pump up their energy level to the extreme point than in their machine on wheels. Dr. Kasturi Khatniar who is a dentist in NRHM, Rangia says, “I travel up and down from Rangia everyday and after the day’s work, I feel extremely tired and wish to sleep at night in peace. But these roaring motor bikes in the area create such a nuisance. They get drunk and show off their speeding skills at night on the empty roads. It usually happens after 08:30 PM.” Kasturi also mentions about the irregularity of garbage collection by GMC. “We have to call the garbage collectors many-a-times to remind them of their duties,” added Kasturi.
“
As soon as the sun sets, you will find some women selling local liquor in the area. They hide it with their clothes and it will seem like they are carrying a baby, but the truth is that they are selling liquor illegally”
Theft and noise pollution
It has come to light that Japorigog also faces frequent cases of theft. Even though the locality looks to be well secured, but G Plus has found out that there have been cases of one major theft and few frequent chain snatching cases recently. While talking to Durga Prasad Borah who has been living in the locality for the past 10 years, we found out that the noise pollution on the road has been troubling him off late. “The roads are not wide enough and traffic is enormous, thus creating noise pollution,” said Borah. He also stated that chain snatching has been quite frequent in the area. Mentioning about a major incident, Borah, a former employee of Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited adds, “There has been a major theft case behind our house sometime back. A Mahindra Bolero was stolen from there and was never found.” All said and done, it is now important for the authorities to take the matter into account soon, as the cases of public intoxication will only grow with time, and there might also be an increase in the theft cases. Only time will tell that how the authorities tackle the pertaining situation.
shubhojit.roy@g-plus.in
9
G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Business
NRL USHERS IN CHANGES
Hyundai launches modern family sedan ‘Xcent’
GPLUS BUREAU
W
hile a change of guard has taken place in Assam’s Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL), the Assam accord refinery has entered into a strategic agreement for commercialisation and joint ownership for production of petroleum Wax with Engineers India Limited (EIL), Delhi and Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSR-IIP), Dehradun. NRL is implementing the Wax project with an investment close to `577 crores. Senior Manager, Corporate Communication, NRL, Madhuchanda Adhikari Choudhury said the Wax plant at NRL is due for mechanical completion shortly. A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard was signed recently. CSIR-IIP has generated laboratory scale optimal process scheme on the technology, based on which EIL has developed engineering design package. The wax project envisages production of high value low volume Paraffin and Micro-Crystalline Wax utilizing inherent properties of North East Crude. It is not a widely known fact that India imports wax. P. Padmanabhan took over as the Managing Director of Numaligarh Refinery with effect from the April 1, 2014. Padmanabhan is a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) of the 1980 batch of National Institute of Technology, Trichy. Prior to his appointment as Managing Director of NRL, he was
Executive Director (Refineries Coordination) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), NRL’s holding company with a major equity of 61.65%; where he was in charge of coordination among group refineries of BPCL viz. BPCL’s Mumbai and Kochi Refinery, joint venture Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL) and NRL. He was also the task force leader for finalising BPCL’s future strategy till
2020 and was appointed the Convener of the Committee for finalising specifications of hydrocarbon fuels under Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). He is a member of the Expert Group constituted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to evaluate performance of refineries and take steps to make them more efficient, viable and profitable.
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), the country’s largest exporter and the second-largest car manufacturer launched its highly anticipated compact family sedan “Hyundai Xcent” at Oja Hyundai, Guwahati. Xcent will further redefine Hyundai’s automotive excellence in India in the compact sedan segment for the aspirational, stylish and value-seeking Indian customer. B S Seo, Managing Director & CEO, HMIL said, “The Xcent is a world-class product developed for the Indian families. Developed with the best of Hyundai Motor’s world-class technologies, Xcent will create a new benchmark in terms of quality, design, space, features and driving pleasure in the compact sedan segment. We have invested extensive effort in competitively pricing Xcent to offer excellent value and to become the most loved and trusted brand in India.” The Xcent will be available with two engine options, the 1.1 litre advanced 2nd generation U2 CRDi diesel and 1.2 litre Kappa Dual VTVT petrol offering a combination of optimum performance and high fuel economy.
NOTEBOOK
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8486002304 • Cash on delivery (within Guwahati city) • Delivery charges `50 • Delivery in 5-7 business days • Offer valid till stock lasts
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HONDA 2-Wheelers
RECORD HIGHEST EVER SALES GPLUS BUREAU
H
onda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. (HMSI) has recorded ‘Highest Ever Sales’ of 37.21 lakh units with extraordinary 55,000 units sold on only 1 day (March 31st) on the occasion of Gudi Parhwa and Ugadi in West and South India respectively in the financial year FY’13-14. The two Wheeler industry posted positive growth only due to HMSI’s performance which countered the sharp fall in sales of two Wheeler industry. HMSI added 9.67 lakh new units compared to 11.19 lakh units added to total Indian two Wheeler industry in FY’14. HMSI has strengthened its position as India’s 2nd largest two wheeler company. Honda’s domestic market share has witnessed a significant 6% point jump to 28% in March, 2014. HMSI is eyeing 30 percent of the market share in the two wheeler segment. Northeast India roughly sells 24,000 two wheelers every month and the industry in the Northeast saw a growth rate of 15 per cent. Sales of the company grew by 29 per cent during April-December last year compared to the same period a year ago.
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Society
A cultural extravaganza The Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra located in Panjabari is one of the sentinels preserving the rich cultural and traditional history of Assam
SHUBHOJIT ROY
S
pread across 340 acres of land, the Srimanta Sankardev Kalskshetra is one of the grand cultural institutions in Guwahati that houses the cultural magnificence of artifacts and traditional articles from the Assamese culture. Some of the newest additions to the institution are the textile gallery, Shankarikristi gallery that was completed around 2009. Deepak Kalita, Senior Assistant in Kalakshetra tells us that presently there are 106 members at Kalakshetra including the artisans and the administrative staff. He further proudly states, “We have upgraded the artist village to a larger figure capacity of 170 people and have also included 4 double-bedded VIP suites for guests.”
The Positivity
The Sankardev Kalakshetra has been conducting some active educational and cultural workshops since some time now. Hirak Jyoti Das, Programme In-charge at Kalakshetra
“There are three festivals going on at present, namely: 11th National Art Festival of Lalit Kala Akademi, Chhau Festival by Sangeet Natak Akademi and our very own Sotor Priti Mela” mentions about the recent workshops being undertaken at Kalakshetra. “We go as per our calendar year and repeat the workshops every year. We did Navabarsha Mahotsav, Shilpi Divas and Holi Geet Competition this year. The Tibet festival was also held this year from 2nd to 6th February,” mentioned
Das. He further adds, “There are three festivals going on at present, namely: 11th National Art Festival of Lalit Kala Akademi, Chhau Festival by Sangeet Natak Akademi and our very own Sotor Priti Mela.” While enquiring about the upcoming ventures, Arup Bordoloi who looks after the planning section tells G Plus that five illustrated manuscripts are to be printed and published within a year or so. “The 5 illustrated manuscript of Srimanta Sankardev are set to be published. The manuscripts are (1) Kirtan Ghosa, (2) Bhakti Ratnawali, (3) Srimad Bhagwata, (4) Banamali DevaCharit Part-I and (5) Banamali DevaCharit Part-II. The Kalakshetra houses many wonderful museums and galleries of great educational and historical value. Some of the major attractions are the Sound and Light Show, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s museum, Puppet theatre, Children’s Library and many others.
The Other side of the Coin
With many positive aspects of the society, there are certain dark features too. There is no visible video surveillance cameras installed in the premises yet, which may encourage theft and robbery. In addition, the art gallery is not well preserved and people can easily touch them, scratch them and scribble on them. While walking through the museums and galleries, one can sense a lack of manpower. Some museums and galleries look abandoned as they lack the presence of even a single human being as a care-taker and is subject to damage. There is also a large area of a desolate plot lying somewhere in the premises with few concrete pillars and wild vegetation. The area can be definitely utilised for further construction and additions to the premises. Library is one another area, which needs attention as the valuable archives need to be preserved with utmost care for the future generations. The security guards also need to be available in all corners of the property. Some of the articles on the Level II of the museum do not have a labeling and does not give any information on the same.
The Money Matters
In order to maintain and take care of such valuable artifacts, a consistent flow of finance is also very important. Bhaben Kalita, Accountant at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra told G Plus, “We receive our maximum funding through the entry fees and some government aids. We also have auditoriums, galleries, theatres and halls which we rent out for workshops”. On being asked about the monthly expenditure of Kalakshetra, Kalita replies, “We have to pay `48,000 per month to the BSB Group who takes care of the cleaning and maintenance of the
property. In addition to that, Group 5 Placement and Security Service charges `1,54,174 per month.” Kalakshetra receives its maximum revenue from its entry fees with an yearly average of `8,00,000 per month. The rent from auditoriums, halls etc. generate an average of `4,00,000 to `5,00,000 per month. About the recent donation received by the society, Bhaben Kalita informed that the Cultural Affairs Department, Government of Assam have donated a sum amount of `40,00,000 grant-in-aid for the year 2013-14. The Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra is undoubtedly one of the major institutions of great historical and cultural value and is a remarkable informational platform for the present world and the future generations to understand the Assamese culture. However, in order to preserve it for the next thousand years, more influential steps are an absolute necessity.
shubhojit.roy@g-plus.in
G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
POLITICALLY INCORRECT
SUBHRAJIT ROY
R
ecently, Guwahatians witnessed the assassination of a former Prime Minister in the view of a planned murder, with the backdrop of the political turmoil of a neighboring nation. But this time there was no bomb blast, rather some blasts of humour supported by laughter engulfing the auditorium of Pragjyoti, ITA when the members of drama troop Stage Fusion presented their annual extravaganza on March 30, 2014. As its 8th production and 57th show, Stage Fusion staged ‘The Prime Imposter’, a humourous political satire under the directorial venture of Rupa Hazarika Som. The storyline of the play began with the sudden death of Prime Minister Anupam Sharma (Dr. Bijoy Chaudhuri) due to apparent cardiac arrest just two days before the general elections. Home Minister Balakrishnan Subramaniam Ramaswamy (Ranjeevlal Barua) and Minister for Art & culture Deepika Choudhury (Nayantara Sarma), two power hungry Cabinet Ministers, tried to hide the news of his death fearing their defeat in the elections, as the masses were supposed to vote for them just because of the charisma of the PM. Moreover, the duo was also afraid of the Deputy PM Anirudh Mukherjee (Debajit Chaliha), who may take advantage of the situation regarding ministerial portfolio. Thus they hire a struggling actor Varun Kumar, as a body double for the deceased. Projecting Varun as the imposter of the PM and the dead body as that of a terrorist, both the ministers took security officer Adil Khan (Avik Paul) in confidence and advised him to keep the dead body in freezer until the election results were declared. Meanwhile, Adil found clues of the incident and came to the conclusion that the dead body was of the real PM who was poisoned, although their party won the elections. All the associates were included in the list of suspects, including PM’s wife Rupa (Rupa Hazarika Som), who eventually started developing a chemistry with Varun. But the climax though, became predictable when Ramaswamy admitted his prime motive being the Tamil revolution issue for which he poisoned the drinks of the PM. Ramaswamy, who was an Oxford graduate kept himself in the disguise of a typical South Indian minister with his English in Dravidian tune throughout the storyline, finally committed suicide by consuming cyanide as the terrorist cadets generally do, in view of secrecy. The play, which began with a comic flavour could have had a much better ending as the actors in their last dialogue quoted the famous quote, “All’s well that ends well.” The play lost the flavour of suspense at many points and the story became much predictable after the interval. The attack on PM’s secretary Melvin (Kaushik Borbora) remained unanswered in the play, which proved to be a directorial disadvantage. Although certain direct and indirect criticisms were made in the play, that did not fulfill the requirement of this satire as the plot demanded. Except the 2G spectrum scam, no other strong current issues were raised. Coming to the point of performance, Ranjeevlal remained the prime attention in the play as his character had both shades of humour and suspense. The credit for the well crafted and colourful set design goes to Rathin Barua, who was the Production Manager of the entire presentation. Above all these, the play lacks any message although it could have been a right presentation during the present election season. Among its previous productions, most of which were adaptations, namely ‘Date at 8’, ‘A Plot for Murder’ and ‘Bollywood Dreams’, Stage Fusion had a bigger opportunity to project ‘The Prime Imposter’ in the most impactful manner. But in spite of having a good plot, at many points the presentation was dramatically correct, but as a whole it was ‘Politically Incorrect.’
11
Society
12
G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Bazaar
GONE TO
THE DOGS
The dog has always been a man’s best friend but is man too a friend of the dog? G Plus checks out the canine scene in the city.
SHUBHOJIT ROY
The most widespread form of interspecies bonding occurs between humans and dogs,” and the keeping of dogs as pets and companions, particularly by elites, has a long history. People and dogs have become increasingly integrated and implicated in each other’s lives, to the point where pet dogs actively shape the way a family and home are experienced.There have been two major trends in the changing status of pet dogs. The first has been the ‘commodification’ of the dog, shaping it to conform to human expectations of personality and behaviour. The second has been the broadening of the concept of the family and the home to include dogs-asdogs within everyday routines and practices. G Plus finds out the ins and outs of a dog world and the pet animal scenario in Guwahati.
Pure Breed Rates Dalmatian
15,000 and above
Labrador
18,000 and above
Golden Retriever
20,000 and above
Breeds Available
Sasanka Dutta of ‘Just Be Friendly’ (JBF India Trust) says that it is very hard to find pure dog breeds in Guwahati as the breeds are usually 60 - 70% pure and a 100% pure breed is a rarity. Contrarily, Jayanti Sharma, Joint owner of Chocolate Farm (Kennel) and Dr. Jitendra Nath Dewan, Former In-charge of North East Regional Diagnostic Laboratory at the Animal Health Centre (AHC), Khanapara says that pure breeds are available in the city and mentions a few of the breed names such as the Golden Retriever, Labrador, Basset Hound, Dalmatian, Great Dane and Pug. Few of the dog kennels available in Guwahati are Bessies Kennel, Seriders Kennel, Chocolate Farm (Kennel) and Goswami Kennel.
Great Dane
25, 000 and above
Pug
30,000 and above
Basset Hound 30,000 - 40,000
*Prices are subject to change from kennel to kennel
Dog Vaccination Routine for 1st time Owners After staying with its mother for three complete months, the 1st vaccination a dog needs to be provided with is DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus) vaccination. The DHPP vaccination should be followed by an anti-rabies vaccine within 15 days. Sasanka Dutta of JBF says, “90% of rabies occurs from dog bites, both owned and street dogs.” He also says that the DHPP vaccine and the anti-rabies vaccine should be repeated on the 4th month and 4 and half month respectively.
“
Taking care of a dog on a regular basis is very essential in order to keep the parasites away. If your dog has long fur, you should brush it twice daily in the morning and in the evening”
Moreover, yearly booster doses of vaccination, after completion of a year are also important. Some of the other alternative vaccines that should be provided on prescription of a doctor are Leptospira vaccine for Leptospirosis etc. One of the major terrifying diseases that has sprouted is the viral disease caused by Parvovirus. “There is only 5% survival chance for dogs suffering from Parvovirus. The symptoms are vomiting, blooddiarrhea, foul odour and moreover, the dog can’t consume anything orally. Out of the 15 cases I treated, only 2 of them survived. The rest died and few others were abandoned by their owners onto the streets,” said Dr. Jitendra Nath.
Dog Food
Sasanka Dutta says that the dog food depends upon the age of the dogs. “Home food is always better than the commercial ones. If you can’t afford products like Pedigree or Royal Canine, you can always go for homemade food. But there is a vast difference between a human and a dog’s appetite,” says Dutta. He further adds that it is very important to feed the dog with protein rich food like soya bean, pulses and meat on a regular basis. “Dogs belong to the biological family of the Canidae that also includes wolves, foxes and jackals and are carnivorous. So, these animals need to be provided with protein rich food substances,” explains Dutta.
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Bazaar
Dog Care Dog care is of utmost importance for an owner to keep in mind as told by Dr. Jitendra Nath Dewan. He says, “Taking care of a dog on a regular basis is very essential in order to keep the parasites away. If your dog has long fur, you should brush it twice daily in the morning and in the evening. I have seen some owners who bathe their dogs and let them dry in the sun which is wrong. It calls for disease and owners should avoid it. You should wipe the dog with a clean dry towel after every bath. Powdering once a week will also keep the unwanted parasites away from your dog.” Speaking of the products available in market for dog care, there is huge range of grooming products available. “There are various dog grooming kits available in the market. I personally suggest Himalaya Herbals animal Care products for dogs,” says Jayanti of Chocolate Farm.
Stray Dog Status
According to Sasanka Dutta, there are over 40,000 stray dogs in Guwahati. Interestingly, there are many people who come forward to adopt these homeless dogs. “Some months, we hand over 20 dogs to people who come for adoption and some months, none. But I would say that dog adoption prevails in the city. There are
many people who can’t afford to buy imported dogs go for adoption of street dogs,” says Dutta. While it is interesting to know that JBF is taking care of the street dogs but Sasanka Dutta complains that their organisation is not financially sound to treat all the dogs in the city. “GMC has been putting us on and off after we did a tie up with them. It is GMC’s responsibility to take care of all the street dogs, but they have been
pushing it hard on us. We are not that financially strong and we can’t treat all the dogs without proper support from GMC,” lambasts Sasanka. Meanwhile, JBF has taken initiative to provide door to door service for dog support from Ward No 1 to 15 in Guwahati.
The Dog Shows
“Dog shows have become more of a status symbol for many people. The
owner grooms their dogs prior to the shows and tries their best to bring the best out of it. However, the dog shows have certain eligibility criteria and measurements for each breed, but all dogs won’t have the exact height and measurements. So, it is wrong for an owner to not treat their dogs with love and care if the dog is unable to enter the show,” says Jayanti. She further adds that in countries like USA, there are dog squads which make sure that
the dogs at homes are being properly taken care of, but out here many people don’t even register their dogs and are ignorant and cruel to their pets if they fail in the dog show which is absolutely wrong.
Major Concerns
“Pet Dog registration has been revived by GMC but there are still people who do not know the importance of registering their dogs. Moreover, people are not aware of the GMC’s dog guidelines and breeding policy which results in animal breeding cruelty. Breeding should be done only once or twice a year that too after having the proper idea of breeding time and should be done by a licensed breeder,” says Sasanka. According to Dr. Jitendra Nath Dewan, the pedigree chart analysis of a dog is very important before its breeding. “There are people who buy a male or a female dog and try to inbreed among themselves which is so wrong. Such breeding also results in occurrence of many diseases,” states Dutta. It is understandable that a dog is man’s best friend but the question is whether a man is a dog’s best friend! How many people would really care to not abandon their dog on the streets when the dog is old and dying?
shubhojit.roy@g-plus.in
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Food
hangout heaven
@ cafe Mocha, Guwahati
|
Sanjukta Dutta food enthusiast
I
t was just the other day, Café Coffee Day (Zoo Road) was a big let down and we decided never to step in there again for coffee and yet again I was attracted by the hoarding of ‘In Conversation’, placed strategically in the important roads of Guwahati. It was another disappointment. So, we had no place to go to in Guwahati which could offer us great coffee, food and a place to hang out and chill with friends and family. Mocha, Guwahati just came in to the scene and it was our definite choice to try and find out what it had to offer. My rating for Mocha Guwahati is 5 and it is based on the ambience, people managing the place, waiters, food, coffee and the value for money. I found the menu card or rather menu book very interesting. Everything in the menu seems well researched and tried and tested. There is a variety of coffee to opt from Africa, India, Italy etc. which is definitely remarkable. Apart from coffee, there is a variety of tea, shakes and fine hot chocolates to choose from. The food section is undeniably another segment that one cannot miss. Ranging from Sizzlers, Panini, Starters and selectable desserts will absolutely keep food lovers very busy here. The Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian dish make a good equilibrium
how we rated them Our Recommendation: This definitely is not a ‘one time visit’. It is a place you can keep going for food, for coffee or tea or just a great shake, and spend some nice time with your loved one. Just as the menu of Mocha states, ‘Go Ahead, takes a 30 Minutes vacation’, this is positively one place Guwahati people should not miss.
Kheema Ghotala
and doesn’t disappoint anyone. Food is fresh and people are friendly and ready to assist with the menu. The music is great and the ambience is bustling. The crowd is vibrant and the energy oozes out. People seem to have quite a time. The older people kept chatting with their friends and family, while some preferred to read a book or work on their laptops. The younger crowd was busy watching cricket match and the young girls gossiped while munching their favourite snack of the day.
Roast Chicken Panino
Chicken Shish Taouk
Inside Mocha, Guwahati
Mocha, Anil Plaza 2 G.S. Road.
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Let the race begin… but early!
INHALE CONFIDENCE E EXHALE DOUBT Build up your confidence and be the best of the rest ritu gupta
T
he feeling or belief that we have on someone or something is the definition of confidence. Today’s world is based on confidence. If we lack confidence, we tend to be a loser. Confidence in life, work, career or at any field enhances one’s personality. Beauty without confidence is like a book without a cover. Similarly, brains without confidence is like a car without its engine and we are not able to bloom completely. As stated by Helen Keller, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Confidence and success goes hand in hand. To be successful in life we need to be confident. A lady can carry an old fashioned attire only if she has that confidence. If we have no confidence, we are always defeated. Once we start believing in ourselves and start feeling that we are better than the rest, that is confidence. Confidence comes with practice. The more we practice, the better we become. Confidence is not an innate quality and we gain it from the environment. ‘Confidence doesn’t come when you have all the answer. But it comes when you are ready to face all the questions.’ Self-confidence comes from within and it means we are trusting ourselves and we are very positive. Positive thoughts bring about self-confidence. Self-confidence is about balance. To be able to build good levels of confidence, it commands action; it is not an item you can wish for, buy or borrow. There are solutions you can engage in every single day when learning how to build confidence.
A lady can carry an old fashioned attire only if she has that confidence. If we have no confidence, we are always defeated.
giveness gives us immense inner peace and satisfaction. • Build a diary of success: This is something which can help us in boosting our confidence. Writing down our achievements helps us to build confidence. • Keep yourself grounded – this is where people tend to get overconfident and over-stretch themselves. And make sure you don’t start enjoying cleverness for its own sake.
Building confidence at work
How to build confidence?
• Appraising yourself: This does not mean that we have to be over confident and over pompous. It simply means acknowledging our good traits and qualities. • Positive thinking: Always thinking positive and bringing out the best in us also gives us a lot of confidence. • Accepting our weaknesses: Without acceptance, we cannot modify. It’s important to know your weak point and work on it. This helps us to sustain confidence. • Forgiving those people who have abused you: This is something very important which helps us to boost our confidence. Settling old issues and coming at a level of for-
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.
• Doing what you believe to be right, even if others mock or criticize you for it. • Being willing to take risks and go the extra mile to achieve better things. • Learning from your mistakes and trying not to repeat it again. • Learning from others failure and striving for a better result.
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command. In a democracy, it is very important that the representatives understand who they represent and vice versa. Often ticket distribution is done without understanding the ground reality. Many party workers are upset with the final list of candidates and turn rebellious as despite having worked hard, their voices are not heard. It is not that the candidate has to be a local always but even if someone from outside is nominated, they have to stay in the constituency, work, connect with people and prove themselves. This needs time. Currently, the situation is that party election committees select candidates looking at caste equations, financial muscle or even due to whims and fancies of the members. Many times weak candidates are fielded so that the opponent can win. This unholy nexus between the parties can be exposed and avoided with a long lead time. It would be ideal if every party decentralized the selection process to involve the panchayats and zila parishads also. Many times ticket distribution is a money-making racket. Sometimes, even opposition candidates are bought out by rival parties. If the ticket distribution system is streamlined and conducted well in advance, the election process will become simpler and a lot of election-related crimes and violence can be avoided. Indonesia is also going to elections this month like India and the list of contesting candidates was out as early as August last year. If the candidates know their opponents well in advance, there will be a spirit of positive competition among them to serve the people in their electorate. It takes a whole nation, with all its civil, legislative and judicial bodies, to make a healthy democracy. The question is do we really deserve a better government? Are we really serious about it? Can we ever get out of caste and religion based politics? We have more questions than answers. Nevertheless we should keep asking ourselves these questions. His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji
This Rongali Bihu Brings Upto 30%* off on Annual memberships
Building confidence is readily achievable, just as long as you have the focus and determination to carry things through. And what’s even better is that the things you’ll do to build self-confidence will also build success – after all, your confidence will come from real, solid achievement. No one can take this away from you! There’s no sure-fire pattern that will make you 100% confident overnight, but if you work at it, it will pay off.
life@g-plus.in
Group Exercise Studio launched by Gold’s Gym
he Group Exercise Studio which was launched by Gold’s Gym Ganeshguri in January this year to carry out internationally certified group exercise classes ‘Les Mills’ kickstarted with group exercises Aerobics and Pilates. These exercises are aimed at improving flexibility, muscular strength and cardio-vascular fitness. The studio has recently infused classes of Les Mills like RPM and Body Pump taught by certified instructors. RPM is the indoor cycling workout where you ride to the rhythm of powerful music to a calorie-burning endorphin high. It utilizes two types of energy systems – Aerobic, which allows us to ride for a long time and Anaerobic for short bursts of
very time elections happen in India, the country is thrown into a cauldron of corruption with party-hopping, rebellion, chaos, crime and confusion reigning supreme. Often nominations are announced at the last moment and many voters don’t even get an opportunity to see the faces of their future leaders let alone interact with them. Does the largest democracy of the world need this chaos? Or can we bring in some reforms? Here we cannot forget the revolutionary changes ushered in by the tenth election commissioner T N Seshan. He put checks on the spending in elections and indiscriminate use of posters and vehicles for promotion. As elections approach, there is a spurt in illegal activities such as horse trading and money laundering. During ticket distribution, crores of rupees change hands. Either the candidates are looking to make money or the parties are looking for moneyed candidates! The process can be cleaned up to a large extent if candidates are announced 6 months in advance. On average, a Lok Sabha candidate has to cover 12000 to 14000 villages in his constituency. He/she has to connect with anywhere from 10 to 15 lakh voters. The candidates would need time to at least shake hands with 10% of them, if not all. How can one reach out to so many people in just three to four weeks? A sustained exposure will also give enough time for people to figure out the character and attitude of the leaders they are going to elect. The one who connects with them well will end up leading them. It helps the political parties as well. If the candidate is found inefficient or unacceptable by the people or if there are complaints about him/her, the party has time to rethink and nominate a different candidate. It gives people time to understand their differences, sort them out or agree to live with them. A leader should rise from the bottom winning the hearts of people rather than being imposed by the party high
Life
activity; this is where you may feel the achy, burning sensation in your legs. RPM is one of the most popular high intense cardiovascular workout in the universe. Body Pump, a weight-based group-fitness program, gives you the benefits of resistance training without lifting heavy weights. It’s the key to developing long lean muscles. The classes are performed to music using free weight-plates, barbells and an aerobic step. Participants can choose their weights based on the exercise and their personal goals. Apart from usual gymming, Gold’s Gym also carries out regular Yoga and Zumba dance classes.
The best offer of Gym membership is here in
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Call 0361 2237588 / 2031001
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Web Watch
Microsoft makes Windows 8.1 mouse-friendly
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icrosoft will send out a free update to Windows 8.1 in a few days that will improve the experience for mouse and keyboard users. According to Microsoft, the company’s goal with its latest update is to further blur the line between the legacy desktop mode, and the “Modern” tilebased interface. At its annual Build developers conference in San Francisco, Microsoft said many of the changes to Windows 8.1 will address that issue directly -- a problem had has contributed to slumping Windows sales. Windows will detect when it is running on a laptop or desktop -- as opposed to a tablet -- and automatically navigate to desktop mode when unlocking the computer. Tablets will still unlock into the tile-based Start screen, how-
ever. When using Modern apps with a mouse and keyboard, there will be a desktop-style title bar that appears at the top of the screen, allowing users to quickly minimize or exit an app. The taskbar, a staple of the desktop user interface in Windows, will now be accessible from anywhere in the operating system, including the Start screen. When users move the cursor all the way down to the bottom of the Start screen or a Modern app, the taskbar will float up from the bottom with all their favorite pinned apps. If you open a Modern app from the desktop mode, it will open the app in the typical full screen mode and behave like a Modern app. But when you close or minimize the app, it will take you back to the desktop.
How to turn Windows into A WiFi Hot spot
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ifi temptation is the trend presently! Wifi has become one of the mostly used connectivity option . Today most of the smartphones, tabs have wifi connectivity using which one can easily access the internet. Most of the time we have a single internet connection due to which we are able to surf the internet with only one of the gadget. This tutorial shows you how one can turn their laptop into a WIFI router so that all other devices can connect to internet via WIFI.
Here are the steps to make your computer a WiFi hot spot • Click on start Menu • Click on Control Panel and then • Click on Network and Sharing Center • Click on set up a new connection • Then scroll down to set up a wireless ad hoc network • Highlight the option and click next You will now see a window that will explain you what an ad hoc network is and few things about it. The most important thing before connecting any computer by this network is they should be within a range of 30 feet. Click next and then there will be a window where you need to step up the name and security type. It is mandatory to use WPA-2 for security type and use a password which you don’t have any trouble to share with others. Click on save this network check box and click next and you have created an ad hoc network successfully. Indrajeet Bhuyan is a 16 year old tech blogger and security researcher. He is passionate about computers and believes in sharing knowledge and information. He uses his spare time helping people and companies secure themselves. fb.me/indrajeet.bhuyan
Amazon unveils streaming media device
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mazon wants to be the brain -- and the heart -- inside your big-screen TV. The company introduced a small black box called Amazon Fire TV that enables television sets to access Internet programming, including streaming shows from its Amazon Prime subscription service, and a giant library of video games. The device will cost $99 and will
start shipping immediately. With it, Amazon will compete head-on both with streaming gadgets like Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) TV and console makers like Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) and Sony (SNE). All of these companies, in various ways and for various reasons, want to supplement -- and, over time, possibly replace -- the set top boxes from ca-
ble and satellite companies that sit in most living rooms. Amazon’s Fire TV has several unique features, including a remote control with a voice recognition search feature, so a user can speak the name of a show, actor or topic and find that content. “Voice is the next platform battleground,” the Forrester analyst James McQuivey wrote on Twitter. He noted that Microsoft announced its answer to Apple’s Siri and Google Now, a voice-activated assistant feature called Cortana. Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said, “Fire TV has voice search that actually works.” In a promotional letter on the Amazon home page, he wrote, “The old way of searching with a TV remote - scrolling and clicking one letter at a time on an alphabet grid - is painful. With Fire TV you simply speak the title, actor, or genre into the remote and you’re done.” A remote with a microphone won’t be enough for Amazon to win the streaming device wars, though.
Meet the next-gen USB cable that could sweep away all others
Other attributes of the Type-C design, according to the USB-IF:
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o now we know what the nextgen USB cable will look like. The new design, called USB Type-C, is designed to replace today’s multitude of cables and fix a number of their shortcomings. Type-C USB jacks will be small enough for mobile phones, the cable will be reversible end-to-end so it doesn’t matter which end you attach to your computer and which to your digital camera, and as with Apple’s Lightning connector there will be no upside-down when it’s time to actually plug the cable in. The USB Implementers Forum, which oversees the Universal Serial Bus specification, announced its plans for a new USB cable and port in December but hadn’t settled on the exact physical design of the connector. Now it’s done, and the new cables could arrive in months, the USB IF said at the Intel Developer
UICK
TIP
Q
Forum conference in Shenzhen, China. “The specification is anticipated to be completed in July 2014. We could see products with the new cable by end of year,” the USB IF told. USB has a remarkable history of success, starting in PCs but now connecting everything from tablets to headphones and appearing in everything from cars to TVs. One issues is that there’s an inconveniently large number of connectors, so people can’t always find the one they need amid the tangle in desk drawers or suitcases. Another is that today’s cables often have different connectors at each end. And when fumbling around the back of a PC or trying to plug a phone into its charger late at night, it can be extra work to be sure you get the cable plugged in right side up.
• It’ll make an audible click when plugged in correctly. • It’s designed to accommodate future USB incarnations with higher data-transfer speeds. • It’ll support USB’s growing role in carrying power to operate and charge devices through the USB Power Delivery technology. • It’s designed to be plugged and unplugged 10,000 times. With so many USB devices in the market today, don’t expect an immediate transition to the new cable. It’s likely PCs will include new and old port styles side by side, and that people will have use for cables and adapters that bridge the old and new styles.
•
Search the word TILT or ASKEW in Google and see what happens if you can get it.
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Type ‘Do a barrel roll’ in Google and it will make your mood swing.
Try these out for yourself.
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Reviews
Captain America
Winter Soldier
Director: Girish Malik Cast: Purab Kohli, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Kirti Kulhari, Mukul Dev
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Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Cast: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie
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he film finds Captain America (Chris Evans) still adjusting to life in the present day. After an impressive boat rescue sequence with Black Widow, Cap finds out that SHIELD has been secretly building a trio of massive helicarrier ships. Part of an initiative led by Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and his colleague Alexander Pierce (Redford), the ships are massive airborne drones designed to be the ultimate deterrent — but they’re also able to analyze personal communications NSA-style, using that information to preemptively determine who will commit crimes before they happen. Cap is unable to square the project’s Orwellian implications with his old-school ideals, but when Fury learns that the project may be compromised Captain America becomes the only person he can turn to. As a World War II-era character trying to understand the ethics of our modern world, Captain America is in many ways a perfect choice to explore these kinds of issues, and the film crafts a story that is admirably nuanced from a character perspective. Keeping in line with the ’70s aesthetic, the Russos largely pull back from the overuse of computer-generated imagery, and it pays off wonderfully. An early chase scene, with cars smashing into one another and cartwheeling in flames, is one of the best action sequences we’ve seen in any Marvel film. The sound design is a particular standout — the ka-thunk of Cap’s shield on cement cutting
through the mix — and the result is action that actually feels dangerous for once. Marvel movies have never skimped on fights or pyrotechnics, but their lead characters rarely feel like they’re at risk. That changes completely in The Winter Soldier, to an almost unbearable degree. The most glaring example is the title of the film itself. Yes, the Winter Soldier (a menacing Sebastian Stan) is a character in this film, and while you’ll leave out the specifics he has particular significance to Captain America. But his storyline is grafted on without really impacting the plot or the story’s larger ethical concerns. He’s glorious and flashy, but he’s a supporting henchman at best, and the call-out in the movie’s name comes across as nothing more than an aggressive hat tip to Marvel’s loyal fans. There’s no denying this is one of the strongest movies Marvel has released. While Iron Man 3 may have left some wishing for a return to form, the takeaway from Captain America: The Winter Soldier is that change which is not only good — it’s absolutely essential. By interpreting an iconic character through a modern-day lens, the Russo brothers have crafted an inspired thriller that transcends superhero movies, and given that they’ll be directing the third Captain America hopefully they can take things even further next time. As it turns out, you don’t need to tear down what’s going to come before to make something great. You just need the courage to take some chances.
t’s a never-before experience. Tapestried and tempestuous, the tides of Girish Malik’s narrative rise and swell like the frequent sandstorms in the desertscape that Sunita Radia’s camera captures so evocatively in this saga of raging ragas. There is more than just a little bit of Shakespeare in Girish Malik’s directorial debut. “Jal” leaves you with many fluttering strands of thought swimming in the tormented tides of humanity’s most deprived and financially challenged part of civilization where drinking water is more precious than gold. In terms of sheer visual grandiosity, “Jal” is next to none. Women swathed in black running after a woman who has dared to drink from their village well, the offending hero being dragged across the desert by animals like a wolf that forgot its jurisdiction, cyclones and rain conspiring to create an aura of distracting unpredictability... These are the images that etch themselves in the audiences’ mind. Going by the director’s mastery over the medium, you’d find it very tough to believe this is his first film. Malik exercises an enormously flexible yet firm grip over his epic plot. “Jal” is many things at the same time. The narrative moves in mysterious ways coiling and snaking through circumstances that appear more destined than designed. And Bakka’s (Purab Kohli’s) adventures with love and life consummate in a sticky tragedy that leaves most of the characters dazed, if not dead. Bakka insists on marrying the enemy’s daughter, thereby triggering off a chain of catastrophic events that leave the village poorer even as we, the audience, come
away enriched and nourished by the experience. The director’s deft defiant and untameable vision knits a blanket of lucid emotions embedded in a welltold narrative that hides a wealth of surreptitious surprises. The scenes are edited to accentuate the uncertainty of a people who don’t know when and where their next drink of water would come from. Water is war in “Jal”. This premise gives Malik the chance to create images that convey the immediacy and intimacy of a sudden eruption of gunfire at a sensitive border area. There is a constant sense of doom permeating the canvas. And yet “Jal” is not an unhappy film. The male characters are vividly played by artistes who seem to merge and blend in the realm of the ‘registaan’. You wish the women were more fervently fleshed out. The only two women in Bakka’s life played by Tannishta Chatterjee and Kirti, come across as sensuously silhouetted shadows. Tannishta does have her moments towards the end when she jumps into the climactic point with determined gusto. But make no mistake. This is a guys’ film. Purab in his career’s strongest
role presides over the maelstrom of operatic overtures exercising a resolute grip over the shifting-sands of his characters attitude and time. Equally stunning as his filthy slimy opponent is Mukul Dev. This neglected actor plays the kind of horny scumbag who would make you puke, if only he were not so honest about his diabolism. The activist wants to save birds in the district. But who is going to save the human beings? The question echoes in the deserts in accusatory spasm. Malik has designed a film where the characters are constantly on the brink of doom and yet liberated from the scourge of self-pity. “Jal” is a work of remarkable resonance. The sheer visual mastery of Malik’s directorial debut takes your breath away. The sheer velocity and spatial harmony of the intrinsically disturbed desertscape, the incredibly nuanced sound design and the powerhouse performances by actors who forget the camera is watching them, make this a work whipped into eternity by vast stretches of unchained artistry.
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Money
Still opting for Fixed Deposits? Here’s an alternative
When it comes to fixed-income investment for the short to medium terms, there is nothing quite like Fixed Deposits (FDs), right? Wrong. Fixed Maturity Plans (FMPs) of mutual funds (MFs) have given better returns than FDs of 1-3 years- the typical investment Period in FDs.
FMPs
ROHIT SARAWGI Independent Financial Advisor
About FMPs
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imply put, Fixed Maturity Plans (FMPs) are the mutual fund industry version of Fixed Deposits (FDs). Fixed Maturity Plans are closed-ended Debt MF schemes with a pre-defined maturity date ranging from 30 days to 365 days. Some even have a three or five-year time frame. FMPs invest in Fixed Income instruments, like Bonds, Government Securities, Money Market Instruments (very short-term fixed return investments), to name a few. FMPs can be open-ended or close-ended, however many of them are close-ended, meaning investors cannot withdraw before the maturity date. FMPs are the financial products whose primary objective is to generate steady returns over a fixed tenor, typically one month to five years. They shield investors from interest rate fluctuations by investing in portfolio of debt securities (predominantly Certificates of Deposit, Commercial Papers and Non-Convertible Debentures) whose tenor matches that of the scheme. These securities are redeemed at the end of the FMP term. For example, if the FMP is for 12 months, the fund manager invests in instruments with maturity close to 12 months. Hence the name – Fixed Maturity Plan. FMPs maturing in 12-15 months are the most popular, as they give investors single or double indexation benefit, thereby shoring up returns. Investments in FMPs can be made only during the New Fund Offer period. The investments made by the FMP have an indicative yield. This means, on maturity, there is a possibility of the actual returns deviating from the returns indicated at the time of investing. The deviation might not be significant at the end, but it would still be imprudent to consider FMPs returns as fixed as in an FD.
What is the difference between FMP & bank FD?
FMP & Bank FDs are both similar, both giving assured returns. However, the returns in Bank FDs are guaranteed and the maturity amount is known. However, in case
of FMPs, the returns are only indicative and not guaranteed. But you can be almost sure of your returns as the scheme’s portfolio consists of highly graded instruments.
Why should I invest in FMPs? FMPs provide various tax advantages like: • The dividend is tax-free in the hands of the individual investor. • In the Growth Option of the FMP for less than a year, the gains are added to the investor’s income and taxed at the investor’s slab rate. • Interest received from FDs is subject to tax at the investor’s marginal rate of tax, which can range from 10% to 30%. But long term FMPs (more than 365 days) are taxed at 20% with indexation or 10% without indexation, whichever is lower. • Even after taxes, FMP returns fare better, thanks largely to the indexation benefit. • FMPs with maturity of a little over 12 months also offer double indexation benefit, which comes into play when the scheme purchase is made in one financial year and the maturity of the scheme is after two financial years. MFs keep track of the prevailing interest rate scenario and launch the schemes when interest rates are at relatively high levels. FMPs allow investors to lock-in their investments at higher yields. Over the past years, when yield have been on the higher side, there have been several FMPs launched with maturity close to 60 months, thereby allowing investors to lock in for higher time frame.
Why are FMPs better than FDs? Over time, they have established a place in the portfolios of debt fund investors. Savvy investors sometime go away with FDs and replace them with FMPs. So what is it about FMPs that makes it so appealing to investors and how do they differ from FDs?
1. Returns
Returns are an extremely sensitive subject for fixed income investors. It is over here that, FMPs diverge from FDs in a big way. This can be understood once you get an idea of how FMPs work.
2. Taxation:
FMPs also differ from FDs in tax treatment of income. In FDs, the interest income is added to the investor’s income and is taxable at the applicable tax slab, also known as the marginal rate of tax. With FMPs, the tax implication depends upon the investment option Dividend or Growth. In the Dividend Option, investors have to bear the dividend distribution tax. Whereas, in the growth option, returns earned are treated as capital gains (short term or long term depending on the investment tenure). In case of short term capital gains (i.e. if investments are held for less than 365 days), the interest income is added to the investors income and is taxed at the marginal rate of tax. Whereas, as for long term capital gains (if investments are held for more than 365 days), tax liability is determined based on the lower of with indexation (charged at 20% plus surcharge) and without indexation (charged 10% plus surcharged). With the indexation benefit, FMPs end up delivering more tax returns than FDs.
3. Tenure:
FDs and FMPs offer equal flexibility when it comes to investment tenure. From a few months to several years, there are investment options available across different points of tenure. Investors can select the tenure suiting their investment objectives and needs.
4. Liquidity:
FDs score over FMPs in liquidity. Being fixed income in nature, there are restrictions on liquidity in both cases. But FDs can generally be withdrawn without penalty, unlike FMPs.
An Investor takes advantage of double indexation by investing in financial year 1 and then selling in financial year 3. This virtually brings down the tax impact to a very low level if not to zilch
Consider an example of an investor investing in an FMP An Investor takes advantage of double indexation by investing in financial year 1 and then selling in financial year 3. This virtually brings down the tax impact to a very low level if not to zilch. This means, whole yield on such investments becomes tax-free. Double indexation would kick in, if investment is done in current financial year and redemption in the third financial year. This may help to reduce tax liability on long-term capital gains that will arise on redemption of mutual funds. For example, investment of Rs. 1 lakh in an FMP in March 2014, with say an average portfolio maturity of five years. Now, with accrued interest of approximately 9% on this investment and as per tax laws, there is an option
of paying tax on long –term capital gains with or without indexation. For example, if an investor invests in a 13-month FMP launched in March 2014 (financial year 2013-14), it will mature in April 2015(financial year 2015-16). As the investment period is spread over three years, the investor can adjust the investment amount with inflation of two financial years. This exercise allows one to reduce the tax liability considerably. Under indexation, the purchase price of the investment is increased to include the inflation rate over the holding period. The inflation is calculated using a government notified factor called cost inflation index. Indexation reduces the effective taxable capital gains component, lowering the tax outgo. Investors have a choice of either using or not using this indexation benefit. The option that gives a lower tax outgo can be selected.
G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
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Events
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Will Voter ID cards be able to check fraudulent voting? Subhasish Chakraborty
Social worker
Masum Yusuf Ahmed Corporate professional
POINT
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hen potential voters come to the voting station on the day of election, they usually identify themselves to election officers before they are allowed to vote. This allows election officers to check the names of voters against the voters’ list and ensure that they are included. Each name is then checked off or crossed out, or the voter is asked to sign the register. In some cases, when there are concerns about the possibility of multiple voting, voters may be required to dip a finger in indelible ink to indicate that they have voted. In India there is a known history of proxy voting and to eradicate the problem the authorities have time and again come up with various ideas to see that the election process is fair. In Assam, this is the first time that people have received voter identity cards and this might, according to me reduce proxy voting, which used to happen before. There are around 50,000 voters in Guwahati who will vote without photo identity cards, and similarly the number increases in entire Assam. As the administration was not able to provide the cards to all the voters this time, the problem of proxy voting will still be there but the people having photo identity cards will not find it easy to indulge in proxy voting as the identification of the card holders will be double-checked at the polling booths. The critics always have a say and might find some fault in this system too, but the photo voter identity card makes it easier for the voters to prove their identity of being a citizen and a responsible voter. The authorities too, can easily check that the card holders are voting against their right and no one else is using their right to vote. Voters can prove their identity by various ways. In countries where it is the norm for citizens to carry identification (e.g. national identity card, driver’s license, employment ID card, health care ID card), the election administration may not need to issue its own identifying documents. In a country where voter fraud is unlikely to occur, registration offices may not ask for any identification; voters simply sign the voters’ list or register. And with the switch to computerised
G-Talk
COUNTERPOINT The critics always have a say and might find some fault in this system too, but the photo voter identity card makes it easier for the voters to prove their identity of being a citizen and a responsible voter. The authorities too, can easily check that the card holders are voting against their right and no one else is using their right to vote. files, often there is no original signature for comparison. When there is a voter’s card, the picture of the person, the signature and other details can be easily verified. In a state like Assam, where illegal immigration is a genuine problem, photo identity cards is a must and should have been there from before. People migrate from other countries and during elections with the instigation and money provided by political parties, they can easily vote by getting their names enlisted in the electoral list. But, with the voter’s card in place, people will find it tough to manipulate the electoral process.
Even after being the largest democracy in the world, rigging or voting through impersonation or ‘proxyvoting’ have become a part and parcel of the electoral process of India. The practice of multiple voting and auction of electors, most of the time, which is practised and promoted by the political parties, have been paralysing the democratic system of
Sometimes, it is also speculated that there is a nexus between the leaders of the ruling party and the officials of polling booths. Since the administration is being governed by the ruling party, they (ruling party) take advantage of it and carry on criminal activities like proxy voting and EVM tempering right under the administration’s noses.
the country. As a result, illegal immigrants have got a chance to become permanent residents and played a major role in deciding the political fate of the country. This problem is even worse in Assam and there are media reports, which prove the fact that illegal immigrants have been casting their votes in elections. Moreover, there has also been a rise in the number of ‘professionals’ in every polling station waiting to be ‘hired’ to impersonate as genuine electors, for a mere handful of money. The Election Commission of India has introduced procedures like ‘photo-profiling of electors’, SMSbased poll monitoring system, collection of thumb-prints or specimen of electors in Form-17-C in an attempt to discourage impersonation and multiple-voting by the electors. But even after that, we have seen reports of proxy voting or voting fraud occurring in every election. Sometimes, it is also speculated that there is a nexus between the leaders of the ruling party and the officials of polling booths. Since the administration is being governed by the ruling party, they (ruling party) take advantage of it and carry on criminal activities like proxy voting and EVM tempering right under the administration’s noses. In the case of Assam and other northeastern states, militants play a major role in such electoral malpractices. The electors photo identity card (EPIC) has been introduced in Assam for the first time and people of the state will be exercising their franchise with EPIC in the upcoming general election. But, the clarity of the photos and the misspelled names affixed in the EPICs has been serious causes of concern. Because, in the past, during the recent elections held in Manipur, we have seen reports of militants who are dressed in civilian clothes enter the polling booths and taking control of the EVMs and mobile handsets. The militants were able to do so in presence of security personnel. Another important issue is that even though the voters were provided with EPICs, the photos of electors lack clarity. Therefore, it is hard to say that EPIC would solve the problem of fraud voting.
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Fun
Your weekly dose of HOROSCOPE
TAURUS Don’t hesitate to offer your opinion or let your feelings be known at the beginning of the week. Even — or especially — if it feels a little risky, it’s the right thing to do. Around Tuesday and Wednesday in particular, people are likely to embrace what you do and say. At the end of the workweek, however, your words are more powerful than you know. A little tact helps a great deal, so tone things down. This weekend, on the other hand, is the perfect time to turn it up. What is ‘it’? That’s up to you. Romance, maybe?
GEMINI You’re so on it on Monday that it’s practically scary. It’s the perfect day to make plans and make moves — and make your feelings known. The next few days look far more low-key, or maybe they should. Take it easy and seek clarity in your thoughts; clear thinking could be elusive now. You can get back in action on Thursday and Friday, when work looks fun and your time after hours looks amazing. Anyone who can keep up with you is lucky as heck to be by your side. The weekend’s about sorting through a lot of communication to find the kernel you seek.
CANCER
LIBRA
Get busy on Monday. Work hard to get some tasks and chores out of the way, because the energy you’ve got coming around Tuesday and Wednesday is frighteningly great. Your instincts have rarely been better, and acting on them is absolutely favored. Romance? Go for it! Watch out for overdoing it at the end of the workweek, though, especially if you’re contemplating a financial extravagance. How will your actions now impact the future? This weekend, the little things, like sweet interactions and intervals of peace and quiet, mean a lot.
Move new agenda items, both at work and in your personal life, to Monday, when your brainpower is up and you’re feeling experimental. Over the next few days, you’re more focused on emotional angles. It looks like you’re helping someone else out with a problem, but don’t forget to work in some time for you, too. Around the end of the workweek, your creative capabilities are highlighted. This is a fabulous time for finding fresh solutions and finessing interpersonal stuff — and for fun, too. Your personal touch only gets better this weekend. Reach out!
SCORPIO
LEO The big lion’s just a kitty cat as the week gets going. You may even be a little bit oversensitive. Let your natural warmth and affection show, and it’ll be returned in kind. And when Thursday and Friday come, look out! That warmth turns seriously hot, with your charisma making any and all situations electric. If you’ve got an idea at work or in romance, get it out there now. As for the weekend, your money may be uppermost in your mind. It might be a good time to eliminate extravagances and enjoy the simpler things in life.
VIRGO You’re all over the details as the week begins, but are you neglecting the implications of the bigger picture? Get help from a friend or mentor — someone with the great vision to match your current fine focus. You’ve definitely got something to offer them in turn. Whatever concrete plans you have toward the end of the workweek, whether they’re for business or pleasure, are in no way set in stone. Can you adapt? As far as the weekend goes, it’s just a matter of what you want to do with the awesome energy the stars are sending you. You’re fabulous. Work it!
If you’ve got the urge to make an unusual move or finally say something you’ve been thinking, slow down at the beginning of the week. A little extra instinct kicks in around Tuesday or Wednesday, informing your timing and actions rather beautifully. Give the credit to increased powers of observation and sensitivity — and try your utmost to carry them over into the end of the workweek. Career matters look tricky now, and finesse is better than flamboyance. When the weekend comes, though, you’ll be able to relax and de-stress. A sweet secret for you is also in the stars.
SAGITTARIUS Even you might find what’s going on around you unusual at the beginning of the week. Certainly there are more questions than answers, and the exploring might be fun at times, and a little scary sometimes, too. Keep your values firmly in hand and be ready for anything. Thursday and Friday look just plain lucky for you, though. If you’re making romantic plans, these are the days to choose! Your sense of humor makes you very popular now, one-onone or in a group. This weekend, hurrying is a major don’t. Do things slowly, and do them right the first time.
CAPRICORN A new idea — or is it a new person? — deserves in-depth consideration at the outset of the week. It may take a concerted effort to find the time to concentrate on it (or them), especially because social stuff’s favored on Tuesday and Wednesday. But this exploration is totally worth your time. Ideas of ownership come into play at the end of the workweek. What’s yours is yours, right? If you’re clinging too tightly, maybe the answer should be no — or maybe. This weekend, your trust is rewarded, and life looks steady and sweet.
AQUARIUS Wear something different and speak your mind with self-confidence on Monday. What’s unique about you sparkles right now even more than usual, especially interpersonally. Life may not be totally easy for a day or two after that. Be proactive about staying healthy, centered and supported, and you’ll be ready for an influx of what could be extraordinary stuff around Thursday and Friday. It looks like a relationship could be very positively impacted! Take care of little things this weekend. It’ll be immensely satisfying.
PISCES It might seem like opposite day on Monday, with people saying the reverse of what they mean, left looking like right and up seeming down. Hold on, because the next couple of days, while also mysterious, make sense to you in odd ways. Unmask somebody — or let your real self be revealed! You might be taken as overbearing at the end of the workweek, even if you’re just telling it like it is. Think about the delivery as well as the message. This weekend, feel free to speak off the cuff, act impulsively and have a terrific time.
JUST FOR LAUGHs Bill wasn’t a very good golfer, but he sure dressed like one. He had a wicked slice that prevented him from ever reaching the green in two strokes, but on the day of the company golf tournament, no one could deny that he looked pretty sharp on the tee. That day, as usual, Bill sent his first drive deep into the woods.
SUDOKU
“You’ll never hit it out of there,” his friends insisted. “As God is my witness, I’m gonna make the green in two if it kills me,” Bill replied. With that, he smacked the ball as hard
as he could. It hit the tree in front of him and came straight back, and hit him right between the eyes and he died. When Bill appeared at the pearly gates, St. Peter looked at him and said, “Well, I can see by your outfit that you’re a golfer! Are you any good?” Bill replied, “I got here in two, didn’t I?”
Solutions (Last Issue)
ARIES If you’ve got something to say, think it through and get it off your chest on Monday. You’re a great communicator now, but for the next couple of days, your attention is likely turned inward. Dealing with stuff around your place while mulling things over might be the best plan. Save the socializing (and the romance!) for Thursday and Friday, when you’re 10 kinds of hot. Get physical, too; being active gives you even more of a glow. This weekend there’s a choice to be made and priorities to set. A friend can help.
TIMEPASS
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G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
HANDLOOM STORES G Plus will keep on publishing such relevant and useful information in this page in the coming issues.
Compiled by Mautapa Dhar
ANGELA SILK INDUSTRY
DEBIDUTT MONOHARLAL SRCB Rd, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2510205
50, Tiwari Mrkt, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2543224
ANITA SILK HOUSE
JAGARAN
PRAGJYOTIKA
AG Rd, Beltola, Ghy- 28 Ph- 9864153095 New Mrkt, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2512462
GNB Rd, Ambari, Ghy-1 Ph- 2632709, 2543772
ARTFED
AK Azad Rd, Rehabari, Ghy-8, Ph- 2735027
GNB Rd, Ambari, Ghy-1 Ph- 2632709, 2543772
ASSAM COOPERATIVE SILK HOUSE
Radhabazar, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2543904
BAISHYA & CO
New Mrkt, Fancybazar, Fancybazar, Ghy- 1 Ph- 2543745
BAISHYA HANDLOOM PRODUCT
Near Central Bank, VIP Rd, Ghy- 15, Ph- 99542886622
BAISHYA SILK EMPORIUM
JC Das Rd, Panbazar, Ghy- 1 Ph- 2830632
BEAUTY OF INDIA
AT Rd, Paltanbazar, Ghy-8 Ph- 9207301366, 9954066942
BHANUS STORE
New Mrkt, Fancybaar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2602166
BIKAS STORE
Bhrigu Mrkt, Ganeshguri-6 Ph- 2226121
BS STORE
Gunahari, Mrkt, Fancybazar-1 Ph- 2632396
CANECRAFT & ALLIED INDRUSTRIES
GS Rd, Christianbasti, Ghy-5 Ph- 2345031, 2340250
CHAYANIKA SILK CENTER JC Rd,Panbazar, Ghy-1 Ph- 2602577
KALPATARU
HB Rd, Panbazar, Ghy-1 Ph- 2543904, 2517325
KAMRUP HANDLOOM HOUSE Keshab Katra, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2517023
KANGKAN
Julu Mrkt, Nr, Flyover, Chandmari, Ghy-21 Ph-9435101747
KUMAR SILK CENTRE
HB Rd, Fancybazar, Ghy-1 Ph- 2636361
MAA SILKALAYA
PARTULAL BIMAL KUMAR
RADYMADE CLOTH STORE
37, Mohan Mrkt, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph-2546279
REKHA CLOTH CENTRE
Mohan Mrkt, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2548614
RIVER PEOPLE
Lamb Rd, Ambari, Ghy-1 Ph- 9864079302
RONGILY FABRICS
Kanchan path, Ulubari, Ghy- 7, Ph- 9957196231, 9854035111
SANJAY STORE
MADHUSHREE
SANKARDEV SILK HOUSE
Shiv Mrkt, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, h- 2511868
MANJU SILK CENTRE
SRCB Road, Fancybazar, Ghy- 1, Ph- 2600756
MURLIDHAR DEVI DUTT SRCB Rd, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2545000
NE TEXTURE
AK Azad Rd, Rehabari,Ghy- 8 Ph- 9854038985, 9957081070
PAT MUGA SILK EMPORIUMLalita Mrkt, Ganeshguri, Ghy-1, Ph- 2225658
Ambulance 102 Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Downtown Hospital 9864101111, 9435012669 GLP Social Circle 2737373 GGUMTA (Mirza) 03623-227109 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251
BLOOD BANK
Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Ganga Blood Bank 2454742, 2455029 Lion’s Club of Ghy Central 2546611 Marwari Yuva Manch 2546470, 2547251 Saharia’s Path Lab (24 hours) 2458594
RAJIV DRESSES
SRCB Rd, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Ph- 2636379
GS Rd, Paltanbazar, Ghy- 8 ph- 2511660
MANIPUR HANDLOOM EMPORIUM
AMBULANCE
GNB Rd, Ambari, Ghy-1, Ph- 2543439
GS Rd, Bhangagarh, Ghy- 5, Ph- 9954269894, 9706786640 GS Rd, Post Office, Ghy- 5 Ph- 24560548
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
HOSPITALS Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) B Baruah Cancer Institute (2472364/66) Brahmaputra Hospital Ltd (2451634/678) Chatribari Christian Hospital 0361-2600051, 9207044374 Downtown Hospital (2336906, 2330695, 2331003) Guwahati Medical College (2529457, 2529561) Guwahati Medical College Emergency (2263444)
International Hospital 0361-7135005 Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (2541477, 2543998) Marwari Hospital & Research Centre 0361-2602738/39 Marwari Maternity Hospital 0361-2541202/01 Nemcare Hospital 0361-2528587, 2455906, 2457344
Pratiksha Hospital 0361-2337260, 2337183/84 Basistha Military Hospital (2304617/0351) Railway Central Hospital Casuality (2671025) Redcross Hospital (2665114) Sri Sankardeva Netralaya 0361-2233444, 2228879, 2228921 TB Hospital (2540193) Wintrobe Hospital 0361-2519860, 98647-77986
24-HOUR PHARMACIES Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665)
HB Rd, Fancybazar, Ghy-1 Ph- 2546364
SHREE BALAJI TEXTILES
SRCB Rd, Fancybazar, Ghy-1 Ph- 2631391
SILKALAY
JC Das Rd, Kamarpatty, Ghy-1, Ph- 2511260 GS Rd, Christianbasti, Ghy- 5, Ph- 2343102
STANDARD
HANDLOOM HOUSE Meer Mrkt, Kamarpatty, Ghy-1, Ph- 2541421
BHARALI SILK HOUSE
Cencellor Commercial Building, H B Road, Panbazar, Guwahati-1 PH- 9954572689
Citypedia
DEAD BODY CARRYING VAN GLP Social Circle 2737373, 9435047046 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251 GGUMTA 98640-16740 ELECTRICITY SUPPLY Call Centre – 9678005171
OTHERS Fire Emergency 101 State Zoo 2201363 GMC Carcass Pickup 9435190720, 9864047222 LPG Emergency/Leakage 2385209, 2541118
RADIO TAXI SERVICES Prime Cabs 0361- 2222233 Green Cabs 0361-7151515 My Taxi 0361-2228888 Cherry Cabs 8876222288
Cinema Hall Anuradha Cineplex – 0361-2656968, 99545-44738 Fun Cinema (HUB)- 98648-00100, 98648-00200 Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar) – 98540-66166 Gold Cinema (Salasar) – 0361-2735367, 98540-77177 Gold Cinema (Narengi) – 88110-01898 police station Fatasil Ambari PS: Ph-2471412 SP, Kamrup District: Ph- 2540278 Geetanagar PS: Ph-2417323 DGP Control Room: Ph- 2540242 Hatigaon: Ph-2562383 SB Control Room: Ph-2261511 Jalukbari PS: Ph-2570587 Police Control Room: Ph-2540138, Jalukbari Out Post: Ph-2570522 2540113 Jorabat: Ph-2896853 Azara PS: Ph2840287 Khanapara: Ph- 2281501 Basista PS: Ph-2302158 Khetri PS: Ph-2787699, 2787220 Bharalumukh PS: Ph- 2540137, Latasil PS: Ph-2540136 2731199 Noonmati PS: Ph- 2550281 Borjhar PS: Ph-2840351 North Guwahati PS: Ph-2690255 Chandmari PS: Ph- 2660204 Paltanbazar PS: Ph-2540126 Chandrapur PS: Ph-2788237, Panbazar PS: Ph-2540106 2785237 Pragjyotishpur Ps: Ph-2785237 Dispur PS: Ph-2261510 Women PS Panbazar: Ph-2524627 Fancybazar PS: Ph- 2540285
24
G PLUS APR 05 - APR 11, 2014
Catching Up
Headlining acts!
Rajkumar Hirani invited by Beijing International Film Festival Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who gained huge fame in China with his film 3 IDIOTS, has been invited by the Beijing International Film Festival-2014 to be part of the jury. He is the first Bollywood personality to be invited by the BJIFF. The director will be sharing the jury table with some of the big names from the film industry including China’s Lu Chuan, Ireland’s Jim Sheridan, France’s Philippe Muyl, Spanish producer Andres Vicente Gómez and Italian actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta.
Shailene Woodley WHO’S SHE Shailene DiannWoodley is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Amy Juergens in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008– 2013) and for co-starring alongside George Clooney in the critically acclaimed 2011 film The Descendants, for which she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture.
Natalia Poklonskayais
SO WHAT In 2014, Woodley starred as Beatrice Prior in the film adaptation of Veronica Roth’s novel Divergent, and will play Hazel Grace Lancaster in the film adaptation of John Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars.
WHO’S SHE Natalia Vladimirovna Poklonskayais is the Prosecutor of the Republic of Crimea.Poklonskaya graduated from the Yevpatoria branch of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs.
Now what Woodley starred as Tris Prior in the movie Divergent, an adaptation of Veronica Roth’s young adult novel. The movie was released on March 21, 2014. Woodley will reprise her role as Tris in the sequel of Divergent, with Insurgent scheduled to start filming in May 2014 and a release date of March 20, 2015. She will reprise her role again in the final film of the franchise, Allegiant, which will be released on March 18, 2016.
SO WHAT Poklonskaya took the job, which many of her male colleagues feared to accept, just days before Crimea’s referendum on independence from Ukraine, stunning the world not only with her courage, but her beauty as well. Now what Poklonskaya, who has recently become an internet sensation largely because of her looks, will fight against crimes in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the gaming version which is currently being developed.
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Mystery aircraft flying over Texas baffles aviation experts Experts in aviation and avid UFO conspirators have been left baffled by photographs that appear to show a mysterious triangular-shaped flying object flying over US airspace. The photos, captured by Steve Douglass and Dean Muskett, show what appears to be an aircraft flying across on Amarillo International Airport 10 March, with another contrail next to it. Experts say the object’s shape is unlike any known plane, which was seen accompanied by two other aircraft.
pick of the week India successfully launched its second navigation satellite, sometimes dubbed as the ‘desi GPS’, onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The satellite navigation system is a fleet of seven satellites that will help provide precise locations within 20 meters. India has become the sixth nation to embark on this after America, Russia, Europe, China and Japan.
Noah’s Ark ‘could have happened’ The story of Noah may seem like an impossible legend, but scientists have calculated that the Ark could indeed have floated - even with two of every animal on board. Establishing the precise dimensions of the huge boat based on God’s instructions according to The Bible, postgraduate physics students at the University of Leicester worked out that it would have been buoyant enough to be fit for purpose.
What did I just hear? After much hype and speculation about Rakhi Sawant joining politics, the actor revealed the name of her party at a recent press conference. The Rashtriya Aam Party, as she calls her party has applied for three symbols - green chillies, scissor and wooden stick, one of which will be finalised soon. So, the item girl has finally floated a party and this time it might be another step for gaining popularity.
Kamur of the week Local selfies: With psychiatrists declaring that people posting selfies are most likely suffering from ‘Selfitis’, the online streams seem to be crowded with selfies of local celebs, socialites and heck, even politicians. We sincerely hope that this is a fad and a short one at that.
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