G Plus Vol 6 Issue 41 by G Plus

@guwahatiplus | /c/gplusguwahati www.guwahatiplus.com

INSIDE

Volume 06 | Issue 41 Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019 Price `10 Govt employee, broker arrested for selling infant twins in Goalpara

PG 03

Guwahati on alert ahead of Independence Day

PG 04

The Freddie Mercury tribute night in pictures

PG 21

The fight for the

Akriti Kakkar performing. Photo: Dipannita Sharma

Bollywood artists sing to raise funds for Assam flood relief

arthful Foundation and Hard Rock Cafe Initiative organised a relief concert - #ForAssam - to help out victims affected by the Assam floods. The event was held on August 2 at Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai and featured many musical talents such as Assam’s very own Papon, Benny Dayal, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani, Shilpa Rao, Akriti Kakkar, Manasi Scott, Shantanu M oitra, Aditi Singh Sharma, Richa Sharma, Koco and Mohan (Agnee), Harshdeep Kaur, Neeti Mohan and Dipannita Sharma.

The event was organised in collaboration with Madmax entertainment, 10 music talents and 98.3 FM Radio Mirchi.

FARES!

The brand new battle is a battle on wheels; in fact it’s a war of the 2-wheelers versus the 4-wheelers. In this planet of the APPS, it’s a question of who gets the fares. So is the fight for the fare fair or unfair? In all this it is just fair to say that the war of the fares is very fair for the Guwahatian commuter. G Plus carries the full story on Page 2.

Lead Story

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Ola, Uber drivers irked with govt for allowing Rapido to ply without commercial license G Plus News @guwahatiplus

round 15,000 Ola and Uber cab drivers are upset with the app-based two-wheeler taxi service Rapido. They are also irked with the government for allowing Rapido to ply without commercial license. President of All Assam Cab Operators’ Union, Ismail Ali, talking to G Plus said, “We have submitted a memorandum to the government to stop the Rapido service as soon as possible but the government has not responded in any way.” Ali expressed that in the case of Ola and Uber, unemployed youths take loan, sell their plot of land and thereafter manage to purchase a vehicle after which they again have to spend a lot to convert the private vehicle into a commercial one by availing commercial permit for certain states. The youths also have to pay to avail commercial driving licence and thereafter, the government keeps harassing the drivers. They are harassed if they park somewhere to pick up passengers. Even during elections the

Representative image, internet photo commercial vehicles are forcefully requisitioned by the government for election duty. “Now Rapido or any other service which has two-wheelers as taxis take all the passengers without availing any commercial

license or commercial permit,” said Ali expressing that if the government does not resolve this issue at an early date, the cab association will plan a huge protest. Reacting to the allegations,

District Transport Officer (DTO) (Licensing) of Kamrup (Metro), Arun Bora, talking to G Plus said, “Cab drivers, three-wheeler and two-wheeler motorists do not require commercial driving licence to ply on roads.”

Bora said that two months ago a notification of the central government relaxed the light motor vehicle drivers from availing commercial driving license for driving commercial vehicles. He said even Ola, Uber taxi drivers do not require commercial driving license now as even they come under light motor vehicles category. A source in the DTO said that Uber, Ola four-wheeler taxis do not require commercial licence but require commercial permits which the two-wheelers taxis do not require. According to an online news portal, road transport ministry did away with commercial licences for taxis, autos and twowheelers that are used to deliver food or products to doorsteps to boost employment opportunities. The requirement under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, to obtain the transport licence would arise in case of medium/heavy goods and passenger vehicles only. No other vehicle will require any separate endorsement, even if they are used for commercial purposes, said the portal according to an advisory from the Road, Transport and Highways Ministry in 2018.

Professors, bank managers offering Rapido services as drivers in Ghy

After new Motor Vehicles Bill govt can regulate Uber & Ola

r Vikramjit Kakati, a PhD holder from IIT Guwahati and presently working as an Associate Professor in the department of mechanical engineering in Assam Don Bosco University offers Rapido two-wheeler taxi service whenever he gets time. “I offer Rapido services to connect with the common people and understand new trends of the society. I am a researcher and when I ride my bike I meet people who are not millionaires or billionaires but common people - mostly

students - which help me in getting ideas on what to research on next. The new trends of the society can be easily known,” said Dr Kakati. He also expressed that Ola and Uber have reached isolation as their services are deteriorating with time. The drivers are rude and cancel pick-ups whenever digital payment options are opted for. So, people are happy with Rapido as it is faster and cheaper. Rapido service started in Guwahati on 17th December 2018 and since then 1,400 drivers have enrolled with the

service where the company charges Rs 4 from the drivers for every trip. “Many part time drivers are working with Rapido and teachers, bank managers and even government officials are working with us as Rapido drivers,” said Suman Acharjee, city head of Rapido, Guwahati. There are 10 female riders offering Rapido services as well in Guwahati. Acharjee questioned Ola and Uber officials as, according to him, Ola and Uber are also using two-wheelers without any commercial license. n

he new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, cleared by the Rajya Sabha on 31st July last, gives power to the government to regulate appbased taxi services to make customers’ cab ride experiences smooth and hassle-free. The government has recognized and defined aggregators as digital intermediaries or market places which can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation, under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, did not recognize cab aggregators as

a separate entity. The new law (Motor Vehicles Act) is in place. The government will have the power to frame rules to regulate cab aggregators. The government can now keep an eye on surge or arbitrary pricing, make them offer better services for passengers, such as well-trained drivers. All said and done, this brings better tidings for the passenger on the road as a regulated taxi service, especially in Guwahati, would go a long way towards delivering a better “trip” to them besides checking the oftcomplained high-handedness of the cab drivers.

Crime

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Govt employee, broker arrested for selling infant twins in Goalpara G Plus News @guwahatiplus

he Goalpara district police of Assam, on Wednesday, July 31, arrested two persons for the alleged sale of infant twins. The arrested have been identified as Kushal Talukdar, a government employee in the education department and father of the twins and Ronuka Kalita, a mid-day meal cook, who acted as a broker for the sale. Based on a report by NENow, Amitava Basumatary, additional superintendent of police,

Goalpara on Thursday, August 1 said that they have arrested both the accused in connection with the case no. 454/19 under IPC Sections 372/373/211 and Sections 80/81 of Juvenile Justice Care and

Based on reports, Rupa Talukdar, Kushal Talukdar’s wife gave birth to twin boys on June 19 at a private hospital in Goalpara town. One of the twin boys was handed over to a childless couple in Guwahati who was in touch with the family through the broker Kalita since Rupa was six months pregnant while the other

about the delivery of the twins and their sale. The youth noted that he was shocked to learn of this as he was told that the latter had undergone a surgical operation and was urgently in need of blood. The youth then filed a complaint with the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) office in the third week of July. A DCPU officer stated that they immediately began an investigation after visiting the hospital where the twins were born and after questioning the biological father of the children, the couple was ordered to surrender the babies before the

twin boy was handed over to a couple from Lakhimpur town in West Goalpara. The incident came to light when a local youth who donated blood for Kushal’s wife found out

Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Thus, on July 22, both the infants were

Protection of Children Act 2015. He also mentioned that the accused were produced before court and both of them have been sent to judicial custody. The police are now inquiring into other aspects of the case.

Shweta Agarwal murder case: Court postpones verdict

local fast track court in Guwahati postponed the verdict on quantum of punishment in the murder case of a city college student, Shweta Agarwal on August 1. According to reports, the verdict will be now

pronounced at 10:30 AM on August 3. Earlier, on July 30, a local court convicted Govind Singhal, Shweta’s boyfriend, his mother Kamla Devi Singhal and sister, Bhawani Singhal under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC. The crime took place in December 2017 and

while investigation, Govind Singhal confessed to the murder and explained to the police the pre and post-murder circumstances and how he later tried to cover up the murder by putting the body into a gunny bag and then burning it.

surrendered to the CWC in front of their biological parents. The twin boys have now been placed under the Bongaigaon district-based state adoption authority designated home for 60 days based on the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act 2015. If they are not reclaimed by their biological parents within this time period, they will be declared free for adoption, according to a member of Goalpara CWC. It should be noted that the sections levelled against the accused could land them a sentence of a 10-year jail term.

Snippets Central Govt employees likely to get up to Rs 10,000 hike in July salary

entral government staffers are expected to see a big pay hike as the government has given enough hints that it will increase dearness allowance (DA) from July 1, 2019. This increase is estimated to be from 4 to 5 percent. Hence, if the increase is 4 percent, it will boost the salaries of the central government employees to anything from Rs 720 to Rs 10,000 per month depending on seniority and other relevant factors. It is to be mentioned that currently, the Dearness Allowance (DA) of central govt employees is 12 per cent and if the DA is hiked by 4 per cent, it will increase to 16 per cent. Following which, the salary will increase by Rs 720 per month of the lower-level officials, while the highest level officers will get a hike of Rs 10,000 per month under the 7th Pay Commission pay level 18.

4 Governance Snippets NRL employees contribute generously towards CM Relief Fund

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Guwahati on alert ahead of Independence Day G Plus News @guwahatiplus

s a gesture of solidarity towards the people of Assam affected by the devastating floods that has wreaked havoc, NRL employees contributed generously to the CM’s Relief Fund to help aid the state machinery tackle the large scale destruction of property and displacement of lakhs of people from their homes. A cheque amounting to Rs 23.22 lakhs was handed over today to the chief minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal by CGM (HR) D Choudhury in presence of employees of NRL. This is in addition to the Rs 1 crore donated by NRL towards the CM’s Relief Fund.

Shopkeeper shot by youth in Guwahati

n a shocking incident, a shopkeeper was shot by a youth in Guwahati’s Down Town Hospital area on August 1. According to reports, the incident took place when the accused identified as Nupur Kashyap Hazarika had gone to buy cigarettes from the shop of the victim namely Manoj Pathak and got into a heated argument. Following this Nupur took out his air gun and shot Pathak wounding him. When the miscreant tried to escape he was caught by the local people who handed him over to Dispur police. Later, police recovered two more air guns from Nupur’s possession and took him into custody while Pathak is undergoing treatment at a hospital.

he Guwahati city police have sounded alert in the city ahead of Independence Day. This time however, there is no specific threat but there are general threats. Commissioner of Police, Deepak Kumar, talking to G Plus said, “We are on vigil 24X7 and prepared for any situation.” He agreed that there are threats from all the militant groups operating in Assam but the police are accordingly prepared. Talking about the sleeper cells of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), the city’s top cop revealed that they are working on it and the issue is being closely monitored. The presence of the ULFA-I sleeper cells was identified in Assam after a grenade blast on May 15 last had targeted a police picket on the RG Baruah Road near Guwahati Central, a mall. From the many arrested in connection with the blast, around three were suspected as sleeper cell members of ULFA-I. The Commissioner of Police, after investigation, had then said that some arrested members had been contact with ULFA-I high command since many years and the investigation underlined that the ULFA-I is trying to rebuild its network and set up sleeper cells across the state. The Assam Police is aware of the situation and security has been accordingly beefed up ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. Meanwhile, three suspected Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) cadres were also arrested in

Barpeta district of lower Assam on Tuesday (30th July) last. The presence of Jammat-ulMujahedeen of Bangladesh (JMB) in the state has raised a fair bit of concern. Now the reports of the invasion of ISIS ideology and it spreading in the state are surely dangerous propositions. But meanwhile, the city police sound confident of tackling any kind of untoward situation. Another senior police official said that three vital matters would be to check the security of the venue of official celebrations (which is the Veterinary Filed at Khanapara), area domination, patrolling and the intensity of patrolling. He said that prior to events like Independence Day and Republic Day the security is beefed up in various ways. He said that the operational teams like the commando and other patrolling parties are keeping vigil in all the areas near the venue and also the entire city. Senior police officials are interacting with all the thana personnel and conducting a number of meetings with the local people to sensitise them and soliciting information about any suspicious person in their

were in contact with ULFA-I Lighter and faster high command

respective areas and localities. All the security measures like checking, frisking and so on are

Watching over the city | G Plus photo being carried out on a daily basis with change of timings to keep the surprise elements intact. There are many teams of antisabotage checking who keep patrolling in different areas every day. All the city entry points on the highways are being thoroughly checked; the train entry points are also being checked. There are some suspected areas in the city which are under the police scanner and are checked almost every day. The river ways of the city are also well-guarded with all the river ghats being thoroughly checked every day with an eye being kept for suspicious

Guwahati on alert ahead of Independence Day

Police accordingly beefing up security

Police claim to be prepared for any situation

Police strategizes on area domination, patrolling and intensity of patrolling

ULFA-I trying to rebuild its Scan the QR code network and set up sleeper cells across the state

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No specific but general threat prevails

RG Baruah Road blast on May 15 revealed presence of ULFA-I sleeper cells Some arrested members

Suspected Jamaat-ulMujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) cadres arrested from Barpeta JMB presence in Assam raises serious concern

Operational teams like the commando and other patrolling parties visiting all the areas near the venue (Khanapara) and the entire city

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people crossing the river. All suspected miscreants of the city are being scanned and

if required, are interrogated to search for any clue. All the hotels, lodges are being checked and strict verification is being done of the people visiting the city. There are commando teams moving as mobile patrols and door-to-door checking is being done areawise. All the city-based nagrik committees have been informed to report any kind of suspicious activity to the police. “I request the public to cooperate with the police, to be safe and to celebrate the Independence Day with full spirit,” said Commissioner of Police, Deepak Kumar.

Senior police officials meeting thana level personnel and sensitising local people Security measures like checking, frisking being carried out on daily basis All city entry points being thoroughly checked City top cop seeks public cooperation

In The News

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Indigenous people dropped from NRC, claim Assam govt G Plus News @guwahatiplus

he Assam government on Thursday, August 1, revealed the districtwise figures of people left out from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and claimed that the percentage of people excluded from the draft NRC was lower in districts bordering Bangladesh having a sizeable Muslim population

the genuineness of the NRC, Patowary said, “It is a matter of concern that the percentage of names excluded from the draft NRC is higher in the Bangladesh border districts compared to the rest of the state.” The ruling BJP members also came harsh upon the NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela expressing doubt about whether a correct NRC will ever be published. They claimed that the rate of exclusion of NRC applicants in the districts bordering

to the Bangladesh border, like South Salmara, 7.22% applicants were excluded from the draft NRC. This figure in Dhubri is 8.26% and in Karimganj 7.67%. But districts where indigenous people live, like Karbi Anglong, the figure is 14.31% and in upper Assam’s Tinsukia, where sons of the soil have been living for ages, this figure is 13.25%.” BJP MLAs Debananda Hazarika, Shiladitya Dev and Numal Momin raised the issue during Zero Hour and demanded re-verification of the NRC. They

Minister CM Patowary (L) and NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela (R) than those where Hindus were in majority. The list which contained district-wise figures, laid down by Assam Accord Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, revealed that 12.15 per cent of the applicants were not included. A total of 3,29,91,385 people had applied for the NRC, out of which, 40,07,717 names were excluded. According to the list, the percentage of non-inclusion of names in districts bordering Bangladesh like South Salmara was 7.22, Dhubri 8.26 and Karimganj 7.67. On the other hand, the nonborder districts of Hojai and Darrang have the highest noninclusion rate at 32.99 per cent and 30.90 per cent respectively. The famed river island of Majuli had the lowest exclusion rate of 1.62% followed by that of the upper Assam district of Charaideo at 2.88%. Expressing concerns over

Bangladesh was less than the state average which is 12.15 per cent. This is proof that a section of people residing in border districts of Assam has wrongly been included in the NRC, they said, slamming the coordinator. They alleged that there was gross misuse of the legacy data in various districts, particularly in those bordering Bangladesh. “Due to this misuse, comparatively fewer people were left out of the draft NRC in those districts”, Patowary said. On August 16 last year, the Supreme Court of India had asked Hajela “to file in Court, in a sealed cover, the percentage of the population in each district (district-wise) who have been left out of the final draft NRC.” Responding to a Zero Hour notice in the Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said in a written statement, “According to data, 12.15% applicants’ names were excluded from the final draft. In districts close

raised questions regarding the supposed inclusion of allegedly illegal Bangladeshi citizens in the NRC. “In areas close to international border, 5-6% names were not included whereas in areas where indigenous people including tribals reside, up to 18% names have not been included. People started questioning NRC itself. NRC has to be correct, with 0% error. No foreigner’s name can be included,” said Momin.

Hazarika questioned whether the NRC would be a correct one, “free from any single foreigner.” “If correct, then it will be a Magna Carta or else it will be a threat to stability, sovereignty, national integrity and unity of our country,” he said. BJP members also demanded a 20% re-verification in districts closer to the Bangladesh border and 10% re-verification in others. “We demand a re-verification because we want our NRC to be absolutely error-free,” they said.

Under the Supreme Court’s directions, the first draft of the NRC was published on December 31, 2017, and the final draft on July 30 last year, where 40 lakh odd people were left out. The Supreme Court had, on July 23, extended the deadline for publication of the final NRC by a month to August 31. “We want an error-free NRC that will include the names of Indian citizens and exclude the names of foreigners,” Patowary said. n

6 Poll Snippets NRL contributes Rs 1 crore to CM Relief Fund

umaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) contributed an amount of Rs.1 Crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Assam on July 27 in aid of the victims of the ongoing spate of devastating floods that has affected the state. The cheque was formally handed over to Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, by MD NRL, SK Barua, in presence of Assam Industries & Commerce Minister CM Patwary, Director (Technical) NRL, BJ Phukan, MLA Khumtai, Mrinal Saikia, NRL Independent Director, RK Sharma and others. As a responsible corporate citizen, this is a token gesture by NRL to help the state machinery in dealing with the magnitude of destruction and damage caused by the floods which has caused loss of precious lives, large scale destruction of property and displacement of lakhs of people from their homes. The chief minister thanked NRL for coming forward with a helping hand in this hour of crisis.

Assam Man represents India on Arctic Expedition 2019

ituraj Phukan, SecretaryGeneral of Green Guard Nature Organization, who is also the climate change brand ambassador of Bitchem Asphalt Technologies Ltd and member of Zublee Foundation, was the only person from Assam to represent India on the recently held Climate Force Arctic Expedition 2019 to the North Pole Region. Along with his concern for the environment, he also took up an initiative on behalf of Zublee Foundation to urge people to support deceased organ donation from the Arctic by unfurling a flag saying “Save Human Lives.”

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Stringent fines needed to improve traffic scenario: G Plus poll Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

With the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2019 being passed by Rajya Sabha, would increased fines ensure better traffic management?

he Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2019 which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 1, provides for stricter penalties for those violating road traffic norms. The Bill states that traffic norm violators will now have to shell out more money for various road traffic violations including driving without license, over speeding, drunken driving, overloading, driving without seatbelt, overloading of two-wheelers, driving without helmet, racing, driving despite disqualification, jumping traffic lights and using mobile phones; among others. The Bill also seeks to increase the quantum of punishment for the offences. G Plus conducted a poll asking the readers if according to them the increased fines and stricter penalties would ensure better traffic management. A total of 972 participants took part in the poll. Out of this, 61 per cent said that if the amendments come into effect, they would indeed ensure a better system of road transportation in the country. On the other hand, 39 per cent people said that the new amendments would not have much effect on the overall traffic management system. Further, some participants also feel that the chances of the amendments being successful depend on how well they are implemented. The Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2019 also proposes safeguard of such persons who provide emergency

Yes

61%

Votes

972 No

39%

assistance (medical or nonmedical) to road accident victims, against harassment from law enforcement agencies. One of the provisions of the Bill also mentions the creation of a Road Safety Board to advise central and state governments on different aspects of road safety. Additionally, in case of juvenile offenders, the guardians of offenders will be deemed guilty and the registration of the vehicle will also be cancelled. “The ministry has increased the penalty but what about

traffic? No traffic signals in most of the areas and places like Athgaon, Fancy Bazar, no traffic police to control traffic jam,” said Nitesh Sharma. On the other hand, Arshad Hussain said that the proposed amendments would prove to be effective “if implemented in true sense without any corruption.” “Rash driving is common in most of the cities in India. People in Sikkim and Mizoram definitely know how to maintain themselves on the road and follow all the rules and regulations. Installation

of traffic management systems will not be fruitful where most of the drivers don’t know how to abide by traffic rules and overtaking and speeding is common from buses, cars and bikes,” said Rupam B. Some other respondents also expressed their apprehension that higher fines would mean that traffic police would charge more as bribe. On the other hand, some were also of the opinion that large-scale awareness is required among citizens about traffic rules and regulations.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal contributes Rs 5 crores for Assam flood relief

ith the Assam flood situation, which is slowly limping back to normal, a number of politicians and celebrities, both regional and national come forward and help those affected by it.

Most recently, Haryana CM Manohar Lal donated Rs 5 crores to the Assam Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) to help victims of the floods. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal on his Twitter Handle said, “Thank you Haryana CM @mlkhattar ji for contributing Rs.

5 crore towards those

affected by the floods in Assam. Your concern and support gives more strength to the entire state to fight this natural calamity.” It is to be mentioned that currently, 436 relief

camps are operational and 62 relief distribution centres are set up in Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Kamrupin Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Kamrup, Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, and Jorhat districts.

In Conversation

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Duty bearers must be aware of legal provisions for child protection: IGP Surendra Kumar Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

ith a view to bolster child protection in Assam, Surendra Kumar IGP (CID) recently wrote a book titled ‘Role of Duty Bearers in Child Protection’. The book describes the roles

and responsibilities of various duty bearers working in the field of child protection. It was launched by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at an event in Guwahati on July 20, 2019. The book also elaborately explains the provisions of 18 important laws which currently deal with protection of children. Kumar’s book will be circulated nationwide to help the cause of child protection in Assam and other states. G Plus caught up with the author to know his motivation behind writing the book, the appropriate approach towards combating such crimes and protecting children from cybercrime. Here are the excerpts from the interview:

What prompted you to write the book? The book was conceptualised

during the Fourth Round Regional Consultation of North Eastern States and Sikkim on ‘Effective Implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act, 2015) with focus on Integrated Child Protection Services, organised by Supreme Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee and Gauhati High Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee in collaboration with

State Child Protection Society and UNICEF, Assam. A brochure on role of duty bearers in child protection, written by me, was circulated to the participants in the consultation. The brochure was liked by the honourable judges of the Juvenile Justice Committee of the Supreme Court and the suggestion came from them to develop the brochure into a handbook. This is how I started writing this book.

Your book aims at improving the awareness level of duty bearers. How important is this aspect in your view? We have framework in India. have been

a very sound legal for child protection The existing Acts amended and new

legislation has taken place to make the legal framework even more stringent and childfriendly. It is also equally important for the duty bearers responsible for implementing these laws to be fully aware of these provisions for maximum effect at the ground level. I would like to draw a parallel in this regard. We may have very good medicines meant for various ailments, but if the doctors are not aware of the medicines available then they may not prescribe such medicines. This is also true for law enforcement. I have observed that the level of awareness about their roles and responsibilities among some of the officers of various departments who are entrusted with the duty of protection of children, needs to be improved. This book is not only meant for the police, but also for several other departments including Education Department, Health Department, Social Welfare Department and Labour Department.

Please elaborate on the important aspects of the book. The book consists of 17 chapters and sub chapters. One chapter deals with the role of district magistrates (DMs) and executive magistrates as they have a number of responsibilities mandated by law in the area of child protection. Ten sub chapters cover the role of police and various aspects of child protection like child labour, child sexual abuse, child trafficking, child marriage and cybercrimes against children have been prominently covered. One chapter each is devoted to other departments. The book has been designed in such a way that it can be sub-divided into eight booklets department wise. However, it is expected that the functionaries of one department should not only be aware of his or her own role but should also be reasonably aware of the role

of other stakeholders. A number of infographics (29) have been provided in order to improve clarity of the content. The book is not priced and would be distributed for free.

What is your future plan for this book? For wider penetration, an e-book would be launched very soon. It is also our plan to translate the book, particularly the chapters relating to police, in Assamese language for distribution to all police stations of Assam. The copies of the book would be distributed to organisations, institutions and individuals working in the field of child protection. Revised editions would be released at regular intervals in order to capture all the amendments, new enactments, new initiatives and High Court/ Supreme Court orders relating to child protection which might be taking place after publication of the previous edition. This would ensure that the content of the book remains up to date.

Since you have a lot of experience in child protection, what should be the appropriate approach towards combating crimes against children? Prevention

crime;

protection and assistance to the victims and investigation of the cases and prosecution of the offenders are important aspects in child protection. All these aspects need to be addressed in consistent, coordinated and sustained basis as a part of strategy. The interest of the child has to be at the centre of all the efforts and child-friendly approach needs to be adopted by all the stakeholders. Awareness leads to prevention of crime and therefore it deserves due attention, particularly awareness among children, parents, teachers and citizens. The government; NGOs; civil society organisations; training and research institutions; media; academia; corporate and business houses; and citizens in general all have to join hands to protect the children and to make the society safe for them. Children are vulnerable to cybercrime, what needs to be done in your view to protect them from this menace? These days children, particularly adolescents, are increasingly using smart phones and many have access to social media. While these platforms offer a number of advantages for children, the dangers are many. The need of the hour is to sensitise and make children aware of such threats in cyber space. The parents and teachers also need to be fully aware of the risks posed by use of smart phones and computers by children. The cyber activity of the children needs to be monitored while giving due regard to their freedom and privacy. Cyber bullying, grooming, cyber stalking, pornography depicting children, cyber defamation, online radicalization etc are some of the types of cybercrime against children. Any instance of victimization should be reported to police. Also, the government of India has launched Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme. Complaints may be lodged online by citizens regarding online circulation of contents relating to rape/ gang-rape and child pornography on the portal www.cyberpolice.gov.in n

8 In The News

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

New Zealand lends support to Hargilla conservation in Assam Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

he New Zealand High Commission has joined the conservation efforts to save the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork in Assam. The High Commission has extended its support in protecting the bird in Assam’s

With a lack of space for their nests, the bird is endangered with only around 850 birds left in Assam. The state is also home to more than 75 per cent of the global Greater Adjutant Stork population.

Kamrup (Rural) district. The Greater Adjutant Stork is a member of the stork family. It is a large scavenger bird which can measure close to 5 feet in height and has a wingspan of eight feet. The bird is commonly known as “Hargilla” in Assam. However, with a lack of space for their nests, the bird is critically endangered with only around 850 birds left in Assam. The state is also home to more than 75 per cent of the global Greater Adjutant Stork population. Further, merely 1,200 odd birds survive in the world. Purnima Devi Barman, the founder of “Hargilla Army” and a wildlife crusader in Assam told G Plus that she recently met the New Zealand High Commissioner, Joanna Kempkers, at an event in New Delhi where she expressed her desire to extend her support. “She was already familiar with our work and said that she was very fascinated and wanted to support us as our work is not only related to wildlife conservation but also to women

empowerment and social change,” said Barman adding that the High Commissioner decided to provide 80 sewing machines for the women of Hargilla Army. This had a major impact and aided to boost their enthusiasm, mentioned Barman. These women also received training and awareness programmes under the High Commission. “The New Zealand High Commission is happy to support the project through our Head of Mission Purnima Devi Barman with New Zealand High Commissioner Joanna Kempkers Fund. I commend Dr Purnima Barman items has helped establish a will continue our support by for the way she has integrated connect with the birds that providing 200 women with 80 the conservation of the has boosted conservation sewing machines. I understand endangered Hargilla with the efforts,” said the New Zealand from Purnima that weaving empowerment of local women High Commissioner, Joanna the stork motif on saris, by offering them a means of Kempkers in a statement. skirts, gamochas and other livelihood. This month, we n

All-women group on a mission to save the stork

arman has been associated with Hargilla conservation for the past 11 years. She founded an all-women group called “Hargilla army” to preserve the natural habitat of the bird in Kamrup (Rural) district’s Dadara Pachariya village. Interestingly, this village is also a prominent breeding colony in the world for the Greater Adjutant Stork. What was started as small women’s self-help group to create awareness about the bird, today has 400 members

with 200 active members who help conserve the bird in their community by sensitising people about the stork. “We tell people that they are the stakeholders of the bird, as the trees on which the storks make their nests are on their own property. We motivate them to become protectors of the trees as well as the birds and to sensitise others,” Devi told G Plus adding that they stress on community members to develop a feeling of ownership for the bird. The women conservationists

of the Hargilla army also conduct street plays and campaigns to protect the bird. Through them, the Greater Adjutant Stork has now been integrated into the tradition of the village folk. This women’s group also doubles up as a means of selfreliance for these women with livelihood support as they weave the motif of the bird on dresses, gamocha, mekhela chador, scarves and sell them. Earlier, the bird was treated as a bad omen by the village residents who used to cut down the trees on which the Greater

Adjutant Storks made their nests. But now with a transformation in their perspective, the bird has been merged to become a part of their traditions and has been introduced into their prayer songs, into their dresses and culture by the Hargilla army. Barman informed that these women also keep monitoring the birds and their nests and are also involved in counting of the bird population. They also inform the authorities immediately in case of any bird fall. Further, during the time of Diwali festival, the Hargilla

army members take special measures to keep vigilance and protect the birds from burning of crackers. Barman said that by their support the New Zealand High Commissioner has been instrumental in motivating the members of those involved in Hargilla conservation. “The New Zealand High Commissioner has shown faith in us and the financial support through sewing machines was extremely helpful. She is also spreading the word about our work,” mentioned Barman. n

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

Scattered T-Storms

Mostly Cloudy

AM T-Storms

Scattered T-Storms

33°27° C

35°27° C

35°28° C

35°27° C

35°27°C

SATURDAY Scattered T-Storms

33°26° C

In The News

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Hima, Mary & Jamuna keep NE rocking on the sporting field Harshita Himatsingka @HHimatsingka

he northeastern region of the country has presented some of the best athletes in recent times in various sports. Currently, there are three female sports stars that have taken the front seat and made the region proud.

Hima Das

Lovingly called Dhing Express, Assam’s very own Hima Das has become the talk of the town. Recently, she won five gold medals back-to-back in a month, at several tournaments across Europe. Her success was appreciated by all and her efforts lauded across the country by politicians, celebrities and other well-known public figures. Das was also featured in her very own Amul advertisement. Further, she’s promised Prime Minister Narendra Modi that she will work even harder and get more medals for the country. “India is very proud of @ HimaDas8’s phenomenal achievements over the last few days. Everyone is absolutely delighted that she has brought home five medals in various tournaments. Congratulations to her and best wishes for her future endeavours,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

MC Mary Kom

A name that needs no introduction, six-time world title champion from Manipur, MC Mary Kom, has proved that she is the best indeed. At the recently concluded President’s Cup 2019 tournament, Kom won the gold medal in the one-sided 51 kg category. Expressing her joy and gratitude, she tweeted, “Gold

medal for me and for my country at #PresidentCup Indonesia. Winning means you’re willing to go longer,work harder & give more effort than anyone else. I sincerely thanks to all my Coaches and support staffs of @BFI_official @KirenRijiju @ Media_SAI.” Looking ahead, the Manipuri boxer is trying to make her place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the World Championships in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Earlier this year, Kom was also nominated for the second edition of the Indian Sports Honour (ISH) held in Mumbai on February 16 in the “Sportswoman of the Year (Individual Sports)” category, along with sprinter Hima Das.

Jamuna Boro

Another star athlete from Assam, Jamuna Boro, did the state proud after she won the gold medal at the one-sided 54 kg final in the 23rd President’s Cup event held in Indonesia. It should be mentioned that earlier this year, Boro had won another gold medal at the 2nd India Open International Boxing Tournament, held in Guwahati. She was even praised by Assam’s CM Sonowal, who tweeted, “Congratulations to Jamuna Boro for winning at the prestigious #PresidentCup Boxing tournament in Indonesia. We are proud of your achievement. Keep shining.” Earlier, Boro was also gifted one bigha of land for her recent achievement in the field of boxing and was felicitated

by BJP MLA of Dhekiajuli, Ashok Singhal, who said that the boxer made the town and Assam proud with her remarkable achievement. On his official Twitter handle, Singhal stated: “It was a privilege to meet our own national

#boxing champion Jamuna Boro at Vidhayak Seva Kendra #Dhekiajuli. You have made Assam proud. We are confident that you will continue to bring more medals for Assam and India. Wish you all the best.”

10 Guest Column

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Indirect victims: The prisoners’ wives of Guwahati

he effects of incarceration reaches deep into the lives of the offenders’ families and communities. Their interests and needs are often overlooked and not given much attention by the criminal justice system. They represent a vulnerable section of the population. I had conducted a study to explore the secondary victimization of the spouses and the stigma/labeling experienced by them for being associated with incarcerated convicts. It was part of my MPhil Programme in Criminology and was done under the guidance of Professor (Dr) K Jaishankar, Professor & Head, Department of Criminology, Raksha Shakti University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The data was collected from the Central Prison Jail, Guwahati, Assam. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 such spouses. Secondary victimization as a concept looks into the way the experience of victimization is extended to another party such as the kin of primary victims, kin of offenders or a broader group who vicariously gets affected due to their association with the primary victim such as police officers, medical practitioners, victimologists and victim support providers. The study focused on the spouses of the offenders and how their lives changed after the incarceration. It examined four key areas of victimization: financial, social, physical and psychological. As per the findings, financial impact was the greatest difficulty for the spouses. They had to take additional roles and responsibilities as the primary bread winner of the family was inside the prison. The cost of legal help, travel costs for prison visits and being sole provider for the family were some of the biggest challenges for these women. Many of them also had to start work in order to sustain themselves. “There have been a lot of difficulties, financially. That’s why I could not send my children to school. All three of them are at home, just playing around. Even I had to start working as a daily wage labourer in order to sustain myself. I earn around 1000 rupees per month. I did not have to do this before. Earning money seemed a burden to me as earlier I did not have to go out to work,” said one of the spouses when asked about her financial difficulties.

As a population, these spouses are less visible than the primary victims of crime. These women were legally innocent but had to suffer only because they are married to incarcerated husbands. They led normal lives before their husbands’ incarceration disrupted their lives forever.

my husband’s incarceration. I also don’t take medicines regularly, so I don’t really get well. I get tired easily as well,” said a spouse when asked about her physical health. The most surprising finding of the study was that none of the spouses reported feeling stigmatized or judged by others in the community as well as the correctional institution. This was because they had strong connections with their respective families as well as with the in-laws. This can be one of the reasons that led them to perceive positive social networks and relations. The families as a whole undertook multiple roles and responsibilities and these had long term implications for the families to stay connected. “My relationship with my family and other relatives are still the same. They all know

such emotional difficulties. “To be honest, I haven’t been sleeping well ever since my husband went to the jail. I am constantly thinking about him. I feel hopeless sometimes but my in-laws are trying to get him back so I hope he comes back soon. My daughter is so young and I don’t want her to grow up without a father. She does not have a father figure now and this makes me really sad. I hope my husband comes back soon,” expressed one of the spouses. As a population, these spouses are less visible than the primary victims of crime. These women were legally innocent but had to suffer only because they are married to incarcerated husbands. They led normal lives before their husbands’ incarceration disrupted their lives forever. The implications of that event are still discernible

GUEST COLUMN

Rashmi Choudhury at just one agent or an individual taking the accountability for their sufferings will be an over-simplified view of their victimization. Rather what we need is a multi-stakeholder approach to make a positive difference to the lives of these women. Stakeholders such as policy makers, academicians, practitioners, researchers and the broader civil society can prove to be instrumental in providing a more nuanced approach to the complexity of the issue. In India, women related legislation so far only includes schemes and provisions for direct victims of crime. However in various countries such as the US, the UK and Australia,

Representative image The impact of victimization was also reflected in their physical health as well as changes in their lifestyles. They expressed signs of loss of appetite, decreased willingness to work and changes in their social activities. “I have started to get ill frequently. In the last few months, I have had viral fever, cold and cough quite often. And the frequency has gone up after

that my husband is in the jail and has not shown any kind of negativity towards me. Even in the prison, the staffs there are helpful and cooperative and I haven’t had any bad experience so far”, said one of the spouses when inquired about any change in her social life. Psychologically, these women reported feeling anxious, as if their life is hopeless and meaningless and among other

in their daily lives. Through the narratives of the spouses, I was able to unfold some of the difficulties these women faced. The experiences of these women were hidden and their every day challenges were not studied in the Indian context until now. However, this study asks a perplexing question: Who is responsible for these women’s victimization? Is it the state or the offender himself? To be looking

there are various national organizations that specifically support spouses and families of offenders. There is still a need to recognize the experiences of these spouses and include them within the realm of mainstream victim support and assistance policies. (The author holds a Master’s degree in Criminology from LNJN National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science, New Delhi)

News This Week

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

A quick round up of the news that mattered during the past week

Maijan tea sells for Rs 70,501/kg at tea auction in Guwahati

After Manohari Gold tea from Assam’s Dibrugarh district sold for a whopping Rs 50,000 per kilogram, a line of Golden Tips from Maijan Tea Estate of The Assam Company Ltd sold at a new record price of Rs 70,501 per kg. This tea was purchased by Mundhra Tea Company of Guwahati and will be shared between their clients Steven Plaizier from Belgium and Namhah Marketing, a Guwahati based online tea store.

Over 6 million phones recycled to make Tokyo 2020 Olympic medals

Tokyo Olympics 2020 will use 5,000 medals that have all been made using 100% recycled materials from old electronics. Reportedly collected by the Olympic Committee, 6.21 million phones were used to be able to get the right amount of materials for gold, silver and bronze medals. Other devices collected included cameras and laptops, amounting to almost 80,000 tons of electronic devices. It is to be mentioned that the committee was able to extract around 71 pounds of gold, 7,700 pounds of silver and 4,850 pounds of bronze.

PM Modi to feature in Discovery’s ‘Man Vs Wild’

Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy, Narendra Modi, will feature in a special episode of Discovery Channel’s “Man Vs Wild” with Bear Grylls on August 12. The special episode, which has been shot in Jim Corbett National Park, will be a frank and freewheeling journey, will throw light on wildlife conservation and highlight issues related to environmental change. The adventurous pair will even have to make a raft & cross a jungle river together.

Now cars and bikes likely to get more expensive

The central government has proposed to increase the registration charges for two and four-wheelers. If the new proposal comes into effect, car owners would have to shell out 5,000 to register their new petrol or diesel car, while renewal of registration would cost Rs 10,000. Currently, the cost of registration for both old and new vehicles is Rs 600. Two-wheeler owners will have to pay Rs 1000 for new motorcycles and Rs 2000 for renewing the registration of their old two-wheelers.

CBSE makes reporting all cases of low attendance mandatory

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it mandatory for schools to report all cases of low attendance. Schools will now have to submit supporting documents and a final call will be taken by the board in accordance with its bylaws. This is being mandated as board officials after an analysis of the 2019 results found that students whose attendance had been condoned, performed poorly in the examinations.

Now cinema halls to show awareness clips on child sexual assault: SC

Accepting a lawyer’s suggestion, the Supreme Court of India has directed all cinema halls across India to play a short video clip to create awareness about sexual assault cases against children with helpline numbers. Senior advocate V Giri, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, gave a slew of suggestions to effectively deal with child rape cases in the country to a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. A short clip to spread awareness should necessarily be screened in every movie hall and a child helpline number should also be displayed not only in such clips, but also at various other prominent places, including in schools and other public places, Giri suggested.

J&K govt issues security advisory for Amarnath pilgrims, cites terror threat

Citing terror threat in the Kashmir Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration issued a security advisory for the Amarnath yatra pilgrims. The security advisory to the Amarnath pilgrims and the tourists in the Kashmir Valley read: “Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats, with specific targeting of the Amarth Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the Valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible.”

Triple Talaq Bill passed by Rajya Sabha

Smugglers tie crude bombs on cattle to torment BSF troops

Rajya Sabha has passed The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 on Tuesday, July 30. The bill criminalises instant triple talaq and offenders will be given a jail term of three years. According to a report by ANI, Law & Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the bill is not about politics, but about the empowerment of women.

Border Security Force (BSF) troops in West Bengal have had to face a new threat these days in regard to catching cattle smugglers. The BSF Facebook and Twitter page mentioned that smugglers are tying socket/crude bombs on the neck of these cattle and dropping them into the river so that when border security officials try to rescue the cattle, the bombs blast, injuring both the officer and the animal. It should be noted that these incidents have been recorded in West Bengal, a hub of cattle smuggling.

Arunachal Pradesh govt likely to ban PUBG

Arunachal Pradesh government’s home department has written a letter to the Commissioner of Law and Justice, Secretary of Information Technology and Communication along with the Director-General of Police seeking their opinions on banning the hugely popular online game Player Unknown’s Battleground or PUBG. Under Secretary (Home), Habung Lampung, in a letter wrote, “I am directed to forward herewith a copy of a letter…received from the Governor’s Secretariat on the above-mentioned subject (ban on PUBG). In this regard, it is desired that inter-departmental inputs and comments shall be obtained for further necessary action.”

12 In The News

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

CCD founder’s suicide: Why he did it may remain an eternal mystery Harshita Himatsingka @HHimatsingka

G Siddhartha, the founder of India’s biggest coffee chain, Cafe Coffee Day (CCD), was found dead on the morning of July 31, 36 hours after he went missing from a bridge near Mangaluru in Karnataka. His body washed ashore Netravati River near Ullal in Mangaluru and was recovered by two fishermen at around 6:30

inflatable boats were also used and the police even sought the help of local fishermen in the area to search the river. One of the fishermen involved

A few days before the business tycoon went missing, he had written a letter to board members and employees of Cafe Coffee Day wherein he had

In the letter, Siddhartha also stated that he was under a lot of pressure from one of the “private equity partners.” It should be mentioned that in September of 2017, the businessman’s offices were raided by income tax officers. Siddhartha was among India’s largest exporters of coffee beans and his family had been in the coffee-growing business for more than 130 years, as mentioned on the website of Mindtree - a consultancy firm, where he was a non-executive director. Sringeri MLA, TD Rajegowda, took to Twitter and stated that Siddhartha “was a little upset regarding the Income Tax torture, wanted to sell 2-3 properties to settle all the debts because he was having more assets than liabilities.” Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, also tweeted and said that the letter “discussed tax terrorism, which is an ugly face of politically motivated institutions” and has called for an impartial and fair investigation into the coffee mogul’s death. However, the income tax department, on Tuesday, denied any charges of harassment during its probe against Siddhartha as it stated that the signature on the letter being circulated on social media was different from his available signature. The department officials also

in the rescue operation had claimed that he saw someone jump off the bridge on Tuesday, July 30.

alleged harassment by an income tax officer and expressed regret for not being able to create “the right profitable business.”

stated that the business tycoon was keeping stash income after raids were conducted against him.

asked him to stop the car following which he got out of the vehicle and instructed his driver to drive towards the end of the bridge and wait there. It should be noted that an extensive search operation involving many agencies including multiple teams of police forces, along with the Coast Guard and the National Disaster Response Force, had been conducted since Monday, July 29 after Siddhartha went missing. Dog squads and

The coffee mogul’s business empire has a complex structure of over 50 subsidiaries, which includes estimated value of businesses as mentioned in his letter to a total of Rs 18,000 crores compared to his debt of Rs 6,500 crores. am on Wednesday. According to a report by NDTV, Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil informed reporters that two fishermen found Siddhartha’s body early that morning, 500 metres away from the road bridge from where it is alleged he jumped into the river on Monday night. Further, in a report by ANI, Mangaluru lawmaker and former minister, UT Khader said that friends and relatives had confirmed the identity of the body and it has was moved to a hospital in Mangaluru. Police officials had mentioned that Siddhartha’s body would be handed over to the family after legal formalities were completed. Meanwhile, the Mangaluru police chief had informed that an investigation was underway to find out if Siddhartha took his own life. According to local police, Siddhartha was last seen on the bridge over Netravati River in Mangaluru on Monday evening. The CCD founder’s driver, Basavaraj Patil, in his statement to the police, mentioned that they were heading to Sakleshpur from Bengaluru, which is a 220 km drive, in a Toyota Innova when Siddhartha asked him to drive towards Mangaluru. As they approached a bridge near the coastal city, Siddhartha

Numerous other political leaders including Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda also took to Twitter to mourn the death of the coffee king. Based on a report by Times of India, as of Wednesday, the shares of Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd plummeted 20 percent to hit its lowest trading permissible limit. In two days, the company’s market valuation dropped by Rs 1,463.32 crores to Rs 2,603.68 crores on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The coffee mogul’s business empire has a complex structure of over 50 subsidiaries, which includes estimated value of businesses as mentioned in his letter to a total of Rs 18,000 crores compared to his debt of Rs 6,500 crores. Based on figures for financial year 2019-20, Coffee Day Enterprises, the holding company had revenues of Rs 4,264 crores, with profit/loss of Rs 128 crores. Some of his other businesses include Coffee Day Global (coffee and related business, net revenue Rs 2,043 crores), The Serai (hospitality business, net revenue Rs 32 crores), Sical Logistics (integrated multimodal logistics, net revenue Rs 1,525 crores), Tanglin (Sez Tech Parks, net revenue Rs 156 crores), Way2Wealth Securities (investment consultancy, net revenue, Rs 527 crores), Coffee Day Trading (investment operations, net revenue Rs 59 crores), additional value of businesses and assets (approximately Rs 4,200 crores). Looking back, it has been stated that Siddhartha had started his career as an analyst and equity trader in Mumbai after graduating from St Aloysius College in Mangaluru. He first worked with JM Morgan Stanley (now JM Financial) where he worked with the company’s chairman, Nimesh Kampani. It should be noted the business tycoon’s last rites were performed at his estate in Chikkamagaluru as per Vokkaliga tradition, and his cremation took place at his father’s estate in Belur Taluk, before which his body was kept at Wenlock hospital premises for half-an-hour for people to pay their last respects. His funeral was attended by a number of state and central leaders. It should be mentioned that all corporate offices of CCD were closed on Wednesday; however, outlets were open for customers. (Inputs NDTV, Times of India)

Guest Column

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

SIP in Debt Funds S etting aside a fixed amount of money every month specifically for savings or investment is the best way to create wealth. For people willing to invest a fixed amount every month rather than a single time investment of huge amount, opening a RD, PPF or starting a SIP are the most preferred options. Fixed Deposits have been a part of each and every Indian

It was the best option to earn interest while ensuring capital protection. The declining interest rate regime and the excessive liquidity caused by demonetization, higher savings and financial literacy have forced banks to reduce their FD interest rates to historic lows. This, in turn, is forcing investors to turn look for investment alternatives with higher returns whilst ensuring

becoming a part of every one’s portfolio. A Debt Fund is a type of mutual fund which invests most of the money gathered from investors into fixed income instruments like Corporate Bonds, Government Bonds, Bonds issued by Banks, Certificate of Deposits, Treasury Bills etc. There are numerous benefits to investors doing SIPs in Debt Funds instead of traditional instruments like recurring

Internet Image household. Our grandparents, parents have all ended up in investing in FDs. Whenever they had to save money for a goal, they put it in an FD.

Internet Image

maximum safety of capital. But is there a more efficient way to earn? Over the past few years, mutual funds are increasingly

deposits. Below are some of the most striking features.

Safety Bank

deposits are most likely one of the safest avenues for investors with an almost negligible chance of default. As with all mutual funds, there are no guarantees in debt funds either. Returns are market-linked, and the investor is fully exposed to defaults or any other credit problems in the entities whose bonds are being invested in. However, the MF industry is closely regulated and monitored by the regulator, Securities & Exchange Board

GUEST COLUMN

of India (SEBI). Regulations put in place by SEBI keep tight reins on the risk profile of investments, concentration of risk in funds, valuation of investments and the compliance of funds with its goals. In the past, these measures have proved to be highly effective with very few adverse cases.

Taxation

The other big difference is taxation. Returns from bank fixed deposits are Interest Income and as such have to be added to your Normal Income (as Income from Other Sources). Banks also deduct TDS on Interest Income from Fixed Deposits. When an investor has SIP in a Debt Fund and stays invested for at least 3 years, the Capital Gain is taxable with an Indexation Benefit and the Long-Term Capital Gain Tax payable is 20% which is far better than paying tax as per tax slab, especially when one is in the highest tax bracket. However, in case of debt mutual fund schemes, if the holding period is less than 3 years, the tax levied will be as per the tax slab. This is compensated by about 1-4% higher returns depending on the type of debt funds one invests in.

Liquidity

On redemption, openended debt funds proceeds are typically credited within a period of 2-3 working days. FDs are also available at 1-2 days’ notice, but usually, carry a heavy penalty if they are redeemed before the maturity date. Most banks currently deduct 1% from the original booked rate or 1% from the original card rate applicable for the period for which the FD has been in force, whichever is lower. These may adversely impact your FD’s effective rate of return in case of premature withdrawal during emergencies. Also, there are penalties if you miss out on an investment in a committed

Rohit Sarawgi Recurring Deposit. Debt mutual funds, other than Fixed Maturity Plans, do not restrict redemption. However, many funds charge exit loads, ranging from 0.25– 1% of the redeemed amount, if they are redeemed within a pre-specified period. Such

Debt mutual funds are not riskier than bank deposits. A SIP in debt funds has more benefits in terms of higher returns, tax efficiency, liquidity and safety. periods can range anywhere from 15 days to 6 months. Ultra Short-Term and many short-term funds do not charge exit loads and are best suited to park any emergency fund.

Returns:

Debt funds have almost always generated 1-4% higher returns than the average fixed or recurring deposit. Debt Fund investments take both credit risk (lending to riskier borrowers) and interest rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling when interest rates rise). Hence, such investments are compensated by higher returns. However, since debt funds invest in a diverse range of securities and are very tightly monitored, they probably offer the best riskadjusted returns. To summarize, Debt mutual funds are not riskier than bank deposits. For the average investor, a SIP in debt funds has more benefits in terms of higher returns, tax efficiency, liquidity and safety, compared to Recurring or Fixed Deposits. They key is to find the most efficient type of debt funds for your goals. We advise you to contact your financial advisor and enjoy substantial returns while not taking any significant risks. (The author is an investment consultant)

14 G Talk E

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019 T

The silent recession

G Siddhartha Hegde, rest in peace! While public figures dying do bring about a sense of moroseness to the mind, an entrepreneur, wealth and job creator being pushed to commit suicide leaving a last note behind thereby giving the nation to understand that it was not a step taken on the spur of a dejected moment but rather a well-thought out plan where no other escape route seemed to be an option, is a sure sign of something being wrong with the business environment of the country today. In the years gone by we had heard of farmers committing suicide. They were mainly unable to meet their debts and a poor season of crops was enough to drive them to the ultimate step. They were as much entrepreneurs in their own right, being producers after all with their fate and subsistence depending on their own work. And yet, these entrepreneurs – the farmers - who were instrumental in the production of food which formed the meals that the rest of the country has always taken for granted, had no other recourse than to embrace death. While there is so much akin to the suicides of the farmers with that of VG Siddhartha, they represent the two extreme ends of the spectrum and are clear indicators that entrepreneurship in India is fraught with pitfalls at every step and which are so deep that climbing out after falling into one is next to impossible. The financial figures for the year 2019-20 show Coffee Day Enterprises as a profitable entity; the holding company had revenues of Rs 4,264 crores, with profit of Rs 128 crores. Siddhartha’s other businesses included Coffee Day Global (net revenue Rs 2,043 crores), The Serai (net revenue Rs 32 crores) and others besides a host of additional value of businesses and assets worth approximately Rs 4,200 crores. His entire business stock was profitable and yet, in his parting shot, Siddhartha described his business model as a failure. He just could not take the pressure of running his businesses anymore and chose death as the better alternative. And the good soul was thankfully no runaway like a Vijay Mallya. Various news reports over the last two months clearly indicate an economic slowdown in India currently. But what is being reported is quite at variance with the actual situation on the ground which is immensely worse. A

survey report from 2018 found that, 11% of adult population in India is engaged in “earlystage entrepreneurial activities,” and only 5% of the country’s people go on to establish their own business. This is among the lowest rates in the world. At the micro-level of say the city of Guwahati, there are days that many retailers/ traders go home without effecting a single sale. Footfalls have decreased and costs have increased. Every business establishment comes with its own liabilities of paying salaries, rent, taxes, electricity bills, interests on loans etc. I personally know and have interacted with a few modest entrepreneurs who are looking at an exit option or are willing to give up their enterprises. And yet, what makes entrepreneurship and profitability so profane in India is beyond me. Truly! The current socialistic and populist trends in the social and political mindset with a profound sympathy towards the marginalised section seem to render doing business and profiting thereof a virtually sacrilegious and illegitimate exercise. Anyone doing reasonably well in business catches the unwanted attention of the government, the tax men, the donation-seekers and all the undesirable elements who take it as a birthright to harass the businessman. In the process, the harassed entrepreneur does not even have a decent bankruptcy law to fall back on. There is no immunity provided by the government to such situations. In the current times, when the business eco-system has virtually collapsed whether we admit it or not - it is mandatory that the air is cleaned up. We need to understand that it is only money that would bring food to the table, not religion and certainly not a holier-thanthou attitude that seeks to vilify a businessman. So far I can see, the coming festive season of Diwali and Puja will be defining and be the greatest indicator of whether recession is here to affect all of us badly. If trading during the season is not brisk, we are likely to have plenty more Siddharthas in which case, the government would do better to introspect on its own role and change its agendum accordingly. Unless it does so, the recession is not likely to remain silent. Swapnil Bharali (Editor) @swapnilbharali

Lessons from the various researches

uwahati, the gateway city which leads one to each of the seven sisters, situated at the banks of the Brahmaputra River, has seen rapid urban growth unlike any other city in the region. The ongoing development activities have had a detrimental impact on the environment of the city making it prone to floods, landslides even as it is located on the earthquake-prone Zone V belt. The city faces a major problem of seasonal flash floods every year. A research had been conducted for the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) by the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) in the year 2014, to review various studies that were conducted on floods affecting the city and focus had been placed on the recurring issue of flash floods in Guwahati. The North Eastern Space Application Centre’s research was among those reviewed where findings showed that the intensity of rainfall in the city has a direct relation with the induced surface land flow and drainage discharge capacity. A thorough rainfall data analysis also showed surges in the annual intensity-durationfrequency trend over the last few decades. The Water Resource Department’s research was also reviewed to bring better flood management system for the city and to help fight the problem of water-logging and inundation in low lying areas. During monsoons, the Brahmaputra flows over the danger level and low lying areas face severe water logging problems. The Water Resource Department started planning projects under Flood Management. The Bahini Bondajan Flood Water Evacuation Project, providing pumping stations at different locations to relieve drainage congestion, defining boundaries of natural channels by constructing flood walls and strict administrative measures, were among the projects taken up. A ban was to be imposed on earth cutting in hills surrounding Guwahati city. Stopping encroachments in hill areas, banning garbage disposal on wetlands and in drainage channels along with fixation of road levels and preservation of water bodies were to be started on

O pinion Rifa Deka

war footing. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA)

A lot has been achieved since when the plans were first chalked out but the city still faces the grave and persistent problem of flash floods each year during the monsoon season. had also planned out the Guwahati Flood Mitigation Project to resolve a wide range of problems. To avoid deposition of silt and clogging due to garbage in drains, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) was to work on de-siltation and impose penalties on those who dispose garbage into drains. This was to be completed by 2012 itself. Immediate eviction, demarcation, excavation and fencing were to be done along with beautification of the water bodies through the Assam Tourism Development Corporation and the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority. Early Flood Warning systems were to be installed under the initiative by GMC and the India Meteorological Department within a year. Rain water harvesting was to be made mandatory in all buildings by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and the Public Works Department. Restrictions were to be imposed on manufacture and use of plastic by the GMC and the Pollution Control Board. As the earlier pump sets were insufficient to drain out water from low lying areas, procurement of more pump sets was supposed to be done within a period of 3 months. The Public Works Department was supposed to look into fixation of uniform road levels across Guwahati within 3 months. Storm water drainage network was supposed to be in a place by the Guwahati Development Department (GDD) within a year or two. A lot has been achieved since when the plans were first chalked out but the city still faces the grave and persistent problem of flash floods each year during the

r Assam justifiably indignant

monsoon season. A master plan is in place for the Guwahati metropolitan area based on the recommendations of the City Development Plan for Guwahati to be implemented by 2025. The main goals of this plan would be to conserve Guwahati’s sensitive natural environment, develop an integrated intra-urban transport system, develop welldistributed physical and social infrastructure, provide space for efficient functioning of economic activities, create special provisions for state capital requirements and create affordable housing for all by developing a city without any slums. The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) and Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) have also set up a plan of action to climate proof the city. TERI and ACCCRN carried out a risk and vulnerability assessment of the city and found reduction in green cover to be the reason behind the increased vulnerability of the city towards climatic hazards. Overall inadequacy of drainage and lack of proper solid waste management system as well as pollution of both surface and ground water have led to severe water logging year after year in Guwahati. Rapid unplanned developments have always been crucial and plagued the fragile ecosystem of Guwahati which has had multi-fold impact on the city. Rapid growth and development taking place in urban areas of Guwahati bring forward new and unique challenges which must be addressed by the government and the concerned authorities. Policy level support from the government is imperative to revitalize viable action to put an end to this predicament of Guwahatians. (The author is a student of Mass Communication at Royal Global University, Guwahati. The views expressed are her own.)

Letter to the Editor

The flooding in Assam has taken a toll on people. Due to no significant improvement in the lives of those affected, the state has been enduring a certain indignation over whom to blame for this. The revulsion of the people stems from the fact that the centre’s immediacy in its response for the flooding has been arbitrary and fairly newborn which is in stark contrast compared to its prompt response to the 2018 Kerala floods, wherein the total relief aid from the Centre alone was more than 150 million USD compared to the 16 million USD released for Assam after much of the damage had already been done. This apart, other relief operations for Kerala included deployment of 40 helicopters, 31 aircrafts, 500 boats, 182 rescue teams, etc which helped save more than 60,000 human lives and controlling the situation compared to the mere 137 boats deployed for rescue operations in Assam. It’s not just the astonishing discrepancy in the monetary and relief aid between the two states for the same problem that has left the ethos of Assam perplexed, it’s also the discrepancy in the sentiment building undertaken by the people of the country, from authorities to organizations to influencers alike, that has truly hurt the assamese today. Gaurav Agarwal Royal Global University, Guwahati

In Focus

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Man cancels order after being allotted ‘nonHindu’ rider, Zomato’s reply wins applause G Plus News @guwahatiplus

omato- the food delivery app’s reply to a customer on Twitter who refused to accept the order after being allotted a “nonHindu” rider, is winning a lot of appreciation from netizens. The customer, Amit Shukla, cancelled an order after he was assigned a “non Hindu rider” for his food delivery. Shukla mentioned that Zomato refused to change the rider and allegedly said they couldn’t refund on cancellation. Tagging Zomato on Twitter Shukla wrote: “Just cancelled an order on @ZomatoIN they allocated a non hindu rider for my food they said they can’t change rider and can’t refund on cancellation I said you can’t force me to take a delivery I don’t want don’t refund just cancel.” To which Zomato replied, “Food doesn’t have a religion. It is a religion.” The food delivery app’s reply went viral and has garnered over 27,200 retweets, 12,000 comments and more than

84,900 likes at the time of writing this article. Zomato’s reply was widely appreciated by Twitterati. “Zomato should block this customer forever,” wrote Samiran Bezbaruah, a resident of Guwahati. Shortly after this, Zomato’s founder, Deepinder Goyal also tweeted: “We are proud of the idea of India and the diversity of our esteemed customers and partners. We aren’t sorry to lose any business that comes in the way of our values.” Following this incident, another Zomato user wrote on Twitter about Zomato not refunding money for sending the customer non-halal food. However, even though Zomato reached out and tried to clarify the matter, the user and many others questioned Zomato’s previous reply stating that “Food has no religion.” This has sparked a major

controversy online on Twitter and people have been passionately arguing for both sides of the matter. “So, non-halal food is

prohibited in Islam, so they doesn’t consume them...Does our religion say not to eat food made or delivered by peoples of other beliefs?” questioned Kartik Paul,

supporting Zomato’s statement. While on the other hand, Abhishek Bhattacharjee, dissuading the food delivery app wrote, “If food doesn’t have any religion then why food are branded as halal and haram?” It should be noted that another food delivery giant, UberEats has also become part of the controversy after it tweeted “@ ZomatoIN, we stand by you.” from its official account which received 35,800 likes, 8,000 retweets and 3000 comments at the time of writing this article. Following the tweets, representatives from Zomato released a statement from the company on July 31, captioned, “Food for thought” and titled, “###Food, Religion and Halal” where they reiterate their claim of food having no religion. They clarified the specifics for the ‘halal’ tag on their app for users and have taken full responsibility for a customer not being able to use their app properly and then end up ordering something that does not suit them. Currently, the matter has picked up a lot of heat and the hashtags #ZomatoUninstalled and #BoycottUberEats have been trending on Twitter. n

The news of a man cancelling his Zomato order after being allotted a ‘non-Hindu’ delivery boy and Zomato’s reply thereafter created a flutter of G Plus’s digital channels. Rupam B

Double standards when it comes to Hindu people only and outrage everywhere. Some will use placards to show support. If food doesn’t have religion, then why halal food is mentioned and delivered? We want answer from Zomato. Being such a huge brand, how can they show double standards?

Sheikh Shahbaz Mohammad

I am a Muslim and I stay with my Hindu friends. We eat and cook together in the same utensils. And now I have to say something to the people who are posting the screenshot of the halal tweet by a Muslim guy. First of all, eating a non-halal meat is haram; it’s same as eating pork for Muslims. And I think it’s not even close to comparing a Muslim guy being a delivery person, who was doing his job. Stop comparing and spreading hate through social media.

Arya Raj

Zomato maintains double standards for different religious beliefs. When a Hindu wanted to cancel his order for religious reasons, they rejected the appeal and refused the refund and even used high moral lines like “Food has no religion, food is religion” which is all very good if applied universally. But when a Muslim person complained about not getting halal meat (which is nothing but the animal killed in the way prescribed by Islamic) this very Zomato apologized and promised action. Uninstall Zomato now!

Ronnie Adriel

Idiot people! The day you all won’t get anything to eat then you’ll understand. At that point nobody will care who brought the food or what the religion of the person is. Honestly, food is a religion by itself. Really feel ashamed to be part of this community.

Anurag Chakraborty

What about the oxygen we breathe in and which is coming from common atmosphere with Pakistan and Bangladesh? Now, something needs to be done to apply filters on Pakistan/Bangladesh borders to separate atmospheric air for Indians. Salute to the founder Deepinder Goyal of Zomato for saying “Food has no religion.” Actually, I have always ordered food but have never given a rating. So today I am giving 5 stars for being the best. Wish you best of luck, Team Zomato.

Shreya Dhar

If we find a problem with the food delivered by a boy belonging to a different faith, how can we go ahead as a nation going forward? Today it’s religion, tomorrow it is going be caste. This only shows that education has failed and lost its credibility to create thinkable persons. Religion is dominating the educated brains which is very unfortunate. As the owner of Zomato says, they don’t care for the loss of business if it comes in the way of their values. I praise Zomato’s action and their statement.

16 Buzz

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

T URPA World Ranking ArmWrestling Series 2019 concludes Young Indians distribute flood relief materials in Assam

The Champion of Champions in the men’s category was Partha Sonni from Maharashtra and Mamoni Bayan from Assam won the title in the women’s category. The event saw participation of more than 150 international and national level players. The event was inaugurated by Lakhya Konwar, member secretary, State Level Advisory Committee, Youth & Sport Affairs along with Igor Mazurenko, president, Professional ArmWrestling League (PAL), Hridayananda Konwar, president, Purna Bikash Sanstha (PBS) and Ronnie Sehgal, CEO, Bulldog Arm Wrestling. This is for the first time that Assam witnessed a professional arm-wrestling event of this calibre. World renowned match referee Zill Fadli, from Malaysia, conducted the entire event under his watchful eyes with assistance from experienced referees from Assam and members of Purna Bikash Sanstha, PAL and Bulldog Sports.

Young filmmakers delight audience at SoNEI meet

The rafts were donated by Abhimanyu Khetawat, Chair, YI Guwahati Chapter, on behalf of the members of YI Guwahati Chapter to the district forest officials in the presence of

Scout masters and guide captains trained at Don Bosco School, boko

2 young men and women from 27 different educational institutions of northeast India, belonging to four states of northeast India - Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram - had completed 7 days of intensive training course in order to become scout masters and guide captains from July 21 to 27 July, 2019. The training was made possible with the blessings of Father Januarius, the Provincial, Father J Teron, the Vice Provincial

Jitendra Kumar, district forest officer and M Tamuli, range officer. Earlier, CII had distributed flood relief materials in Kamrup (Rural) and Barpeta districts to flood affected people. CII officials, with the help of district officials, distributed packed food items which included cheera, gur, milk packets, biscuits and packaged drinking water at various relief camps in these districts. A total of 6,000 food packets were distributed in these two districts. and Father Sebastian, the Chairperson. The trainers of the camp were Arunima Debi LT (G) LOC, Tanu Boro HWB (G), Father Solomon Dennis SM, AR Lazar ALT (S) and Father PX Francis Charuvila LT (S) LOC. The state training commissioners of Assam had earlier authorized the camp to be conducted and had deputed qualified persons to conduct camp as per the SOT (Scheme of Training) designed and tested by the

Igor Mazurenko and Kirill Yakovkev also conducted a seminar on arm wrestling on Day 1 where they imparted knowledge on the latest developments in the International armwrestling scenario. The second day witnessed a 12-hour long, arm-wrestling marathon with matches across 19 weight and arm categories and two champion-of-champions categories. Speaking on the successful completion of the event, Hridayananda Konwar, president, Purna Bikash Sanstha said, “My aim while organizing this event was to provide a platform where local arm-wrestlers could compete with national and international players, interact with international referee’s and experience first-hand where arm wrestling has reached at the international level. My vision is to see arm-wrestling become an Olympic event in the near future.” Local celebrities, government officials and the local media all came out in full support of the event. The event concluded with the prize distribution ceremony where 40 winners across various categories were handed out medals, certificates and cash prizes amounting to a total of 6 lakh rupees.

azim Ahmed and Mirza Arif Hazarika, producer

out the values of the Assamese society which were hitherto forgotten.” The film personalities further informed that the release of the movie has been postponed as the entire film unit has decided to plunge into flood relief work in the state. An on-the-spot

and director of the forthcoming Assamese film Astittwa, were special guests at the Stars of North East India (SoNEI) event held at Bethany School at Garchuk in Guwahati on Saturday, July 27. Ahmed and Hazarika gave a preview of the making of their debut movie and informed the audience that its storyline is based on Bhupen Hazarika’s eternal song, Ami Axomiya nohou dukhia… Hazarika said, “Astittwa revolves around the story of Lachit Hazarika, who depicts a common Assamese man and how he fights for his existence. The story is quite unique and brings

collection was also made and Rs 8,020 was handed over to the Astittwa team to support their flood relief work. It should be noted that SoNEI has procured a sizeable quantity of carbolic soap, bleaching powder and skin ointment for the flood victims which are now being distributed in the flood affected areas of Assam. While Syed Mohsin Raja is helping

volunteers in the flood relief work in upper Assam, Iftikar Rahman is supervising the same work in lower Assam. Anisul Hoque, who is the founder director of Resonance Brand Communications, made a power point presentation on “Let’s know about water to avoid no water” as part of the water conservation campaign that has been launched by his firm recently and also unveiled the new logo of Stars of North East India, conceptualised and designed by his firm. Four outstanding young achievers – Ameera Yasmin (eminence in legal field), Reshma Qureshi (outstanding result in LLM exam of Gauhati University), Saikh Md Sabah Al-Ahmed (winner of Reuel International Award 2019 for the category ‘Best Upcoming Poet’), and Anisul Hoque (pioneer in the field of brand management) were honoured with ‘Star Award’ at the event.

the social environment of young people today; to recognize and use the human resources to assist the scout master and guide captain; learn practical skills to organize outdoor activities for the training of young scouts and guides. At the official concluding ceremony, Absar Hazarika, the state chief commissioner was present as the chief guest. Khagendra Nath Das, state secretary and Ranjit Basu, the state training commissioner

were the guests of honour. L Sharma, the NE regional assistant director was the president of the function. Ruby Purohit, NE regional organizing commissioner and other dignitaries were also present. Special thanks were offered to Father Joy, the rector of Don Bosco Boko, Father Pradeep the principal, Father Sebastian the principal of Don Bosco Pan Bazar and Father Joseph the vice principal of Don Bosco Pan Bazar. The training program is the first of several programs slated to promote the furtherance of the scout movement in the NE and also to gear up for the National Boscoree scheduled to be held in Guwahati in 2022.

N I Guwahati Chapter, the youth wing of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), contributed two rafts to the district forest officials of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctury, as part of its flood relief and rehabilitation initiative on Wednesday, July 31.

he two-day arm wrestling mega event, the URPA World Arm Wrestling series 2019, ended on a high note on July 28, 2019 in GMCH auditorium Guwahati.

national training team of Bharat Scouts and Guides. The objectives of the course were to learn the functions, skills and attitudes required in a scout master and guide captain; to learn the characteristics and needs of the boys and girls of the scout guide age; to understand

Feature

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

AGORA: a platform for creativity in art, culture and theatre Harshita Himatsingka @HHimatsingka

n the somewhat cold month of February, two friends decided to go for coffee. They started discussing how Guwahati, with a population of approximately 11 lakh people, is fast becoming a thriving metropolis city, recognised now as a cultural hub in its own right and how there has been an influx of people who are coming back or wanting to do something here.

The word ‘Agora’ in Greek means a meeting place for people. I wanted to create a space where art and culture are inclusive and connect people; build a platform to talk about a holistic approach to well-being and develop how art and culture can make a difference in people’s lives, individually and on a collective level,” Radhika Goswami. The duo belongs to the young artists’ community in the city and was wondering how they could engage all these people who have returned home to Guwahati for a better life. Then, light bulb! The two friends thought of conducting an eclectic exhibition on identity, Porisoi and that was just the beginning. Starting from that day, they decided that they would build a community where people from the region could revel, thrive, learn and most of all, feel happy to have come back home. In the past few years, there have been numerous up-andcoming initiatives that are adding to the city’s growing art and culture scene. One such initiative has been taken up by Radhika Goswami, Director of AGORA The Space, a platform that provides people the opportunity to come together, form networks and maintain

positive well-being by actively engaging in various forms of art and culture that is inclusive, dynamic and provides holistic development. “The word ‘Agora’ in Greek means a meeting place for people. I wanted to create a space where art and culture are inclusive and connect people; build a platform to talk about a holistic approach to well-being and develop how art and culture can make a difference in people’s lives, individually and on a collective level. That’s how the whole idea of building a new age art community came about,” said Goswami passionately. The director, who recently graduated with a Masters degree in Social Anthropology, has always had an interest in theatre. She wanted to mix the two components and see what she could create with it. AGORA, a collective brainchild of art and theatre enthusiasts, is a space where one can be seen discussing and bringing together different ethnicities and communities. “They (artists and participants) belong to the space and the space belongs to them, and they can explore as much as they like,” mentioned Goswami. The five month old social entrepreneurship initiative began with one simple idea to give you a voice, not just as an artist, but as a human being, you should be heard and represented, explained Goswami. Currently, the space conducts regular workshops, theatre and movie sessions. They work on three main areas - art and culture, technical skills and research and development. “With the art and culture cell, we do exhibitions such as Porisoi, theatre sessions and much more. Just last month, we staged our first production, ‘Sentenced.’ We do various sorts of art activities and we don’t discriminate on that. We are very open to different art forms and try to be as neutral a place as possible, so all voices are heard and if we can do it as differently as possible, that’s great for us,” informed Goswami. She also said that for her space, the main agenda is that people who come to AGORA for a particular event, should go back home with a sense of knowledge and gratification, meaning that they remember the event or exercise for a long time, and hopefully, it will be a part of them, and something that will

help them in their daily lives. Delving deeper into some of the space’s past projects, Goswami explained more about Porisoi and Sentenced. “We did Porisoi with three other organisations - East India Poet, Kolpor Golpo and Guwahati Art Project (GAP). It was our first major event and was an attempt to understand what we say and mean when we talk or think about identity and how identity works on individual, multiple and collective levels,” said the director. Identity as a static and fluid

as the stage was broken up so that the play existed in vacuum where the audience would move around with the actors. The space has also conducted other events such as workshops for social research and design, counter speech with YLAC and many more. In addition to this, they also host other organisations and art collectives and bring in their events, by becoming venue partners for them. AGORA mainly caters to the age group 18-30 as Goswami and her team realised that there are

and the country can come and conduct their applied work here as well as conduct research. “We can become the medium through which they do it and can have a digital archive or an online library at some point which helps people. We also want to invest in making our theatre events into workshops and conduct exhibitions or acoustic sessions with experts from across the country for budding filmmakers and musicians so that they can gain exposure as well as learn the technical aspects of their

notion was incorporated into the curation of the exhibition, where photographs, art and video installations were a part of the static model and every evening for three days, a fluid component of dance, theatre, music and poetry was introduced for the performative component. An open-mic was also held on the last day of the event where participants could also interact and be part of the whole show, added Goswami. Speaking of their latest production, ‘Sentenced’ Goswami said that the idea was novel, as the piece was experimental where spoken word and theatre were used as two mediums of communication, and clubbed together to see what different kind of product could be made. The piece also had a revolving audience, rather than a set stage,

very few things that cater to this age group in terms of sustainable well-being, be it in the financial sense or in terms of mental health. They feel that for the working population, especially the younger population, there isn’t much being done, so they would like to encourage these people to pursue their interests and passions. “With theatre, my agenda was mainly that people should come and enjoy simply being part of a thing before anything else. The community only thrives when everyone thinks they belong to that community and they are vested in it. So, the idea is not just to exist, but to collaborate,” explained Goswami. Looking to the future, the director wants to use the space as an art and culture think tank where people from the region

respective mode of art,” said Goswami. The space hosts regular events which are posted on their Facebook and Instagram pages. They don’t have registrations and everyone is welcome to come in free of cost for theatre and movie club activities. However, they do charge a nominal fee for bigger events keeping in mind the artist and the appreciation of their art. “We are a very neutral space but the space takes the shape of the event that is happening. This whole idea that we focus on well-being comes from the fact that we want people as a community and as an artistic community to thrive and to succeed in their own individual ways and also help each other in that growth,” said Goswami in closing.

18 Review

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Starring: Sonakshi Sinha, Varun Sharma, Badshah, Annu Kapoor Director: Shilpi Dasgupta Sonakshi Sinha as Babita or Baby Bedi shoulders the 2-hour-16minute-long Khandaani Shafakhana. She is passionate and focused in getting her family out of the financial crisis with the help of the sex clinic, without caring much about the mudslinging it comes with. Sonakshi’s expressions are bang on in the film, which also proves that she has come a long way as an actor since her debut in 2010. But there is only so much a good actor can do when you get a loosely handled, lazily written script. Apart from a few good lines, the dialogues of Khandaani Shafakhana are mediocre. Writer Gautam Mehra takes up cudgels to make people comfortable with conversation on sex, but somewhere he himself doesn’t seem at ease with it. For most part of the film, the characters just beat around the bush, which involves everything - from uneasy expressions, noseflares to khandan-ka-naam-dooba-dia talks - but they don’t get to the TALK till you reach the late second half of the film. Khandani Shafakhana is excruciatingly slow. It takes too much time to build the subject; so much that by the time the characters finally begin talking about it, you have lost all interest in it. The first half of the film is what the audience will have to brave through to get to the comparatively interesting second half. And that’s not saying a lot. Don’t expect any cliff-

Khandaani Shafakhana hangers or surprises; the film is as predictable as can be. However, the saving grace of Khandaani Shafakhana is its actors. Director Shilpi Dasgupta provides Sonakshi with a meaty role, which allows her to deliver. Sona, along with her lazy, hopeless brother Bhooshit Bedi, played by Varun Sharma, keep the film afloat. Varun manages to snatch some laughs from the audience, delivering some good jokes in an otherwise bland film. But for an actor who displayed impeccable comic timing in films like Fukrey and Dilwale, Varun isn’t utilised much in Khandaani Shafakhana. His limit-

ed screen time leaves you asking for more. Badshah plays the role of a popular rapper, Gabru, Ghaatak in the film, pretty similar to his real-life persona. Donning swanky glares, gold chains and bright outfits, it gets difficult to separate Badshah the rapper from his character. Kulbhushan Kharbanda plays Baby’s Mamaji, who mostly appears in the flashback scenes. Apart from these actors, the makers have roped in Annu Kapoor to play the role of a lawyer who has the charge of handing over Mamaji’s property, his sex clinic, to Baby. In the process, he tries to explain to her the importance of the sex clinic and how rich the heirloom is. Annu’s role in the film isn’t much different from that of Dr Chaddha in Vicky Donor. And though the makers of Khandaani Shafakhana fail to recreate the magic that Shoojit Sircar’s Vicky Donor did, Annu remains true to his character and for brief moments, makes you smile. Khandaani Shafakhana is another example that proves that Bollywood is thinking out of the box. But the subject alone isn’t enough, the key is to present it in an engaging manner, with a dose of entertainment. The film tries to do so, but doesn’t quite make the cut. Khandaani Shafakhana is at best a one-time watch and is a treat for only, and only, Sonakshi Sinha fans. (Review from India Today)

Redmi K20

The Redmi K20 starts at Rs. 21,999 in India, and for that price, the phone offers a striking design, a notch-less AMOLED display, triple rear cameras including a 48-megapixel main snapper, a large 4,000mAh battery, and 18W fast charging. The Redmi K20 is filled to the brim with powerful hardware that is hard to find elsewhere in this price bracket and boasts of a snazzy design that will surely turn heads.

tDesign:

Redmi K20’s design is one of its biggest attractions. The flameinspired gradient pattern on our Glacier Blue review unit’s rear panel looks eye-catching, while the black strip in the middle contrasts with the dynamic pattern on either side. Xiaomi calls this Aura Prime Design and says it has been achieved using a 6-layer stacking process. The back of the phone is made of curved Gorilla Glass 5. This design is seen on the

Glacier Blue and Flame Red variants of the phone, but Xiaomi also offers the Redmi K20 in a Carbon Black variant with a sleeker and more understated Kevlar-like finish. the curved glass panel ensures a comfortable grip, but the Redmi K20 is quite slippery and the rear panel also gets smudged quickly. Thankfully the retail package includes a hard protective case that has a

matte finish and provides a more reassuring grip. The frame running around the sides of the phone is made of Series 6000 Aluminium and

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03:30 PM, 06:15 PM

12:45 PM, 02:50 PM, 03:40 PM, 05:45 PM, 08:40 PM, 09:30 PM Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (Hindi, 3D) 06:35 PM Khandaani Shafakhana 09:30 AM, 03:20 PM, 06:15 PM The Lion King (Hindi, 3D) 10:00 AM, 03:10 PM, 05:45 PM Super 30 12:10 PM, 08:20 PM Judgemental Hai Kya 12:35 PM, 09:10 PM Anuradha Cineplex, Noonmati 0361 2656968 Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (Hindi, 3D)

Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (English, 3D) 10:15 AM, 12:45 PM, 09:00 PM Khandaani Shafakhana 10:30 AM, 05:30 PM The Lion King (Hindi, 3D) 01:00 PM, 03:15 PM, 08:15 PM PVR Cinemas, Dona Planet 08800900009 Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (English, 3D) 09:25 AM, 03:15 PM, 06:10 PM, 09:05 PM Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (English, 2D) 11:00 AM The Lion King (English, 3D) 12:20 PM

09:50 AM, 05:45 PM

Khandaani Shafakhana

Fast & Furious: Hobbs

01:55 PM

& Shaw (English, 3D)

Judgemental Hai Kya

12:40 PM, 08:35 PM

04:55 PM

The Lion King (Hindi, 3D)

Super 30

03:30 PM

08:00 PM

matches the colour scheme of the rear panel. Overall, the Redmi K20 is built solidly and feels premium from the get go. The volume and power buttons are comfortably positioned on the right side, and both provide good tactile feedback when pressed. The power button has a red accent and stands out from the rest of the body. The camera module at the back of the Redmi K20 protrudes slightly. The pop-up front camera module has LED lights that glow when it is raised in dark surroundings. It also has a small ring at the top that lights up and acts as the phone’s notification light, but it is hard to notice most of the time when the phone is lying flat.

Specifications And Software:

The Redmi K20 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 855 and

employs the 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 sensor for its primary rear camera, while the Redmi K20 gets the Snapdragon 730 SoC and comes equipped with the slightly lower-end 48-megapixel Sony IMX582 sensor. The Redmi K20 features a 6.39inch full-HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels) HDR AMOLED display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio, an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 91.9 percent, 403ppi pixel density, and 600 nits of peak brightness. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The Redmi K20 comes in two variants – a base model with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage and a higher-end configuration with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Unfortunately, there is no microSD card slot for storage expansion.

Verdict:

The Redmi K20 is the most heavily specced and feature-laden ‘non-flagship’ phone under Rs. 25,000 in the market right now, and its day-to-day performance is still extremely impressive considering its price. (Review from NDTV Gadget)

Trotter

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Mind-controlled video game developed by Swiss scientists

esearchers in Switzerland have developed a technology which allows people to play video games using only their minds. The technology was developed to allow people with severelyimpaired motor functions, such as quadriplegia, to play video games using their brains. The programme, called Brain Driver, is being trialled by people including Samuel Kunz, who was paralysed after an accident. A daily report said that Kunz is able to operate a digital race car

by picturing which way he wants it to move - but that it takes concentration. “I have to be very concentrated. The connection between my fingers and my brain is not there

anymore. I still try to move my fingers just in my head and so that needs a lot of concentration to do it exactly the same way every time,” he said. The operations are controlled using brain signals, transmitted to the computer by electrodes attached to users’ heads, explained Dr Rea Lehner. Scientists say that the goal of the project is to ultimately build a system for people with limited mobility through which a wheelchair can be controlled by its user’s brain signals. (Source: ndtv)

Indian family caught stealing accessories from a Bali hotel

n Indian family stole so many things from their hotel in Bali that it became an embarrassment when the hotel administration checked their bags. In the video which is shot in Bali, members of the family are heard apologising repeatedly and offering to pay for the items they stole. “Sorry, I will pay. Extra money I will pay,” a man is heard saying when the employees ask for an explanation on the hotel items discovered, including a hair dryer, soap

dispenser, mirror and jars. “I know you have a lot of money but this is no respect,” the hotel employee responds, even as the family continues to apologise. The video has gone viral and netizens are criticizing the guests for degrading Indian tourists and the country’s image by this shameful act. Actress Mini Mathur also condemned the act and wrote: “The worst example of entitled Indian travellers who

are a disgrace to the image of our country. Casually stealing hand washes, room artefacts, hair dryers from a hotel room in Bali.” (Source: timesofindia)

Bride and groom to offer roadkill meat at wedding; seeks chef with appropriate skills

bride and groom are planning on secretly feeding their 30 wedding guests roadkill meat. The unnamed couple have sourced 20 kilos in a bid to make their wedding breakfast more “environmentally friendly.” And they are offering £5,000 for a chef to serve it up. The pair, who has been regularly dining on roadkill for three years, asked to remain anonymous because they did not want their guests to know where the meat has been sourced from. They have requested the caterer to “dress it up” so as not to arouse suspicion of the ingredient’s origin. They posted their unusual request on Bark.com, a local services marketplace, hoping to find a professional who shares their passion for sustainable cuisine. They also want someone who has the right skills to prepare a

mixture of woodland squirrel, pheasant, rabbit, partridge and deer. The couple, based in the Cotswolds, assure that the meat is “100 per cent fresh and safe” and are offering £5,000 to the caterer or chef for the job. They have sourced the food and frozen it. Hopeful caterers will need to agree to a consultation with the couple, as well as having previous experience in preparing wild meat. Their post states: “The environment is so important to us and will continue to be as we settle down and start our family. “Although money isn’t too

much of an issue, weddings are resource-heavy and result in so much waste that we don’t want to have any part in that. We know that this isn’t something the ‘average’ chef would be happy in helping us with, but are hoping that someone with the right skills and our same passion for the environment can step forward and help us out. “We have sourced the meat, so all they need to do is come up with some delicious recipes to put on a roadkill banquet for our 30 guests. We have approximately 20 kg of roadkill meat in our freezer.” Bark.com co-founder, Kai Feller said, “One of the best things about weddings is being able to make it your own - whether that’s with the decor, venue, or the food. I guess in this instance; the couple really want to show their commitment to not only each other but to their lifestyle.” (Source: mirror.co.uk)

526 teeth pulled out of 7-yearold who complained that his mouth hurt

octors have pulled out 526 teeth from a seven-year-old boy’s mouth in a world’s first after he complained that his mouth hurt. The boy called Ravindran, who only goes by one name, was admitted to a private hospital after suffering severe pain and swelling in his jaw. His parents, dad Parbhu, 40, and mum Rajakumari, 33, feared that he had cancer in his jaw when they took him to Saveetha Dental College in Chennai in southern India. But medics were stunned after they performed a CT Scan and X-ray and found a large lesion in the boy’s mouth that was filled with hundreds of teeth. Doctors further noticed a well-defined five-inch bag like mass which was removed in entirety. A surgery was soon performed to remove the sac. It took doctors five long hours of meticulous searching to remove all the minute teeth from the opened bag-like specimen. According to the doctors, this is the first ever case documented in the world in which an individual has been found to have so many minute teeth. The child had been suffering for the last four years but was left undiagnosed. “His parents had taken him

to doctors but the investigation couldn’t be done because the boy didn’t cooperate with the doctors. Professor P Senthilnathan, from the hospital’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, said, “The parents first noticed the swelling when the boy was three years old. “But they didn’t bother much as the swelling wasn’t much then and the boy did not cooperate with investigative procedures either. “Later, as swelling increased, the parents brought the boy to our hospital. We opened up the jaw after administering general anaesthesia and saw a bag, or sac, inside it. The sac, weighing about 200 grams, was carefully removed and was later found to contain 526 teeth - small, medium and large.” Though some were very tiny particles, the doctors said, they had the properties of teeth. (Source: mirror.co.uk)

Woman kicked off bus for being scantily clad

young woman has blasted a “sexist” bus driver who kicked her off a bus in Sweden for not wearing enough clothes during a 270C heat wave. Amanda Hansson, 19, was left “humiliated and furious” after being ordered off the bus in Malmo. She was wearing shorts and a bow knot camisole top when the driver blocked her. In a Facebook post, she claimed the driver told her she was “showing too much” and refused to let her board. But Amanda said she dressed appropriately given the soaring temperatures and hit out at the driver. She wrote: “I was so angry I just wanted to scream and cry. I question what kind of sexist s*** is this? I have never felt this humiliated ever in my entire life.” Women’s campaigners have backed Amanda following her post which gained nearly 3,000 likes. Sara Mohammad, of Never Forget Pela and Fadime, which campaigns against female body shaming, told a daily, “What gives a bus driver the right to decide a

woman has unsuitable clothing on? It was good that Amanda rejected that. I wish all women rejected this, whether it’s from a bus driver, or a father, or a mother or an uncle, whoever it is.” It is reported the bus driver, employed by Skanetrafiken, has been suspended pending an investigation. The company’s traffic director Linus Erixon said on Twitter: “Something went wrong. Of course people are welcome on board our buses and trains in shorts and a camisole. I can confirm that the driver was not acting out of any religious or political motive.” The company said on its website it has no policy regarding women’s clothing. (Source: metro.co.uk)

20 Fun Jayashree Bose

3rd & 8th August will be great days to schedule important meetings & share your ideas with your seniors. On 4th August, you could have a fall out with a superior or someone at work. Avoid drinking with your superiors or extended family on 4th August. 7th August will be a slow day for you.

A better than average week ahead. Avoid making any promises on 5th August, as you will have to live up to them. 4th & 7th August will be great days to connect with your seniors & share your ideas with them. A Sunday brunch/coffee on 4th August & host your important meetings on 7th August.

3rd, 5th & 6th August will be great days to connect with seniors and share ideas with them, you could host important meetings on these dates. You could have issues with your seniors or extended family on 4th August, don’t get into a confrontation. On 7th August, be careful while dealing with the opposite gender.

3rd, 4th & 7th August will be great days to share ideas with seniors and host important meetings. 4th August will be ideal to catch up with your extended family and/or work mates. On 5th & 8th August, you could have issues at work with your seniors or clients. Avoid getting into a confrontation.

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

The first half of the week will be slow for you but the second half will be good. For good results, host your meetings, share your ideas with your superiors and network with your business associates on 5th, 6th & 8th August. Avoid any Saturday meetings on 3rd August. Avoid over planning for 9th August as it will be a slow day. 3rd, 4th & 8th August will be excellent days to schedule your important meetings. Your seniors will be receptive to your ideas. On 4th August, maybe you could meet up with your seniors for a Sunday brunch or coffee. Avoid hosting any meetings especially with your seniors on 6th August as you are bound to have disagreements.

Sudoku 25

5 6 9 1 74 8 3 6 97 8 2

5 9 83 4

7 1

2 2 85 3 5 6 7 7 4 1 9 2 7 3 8 39 7 6 1 9 3 8 1 74 2 42 1 62 46 Daily Sudoku: Fri 2-Aug-2019 5 2 4 4 56 2 1

Daily Sudoku: Fri 26-Jul-2019

You will have issues at work, with superiors or clients on 6th August, try not to get into a confrontation. 7th August will be a great day to build a rapport with seniors and people at work, host your important meetings on this day. Avoid hosting any meetings on 9th August, as things will not go according to plan.

Watch yourself on 8th August, avoid making any promises or getting into a confrontation. You could have disagreements with your seniors or work associates, not a day to schedule important meetings. On 4th August, you will be emotionally hurt either by your parents or your seniors. 5th August will be a slow day for you.

Not a great week for you, maybe you could take that much needed holiday. On 3rd August, you will be emotionally hurt by your colleagues or superiors. Be careful with your words & actions on 6th August as you will create your own problems. 6th will be a slow day for you. On 9th August, you will feel good but you will face obstacles and hindrances.

Which group of people were called “Forty-Niners” in 19th century USA?

The “Instagram Rich List 2019,” put together by Hopper HQ, is based on how much a user can charge for a single post on the social media site. Two Indians are in this list. Name them.

One of the major Indian classical dance forms called Jagoi comes from which state of the northeast? Mungdi is a sweet variation of which thin cracker common in Gujarati and Rajasthani cuisines made from mat bean, wheat flour and oil? Scientifically called Chrysoberyl, this is supposedly an intriguing gem stone with various effects. What is the popular name of this gemstone? Dr. Soubhadra Chakrabarty This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

Dilbert By Scott Adams

hard

last week solution

4 8 6 5 25 19 5 6 83 72 31 9 7 41 18 74 8 3 92 6 9 3 4 8 6 9 1 5 7

9 7 5 3 2 5 6 8 4 2

4 8 2 2 7 1 3 4 1 9

9 2 7 1 34 77 26 18 56 68 92 85 25 19 53 64

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

3 3 4 9 5 8 1 5 6 4 2

5 6 1 1 9 3 4 7 8 8 4

7 4 9 5 6 7 2 2 3 3 9

Daily Sudoku: Fri 26-Jul-2019

3 49

34 76 2 2 8 8 1 9 5 6 7 5 easy 1 hard

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

Word of the week verb (used with object) [sleyk] adjective [nak-erd]

to lessen or allay (thirst, desire, wrath, etc.) by British Slang. satisfying.

curio-city

It was founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum and the current CEO is Chris Daniels. Which IT and social media giant are we talking about?

1. 2.

curio-city

WhatsApp The gold prospectors from all across USA who flocked to California during the 1849 gold rush Priyanka Chopra who earns Rs 1.87 crores per post and Virat Kohli who takes Rs 1.34 crores for every post Manipur Khakra Cat’s eye stone or Vaidurya

Watch your words & actions on 4th August, as you could create your own problems. On 5th August, you will be emotionally hurt either by your parents or seniors. On 7th August, you could have a fall out with someone from work. 8th August will be a great day to share your ideas with seniors & host important meetings.

6th August will be an ideal day to host important meetings & share your ideas with seniors. On 5th & 8th August, avoid making any promises as you will have to live up to them. On 7th August, you will be betrayed by someone you trusted, avoid sharing your secrets with anyone. On 8th August avoid getting into disagreements.

22 8

4. 5. 6.

5th & 6th August will be great days to share your ideas with seniors or simply just connect with them. You could schedule important meetings on these dates. Watch your words & actions on 7th & 8th August, as you could have disagreements at work.

slake knackered

exhausted; very 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 | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 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

Events

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

CITY HOSTS FREDDIE MERCURY TRIBUTE CONCERT

A Freddie Mercury tribute concert, “Freddie for a day” was held in the city on July 28 at Xtreme Sports Bar & Grill. The event was organised by Rocka Rolla events in association with Casio. The earnings from the event were donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust which has been actively funding projects to raise awareness for AIDS globally. Freddie Mercury was a British singer-songwriter, record producer and lead vocalist of the rock band, Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest lead singers in the history of rock music, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. He passed away in 1991 due to AIDS.

WINNERS FOR NYX’S KARAOKE STAR 2019 ANNOUNCED

Earlier last month, Guwahati witnessed a first-of-its-kind Karaoke Competition hosted by Nyx Lounge & Deck, titled “Karaoke Star Season 1,” the first ever Karaoke Star Talent Show. It was a platform for singers around the city to showcase their talent. The first season did exceedingly well with responses from over hundreds of contestants. However, only eight participants and two wild card entries could make it to the finale of the competition. Each week starting from June 27 on every Thursday, contestants battled it out to make it to the finals. Out of all the contestants, only two were selected every

G Plus News @guwahatiplus

weekend. This round of competitions continued for four weeks. The finale was held on July 25 and the event witnessed a huge turnout. The judges for the competition included Guwahati’s veteran musician Amitabh Baruah and singer Rajdeep Das. The winner of the competition was Kaushik Barmanand who was awarded the Mega Prize of Rs 21,000, along with a star-studded trophy. The runner-up was Raj Nayan, who was awarded Rs 10,000 along with a trophy. It should be noted that all ten finalists were awarded with tokens of appreciation. “After the huge success of the first season of Karaoke Star, we are looking forward to continuing the same and give a platform to aspiring singers,” said a representative from NYX.

22 Lifestyle

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Vaastu remedies using Yantras

The Lie of Truth

Hemanta Kumar Sarmah Engineer, Businessman, Advanced Pranic Healer and Su Jok Acupressure specialist.

any ill-effects of Vaastu can be averted by placing the puja room in the northeast but this area should not be made heavy by constructing any platform or other block. It is recommended not to keep photos of deities at places other than the puja room because there may be negativity in other areas like the kitchen or bedroom. Needles to say, a toilet or dustbin in the northeast will have all the ill effects of Vaastu. If there is a defect in the northeast, the Durga Yantra is very helpful in the removal of the same. Lord Shiva should be worshipped regularly. Whenever there is a defective north like a heavy structure or blockage, a well can be dug in the north to lessen the Vaastu defect. A Budh Yantra can be installed in the north on a Wednesday

because Budh or mercury is the ruler of north along with Lord Kubera. If the west is not kept higher in comparison to east, the owner is financially and physically affected. Sri Mahakali Yantra can remove such a defect. The Varun Yantra is also very useful in

the west. The Varun Yantra also helps in making the right decisions thereby achieving

targets better. Water bodies in the south are detrimental for ladies and finances. The Mangal Yantra can remove defects in the south. A statue of Lord Ganesha with its trunk towards the right side can be kept in the south. Depressions in the southwest can affect the owner, the spouse and the eldest child. A statue of Panchmukhi (five faced) Lord Hanuman can provide protection from defects in the southwest. The statue of white coloured Lord Ganesha on the main door is also very good. The owner of the house should chant the Rahu Gayatri mantra regularly. If the east is higher, it will affect the children and arrest

the growth of the family. The Surya Yantra can nullify defects in the east. The owner should do Surya Namaskar daily and chant the Gayatri mantra at sunrise. The northwest is ruled by the moon and it controls the faculties of the mind. Defects in the northwest make one mentally unstable and bring enemies. Those who have defective northwest should observe Mondays and install a statue of Lord Ganesha on the main door which is made of silver or white material. Defects in the southeast create imbalance in the fire element. Keeping Lord Ganesha on the main door can help. Those who are facing financial problems should check their north. A Kuber Yantra installed on a Wednesday in the north and worshiped regularly can bring about huge financial changes. The Sriyantra or Lakshmi Yantra in the east is also very powerful in this regard. This has to be installed on a Friday. n

Even answers feel morbidly alive Until that moment when the garb Of a lie masquerading as innocence As the truth we all believe in, Is caught in its own helpless mire... Except laws which are axioms unbreakable, Every human truth, or supposed truth, Every human conjecture or assumed thought, All human derivations on the condition human Are but deviations from the real, the actual... Perhaps truth itself is a lie unanswered, That hides under the shroud it wears Perhaps all thought and philosophy The great work of man, the great thinkers Is nothing but the lie of truth unseen...

Arunav Barua

The Gift of Ayurveda shri shri ravi shankar Founder- Art of Living Foundation.

yurveda is the ancient Indian system of natural and holistic medicine. When translated from Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “the science of life” (the Sanskrit root ayur means “longevity” or “life” and veda means “science.”) While allopathic medicine tends to focus on the management of disease, Ayurveda provides us with the knowledge of how to prevent disease and eliminate its root cause if it does occur.

Core Principles:

The knowledge of Ayurveda was passed on orally through a lineage ofsagesinIndiauntilitwascollated into text more than five thousand years ago. The oldest known texts on Ayurveda are the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and the Ashtanga Hrudaya. These texts detail the affect the five elements found in the cosmic system - earth, water, air, fire, space – have on our individual system, and expound on the importance of keeping these elements balanced for a healthy and happy life. According to Ayurveda, each person will be influenced by certain elements more than

ourselvesinbalance.

others. This is because of their prakriti, or natural constitution. Ayurveda categorizes the different constitutions into three different doshas:

AyurvedicLifestyle: Ayurveda places great importance on one’s pathya, or lifestyle (eating habits and daily routine). Ayurveda also provides guidance on how to adjust our lifestyle based on the change of seasons.

Sri Sri Suvarnaprashnam or Ayurvedic Immunization Program

DifferentAyurvedic Therapies:

A special Ayurvedic Immunization Program Suvarnaprashanam is a safe Ayurvedic combination which is beneficial for normal growth and development of children. It is prepared with pure gold in its bio-available form and other Ayurvedic Immuno-modulators and brain tonics. The medicine is given on the day of Pushya Nakshatra of every month to impart greater efficacy.

yy Vatadosha, in which the air and space elements dominate yy Pitta dosha, in which the fire element dominates yy Kaphadosha, in which the earth and water elements dominate The dosha affects not just

the shape of one’s body, but also bodily tendencies (like food preferences and digestion) and the temperament of one’s mind and emotions. For example, the earth element in people with Kaphadosha is evident in their solid, sturdy body type, their tendency for slower digestion, their strong memory, and their

emotional steadiness. Most people’s prakriti is made up of a combination of two doshas. For example, people who are “Pitta Kapha” will have the tendencies of both Pitta dosha and Kaphadosha, with Pitta dominating. By understanding the qualities of our natural constitution, we are better able to do what is needed to keep

Treatment in Ayurveda can grossly be divided into Shodhana and Shamana i.e. purificatory and palliativetherapyrespectively. The shodhana therapy includes procedures that eradicate the vitiated humors from the body. Eg. Vamana (emesis), Virechana (purgation), Vasti (enema), Nasya (nasalerrhines). The shaman procedure comprises techniques that pacify the doshas or bring them back to normalcy e.g. deepana (carminative), pachana (digestive), upavasa(fasting)etc. Some of the therapies include: Abhyanga, Uzhilchil, Pizhichil, Marma Chikitsa, Shirodhara, Facial Marma, Meru Chikitsa, Snehana / Snehapana, Swedana (Sweat Therapy), Nasya, Virechana, Paada Abhyanga (Foot Massage), Pinda Sweda, Talapothichil (Shirolepa), Shirovasti and Osteopathy.

Entertainment

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

Assamese films feature in Film Amitabh Bachchan Companion’s ‘Beyond Bollywood’ donates Rs 51 lakhs list for Assam floods

wo of Rima Das’s

acclaimed films, Village Rockstars (2018) and Bulbul Can Sing (2018) have featured in Anupama Chopra starrer Film Companion’s ‘Beyond Bollywood’ list. The list titled, “Beyond Bollywood: The Best Non-Hindi Films Of The Last 5 Years,” features eight categories/languages which include Assamese, Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil,

n the wake of floods which wreaked havoc in Assam, a number of celebrities and prominent personalities have come forward to lend a helping hand to the flood victims. Joining the league, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan on Tuesday donated Rs 51 lakhs to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal took to

Telugu, Kannada and others. Other films that were featured on the list include Bhaskar Hazarika’s Kothanodi (2016), Kenny Basumatary’s

Local Kung Fu 2 (2017), Bhaskar Hazarika’s Aamis (2019) and Kenny Basumatary’s Suspended Inspector Boro (2018).

Bacardi NH7 Weekender 2019 Dates Announced

he dates for BACARDÍ NH7 Weekender, India’s largest multi-genre music festival is out. The festival will be held on 1st and 2nd November in Meghalaya and 29th

Since its inception by OML 10 years ago, BACARDÍ NH7 Weekender has featured over 600 artists from India and around the world, across a variety of genres to over 500,000 fans. The multi-genre festival

witnessed performances by some of the most acclaimed international headliners and stellar names from the Indian music and comedy scene, including Joe Satriani, Poets of the Fall, Shubha Mudgal, Switchfoot,

Image Credit : Jishnu Chakraborty November and 1st December in Pune. The pre-sale for the festival, which heads into its 10th year celebration, is expected to go live early next month, with special prices for those under 21.

has evolved to become one of the country’s most beloved musical weekends where thousands of fans and discerning music lovers converge for an unforgettable experience. The 2018 edition

Salim-Sulaiman, God is an Astronaut, Nightmares On Wax, The Contortionist, Guthrie Govan, Shankar Mahadevan, FKJ, Zakir Khan, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Prashasti Singh, Kaneez Surka and a lot more.

Twitter to thank Bachchan; he wrote: “We appreciate Shri Amitabh Bachchan ji for contributing Rs. 51 lakh to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. This is a great gesture & show of care for the people. Thank you, on behalf of the people of Assam, for your support. @SrBachchan.”

24 Catching Up

G PLUS | Aug 03 - Aug 09, 2019

PIC OF THE