Vol 6 Issue 33 by G Plus

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Volume 06 | Issue 33 June 8 - June 14, 2019 Price `10

Confusion continues over ‘acid-like attack,’ police still clueless

Assam second highest in infant mortality rate

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Ex BJP councillor claims GDD minister not keen on GMC polls for his own interests the GMC elections ahead of the Lok Sabha polls as there were apprehensions that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost here, a negative message about the saffron party would have gone to the votven after 10 months of the ers of Assam. Guwahati Municipal CorBut now, as the BJP has already poration (GMC) council’s formed the government in the tenure coming to an end, Centre, the state government and the government has failed its ministers are not serious about to conduct the council elections the GMC elections. among the city’s wards. For a The source also said that even city to grow the urban local body the Panchayat elections were derequires to be guided by reprelayed and it was later conducted sentatives of the citizens and in ahead of the Lok Sabha elections Guwahati it seems that the state because some panchayat memgovernment is not taking the bers had moved before the court. whole issue seriously. On being asked if the former There are allegations against Guwahati councillors are also the Guwahati Development Demulling such a step, the source said, “No BJP councillor will take this step even if he/she wants to because after that his/ her political career in BJP will be over.” The BJP memThe last GMC council and citizens’ representation | G Plus photo ber also revealed that some Congress councillors were partment (GDD) minister that he indeed planning to go to court, doesn’t want the GMC council to but after the Lok Sabha debacle of gain the desired electoral strength. their party, they are giving it a reA former BJP councillor, talking thought. to G Plus under condition of anThe GMC elections can only be onymity said, “Siddhartha Bhatconducted if the state government tacharya wants that all the Counreleases the funds for the same. cillors and Area Sabha Members For legislative and Lok Sabha elecshould be his own people.” The tions, the Centre sanctions the source revealed that last time the funds, but for local body polls the councillors earned huge popularistate government organises the ty and prominence in the city with funds. their work and therefore the local The BJP member expressed that members of legislative assembly if the government and the min(MLAs) were feeling insecure. isters don’t see any gains from The source revealed that after the councillors elected from the the council’s tenure had ended wards, the GMC elections will last July, the state government, in keep getting postponed. a meeting, decided not to conduct n

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Subtle tussles for subsidiary power at Centre: Who is No 2?

G Plus News @guwahatiplus

In conversation with Pijush Hazarika, MoS, Health & Family Welfare, UDD

G Plus News @guwahatiplus

What raised the eyebrows was the fact that defence minister Rajnath Singh, who took oath immediately after the Prime Minister on 30th May, 2019 signalling his number two status in the union cabinet, was included in only two of the eight panels viz. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and Cabinet Committee on Security leaving him out of the crucial Political Affairs Committee. Conventionally, the number two in the cabinet presides over the Cabinet and Political Affairs Committee in the absence of the Prime Minister and Rajnath Singh’s exclusion gave out a signal that notwithstanding the sequence maintained in the

after consultations and intervention by RSS, by evening, Singh was included in four more committees barring only the ones on appointments and accommodation. So, as per the revised list, Rajnath Singh’s name has been added to the committees on parliamentary affairs, political affairs, investment & growth and employment & skill development as well apart from the ones on security and economic affairs. The questions that have been raised now is who was responsible for the omission of Rajnath Singh’s name from these crucial committees? It simply cannot be termed as an oversight because a

sually, an overwhelming majority in Parliament would signal clear authority at the top of the hierarchy and given the mandate BJP has received in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Damodardas Modi’s hold over the party and the government has only been strengthened. This was amply demonstrated in the manner through which the new cabinet was formed and portfolios distributed and accordingly, the hierarchy was established. However, a few days after the council of ministers took oath of secrecy and allegiance to the Constitution, an unnecessary situation was created and an impression has since gained currency in political circles that there is a quiet struggle for the No. 2 position in the newly (L-R) PM Modi with Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah at the oath-taking ceremony constituted person who has been sworn in at oath-taking ceremony, the de-facModi Cabinet. The catalyst for number two position is too big a to number two in the Modi cabisuch an impression giving rise to name to be erroneously excludnet is none other than the home hushed whispers in the corridors ed from these committees. Was minister, Amit Shah. In the previof power is the formation of it deliberate and why was the ous Modi Cabinet, Rajnath Singh various Cabinet Committees list revised within a few hours? was part of the crucial Political that advise the Prime Minister in These questions do not have anAffairs Committee and presided discharging his duties. swers now but it clearly signals over its crucial meetings when While the union home minister, a subtle tussle for consolidation the PM was absent. Amit Shah, was named in all eight of position at No. 2 behind the Knowledgeable sources said Cabinet Committees formed, Prime Minister. The answer will that the exclusion of Rajnath SinPrime Minister Narendra Modi be forthcoming in the coming gh from these crucial committees was named in 6/8, finance minisdays through actions and counter has irked both the defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in 7/8 and actions and the last words on this ter and the Rashtriya Swayamserailway minister Piyush Goyal matter has not been said at all. vak Sangh (RSS) functionaries and was included in 5/8 committees.

Lead Story

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

World Environment Day 2019: Beat Air Pollution

#BeatAirPollution shifts focus to respiratory ailments in Assam Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

ecently-celebrated World Environment Day has once again brought to focus the dismal air pollution levels and its effects in Assam. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 and this year’s theme was “Beat Air Pollution.” Assam has been recording high air pollution levels over the past months, which has also given rise to respiratory diseases which are becoming commonly reported by residents. This was evident when respiratory diseases became the most common disease which affected Guwahatians in 2018. As many as 75,475 cases related to acute respiratory infection were registered in Kamrup (Metro) from January to December 2018. This was revealed by data obtained by the directorate of health services, Kamrup (Metro) for the number of cases registered against different

Representative image diseases for 2018. Further, as per the National Health Profile 2018, Assam recorded a total of 22,834 cases and 225 deaths in 2017 as a result of acute respiratory infection. The numbers saw a rise in 2017 as compared to 2016.

All stakeholders need to work together: Activists

urnima Devi Barman, a city-based wildlife biologist said that all stakeholders have equal responsibility in protecting the environment and should work together to bring about positive change. “My special request to the authorities would be to check the pollution especially during Diwali. The way we burst so many crackers, it is the responsibility of not only the government and but also all citizens to contribute towards bettering the pollution levels,” Barman told G Plus. She added that people should also look at reducing plastic pollution as that, too, contributes towards air pollution. “We shouldn’t stop working towards reducing plastic waste thinking that it was the theme for the last year. We should, in

fact, continue to keep working towards minimising plastic pollution too. We should not play with the future of our next generation,” added Barman. Further, another environmental activist informed that vehicular pollution is one of the major causes of air pollution in the state. “All vehicles should mandatorily be checked for their pollution levels and people should be encouraged for car pooling and to minimize the usage of vehicles for shorter distances. The public should also be aware about the type of pollution they are creating, everything should be very transparent,” he said. He further added that authorities should also keep a strict check on emission levels of industries. n

The number of cases reported in 2016 were 20,667 while 200 deaths were recorded in Assam. According to experts, some of the major causes of acute respiratory diseases include exposure to polluted air, excessive exposure to smoke and

other toxic materials and poor immune system among others. Guwahati has seen an increase in the levels of air pollution over the past few years. According to latest data obtained by the Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA), the city’s

air pollution levels showed an increasing trend over October and November 2018. The average PM 2.5 level in the month of October in Guwahati was 53.36 while this increased sharply to 97.9 in November. PM 2.5 are fine particulate matters suspended in the air measuring two and a half microns or less in width. There are around 25,000 microns in an inch. Presence of high levels of PM 2.5 in the air reduces visibility and causes the air to appear hazy and can pose serious healthrelated risks among people including respiratory issues. The PCBA data showed that during November, the pollutants in the air - both PM 2.5 as well as PM 10 - were recorded to be much higher than the prescribed level. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the prescribed safe limit for PM 2.5 is 60 micrograms per cubic metre and for PM 10 it is 100 micrograms per cubic. However, the average PM 2.5 level as recorded for November was 97.9 while the average PM 10 level was 162.2. n

Guwahati celebrates World Environment Day with gusto

day-long programme was conducted in both the official and non-official sectors of Assam on Wednesday, June 5. Some events as part of this programme included cycle rallies, plantation programmes, awareness programmes and facilitating green heroes. Several colleges, schools and NGOs have also taken part in the celebrations by doing their own little bit by planting trees and creating awareness among people to be sensitive towards the environment. A cycle rally called, “Pedal against Pollution” was also held in the city to mark the occasion where over 120 cyclists took part. The rally started from Guwahati Commerce College, continued towards Noonmati and rode back to GCC again. The event was flagged was off by Chandrakanta Basumatary, brand ambassador of the forest department. Further, Abhishek Gogoi, Special Olympics medallist led the cycle rally. Apart from this, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal extended his

greetings on Twitter and wrote: This #WorldEnvironmentDay let

at the dumpsite. The plantation drive was carried

Children planting saplings on World Environment Day | G Plus photo us commit ourselves to #BeatAirPollution and strive to protect and preserve Mother Nature. Since 2016, Govt of Assam has planted 1,42,00,000 saplings across the state, reiterating our commitment towards a #PollutionFreeAssam. Further, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) organised a plantation drive at West Boragaon dumpsite on June 5 during which around 1000 saplings were planted

out in presence of GMC Commissioner Debeswar Malakar, Joint Commissioner Siddhartha Goswami, and Additional Commissioner Dwijen Singh among others. Additionally, state forest minister Parimal Shuklabaidya also took part in tree plantation programme in the state. On the occasion, several state ministers also planted saplings to mark the day.

In The News

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Confusion continues over ‘acid-like attack,’ police still clueless G Plus News @guwahatiplus

hough the Commissioner of Police Deepak Kumar had claimed that the substance used in a supposed “acid attack” on a woman in Fatasil Ambari area on 1st June was not acid by itself but a “gum-like substance,” the city police have failed to solve such cases in Guwahati. A source in Fatasil Ambari police station, talking to G Plus said, “The gum-like substance has been sent to the forensic department. After we receive the report it will be confirmed what exactly the substance is.” This statement begs the question that if the police are yet not aware what the substance was how could the city police chief claim that it was not acid? “Someone threw acid on me. But luckily that didn’t harm me much. A small part of my leg was burnt,” said the victim of the acidlike attack in Bhaskar Nagar under Fatasil Ambari police station.

Commissioner Deepak Kumar at his office | File photo Similar incidents are also being reported from other parts of the city and the police are still unaware about the whereabouts of the miscreants involved in such crimes. A student of Gauhati University faced a similar attack in the Sonapur area under Guwahati Police

Commissionerate. The student, talking to G Plus said, “I was coming out from a bank in Sonapur Bazar after withdrawing Rs 60,000. Around three people followed me and suddenly something started burning on my back.” The girl felt that someone had thrown something on her back. She started

screaming and as people gathered the miscreants fled from the spot. The girl was taken to a doctor who said that it was some harmful chemical which was used to attack the girl. It needs to be mentioned that since many years now the Irani gang members have been operating in Guwahati. The gang goes to the extent of throwing human excreta on the clothes of people coming out from banks. In the diversion of the victim trying to clean up, the gang snatches the money or other belongings and flee from the spot. These groups don’t belong here. They come from places like Cooch Behar, Bihar and Silguri, carry out their crime and flee the city. Last year G Plus had reported that around 35 members of the Irani gang had entered Assam and their main target was Guwahati.

The officer-in-charge of Fatasil Ambari police station expressed that the acid-like attack on the lady at Bhaskar Nagar does not look like it was carried out by the Irani gang as her mobile phone and other belongings were not snatched but the police are also exploring the Irani gang angle and investigating accordingly. The local police have picked up four persons and are now investigating all angles. Commissioner of Police, Deepak Kumar, said that till now they do not have any idea about what exactly the substance is and who the miscreants are but a thorough investigation is ongoing which will soon solve the issue. But so far, the police have not been able to solve the case. The crime chart also reveals that the law and order situation is deteriorating in Guwahati. Over 17,000 cases were registered in the city in 2018 and the number is only increasing from previous years. n

News Report on Page No. 8

4 In The News

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Illegal drugs flood Guwahati markets Nehal Jain @NehalJain96

he business of drugs has seen a rapid escalation in Guwahati in the past few years. A wide range of drugs including ganja, heroin, opium, party drugs and psychotropic substances have flooded the Guwahati market. Drug addicts and peddlers have found multiple ways to continue their business rampantly right under the nose of authorities in spite of the efforts put up to curb this addiction that is slowly destroying nations. In 2016, Assam Police had recorded the highest number of cases under the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act over the last decade. It showed a

threefold rise in cases from 121 registered in 2006 to 382 cases registered in 2016. In the last four years (20152018), a total of 1,410 cases have been registered with the Assam police under the NDPS Act. Interestingly, the number of cases registered in 2018 was 2.5 times the number of cases registered in 2015. In 2018 alone, as many as 455 cases under NDPS Act were registered with the Assam police. However, a senior police official told G Plus that the actual cases occurring in the state is much more than those registered. “The business of drugs is sustaining because of the demand-supply forces. Since Assam lies in the centre of the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent, it’s very difficult to cut down on the supply. The Assam

Cases registered under NDPS Act in Assam

People arrested in connection with NDPS cases

Year

Number of cases

Year

Number of arrests

2015

206

2015

328

2016

382

2016

586

2017

367

2017

559

2018

455

2018

690

police is thus focusing on cutting down the demand among citizens by means of generating awareness and providing counseling,” informed a senior official in the Assam police. It must be noted that over 90% of the world’s drugs

are produced in the Golden Triangle (the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet) and Golden Crescent (the area overlapping Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan). With a wide variety of narcotic substances available

in the city, Guwahati has emerged as the transit point for many gangs and cartels. The city’s location makes it vulnerable to receiving and forwarding drugs from and to different destinations including the mainland and neighboring countries n

Assam police strengthens drive against drug peddlers

expressed LR Bishnoi, Additional Director General of Police, CID. He informed G Plus that the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and drugs in the state is happening across all age profiles, irrespective of class, colour, caste or religion. However, in most cases, the accused is 20-45 years old. Further, consumption of such substances is happening across all geographical locations of the state – be it urban or rural areas. Thus, the CID has been organizing its drives for people from all walks of life, including students, government employees and lawyers. Recent seizure of contraband in Guwahati Further, the police have also intensified its drive against drug stance abusers and drug pedpeddlers and distributors of psydlers had been arrested in Guchotropic substances operating wahati. The police authorities in the city. are on high alert to dig out the In reference to the 1,410 cases scavengers who are running the registered in the state from Jandrug empire to cut down on drug uary 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018, usage and free the youth from the police arrested 2,163 drug their grasp. peddlers/consumers and addicts With the aim to spread awarein those four years. Police arness concerning the effects of rested 328 people in 2015, 586 in substance abuse, the police along 2016, 559 in 2017 and 690 in 2018 with CID have been carrying out from across the state. various drives in the city. The In what can be termed as one Assam Police, through the meof the biggest crackdown on dium of its social media pages, drugs, the Crime Investigation have been regularly generating Department (CID) of the Assam awareness about various crimes. Police seized over 2.60 lakh psyThe Assam CID, too, has been chotropic tablets and 4,700 botorganizing awareness programs tles of cough syrup, valued at Rs across the city. The most recent 19.40 lakhs, from an unauthorprogram was held at a branch of ized godown in the Hojai district Canara Bank on June 4, Tuesday. and arrested the owner of the “Drugs can grip anyone irrestorage. spective of their background,” n

rug usage in Assam, particularly in Guwahati, has seen a drastic increase over the years. With the number of cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 increasing year after year, so is the Assam police’s performance in nabbing the culprits. By April 2019, over 150 sub-

Heroin seized in Assam

Ganja seized in Assam

Year

Quantity of Heroine seized

Year

Quantity of ganja seized

2015

1.3 kg

2015

3233 kg

2016

10 kg

2016

4366 kg

2017

6 kg

2017

7125 kg

2018

7.1 kg

2018

10400 kg

Opium seized in Assam

Psychotropic substances seized in Assam

Year

Quantity of opium seized

Year

Quantity of psychotropic substances seized

2015

25 kg

2015

1.95 lakhs

2016

75 kg

2016

1.63 lakhs

2017

30 kg

2017

1.68 lakhs

2018

9 kg

2018

30.9 lakhs

Morphine seized in Assam

Cough syrup seized in Assam

Year

Quantity of morphine seized

Year

Quantity of cough syrup seized (in bottles)

2015

1.5 kg

2015

96700

2016

2.9 kg

2016

2.22 lakhs

2017

4.6 kg

2017

1.48 lakhs

2018

3 kg

2018

1.30 lakhs

Concern

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Unavailability of generic medicines raises concern Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

he absence of easily accessible generic medicines in Guwahati is providing private drug store owners a free hand in exploiting customers, allege doctors and patients. They have claimed that there are very few centres where they

are readily available. With only a few outlets in the city providing these medicines; patients, especially those who belong to the underprivileged backgrounds, face a tough time in purchasing expensive medicines in the absence of their relatively cheaper alternative generic variants. While doctors working in government-run hospitals say they are bound to prescribe

generic medicines, they say they also provide an alternative name of a branded drug for the ease of patients. “In the government sector, we have to prescribe the generic medicines to the patients. But they are not always easily available in the open market,” informed Dr Tanma Saikia Das, a city-based gynaecologist in a government hospital. Generic medicines are

medications which are created on the lines of an already existing marketed and branded drug. It is also similar to the brand name drug in terms of composition, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. A generic drug works in the same manner and has similar clinical benefits as that of its branded version medicine. However, generic drugs are substantially cheaper when compared to their

branded counterparts. However, experts maintain that contrary to popular belief, generic medicines are not of poorer quality which is usually believed since they cost less. As per state government directives, the pharmacies can sell medicines from different brands but they have to stock generic medicines as well. n

Business-driven agenda of pharmacists

r Tanma Saikia Das told G Plus that since generic medicines are available at a very few places in the city, apart from prescribing the name of generic medicines, the doctors usually also have to write the name of an alternative branded medicine. Thus, the patients belonging to underprivileged sections of society are not able to avail the benefits of the generic medicines. “A majority of the other pharmacies, apart from the ones managed by the government, do not stock these medicines. If the generic medicines are not available at the government pharmacy or at the hospital’s pharmacy, the patients have no option but to go to the private medicine outlets outside,” Das told G Plus. Doctors say that once the patients approach any private pharmacy, then it is the discretion of the pharmacist as to which brand the pharmacist

“In the government sector, we have to prescribe the generic medicines to the patients. But they are not always easily available in the open market,” Dr Tanma Saikia Das. wants to sell. “The pharmacists are the ones making a business out of it so they will suggest a drug in which they have the maximum cut, rather than the maximum benefit for patients. The concept of generic medicines is a very good idea but it’s not being properly implemented,” informed another city-based doctor. Further, he added that it is not

the discretion of the pharmacist to change the drug. “If a particular medicine is not available, they should inform the patients that it is not available with them. But they often suggest drugs of similar composition to the patients, and then the onus is on the patient. The pharmacists are often in an agreement with big pharmaceutical companies from where they get a cut on sale of their brand’s medicines.” Doctors say that sometimes the private pharmacists would only inform the patients of a few alternatives of different brands which are expensive, in order to make more money. At present, generic medicines are available only at the pharmacy at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) and a few AMRIT pharmacies and medicines shops managed by National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) stores. The state got its first AMRIT

AMRIT retail outlets, which sell (Affordable Medicines and Redrugs at highly discounted rates, liable Implants for Treatment) have a very comprehensive list pharmacy in Guwahati in Sepof medicines that are available tember 2016 at the Gauhati Medacross range of products.” ical College & Hospital (GMCH). Assam was the first state to More outlets were then inaugurated in other five medical colleges including Dibrugarh, Silchar, Barpeta, Tezpur and Jorhat in January, 2017. At the time of the first inauguration at GMCH, health & family welfare minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “In continCustomers at a city pharmacy buying prescription drugs uing with our commitment to bring in introduce AMRIT pharmacies in the best healthcare facilities and the entire northeast region. For access to affordable treatments this, the state government had and medicines for the people, we signed an MoU with HLL Lifeshall be launching five Affordacare Limited to provide essential ble Medicines & Reliable Imdrugs at 50 to 70 percent displants for Treatment or AMRIT count to the people. pharmacies across the state. The n

6 Concern

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

With 44:1000, Assam second highest in infant mortality rate among Indian states Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

s per a recently published report by the Sample Registration Survey (SRS), the infant mortality rate (IMR) in Assam was the second worst in

the country at 44 deaths in 2017. Among the poorest performing states, Assam was second only to Madhya Pradesh where the infant mortality rate is 47- the highest in the country. The IMR in rural areas in Assam is 46 while it is 21 in urban areas. On the other hand, the lowest

infant mortality rates were recorded in Kerala and Tamil Nadu with 10 and 16 infant deaths respectively. Among the smaller states, Nagaland and Goa had the lowest IMR with 7 and 9 deaths respectively. Infant mortality rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births in a given time period

and it is an important indicator of the overall health scenario of a region or community. The SRS report revealed that Assam’s IMR is much higher than the national average which stood at 33 for 2017. The state’s IMR stood at 44 in 2016 too and it remained steady in 2017. Further, the infant mortality

rate was 47 in 2015. Further, at the national level, India has seen a consistent decline in the infant mortality rate in the past ten years. The IMR reduced from 53 in 2008 to 33 in 2017. However, India is still lagging behind its neighbours including Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. n

to be identified and treated at an initial level,” he mentioned. Joint direct of health services for Kamrup (Metro) district, Ganesh Saikia, said that at the district level, the data was only published and available till 2013. He said that for Kamrup (Metro), the IMR stood at 39 deaths. Speaking about the initiatives he informed that there are many programmes which are currently operational that have been initiated from the centre as well as the state government. “We are currently implementing the governmentsponsored schemes and the IMR has reduced over the years, it means that the programmes are working,” he said. Dwelling on the reasons behind the high incidences of child and maternal deaths in Assam, Saikia said that the pattern of population is

different in Assam than other states. He further informed that the population residing in the tea garden areas is the worst affected. “The maternal and infant deaths are highest in tea garden areas. Now the state government has initiated schemes in the tea gardens to specifically target that population. For tea gardens, mobile medical units have been given in parts of upper Assam,” he mentioned. Saikia further added that under a special scheme called wage compensation for pregnant women in tea gardens, Rs 5,000 is being given to the pregnant women of tea garden areas while Rs 6,000 is given to labourers who are pregnant and working in tea gardens. This scheme was launched by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal in October 2018. n

Experts speak: Experts blame poor antenatal care, lack of awareness about contraception, poor spacing between pregnancies and diarrhoea among infants as some of the major reasons behind the state’s poor maternal and child health indicators. “Our peripheral healthcare system is not good enough and needs to be strengthened. The patients should be getting good healthcare services near their homes, but instead they keep getting referred to different places when they visit a healthcare facility near their homes,” informed Dr Tanma Saikia Das, a city-based gynaecologist at a government hospital. She added that unless the peripheral healthcare roots are strong, it will be difficult to reduce the infant mortality rates. “Unless the primary health

Representative image centres (PHCs), first referral units (FRUs) in the state, do not work to their full potential, the rates cannot come down,” Das told G Plus. Another city-based doctor informed that many doctors

are reluctant to stay and work in far-flung areas. “Till the expecting woman doesn’t receive proper care within those nine months, then it becomes a problem. The problems with her health need

Maternal deaths: a cause of concern

part from high infant deaths, the maternal deaths in the state, too, stand high. The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Assam is 300 against the national average of 167 as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) IV. MMR is the number of female deaths per 1 lakh live births in a year from any cause related to pregnancy or its management. Commenting on the reasons behind high maternal mortality rates, Dr Tanma Saikia Das,

a city-based gynaecologist, said that poor ante-natal care, immigrant population who stay in Char areas and are reluctant to go to health centres are the main reasons. “A number of complications can be avoided if only the mothers deliver in a hospital with skilled staff. Even during home deliveries, we are focussing on skilled birth attendants. Also after delivery, essential newborn care plays a vital role,” informed an official at the National Health Mission

(NHM). He added that special newborn care units (SNCUs) in all district hospitals and medical colleges are playing a major role in improving newborn care. These are meant to provide intensive care to newborn babies. In addition to SNCUs, paediatric intensive care units have also been established in different medical colleges of the state, said officials. Authorities say that a major challenge faced by them in bringing down the mortality

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rates has been overcoming the geographical barriers to make health services accessible in remote areas. “It becomes difficult for the ambulances to reach a few places due to the hilly terrain and poor condition of roads. In such cases making the services

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Representative image available to people become an issue,” informed a senior health official. n

City

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Virtual standstill of real estate development in Guwahati Harshita Himatsingka @HHimatsingka

he real estate sector in Guwahati is not developing and builders are struggling to stay

afloat. While at one point in time this sector contributed significantly to state budget and earnings because of prescribed taxes, now it is lacking. Even though some areas of the city are attracting major value, the overall development in this

city has stalled. “Everything starts with real estate. This sector is such that it is important for all other sectors and is at the core of development. However, the growth in this sector has been stunted. We had a lot of interest for

different projects, hospitals, educational buildings, residential projects, but nothing has materialized,” said PK Sarma, president of AREIDA (Assam Real Estate and Infrastructure Developers’ Association). The trend in the real

estate business is somewhat skewered nowadays. All over the city, there are at least a thousand vacant houses and plots that have either not been occupied by real tenants or are lying vacant because they would not sell at current rates.

Demand-supply gap hits builders hard “There is a major gap in the demand and supply aspect in this sector, according to the top builders in this city. The supply is much higher than demand which causes a huge impact in its market rates. Since real estate prices in Guwahati are not appreciating like other bigger metros, whatever appreciation in terms of prices occur, it does not match the increased cost of production,” said Bichitra Sharma, a builder.

This gap in demand and supply occurred because approximately five years ago, the market was booming and it was a good opportunity to invest, build and buy in the real estate sector. However, given the current market status, there has been a surplus because no survey or research was conducted on potential market variables. In Guwahati, most builders never buy land. The landowners offer them land

either on a condition basis or by purchasing it. Thus, landowners should be aware of market trends as the price of a particular property that is high now may not hold the same significance in a few years. This is one of the main reasons that causes a surplus and shift market dynamics causing supply to be higher, said Ranel Kumar Das, a construction consultant. n

Construction activity in the city has come to a virtual standstill | G Plus photo

Guwahatians yet to choose real estate as investment

he size of the real estate sector in Guwahati is also comparatively smaller when compared to other cities in India. People here view buying real estate as needbased and less as an investment because of many factors. One such factor is that Guwahati is still a developing city and does not have a very esteemed corporate sector that facilitates indulgences such as high income or high standards of living. This limits people on their spending and investment abilities, as compared to other budding real estate sectors in India. The average price point for a middle class household to buy an apartment is around Rs 40-45 lakhs. Also, only 10 to 20 percent of the local population is willing or looking to invest in real estate seriously.

Another reason that halts the growth of investment in this sectoe is the lack of initiative and action from the regulatory board’s side, according to PK Sarma. Even though the government of India has come up with certain guidelines that promote the growth of infrastructure and real estate in India, the regulatory board here has not moved in tandem with other states. The last revised version of bylaws came in 2014. This section has 28 mistakes which have still not been corrected. As a result of this, Guwahati and its markets are suffering in the big picture as it has not been able to live up to its potential and attract the kind of investors it could. The cost of production and labour has also become exorbitant; thus people do not want to invest

as it becomes a big risk, both for the builder and the investor. Utpal Das, a builder from Guwahati city, explained that the stalling of the real estate sector is not only about buyers and sellers. It includes all aspects of society. The livelihood of a lot of other professionals such as carpenters, plumbers, electricians and many more have been brought to a stop because of the collapsing nature of the real estate industry. The economy also gets affected as the tax volumes decrease and everyone is then stuck in a vicious cycle. “The cost of materials has escalated by 100 percent and because of this, sellers are losing most of their profits,” said Bichitra Sharma. Also, the market cost of construction is now approximately

Too many options for buyers However, looking on the bright side, present day Guwahati is a buyer’s dream in terms of real estate inside the city. The buyer has the advantage since supply is high. They also get to choose and make most of the decisions. Areas

like Uzan Bazar and Rehabari are prime spots and sell quickly for high rates. The Survey area between Beltola and Dispur has also become a residential hub. Other areas like Chandmari and Zoo Road are also in demand by

local residents. As PK Sarma of AREIDA said, “Urban land is the scarcest thing in Guwahati and where there is land, there is development.”

Rs 1,600/square feet but a sufficiently well-done apartment gets sold at approximately Rs 3500 /square feet (depending on the area) which includes the land cost and the promoter’s profit margin. Before GST, things were different too. Tax rates have increased from four percent GST to 12 percent GST now. The cost of any completed projects is much higher than any ongoing projects. What the real estate market in Guwahati needs is a Project Management Group (PMG) that can oversee not just the construction, but also other factors such as economic feasibility, market rates in current and future scenarios as well as investment opportunities so that the real estate sector can grow and develop, explained Ranel Kumar Das.

Snippets RBI observes Financial Literacy Week in Guwahati

eserve Bank of India (RBI) observed Financial Literacy Week from June 3 to June 7 in Guwahati. The week is observed every year to promote awareness on key topics through a focussed campaign. This year’s theme of the Financial Literacy Week focuses on “Farmers” and how they benefit by being a part of the formal banking system. Inaugurating the week on June 3, RBI North Eastern Region regional director, Manoranjan Dash, said that growth in agriculture is necessary for the overall economic growth and finance is an essential enabler for the same and that RBI is actively involved in formulating policies that enhance the flow of credit to the farming community. During the Financial Literacy Week 2019, RBI disseminated messages on a number of topics such as responsible borrowing, benefits of repaying loans on time, improving credit score, simplified mode of availing Agricultural Finance such as Kisan Credit Cards (KCC), among others.

8 Crime

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Woman attacked with acid-like substance in Guwahati Nehal Jain @NehalJain96

n a recent incident, a woman from Guwahati was attacked by some miscreants in Fatasil Ambari area of the city with an acid-like substance. Because of the attack, a part of her leg got burnt. In a Facebook post, the victim narrated the incident and explained how she got caught in an acid attack. She has also cautioned all girls and women to

be careful while walking on the streets. “Yesterday an incident took place that literally shocked me. Someone threw acid on me. But luckily that didn’t harm me much. But a small part of my leg was burnt so to the girls out there please stay alert. When you are walking by the road keep an eye on others. And moreover, I am shocked because I have no enemies. I never thought this would happen to me. Concentrate more on others rather than mobile phones - be alert and stay safe,”

she wrote. Speaking to G Plus about the incident, Commissioner of Police, Deepak Kumar said, “Upon medical examination, it was found that the substance thrown on the woman wasn’t acid. Instead, it was a gum type substance that sticks to the skin and harms it.” The 25-year-old victim works as a teacher in the city. She encountered the incident at around 8 PM on June 1, Saturday. However, no case had been registered in this regard till the time of filing of this report.

The Guwahati city commissioner further added that this incident raises concerns that miscreants might be using such

attacks to target the citizens and loot them. It might as well have been a case of personal rivalry with the victim, he added. n

Fact check on the incident: Fake news or otherwise? Ever since the victim posted on social media about being attacked with acid, a panic has been created amongst the residents of Guwahati. Though it was initially suspected to be acid attack as claimed by the victim, police investigation has revealed it to be gum like substance. Guwahati city police has also taken to social media platform, Facebook, to inform the citizens of the fake news being spread. “Certain elements are trying to spread Rumours about Acid Attack in Guwahati. The same is

untrue and we request citizens not to believe and spread such Rumours and Fake news,” reads the post by Guwahati police. Hundreds of young boys and girls have been sharing the Facebook status posted by the victim. People have also been posting on social media about multiple cases of acid attacks happening in the city, without any confirmation from the police. After the incident, a Guwahati girl had posted on social media that the officer-in-charge of

Paltan Bazar police station had told her that 13 cases have been registered creating more panic amongst the residents of the city. The post was widely circulated across various social media platforms. However, when asked, Dharani Barman, the officer-in-charge of Paltan Bazar police station informed G Plus that he never gave out any such information and termed it as “fake news.” Similarly, Commissioner of Police Deepak Kumar told G Plus, “No case of acid attack

Damages to the skin (L) and clothes (R) of the victim or other such attack has been reported in the city in recent times. So people need to stop

believing in read online.”

everything

they n

GU students stage protest, blame lack of security for molestation of student

victim filed an FIR at Jalukbari Police Station. The students alleged that neither the police provide proper security in the area, nor are the guards strict enough. “We, the students of Gauhati University, have urged the officials at Jalukbari police station to start regular patrolling inside the campus several times in the past but they only visit the campus once or twice a week,” informed Nayan Jyoti Gogoi, the general

he students of Gauhati University (GU) staged a protest in front of the university main gate on June 7, Friday. The protest was against the lack of security at the university which has been leading to crimes in and around the campus. On June 5, a law student of Gauhati University was allegedly molested inside the campus premises at around 7 PM. Following the incident, the

secretary of Gauhati University. He added that the university officials are also to be blamed. “Anyone can enter the campus at any time. Residents of the area take the university road to commute in order to avoid the longer route. When a vehicle enters the campus, the guards only ask the name of the driver and let them by,” alleged Gogoi. No security would be better than the present security, he said. n

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

T-Storms

AM T-Storms

Partly Cloudy

T-Storms

31°25° C

33°26° C

32°26° C

31°25°C

SATURDAY T-Storms

32°25°C

In The News

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

GHC orders release of ex-army officer Mohammad Sanaullah

he Gauhati High Court on Friday, June 6, ordered the release of ex-army officer Mohammad Sanaullah who was sent to a detention camp after a Foreigners’ Tribunal adjudged him as a non-citizen.

thirty years and was then declared a “foreigner”, at moments like this proud to be a lawyer, proud of our courts.” A retired subedar, Mohammed Sanaullah, was arrested by Assam Police on May 29 on the suspicion of being

As per reports, notices have been issued to central government, Assam government, State Coordinator NRC Assam and others. Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh had appeared for Sanaullah before the Gauhati High Court. She tweeted post the judgement: “Fantastic news Courts to the rescue of Army veteran who served India for

a foreigner. Sanaullah and his entire family were declared foreigners by the Foreigners’ Tribunal, following which a team of North Guwahati police arrested him. Sanaullah served the Indian Army for 30 years. He had also received the President’s Medal in 2014. Later, Sanaullah joined the Border Police in 2018. Sanaullah hails from Kolohi village in Chaygaon

Prime accused gets life sentence in twin train murder-rape case

session court in Tinsukia, on June 7, has awarded life imprisonment to Bikash Das, the prime accused in a twin train murderrape case that took place in 2018. Das was convicted of rape and murder of a student and a 62year old woman. In 2018, a student of Assam Agriculture University was reportedly found raped and murdered in a train at

Simaluguri railway station in Sivasagar district and within 24 hours of the incident, the body of a 62-year-old woman was recovered from the toilet of Avadh-Assam Express at Mariani Junction in Jorhat. Bikash Das used to run a teastall near Tinsukia Railway Station and was arrested on the basis of CCTV footage captured at Tinsukia Railway Station. He later accepted the charges levelled against him.

Monishwaran wins Wai Wai Glocal Teen Hero India 2019

onishwaran Maheswaran won the title of Wai Wai Glocal Teen Hero India 2019 on June 5. The ceremony was held at Hotel Vivanta by Taj on June 5 and was attended by 250+ personalities of Guwahati from different walks of life, such as diplomats, politicians, entrepreneurs, educators, youth leaders and many more. Maheswaran is a young

innovator and a high school student interested in mathematics and computer science. Initially he was classified as a child prodigy and also excelled in several Olympiads. He went to Harvard University to work under mathematics Professor Oliver Knill. He has also worked on a system using machine learning to help visually impaired people to navigate their surroundings.

He is a TEDx speaker and has given a Masterclass/Guest lecture on Quantum Computing. In addition, he also established a non-profit organisation called “Do it for Knowledge,” that “facilitates in donating books to underprivileged kids” and an initiative called “Run for cancer” that focuses on the life of children suffering from cancer. Maheswaran was selected from among top 6 finalists in the competition.

10 In Conversation

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

“No mercy for those who do not follow food safety rules,” Pijush Hazarika Editor of G Plus, Swapnil Bharali, caught up with MoS (Independent), Urban Development and MoS, Health & Family Welfare, Pijush Hazarika at his office in the Assam Secretariat. Here are the excerpts from the conversation. The video version is available on the YouTube Channel of G Plus. I will come straight to the point where politics is concerned. The Nowgong Lok Sabha defeat for BJP: Party insiders’ perception is that you failed somewhere in taking BJP to victory there with your strongholds in Raha, Jagiroad and other adjoining areas. See, the defeat in Nowgong Lok Sabha seat is a personal setback for me. I won’t deny it and I should not lie about it. But, we have to look into the demographic situation of Nowgong. Most of the people might not be aware of the situation. In Nowgong, BJP candidate Rupak Sharma received almost 7,25,000 votes (in the LS elections 2019) and lost by a thin margin of 16,000 votes. In 2014, BJP MP Rajen Gohain got 4,95,000 votes, but this time we received around 7,25,000 votes, which means BJP’s vote share has increased by around 2,30,000. But, unfortunately, we lost by 16,000 votes this time even after getting more votes than the 2014 tally. I can say it for sure that 80%-82% of the indigenous people have voted for BJP in Nowgong. I don’t want to say some things out in the open, but I will have to say that despite receiving votes from indigenous people, we suffered a defeat in Nowgong. Could this defeat mean anything to your political career? Not at all. First of all, I did not lose in the election. I was not a candidate. In 2016, I won from Jagiroad assembly constituency by 28,000 votes and this time BJP witnessed a lead of around 29,000 votes in my constituency. Last time, when I won, there was AIUDF, which received 7,500 votes in my constituency. But, this time, everybody knows that AIUDF’s votes got switched to Congress. Even after that we received 29,000 more votes than the 2016 count. In Lahorighat, we received almost 42,000 votes this time, which has never happened before. Pallab Lochan Das of Rangapara constituency and Topon Kumar Gogoi of Sonari constituency have resigned as MLAs having become MPs. Who are expected to win these seats in the imminent bypolls? I don’t think Congress has a chance. This time, Topon Gogoi took a lead of 33,000 votes

in Sonari constituency. The government of Assam under the leadership of Sarbananda Sonowal has done a lot for the

the flash flood here in Guwahati. He was having frequent telephonic conversations with MGVK Bhanu, the then principal

You made headlines with hygiene checks in restaurants. Also quality control of food stuff and fruits available in the open

Minister Pijush Hazarika (L) in conversation with Swapnil Bharali | G Plus photo tea tribe community. We can see it politically. I don’t think voters in upper Assam will make any mistakes in the upcoming by-polls. There is no second thought that BJP will win in the by-polls. As MoS, you are working directly with the Health Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma (HBS). What has been the experience like so far? I have been politically involved with HBS since 1998. Everybody knows, he is my political guru, guardian and mentor. He is the all-in-all for my career. Apart from political relations, I share a very good personal rapport with him. He is like my elder brother to me. So, I feel very fortunate that about my chance to be with him to learn things, political or departmental, from him. He is so active that he does not waste a moment even when he is travelling from one place to another. I will tell you an incident from the past. That day we were in Karbi Anglong for the autonomous council election. We were travelling from Howraghat to Kaziranga for an election meeting. It was raining cats and dogs. HBS, who was then the GDD minister, was directing his officials over phone to control

secretary of GDD and now a Congress leader, and other officials to tackle the flood situation in Guwahati. I have not seen that kind of commitment for work from anyone. Today morning (June 6), I went to Shillong for a North Eastern Council (NEC) meeting and then I came to office. We have learned this from HBS. If he can work hard, why can’t we? People were hoping that HBS would be nominated for the Tezpur Lok Sabha seat. But, it did not materialise. What exactly happened? Yes, I also thought that HBS would get the ticket for the Tezpur seat. He would represent Assam in the lower house and bring the existence of the northeast in a stronger way at the national level. I was with HBS in Delhi when he was denied the ticket. I know the entire thing, but cannot disclose it all now. But, I am quite happy that the Prime Minister has given so much importance to a minister from Assam. You all have seen the tweet posted by Amit Shah who said that we did not give the ticket to HBS for certain reasons, but we have faith in him. I have not seen such a gesture in my 20 year long political career.

market. Where basically did you find the lapses? Are the food inspectors not doing their job well? Some traders with unscrupulous intentions are involved in this matter. I still monitor the drives carried out against such traders. I might not go out to the field daily, but direct my officials to continuously supervise the hygiene and quality and food quality. I still receive a lot of text and WatsApp messages regarding the bad quality of food being served at restaurants. Whenever I get such messages, I always try to respond to them by sending a team of officials to that particular restaurant. But, I feel sad at the condition of the kitchens in some of the renowned restaurants and sweet shops in Guwahati. They are awful. They can easily employ two more people to keep their kitchens clean. But, just to save some money they do not employ those two people. This is very sad. Everyone has to follow food safety rules. I will not spare anyone, including my friends and family members, if they do not conform to the rules. There are a lot of fruits being

sold in the market which are chemically treated. What can be done about this? There are number of issues. You have to catch such activities red-handed. Sometimes, we get illegal chemicals like carbide along with bananas or mangoes. But, it’s difficult to prove on the spot that those fruits were treated or ripened chemically. We have to send them to the laboratory to prove that. Most of the time, we are not able to catch the people involved in such activities. By the time we reach the spot or the godown where such bananas or mangoes are kept, the people involved in the activity just vanish. Even the owner of the godown does not know the name or address of his/her tenant. But, we are continuing our drive against these elements. I keep talking to the concerned officials every two days to continue such drives. Now, some things hurt me personally. For example, I heard an allegation made against me by the owner of an established restaurant chain in Guwahati. That lady specifically mentioned my name that Pijush Hazarika had done this just to make some money. I am not from a well-to-do family, but I will not get involved in blackmailing to make just Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000. I have passed that phase. When I ordered an investigation against the fish traders in Guwahati, it was a direction from my (department’s) cabinet minister, HBS. Do you believe that HBS will ask me to collect money from the fish traders? Let’s have a quick short rapid fire before we wind up. Which is more important to you, constituency or ministerial responsibility? Ministerial responsibility is not an ornamental position. I have to work for the people, for Assam, both of which include Jagiroad. Health & Family Welfare department first or Urban Development Department (UDD) first? I will repeat my answer here. Both are equally important to me. BJP first or Himanta Biswa Sarma first? For me, Himanta Biswa Sarma comes first. n

Guest Column

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Business in your pocket

n this second part, the author, in his quirky style, talks about why doing business in Guwahati is different from the larger metros and how smartphones have greater usage value for business than is generally perceived here. One of the striking differences between living in a metropolis like Delhi or Mumbai and Guwahati is the presence or absence of smartphones. In a metropolis, even a common labourer will invest in a smartphone, while on average, a person from the northeast will not have a smartphone. Even more interesting is the fact that a majority of people who carry smartphones barely use it for more than calls or messages. An Apple XS is a status symbol rather than a formidable piece of machined technology, for Assam is barely in the 1990’s while the rest of India is in 2019. The digital market is a hard sell in the land of “Lahe Lahe.” But getting back to the topic at hand, business and entrepreneurship have changed definition over time. Risk factors have changed as much as valuation systems and achievement ends. India is no longer a call sign, but is more a call to arms today. It has outstripped economic expectations with its massive and surging growth model and yet, we are still a land of family run enterprises. From the local kirana store to quite a large section of the major Indian brands, India is still the land of family enterprises. Most of them were started by some hardy soul with hardly any formal education or structured learning but with the ability or bravado to take a risk (hopefully a calculated one). Coming back to the present, the generation we live in is as much opposed to risk as our forefathers. Education, the

A smartphone is not for showing off but for use. Most of us don’t even bother going beyond basic WhatsApp, calls and Google. When was the last time you checked the Playstore (Android) or App Store (IOS) for an application which can help you save time and effort? mantra Indian parents mutter whether awake or asleep, has become expensive. It’s a simple equation – the cost of education = stability of assured income. To take a risk and build a business or become an entrepreneur, on such a balance is not foolhardy on the face of it, but suicidal for most families - even well-off or upper middleclasses. And Indians still don’t decide for themselves usually; it’s a family decision where the votes have it for the reliable pay cheque every month with no contest. And hence, there’s a very distinct division of “business families” and “service families.” And it’s a very hard transition from one to the other. We cannot all be businessmen, that much is brutal reality. But, for many who wish to consider the entrepreneurial side, many factors must be considered. The “India” of 2019 lives in the mainstream metropolises while the rest of “Bharat” plods on. What works in Delhi will/might not work in Guwahati or Itanagar and so on. Business viability is the key and building access to

markets is basic common sense. Businesses flourish because of viability, need and delivery. For a small business owner in Delhi or Mumbai, be it production or service-oriented, the entire ecosystem exists within their reach – from raw materials to end-line customers. Everything is within city limits. Not so for us, in the northeast. Everything is far away and not available usually. Even if we have goods/services to offer, we have no markets for everything. Even for goods/ services which have markets, we have ceilings and issues of scale. The unit economics are sustainable for one dimension, falter at the next and growth stutters to a stop. In short, “Dhanda” needs “Grahok”… An important linkage which needs highlighting for “Bharat” or even our hinterlands of Assam and the sister states is the advantage we all seem to carry in our pockets today. As stated earlier, we are a community which is rather slow. We use mobile phones as status symbols rather than facilitators for commercial usage. Consider the chart (though the

GUEST COLUMN

data is a bit old) – we lag behind in tele-density and through it access to the very same markets which every entrepreneur needs so desperately. A smartphone is not for showing off but for use. Most of us don’t even bother going beyond basic WhatsApp, calls and Google. When was the last time you checked the Playstore (Android) or App Store (IOS) for an application which can help you save time and effort? Is your business listed on Google? Have you tried using AdSense? Did you know most platforms are free? Have you ever tried attending a

would entail fuel cost, effort and time. Should I continue doing that? I can transfer money online, validate and maintain records on my phone, without leaving my office and save money, effort and time. Or am I being lazy?

single online tutorial (also free)? My father would deposit cheques by hand at his local branch, issue receipts by hand and pay salaries in cash and this

(Any queries may be sent to info@g-plus.in which will be forwarded to the author; he will respond to the same in a new column starting soon) n

Debashish Goswami

Dispur College paints a sorry picture of poor infrastructure Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

ispur College, which is located at the heart of the city, is plagued by several problems for the students in terms of infrastructural facilities. The construction of a new building within the college campus is adding to students’ woes as the debris lies scattered in the college campus which is located at Ganeshguri. The students have complained that the construction of the new building has been ongoing since last year and its construction has remained stalled for a long time now. They added that the

Dispur College. He added that the students have even complained to the authorities regarding the poor toilet conditions, but to no avail. Additionally, a few students also complained of water supply being an issue which Photos show the pathetic condition of the girls’ common room (L) and bathroom (R) | G Plus photo especially poses a challenge during the summer months. a bad shape with strong stench construction materials like iron Another student, who passed emanating from the washrooms. rods, pieces of wood, and other out from the college a year ago, “The condition of the toilets construction items lie strewn told G Plus that the girls’ common is the worst. They sometimes around the campus, much to the lack water supply and the flushes annoyance of the students. room is in a pathetic state. remain broken too,” informed Further, the students say that “The girls’ common room lies in Hrishikesh Aditya, a student of the toilets in the college are in a sorry state and it is located right

next to a toilet so it gets really smelly. The authorities should take some concrete initiatives to better the overall infrastructural problems of the college,” she informed. The commerce department building of the college remains another area of concern for the students. It is constructed on the other side of the college premises and the students need to climb several flights of stairs to reach the commerce building. In between, due to the ongoing construction the debris from the construction again lies strewn on the sides of the stairs. On the other hand, the lack of hostel facility for students also creates a problem for outstation students, informed sources. n

12 In The News

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Rise in complaints against APDCL by the residents of Guwahati Antarixa Bhardwaj

ven after the introduction of several new age technologies like online payment of bills by Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), the consumers in Guwahati are still facing issues while paying their electricity bills. The consumers have also been charged inappropriate or absurd amounts in their bills against their electricity use. One disgruntled consumer, Vinay Chamaria, said that he had received a bill of Rs 19,801 for the month of May this year from APDCL, as opposed to the bills he usually receive. The exorbitantly high amount was charged for Chamaria’s commercial establishment in Kharguli. In February and April, Chamaria received electricity bills for Rs 2,389 and Rs 2,342 respectively, for the same commercial com-

plex. Speaking to G Plus, Chamaria said, “It’s completely illogical to receive an electricity bill of Rs 19,000 in a month. Though payment of bill can be done online and is both easy and accessible, the procedure to file complaints online is not available.” He also added that the complaint procedure is too long to complete and he had to visit the APDCL office 3-4 times to get his complaint registered. Vasundhara, another resident from Birkuchi area of the city, has also complained about receiving a preposterous bill from APDCL. She said, “Once, I received a bill of Rs 5,000, whereas the maximum amount I had paid earlier for electricity even in the summers was Rs 2,000. It is very difficult to file complaints with APDCL. To raise a complaint, you have to pay the bill first, irrespective of the amount of money you are being charged with and then

only you can raise a complaint. The process has changed now, but we still face problems.”

She also complained that even if there was a complaint, the bills were not rectified or looked upon by the APDCL. So, the people were bound to pay the amount on the bill they received. APDCL, however, had a different tale to tell and said that the blame lay on human intervention. While speaking to G Plus, APDCL Public Relations Officer (PRO) Priyom Dutta said, “We are bound to have human errors whenever there is human intervention. But we can rectify the errors with the help of a new device that we are planning to install.” According to Dutta, the new device, which is called three-phase meter or smart meter, is designed to read the units digitally without human intervention. Dutta added, “Installation of the smart meters will be carried out in the next few months to en-

sure that no human engagement is there in the matter of measuring energy units used by a consumer. This will help the bills to be revised automatically. This will also ensure that the counting meters will not be rigged.” With regard to complaints, she said that it’s not difficult to reach out to APDCL, which has set up a WhatsApp number and other helpline numbers for people to put up their queries and complaints. APDCL currently charges differently from both the domestic and commercial consumers. For commercial load above 0.5 kilowatt (kw) and up to 25 kw, APDCL charges Rs 7.90 per kilowatt hour (kWh). In addition, APDCL charges Rs 4.60 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for consumers consuming between 0.5 kw and 1 kilowatt hour per day (kWh/day), which is the lowest charge as per the APDCL tariff list approved for the year 2019-20. n

Inappropriate increase in electricity bills irks Guwahatians: G Plus Poll Nehal Jain @NehalJain96

Has your electricity bill increased inappropriately lately?

n a recent incident, a Guwahati resident was charged 10 times the usual amount on the electricity bill for his commercial establishment. This once again threw light on the poor service being provided by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL). A poll conducted by G Plus had over 1,600 participants and opinions and comments started flowing in on all our social media channels. Of the total number of 1,600 participants, 85% people said that they have been charged inappropriately for electricity consumption, while a mere 15% of the people said they do not have any complaints with the service of the APDCL. The majority of participants (85%) complained that there has been a particular month when they received unusually high electricity bill. Some respondents also complained of facing regular power cuts, especially in Basistha, Beltola, Chatribari, Athgaon, Lal Ga-

Yes

85%

Votes

1,600 No

15%

nesh and Ulubari areas of the city. Respondents (15%) who said

that they haven’t yet received absurd, surged electricity bills opined that they do not

have much to complain about against the electricity service providers.

The result of the poll was a clear indicator of the fact that the citizens of Guwahati are facing issues while paying their electricity bills. Not only have they observed abnormalities in their electricity bills, they’ve also complained of the long, exhausting procedure that they have to go through to get their complaint registered with the concerned department. In the absence of an online redressal system, people have had to stand in long queues for hours at a stretch to get their voices heard at the APDCL office. Additionally, some of the respondents also suggested ways to curb the issue of increased electricity bills and load shedding and in the city. “We need the hydroelectric dam to operate soon. It’s the only way to reduce tariffs and it’s a cleaner form of energy,” commented Manish Sharma, a resident of the city. In the same vein, Nayanjyoti Hazarika wrote, “Use solar energy and other natural resources. Our country is clearly way behind other nations in this regard.” n

Photo Feature

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Eid Celebration in Guwahati

A photo story from Machkhowa Idd Gah and elswhere

Early initiation

Mass prayers, mass devotion

Prayers in progress

n The picture of devotio

CM Sonowal at Haji Musafir Khana

At Ambari Burra Masjid

It was a happy Eid

Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji Guwahati, the 7th of June

Quenching the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thirst

To the benefit of all

Free distribution to all

Love by the Sikh community

Spreading the love

Refreshments galore

14 G Talk E

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019 T

A ‘slap’ on Assamese hospitality

he silliest city news of the week was the Hotel Shoolin Grand rooftop restaurant customer-bashing outrage. Apparently, the restaurant is called Da Vue and it is a totally separate business entity whereby the hotel’s management doesn’t hold any authority over its functioning. And so, it came as quite a surprise initially that while the hotel itself has been making quite a name for itself with its excellent food, ambience etc, a restaurant on its premises has made headlines for the prime reason that can be absolutely wrong in the hospitality sector – flexing muscles at your customer. While the incident can be summarily dismissed as a one-off meltdown (actually, in the case of Da Vue, this is the second; about a year ago there was a similar occurrence with another set of patrons), in the broad spectrum of Assam being projected as a great tourist destination with Guwahati being the gateway, the Da Vue bash up is either a black blotch on the image of Assam or simply a corroboration of that famous tag line “Naturally Wild.” I mean, what were these waiters of the restaurant thinking when they decided to do what they did? Weren’t they trained on how to offer

service in the hospitality sector? Or are they naturally so wild that they had no qualms whatsoever for the most respectable entity on their premises that evening – their customer? The incident is essentially an indicator to all and sundry – both in the government and private sector of tourism – that Guwahati clearly has untrained people who do not know how to extend warmth and hospitality to a patron seeking a paid service. And at certain times, I am afraid, this lack of reverence for the customers extends beyond Guwahati where instances of complaints against deficiency of service in hotels and resorts have resulted in defamation cases being slapped on those very customers. And yet, it seems, with public memory being short and with the needful palms greased, business goes on as usual with the same hospitality establishments attracting newer customers who have no clue about the sordid past. This cannot and should not go on if Assam has to make its mark on the tourism map of the country. A customer is happy only when he or she feels that the money spent was worth it. And slapping customers is not the way certainly! Swapnil Bharali (Editor) @swapnilbharali

Fallen grace: No humanity, no mercy Recently, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl was brutally murdered by two full-grown men in a town in Uttar Pradesh. Her body was found in a dumping ground near her house in a mutilated condition. The incident occurred when the toddler’s parents could not repay a loan of Rs 10,000. Following the incident, the first question that people asked was if the victim was also subject to an additional inhumane act. Was she raped in addition to being murdered? If that’s the first question we ask, then it’s imperative to understand where we are heading as cognizant human beings or as a society in general. Are we cognizant? Or do we just not care anymore? Is human life so frugal? If you are 2, 12, 20, 52, 82 or 102, it doesn’t matter. If you are a girl, you are always unsafe. Sadly, that is just a given now. Unsafe from the moment you’re born, or maybe not even then, because who knows if you’ll even be allowed into the world. Don’t paint me as a feminazi just yet. Do you know how rampant sexual assault and rape have to be in a society for a collective group of people to even have that thought occur, that a child can be raped? A very large group of people, might I add, since we continue to grow in numbers every day, and maybe, just maybe, that’s part of the problem too. I can include multiple statistical data that proves my point, but I’m sure that would end up being skimmed, and not read, because no one likes big numbers unless it’s in their bank accounts. I had once read a piece of writing. At the end of her article, the author wrote, “Every 36 minutes, India records a case of sexual assault or rape, it took me 40 minutes to write this. Are you okay?” Oh, and FYI, the statistics for this have gone downhill. Harshita Himatsingka

Mae Sot: a model to follow

y recent visit to Mae Sot (Thai–Myanmar border town) last month left me amazed as to how a once sleepy border town has become a well developed and well equipped international land border resulting in employment generation and development of the entire region. I have had the opportunity of visiting different international land borders over the years, be it the Indo-Bangladesh border points of Tamabil and Mahendraganj in Meghalaya and Sutarkandi in Assam, Indo–Bhutan border in Gelephu in Assam, Indo–Nepal border in Kakarbita in West Bengal, Indo-China border in the high-altitude Natu la Pass in Sikkim and the most popular and crowded Indo–Myanmar border in the town of Moreh in Manipur. Recently, I was appointed the Advisor to the “Border Trade & Chamber of Commerce,” Moreh

town. Regarding Mae Sot, we can learn from the different facilities offered in this border town to boost international trade. The newly constructed Land Custom Terminal in Mae Sot can serve as a “model” example to develop the international borders in the northeast region of India which will give a major boost to employment generation, increase in international trade practices among the youth and lead to the overall development of the region. This town has systematic and well developed separate lanes for trucks, passenger buses and pri-

O pinion Farid Shah

vate vehicles along the customs clearance offices for smooth running of the operations. This gives one a fairly good idea how well organised and efficient the setup is built for the future, connecting

Eastward Ho! The author writes on northeast India’s connectivity with ASEAN and how the same can be developed by uplifting its border towns on the lines of the town of Mae Sot on the Thailand-Myanmar border. Myanmar with Thailand and the rest of ASEAN.

pens to be a schoolmate of my associate Khun Phaisarn L) that the Zone is set up exclusively for packing and repacking purposes to be used by traders and businessman free-of-cost. The main purpose is to send the final products of various goods directly to the retail outlets, departmental stores, wholesalers and sea ports in Myanmar, Thailand and the rest of the ASEAN nations thus cutting time and expenses to a great extent.

However, one notable facility worth mentioning is the newly constructed “Free Zone” by the Royal Thai government. On enquiry of the facility it was explained to me by Senior Custom Officer Khun Samnau (who hap-

So, Mae Sot I believe can be a great example to follow for our people in the northeast who are engaged in the international trade by land with our neighbouring countries and to promote connectivity, trade and overland caravan tourism. Most importantly, having such a model border town will attract investments into the region. We must have our infrastructure in place if we want to develop and attract investment into the northeast. (The writer is a trade and investment consultant (ASEAN region). He can be reached at shahfarid90@gmail.com)

rIs money the new competence yardstick?

Letter to the Editor

The glorious swearing-in ceremony of the new government concluded as Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his 57 ministers took oath of office at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. With the new cabinet all set to perform, we can observe that the educational qualification, wealth declared and criminal cases against some ministers is indeed arguable. Of all ministers in the new cabinet, 51 ministers have declared in self-sworn affidavits of possessing assets valued over a crore of rupees. If we were to quantify these, an average of assets of all ministers in this cabinet would be roughly around Rs 14 crores. It is not unexpected that 4 ministers have assets estimated to be valued at more than Rs 40 crores. The Shiromani Akali Dal MP and Food Processing Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal is the richest among all ministers in the cabinet with assets worth Rs 217 crores. Piyush Goyal Vedprakash is worth Rs 95 Crores, Rao Inderjit Singh has Rs 42 crores worth of assets and Amit Shah with assets worth Rs 40 Crores. Is money the new yardstick to determine whether or not a person is competent enough to be seated in “The House of The People?” Rifa Deka Royal Global University, Guwahati

In Focus

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Customers allegedly attacked by Da Vue rooftop restaurant employees Nehal Jain @NehalJain96

family was allegedly attacked by the employees of a Guwahati-based restaurant on Sunday night, June 2. The incident took place at around 9 PM at Da Vue, a rooftop restaurant located within the premises of Hotel Shoolin Grand in Rukminigaon area of the city. Allegedly, the family was served food around two hours after the order was placed. When they complained about the same to the concerned restaurant authority, the situation went from bad to worse as the waiters started a fisticuff with the customers. The entire incident was caught on CCTV cameras where the hotel staff could be seen attacking the guests, including women. In a video circulating on social media, waiters of the restaurant are also seen throwing articles like chairs at the family. On being informed, the police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Later, a case (1633/19) was registered at Dispur police station against Da Vue restaurant and the police are currently investi-

Still from CCTV footage of the outrage at Da Vue rooftop restaurant gating the matter. While most media houses are reporting that the incident happened at Hotel Shoolin Grand, the owner of the hotel, Manoj Kalita, speaking to G Plus said, “Da Vue rooftop restaurant has no affiliation with Kalita Spectrum apart from being located in

the same premises.” Soon after the incident was reported by Guwahati-based media houses, the citizens came down heavily on the restaurant and criticisms for the waiters’ behaviour started flowing. “No matter what the reason was and who misbehaved first,

physical attacks by a hotel’s management on customers are not acceptable. If the customer was at fault, the hotel management could have approached the police. The customer went to the hotel seeking service in exchange of payment. So, the service provider’s responsibility is

much more than that of the customer. Police should take action immediately,” said Nazrul Islam, a resident of the city. In the same vein, another resident Anand Raj Sahani said, “Such foolish and uneducated people should never be employed since they know nothing about hospitality.” People from different walks of life also took to social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to share their personal experiences of visiting the restaurant. “Almost two months ago, I confronted a similar situation at Da Vue. The waiters there are rude and without manners. They don’t know how to talk to the customers. When I went there, instead of serving us, the waiters refused to take our orders stating that they were short of cooks,” expressed Mohit Jain. Similarly, another resident under condition of anonymity said, “I visited this rooftop restaurant a year ago to celebrate my sister’s birthday. Not only was the service bad, they also served stale food. When we complained about the food to the waiter, he started behaving rudely with us instead of replacing the order. Since then, we’ve never been there.” n

A middle-aged woman of seemingly wealthy background was, on June 4, caught on camera shoplifting at the Quick Shoppe departmental store on Zoo Road in Guwahati. Followers of G Plus responded to the news. Lekha Borah

Salma Rahman

Bharat Poddar

Rangina Brahma

Poor people, when they steal bread for mere survival, are bashed and tied to a tree or khamba. When rich people steal for fun and amusement, they are treated leniently. This is called kleptomania. This is our society! If you guys have no information on her medical reports than it is better not to comment. Different judgement for different class of people is very harmful for our society.

There was a similar incident that happened a few months back. A person had stolen goods from a departmental store and people were bashing him. Later when we asked him why he did it, he said that he had a new born baby just the previous day and he didn’t have the money to buy baby products whereby the family told him that if he couldn’t bring some baby products they won’t allow him to see his kid. Every incident has two sides of a coins; one should never judge someone.

Jiten Barman

Sad. When everyone knows there are CCTV cameras installed, why are people indulging in shoplifting? Lack of IQ perhaps but it’s being shown on and on. Even if she is a shoplifter, doesn’t she have the right to live? Showing on and on the video with her face will make her prone to a disgraceful life all along. People get away with murder and rape but she merely shoplifted. Sad but true. This will have a bad impact on her life and also on her son who was also part of this act.

If you look closely, you’ll see car keys in her hand. She has a beautiful hairstyle and the outcome of it all is stealing cosmetic products. It’s good that this video has gone viral. At least now if she visits anyone’s house then the owner will be well aware of her past acts. Precaution is very important in such cases as people can’t be trusted nowadays. And yes, media is being responsible in blurring her face and this is basic ethics which this media house has followed.

Law is there to punish her so why media is making it public before that? It can be a disease also which we don’t know. So this kind of publication should be stopped. She should have been let off with a hefty fine. She did not endanger any life and it could have been just her first offence. We are lynching her mentally if we are enjoying this petty crime. And all those who are continuously saying to reveal the face of the lady, just go and think once what if the lady would have been their mom or sister. Would they have said the same thing? No perhaps!

16 Feature

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Literature of Shillong: Where Prose and Poetry Meet

new critique in Indian writing in English is how the town of Shillong figures in this body of literature. It is in a way not new since the 1980s the poets Robin S Ngangom and Desmond Leslie Kharmawphlang used Shillong as a backdrop for their poetry. The hills, the streams and the pines recurred as poetic motifs. More significantly however, they revealed extension of poetic minds seeing in nature both the past and present. The archetypal nature was decoded. Myths and legends were infused in their poetry - for example the myth of Nohkalikai, the water falls in Sohra, where the father killed the step-daughter thus grieving the wife to the point of madness. More and more myths and legends entered the poetry of such poets. The land of seven huts featured prominently: U Hynnietrep and the creation myth associated with this. This led to the folk tales, myths and legends getting academic interest and deriving versions in English from the spoken word, not the written. This was because the source was an oral tradition and not written. The oral tradition entered writing in English through these poets, leading to a poetic robustness, a recall of memory, tradition, a love for the past and

The Shillong motif has been worked and reworked in both poetry and fiction since the eighties and is continuing till today. This should be a focal point of critical interest. a resurgence of the oral tradition - now, with a difference in the written word. Folk mannerisms, the “tale” were infused into English poetry by the poets of Shillong. However they never also missed the hills, searingly dominating their poetic landscape. In the wake of a society in social and political transition, these hills were and are motifs of pristine beauty, a way of life and a metaphor of truth. However the social and polit-

ical transformations referred to above also lead to social crisis and the divide between insiders and outsiders. This has been reflected in novels and short stories such as: “Lunatic In My Head” (Anjum Hasan), “A Point Of Return” (Siddhartha Deb), “Boats On Land” (Janice Pariat) and the very recent “Shillong Times” by Nilanjan Choudhury. All these writers are either from Shillong or have lived there. Here in the fiction, the trajectory is different in the sense that the social-political does get

focus, but mainly is used as a literary backdrop. What happens further, and a point that is missed out is either way whether the protagonist is an insider, or outsider,

Ananya S Guha

or insider/outsider, he is firmly wedded to the town of his love. This is inescapable even when he lives the boundaries of the hills. I have in mind especially the novels of Deb and

vivalists.” Even though they live out of Shillong, they “survive” in its memories, serpentine streets, the sacred forest etc. The poets too survive in decoding the past and recapitulating origin stories

Chowdhury. Thus, this Shillong motif has been worked and reworked in both poetry and fiction since the eighties and is continuing till today. This should be a focal point of critical interest. This is giving North East Indian writing in English a new flavour and a history for literary recapitulation. While the poets are revivalists, the fiction writers are “sur-

and myths. The “survival” and the “revival” are essentially and quintessentially, obverse realities - two sides of the same coin. Shillong. (The author worked as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Dept of English at St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. He holds a doctoral degree on the novels of William Golding and evinces a keen interest on Indian writing in English.) n

Nostalgia and Expectations: My visit to the Assam State Zoo Harshita Himatsingka @HHimatsingka

remember it vividly. I was probably 8 or 9 years old at the time. It was a glorious Sunday and I was ready as the clock struck nine. That Sunday was the big day, one that I had been waiting for as patiently as I coulda trip to the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden with my aunt, uncle and cousins. Soon after my cousins arrived at my place, we all set out for the zoo. Those days, going to Zoo Road was sort of a big deal as it was located on the “other side” of the city for us natives who lived in the heart of the city then, circa 2004, in AT Road. My experience at the zoo then was amazing. I distinctly remember seeing so many animals, birds and reptiles. I would marvel at the majestic lion and be terrified of the crocodiles, and then marvel at the

tigers again. I felt a sea of emotions that day and it was undoubtedly one of the best Sundays I had ever spent. I had the chance to visit the Assam State zoo again recently, circa 2019. I felt a sea of emotions this time as well, but these emotions were quite different from the ones I had felt the first time. This time, I was first surprised at how long it had been since my last visit and then, I was disappointed. As I walked across the length and breadth of the zoo, I did not revel in that feeling of marvel anymore. I was expecting that same sense of excitement like before, and even waited for it to strike me at some point during my visit, but it did not happen. Maybe it was because I went on a lazy Monday afternoon, and the animals were taking their midday rest. But what about the animals that were nowhere to be seen? All those empty enclosures, haunted by their former residents. I saw the tiger again and I saw the

lion again. However, majestic is not the word I would use to describe these animals today. The lion and lioness seem starved. When you looked at them, instead of being in awe, you just felt sad. Just plain sad! Then I went and saw the tiger. Not ferocious, but depressed and lost. I felt like looking into the animal’s eyes and telling it that it

would all be okay. “Is it dead, mother?!” a 5-yearold girl who was out with her family exclaimed. This explains the situation best because children say the truth, right? No matter how bitter or cruel. Next, was the regal black panther. At first I couldn’t see it but then it made an appearance and I felt a little better. I was scared to go too close to its enclosure, so maybe that is a good sign. Following that, I saw a bunch of other animals and birds and many

“Is it dead, mother?!” a 5-year-old girl who was out with her family exclaimed. This explains the situation best because children say the truth, right? No matter how bitter or cruel. more empty would-be-homes. This is actually just a narration of a nostalgic memory and a recent experience. My old memory is intact, happy and safe, but my new memory needs an adjustment and alteration. Now, I fully acknowledge that I do not know about the behindthe-scenes activities that go on to take care or maybe, not take care of these animals, but I do think that we can do better. n

Trotter

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Woman bemused after man she met in bar makes ridiculous demand the next day

t’s a pretty standard situation to find yourself in on a night out.You’re in a bar with your friends, when you catch the eye of a nice looking stranger who offers to buy you a drink or two. If you’re single, you might say yes to the generous offer and then strike up a conversation with them, eventually exchanging numbers at the end of the night so you can go on a real date another time. Or at least that’s the hope. But after giving out her number to a man she met in a bar, one woman was left feeling pretty shocked when he sent her a rude message the next day about their encounter. A 20-year-old student paramedic Chlo Matthews let a guy buy her a drink on a night out in Hull. They hit it off, she gave him her number and then the unexpected happened. Instead of telling her how

nice it was to meet her or ask her out again, the man, known only as Danny, decided to send her a bill for the alcohol he’d bought her. His reason for doing so? Because she didn’t sleep with him. In a post on Twitter the young woman shared a screenshot of the guy’s text. He begins by asking who she is and after she jogs his memory of the previous night, he asks, “Nice one, could you transfer me for those drinks I bought you last night, since we didn’t go home to-

gether wasn’t really worth my time was it lol.” Chlo was shocked by the message and joked that she was “officially retiring from nights out” because of it. Her tweet quickly went viral, with more than 60,000 people liking it and 8,900 retweeting it .Over 1,000 people also took the time to comment on the post, sharing their disgust at the man’s rude demand. One person replied: “This is a joke surely? Is this what society has come to?” Another wrote: “His mum must be so proud.” “Wow, I have no words,” said a third. “Apart from what the actual f*** is wrong with people! Send him 1p and say that was what he was worth.” They added: “He’ll still owe you and you can tell him to use the balance for admission to charm school. What a plonker.” (Source: mirror.co)

Man found with 21 severed vaginas in his freezer appears in court

man who was allegedly found with 21 pieces of female genitalia in his freezer has appeared in court. Peter Frederiksen, 63, a Danish man living in South Africa arrived in the dock ahead of his bail application. Frederiksen was arrested back in September last after 21 mutilated vaginas were allegedly found in his home. Surgical equipment and anaesthetic drugs were also said to have been found in the property. It’s believed his wife, 28-yearold Anna Matseliso Molise, told police he drugged her and cut off private parts of her anatomy while she was incapacitated. She was due to testify but was gunned down and killed while

leaving her house last month. Police believe most of the victims are from the Lesotho area. Frederiksen, said to own a gun shop, allegedly sedates victims before performing the illegal operations, a police statement said. It is not clear if the severed vaginas were removed when the women were alive – or indeed if they would have survived the attacks. Masilea Langa, a police spokes-

woman, said that Frederiksen had kept a clear and organised record of every body part he had removed since his first victim in 2010. The gun shop owner was arrested after the body parts were found in plastic freezer bags, confirmed police spokesman Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi. Mulaudzi said one of the victims alerted authorities and police have since appealed to any other women who may have been assaulted by the man to come forward. He faces charges of sexual assault, intimidation and breaking South Africa’s medical laws. A police investigation was launched enlisting the help of a forensics team. (Source: metro.co.uk)

Champions League pitch invader claims to have got a plaque from UEFA post the final

hampions League pitch invader, Kinsey Wolanski, claims she received a special plaque from UEFA despite being thrown out of the stadium. The 22-year-old model ran across the pitch in a swimming costume during the first half of the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham on 1st June. Wolanski was fined €15,000 by UEFA, while reports have claimed that her stunt in the final was worth around £3 million in publicity as she promoted the adult website Vitaly Uncensored

on her swimsuit. But despite being led away by security and ejected from the Wanda Metropolitano stadium, Wolanski claims she received a souvenir from UEFA. In a post on Twitter, Wolanski showed her ticket for the Champi-

ons League final had been placed in a glass frame. Wolanski also included the message: “The sweetest guy who works for UEFA gave me this plaque in the airport.” Following the stunt, Wolanski’s Instagram page grew from 300,000 followers to 2.4 million before her account was taken offline. Wolanski’s boyfriend, Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, also attended the final in disguise as he has been given a worldwide stadium ban after he invaded the World Cup final in 2014. (Source: metro.co.uk)

Guy admits to sleeping with girlfriend’s mother after realising the truth

here are a lot of things that can wrong when you meet your partner’s parents for the first time. You can say the wrong thing and offend them, or they can simply decide you’re not good enough for their perfect son or daughter. But one man had quite possibly the worst experience when he went to his girlfriend’s home to meet her mum and dad for the first time. Sharing the horrifying story, the man explained that he met a woman in a rock bar with live music and they hit it off. They spent time chatting and exchanged numbers, but after a few texts things went quiet. But they ran into each other again the week later and started talking again. One thing led to another and he ended up going back to her house and spending the night. He wrote, “I noticed she was a lot older (maybe around 40) than anyone else I’ve slept with before. I’m 21, so pretty much double my age - but she looked good so I figured I’d learn a thing or two. All I’ve learnt now is how to regret more efficiently.” A few months later the man, who didn’t share his name, matched with a 19-year-old on Tinder and they immediately hit it off. They started dating and things were going well, so she invited him back to her house. He said, “As I walk down the

street, I notice it’s the same one as my previous bonk. My heart sank when I watched this lovely girl turn to face me, say ‘This is me!’ while gesturing to the same door that I went through for a cheap one-night stand. “I suddenly see the resemblance. Quickly I compliment her house and ask her how long she had lived there, grasping at some flimsy straws. My whole life pretty much. Just my parents, lil’ sister and the dog’ she replies.” Understandably he was completely horrified and he knew he had to tell her. She was shocked. Very shocked when she realised that I wasn’t joking when I got her mum’s name right. “I knew she was levelheaded from our first few dates so thankfully she actually understood and didn’t attack me for it. We do agree we can’t keep seeing each other but I really did like her. She didn’t mention her parents’ marriage and I don’t want to ask. I also don’t know how the house was free a couple of months ago. All I know is I f***** up,” he lamented. (Source: mirror.co)

Obama praises Sikh man for his rainbow turban at pride march

San Diegobased neuroscientist who is celebrating this year’s Pride Month with a rainbow turban has found support from former US President Barack Obama. Jiwandeep Kohli, who is bisexual and a Sikh, went viral a few days ago when he shared an image of his elaborate creation on Twitter. “I’m proud to be a bisexual bearded baking brain scientist,” he captioned the image. “I feel fortunate to be able to express all these aspects of my identity and will continue to work towards ensuring the same freedom for others.” His photo collected over one lakh ‘likes’ and more than 15,000 retweets. Now, adding to the long list of people who have commended on him Obama, a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights. “You’ve got a lot to be proud of, Jiwandeep. Thanks for everything

you do to make this country a little more equal. Turban looks great, by the way,” wrote Barack Obama on Twitter. “Happy Pride Month, everybody!” he added. Coming from a former US president and one of the most-admired men in the world, that’s high praise indeed. Obama’s tweet has collected more than 3 lakh ‘likes’. Pride Month kicked off on June 1 and honours the LGBTQ community while commemorating New York’s Stonewall riots in June 1969 that signalled a turning point in the movement for equal rights. (Source: ndtv)

18 Review

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover, Jackie Shroff, Sonali Kulkarni, Disha Patani, Satish Kaushik Director: Ali Abbas Zafar

Movie Review

Bharat

harat No Surname is when the film opens. He [Salman Khan] has no last name because that’s a way to belong to the whole country, he is told: ‘tujhme poora desh hai, Bharat.’ And in the arc he draws of his life, which we see mostly in flashback, it is evident that we are seeing the story of Bharat, the nation. This parallel unfurls in the first half with verve and strong dollops of emotion, and gives us both scope and sweep. Post interval, though, the film sags. From the tumultuous scenes of bloodshed of the Partition, and the sundering of Bharat’s family in Lahore, to their arrival in a Delhi refugee camp, in search of a future, Bharat is sure-footed. After the half-way point, it meanders. Zafar, who works well with Khan, their last outing Tiger Zinda Hai was a big hit, strikes the right notes initially when he shapes his hero as an unlettered but determined-to-

do-the-right-thing-by-his-family youth, accompanied by his best friend Vilayati (Grover). There’s a stint in a circus, with Bharat risking his life as a stunt artist, and a coveted trip to the Middle East to help dig oil. There’s enough conviction in these portions which carries Bharat and us through, even though Khan is given enough hero-giri moments to keep him fore grounded at all times. You get a sense of time past, of faded history in the recreation of those grandbut-tawdry circuses, and the ‘maut ka kuans’, which are now relegated to small-town fairs, and job-hungry Indians chasing the oil boom in the Gulf, as hard-working labour. It’s a pity that the director-star duo don’t take this as far as they could. They had a story which had the potential to become a solid reckoner of post-Independence nation-building, and how things rolled from then on, and a free hand

to craft it. But the opportunity is squandered in unnecessary songs and dances, an aiming-for-cheaplaughs comic thread which involves making a stutterer the butt of jokes, and improbable situations: want to meet Hindi-film-song-loving-sea-pirates? Step right up. Kaif makes the most of her role, as the feisty ‘Madam-Sir’ who comes into Bharat’s life, and who stays on, without, gulp, either ‘mandap’ or ‘mangalsutra’. The way it’s done is clunky, but clearly, Bharat then and even more so, Bharat now needs to hear about ‘live-in’ relationships. And who better to endorse these things than a popular star? The good thing about the film, despite its eye-roll moments, is the underlining it does of a nation which belongs to us all. Vilayati, played excellently by Grover, is a Muslim. The dialogue may be over-the-top but it takes us back to the time when pan-Indian films would speak fearlessly about ‘dosti’ and ‘bhaichara’ amongst sworn enemies, about how people are the same everywhere, and that the Partition hasn’t divided ‘dils’ which still beat for each other. Yes, it’s all very Bajrangi Bhaijaan, and all very ‘filmi’, haha, but who doesn’t love the idea of long-separated loved ones being reunited? Treacle it may be, but the tears are real. And moving: my eyes were moist, even when I knew I was being played. Yes, it’s hard to believe that a 70-year-old can beat off four menacing young men bent upon making mincemeat of him. But then this IS a Bhai movie. He staggers, but is the last man standing. But of course. He may have fixed a grey beard to his chin, but his chest still ripples. What else? In a Salman Khan movie, anything is possible, even tall tales that can transcend borders. Review from The Indian Express.

Cinepolis, Christian Basti 09435025808

smoothly to meet the metal frame and the construction quality here is top-notch. The front glass also has slightly rounded edges. There are relatively narrow borders around the screen, and even the chin isn’t too pronounced. Oppo claims a 93.1 percent screen-tobody ratio. Oppo has introduced yet another kind of camera mechanism, an asymmetric triangular pop-up that it is calling a “shark fin”. This little protrusion accommodates the front camera, an LED illuminator, the phone’s earpiece, a secondary microphone, and also the dual-LED flash for the rear camera. It takes a little under a second to deploy when

you switch to the front camera or trigger face recognition. Specifications and Software: The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom is not just a variant of the standard Oppo Reno with a souped-up camera. It features superior specifications all around, starting with the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. This octa-core SoC features Qualcomm’s own Kryo 485 Silver and Gold cores running at between 1.8GHz and 2.84GHz for a balance of power efficiency and performance, plus integrated Adreno 640 graphics. You can buy the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom with either 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for Rs. 39,999, or 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for Rs. 49,999. The 4065mAh battery is a little smaller than we expected. This phone supports Oppo’s VOOC 3.0 quick charging standard as long as you use the included 20W

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Oppo Reno 10x Zoom he brand new Oppo Reno 10x Zoom has now launched and is available for sale internationally, including in India. The phone boasts of 6x optical zoom. Design and Specifications: The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom is a bulky phone. The periscopic camera arrangement might save some room, but the standard Oppo Reno model without the fancy optics isn’t much smaller. There are also a 6.6-inch screen and 4065mAh battery to be accommodated. This device weighs 215g which is significantly higher than average, and is a hefty 9.3mm thick. The glass on the rear looks like it has been etched with a matte texture but it is still quite slippery and fingerprints are highly visible. The colour shifts when you look at this phone at different angles. The glass rear panel curves

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charger and USB Type-C cable. Wireless charging is unfortunately not supported, and neither is Oppo’s SuperVOOC tech. Verdict: Oppo has delivered a smartphone with marketleading specifications and camera capabilities, and has somehow managed to do so within the “value flagship” price range. As one of the first few phones available in India with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom makes most other flagship phones look weak. Clearly, there’s a lot to like about this phone. The main drawbacks are its size and weight, but plenty of people will be fine with that. The bloatware is annoying, but not a dealbreaker. Review from NDTV Gadget. n

Fiction

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Probin and a goat survives a leopard attack

robin Chetia was a very brave person and I count myself indeed fortunate to have known him. He was an avid hunter and we were kindred souls in our love of this sport and used to go out together a lot when he was posted at a tea garden called Burigong as a Senior Assistant Manager. In the winter months, we used to enter the forest adjoining this garden from a road that led to a forest office about 8 kms inside called Dikhalmukh. A small river called the Dikhal joined up with the Burigong River here and it was a great place to catch fishes like trouts and broker fish, which I did in the day time before our shoots. Probin did not have the patience to fish and he lazed around in the camp but we both relished the fried fish over our drinks later at night after the hunts. Beyond this forest office were the logging camps which had elephants that we used at times to enter deep into the jungle when hunting the sambar deer. There was a Nishi village inside the forest where I had made some friends. As was the norm, we had to take a guide along every time we went inside, especially on foot. Tirok was my main guide here. During one such expedition we decided that we would try for some Imperial pigeons early in the morning in a part of the forest where one had to walk a short distance off the road on foot. As planned, we reached the site before six in the morning and saw a number of birds on the trees and more of them flying in. But just as I was taking aim I saw one person get up from under the tree signalling me to stop. Tirok then spoke to him quietly by which time two other men also got up and walked towards us. These men had come to catch the pigeons on the branches which they had covered with the gum of a native gum tree to snare the birds alive by getting them stuck to the branches and some also getting the gum all over their feathers making them unable to fly thereby falling to the ground. The hunters were hiding soundlessly in the under growth and only got up to request me not to shoot. It was a new hunting technique I was about to see live and it was indeed a great spectacle seeing one man climb up the tree to catch the birds stuck in the gum and the other birds being frightened that they could not fly and so, falling down below. They must have collected around fifteen/sixteen birds and they were all alive. Tirok told me that this group of hunters specialised in catching birds to keep in stock in the village and some even went on to lay eggs which, after hatching, became a steady source of meat

for them in the lean hunting months during the heavy rains. They very generously gave us four birds to take home as our share. It was indeed a great spectacle to witness which we were very lucky to experience. For a couple of years that Probin was posted at Burigong we visited Dikhalmukh about six times in the winter months and enjoyed the hunting conditions there in the company of our guide and my friend Tirok. Then one day, around the month of July, I got the news from his manager that Probin was badly mauled by a leopard while supervising a tea section being plucked. The animal had been hiding inside the particular tea block when it must have felt cornered by the pluckers who had been deployed from all sides to complete the area quickly and go off to another section. Normally, whenever we do the plucking, the workers are given the tea bushes to be plucked in straight rows – a move that allows any wild animal to slip off quietly from the approaching humans. This simple matter was very important especially for a garden which was near a forest area like Burigong. Unfortunately this was not followed and as luck would have it Probin who was in the midst of the pluckers was the first person to be attacked by the leopard. It jumped up and tried to bite him in the head and grip his body with its sharp claws raking the skin off his back. He fell down and somehow managed to push the animal away. The leopard then tried to grab a nearby woman plucker who defended herself with her plucking basket which saved her life. After attacking the two humans the frightened animal ran off in the commotion. Probin was rushed off to Tezpur and later flown to Kolkata where he had to spend three months in the Woodland’s Hospital for a full recovery. He was indeed very lucky to have survived but was left with some

There was a mechanism lever on the wooden floor which would make the trap door fall down when touched, entrapping the animal inside with the goat also inside a small enclosure in one corner. In most instances the trapped animal would get so enraged at being caught that it’s fierce growling and roaring would have killed the poor goat out of sheer fright. deep scars on his left cheek and head by which one could make out the tell tale signs of the attack. He became a sort of celebrity as a man who had to wrestle with a leopard but psychologically he was never able to hunt again and I lost a good companion in my expeditions inside Dikhalmukh. In the meantime, the workers at Probin’s garden were living in terror of the leopard that was staying in close proximity to humans. It was later found that the animal had been impaired after getting injured in a trap and had lost three of the claws of its left front leg, including the dew claw. So being unable to hunt its natural prey it was living close to the labour lines as it was feeding off the livestock for survival. The manager requested me to come and help him and his staff for a solution. I

Ranjan Kumar Choudhury ranjanchou@hotmail.com

attended this meeting at his office by which time the local forest officer had suggested to call in the services of a hunter called Shiraj Hussain. This person was a resident of Bharulumukh in Guwahati and was making a name as a trapper of wild leopards mainly with steel traps. It was around 1977 that the government was looking into cage trapping to contain the tiger and leopard conflicts in tea and areas where such incidents occurred. At that time he was trying to capture a big leopard in a village close to the Arunachal Pradesh border near the town of Dhekiajuli. However he came after a few days and I also went to meet him. Shiraj Hussain was a tall and lean person around 45 years old and had very large feet. This I noticed when we were tracking the roads near the garden leading into the forest as he had to take care not to erase the leopard tracks. He was good at his job and quickly opined that this animal was injured as revealed by its paw prints. But tracking a wild animal was not easy and we had to rely on the leopard making a kill so we could place the trap accordingly. He had two traps, one larger which was deployed at the Dhekiajuli village and the smaller one had arrived to be used for this animal. But it was a wild goose chase as after about two weeks Shiraj had to leave to check on the village where his trap was set up. The workers of the tea garden and the adjoining village had to face the brunt of the killing of their domestic animals by the impaired leopard but no one actually sighted such kills. The cat was an expert at camouflage and it spread out its attacks over a large area and this killing spree continued till the month of November. Probin was also back at work by then and I used to drop in to see him frequently, also taking the chance to keep abreast of the leopard story which I found very interesting. Shiraj returned around mid-November and took the full reports from his two assistants he had left

behind. He was a bit disheartened as the other job he had taken up in the Dhekiajuli village was a failure as some angry villagers had managed to poison and kill the leopard there. I presumed that his work contract with the forest department was such that he would receive an amount for his attempt to trap the animals and if successful he got a good extra bonus. So now he was going to fully concentrate here to see if he could catch this leopard. Within a day or two he got the information that the leopard had killed a pig in a worker’s house which was at a distance of around two hundred feet from the forest cover. Immediately he had his trap set up by putting a small goat inside and there was a mechanism lever on the wooden floor which would make the trap door fall down when touched, entrapping the animal inside with the goat also inside a small enclosure in one corner. In most instances the trapped animal would get so enraged at being caught that it’s fierce growling and roaring would have killed the poor goat out of sheer fright. That evening and night I also kept him company inside the worker’s house but I brought along my gun in case of any eventuality; Shiraj too had his gun with him. Around ten o’ clock, when everything became very quiet, we heard the goat bleating shrilly. The leopard must have come and we waited for the trap to be sprung the sound of which, we heard, as a loud clang. Further confirmation was received as we heard the angry growls of the trapped beast. Shiraj and I went out quickly and shone the torches on the trap and saw the leopard inside. The few men we had taken along also came and as word spread a huge crowd gathered. It was good that we all were there as a lot of animals can be maimed or even killed by an angry crowd who had suffered from the killings. Next morning, the leopard had calmed down out of exhaustion and the forest staff took over. Shiraj was correct as we could make out that this leopard was badly maimed in its left front leg as we had seen from its tracks. Somehow, the goat had survived but it was a pitiable sight to see the poor thing sitting down absolutely shrivelled up. The bigger trap had arrived and after a day the leopard was transferred there and only then could the goat be set free as well. I was not witness to this but I was told that the goat moved away very slowly hardly being able to walk from the torture it had undergone. But in due time this goat also became a hero like Probin - both survivors from the same leopard. n

20 Fun Jayashree Bose Certified Feng Shui, Chinese astrology, date selection consultant & author, jbose@jayashreebose.com

9th & 12th June will be great days to connect with your boss & business associates. Host a Sunday get-together for your workmates and/or extended family, people will love it. On 11th June, avoid dealing with the opposite gender. Be careful of your words & actions on 14th June. On 15th June, you could be betrayed and feel emotionally hurt.

8th & 10th June will be ideal days to build your relationship with seniors & share your ideas. Avoid hosting important meetings & presentations on 12th June. You could get into a disagreement with someone at work, probably your seniors. On 14th June, you will be emotionally betrayed by a sibling or a colleague.

9th & 14th June will be great days to connect with your boss & business associates. Host a Sunday get together for workmates and/or extended family, it’s bound to be a hit. You will be able to achieve many things. 10th June will be a slow day for you. On 13th June, you could feel your parents or boss don’t appreciate your efforts at all.

On 8th June, be careful while dealing with the opposite gender. 11th June will be a slow day. On 12th June, someone from work or extended family could betray you, avoid trusting anyone with your secrets. On 14th June, you could have issues with your seniors or extended family.

8th June will be a great day to connect with your boss and business associates. On 9th June, you could have issues with seniors and parents. On 11th June, you could be betrayed or emotionally hurt by someone from work and/or extended family. On 12th June, be careful of your words and actions.

9th & 14th June are days when you should meet up with your colleagues or share ideas with seniors. On 9th June, host a get-together for your workmates and/or extended family. On 14th June, host your important meetings. 13th June will be a slow day. On 10th June, you will feel your seniors or colleagues don’t appreciate your efforts.

Sudoku 3 6 2

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

4 5 9 4 3 1 6 2 7 1 2 4 9 1 3 6 5 1 8 4 6 7 4 5 7 5 6 3 5 3 7 Daily Sudoku: Fri 7-Jun-2019 easy 1

Daily Sudoku: Thu 30-May-2019

Avoid sharing ideas with seniors on 8th June, as you could get into a disagreement. 10th June will be a great day to share your ideas with seniors or simply just connect with them. On 11th June, you could be betrayed by someone at work& emotionally hurt by your family. On 14th June, be careful of what you say, as you could create problems for yourself.

This week you will have a bad start but your luck will generally pick up by the end of the week. Avoid planning any event with your work buddies or seniors on 8th & 9th June as you might have disagreements with them. On 11th & 14th June, your boss will be more receptive to your ideas. 15th will be a slow day for you.

Use 8th & 11th June to host all important meetings or just connect with business associates. You need to avoid all kinds of interaction with seniors on 10th June. Avoid making any commitments on 13th June, as you will feel it’s a good day but in the long run your efforts might not pay off.

9th & 12th June will be great days to build your relationship with seniors & people at work. 9th is a perfect day to have a get together with your extended family or workmates, host all meetings & presentations on 12th June. On 11th, you could have a disagreement with seniors, work associates or parents. Avoid scheduling any important meetings on the 11th.

Don’t make any promises on 9th & 12th June as you will have to live up to the promises you make, so be extremely cautious. Avoid getting into a confrontation. Share your ideas with seniors or generally build a relationship with people at work on 10th, 11th & 14th June. Avoid scheduling important meetings on 12th June.

You have achieved a lot at work & your seniors recognize your efforts. 9th, 10th & 14th June are ideal days for you to mingle with seniors, people at work & build your work network. Avoid everyone on 13th June, as you are bound to get into a disagreement.

What got its name from the Berber word “Ifri” meaning cave?

What glorious military operation of World War II was code named “Operation Overlord?”

Which former male tennis player, the first male No. 1 in the ATP rankings when it started in 1973, was nicknamed “Bucharest Buffoon?”

Which sport that originated in Manipur, derives its name from an anglicised version of the ball used in it?

Identify this current football star from Assam.

Dr. Soubhadra Chakrabarty This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

Dilbert By Scott Adams

curio-city

1 9 7 8 2 5 4 3 6 very hard

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

Which New Zealander holds the record for getting the highest score in the ICC Cricket World Cup?

Martin Guptill, who scored 237 not out against West Indies in 2015 Africa, the continent The Normandy Landings on D-day, 6 June 1944 Ilie Năstase Polo, the ball is referred to as “Pulu” Holicharan Narzary, born in Kokrajhar, currently plays for Chennaiyin FC

very hard

3 last 5 7week 1 6solution 2 4 8 9 6 2 4 5 8 9 7 3 1 9 3 5 7 8 2 6 1 4 8 9 1 7 3 4 6 5 2 2 1 8 5 4 6 7 9 3 1 6 2 3 7 8 9 4 5 7 6 4 3 1 9 5 8 2 7 8 9 2 4 5 3 1 6 4 5 2 1 6 8 3 7 9 4 3 5 9 1 6 2 7 8 6 7 1 9 5 3 2 4 8 9 7 3 6 5 1 8 2 4 3 8 9 2 7 4 1 6 5 2 1 8 4 9 3 5 6 7 8 2 6 4 3 1 9 5 7 5 4 6 8 2 7 1 9 3 5 Sudoku: 4 Fri37-Jun-2019 6 9 7 8 2 1easy Daily Daily Sudoku: Thu 30-May-2019

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

curio-city

Word of the week virtuoso knackered noun adjective [vur-choo-oh-soh] [nak-erd]

a personBritish who excels Slang. in musical technique exhausted; orvery execution. tired

Crossword Across

Down

1 Loosely woven cloth from Scotland (6,5) 9 Impromptu (9) 10 Animal (with nine nine tails?) (3) 11 Himalayan country (5) 13 Excellent — shining bright? (7) 14 On ship (6) 15 Purist (6) 18 Arctic deer — a Rio cub (anag) (7) 20 Best possible (5) 21 See 23 22 Fling (9) 24 Fifth book of the Bible

These predictions are based on the month of birth and are about an individual’s work environment, parents and extended family.

Horoscope of the week

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

2 Fit (3) 3 Person whose speech is not well organised (7) 4 Married partner (6) 5 In which position? (5) 6 Acquit — clear (9) 7 Entertainment area with coin-operated machines (5,6) 8 Narrator (11) 12 TV show (9) 16 Issue (7) 17 Male domestic servant (6) 19 Bathroom basin (5) 23, 21 UK resident who the tax man accepts as having their "true" home elsewhere (abbr) (3-3)

Last week’s solution

Lifestyle

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Vaastu: The Importance of the Sun Hemanta Kumar Sarmah Engineer, Businessman, Advanced Pranic Healer and Su Jok Acupressure specialist.

he sun is the prime source of energy on earth. It has been worshipped in most parts of the world since the beginning of civilizations. Egyptians, Incas, Aryans, Chinese etc have regarded the sun as God and built sun temples. The Indus civilization was no exception and the sun has a very special place in all their beliefs and rituals including astrology. The early morning sun rays have a property of destroying many bacteria and viruses. So it is essential that the morning sun rays must enter the house, especially the kitchen as it is a very good source of vitamin D which is beneficial for the human body. Yoga has also recommended Pranayama or breathing exercises early in the morning. Plants prepare their food with sunlight as well through the process of photosynthesis. A house in which the sun

rays enter from the northeast through northwest becomes a prosperous and happy household. People seldom fall sick in such houses, business

flourishes without difficulties and there is steadfast income, as well as growth. Reflecting mirrors can be used in houses to let the sunlight inside the house where the eastern direction is blocked.

Vedic pundits have suggested that bath should be taken when the sun comes out. Water should be poured over the head facing east and then the sun should be worshipped. The Gayatri Mantra may be chanted. If water is poured from the northeast direction in the presence of morning sun rays, several diseases are cured. While bathing, the person should stand barefoot on the ground to reap the benefit of both the water and the earth element. Though it is advisable to take a bath with cold water, it is not possible for many to do so. Those who do not have access to warm water in the winter can adopt a simple method. First, pour a mug of water over your chest or heart chakra. Then, pour another mug of water over the back or the back heart chakra. This will heat up

Recipe: Potol Dahi Posto Shimu Dutta

salt and keep for a while. Then shallow fry for a few seconds and keep

uring summer, you never want to eat a heavy meal. Thus, here’s a clean and green recipe that is both delicious and good for your immune system.

Ingredients: Pointed gourd : 7/8 Turmeric powder: 1 tsp

Now add the yogurt and stir continuously so that it doesn’t cuddle.

Salt to taste Mustard oil: As required Poppy seed: 2 1/2 tbsp Green chillies: 7/8 Ginger paste: 1 tbsp

Add water and let it cook for some time.

Yogurt: 1 tbsp Garam masala: 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds: As required Bay leaves: 2 Cloves: 3 Cardamom Ghee: 1 tsp

Method: Marinade the pointed gourd with turmeric and

Now, pour some oil and add cumin seeds, bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, a couple of green chillies. Then, add ginger paste and a little turmeric and salt to taste, stir fry and add little water.

aside. Make a paste of poppy seeds and green chillies. Make a paste of ginger. Reserve some chillies.

When the potols are cooked, add the poppy seed paste mix properly. Let it cook for a minute and then add garam masala and ghee. Cook for a minute and switch off the flame.

the body and you will not feel cold if water is poured over the head. Houses which have their eastern side blocked and do not get morning sun rays can opt for the “copper sun” which is available in many gift shops. It should be hung on the eastern wall which will act as the virtual

sun. It also comes in brass material and helps you to use your wisdom, skills and brings glory, name and fame all around. The Surya Yantra can also achieve all these qualities if worshipped regularly. It can also be worn as a locket to get leadership qualities such as bravery, power and authority which helps you overcome stress and struggles in life. People use reflecting mirrors also to let the sunlight inside the house. The Surya Yantra also helps in removing negative effects of the sun in the horoscope. n

Deemed Guilty The poet has recently penned a Fibonacci poem, which is a difficult, yet interesting style. The poet explained that the first two lines of the poem are of 1 syllable each, and each subsequent line is the addition of the previous. Challenge: Fibonacci progression 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21-34 Felt... Joy Unfelt... Repentance Made to live without... Having a chance to justify... Those that are deemed guilty seldom find justice in life... Perhaps it would suffice to say that he was deemed guilty by cruel destiny that seeks... There was a time simplicity meant euphoria that would one day translate into arty words but he had been deemed guilty, without justice... Arunav Barua

22 Buzz

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Assam woman becomes first Indian to win Ton Schouten Award

Guwahati students win 2nd Inter District Roll Ball Championship

woman from Assam, Mayuri Bhattacharjee, has won the Ton Schouten Award for WASH storytelling 2019 for her efforts to provide safe and sustainable sanitation services for persons with disabilities and menstrual hygiene management (MHM). WASH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and supports exceptional young communicators. Bhattacharjee is the first Indian to have received this award. Currently, she is working on her campaign, #DignityInFloods where she wants to bring more attention to WASH in emergencies and is paying special attention to MHM during the annual floods in Assam. As part of the award, Bhattarcharjee has been gifted prize money worth €2,500 (INR 1,93,950). She aims to use her award money to produce more high quality stories about flood affected villages in India for global

tudents from the U-11 (boys and girls) and U-14 (girls) category from Guwahati have emerged champions in the 2nd Inter District Roll Ball Championship held in the city on 3rd June. Students from Kamrup (East) won the U-14 boys’ title. The Guwahati team won in the

audiences. She also hopes to bring a strong advocacy campaign for MHM in emergencies in India. “I am passionate about the concept of justice when it comes to people’s right to WASH services. I would like to use this recognition to develop my skills to cover

stories which can provoke systems change to ensure water, sanitation and hygiene for all. I thank the jury for this opportunity. This award has my name but it really belongs to the communities I work with as a WASH professional,” said Bhattacharjee.

City school bags ‘Green Difference Award’ in the US

PS International School in Guwahati has won an award for its pilot social initiative, Groundwater Research Project, implemented within its campus. It was awarded the “Green and Healthy Lifestyle through Green Education,” award by Project Green Schools based

in Boston, Massachusetts, USA at the 2019 Green Difference Awards on May 10. The award was presented by Jay Barrows, State Representative of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It should be noted that NPS is the only school in India that won the award in the “Green and Healthy schools”

U-11 boys’ category, U-11 girls’ category, U-14 boys’ category and U-14 girls’ category. Indian Olympic Association vice-president Birendra Prasad Baishya and Assam Sepak Takraw Association secretary Bishnu Ram Nunisa among others were present during the prize distribution ceremony. n

category. NPS’s project was conducted under the leadership of JN Das, Director and Chairman, NPS International School. Project Green School partners with more than 6,300 schools and 5,00,000 students from more than 43 states in the United States and with 45 countries across the globe. n

CU students win ‘Best Team’ at North East Inter Institutional Debating Competition

otton University’s debating team has bagged the “Best Team” award at the 10th Manash Borah Memorial North East Inter Institutional Debating Competition held on May 31 at Pragjyoti ITA, Machkhowa, Guwahati. The team comprised Tridip Bhagawati and Jajna Pratim Saikia. The team also won the Manash Borah Memorial Running Trophy. More than 20 teams from across Assam participated in the competition. The competition was conducted by Professor Gayatree Goswamee of Gauhati University. The judges included Partha Pratim Hazarika, Assistant Editor,

The Assam Tribune, Dr Sangeeta Rani Kalita, Assistant Professor, BRM Govt Law College and Hiranku Hazarika, Research Scholar, Tezpur University.

Entertainment

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019

Adil Hussain-starrer Assamese short film ‘Meal’ to be screened in Denmark

eal, a short film starring award-winning actor Adil Hussain, has been selected for screening at the prestigious Oscar qualifying 44th Odense International Film Festival (OIFF) 2019 in Denmark. Notably, Meal is the only Indian short film to have be e n selected for the film festival. It will be screened in the main competition category. Directed and written by Abhiroop Basu, the film stars Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, Arun Mukherjee and Avishek Jain. It depicts how

a dysfunctional family sits together for a customary morning meal amidst chaotic situations in their lives.

Denmark’s international short film festival, OIFF 2019, is scheduled to be held from August 26 to September 1.

n the occasion of World Environment Day this year, 5 June 2019, Sumon Kalyan Dutta, front man of popular rock band, SKD from Guwahati, has released a song, Let’s Go Green. The song has been released globally with a message to go green, make the world a cleaner, healthier, hygienic and eco-friendly place to live in for future generations. The video also features sand art crafted by renowned artist and world record holder, Rabin Bar. “I have been working on this meaningful project of spreading the message of love to humanity and all living beings through this song keeping in mind the rising temperatures, pollution and climate change,” said Dutta.

Aastha Das from Guwahati makes it to Top 6 of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil Champs

astha Das, a resident of Guwahati, has been selected in the top 6 of the reality singing show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa’s Lil

Champs. The program airs on Zee TV every weekend. The grand finale for the show will be held on Sunday, June 8.

Guwahati man composes song ‘Let’s Go Green’ on World Environment Day While the song has been sung and composed by Dutta, he said it is a team effort. The child artist in the song is Devasmita Borthakur, the video concept has been done by SKD and Gauravpom, who has

Saikia, Ankita Deka, Neeraj Sarma and Ryan D Rozario. The guitar has been played by Rupam Sarma, whereas bass guitar was played by Simanta Boro. The song has been mastered and mixed by Madhurjya

Gogoi at Studio Raising. The song has been released under Dhwani Records. “I would like to thank Management Zerodb studio, Promiti Phukan and all our families,” said Dutta.

Earlier, Das had also taken part in other singing competitions such as the Voice Kids 2017, Colors reality singing show, Rising Star 2017 and Sony TV’s Indian Idol (Judges Round). She has a Visharad degree in classical music and is a class 10 student of Army Public School, Narengi.

Assam girl receives national scholarship for theatre girl from Assam, Roopchanda Sarma, has received a national scholarship in the field of theatre for the year 2019-20. The scholarship is given to eligible candidates by the Centre for Cultural Research and Training under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India every year to encourage young talent in the country. Roopchanda started her acting

also created the music for this song. The lyrics have been written by Diganta Bharati, video editing has been done by Santanu Bar and stills have been provided by Rahul Choudhury. The backing vocals include Rhishita Neog, Ruchita

career under the guidance of Guru Manik Roy. She is also a very good dancer and has taken part in various state and national level dance and theatre festivals. She is a resident of Guwahati and is the daughter of Deepak Sarma and Gunada Mahanta Sarma. Roopchanda is currently pursuing her Masters in Cotton University.

24 Catching Up

G PLUS | June 8 - JUNE 14, 2019