Vol 5 Issue 4 by G Plus

@guwahatiplus www.guwahatiplus.com

Volume 05 | Issue 04 Nov 18 - Nov 24, 2017 Price `10

Rs 30 crore summit to target investors from 10 sectors

CM Sarbananda Sonowal addressing the Advantage Assam curtain raiser at New Delhi

Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

dvantage Assam will target investors from as many as ten different sectors who could invest in the state. The two-day global investment summit will be held on 3-4 February 2018 in Guwa-

hati at an estimated budget of Rs 30 crores. “50% of the expenses will be borne by the Centre” said Commissioner & Secretary of the Industries & Commerce Department, Ashutosh Agnihotri. He informed that the summit will tarContinued to page » 2

More to read City police team reaches Delhi to probe Madani’s ‘provocative’ speech PG 03

Frequent fliers complain of mismanagement and lack of facilities at LGBI Airport PG 04

Will consumers get the GST tax reduction benefits? PG 08

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Lead Story

Rs 30 crore summit to target investors from 10 sectors Continued from page » 1 get investors from the pharmaceuticals, plastics and hydrocarbons, petroleum, information technology (IT), tourism, healthcare

and medical equipments, power, agriculture and food processing, inland water transport and port townships, and civil aviation. According to plans, there will be sessions on all the sectors during the summit and during every

session, the different investment opportunities available in the state of Assam would be showcased. Opinions from the participants would also be solicited in the conclave. The curtain raiser of the sum-

PM to inaugurate summit laying special focus on ties with ASEAN countries

mit was held in New Delhi on 24th October. This will be followed by a road show in Hyderabad on 18th November and subsequently in Kolkata and Bangalore. Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, will also visit Mumbai

Advantage Assam would not be a success without new industrial policy

IT minister of Assam Keshab Mahanta addressing the gathering during an Advantage Assam road show in Hyderabad | G Plus Photo

everal ministers of different countries in charge of industry and commerce are expected to attend the Advantage Assam Investors’ Summit in Guwahati which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The focus of Advantage Assam would be to create opportunities by the state in terms of export-oriented manufacturing and services to growing economies like ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries. A senior official of Industries & Commerce department said, “Invitations are being sent to all potential investors in many countries but the main focus is on ASEAN because Assam can become a trade capital for all ASEAN countries.” He added that the Prime Minister will, for the first time, inaugurate a global investment

summit because of his focus towards Act East Policy. During every sector session of the summit (there will be 10 sessions according to the targeted industrial sectors), special emphasis will be given on how trade can be linked between the ASEAN countries and Assam. The investors’ conclave

The focus of Advantage Assam would be to create opportunities by the state in terms of export-oriented manufacturing and services to growing economies like ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries.

comes close on the heels of the Centre’s renewed focus on Act East Policy, which also envisages forging close ties with ASEAN. Delivering the key note address at the curtain raiser of Advantage Assam on 24th October in New Delhi, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that Assam could be the gateway to the South East Asian countries which comprises a market of 18 million people. He also underscored the Centre’s focus on developing the region and the various schemes that have been unveiled. It is worth noting that the proposed and forthcoming investor's meet hosted by the Govt. of Assam towards fostering investment in Assam is unprecedented in its nature and provides the maiden scope of the ASEAN countries to explore the region as a probable region investment. n

for interaction with top industrialists on 29th and 30th November. The summit is also expected to provide opportunities to all the local investors and entrepreneurs to encourage them to invest in the different sectors in the state. n

he state government might claim that Advantage Assam will bring investments to Assam but unless the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) is revived or a new investment policy drafted, investors will not invest in Assam. One of the directors of Federation of Industries of North Eastern Region (FINER), Sandeep Khaitan said, “Unless the new investment policy for northeast is announced not a single investor will invest.” A good number of investors who set up shop in the state are winding up due to the anti-industry refund mechanism by the Centre, claimed FINER. Excise duty exemption, which investors used to receive

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from the Centre for setting up units under NEIIPP 2007, was stopped after the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime in the country. Instead of excise duty the Centre introduced a new scheme to refund its share of Central GST (CGST) and integrated GST (IGST) to industrial units in the region. So industries in Assam have faced reduction in refund quantum. The need of the hour is the immediate introduction of a new industrial policy, opined FINER. Meanwhile, a source in the industry and commerce department said that the state government is perusing the Central government to announce the new policy prior to the summit that is slated for the first week of February. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

In The News

City police team reaches Delhi to probe Madani’s ‘provocative’ speech Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

team of city police has reached Delhi to probe the allegations against Maulana Syed Arshad Madani, president of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, for a provocative speech at a programme in the capital. Two FIRs have been registered at two police stations (Basistha and Fatasil Ambari) in Guwahati and a third in Tezpur against Madani on the charge of promoting communal enmity between different communities. The complaints were filed by Utpal Das and Biswajit Nath. Joint Commissioner of police Diganta Barah said, “Police is thoroughly investigating the matter and all the people related with the case will be questioned.” Earlier, in a press conference, Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay said

that the police were examining various evidences including the original audio and video recordings of a speech that Madani had made at a seminar in New Delhi on 13th November. He assured that appropriate action would be taken if the allegations were proved to be true. Reports in several local newspaper and TV news channels in Guwahati have quoted the Jamiat chief Madani as saying that a conspiracy was hatched in Assam to take away the citizenship of Muslims and create another Myanmar. He was seen seated on the dais with prominent citizens and intellectuals from the city in a seminar titled “Current Political Impasse in Assam: Updating the NRC and the Question of Citizenship” which was organized by a group called Delhi Action Committee for Assam (DACA). Senior journalist Manjit Mahanta who was a participant at the event said, “During the press interaction Madani had said one line

Verification of 3.21 crore NRC applicants completed

File photo of Maulana Syed Arshad Madani

that Assam will face a Myanmar like situation and immediately I and Prof (Retd) Hiren Gohain pro-

learing the fog regarding the delay in National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft list publication, Assam NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela claimed that all the verification processes are complete. Hajela told G Plus, “The draft list should be published before 31st December 2017. But we have not

Ramesh Borpatragohain appointed as new Advocate General, Chinmoy Choudhury resigns

File photo Chinmoy Choudhury

ore than a year after he was appointed the Advocate General for the state of Assam, Chinmoy Choudhury has resigned from the post. Choudhury was appointed as Advocate General in July 2016. He has over three decades of experience as a lawyer, having joined the Bar in 1983. He was made Senior Government pleader in 1999, and went on to become

Central Government Standing Counsel at the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Gauhati. Ramesh Borpatragohain has been appointed as the Advocate General of Assam. It is being reported that Chinmoy Choudhury resigned because there were suggestions that he made to the administration of the Advocate General’s office, but the government did not listen and therefore he resigned. n

President Kovind on maiden Guwahati visit

resident Ram Nath Kovind will visit Guwahati on 21st November as part of his two-day programme. This will be his first trip to the North East after being elected as the President of India. A high level meeting regarding the forthcoming visit of the President was held yesterday under the Chairmanship of Deputy

Commissioner Kamrup (Metro) Dr M Angamuthu. He ordered PWD (R) officials to refurbish and repair the entire stretch and medians of the road from Airport to Raj Bhawan and Lower Kamakhya to Bhubaneswari temple. The DC also ordered Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) to clean the stretch and to remove unauthorized structures

and hoardings, etc. He further asked the APDCL officials for uninterrupted power supply and the Gauhati University authority to arrange for adequate lighting during the President’s visit to the university premises. The DC will also review the security arrangements throughout the city during the President’s visit. n

tested on the comment.” He further said that Madani was not invited as a speaker but he received any information about the Centre’s decision to defer the date.” He clarified that the verification process of all the applications for inclusion in the register has been completed but the decision on whether they are genuine citizens would be taken soon which also includes the 1.23 crore applicants.

made provocative remarks to the media which has been protested across the state. n According to media reports, the Registrar General of Citizen Registration (RGCR) has pleaded before the Supreme Court making a case for the postponement of the date for the publication of the draft NRC. The central agency, the report said, had asked for a couple of months more for completion of the process. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

City

Regular international flights still a distant dream The LGBI Airport, constrained by minimal infrastructure and lack of basic facilities, failed to attract more international flights; authorities hopeful once project Aero City is rolled out Avishek Sengupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

File photo of the LGBI airport

ttracting tourists from all over the globe might be one of the top priorities for the state government, but the lack of international flights to the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport, paints a different picture. Run by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), the LGBI Airport that acts as the only international airport for the entire Northeast region has traffic of only four international flights of DrukAir per week - two flights to Bangkok in Thailand on Wednesdays and Saturdays and two more departing to Paro in Bhutan on Thursdays and Sundays. A source in the AAI said the lack of international flights is due

Frequent fliers complain of mismanagement and lack of facilities

ack of facilities ranging from inadequate trolleys to over congestion of terminals has been plaguing the LGBI airport, complained many frequent fliers. Earlier in January, the opposition leader in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, had written to the civil aviation department complaining that the airport is in need of upgradation. When G Plus contacted him, Saikia said, “When it (LGBI airport) was set up, it was built to meet the international standards. But the standards have changed over time and Assam along with Northeast has grown leaps and bounds. While the current structure has a capacity for 2,000 passengers, the footfall has increased to 5,000 passengers daily. Not only congestion, but security too has become a major issue.” Several passengers complained of not finding adequate trolleys to freight their luggage. An official of a private airline said, “There are

250 trolleys available with the airport authorities whereas the actual standard number is 500 trolleys minimum. It becomes cumbersome to cater to passengers if two flights land around the same time.” It is not just the passengers but the security personnel from 14th Assam Police Battalion who remain stationed at the LGBI airport, also spoke of lack of facilities.

“There are no sheds for us. About 20-30 jawans are deputed here round the clock. We don’t have a place to rest in; not even access to drinking water. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) provides us with help in terms of water and resting areas, but a permanent solution is the need of the hour,” Pranjal Kalita, a security personnel said. n

to the lack of infrastructure in the airport that is built over a sprawling 1275 acres of land in Borjhar, about 26 kms from Guwahati. “The runway in the LGBI airport is too short for wide-bodied aircrafts. These are big aircrafts that can make longer journeys unlike the domestic flights. Also, the airport terminal is not well suited to receiving the kind of crowd that the international flights might bring with it,” the source said. While most of the wide-bodied, long range flying aircrafts such as Airbus 380 or Boeing 777 require runways of at least 5,000 to 6,000 metres in length, the LGBI Airport runway is only 3,103 metres, the official said. The current airport terminal is 2,03,050 sq ft and it can serve optimally 500 domestic passengers and 125 international passengers. However, the airport that is

ranked 11th in terms of passenger intake, recieves a load of about 5,000 passengers and handles about 64 domestic flights daily. The AAI have recently floated a tender for the setting up of a 90,000 square metre terminal near the SOS Village Road under the Aero City project. This was decided during a meeting of the Union minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayanta Sinha and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in August last. “We have floated the tendering process already and the construction will be started by December. Within two years, we can expect a state-of-the-art terminal. In the meantime, we are trying to reel in more international flight providers. DrukAir will be expanding with more Singapore flights soon,” Brijesh Tailong, Director of the airport said. n

We have big plans for LGBI airport: AAI

Passengers boarding in a flight at LGBI Airport | G Plus Photo

he Director of LGBI airport assigned by Airport Authority of India said the airport is running to its “full capacity” and is mulling on “big plans” along with the Central Civil Aviation ministry for renovation. “We are functioning at our best with whatever resources we have got,” Brijesh Tailong, Director of the airport said. He said the airport has had several upgrades over the time based on the current infrastructure. “A new state-of-the-art monitoring centre has been set up in the

airport and now, the airport which only served till 8 pm, runs till 10 pm. We have installed advanced radar system very recently. The air traffic has also increased. Three hangars that can park big aircrafts have also been set up in the airport and the construction of another is on the cards. Besides, the repair of the runway is also going on,” Tailong said. He added, “It is developing with time, but there are a few minor laggings from our side also. Those can be set straightened out with the help of the ministry when the project Aero City will be rolled out.” n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Concern

Consumer court registers maximum cases against insurance firms Saumya Mishra

hile the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) in Guwahati sees a number of cases ranging from defective goods to negligence in services in different sectors, negligence on the part of the insurance firms makes up the majority of registered cases here in Guwahati. Consumer courts are meant to handle cases related to consumer grievances and disputes in order to protect consumer rights. According to officials, cases filed against insurance firms make up at least 30 to 40 per cent of total cases on an average, in a month.

Other categories of disputes include complaints against automobile companies and e-commerce platforms for sub-standard or defective goods, airlines and courier companies for deficiency in services, medical negligence, and against mobile service providers for lack of services. Further, officials from the DCDRC said that consumers in Guwahati are becoming more aware of their rights and are exercising their powers within law. As per the official record, a total of 94 cases have been filed in 2017 till November. Before this, 92 and 125 cases were registered with the district consumer forum in 2015 and 2016 respectively. “The consumers today have

become very conscious and file a case when they do not receive favourable response from the sellers. Mostly, it is not about the money but about their rights as a consumer,” said Archana Deka Lahkar, member of the DCDRC, Kamrup district. The DCDRC deals with dispute cases the value of which are up to Rs. 20 lakhs. State-level cases with a value of more than Rs 20 lakhs and up to Rs 1 crore are taken up by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC). And finally, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is the apex body which looks after disputes where the total claim and compensation amount exceeds Rs 1 crore. n

Insurance companies fail to deliver on their promises

everal cases are being reported every month from Guwahati against both public as well as private insurance firms. In a recent case, a resident of the city had insured a newly-bought van with a private insurance company. However, within a month, the van got badly damaged in a headon collision accident with a truck. The owner of the van filed an FIR with the police and informed the insurance company about the damages to the vehicle. However, the insurance company closed this claim as “no claim” saying that they did not receive proper documents such as registration certificate, driving licence and route permit of the vehicle, among others. On the other hand, the consumer said that he had submitted all the necessary documents and was being harassed by the company. He then filed a case under Section 2, “the deficiency in service”, of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. In a different case, a Guwaha-

Office of District Consumer Court at Chandmari | G Plus Photo

More awareness about consumer rights needed, feel authorities

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tian had paid Rs 13 for a half-litre bottle of water when the maximum retail price (MRP) as printed on the bottle was Rs 10. He decided to approach the consumer court for redressal. “The complainant was aware enough to demand a proper cash memo from the shop owner. This was then presented in the court as evidence and he received Rs 2500

as compensation,” said an official of the DCDRC. Officials say that the possession of evidence in form of memos becomes crucial while filing cases for defective goods and services. Additionally, if a consumer is unable to produce a genuine memo in court with the company or shop’s name, then claiming compensation becomes difficult in such cases. n

hile the awareness among consumers is increasing at the state level too, a lot still needs to be done in order to make them aware of the types of potential exploitation practices which can be faced by the customers from sellers, say authorities. At the SCDRC, 81 cases in total were filed in 2015, 109 in 2016 and 95 complaints were registered till September 2017. “The consumers should know all of their rights and must also exercise it whenever they feel that these have been violated,” said Registrar of the SCDRC, Anuja Bhuyan. Authorities feel that many consumers still feel hesitant to come forward and file complaints. “People feel that filing a case is too much of a hassle and they are not willing to spend their time appearing in the consumer court. Moreover, it does

take some time for the case to proceed and reach a judgement which people are not ready to spare,” said an official. Rights of a consumer include the right to choose. Under this the consumer has the right to choose between different products and services offered at competitive prices. The customer also has the right to be informed about the product or service. This means that all information related to the product should be disclosed to the buyer in the form of labelling. Further, the consumer possesses the right to be heard. If a consumer has some grievances about a product or a service, then under this right, he or she should be able to voice their opinion about it to the seller. Under the right to redressal, the consumer reserves the right to seek redressal from consumer forums in case of exploitation by the sellers. n

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

Cloudy

Sunny

Mostly Sunny

29°/20° C

29°/19° C

28°/18° C

27°/17° C

27°/16° C

SATURDAY Sunny

29°/21° C

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Ward Watch

Hatigaon: Potholed roads, uncovered drains pose threat to residents In this week’s Ward Watch, G Plus makes a comparison between two wards of the city and finds that involvement of residents in maintenance activities works well in keeping a locality clean and disease-free Saumya Mishra

esidents of Hatigaon area in the city are facing a tough time navigating their way on the roads and by-lanes that are filled with potholes; besides, the uncovered drains are posing serious threat to the locals. This locality is a part of Ward No 26 and consists of a number of apartment complexes and residential buildings. Residents say that those travelling on two-wheelers are the worst affected. Mona Medhi, a resident of the locality said, “Children as

well as adults become prone to accidents when they cross the roads on two-wheelers while trying to balance the vehicle at the same time.” She added that the rainy season makes matters worse with these potholes getting filled with water and the roads becoming slippery with mud and slush. These potholes and dilapidated roads mainly feature in the narrower by-lanes of Hatigaon while the main roads are in a much better shape. Residents claim that these had been repaired just before the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in which Guwahati had played host to a few matches. n

Concentrated area: Hatigaon (26 D) Ward no: 26 Population of the ward: 66,480 Voter population: 40,888 Population of Hatigaon: 10,640 Ward Councillor: Manjula Kakati

Chandmari Colony presents a contrasting picture

lean roads, no spilled garbage on the roadsides and conscientious citizens this describes Chandmari Colony under Ward No 12 of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). This colony sets an example of a locality which shows that regular garbage collection and efforts of the community go a long way in ensuring cleanliness of the ward and its surroundings. One can find dustbins placed in the locality and almost negligible littering. The civic body boasts that this ward, as a whole, has maintained cleanliness for a long time now. Executive Engineer of Conservancy at GMC, Manojit Bujarbaruah, gave the credit to the residents. He said, “A major part of the maintenance of the ward is dependent on the residents of the area. This ward has been clean and well-maintained for the last three years now.” Ratul Bolpara, a businessman and resident of Chandmari Colony, feels that a proper system

in place is the key to maintaining sanitation and hygiene in any locality. “The garbage needs to be collected regularly for any ward to be considered clean and litter-free. Door-to-door garbage collection takes place every day in our colony by NGO workers and the residents too are aware of the adverse effects of littering and thus refrain from it,” he said. The GMC also keeps a close watch on the door-to-door primary waste collection in the area to check for any laxity on the part of the NGO responsible in the ward. Another resident of the area, Anamika Nath Kalita, said that keeping the surroundings clean has become a way for life for locals in this area and that people share responsibility equally. “People come together as a community here to ensure that proper sanitation is maintained at all times. The GMC too needs the cooperation of the residents; it is not their responsibility alone to maintain the ward,” said Kalita. n

A by-lane at Hatigaon area | G Plus Photo

Uncovered drains increase the threat of Dengue

dditionally, uncovered drains and their indiscriminate littering result in choking of the drains thereby creating further difficulties for the locals. The drains also become a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes and increase the chances of the spread of different vector-borne diseases. Recently over the past few months, the city saw a virtual outbreak of Dengue; close to 3,000 cases were reported from different parts of Guwahati. The uncovered drains of Hatigaon have further compounded the problem making the locality prone to diseases such as Dengue. The medical officer at the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Dr Anindita Chanda, said that the civic body has been carrying out intensive fogging operations for Dengue since July this year. “We are currently conducting the fourth round of fogging in eight wards of the city which are highly prone to Dengue. In the third round, 31 wards were covered within the duration of 15 days,” said Dr Chanda. However, Ward No 26 does

not feature in the eight wards which are being covered in the fourth round. The medical officer further said that the municipal corporation is planning to conduct additional rounds of fogging in all the other wards soon in order to control incidences of Dengue. “In many places in and around our locality, the open drains are hazardous for children playing in the area. They also become a source of stench with foul smell constantly emanating from them,” said Satyajit Deka, another resident. The civic body has leased out the responsibility of solid waste collection and street sweeping in all 31 wards to different NGOs. New tenders were issued at the end of August this year after the term of NGOs contracted previously had expired. The NGOs chosen after the fresh tenders took charge from the beginning of September. Bandana Ozha, Executive Engineer of GMC responsible for monitoring the Hatigaon ward, said that they will soon cover all the open drains in the area. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

In The News

Will consumers get the GST tax reduction benefits? G Plus checks out with various stakeholders of Guwahati and tries to find out whether the reduction in the GST rates would be truly beneficial to the final consumers – the general public Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

he Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council might have reduced the tax slabs of around 200 products but the question which the businessmen and other stakeholders of Guwahati are raising is whether the final customers will get the accruing benefits. A city-based businessman, Aloy Bharali said, “It is definitely a positive move but the most important thing is that the benefits given by the government should be passed on to the end

users.” He questioned whether there is any mechanism which can keep a check on whether, after the reduction of the tax rates, manufacturers are increasing the basic price of a particular commodity. Explaining the possibilities of customers not getting the benefits, Bharali said that if the companies increase the basic price of a commodity then the consumers will end up paying the same amount which they were paying earlier and the government will get lesser tax. Thus it is the companies that stand to benefit and the whole purpose of reduction in the tax rates stands defeated.

If the government ensures that the price hike of commodities is checked only then the entire process will be meaningful. Reacting to the question, one of the directors of Federation of Industries in North East Region (FINER), Sandeep Khaitan, said that it is not a controlled economy in India that government will decide the prices of commodities. He added, “Prices depend on demand and supply and the public should be responsible enough to do their duties.” He said that restaurants or companies which are increasing the prices should be boycotted by the public. n

Bills might I stay high in spite of slashed GST in restaurants

n spite of the tax slab being reduced to 5% from 12% (for non-air-conditioned) and 18% (for air-conditioned) for restaurants after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s decision, the bills in Guwahati restaurants might stay high. A city based foodie Manoj Singh said, “J14 (a premier Rolls and Burger joint in the city with multiple outlets) increased the prices of their food items in July because of increased GST rate (12%), but with the new slashed rates being implemented from 15th November 2017, the food joint did not reduce its prices.” Replying to this, the owner of J14, Deba Barman, said that the cost of production has increased

City women unhappy with tax slab on sanitary napkins Saumya Mishra

ith the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on sanitary napkins being fixed at 12%, the women residents of Guwahati are unhappy with the new tax regime. A majority of them feel that such high tax on an essential commodity is unfair for women. Kajal Jain, a resident of Chandmari said, “The government is treating sanitary napkins like a luxury item whereas it is a necessity for every woman. What is even more ridiculous is that things like bindi and sindoor

have been declared tax-free under the GST.” She added that women do not voluntarily decide to use sanitary napkins and it is a natural process which affects all women. Another resident, Nirmali Sarma, said that many girls and women are not able to afford proper hygiene products and the additional high tax imposed on them will further make sanitary napkins unaffordable for many. “Access to proper hygiene practises is the right of every woman. On the one hand the government distributes free sanitary napkins to school girls and on the other, they are imposing exorbitant taxes on them,” she said. n

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A GST awareness rally carried out in the city | G Plus Photo

as the rates of other items like chicken, vegetables, labour charges etc have all gone up. He also said, “The government has also done away with input tax credit in the restaurant business.” Under input tax credit, businesses can claim an offset on the tax they pay on inputs against the tax they pay to the government on final products. But after the GST Council decision, a restaurant is no longer entitled to claim input tax credit on the food items it uses as raw material. Agreeing to the input credit tax issue, owner of JBs (a premier vegetarian restaurant of the city with multiple outlets), Gopal Jalan said, “It is true that restaurants can no more claim input

tax credits but the prices should not be hiked immediately.” Jalan explained that the market is not positive now and customers prefer eating at home after GST and other financial decisions made by the government. JBs increases the prices of its food items once in two years, he claimed. Many other restaurant owners in the city feel that they are not going to gain much from the new tax slab. The doubt remains that eating out might remain a costly affair post the GST and the reduction of the tax slab. It is also a matter or worry that the eating out culture that Guwahati was cultivating might just take a hit for the moment. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Health

Fluoride threat looms large in city’s ground water Studies have revealed that Kamrup Metro falls under high risk zone of fluoride contamination due to excessive usage of ground water and slow rate of replenishment Avishek Sengupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

igh fluoride in groundwater is an emerging health hazard in Guwahati, a sample survey conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has revealed. As many as 17 locations have been found in the city with a high fluoride content that include Hatigaon, Bonda, Birkuchi and Mathgharia. “The department had taken 44 samples from different localities in Kamrup and Kamrup (Metro) Districts. Out of 39 localities in Kamrup (Metro), 17 have been found to have higher fluoride content than the permissible limit,” a scientist of the Guwahati office of CGWB told

G Plus. Fluoride is a mono atomic anion of the chemical element Fluorine that is good for health within a permissible amount of 1.5 milligram per litre (mg/l) of water. It effectively helps control and heals early signs of tooth decay. But above the permissible quantity, it causes several health hazards such as skeletal fluorosis that causes bent bones in legs and dental fluorisis, i.e, crooked teeth. “As per our studies on the quality of city groundwater, excess fluoride contamination of lesser magnitude – that is, within 2 to 4 mg/l – were found in 19 samples. Two areas, Bharalumukh and Paltan Bazar, had fluoride content slightly higher than the permissible limit, while the rest 17 had higher than 5 mg/l fluoride content,” the scientist said, adding,

“Hatigaon (Shivam Path) has the highest contamination of 9.4 mg/l.” “In seven different locations of Hatigaon Masjid locality and Hatigaon Lakhimi Nagar Path, fluoride contamination of groundwater is found to be 5.2, 7.2, 7.92, 7.1, 7, 9.2 and 7.3 mg/l etc. The Shivam Path locality has the highest,” the scientist revealed. Kamrup (Metro), however, unlike the rest of Assam, does not face high threat from heavy metal contaminations such as Arsenic, Lead and Cadmium. According to the water quality and standard report of CGWB, Kamrup comes second after Nagaon in terms of fluoride contamination. Ground water in Goalpara, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat and Karimganj also has high fluoride content. n

Unregulated installation of deep tube-wells reason for fluoride contamination

ncreasing use of ground water has led to fluoride contamination of water in Guwahati. According to a recent report by the Assam Public Health Engineering (PHE) department, the city saw a three-fold rise in the usage of ground water through shallow tube-wells, deep tubewells and regular wells. “Guwahati, being near the Brahmaputra River basin, was historically dependent on the surface water more than ground water. Only 27% of the city’s residents had resorted to ground water in the 1990s. However, over the last two decades, the figure swelled to

about 85%, whereas, a miniscule 15% still resort to surface water which is provided by the government,” HA Ahmed, superintending engineer of PHE said. “Heavy metals and fluorine, due to their heavy mass, sinks to the bottom of the ground water. Due to rampant usage of ground water and slow replenishment of the same, the water level has reached the danger level,” Dharani Saikia, secretary of an NGO, Environment Conservation Centre, said. Saikia further said that climate change, deforestation and covering of open fields have slowed down

the ground water regeneration process that has aggravated the problem. “Fluoride is a natural mineral which is found in water. But there are reasons why its concentration has risen. One of them is the change in climatic patterns.” Long dry spells have led to less rain water seeping into the ground and replenishing the groundwater level. Indiscriminate felling of trees – for construction purposes and otherwise – has added to the problem. “With ample rainfall, the fluoride concentration in water remains normal; but with less rain, the concentration goes up,” Saikia said. n

High hopes on water projects

he PHE department is waiting for the four water supply projects that will use surface water to cater to water needs in the city. “People are installing deep wells because they are not receiving ample water. When the water supply projects get completed, we can then ask people to switch to surface water instead of the ground water,” HA Ahmed, superintending engineer of PHE said. The city is awaiting the completion of West Guwahati Water Project under Jwaharlal Nehru

National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) that will cater 107 million litres daily (MLD), two Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assisted projects - South Central Guwahati Water Supply Project that will provide 191 MLD, North Guwahati Water Supply Project that will provide 38 MLD and Asian Development Bank (ADB) assisted Assam Urban Infrastructure Project that will provide 98 MLD. “The government cannot stop or restrict people from digging tube wells if the city cannot pro-

vide regular water to those locations. Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) is providing water to the fullest of its capacity, but that is falling short,” a source in the district administration said. As per the Jal Board, under the current capacity, the GMC provides water to only 30% of the city population. In the meantime, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), as part of its project of increasing the green cover in the city, has initiated steps to replenish the ground water in the city. n

Water woes continue as a city dweller procures water from a well | G Plus Photo

High cases of dental and skeletal fluorisis

ity dentists and orthopaedists said that the cases of dental and skeletal fluorosis which are caused due to high contamination of fluoride, has increased by about 50% in the last decade. Skeletal fluorosis is a bone disease caused by excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones. The symptoms are visible on the legs and in advanced cases; skeletal fluorosis causes painful damage to bones and joints. “The city hardly had cases of skeletal flurosis. We only treated those who had come from Meghalaya and other districts of the state. But, recently, we’ve received quite a number of cases of fluorosis mostly from the Hatigaon and Chandrapur area. From almost 10-15 cases every year, it increased to 20-30 now in the last decade. Fortunately, most of the cases were detected at the early stages and thus were, treatable,” Dr. UC Sarma, a city-based orthopaedic said. There is no treatment for skeletal fluorosis. However, it is reversible in some cases, depending on the progression of the disease. “If fluorine intake is stopped, the fluorine existing in bone structures will deplete and will be dispensed via urine,” Dr. Sarma added. Dr. Sweta Dasgupta, a city based dentist, on the other hand opined that people get confused by iron infused stains and dental fluorosis.

Dental fluorosis, caused due to excessive consumption of fluoride, is a deformity in the formation of tooth enamel (the white part of the teeth). “While the iron stains on teeth are perpendicular stains, fluorosis stains are horizontal and also deform the teeth. People get confused between the two. Dental fluorosis, if detected and the fluoride intake stopped, will stop it from aggravating to skeletal. Several cases of dental fluorosis, of people living mostly in the hilly areas of the city have been detected in the recent few years. “This occurs mostly among the children who are in the growing stage and whose teeth are growing newly,” Dr. Dasgupta added. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

City

Newly hired NGOs fail to collect garbage regularly Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

ven after Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) engaging 58 non government organisations (NGOs) to collect garbage from the 31 city wards from September last, the citizens of some wards have complained that

garbage collection is not regular with some of these NGOs not even having visited a few areas. “It’s been around two months that the NGO workers have not visited our locality to collect garbage,” Dipali Das, a resident of Ujjol Path, Jyotikuchi said, adding that earlier the NGO workers used to collect garbage from the Jyotikuchi area once in four days.

Similarly, a resident of Rupnagar said that the NGO workers visit their locality only once in three days and sometimes they do not show up for even as long as a week. After Ramky (the company that used to collect garbage from door to door in Guwahati before June 2014), GMC hired 31 NGOs for door to door garbage collection from July 2014. The

GMC to take action against irregular NGOs

winging the axe on the newly hired non government organisations (NGOs), the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has decided to cancel the contract of any NGO that is not collecting garbage regularly. Executive Engineer of GMC, Manojit Bujarbaruah said, “After receiving three complaints against a particular NGO, the contract with that NGO will be cancelled,” adding that there is a mechanism which will scrutinise the performance of the NGOs. Bujarbaruah said that it has been just one month that the new NGOs have started working but gradually all the houses and commercial establishments

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A door-to-door mobile garbage collecting cycle-cart | G Plus Photo

in the city will be covered. The mechanism which is in place to scrutinise the NGOs mostly depends on a toll-free complaint number (8811007000). Any citizen can register a complaint on the number and if the complaint is not addressed within 24 hours a show cause notice will be served to the concerned NGO on why the complaint was not processed. If any NGO receives three such notices, its contract will be cancelled. Senior officials of GMC, ward councillors, sanitary workers, NGOs and area engineers together have formed a Whatsapp group and as soon as the complaint is registered, the concerned official is expected to post the complaint on the group. n

contract agreements ended in June 2017 after which 58 NGOs were hired through transparent tendering process, claimed a GMC official. Explaining why 58 NGOs were hired this time a senior GMC official said, “There are some wards which cover a huge area and it is difficult for a single NGO to cover all the households in that ward.” He added that

the smaller wards have just one NGO now; some bigger wards have been divided into two and some into three parts. The NGOs hired in September are covering the wards accordingly. Citing an example the official explained that Ward No 6 covers areas from Deepor Beel to Lokhra. So now there are three NGOs engaged in collecting garbage in that ward. n

GMC incurs huge losses on garbage collection process

lection fees but it gets only Rs 30 he door to door garbage lakhs.” He added that if fees were collection process was collected from all the 2.45 lakh unsuccessful till July 2017 households and 60,000 commerbecause the system was cial establishments, there wouldn’t not self sustainable and Guwahahave been any shortage of funds. ti Municipal Corporation (GMC) If every household pay Rs 30 per had to spend Rs 30 lakhs from its month, GMC would get Rs 73.5 coffers. lakhs and taking the commercial A GMC source said, “Ramestablishments which pay Rs 20 ky left because it was not able to to Rs 100 approximately into acgenerate revenue. Similarly, the 31 count, another Rs 30 lakhs could NGOs were also not able to make any profit because most Guwahati households do not want to pay A GMC official said that for garbage collection,” adding that GMC loses Rs 30 lakhs every many households do month on the project. not pay the monthly GMC generates Rs 5 crores to 6 crores as revenue from various fees barring the project taxes and the same is used to pay from becoming self salaries to all the employees and sustainable initiate new projects. The state government has not been providing any exbe generattra funds ed. since years, He a GMC clarified source that with claimed. the NGOs The being paid NGOs are off, vehicle expected fuel/mainto generate tenance revenue for expenses the urban and miscellocal body A file photo of GMC laneous exby colpenses belecting the ing considered, the entire project monthly garbage collection fees. would have self sustained; instead The NGOs were expected to the GMC is incurring huge losses. collect Rs 30 from each residential Bujarbaruah said that not even house and Rs 20 to Rs 100 from 50% of the expected money is recommercial establishments. ceived. Citizens of Guwahati do not But the executive engineer of want to pay and instead they prefer GMC, Manojit Bujarbaruah said, throwing their garbage on the roads “GMC should be getting Rs 60 and drains, he claimed. lakhs per month as garbage coln

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Snippets

PRSI-Guwahati Chapter celebrates Members’ Nite

he Guwahati Chapter of Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) organised its Members’ Nite in the city last Saturday with a host of activities. The occasion was graced by Manas Ranjan Mahapatra, DIPR, NEC as the Chief Guest along with Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee, Director IIMC, Dhenkanal, Odisha; noted Assamese film director Munna Ahmed amongst others. The Guwahati Chapter utilised this august platform to release two books - “Brahmaputra

Ganga Sindhu” and “Klantopothik” written by the founder chairman of PRSI NE Chapter, Late Amal Kr. Das in the presence of his family members, invited guests and PRSI members. Late Das who retired from erstwhile BRPL was a prolific writer and was actively involved with the activities of PRSI, Guwahati Chapter. Members also observed a moment of silence paying homage to Late Das who passed away last August. Speaking on the occasion, Mrinal Chatterjee shared his

2017-18 NEUFC Season Schedule Saturday, 18 Nov 2017

NorthEast United FC vs Jamshedpur FC – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati

Thursday, 23 Nov 2017

Chennaiyin FC vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai

Saturday, 2 Dec 2017

Delhi Dynamos FC vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi

Friday, 8 Dec 2017

NorthEast United FC vs Bengaluru FC – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati

Friday, 15 Dec 2017

Kerala Blasters FC vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Wednesday, 20 Dec 2017

NorthEast United FC vs Mumbai City FC – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati

Saturday, 30 Dec 2017

FC Pune City vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium, Pune

Saturday, 6 Jan 2018

NorthEast United FC vs FC Goa – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi stadium, Guwahati

Friday, 12 Jan 2018

NorthEast United FC vs ATK – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi stadium, Guwahati

Friday, 19 Jan 2018

NorthEast United FC vs Chennaiyin FC – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi stadium, Guwahati

Friday, 26 Jan 2018

Bengaluru FC vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore

Sunday, 4 Feb 2018

FC Goa vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa

Wednesday, 7 Feb 2018

NorthEast United FC vs FC Pune City – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati

Saturday, 10 Feb 2018

Jamshedpur FC vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

JRD TATA Sports Complex, Jamshedpur

Wednesday, 14 Feb 2018

NorthEast United FC vs Delhi Dynamos FC – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati

Saturday, 17 Feb 2018

NorthEast United FC vs Kerala Blasters FC – 8 pm

Indira Gandhi Stadium, Guwahati

Thursday, 22 Feb 2018

Mumbai City FC vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai

Sunday, 4 Mar 2018

ATK vs NorthEast United FC – 8 pm

Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata

views of the emerging role of PR as a strategic management function and a paradigm shift from earlier times which portrayed PR as a specialised area of importance in corporates. Chief Guest Mahapatra spoke about PR professionals and the challenges faced by them while balancing their roles as a public interface between the management and the outside world. He also highlighted the various initiatives taken by NEC in the field of information and public relations to disseminate new initiatives amongst the society and also to provide a common platform for journalists and PR professionals to converge and interact. Mahapatra also pointed out that there is a need to link PR to the tourism and hotel management industry for better service in these sectors. n

Fire and earthquake drill conducted at city school

he State Fire Department alongside National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) conducted a mock drill at Royal Global School to create awareness to evade natural disasters like earthquake and preparedness towards fire safety. As a part of the preparedness exercise the team jointly conducted a rescue operation after an earthquake alarm was raised in the school at 9:30 AM under the expert guidance of Surender Kumar, ASCOM, NDRF. The evacuation exercise which lasted for almost two hours garnered confidence amongst the students and faculty of the school.

“We learned a lot from the mock drill today and moreover we are now capable in dousing fire with portable fire extinguishers. It was quite an eye opener and we thank all the teams involved for creating this much required awareness amongst us,” said Arundhati Agumacharya, a member of the school prefect council. “We appreciate the efforts of all the teams involved like the State Fire Department, NDRF and SDRF. Moreover, we intend to regularly conduct such drills to enhance our preparedness in case of any emergency situations that may arise,” stated AK Sinha, Director, Royal Global School during his welcome address. n

OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN, SELECTION BOARD-cumSPECIAL JUDGE, CBI, ASSAM, ADDITIONAL COURT NO.I, CHANDMARI, GUWAHATI-3, RE-ADVERTISEMENT Applications are invited from the eligible employees of the establishments of District & Sessions Judge’s in Assam for filling up the following vacant post in the Office of the Special Judge, CBI, Assam, Additional Court No.1, Chandmari, Guwahati-3. 1. Name of the Post 2. No. of Post 3. Pay Scale

: : :

Sheristadar. 01 (one). PB-4-Rs.30,000/- to 1,10,000/- + G.P. Rs.14,500/-. ELIGIBILITY

The applicant should possess the requisite qualifications, as mentioned under Rule 6 of the Assam District and Sessions Judges Establishment (Ministerial) Service Rules, 1987, i.e. he/she must have served continuously as the Sheristadar of Additional District & Sessions Judge or as the Head Assistant in the District & Sessiont Judge’s Establishment for at least 5 years. Applications must be submitted through proper channel along with the copy of the respective Service Book. GENERAL CONDITIONS • The application will have to be submitted in Standard Form. • 3 (three) copies of recent passport size colour photographs should be enclosed with the application. • Last date of receipt of application : 15 days from the date of publication of the advertisement in News-paper as well as in the Kamrup (M) District Judiciary website : www.kamrupiudiciary.gov.in. • Place and date of the interview will be provided through www.kamrupiudiciani.gov.in and the same shall be collected from the office of the undersigned during office hours. • Applicants should provide their e-mail ID, if any and the mobile number. • Canvassing directly or indirectly will lead the candidate for disqualification. • Incomplete/defective applications will be rejected without any intimation,

Chairman, Selection Board -CumSpecial Judge, CBI, Assam, Additional CBI Court No.I, Chandmari, Guwahati-3.

Janasanyog 2037/17

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Concern

Man vs Wild: City roads, farms and homes creep into the wild Man animal conflict has become a recurring event in the city as with the onset of winter, animals seeking food come down the hills and forests. Yet, the forest department is baffled at finding a solution to the problem Avishek Sengupta avishek.sengupta@g-plus.in

A wild leopard captured in the city by forest officials | G Plus Photo

23-year-old man, identified as Anowar Ali, who was injured in a leopard attack here on Sunday, died at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on Thursday. Ali was seriously injured as he fought with a leopard that came down from neighbouring hills into Dhirenpara, went berserk and injured four persons. Ali isn’t the only person to be attacked by wild animals according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Man-animal conflicts in 2014 have taken 74 lives and injured more than 408 persons in Assam of which,

8 deaths and 35 injuries were from the city. In the city, it is inflicted mostly by leopards and elephants. Guwahati, surrounded by forests and hills, has about 300400 attacks by wild animals every year. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest’s office (PCCF) said that it is caused due to rampant encroachment and deforestation of the animal habitats due to which they are bound to enter the city. “It isn’t the animals who are coming down to our city, but us, who have encroached into their habitat. With massive encroachments going on in the hills, hill cutting and deforestation, the animals are facing loss of habitat. We cannot change the natural

habitat of the animals,” Narayan Mahanta, Public Relations Officer of PCCF said. According to a census conducted by the Wildlife Trust of India, all the 18 hills in and around the city have feline population. Guwahati wildlife under the forest department includes Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary that stretches from Khanapara bordering Meghalaya and Bonda area of South Guwahati, Deepor Beel Sanctuary in the east of Guwahati, Narakashur Hill and the hilly areas of Dhirenpara, and Chandmari. Elephants, however, enter the city from Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary and from Rani, Thoroseal, and Tawashe in Kamrup District. n

Unplanned expansion of city fuelling man-animal conflict

ildlife experts are of the opinion that had the city been planned properly keeping in mind the natural habitats of the animals, the conflicts could have been avoided. “Guwahati grew arbitrarily ignoring the animal routes and their natural habitats. It is not yet late to control the leopards from coming down to the city, but the city will have to face the wrath of elephants,” said Udayan Borthakur, head of wildlife genetics in Aaranyak, a wildlife NGO. “In the feline family, leopard is a genera species which means that it can adapt to the changing habitat. These animals have the tendency to take the maximum

advantage of the environment. So, a leopard will not only raid the city if it has lack of food in winter, but will also attack cattle in the city if it finds them as easier prey than what it gets in the forest. So, with lesser encroachment and controlled exposure of animals in and around its habitat, we can control the feline attacks,” he said. However, regarding the elephants, another wildlife expert, Parimal Bhattacharya of WTI said, “Elephants travel in herds from one place to another and it has a definite route. It will destroy if anything is built on their routes. If the city can clear out those areas for the elephant’s movement, then the problem can

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Villagers run as a herd of wild elephants run towards them near Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary | G Plus Photo

be contained to a great extent. I admit it is easier said than done, but lives can be saved if done so.” Borthakur, however said, that the plundering of ripe paddy fields around the city cannot be stopped. “However, there should have been a proper contingency plan in place so that the forest department can quickly respond and contain

the situation before loss of human lives,” Borthakur added. Plagued by lack of human resources and modern weaponries, the forest department is struggling to provide an immediate response to man-animal conflicts. Back in 2012, the Guwahati wildlife divisional office had formed a quick response team and had started a helpline number

to deal with cases of man-animal conflict cases. The response team was supposed to be equipped with tranquiliser guns, stunners and other equipment to not only rescue, but also monitor the animal activities in and around the city. But five years later, the helpline remains defunct due to lack of man power. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

concern

Only a fraction of child trafficking cases getting registered in Guwahati Saumya Mishra

he number of cases registered in the city against trafficking of children reflects only a small percentage of the total cases. “It is difficult to get a fair idea about the nature and extent of trafficking by looking at the number of registered cases since it is carried out mostly in a concealed manner, especially in the remote areas and villages,” said secretary of the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), Anuja Bhuyan. Activists say that most parents of trafficked children feel scared to approach the police for registration of complaints. Project director, human trafficking, of the NGO Assam Centre for Rural Development (ACRD), Nayantara Hazarika, said, “Some locals from the villages are handin-gloves with the traffickers who lure the parents with high

salaries for their children. After the children are taken away, the parents are even sent Rs 5,000 to 10,000 every month for the first two or three months after which they stop sending the money.” Hazarika added that it is only after the parents stop receiving the money that they become panic-stricken. “Even after such developments they refrain from going to the police station. They prefer approaching the village leaders.” There have also been instances when cases reported under child labour and children who have fled their homes turn out to be trafficking cases, an official said. As per the data of Guwahati Childline-- a programme under the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) meant for the safeguard of children in need of care and protection—a total of 73 cases were reported under “missing children”. Another agency for child protection under the state government

Representative image of child trafficking

has been receiving around 15 cases of missing children on an average every month and many

Guwahati becoming a den for child trafficking

Guwahati Railway Station is a major transit point for child trafficking | G Plus Photo

fficials say that Guwahati is fast becoming a “source centre” for trafficking children to other states of the Northeast as well as places like Haryana, Delhi, Punjab and Kolkata. Abani Haloi, coordinator of the Guwahati unit of Railway Childline, which works to provide emergency rescue and protection services to children at railway stations, said that areas with railway connectivity are highly prone to

trafficking. “We rescue around five to six cases of suspected trafficking in a month,” he said adding that the Ministry of Women and Child Development is planning to extend the operations of Railway Childline to 1,000 more stations across the country. Haloi stressed on the need for the prosecution of traffickers. “It is essential that whoever is nabbed in such cases should be convicted,” he said adding that

traffickers are not usually deterred by the fear of punishment. Guwahati’s importance as a railway hub has increased over the past few years with the government expanding the network and aiming to connect more places in the Northeast. Officials are of the opinion that mostly children of families from economically weaker backgrounds who are illiterate fall prey to human traffickers. Parents who are daily wagers in tea gardens or those who are employed in menial jobs are targeted by agents with promises of regular income for their children. However, in most cases they are either sold off as domestic helps or made to work in brothels where they are exploited and tortured. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, in 2015, Assam topped the list of states with the highest number of child trafficking cases with a total of 1317 registered cases. The state contributed the highest percent contribution at 37.7 percent to the all India total. n

of these later turn out to be trafficking cases. However, the claims made by

some NGOs on missing children point at higher numbers in rural areas across the state. n

Guwahati lacks Child Protection Committees

uwahati is yet to have the Village Level Child Protection Committees (VLCPC) which are mandatory under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS)—a scheme implemented under the MWCD in 2009 for protection of children. The District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) of Kamrup (Metro), Binjumani Deka, however assured the city would soon have its committees for improved surveillance on human traffick-

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ing. The increasing number of human trafficking cases and missing children prompted the government to form the VLCPC with the hope that they would help in faster and effective identification of cases related to trafficking. NGOs often face hurdles while rescuing children from traffickers. In several instances, it has been found that children are trained to offer a version that shifts the onus of the crime from the agents. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

G Talk E

Corruption no more fashionable

s a layman pondering, I kind of felt that Guwahati had seen a phase in time when it was fashionable to be corrupt. The more you flaunted your ill-gotten wealth, the more upfront respect you got from all and sundry. And you just had to develop that thick skin to ignore the backbiting. Given the way things are panning out now, being corrupt has lost its sheen it seems. APSC, DIPR, Construction Workers’ Welfare Board et al – people are being hauled up from all over by the Chief Minister’s Vigilance Cell for their sins of commission done when things were rosier and more favourable. Not bad, I say, on behalf of all of us who are slogging to eke out an honourable living. In fact, this is something worth celebrating. The point of concern is the selective nature of corruption cleansing that is being carried out. Selective because no politician seems to be involved in any of these scams that have so far surfaced – an unbelievably clean bunch we have it seems. Selective because some scams where some current political heavyweights are supposedly involved have been conveniently forgotten for the moment and would hopefully

surface under a different political dispensation several years later when it is payback time. These politically motivated arrests however have sent out a strong signal of the image that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal wants to project about himself – that of zero tolerance towards corruption. And that is something that deserves applause. In the context of things however, the strangely inconsistent working styles of the Indian judicial system where the apex court has supposedly granted anticipatory bail to the major “beneficiary” of the DIPR scam even as the Gauhati High Court has awarded police custody to the Director of Information & Public Relations and the minor “beneficiaries” leaves one in askance if all is right with our governance. The major beneficiary managed to remain absconding until his tall connections in New Delhi allowed him to secure his freedom. All said and done, our only hope is that justice prevails and the final verdicts send out the welcome message that being corrupt is no longer fashionable and it is best not to be greedy. Swapnil Bharali Editor

Deferred till eternity I’m a Punjabi by title, Axomiya by mannerism, Guwahatian by birth, part Multani by bloodline. Where do I stand? Preparing the NRC draft continues to be one of the most debatable and complex exercises that the country has undertaken, as proven by the recurring delays and deferred dates. The earlier date set by the Supreme Court for the state to complete the publication of the Draft NRC was March 31, 2018. However, CM Sonowal preponed this date to December 31, 2017. The SC of course expressed displeasure because of the CM’s interference with a process monitored by the apex court. In the court’s defence, they specified that expediting this process would only cause chaos in the years to come and the data might be inconsistent and rightly so. But why is the government in a rush to expedite, that too in a process that is monitored by the SC? The allegations by AASU indicate that the Government is playing vote bank politics with the state NRC Coordinator, Prateek Hajela saying that 1.30 crore documents still need to be sorted. In such a case here are some questions that grab my attention. If the state Government missed the earlier deadline of December 31, 2015, what are the chances that it will meet the new deadline? And the question that needs to be asked is whether the Government is actually serious about delivering the Draft NRC? And if I can divert your attention to the opening remarks, what about me? SIDHARTH BEDI VARMA

Demonetisation and its success

he first anniversary of demonetisation recently brought into focus the way this government has embarked on a massive drive to “formalize” the economy – one of the key transformational agenda. In this context, let me examine one of the levers that is being used to achieve this - Demonetisation. Why did Modi resort to demonetisation? Well, during NDA 1 (19992004), the economy created over 60 million jobs, according to NSSO data, as real GDP grew by 5.5% annually. In contrast, though the economy grew by 8.4% annually in the first six years of the UPA government, only 2.7 million jobs were created (NSSO data again). Inflation was higher and the external sector deficit touched $100 billion, compared to the NDA1’s $20 billion surplus. What explains this dichotomy under UPA – much higher GDP growth but negligible job growth? High asset price inflation replacing production as the prime growth parameter! In UPA’s first six years, prices of stock and gold jumped three times or 60% annually. Property prices doubled every two-three years. This led to “investment bias.” Urban middle classes channelized most savings into real estate. I, for example, have low liquid assets such as bank deposits but fairly high real estate holdings (for a salaried tax payer). In cities like Bangalore and Gurgaon, land prices rose by over 10 times. Asset inflation in six years was three times the annual nominal GDP growth. On hindsight, economists feel this is not the result but the cause of the UPA’s “high growth.” For instance, 3-BHK apartments in Bangalore priced at Rs. 25 lakhs in 2003 rose to over Rs. 1 crore in 2012! Arriving at the real growth rate is like peeling off multiple layers of an onion – deduct the non-asset price inflation from nominal growth to know the real growth. However, asset price rise (such as real estate) is seen as wealth and prosperity and is added to GDP. Why target the 500/1,000 rupee notes? The reason is the absence of monitoring of high value notes (HVN) due to the informal, cash-isking nature of our economy. During

r Diabolical trio

2004-10, average money supply grew annually by 18% (15.3% under the NDA); however asset prices rose by several multiples of it. The asset inflation can be explained not by the moderate increase in money supply but by the rising levels of unmonitored HVNs – this made cash deals easy. In 1999, the cash with the public was 9.4% of nominal GDP which rose to 13% by 2008, whereas it should have come down due to rising bank and digital payments. And more seriously, HVNs with the public rose from 34% to 79% between 2004 and 2010. This complete absence of monitoring of HVNs led to increase in gold and

Demonetisation has led to huge gains in expanding the scope of the formal economy - 25% increase in individual IT payers, 40% increase in advance tax collections, 20% less cash in the economy, over 37,000 shell firms targeted, 70% increase in digital payments and addition of more than 1 crore workers to EPF and ESIC. land prices through cash deals and stock prices through instruments such as Participatory Notes (PNs). In essence, these were hawala transfers from India that came back into the stock markets through the Mauritius route. In just 3 years from 2004-07, PNs rose by over Rs 3 lakh crores! The bigger agendum: expand the scope of the formal economy Two of the biggest transformational moves of this government were Jan Dhan Yojana (JDY) bank accounts and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of government benefits. Both were aimed at sucking out cash from the informal economy and channelizing it through the banking system, in effect, “formalizing” the economy. As

O pinion Sumanta Deb

of August 2017, there are 295 million accounts having about $10 billion in deposits all because of JDY. Similarly, savings due to DBT during the period 2014-16 had touched Rs. 50,000 crores and is expected to rise further in the coming years as a total of 533 central schemes in 64 ministries will be brought under DBT. Demonetisation similarly has led to huge gains in expanding the scope of the formal economy. Sample this - a 25% increase in the number of individual IT payers and increase in advance tax collections by about 40%. In the long term, it implies that the sources and rate of generation of black money will be severely impacted. Already, we have 20% less cash in the economy, over 37,000 shell firms are being targeted and digital payments have increased by over 70%. Demonetisation has also led to more than 1 crore workers being added to EPF and ESIC. The adverse impact on the real estate sector is in line with the very thinking that prompted demonetisation in the first place – “inflated” asset prices fuelled by cash deals were creating a mirage of high GDP growth which was not reflected in job-growth data. HVNs outside the banking system took refuge in stocks, gold and real estate. If the HVNs had been within the banking system, it would have multiplied through the fractional reserve model, reduced the inflation and interest, and funded the starved small-and-medium enterprises. One of the key gains of demonetisation is that it brought back all the cash into the banking system, increased banks’ lendable resources, formalised significant chunks of our economy, gave “birth” to lakhs of tax payers and enabled a sudden, one-time detoxification of our economy. Welcome to the formalized Indian economy emanating from the success of demonetisation. The introduction of GST (my next article) takes this process of formalizing the economy further. n Sumanta Deb, a self professed “bhakt” is a Management Consultant by profession. He is currently based in Bangalore.

Letter to the Editor

hen the much awaited NRC update is closing in towards the finish line, three so-called intellectuals of the state namely Dr. Hiren Gohain, Apurba Barua and Dr. Manjit Mahanta are trying their level best to create an atmosphere of unrest in the state. The diabolical troika was recently seen in a seminar held in New Delhi sharing the dais with the controversial Asad Madani. People of the state remember Asad Madani’s role in the Kokrajhar violence a few years ago. The seminar organised by a few students of Assam based in New Delhi under a banner and invited Asad Madani as the chief speaker and the said person stirred controversy by airing some very provocative statements which can surely disturb the communal harmony in the state. While the invited speaker who has no connection or knowledge about the problems of Assam was spitting venom the so-called intellectuals sitting beside him maintained a stoic silence. While Asad Madani was threatening the indigenous people of Assam by forecasting bloodshed, they should have protested immediately at that very moment. Such mask wearing intellectuals are more dangerous than the illegal foreign nationals present in the state. Dr. Hiren Gohain, Apurba Barua and Manjit Mahanta can be best dubbed as Badan Barphukans of the present time. Calling Asad Madani to discuss about NRC is itself a disgrace leave alone listening to him. Lanu Dutta Chowdhury, GNB Road, Guwahati

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

In Focus

RJ Mandy

Radio Jockey (RJ)

J Mandira (Mandy popularly) hosts the most popular breakfast show on Guwahati radio and bajaos every issue in the city over her channel Red FM. Her chirpy and vibrant voice as an instant energizer for Guwahatians and her show has remained the most popular in the city consistently for over a decade. Born and brought up in Nagaon, Mandy did her schooling from Christ Jyoti School and her graduation in Political Science from Nagaon College. Thereafter, she shifted to Guwahati to pursue Masters in Political Science from Gauhati University. Excelling in studies all through school and college, she went on to top the university. Hoping to be a teacher she even cracked the National Eligibility Test (NET) and State Level Eligibility Test (SLET). Completing her studies and going into the practical field to look for jobs, Mandy realised the corruption that prevailed all around. “I applied at many colleges but saw that those posts were already filled up by people with lesser marks, calibre and knowledge. I started feeling discouraged and considered quitting the education sector to do something that I’d

enjoy – something I could do with my own calibre and not with anyone’s recommendation,” Mandy informed. People questioned her decision of not taking up a career in academics and said she

was taking a suicidal step. But the only thing that made her take the plunge was the thought of doing something on her own without shedding her principals. Her parents were very encouraging; they understood the dilemma she was going through and showed immense support. Talking to G Plus about choosing Radio Jockeying for a career, Mandy said, “I didn’t find radio, radio found me. Radio was then a new arrival to the city and some-

one asked me to give it a try. I casually went to give the audition and to my surprise, I immediately got selected. So I took the offer then and there without consulting with my parents or anyone else. Since then, there has been no looking back.” Sharing her memories from school days, the popular RJ recalled, “I was a proper geek back in those days. I used to bury my head in my books and be a rank holder

every year. When I look back at those days, I feel I never enjoyed my school and college days at all. I was a truly shy person who was never involved in a lot of extra-curricular activities. But yes, I used to love dancing and took part in various

dance competitions.” Having been a geeky, shy person for years, she credits Radio for bringing out her true self and boosting her confidence. Mandy has been associated with Radio for about a decade now. Talking to G Plus about the current status of radio as a medium of communication (vis-à-vis the many media of communication that have emerged in recent years), she said, “Earlier, people used to say that TV had killed the charm of radio. But now, I really don’t think that’s the case because radio has also come up with a 360 degree approach to keep the audience engaged. Radio has been evolving with time. Now if you skip a show, you can find it online as we’ve started uploading our shows on the digital space to keep up with the changing trends. “What I feel is that active listenership has increased. Traffic jams are a boon to us. People now spend so much time in their cars and that has led to an increase in our listenership. I feel that the old charm and respect for radio has always been there and that’s probably why people love to listen to the radio,” said Mandy. In 2008, Mandy engaged in her first Radio Marathon that went on for 92.7 hours straight. She considers the marathon to be one of her biggest achievements in life and says, “The RJ Marathon was a huge feat for me as it really helped me establish myself amongst peo-

ple. It was quite unexpected that people were actually tuning in to the station throughout the day and night. I constantly received phone calls and some listeners used to even visit the radio station. But the best part was the support I got from my colleagues as they used to stay up for me, come to office at 6 am with breakfast and take care of me. It felt like the entire city was involved – few actively, while others passively.” Apart from Radio Jockeying, Mandy likes to read extensively. Among her favourite books are The Alchemist and The Great Gatsby and her favourite author is Jhumpa Lahiri. Her hobbies include travelling, camping, adventure sports, and trekking. She loves to go solo tripping and has had a fair share of bungee jumping and sky diving experiences. “If not an RJ, I’d definitely be a mountaineer,” says Mandira. Mandira has been bestowed with many awards for her works in the field of entertainment. She was recently awarded the Radio4child Award in the category of Best RJ Link by UNICEF Celebrity Advocate, Madhuri Dixit, for traveling to remote districts of Assam to spread awareness about Routine Immunization. Previously, she had also won the best RJ award from NEBCUS, Women Achievers’ Award from CS Group, and a letter of appreciation from UNICEF India in 2016 for creating awareness about immunization through her radio channel. She’s also a certified Bungee Jumper and has completed Tandem Sky Diving.

Guwahati raises its voice against forced advertisements by Telcos Sanjib Sarma It’s been a horrible experience. I don’t know whether this is allowed anywhere else but TRAI should take disciplinary action against these companies. Imagine someone in distress and trying to call someone for help and he or she is compelled to listen to those stupid and irrelevant ads before the call goes through.

Samar J. Baishya I had recently ported in to Airtel but am now planning to surrender the connection, as I have already raised a complaint against this issue but haven’t got any response. They said that they don’t have the option of taking this complaint in their system. And therefore now I don’t have a complaint number for the same.

Aftab Rahman Nowadays Airtel is behaving so cheap. Whenever if I call any Airtel number, they start to tell the whole story of Rs 448 recharge and after that finally the call rings. It’s really irritating and quite disturbing in case of emergency to call anyone. This is something not at all acceptable and everyone should complain against this. All the companies should stop these ads at the earliest. End of the day the core vision of these companies should be to provide telecom service in the most easy way.

Udit Narayan Sarmah Thanks G Plus, you’ve raised a good issue here. It’s really very irritating and cumbersome to hear those ads forcefully. TRAI should bring some mandate asap in this regard as this is really can’t be tolerated anymore. It will create a serious problem for people in emergencies. Anurag Talukdar I have to make multiple calls as part of my job. Since the last few days my average actual conversation during the calls must be less than the average time and I end up listening to the forced advertisements by these telecom companies before each call. It is pathetic and disgusting! This should be stopped immediately and necessary action should be taken against this. Ashraful Islam I have asked my telecom service provider to stop such irritating ads. I was told that they have issued a DND which will be regulated within one week. Means, I have to suffer one more week. They said one week is government role. Is it really so? Duljit Singha Today it happened to me. In an emergency I had to make a call and was on low battery and I had to forcefully listen to the ad and my phone got switched off. This is so bad from their side. Unnecessary ads which people are not even interested in and they have to listen. A good issue raised by G Plus. I hope some action is taken against this issue.

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Travel

Free alling

n extended stay in Hong Kong seemed doable after I had tentatively stepped over the first year threshold. There was work to be found with assured progress, provided one is discerning and diligent. My gut bacteria too took a few months to adjust from semi spicy Assamese cuisine to semi bland Cantonese cuisine and since then my palate has become quite oriental, so much so that I have a mild case of the Delhi belly whenever I go home. With dispensable cash in the coffer, my travel radar narrowed in on Australia (on my bucket list since I heard about the ‘roo’ and the platypus in middle school). A word of caution here! If you intend to travel extensively, with an Indian passport without worry, forget it! I swear that a travel visa application for Indians is a Herculean task; whereby you have to pay money to jump through hoops. (Sometimes it makes me think I’d marry a German, American, British, Australian or European passport just so I can travel without hassles) As a matter of fact, India has visa free or visa on arrival entry in just 15% of the world (mostly unheard of remote islands). Thank good-

ness we can travel to SE Asia, a few countries of Africa and the Americas visa free. According to a recent survey; Dubai, Thailand and America are among the most frequented tourist destinations by Indians, so I too followed suit. Dubai, the ritzy capital of the United Arab Emirates was well within my budget and Roxy, a dear college friend promptly sent me an invite when I notified her of my plans. To escape the winter of ’11 I headed for its sunny, sandy shores on an Emirates flight. Roxy and her family picked me up from the airport in their posh sedan and whisked me to their luxuriously large furnished duplex. The next week was spent with her two lovely daughters and her soft-spoken husband. My friend who was pretty and feisty as ever smothered me with homemade food and attention while her little girls couldn’t get enough of ‘Maanie’ auntie. In between meals and catching up late into the night; she gave me a grand tour of the massive malls and the tourist spots of the glitzy metropolis. Like any average tourist I too took a safari ride on the undulating sand dunes, paid to ride a camel which plodded in

circles, watched traditional song and dance, wore an embroidered ‘burqa’, and toured the city in a hired 4×4 that guzzled gas. I ditched a tour of the towering Burj Khalifa but did have a looksee at the popular ‘attar’ markets resplendent with jewels, gold, nuts and sweets (UAE’s major exports) and bought local pebble chocolates and souvenirs. Besides countless malls exhibiting brand names I’d rarely heard of; the shiny asphalt roads flaunted latest vehicles everywhere since the country’s major export is ‘liquid gold’. Even though the sun was scorching, one could scarcely tell it was the middle of a desert from the numerous coconut and dates dotting the main streets. Dubai’s grandeur defies logic as much as it exhibits man’s lofty ambitions. I was slightly surprised to find that the locals ate fish and were mainly vegetarians, though they were devout Mohammedans. That’s the reason my friend and most Indian Muslims who reside there wear the ‘hijab’. Roxy too had encased her cute countenance in one (which she jokingly remarked was effective to hide a bad hair day). The city is a shoppers’ paradise where glamour is the name of the game. Hong Kong has only recently snatched that spot from Dubai as an exorbitant city with the most branded stores. The local ‘Emiratis’ are obviously opulent and ostentatious but enjoy a relaxed lifestyle; while the foreign workers from yonder toil day and night to ensure their future in a country which boasts of zero income tax. The flip side is that foreigners cannot be privy to a citizenship unless they are Emiratis. During my short stay I also toured the gilded Sheikh Zayed

mosque in the Abu Dhabi Emirate where I donned a burqa to walk its grandiose interiors and visited the popular cricket venue of neighbouring Sharjah which cricket crazy Indians are no strangers to. My vacation was made warm with the wind of the desert and the affection showered by Roxy and her family. I am pleased I could visit Dubai once in my life though I have transited through its humongous international airport many a time after that. I did contemplate a teaching job there but better sense prevailed since UAE is still a conservative country for a single woman who lives life on her own terms. Come 2012, I decided to celebrate 40 years of an eventful existence doing something that defines me. What better than to leap down from Macau Tower with AJ Hackett Bungy Jump, the highest controlled Bungee in the world? After going the whole nine yards from sampling mouth-watering egg tarts, rolling the dice in the swanky casinos of the former Portuguese colony, I paid 2000 HKD, signed a ‘waiver of liability’ agreement and prepared to plummet down 235 metres. As I inched closer to the edge in full harness, I was told to wave at the cameras, so I smiled with my heart in my mouth, took a deep breath and jumped. Hurtling down, Lynyrd Synyrd’s ‘Free Bird’ played in my head space as I uttered in exhilaration,‘Hooray, I’ve finally done it!’ n Gayatri Das aka Gee Gayatri Das aka Gee is from Guwahati and is a resident of Hong Kong. A free-spirited traveller, she terms herself as an educator, blogger and wanderer. Her blog: sojourntraveldiaries.wordpress.com

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Trotter

World’s largest sticker ball to enter into Guinness Book of World Records

he world’s largest sticker ball created by StickerGiant CEO John Fischer and his team will be entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for 2018. The creation, Fischer says in a video about the sticker ball, was made using around 200,000 stickers and originally weighed in at 231 pounds.

However, it is believed to weigh more now. The sticker ball which

needs a forklift and a special wagon to be moved around was named Saul in reference to a character from drama Breaking Bad. Saul was also officially declared a candidate in the 2016 presidential elections using the motto, “Stick together.” Stickers are fun because they allow people to take any normal thing and make it theirs,” Fischer says. (Source: upi)

$70,000 raised for cyclist who was fired for giving Trump the finger

ecently, a photo of a cyclist giving US President Donald Trump the finger, as his convoy passed went viral. 50-year-old Juli Briskman, who identifies herself as a Democrat, said she didn’t think twice before doing so. The gesture eventually cost the mother of two her job as she was laid off by her employer ten days later. Days after her exit from her

firm, government contractor Akima LCC, a crowd-funding page was set up to show support for the single mom. Titled “Thank You Juli Briskman”, the crowd-funding page describes her as an “inspiration”. In just seven days, the page has managed to raise $70,000 for the cyclist with the help of over 3,000 donations. It aims to raise $100,000 in total. Former marketing pro-

fessional Juli Briskman was cycling near Trump National Golf Club on the banks of the Potomac River, about 40 kilometres northwest of the White House when the President’s convoy passed her. “He was passing by and my blood just started to boil,” Ms Briskman said. “I’m thinking, he’s at the damn golf course again.” Her gesture was captured by AFP White House photographer Brendan Smialowski who was riding in Mr Trump’s convoy. However, unidentifiable, Ms Briskman herself posted the viral photo on her Facebook and Twitter profiles. Her employer, a builder that works on government contracts, noticed the photo and let her go. “Basically, you cannot have ‘lewd’ or ‘obscene’ things in your social media. So they were calling flipping him off ‘obscene.’” she told. Till this day, the image remains her cover photo on her Facebook page. (Source: hindustantimes)

Pak boy arrested on charges of sexually assaulting hen

n a bizarre case, a 14-yearold boy has been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a hen in Punjab province of Pakistan, a media report said. Mansab Ali, a resident of Jalapur Bhatian police station, Hafizabad, some 200 kms from Lahore, told police that his neighbour Ansar Hussain “abducted” his hen on November 11 and “raped” it. “The hen died while being sexually assaulted by Hussain. Two

persons - Nasrullah and Tufail - witnessed this act,” an FIR quoted the complainant as saying.

Station House Officer Sarfraz Anjum told that the suspect had been arrested after a medical examination of the hen confirming the sexual assault. “Hussain has also confessed to his crime. The boy said he did it out of sexual frustration,” he said. The reports of swabs collected from the hen were still awaited. The suspect has been booked, the police said. (Source: ndtv)

Don’t politicise the saree, Twitter seethes after New York Times article

n article published in the New York Times has angered many on social media, who say its premise -that ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, “the Indian fashion industry has been pressed to aggressively promote traditional attire and bypass Western styles” - is baseless. Since the article was published, journalists, academics and commentators across the political spectrum have tweeted calling it “ridiculous.” The article, titled “In India, Fashion Has Become a Nationalist Cause,” was published in the paper’s Style section. In the article, Asgar Qadri claims: “Since the Bharatiya Janata Party formed a national government in 2014, the Indian fashion industry has been pressed to aggressively promote traditional attire and bypass Western styles. The effort aligns with the party’s broader political program: to project multi-faith India, a country of more than 1.3 billion, as a Hindu nation.” Trying to prove this claim, Qadri travels to Varanasi, PM Modi’s political constituency, to meet with the weavers of the famous Banarasi sarees. Sarees, Qadri writes, “known for its fine silk and opulent embroidery - and primarily worn by Hindu women.” That last statement has been vehe-

mently opposed by many online. In the article, Qadri says while PM Modi’s call to revive Banarasi sarees has benefitted merchants, weavers are yet to see any of the pay-offs. The New York Times article has been met with scathing criticism on Twitter. Sanjeev Sanyal, the Principal Economic Adviser in the Finance Ministry, tweeted that the article is a “sickening attack on our way of life.” This isn’t the first time an article published in the New York Times has angered Indians. In 2014, the newspaper was forced to apologise after publishing a cartoon on the Mangalyaan Mars Mission following complaints that it mocked India. (Source: ndtv)

McDonald’s meals not cheaper despite GST rate cut

n a move set to make eating out lighter on customers’ pockets, the GST (Goods and Services Tax) council slashed the tax rate for restaurants last week. The tax rate for restaurants was revised downwards to a uniform 5% from the earlier 12% for non-air conditioned restaurants and 18% for air-conditioned restaurants. But restaurants won’t get the benefit of input tax credit, a facility to set off tax paid on inputs with final tax. The tax cut was part of the biggest change to GST rates since July. When the new rates came into effect, consumers were hoping to see their restaurant bills be considerably lower after companies said they will pass on the rate cut to the customers. But many astonished consumers lashed out at restaurants when they found their food bills didn’t drop as drastically as they expected them to. Angry customers on Twitter lashed out at fast food chains McDonald’s and Starbucks along

with pictures of food bills before and after last week’s GST cut. Many pointed out that McDonald’s has actually increased the MRPs (Maximum Retail Price) after the rate cut making the total bill nearly the same. Some even tagged the Finance Ministry in their tweets. Trying to pacify angry customers, McDonald’s India clarified that despite the GST rate cut, their costs have actually gone up as government removed Input Tax Credit. Restaurants earlier got input tax benefit on rent, food and other items which helped them to reduce cost. The company added that they have revised the bill structure in a way that the total amount paid by the customer remains the same. “We believe in giving the best value to our customers, and have passed on the benefits wherever we could. We have substantially reduced the prices of some of our flagship products,” the company added in a statement. (Source: economictimes)

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Reviews Cast: Vidya Balan, Neha Dhupia, Manav Kaul Director: Suresh Triveni

vie Mo view Re Tumhari Sulu

dvertising filmmaker Suresh Triveni’s sparkling directorial debut Tumhari Sulu finally puts Balan’s textured voice and uninhibited chortle to proper use. Balan plays a housewife who hosts a late-night radio show in Tumhari Sulu. The voice becomes richer and sexier, and the laughs are plentiful as Balan’s Sulochana has a life-altering adventure (until reality catches up with her). The movie derives its strength from its unhurried narrative and rich observations of middle-class suburban existence. Life is moulded into a movie plot, filled with the clutter of domesticity, everyday humour and hilarious tributes to 1980s film music. The movie is neatly poised be-

tween dreams (up until the interval) and wakefulness (the post-interval section). A less sunny-tempered movie would have made more of their tensions and acknowledged that the cuts and tears in the marital fabric cannot be mended so easily. But Sulochana’s infectious optimism drives the story towards a resolution that ensures that everybody goes home with a big smile and a warm feeling. The film is packed with perfectly pitched characters, which include Sulu’s husband Ashok (Manav Kaul), Neha Dhupia’s Maria and Sulochana’s cynical producer Pankaj (Vijay Maurya). Balan delivers a career-best performance in Tumhari Sulu, moving from eternal optimist to bruised realist without missing a beat. n

Cast: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Amy Adams, etc Director: Zack Snyder

ustice League calls to duty Batman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman and Superman to battle Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), a new evil villain — not the rock band — in a DC all-star package. But despite the talents of screenwriters Chris Terrio (Oscar winner for Argo) and Joss Whedon, it plays like a by-the-numbers attempt to cash in on this stable of branded superheroes and not a fully formed screen adventure. Directed with the usual dark and bleak look of Zack Snyder films like last year’s fan disappointment Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the new movie fails to find the fun in all of this and ranks as a setback for the

genre after three previous winners this year: Wonder Woman, Spider-Man: Homecoming and the current Thor: Ragnarok. But, it nails the core characters and offers specific and potentially iconic versions of the DC heroes. “Justice League” is a crowd-pleaser only if you’re part of a comics-obsessed crowd. Yet there’s a fascinating aspect of this film that amounts to a tutorial in acting and directing. Justice League also serves as a tryout for upcoming standalone movies such as the eagerly anticipated Aquaman, in the same way Batman v Superman offered us a preview of Wonder Woman. n

Tech Review

OnePlus 5T launched in India

nePlus 5T has been officially launched by the Chinese brand, featuring the bezel-less design and 18:9 aspect ratio that have become common in top-end smartphones. The 6-inch fullHD+ display of the OnePlus 5T is the biggest ever for a OnePlus handset, and the camera is said to have been improved compared to the OnePlus 5’s.

Price in India OnePlus 5T price in India starts at Rs. 32,999 for the 6GB RAM/ 64GB inbuilt storage variant, and goes up to Rs. 37,999 for the 8GB RAM/ 128GB in-

built storage variant. It will only be available in a Midnight Black colour variant. The smartphone is exclusive to Amazon India, but will also be available via the OnePlus online store in India.

Specifications The dual-SIM (Nano) OnePlus 5T runs Oxygen OS 4.7 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and adds a feature not seen in the OnePlus 5 - Face Unlock which the company says is based on advanced facial recognition algorithms that use over 100 facial features identity points to “securely unlock” the smartphone in 0.4 seconds. The dis-

Cinepolis Christian Basti 09435025808 Tumhari Sulu 10:15 AM 01:10 PM 04:05 PM 07:00 PM Justice League 10:20 AM 12:55 PM 03:30 PM 06:05 PM 08:40 PM Ittefaq 11:00 AM Thor: Ragnarok 12:15 PM Priyaar Priyo 01:25 PM 04:50 PM 08:15 PM Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana 03:00 PM Qarib Qarib Singlle 05:50 PM Aksar 2 08:30 PM

Anuradha Cineplex Noonmati 0361 2656968 Justice League 11:30 AM 08:15 PM Priyaar Priyo 02:00 PM Tumhari Sulu 05:30 PM

PVR Cinemas Dona Planet 08800900009 Thor: Ragnarok 09:30 AM Justice League 10:10 AM 12:45 PM 03:20 PM 05:55 PM 08:30 PM Aksar 2 12:15 PM Tumhari Sulu 02:45 PM 09:05 PM Priyaar Priyo 05:40 PM

vie Mo view Re Justice League

Galleria Cinemas HUB 09706989143 Justice League 10:00 AM 12:30 PM 05:40 PM

Tumhari Sulu 03:00 PM 08:45 PM

Grande Cines Paltan Bazar 09854017771 Aksar 2 11:00 AM 02:30 PM 08:30 PM Tumhari Sulu 11:30 AM 05:30 PM 08:15 PM Maj Rati Keteki 02:00 PM Priyaar Priyo 05:00 PM

Gold Cinema Paltan Bazaar 09854066166 Aksar 2 11:00 AM 02:30 PM 08:30 PM Tumhari Sulu 11:30 AM 05:30 PM 08:15 PM Maj Rati Keteki 02:00 PM Priyaar Priyo 05:00 PM

Gold Cinema Lakhtokia 0361 2735367 Aksar 2 10:45 AM 03:45 PM 08:15 PM Tumhari Sulu 11:00 AM 01:00 PM 05:15 PM 08:30 PM Priyaar Priyo 02:00 PM Dil Jo Na Keh Saka 06:00 PM

Apsara Cinema Paltan Bazaar 0361 2541335 Justice League 11:00 AM 05:00 PM Aksar 2 02:00 PM 08:00 PM

sensor that clicks 20-megapixel images. OnePlus says that the new hardware should help the OnePlus 5T click better low light photos. The secondary camera has now been replaced with a 20-megapixel Sony IMX376K sensor. It retains the 1-micron pixel size, however, upgrades the aperture to f/1.7 and focal length to 27.22mm - the same as the primary sensor.

play must be on for Face Unlock to work. Users can also long-press the fingerprint sensor to take a selfie, and swipe the fingerprint sensor to bring up the notification shade. Other Oxygen OS features seen on the OnePlus 5’s latest stable builds have also made it through, such as Reading Mode, Parallel Apps, and Gallery Maps.

Camera Although the dual-camera system is still alive on the Plus 5T, the configuration has changed slightly. The main camera is the same one that is also in the OnePlus 5. This means, a

camera powered by Sony IMX 398 16-megapixel image sensor and a F1.7 lens with 27mm focal length. The second camera now too has a wide-angle 27mm lens with F1.7 aperture. Behind the lens there is IMX376K image

Battery The OnePlus 5T is powered by a 3300mAh non-removable battery and supports the company’s Dash Charge (5V, 4A) fast charging technology. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Entertainment

In conversation with Vinay Pathak

umble, witty and sincere, that’s Vinay Pathak for you. The Bheja Fry (2007) actor, who has entertained us with his histrionic skills for over 18 years now, performed at the Guwahati Theatre Festival hosted by G Plus. In a candid interview, Pathak talked to G Plus about the play “What’s Done is Done” and the bond he shares with the veteran actor and director Rajat Kapoor. This is your second Guwahati Theatre Festival experience. Tell us how you feel being back in the city? Vinay - It feels like coming back home. We have been coming to Guwahati to do theatre for a long time now. It was just last year when we got a call from G Plus inviting us for the first edition of GTF. It was great fun performing for the Guwahati audience last year. And now that I’m back for the second season, I have started to feel like a senior member of the festival - It just feels like Homecoming.

What are your expectations from the Guwahati audience? Vinay - I expect the same enthusiasm from the audience as they showed last year. They are very warm and intelligent lot. So, we are very excited to perform in front of them.

Your experience of working with Rajat Kapoor?

Vinay - Rajat and I were friends before we began working together. We saw each other through our struggles. There is a certain comfort level between us. We are all like-minded people and partners not just in cinema but also in life. We’ve known each other for over a decade now and our journey as co-workers began with a play that we did together called “C for Clown”. The special thing is the trust, faith and warmth we have. In spite of going through so many experiences, our bond has remained genuine which is how it should be.

Anything particular about Guwahati/Assam that you like?

Comedy is one of the most difficult genres in the school of acting. You have excelled in this. Is there a method to it?

Vinay - Yes, we have two new plays. Last year we performed Hamlet - The Clown Prince. This year, we’re performing What’s Done is Done which is an adaptation of Macbeth. I’m also involved in another play called As You Like It with the same troupe. Along with that, a few movies are in process and are slated to release in the beginning of next year. n

Vinay - When you do a job like this, create an art, yes, the spontaneity of the craft is very refreshing. But at the same time, the artist finds a way to express himself. The method is about how you start it. It is then that you begin to see how you’d shape your character.

Vinay - I am a big fan of Assamese cuisine and I truly, really envy the people here who get to eat the delicious ethnic food every day. I feel Assamese food is the best in the country. It satisfies and tingles with the taste buds perfectly.

Are there any upcoming theatre projects and movies?

Rikhiya Chakraborty with Nehal Jain

‘Rum Vodka Whisky’ slated for release on November 24 Kalyan Kumar Kalita

hree script writers, three different stories, one film. For the first time in the history of Assamese cinema, a full length Assamese film has been made connecting three different stories penned by three different script writers. ‘Rum Vodka Whisky’ (cocktail of love), directed by Prasant Saikia and produced by Akash Garg under the banner of ‘Veena International’, has been written by Prodyut Kumar Deka, Rajdweep and Prasant Saikia. The story of the film revolves around three boys belonging to different age groups who are best of friends and often meet each other. One day they all meet and start talking about their love lives and that’s when the story starts to take shape. The first part begins with the story of the eldest person whose love story is set in the 1960’s during India-China war, when he was

a young boy and fell in love with a stranger who later dumped him. The second story revolves around the second guy who is very ill because of heavy drinking and falls in love with another patient while

undergoing treatment. The last story is of the youngest of all, who falls in love with the photographer during a photo shoot. The key roles in the film have been essayed by Hiranya Das, Queen Hazarika, Udayan Duarah, Priyanka Bhargav, Ananta B. Sarania, Moon Rajiv, Durgashri Borah, Rupam Barua and Prakash Medhi among others. The film’s music has been scored by Tridip Basumatary, the lyrics have been penned by Rajdweep, Raj Agnihotri and Tridip Basumatary whereas the songs have been beautifully rendered by Queen Hazarika, Tridip Basumatary and Amrita Lahkar. The cinematography has been done by Papu Deka around the attractive locations of Guwahati, Cherrapunji and Sonapur and edited by Abhijit Roy and Hirak Jyoti Pathak. According to the producer, the film will hit the theatres on November 24 all over Assam. The production team is hoping that the film succeeds in entertaining the Assamese audiences. n

2 entries by filmmakers from Assam selected for Italy fest

wo films made by Assamese filmmakers have been selected from among a long list of entries, which included over 1,800 films on sustainability issues, for screening in the 2017 edition of the Sandalia Sustainability Film Festival of Italy. Both the selected films are documentaries, namely Garbage Bin Meals (30 minutes) by Dr Satyakam Phukan and The Search for Independence (8 minutes) by Ashutosh Kashyap and Partha Hazarika. As per reports, the screening of the films and the award ceremony will be held in December

in Abbasanta, Italy. The films that pass in the contest will be published on the website sandaliafilmfestival.com in close proximity to the stages of the event, said the organisers on their website. The Sandalia Sustainability Film Festival has been playing a major role in sensitising people across the world on sustainability-related issues through films, by offering an opportunity to exchange views on such issues. It is thus promoting values, spreading knowledge and techniques, with the aim to encourage better behaviours, for a sustainable present and future. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Fun Horoscope of the week Both work and play are high on your agenda this week, with lively Mars encouraging you to showcase your best skills and dabble in favorite hobbies. There is also a lot of pleasure to be gained from daily activities, especially if you’re looking to expand your options. A lovely alignment between luscious Venus and flamboyant Jupiter suggests that a meeting could present you with an opportunity that’s too good to pass up. Over the weekend, firm boundaries can help sidestep any control battles.

There’s much be said for indulging in your favorite pastimes and doing what you love. The week’s start looks quite delightful, although you’ll need to pay attention when signing contracts or handling anything legal. Thursday could be fairly empowering as well, and you might have insights into other people’s moods and feelings that you can use to your advantage. The new moon on Saturday can herald progress in a budding romance. However, if a family issue intensifies, sensitivity may be required.

With Thanksgiving Day just around the corner, this week could be one of preparation, with some lovely aspects helping things along. Convivial Venus and sporty Jupiter suggest that you leave no stone unturned to get your place shipshape and make guests feel welcome. Keeping a to-do list on hand can be very useful, too. With dreamy Neptune on the scene, it could be easy to forget key tasks. Communication could break down over the weekend unless you can handle things with extreme tact.

On Monday, a delightful blend of energies could see you getting along very well with others. This might lead to closing a deal, making new friends, or being offered a fabulous opportunity. It would help to keep your wits about you, though. With dreamy Neptune involved, misunderstandings are a possibility. Money matters might need special care this weekend, especially regarding disagreements on how it should be spent. Saturday’s new moon encourages you to step out and implement a new plan.

You might be in the mood to do some Thanksgiving shopping. But if you set out on Monday, your generosity will likely shine through and you could spend more than you intended. Still, you’ll be remembered and complemented for having done so. If you’re preparing for next week’s events, it’s essential to write everything down. Links between chatty Mercury, glorious Venus, and ethereal Neptune suggest mistakes can be made unless you take care. A calm approach would be wise over the weekend.

You’re certainly in your element with the start of the week perhaps coinciding with a party or seasonal get-together. With jovial Jupiter in your sign, a benevolent and warm-hearted attitude can charm others and leave you with plenty of admirers. Be careful concerning mixed messages, however, as some things may not be as they seem. The new moon in your sign on Saturday can be excellent for beginning a new phase in your life, but something might need to be released first.

You’ll likely be in a very charitable and benevolent mood at the start of this week, and this could continue for some time. Your focus may be on helping others who are less fortunate, particularly during the holiday season. However, discernment will be important, as it’s possible that someone will try to fool you. Try not to take things too personally over the weekend, especially if you don’t see eye to eye with someone. It might be wiser to let things go for now.

You could be getting into the spirit of the holiday season for real this week, as easygoing Venus and flamboyant Jupiter connect in your social sector. This is an opportunity to organize a get-together or enjoy attending parties and occasions. If you’re preparing for the week ahead, writing a to-do list can be a huge help. With dreamy Neptune on the scene, it would be easy to forget something important. It would be wise to avoid a falling out over the weekend if you can.

Good fortune could strike early this week. An expansive blend of energies could see you grabbing an opportunity that leads to bigger and better things. But it would be wise to read the fine print and check the facts before you get too involved. With ethereal Neptune in the mix, mistakes are possible. The new moon in your career sector can also hint at a positive new start if you’re willing to take the plunge. Holding back? Past beliefs might need to be released first.

Romance is a possibility if you’re traveling. Or you might have the chance to rekindle the flame of love with your long-term partner. Either way, getting away from it all can bring positive rewards and a chance to unwind after a busy time. Check the details if you’re going away, as an awkward link between speedy Mercury and ethereal Neptune suggests the possibility of mistakes. Intense feelings between you and a friend might need working through if you’re to see eye to eye.

Which eternally popular Bollywood hit was produced by the Shaporji Pallonji group?

If George Headley was known as the Black Bradman, who was known as White Pele?

Who holds the distinction of being the first elected Muslim female to become the chief minister of any Indian state?

Born in 1928, his first name is Mortimer. However, by what name is he is commonly known?

Identify this world famous memorial to the Jewish Holocaust, located in Jerusalem. Dr. Soubhadra Chakrabarty This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

Garfield by Jim Davis

curio-city

1 Rasgolla, the invention of which was being fought over between West Bengal and Orissa. 2 Mughal-e-Azam 3 Zico, the Brazilian great 4 Anwara Taimur, Chief Minister of Assam in 1980 5 Mickey Mouse 6 Yad Vashem Memorial

Which popular food item recently got a G.I. tag, thus resolving a long drawn tussle over its invention between two neighbouring states?

9 1

6 27 4 4 7 1 2 6 26 7 5 1 3 7 4 8

7 3 26 62

49 1

5 8 9

1 7 47 96 8 8 9 7 3 6 7 4 5 6 7 2 9 9 Daily Sudoku: Wed 15-Nov-2017 1 4 5 3 Daily Sudoku: Fri 10-Nov-2017

last week solution 4 99 58 26 62 34 73 87 15

6 25 71 14 98 86 47 33 52

8 13 37 52 49 71 25 6 98

9 5 8 4 8 7 1 6 3 3 6 7 2 2 9

1 6 1 2 5 7 9 3 7 5 8 9 2 4 8 6

3 27 68 39 52 94 41 15 76

5 48 31 54 67 72 96 89 13

2 64 26 83 45 59 18 91 37

7 73 99 16 38 21 85 52 44

1 9 4 5 3 8 2 7 6hard

Daily Sudoku: Wed 15-Nov-2017 Daily Sudoku: Fri 10-Nov-2017

medium

http://www.dailysudoku.com/ http://www.dailysudoku.com/

curio-city 1

Sudoku

As feisty Mars continues its journey through your wellness sector, you’ll be eager to explore the latest fitness ideas. However, try not to have big expectations at the outset. Work up to your goals slowly for best results. In the main, relationships sparkle with promise whether you’re looking for love or in a long-term bond. One awkward issue could come to a head over the weekend, which will need sensitive handling. However, the new moon in your relationship sector hints at a fresh start.

The week begins on a potentially passionate note with the likelihood of a romance or the rekindling of a relationship. If your partnership has fallen into a rut, the lovely Venus-Jupiter alignment can take it to a more fulfilling level. Even so, with ethereal Neptune on the scene, it’s also necessary to be careful when signing contracts or closing deals, as things may not be quite as they seem. The weekend could be volatile, so wait until things are calmer before discussing a key issue.

Word of the week Scrimshank verb [skrim-shangk]

To avoid one’s obligations or share of work; shirk.

Crossword Across

Down

1 Iron aids a chap (anag) — tending to reduce sexual desire (13) 8 Largest of the Balearic Islands (7) 9 Confident expectation (5) 10 Entertainer’s itinerary (4) 11 Relating to the home or family (8) 13 Shelley’s Ozymandias, for example (6) 14 Cosily (6) 17 Welsh singer — Fielding hero (3,5) 19 Slender (4) 21 Uncovered (5) 22 Wagered (7) 24 Breakaway faction (8,5)

1 Goal (3) 2 Stop temporarily (7) 3 Brass instrument (4) 4 Public speaker (6) 5 Finally (2,3,3) 6 Arctic residents (5) 7 Disastrous upheaval (9) 10 Lab glassware (4,5) 12 Under an obligation (8) 15 US unmanned space-craft launched in 1989 to investigate Jupiter (7) 16 Small hunting dog (6) 18 Wall painting (5) 20 Air pollution (4) 23 Immerse (3)

Last week’s solution

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Lifestyle

You are a

Yogi

hat does this spiritual path do to an individual? It makes your body vibrant and resistant to disease. It brings radiance in your aura and makes your voice very sweet and melodious. It improves your circulation, makes you skillful, intuitive, efficient, capable, and compassionate and brings the Siddhis (perfections) in you. Then before you want something, it already starts coming to you. But there is a doubt that raises its head in a few people. It is discussed in the Bhagwad Geeta, when Arjuna says, “Will a person, who walks on a path or does not perfect it, fall from it and be nowhere? He will be neither here nor there? So what to do? This is my doubt and only you can solve this. Because you know you are a yogi and you are also in the world. Suppose I start the path of yoga and I lose my kingdom, my work, my job,

everything here, that I have been doing and I am doing neither this nor that, will I not be in between somewhere?”

Lord Krishna answers, “My dear don’t worry, because anyone who does something good, something beneficial, will never suffer. You cannot perish in this path. It is impossible. If you are not successful now, never mind, you can be assured you will come and do it again because there are many lifetimes. ” Spiritual practices are called Sadhana. This means the real currency, which you can take to the other side also. The bliss that you carry will go with your spirit into the next life. Someone who has not completed the journey of yoga, has not attained the self, has fallen from there, due to whatever reason, will be born in a good family or a yogi’s family because of good karma earned. People can be born in many rich families, but they may not be intelligent. They are not the yoga brastas (fallen yogis). These are those who are intelligent and are born in yogis family or in well to do families. But this doesn’t mean that yogis are not born in poor families. Due to the past life’s experience, those sanskaras

(impressions) will again make them go in the path of yoga to complete their journey. So, spirituality brings strength and you will progress in the world. If you find any doubt, just know that it is temporary. Even a mere enquirer after yoga transcends the intellectual knowledge. Verily, a yogi who practices, being purified by all sins, is perfected through many births and then attains the supreme goal. The yogi is regarded as greater than ascetics, greater than even men of knowledge, greater also than those devoted to work. Such a person does not crave for anything because he/ she is in the state of fulfillment. Abundance is a sign of yogi and a sign of true spiritual growth. Not a sense of lack or despondency or desperateness. Wherever you put your attention to something, that thing will grow. If you put your attention on the lack of something, the lack will increase. Tonight, just before going to sleep, sit your bed, with a big smile on your face, relax, and think , “I am a yogi, I am lucky.” Don’t doubt that you are a yogi. You are a yogi. That is why you are reading this, hearing this.

7 must follow

fitness tips

1. Say hello to H2O - Whether you’re heading off to gym, boot camp, or any other exercise, it’s always important to hydrate so you can stay energized and have your best workout. 2. Find the best fitness friend - A workout buddy is hugely helpful for keeping motivated, but it’s important to find someone who will inspire—not discourage. So make a list of all your exerciseloving friends, and then see who fits this criterion. 3. Make sure you’re eating healthy - Regardless of your training goals, healthy eating is the backbone. Food is what fuels your body to reach your goals, and without proper nutrition through quality foods, you’re likely to stall. 4. Eat with purpose Everything you consume should have

substantial nutritional value. Everything you eat should serve some sort of nutritional purpose in your body, fuel your workouts, and (be) geared toward optimizing your body.

5. Learn how to fight fatigue Fatigue may be your biggest enemy when training, but there are some ways to combat it. First, drink beet juice, which is packed with healthy nitrates that can improve your cardiovascular functioning. Another way to boost your performance is by carefully selecting your music. 6. Have a fruity ice cream sundae - Next time your family or friends decide to make an ice-cream run, don’t worry about being left out of the fun! Order a fresh (and superrefreshing) ice cream sundae, piled high with diced kiwi, pineapple, and strawberries. 7. Never compare – Never compare yourself with anyone. Everyone’s different and everyone’s beautiful in their own way. So, embrace your body!

You should know that you are lucky. After saying this, think of all the things you can be grateful for in this life. Don’t sit and worry about your mistakes. Mistakes have taught you some lessons and the good deeds have expanded your vision and shown your possibilities. We will honor everything in life. That is where we get into choice-less awareness. So be in the present moment where we are hollow, empty and light. However nice something is, however ugly something is both will disappear into thin air. Knowing this you

get back to the self, the source of all wealth, happiness and joy which is deep within you. Then you realize that you have gained an ability to smile through everything and nothing bothers you or touches you. You are united with nature, nature loves you, and brings Sukhamatyantikam (unbelievable pleasure beyond the senses) and abundance and to your life.

shri shri ravi shankar

Founder- Art of Living Foundation.

(Untitled) Amidst turbulent waters lay a lonely land Home to a tribe of cursed misfortunate For they were under the mercy of a beast, A creature made by evil human hands. Its presence was daunting, yet never seen With teeth so keen, well acquainted with human blood The poor souls did not have any defence; For these dangerous instruments On and on it raged; raining down its anger from the skies. Creeping up on young and old Indifferent to their heartbreaking cries Ages have passed by, but the story Of the cursed land is still whispered With all its mysteries and secrets Yet to unfold The people perished and the creature remains unknown And who knows, how many more stories of this tale Are yet to unfold.

Vedant Panesar Class X, Sarala Birla Gyan Jyoti

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Buzz

New norms for HSLC candidates introduced

igh School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) and High Madrassa candidates will write their exams with black ink from now on. “The use of blue ink will no longer be allowed,” announced the Secretary of Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), Prabin Chandra Sarma on Saturday. Speaking at a program in Tezpur, the SEBA secretary announced several other important changes apart from the discontinuation of blue ink usage. The online filling of the forms for the upcoming 2018 HSLC exams have started and SEBA has come up with a provision of re-verification of the admit cards for the exams. Candidates from open schools are to fill up the forms separately. While talking about the on-

line filling of forms, Sharma mentioned that the registration fees for the candidates coming from BPL families will be free of cost. He further stated that the examination centres have been changed as regular classes of oth-

er students are hampered in the process of setting up the same zones every year. In order to keep the exam a disciplined one by introducing the new norms in the board, the SEBA secretary expressed hope for a chaos-free examination. n

Indrani Raimedhi’s new book Crime, Justice and Women released

ward-winning journalist and writer Indrani Raimedhi’s new book titled “Crime, Justice and Women” chronicles the life of women criminals and the circumstances leading them to the world of crime. The book, apart from unravelling the facets that lead the fairer sex into the crime world, also peeps into some hitherto untold shades of women in conflict with the law; some are out of choice and others due to compelling circumstances. Releasing the book, Director General of Police, Assam, Mukesh Sahay, said that although extremist activities in the state are on the wane, the root causes remain unchanged. He also laid stress on the need to have an enabling environment in schools and homes as a longterm deterrent to crime. “This book which touches the lives of women across the crime spectrum would help us understand the dynamics of the problem and at least some of the underlying causes as to why such things are taking place in our society,” the DGP said. “Peace is not merely the absence of violence; it is the prevalence of justice. We still have a long way to go,” he said, adding, “I am sure the book will attract the attention of the readers.” Published by Spectrum Publications, Crime, Justice and Women is the 12th book by Raimedhi, who is also the Fea-

JNU entrance exam: Shillong centre shifted to Guwahati

he Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has moved its Shillong entrance test centre to Guwahati and Srinagar centre to Jammu, the institute’s administration said on Saturday, November 11. These changes have been made after Kendriya Vidyalaya authorities expressed concerns over weather conditions and a few logistical difficulties in December which may not be suitable to hold the examinations. “Candidates who were slated to write the JNU entrance examinations next month in Shillong (Meghalaya) and Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) centres have

been shifted to Guwahati and Jammu respectively,” the administration said. These candidates will be served with appropriate information related to the change, it added. Over 1 lakh candidates will sit for the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) which is scheduled to be held between December 23 and 27. “The university has earmarked 81 examination centres in various cities and towns encompassing all the states and union territories of the country and another centre in Kathmandu,” JNU Rector Chintamani Mahapatra had said in a statement earlier. n

Science Museum Day observed

T tures Editor of The Assam Tribune. Justice Hrishikesh Roy of the Gauhati High Court termed the book as an insightful journey into the dark world of crimes. “I have gone through the manuscript of the book and anybody who is interested in crime, criminals and psyche of criminals would benefit from the book,” he said. “The language and the way all the characters have come out are remarkable. The narratives are very gripping as well,” Justice Roy said. Justice Roy, while giving an insight of the characters in the book, said that the thinking and educated readers must read the book.

“It is not just about crime, criminals and jails. There are many more fascinating aspects,” he said. Earlier, while addressing the gathering in the book launch function, Indrani Raimedhi said that a book is a labour of love, a journey and an adventure. “For the last three years, I have spent a lot of time in jails in Assam to do research for the book and studied varied aspects of the psychology of women prisoners convicted for serious offences. However, I have never allowed my own ideology to interfere in the pursuance of the story,” she said. Besides, the book also throws light on women police personnel and their daredevilry. n

he Regional Science Centre, Guwahati celebrated ‘International Science Centre and Science Museum Day’ on November 10 at its premise with various participatory activities involving school children. The programme started with an art and poster competition in three different groups for children. Thereafter, a live demonstration and analysis on mosquitoes was conducted by an expert group from the National Institute

of Malaria Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Guwahati. As part of the celebration, a popular science talk was delivered by Dr. Kuldeep Singh, scientist and in-charge of the National Institute of Malaria Research (Indian Council of Medical Research), Government of India, Guwahati. Open house science quiz, scientific film show, sky observation etc. were also conducted for students, teachers and general public on the occasion. n

1200 writers assemble to write on ‘We are Assamese’

ttempting to break a 2013 Guinness World Record for the “most people to write a story in 24 hours”, 1200 writers have come together to write a story each on the theme ‘We are Assamese’. The event was an initiative of D-Muse group, in collaboration with the Cotton University Stu-

dents’ Union, and was held at Cotton University on November 12, Sunday. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup (M), Barnali Sarma, inaugurated the event. The writers wrote both fiction and non-fiction pieces which will later be compiled into a single story to compete with the previous record. n

G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Events Event Tu Toh Chup Hi Reh – Stand up Comedy Date November 12, Sunday Venue Hotel Palacio

Jaspreet Singh

Festival Event - Goan Food 7, Vivanta by Taj t an ur ta es R e nu Ve -19 Date – November 10

Vivanta by Taj has organised a Goan Food festival by replicating and reproducing the authentic coastal cuisines of Goa to tantalise the taste buds of Guwahatians. Chef Ignatius Peter Mario Fernandes has brought his experience from the Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort, Goa to curate the festival in the city. A lot of the ingredients have been brought in straight from Goa, including Bibinca (a traditional dessert) and Pilaf (unpolished rice). Each of the dishes reflects the locally available ingredients which give its unique flavour to the dish. Some of the must have dishes are Goan Prawn Curry, Ananas Sasav (Pineapple Coconut Curry) and Pilaf. The restaurant has also been given a touch of Goa, creating a holiday mood and enhancing the experience.

Event: Sizzler Festival Venue: Hotel Palacio

Suresh Raina (L) spotted with Vikram Rai Medhi (R) at Underdoggs during his visit to Guwahati for his Ranji Trophy match

With the early onset of winters, it is just about the right time to bite into a delicious slice of sizzling patty. Available in both veg and

non-veg options, it is a sure delight for the avid food lover. Hotel Palacio is currently hosting a Sizzler Festival! Be sure to check it out!

Event – Dr. Mashoor Gu

lati – Laughter filled family show Date – November 12, Sunday Venue – GMCH Audito rium

Sunil Grover aka Dr Ma shoor Gulati aka Gutth i aka Rinku Bhabhi performed in front of a fully packed audienc e at the GMCH Auditorium, Guwahati Picture credits: Guwa

hati Round Table 235/

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G PLUS | NOV 18- NOV 24, 2017

Catching Up Poll of the Week Do you think Assam Govt is serious about delivering NRC Draft by 31st December 2017? 31%

Yes

53%

16%

New

Maybe

Kamur

of the week

ince the MG Road stretch from Sukleswar to Bharalumukh was announced as a walking zone on Sundays, the commuters are irritated by the traffic congestion in the nearby areas. The issue has certainly turned into a kamur especially for the people who visit ITA Machkhowa on Sundays for various programmes.

WHAT DID I JUST

Silpi Sikha

HEAR?

ndian meme’s favourite Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has done it again. This time, the Gandhi scion said, “I will build such a machine if fed potato will give gold in return.” Though not alchemy, the comment generated a few epic memes.

Chick on the block

About Me Greetings to all the readers of G Plus. I am Silpi Sikha, a 24 year old resident of Guwahati. I am a dancer and actor, both by passion and profession. I have been associated with acting for the last 7 years. I tried theatre for the first time this year, and acted in ‘Xendur’, ‘Roja Ranir Xonxaar’, and ‘Mahashtami’ of Brindaban Theatre. I have received the Best Actress Award (TV) for the serial ‘Abhimaan’ in May 2017. Mojo My passion is what keeps me going ahead. However, my pillars of strength would be my parents who have always inspired me. Route in Woods I am very passionate about acting. That is from where I have achieved the little recognition I own today. I want to establish myself as a successful actress. I have offers of films in hand which I will start working for in the near future. Photography by - Unique Borah

Printed & Published by Sunit Jain on behalf of Insight Brandcom Pvt. Ltd. and Printed at Janambhumi Press (P) Ltd., Kalapahar, Guwahati and Published at 4A, Royale Arcade, Ulubari, Guwahati - 781007, Editor: Swapnil Bharali. Phone: 0361 2522444, Email: info@g-plus.in, RNI No: ASSENG/2013/52641