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Sports: Fight among India, Pak & Lanka — Raina Pg 15 In silence man can most readily preserve his integrity.

—Meister Eckhart

IN BRIEF Devas deal to be off by next week A decision to cancel the suspect deal between ISRO’s commercial arm Antrix and Devas Multimedia allowing it the use of scarce S-band spectrum is likely to be taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet to be held next week, official sources said. — (PTI)

3 killed, two injured in fire Three persons were killed and two injured in a fire that broke out today in the basement of the Tata Group’s global headquarters ‘Bombay House’. The fire was reported at 9.20 a.m. from the basement of the iconic four-storey structure, fire brigade officials said. In a statement, a Tata Group spokesperson said the fire started before the office hours. — (PTI).

Business: Govt spells out steps to retrieve black money Pg 12

(air surcharge Rs 2.00) pages 16+4

Goa’s Heartbeat: Paris Hilton takes up to bodybuilding Pg 4

Parents to face trial Curchorem locals protests in Aarushi murder bear fruit; by-pass soon: CM PTI GHAZIABAD, FEB 9

In a big jolt to them, parents of slain teenager Aarushi Talwar, Rajesh and Nupur,were today ordered to face trial in the murder of their daughter and servant Hemraj more than two years ago after a local court today rejected the agency’s closure report in the case.

Special Judicial Magistrate Preeti Singh took cognisance of CBI’s closure report and issued summons to the parents to appear before her on February 28, making them the accused on charges of murder, destruction of evidence, conspiracy and common intention to commit the crime.

After today’s brief proceedings, CBI counsel R K Saini told reporters that “The court has taken cognisance of offences under Section 302, 201 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code and summoned Dr Rajesh Talwar

and Nupur Talwar as accused in the case for February 28.”

The dentist couple have been made accused under sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC. Rajesh, who was arrested by the Noida police in 2008 but was given a clean chit by the CBI earlier, is on bail while his wife has been named as an accused for the first time.

Today’s order of the SJM paves the way for the trial in the case in which the CBI sought closure even after naming the dentist couple as accused but

pleaded their helplessness in pursuing it for lack of proper evidence.

Yesterday the CBI had said “Our stand was that the probe of the investigating officer proves that no outsider was involved in this (Aarushi-Hemraj deaths). Servants are not involved in this and circumstantial evidence is pointing out that whatever has been done, parents only have done it.”

However, Talwar’s lawyer Rebecca John said they were completely innocent, and the order of the SJM will be challenged in a higher court.

“There is no material against Rajesh and Nupur. They are completely innocent. We will prove categorically that someone else has killed Aarushi. Nothing but victimisation is being done,” John said.

She said, “Its an unfortunate order but a judicial order. I bow (Continued on page 2)

Judge Desmond suspended Legal fraternity cries foul, urges withdrawal

HERALD REPORTERS PANJIM/MARGAO, FEB 9

South Goa Additional Sessions Judge Desmond D’Costa was today placed under suspension pending an inquiry against him.

Principal Sessions Judge U V Bakre issued the order suspending the judge.

Law Secretary Pramod Kamat confirmed the development, but the reason for D’Costa’s suspension was not immediately known. “I have no knowledge about the reason,” Kamat said, adding the orders were issued by the High Court.

Reliable sources informed Herald that the one-line order does not mention the reason

behind his suspension. The sources said that the action was taken on “disciplinary grounds” following a complaint.

D’Costa, a judge with an impeccable reputation throughout his career spanning over two decades, had recently delivered verdicts in crucial cases involving alleged serial killer Mahanand Naik.

Sources said that there were some apprehensions raised over D’Costa’s issuing judgments in these high profile cases, as he was holding charge when the sessions judge was on leave.

Meanwhile the legal fraternity on Wednesday has cried foul over the decision to place under

suspension the Judge.

Describing D’Costa as a gentlemen judge throughout his legal career, South Goa Advocates Association, President Anacleto Viegas said the legal fraternity in Goa is totally upset with the news of D’Costa’s suspension for dispensing justice in a criminal case in 20 days. “Is this the reward a judge deserves for disposing a criminal case expeditiously, when quick disposal is the need of the day? ”, Viegas asked.

He said that in the absence of the presiding judge, the acting judge is normally entrusted with all administrative (Continued on page 2)

FIR against unnamed cops in Cipriano case HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

Crime Branch on Wednesday filed a case of murder and destruction of evidence against unnamed police officers in the Cipriano Fernandes custodial death case.

Police spokesperson and Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande informed that an FIR (first information report) under Section 302 (murder) and section 201 read with 34 (destroying evidence) of Indian Penal Code was filed against police officers who were on duty when Cipriano was in police custody.

Even though three police personnel, including Police Inspector Sandesh Chodankar have been suspended for the incident, Deshpande said the FIR has been filed against all police officers who were on duty without specifying names.

“At present all officers, who

were on duty right from the time Cipriano was brought to the police station till he died, are being investigated,” Deshpande said adding it was a grave crime and it will be investigated speedily.

Deshpande confirmed the FIR had been registered based on the sub divisional magistrate’s (SDM) inquiry report into the death which concluded Cipriano had died in police custody.

Similarly, a preliminary inquiry by Deputy Superintendent of Police Bossuette Silva had established no proper procedures were followed during Cipriano’s arrest. Some eye witnesses too have claimed the deceased was assaulted in custody.

The case will now be investigated by Police Inspector Braz Menezes. “Being a criminal case, the investigating officer will have to identify the main accused and name him accordingly,” Deshpande said.

Na bhindi, na gajar veg crisis deepens HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

The vegetable crisis facing Goa deepened on Wednesday. It is likely the crisis will continue tomorrow as Youth Congress activists in a backlash decided to converge on all the State’s check-posts to stop vegetable supply to the State.

Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) has planned the protest to strike back at the Belgaumbased wholesalers and vegetable cartels in the State who have sabotaged the scheme of the Goa State Horticulture Corporation (GSHC).

Talking to reporters, GPYC General Secretary Upendra Ghatwal said they will make sure that not a single truck carrying vegetables from Belgaum enters Goa. “We will not allow a single truck with vegetables to enter

Goa till Belgaum wholesalers resume supply to the corporation,” he said.

Ghatwal said that GPYC activists would wait at all the check posts to stop movement of trucks. “The activists will not destroy the vegetables or attack the trucks, but instead send them back to Belgaum,” Ghatwal said adding if vegetable meant for the corporation was allowed to be transported by the wholesalers the strike would be withdrawn. (Related reports on pg 3) He claimed some anti-social elements affiliated to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka were trying to sabotage the GSHC’s scheme of providing subsidised vegetables.

“The vegetable mafias of both States have come together and are creating problems. They are supported by BJP in Karnataka,” (Continued on page 2)

Agitated residents of Curchorem stopped by the police outside the District Collectorate building, Margao.

HERALD REPORTERS MARGAO/PANJIM, FEB 9

Bowing to the demands of residents of Curchorem, Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat on Wedneday assured the Ghanv Rakhon Jagrut Manch that the government would hold in abeyance land acquisition for the proposed Curchorem fourlane road and expedite construction of the Curchorem mining bypass.

The Chief minister’s assurance came after hundreds of protestors from Curchorem under GRJM banner marched to the city streets and held a Dhadak Morcha near Kamat’s

Malbhat residence since early Wednesday morning.

Armed with banners and placards, the protestors were headed towards the CM’s residence, but were stopped by a huge posse of policemen, including armed personnel.

Undaunted, the protested squatted on the road, forcing the traffic police to divert all incoming traffic into the city near Kamat’s residence.

As the chief minister was holed up in the capital city, he invited a 10-member delegation to Panjim for discussion on the sensitive issue.

The protestors later took out

a rally towards the District Collectorate where Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao and Revenue Minister, Jose Philip D’Souza were attending to public grievances.

The police again stopped the protestors at the entrance to the Collectorate building, even as the police presence was strengthened by additional reinforcements from the district.

Acting Superintendent of police (South) Tony Fernandes, who interacted with the protestors invited them for talks with the ministers, but they demanded that both Churchill and Jose Philip come down and hear

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar. their grievances.

When the PWD minister and revenue minister finally came down, the residents demanded the scrapping of the proposed four-lane road and to expedite land acquisition proceedings for the proposed mining bypass.

Alemao told the protestors that the government will not bullodoze the proposal for the four-lane road against the wishes of the people, even as the District Collector G P Naik announced the chief minister’s assurance to keep in abeyance land acquisition for the fourlane road.

(Continued on page 2)

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GOA, THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY, 2011

Parents object to grading ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING Joaquim assures to scrap system; Board stands firm acquisition of paddy fields HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

Some of the aggrieved parents have decided to exert pressure for temporary modification of the grading system for SSC, even as the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education refused to bog down to he demand.

The parents are likely to meet this week to chalk out the future course of action over the matter, which will also be placed before the Education Minister Babush Monserrate.

“We had discussed the issue with the Education Minister earlier, but we were given false hope,” said an aggrieved parent.

The parents, whose children have appeared for the last SSC examination, have urged the Board to relax its 80:20 pattern for this year. In this regard, an official letter was also forwarded to the Government in December, 2010.

As per the grading system 80 percent weightage was given for the Board exam while 20 percent for the first semester and assignments completed within the school.

A parent from Dhempe Higher Secondary School observed, “Students had no idea weightage is given for the first semester and assignments.

They worked keeping in mind 100 percent weightage. Hence, we have urged the Board to consider 100 percent weightage for the Board exam for this year.”

The parents said the board should have announced in advance about the 80:20 ratio so that students could study well for the first semester and assignments.

The grading system which was implemented five years ago was applicable only to 8, 9 and eleventh standard students. It was made applicable to SSC and HSSC students from last academic year onwards.

Goa Board, however, maintained objections have been raised by a few parents from higher secondary schools whose students are in the science stream.

Board Chairman Merwyn D’Souza said the demand was from a few parents. “We had informed well in advance about the 80:20 system. There is no possibility of scrapping it for this year because a few parents are making noise,” he asserted.

D’Souza observed students have gone through similar grading for the last five years. “Right from Std VIII grading was done internally by teachers within the school,” he mentioned.

‘Restorative justice’ is the way to go, says Sachs

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 9

Smiles returned on the faces of farmers in Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao’s home constituency of Cuncolim when the MLA assured to scrap acquisition of cultivated paddy fields for an administrative building opposite the bus stand.

The Urban Development Minister rushed to the Cuncolim Municipal Council after the farmer Vishnu Bikaro Desai and his family went on an indefinite hunger strike this morning outside the civic building.

Vishnu told newsmen that he and his family has resorted to the hunger strike as his plea to stop the land acquisition process and return the lush green fields fell on deaf ears of the authorities and the powers that be.

Eighty-year old Vishnu contended that he and his family had been cultivating the fields and the produce has been his only sources of livelihood.

Alemao later told newsmen that he has requested Vishnu and his family to withdraw the strike assuring that the civic body would scrap the land acquisition proceedings and the proposed project. “I have asked the Cuncolim Municipal Chairperson Devendra Desai to call a Council meeting immediately and drop the project mooted on the land in question”, Alemao said, adding that the lawyers of Vishnu and the Cuncolim civic body would sit and discuss the modalities on the withdrawal of the land acquisition proceed-

Secure Rawanfond fields to rehab traders: Churchill HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 9

While the Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao turned sympathetic to the plight of a farmer in Cuncolim, there’s bad news for agitating farmers of Navelim opposing acquisition of fields opposite the Margao Railway Station.

Joaquim’s elder brother and PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao on Wednesday issued directions to the District Collector, South G P Naik to secure the fields admeasuring 6000 square metres at Rawanfond by construction a compound wall for the rehabilitation of the displaced traders from the Rawanfond traffic junction.

Alemao told newsmen after his meeting with Revenue Minister, Jose Philip D’Souza in the South Goa District Collectorate that the paddy fields in question adings.

Alemao pointed out that he has not acquired any fields nor has he allowed mega housing projects in the entire constituency since his election as MLA in 2002. “I am not responsible for the acquisition of the paddy fields. The proposal for the acquisition was moved by then BJP-ruled Cuncolim Municipal Council”, he said.

Sources in the know said

measuring 30,000 square metres were acquired by the government when he was not the MLA of Navelim constituency. “They were lush green fields and were acquired when Luizinho Faleiro was the Navelim MLA. I had even offered each of the affected farmers land admeasuring 50 square metres, but now they have erected a Cross on the acquired land after being misguided by the former MLA”, Alemao said adding that the government after Cabinet approval has allotted 50 square metres each to the traders displaced by the widening of the Rawanfond traffic junction.

Asserting that the government would not tolerate any zabardasti on the acquired land, he appealed to the farmers not to get misguided by vested interests. the minister was not averse to the scrapping of the land acquisition proceedings on condition that the farmers offer a portion of the land in question for the development of a traffic junction outside the bus stand.

Incidentally, the farmer Vishnu had knocked the doors of the Judiciary, right from the Bombay High Court to the Supreme court, before restoring to the hunger strike.

Court notices put Aquem-Baixo households in a tight spot HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 9

South Africa’s former Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs delivering a lecture at the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas at Kala Academy, Panjim.

Photo by Sachin Ambadoskar SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT PANJIM, FEB 9

Pointing out the virtues of ‘restorative justice’ as against the conventional ‘punitive justice’, South Africa’s former Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs that it tends to reform and restore a sense of harmony, rather than merely punish. Justice Sachs’s lecture was as part of the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas at the Kala Academy, Panjim.

Beginning his talk with a film on the unique structure that houses South Africa’s Constitutional Court – the country’s apex judicial body – Justice Sachs revealed that the committee to draw the brief for the complex and select the architect from a global competition was headed by none other than Goa’s own eminent architect Charles Correia.

In a speech centred on South Africa’s constitutional court and the country’s legal system, Justice Sachs stressed on the enormous influence that Indian leaders and Indian jurisprudence has had on South Africa’s new constitution and laws. He said, for instance, that the title of former South African President Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ was inspired by an essay written by former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru called ‘No Easy Walk to Freedom’.

Casting a different spin on the origin of the great ‘Gandhi Topi’, which Congress Seva Dal workers wear to this day, Justice Sachs said it was when the grandfather of the famous South

African freedom fighter of Indian origin Idris Naidoo was in jail together with ‘M K Gandhi’, as the Mahatma was then known, the apartheid regime ordered that Indian prisoners in the Johannesburg Old Fort Prison Complex, commonly known as Number Four, should wear the same caps worn by the black inmates. Naidoo protested, saying it was being done to humiliate Indians. But Gandhi remonstrated with him, saying that there could be no humiliation if Indians in the jail wore it with pride to demonstrate the equality of all peoples. It is this cap, he said, that Gandhi took back with him when he returned to India and took leadership of the Indian National Congress.

Having lost his right hand and left eye in a car bomb blast when apartheid regime South African intelligence agents tried to kill him when he was in exile in Mozambique, Justice Sachs reported how years later, the man who planted the bomb had reported his offence to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

And, when he met him later and forgave him, he went home and cried for two weeks.

To a question about whether the South African legal system was any less complex than in India, he said that when the Constitution was drafted, a plain language expert was asked to go through the draft and remove all unnecessarily difficult legal terminology. The new jurisprudence had no Latin terms, he said, and judges were addressed as ‘Justice’ and not ‘My Lord’.

Judges wore green gowns, and

sat at the same level as the lawyers, to emphasise equality of all before the law.

He said that landmark judgments of the Indian Supreme Court has heavily influenced South Africa’s new laws, particularly citing former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee and former Chief Justices Jagdish Bhagwati and V R Krishna Iyer. He also told some anecdotes about humour in justice.

To a question about whether people in same-sex marriages (which are legal in South Africa) should be allowed to adopt children, he said that in any case children cannot choose their parents, whether they are “hetero or homo”, and the issue was not one of the sexual orientation of the adopting couple but whether they would make good parents or not. He said overall, no adverse impact has been seen on children adopted by samesex couples.

Asked whether democracy was suitable for all societies, he replied firmly in the affirmative, but qualified it by saying that democracy should not mean only elections, and that the European and North American style of democracy was not necessarily a model to follow for all societies.

To a question about whether economic rights like the right to food, education and shelter should be considered human rights, he said “there is no freedom without bread”. While in India these rights are not justiciable, in South Africa they are, he said, but there the right is limited by the capacity of the state to provide it.

Requisition of land for the rehabilitation of the households affected by the setting up of the military camp at Rawanfond without following the process of land acquisition has come to haunt around 100 households in Firgulem locality of AquemBaixo village Panchayat.

The households find themselves in a tight spot after the landlord has served court notices on them since the government has till date not paid any compensation for rehabilitating the people on his property.

The issue was raised by Navelim MLA and PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao with Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza and District Collector G P Naik in the District Collectorate on Wednesday.

Alemao drew attention of the revenue minister and the district collector of the fact that the households have received the court notices for no fault of theirs, adding that the landlord has gone to the court since the government had failed to acquire the land in question and

PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao discussing with Revenue Minister, Jose Philip D’Souza, district Collector G P Naik and Deputy Collector Johnson Fernandes the issue of land acquisition for the households of Aquem-Baixo.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

offer compensation to the landlord.

After the meeting, the PWD Minister said he has requested the Revenue Minister and the district collector to work out a solution and ensure that the households are not affected and that the landlord is offered adequate compensation in lieu of the land.

“This issue has been pending for the three decades, but was never taken up by any MLA or Minister. I will take up the matter with the Chief Minister to work out an amicable solution to the problem”, Alemao added.

When contacted, District Col-

Tourism Dept razes road leading to Morjim beach

Residents of Cottarli and Orcotto, Sanguem, have demanded immediate and necessary action over large movement of overloaded trucks carrying ore from a factory at Xelpem since the past few days.

The residents submitted a memorandum to Quepem Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes, Sanguem Police Inspector and Road Transport Officer, Quepem, for necessary action.

The memorandum highlighted the health hazards caused to the locals residing in the vicinity due to overloaded trucks.

The memorandum further stated that due to the overloaded trucks, ore spills all over the road, thereby causing dust pollution leading to adverse effects on the health of the villagers residing by the side of the road.

“Despite the villagers having written to the authorities to keep a check and control over the movement of overloaded trucks plying from the

factory, particularly those carrying fly ash, the authorities have failed to act diligently in the matter,” states the memorandum.

The villagers have also complained to the authorities of the trucks moving in the village much before the prescribed timings of 8 am and after 6 pm, thereby disturbing peace in the village.

“Due to the movement of trucks during night, our sleep is greatly disturbed,” complained a villager.

In the meantime, Cottarli villagers also submitted a request to the Uguem sarpanch for the installation of ‘No Entry’ signboards in the village for heavy trucks before 8 am and after 6 pm.

The villagers have also urged the sarpanch to pass a resolution to that effect at the panchayat meeting for onward submission to the Deputy Collector for getting necessary orders.

A similar request has also been made to the Sanguem Municipal Council chairperson for the installation of ‘No Entry’ signboard towards the Dando end of Orcotto village.

Usgao woman succumbs to burns HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, FEB 9

A 23-year-old woman from TiskUsgao succumbed to burn injuries at GMC Hospital at Bambolim on Wednesday morning.

It may be recalled that one Jyoti Kallapa Sarvalkar had sustained 95 per cent burn injuries at her residence on February 5.

Police informed that family members claimed that the deceased set herself on fire using kerosene.

The body was handed over to family members and PSI Nikhil Palekar is the investigating the case.

Cottarli, Sanguem locals want action against overloaded trucks HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, FEB 9

lector, G P Naik told Herald that the government had requisitioned land for the rehabilitation of around 46 families in the 60’s which were affected by the military camp at Rawanfond. “As per my study, though the families were rehabilitated on the plot of land, there appeared no land acquisition process followed to later acquire the land.

In the bargain, the land lord was not paid compensation for the land loss”, he said, adding that he has put up a note of the state revenue authorities to discuss the issue threadbare with the Chief Minister before working out a solution.

The illegal road leading to the Morjim beach razed by the tourism department.

Photo by Arun Naik HERALD CORRESPONDENT PERNEM, FEB 9

Acting on the directives of the High Court, Tourism Department on Wednesday razed the illegal road leading to the Morjim beach, which was constructed by a Russian firm.

According to reports, the Tourism Department razed the 800 mts long road, which was constructed using mud clay. The road was constructed in the government property by violating the CRZ norms and without obtaining any permission.

It may be recalled that two Russian businessmen had purchased 19,906 sq mts of land in the name of the firm by violating FEMA rules. The property has been confiscated by the government, besides the illegal construction was also demolished.

On Wednesday afternoon, Tourism Director Assistant Director J R Gracias with the help of local panchayat and police razed the illegal road constructed by the Russian firm.

Pernem Joint Mamlatdar Darshana Narulkar and Morjim Sarpanch Ratnakar Shetgaonkar were present during the drive.

fRoM PAGE 1 Aarushi murder

to the order. Whatever remedies are available to us, we will challenge the order in a superior court. It is a challengeable order and we will challenge it. We will decide in two days as to which court to approach.”

There was speculation that the couple could be arrested but John dismissed the possibility saying “There is no question, no apprehension”.

The court rejected Talwar’s petition against the CBI report seeking fresh investigations to nail the culprits. He had pointed fingers at the servants.

With today’s order, the three servants who were earlier made an accused in the case will now walk free.

Protests bear fruit

The residents, however, point blank told the PWD minister and the district collector that they are tired of hearing assurances since the last four years and demanded concrete assurances in writing.

Incidentally, the district collector announced that the process for construction of the third phase of the Curchorem bypass has commenced and work has been awarded to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation. “As far as the Curchorem bypass is concerned , PWD Division 25 has been told to submit a preliminary report and prepare the estimate”, Naik said, adding that the chief secretary has asked the GSIDC to compile a report on the feasibility of a canal bypass within four months.

When the protestors drew the attention of the district collector to the daily blockage of traffic by mining trucks, the collector told the acting SP, South to personally look into the matter to monitor the situation.

Panjim reporter adds: After failing to meet the CM in Margao, a delegation under the banner of Gaon Rakhan Jagrut Manch visited Kamat at his official residence at Altinho, here, where they were assured that no further proceeding in regards to four-laning of the existing highway would be undertaken.

“Though the CM has not given in writing, the district collector has been ordered to ask the land acquisition officer to keep on hold the procedure for invoking Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act,” Paresh Bhende, former chairperson of Curchorem-Cacora Municipal council told reporters outside the CM’s residence.

Bhende, who has been at the forefront of the agitation, said Kamat had assured to start the work on the by-pass at Curchorem soon to divert the mining traffic.

Activists pointed out there were around 10,000 students who cross the streets to reach their homes in this and neighbouring areas. The fast-moving ore carriers which pass by this town are a real danger to crossing pedestrians, they added.

Bhende reiterated the government was busy with alignment for highway expansion in spite of knowing about their agitation.

“The by-pass is a must; we won’t allow highway expansion, which will further increase accident rates in the city,” he observed.

Curchorem correspondent adds: The Ganv Rakhon Manch (GRM) on Wednesday withdrew its indefinite hunger strike, which was started to oppose the proposed four-lane road from Tilamol to Sanguem and demand a bypass road.

GRM Convenor Atrey Kakodkar along with his supporters called on Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who reportedly assured the agitators to fulfill their demands.

“With regard to the four-lane road from Quepem via Curchorem to Sanguem, the chief minister assured that once the report is received from the land acquisition officer, Section 6 will be will be kept on hold at the government level till the grievances in the representative capacity is heard by the chief minister.”

Kakodkar served lemon water to Ajit Parulekar, who was on an indefinite hunger strike. A large crowd had gathered in front of the Curchorem police station, where GRM had started its indefinite hunger strike.

It may be recalled that on the first day, Parulekar had started the hunger strike, but after two days his health deteriorated and he had to be shifted to the government hospital at Cacora. He was then replaced by former Curchorem-Cacora chairman Paresh Bhende.

Judge suspended

and judicial work. In fact, he said, it should be to the credit of Judge Desmond D’ Costa that a criminal case has been disposed of in the shortest possible time in Goa where cases take ages for want of reports, non availability of witnesses. ”The police who have not done the investigation in the right direction must be blamed if the case does not end a in conviction.

Is the judge to be punished for exercising his judicial discretion?

In fact the prosecution had closed its case for want of witnesses.

What is the judge supposed to do in these circumstances? Allow the accused to rot in jail and not pass judgment till the district judge arrives”, he questioned.

Saying that D’ Costa has been a carefree judge with no hang ups or prejudice of any sort, Viegas said “D’Costa bears no ill will towards anyone and certainly has no bias towards any litigant or lawyer.”

Viegas said the suspension of Judge D’ Costa for a matter which he judicially decided and against which no appeal was filed by the State is highly deplorable. “The judgment is not found to be erroneous nor the trial vitiated and yet the judge is in the dock for doing his duty. This is the height of injustice”, he said and urged the High Court to withdraw the suspension and deal with the matter in a just and proper manner.

Saying that the association shall be constrained to take recourse to legal and direct action if the suspension is not withdrawn forthwith, Viegas said the legal fraternity will certainly hold demonstrations both in Margao and Panjim as a mark of protest against the suspension of Judge D’Costa.

Veg crisis deepens

he asserted.

Ghatwal alleged several members from Goa had gone to Belgaum supporting the protest. “We have the list of names and the same will be disclosed at the right time,” he mentioned.

The corporation has 350-odd outlets that sell vegetables at affordable rates across the State. GPYC informed the corporation was bearing a subsidy burden of Rs 2.25 crore.

GPYC has urged the State government to intervene in the matter by calling upon its counterparts in Karnataka.

Trouble between the corporation and Belgaum-based wholesalers began on Tuesday when 130 tons of vegetable on its way to Goa was destroyed by the latter.

The State government has sent a high-level team headed by the agriculture secretary to sort out the issue.

Sitting corporator booked for cheating HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

Sitting Corporator and former chairman of the Panjim Marketing Committee has been booked for cheating a local businessman to the tune of Rs 1.50 lakh on pretext of transferring a shop in the latter’s name.

Panjim town police registered a case against Uday Madkaikar after Altaf Jamadar of Taleigao on Wednesday lodged a complaint of cheating against him.

In his complaint letter, Altaf

stated that Uday had promised him to transfer shop number 88-b in his name which is located in the new CCP market.

“The original owner of the shop Abdullah Sanque signed an agreement with Altaf and Sheikh Mustafa to release the shop in the name of Altaf.

The official formalities lied in the hands of Uday who asked Altaf to pay him Rs 1.50 lakh, which was accomplished,” Deputy Superintendent of Police

Deu Benaulikar said.

However, since July 2009, the shop was never transferred in his name which prompted the businessman to file a complaint against him. While Uday is booked under Sections 420 (cheating) and 341 (wrongful restrainment) of the Indian Penal Code, one Raja (full name not known) is booked for breaking the lock of the shop.

Benaulikar said that the case probe is at preliminary stage.

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Associations reject compromise formula on vegetable supply HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, FEB 9

The vegetable supply crisis, which seemed to have been over after the bilateral discussions between officials of Goa State Horticulture Corporation’s (GSHC) and Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Merchants Association (CWVMA), has deepened further.

All members of the 500 strong associations have rejected the compromise formula that was worked out during the meeting that was held at the office of the deputy commissioner of Belgaum on Wednesday afternoon.

The merchants during a late evening meeting that was held at the Association’s office have raised suspicions regarding the dubious dealings of GSHC. They have taken a decision to stop the entire supply of vegetables to the Corporation and further intensify the agitation.

“However, the supply to regular vendors in Goa will continue,” Association President Divakar Patil told Herald.

The decision in this regard was arrived at 9 pm on Wednesday. Apart from affecting supply to GSHC stalls, the crisis seemed to have deepened further and situations may be serious. The members of the Association have stuck to their demand of equal opportunity to all the suppliers.

Earlier, positive developments were witnessed and a solution was arrived during

the meeting attended by Goan delegation comprising Secretary for Agriculture C P Tripathi, Director of Agriculture Satish Tendulkar and GSHC Managing Director Orlando Rodrigues.

However, the meeting that was chaired

by Deputy Commissioner Dr Ekroop Caur commenced amid heated exchanges and allegations from both the sides.

Association President Divakar Patil made strong allegations stating that the members of the association fail to understand why only four suppliers have been patronized in the list to supply the entire 130 tonnes of vegetable to GSHDC. Patil also sensed some ‘Gafla’ (fraud) regarding the four suppliers and demanded that apart from observing transparency, opportunity should have been given to more suppliers for healthy competition that would benefit Goan consumers.

The members of the association also alleged that these four suppliers are enjoying a huge margin and asked where the margin disappears.

“Sitting at Goa, you are not aware of the actual market rates and believe in whatever the four suppliers inform you,” Patil told Orlando Rodrigues. He also challenged to obtain the latest rates by fax.

Rodrigues, who preferred to avoid confrontation, expressed his inability in dealing with so many suppliers, stating that the Corporation “cannot do business with

Corruption plaint against Madkaikar HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

Right to Information (RTI) activists have filed a police complaint against former transport minister Pandurang Madkaikar in connection with the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).

Kashinath Shetye and Ketan Govekar in their complaint before Panjim police have sought to file first information report (FIR) against Madkaikar, other members of tender evaluation committee and officials of Directorate of Transport.

The duo stated Madkaikar and others should be slapped with charges of corruption, forgery and cheating by conniving with Shimnit Utsch India Pvt Ltd. The State Government recently cancelled its contract with the company after several lacunaes came to the fore in a report tabled by a committee headed by Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava.

The complainants pointed out that Madkaikar was the transport minister when the notice inviting bids for manufacture of HSRPs was floated.

The complaint states further during Madkaikar’s tenure Shimnit was declared as a successful bidder and a letter of acceptance was issued to the company.

“Madkaikar by-passed the Cabinet and took up the issue himself without placing the scheme before the Cabinet in connivance with his counterparts,” the complaint reads.

“The tender evaluation committee was constituted with the approval of then chief minister and the same was headed by Madkaikar himself,” the complaint mentions.

They stated the irregularities and illegalities have been committed dishonestly to ensure that under any circumstances the tender went to Shimnit.

The copy of the complaint is also addressed to Superintendent of Police (North).

Truth has prevailed: Parrikar

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar today expressed satisfaction after being absolved of major charges by the Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) over the financial irregularities in creating infrastructure for IFFI 2004.

“What was right has been proved,” a relieved Parrikar, whose role as the GSIDC chairman in 2004 is being probed by the CBI, told Herald.

He said he is satisfied as the CAG themselves have dropped the audit paras.

“Major charges or paras have been dropped by the CAG only after getting the proper explanation on their queries,” he stated adding the remarks by CAG were made only because proper information was not provided to them for auditing.

Also, the former chief minister said, before making the erroneous observations the CAG did not convene its committee meeting, in which outsiders are also members.

“When asked they said the government should have convened the meeting,” Parrikar stated.

On what happens to the CBI case against him since major

charges have already been dropped, Parrikar said, “I do not know about that, but the CBI had decided to close the case few months ago, however, the Congress government did not want the case to be closed just ahead of elections.”

Hence, he added, they asked Mauvin Godinho to file an FIR at the Panjim Police Station. “If you look at that FIR it is a joke,” he commented. Nonetheless, Parrikar said, “I am happy at last the truth has prevailed.”

everybody.”

“From four shops four years ago, GSHC has successfully established 356 shops. A contract has been already signed with four suppliers, as nobody from Belgaum wanted to supply to GSHC,” Orlando Rodrigues confirmed.

Dr Ekroop Caur suggested the Association members to deal with GSHC as a unit, the suggestion that was agreed by GSHC delegation.

“Some rationalisation is required in supplies of vegetables,” said Dr Caur adding “Let your dealings be clean.’

The Association members too agreed to visit Goa on Thursday to sign contract, after discussions with the Association members.

GSHC agreed to offer one route on a trial basis on the terms and conditions set by the Corporation. “However, our vehicles should not be stopped,” he urged the Association members. “We are clean, let them also be clean,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Goan delegation immediately left the Deputy Commissioner’s office to oversee the stock of supplies stocked at the godown hired by GSHC at the APMC market yard, which is about six kms away from the Cantonment Wholesale vegetable market, the regular supplier to Goa. It is understood that the vegetables that were blocked on Tuesday were dispatched to Goa.

GSHC MD denies graft charges HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, FEB 9

Goa State Horticulture Corporation (GSHC) Managing Director Orlando Rodrigues on Wednesday denied the charges of corruption in the supply of vegetables from Belgaum.

Rodrigues was accompanying the Goan delegation that arrived at Deputy Commissioner’s office, here, on Wednesday morning.

“Let them prove the allegations,” he quipped when asked about the allegations by the members of the Cantonment Wholes a l e Ve g e t a b l e M e rc h a n t s Association (CWVMA), where they have said that a flat being ‘gifted’ to an authority in the GSHC. Senior state bureaucrat C P Tripathi, who was a silent observer during the meeting, ref r a i n e d f ro m m a k i n g a n y comments, but was inquisitive about the developments during the meeting.

“Why were the rates of vegetables not enquired from other suppliers while finalizing the order of vegetables,” he asked after a member of the vegetable association suspected entire foul play.

“Our wings are being cut systematically and the policy of

Amonkar rubbishes charges of favouritism HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

Goa State Horticulture Corporation (GSHC) Chairman Sankalp Amonkar on Wednesday rubbished allegations against him of patronising select suppliers of vegetables.

Amonkar told Herald that there were four suppliers recognized by the Corporation amongst whom one supplier has been since inception.

He said initially the Corporation had only one supplier but subsequently more were added as the business grew.

“We needed more vegetables so suppliers too started getting attracted towards us,” Amonkar said adding that the fourth supplier was added recently.

The Chairman said recently the Corporation has expanded its business full scale which has resulted in profits for these sup-

Dharbandora mishap claims Usgao resident HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, FEB 9

A resident from Tisk-Usgao died, while another person was seriously injured, after the twowheeler on which they were traveling met with an accident at Dharbandora near Sahakari Sugar Factory on Tuesday night.

Ponda Police has identified the deceased as Vikram, while Yogesh Patil was seriously injured.

According to Ponda Police, the accident occurred after the two-wheeler went off the road and collided against a tree.

Police informed that Vikram died on the way to hospital. Police also informed that there was also a third person traveling on the same two-wheeler, who escaped unhurt.

n “We needed more vegetables so suppliers too started getting attracted towards us.”

-- Sankalp Amonkar pliers.

He said only last month, they received three more applications from suppliers showing interest, but no decision had been taken on these. As and when the business expands more, we will consider them,” he mentioned.

The Chairman said norms for

new vegetable suppliers were very stringent. “The supplier has to take up the onus of transporting the vegetables and any damage on the way is not borne by the Corporation,” he explained.

The irate suppliers in Belgaum had claimed that the Corporation was procuring vegetables from only four suppliers of which 75 percent was from a single supplier.

Amonkar has rubbished the claim stating that he has records to prove that there is no partiality in procuring the vegetables.

n Senior state bureaucrat C P Tripathi, who was a silent observer during the meeting, refrained from making any comments, but was inquisitive about the developments during the meeting.

GSHC to procure vegetables from only four persons is dangerous and may wipe out very existence,” a member of the CWVMA alleged.

The Association members who have expressed fear of unfair treatment from Goan authorities have been reiterating their demand of transparent dealing for the ultimate benefit of the consumers.

“For the benefit of the Goan consumers, we shall declare the wholesale rates twice a week to the media,” a senior member said.

The members who had gathered in large number at Deputy Commissioner’s office compound during the meeting were highly suspicious and irate as they saw the ‘four’ suppliers accompanying the Goan delegation after the meeting at about 12.30 pm.

Grand Exhibition Cum Sale

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UPCOMING EVENTS Personality workshop

PANJIM (HND) Aditya Kala Academy in collaboration with Alpha Mindz will organize a workshop on personality development ‘Change Your Life With the Power of Positive Attitude’

by Manu Anand on February 13 at Mapusa Residency from 9 .30 am to 1 pm. For registrations and further details contact Mr Dhanraj on 9822101909. Limited seats are available.

St Thomas feast on Feb 20

PANJIM (HND): The annual feast of the patron of St Thomas Chapel, Panjim will be celebrated on February 20. The fama will be held on February 10 with Mass at 6 pm followed by the blessing of the Banner. The preparatory novenas will commence from February 11 with the morning Mass as usual at 7 am and at 5.30 pm will begin the recitation of the Rosary, Litany, Mass with sermon followed by Salves. The Solemn Vespers will be held on February 19 at 7 pm. On the feast day, the concelebrated High Mass followed by procession and veneration of the Saint’s relic will be held at 10 am.

IOB’s Platinum Jubilee

PANJIM (HND): IOB a nationalised bank having its central office at Chennai will celebrate its Platinum Jubilee year from February 10. On the eve of Platinum Jubilee year, the bank has proposed to open 75 new branches and 75 new ATMs in the country on February 10.

The bank has a network of 2019 branches in India and 6 branches abroad. Soft launching / inauguration of these branches will be declared at New Delhi by the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee in the presence of CMD M Narendra and other dignitaries. The bank will also announce launching of many new special deposits / advances schemes at the Platinum Jubilee function.

The bank has 14 branches in Goa and proposes to open another 10 branches in the future.

Lovers’ Nite at Taleigao

PANJIM (HND): Events R Ours, an event management company from Ribandar will organize Lovers’ Nite the best dance for all cupids, in association with Kingfisher on the February 14 at Little Field, open air venue at Taleigao from 7 pm onwards. Crowning of Mr & Ms Valentine and Mr and Mrs Valentine will be the star attraction of the evening. The band in attendance is Band Wagon and Dj Vicky from Mumbai.

Afonso Caterers will be catering with their live food counters with exotic stuff. The mood-setters will be Newton and Sandra.

Tickets are available at Magsons Super Centre Miramar and Baron from February 11. For further details contact 9822388812.

Phorum’s tribute to Valentines

PANJIM (HND): With St Valentine scheduled to visit Goa this February, Phorum jewels is all set to pay tribute to the greatest human emotion - love. As warm emotions and cuddly feelings rent the air, Phorum Jewels yet again lives up to the occasion with an exhibition of its finest gold and diamond studded jewellery on February 20 and 21 at Nanutel Hotel, Margao. The heart swooning collection of necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings then comes to Panjim on February 23 and 24 at Hotel Mandovi’s Rampon hall. The exhibitions at both venues will be open from 11 am to 8 pm.

Stop misguiding people of Fatorda: Damu to Churchill HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 9

Fatorda MLA Damu Naik has asked PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao and GPCC general secretary Vijay Sardessai to stop misguiding the people of Fatorda that he is anti-poor.

Naik told newsmen that he is all for development, but hastened to add that any development ought to be undertaken within the legal parameters.

Referring to the propaganda launched by the Churchill-Vijay combine that he has opposed distribution of water tanks to the poor and the downtrodden, the Fatorda MLA said “water tank distribution to the poor is welcome, but that should be done through a proper scheme and after due approvals from the government”.

He said no one has the right

Dhangar community urged to solve woes unitedly

to indulge in illegal and corrupt practices in the name of development, and demanded to know whether the PWD had obtained prior financial and administrative approvals for the water tank

scheme.

“Vijay in particular told a gathering on Sunday that I have opposed a football ground in Fatorda. I am not against football, but Vijay should answer whether the land in question was acquired by the government or whether the laid down official procedure was complied with”.

Saying that the people of Fatorda have full faith and trust in him and do not want him to indulge in illegal activities, Naik said these illegal masters are now facing the music of their illegal activities.

Demanding to know the source of funds spent by these illegal masters, the Fatorda MLA vowed to continue the battle against corruption and promised to expose scams in the government in the near future.

‘O Maria’ completes 50 shows

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, FEB 9

Congress leader and former ZP member Jaidev Parab Gaonkar has stressed the need for united efforts by the Dhangar community to solve grievances of their community along with enjoying benefits of different schemes launched by the government.

He was addressing the gathering during the felicitation of Dhangar community leader and senior citizen Bhago Warak. The function was recently organised during the valedictory function of first anniversary celebration of Mhalchi Pandhar Devasthan at Kudchirem-Bicholim.

B D More of the Dhangar community, Rajendra Gawas, Laxman Zore, Manu Shinde, Ramdas Salelkar, Bhago Zore, Daji Warak, Ganu Zore, Babu Tate and others were present on the occasion.

In his speech, More has put forward different grievances faced by them and called upon the administration to make available different schemes for the community.

Culture and Traditions

One of America’s most famous monuments originated in France – the Statue of Liberty. It all began with the American Revolution, where the French helped Americans be rid of their British rule.

The two countries therefore established a friendly relationship. Over the years, the associations of the Statue have grown until she has become an international icon of freedom and liberty, the most recognizable symbol of democracy in the world.

The idea of the Statue originated around 1865 with Edouard de Laboulaye who saw the

n Stating that no one has the right to indulge in illegal and corrupt practices in the name of development, Damu Naik demanded to know whether the PWD had obtained prior financial and administrative approvals for the water tank scheme.

United States as a country that had proved that democracy was possible after all they had survived a Civil War and abolished slavery.

De Laboulaye also saw the gift as a way to reflect his wish for a democracy in France.

Artist Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, who was known for largescale work, was commissioned to design this

York Harbor, and realized it would be a perfect location - since here his statue would always have an audience.

"Statue of Liberty Liberty Enlightening the World" is the full title of Bartholdi's work, and it was fashioned in the style of GrecoRoman art. Bartholdi used a technique called repousse to create her copper skin - hammering out each piece of copper

sculpture. Nothing happened for some time, but finally (in 1874) Bartholdi came to the United States to look for a location for his monument. He saw Bedloe's Island from his ship as he sailed into the New

until it was only 3/32 of an inch thick. Bartholdi recruited French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel to build a skeleton for his statue. Eiffel designed a massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework which allows the Statue's copper skin to move independently - yet

Lady Liberty

Su-Raj Party wants thorough probe in Cypriano’s death

GOA

S H O RT TA K E S

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, FEB 9

The Goa Su-Raj Party has demanded full and proper investigation into the custodial death of Cypriano Fernandes from Moira.

In a press note, Goa Suraj Party General Secretary Floriano Lobo has stated that Cipriano Fernandes had no history whatsoever of epilepsy or any illness and was indeed fit as a fiddle, being a sea-faring person.

“If at all, he had suffered epilepsy type fits needing to be hospitalized, these fits have certainly resulted from the severe physical abuse and injuries received while in police custody,” stated Lobo.

“His death is shocking and hence thorough investigation right from the day the complainant lodged the complaint till his death in the hospital,” states the press note.

Lobo demanded proper investigation preferably through a judicial inquiry so that the concerned police personnel are brought to book and in the meantime the police personnel who were in charge of handling Cipriano be put on immediate suspension.

Vasco MLA Milind Naik speaks on the occasion of 40th anniversary celebration of Kerala Samajam held in Vasco recently. Also present are treasurer Boban Verughese, president N P Vasu Nair and secretary Mani Namboodhiri.

Satyawan elected chief

MAYEM (HC): Prof Satyawan Harmalkar was elected as president of Giants Group of Bhatgram for 2011-12 in a meeting which was held under the guidance of former president of giants group and local MLA Rajesh Patnekar.

Other office bearers elected are Mahadev Tirodkar (1st vice president), Bharat Chanekar (2nd vice president), Sanjeev Assagoankar (secretary) and Prof Rajanikant Sawant (treasurer).

Board of directors are Vismay Prabhudesai, Mukund Harmalkar, Narayn Betkikar, Pravin Sawant, Shankar Harmalkar, Manohar Shirodkar, Santosh Patkar, Gajanan Dangi, Sachin Salkar, Mukund Malgaonkar, Paresh Lingadkar, Imran Khan and Prof Kiran Pathak.

Newly elected president Harmalkar stated that different social programmes will be organised under his leadership.

Career guidance workshop

Healing retreat for married couples HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 9

Film actress Varsha Usgaonkar speaks on the occasion of ‘O Maria’s’ 50th show at Inox, in the presence of film director Rajendra Talak.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, FEB 9

Konkani film ‘O Maria’ produced

by M B Creations Goa and di-

stand upright. This flexibility is needed to allow the Statue to sway in the sometimes violent harbor winds.

Since the Statue was a joint effort between America and France, it was agreed that the American people were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible for the Statue and assembly.

The Statue was completed in France in July of 1884, then disassembled and shipped to the United States. She arrived in NY In June 1885. Once the pedestal was finished, the statue was re-assembled in four months. On October 28, 1886 the dedication of the Statue of Liberty took place in front of thousands of spectators.

rected by Rajendra Talak celebrated its 50th day in Inox (Panjim) and Osia (Margao) on February 6. Renowned film actress Varsha Usgaonkar was the chief guest on the occasion in Inox.

Varsha expressed her happiness for the success of Konkani film and thanked the audience for their support. She further said Goa must start its own satellite channel and produce serials like other regional channels.

Rajendra Talak thanked the audience for their continued support and appealed to them for the special screening of the film to school and college students at concessional rates as it has a strong message ‘Save Goa’. The cast of the film including Meenacshi Martins, Aryan Khedekar, Kevin D’Mello and Queenie Fernandes were also present.

Inox Manager Joseph Pereira was also felicitated for his support to the Konkani Cinema.

An all Goa special healing retreat for married couples will be held at Carambolim Church on February 11 by Fr Roque Pereira, Caligary Dioceses, Canada, for five consecutive Fridays.

From 6.30 am to 12 noon, Thomas Fernandes and his intercessory team will pray at the feet of the Blessed Sacrament for the success of the retreat for married couples. The retreat will begin at 7.30 am with Biblical Rosary based on married life.

From 8.30 am to 9.30 am, Dioginho D’Costa will give a talk and his own personal experience on married life. From 9.30 am to 10.30 am, Mario Fernandes and his Music Ministry will conduct praise and worship dedicated to married couples.

From 11 am to 12 noon, Fr Conceicao D’Silva, Agnes Fernandes will conduct the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament dedicated to the married couples and then Fr Conceicao D’Silva will pray over the married couples and bless them.

Fr Jose Roque Gonsalves, famous preacher of Goa and Parish Priest of Verna will be the main celebrant for the concelebrated mass where he will preach on theme ‘Kazari Bhav Bhoinnamni Mogan, Ekvottan ani Magnnean Nazarethchea Ghorabea bhaxen aplem kazari jivit sarchem’.

From 6.30 pm to 12 noon, there will be several priests for confession. Transport will be available from Margao near Fatima Convent, bus stand from 6.30 am onwards.

Resident Manager of the Crown, Goa, Mayuresh Nageshkar gives a warm welcome to the legendary Louis Banks. Banks was in Goa for the Jazz-Gospel concert held at Kala Academy recently. The Crown, Goa, a 5-Star hotel in the heart of Panjim city which is a Dempo hospitality venture, played host to Louiz Banks and his group.

Fermina named chief of Nationalist Mahila Congress HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, FEB 9

Social worker Fermina Khaunte from Porvorim has been appointed as president of Nationalist Mahila Congress for Goa. A letter regarding her appointment was issued by Nationalist Congress President Nivedita Mane on February 4.

Khaunte is known among the downtrodden for social work. She had contested the last assembly election from Aldona constituency, but lost by a thin margin against Dayanand Narvekar.

Though she was a new en-

trant in the politics, she has been successful in creating her mark among the voters, particularly in the rural areas of Aldona constituency.

Speaking to Herald, Khaunte expressed happiness at her appointment as president of Nationalist Mahila Congress for Goa state.

She is happy that the NCP high command has taken a note of her social work. She said that she will endeavour to strengthen the party at the grass root level by forming committees of women in every taluka and attending to the problem of the poor people.

PANJIM (HND): Frontline Academy Kalay Sanguem organized workshop on importance of education and career guidance for students of Mollem studying in Xth, XIth and XIIth standards.

Chief guest Prof Dr Manoj Kamat urged the students to be grateful to late former chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar, since it was he who stressed on opening primary schools in every corner of the state. “Because of his efforts today poor people can afford higher education,” he added.

Sarpanch Janu Suzere and engineer Anil Gaonkar also spoke on the occasion.

In his welcome speech, Frontline Akademy president Arun Bicholker said that education is the backbone of every individual since education makes men perfect. Vaman Khandeparkar and panch Mahima Gaonkar were also present.

On the occasion, three students Vithu Yamkar, Babli Shirodkar, Chetan Gaonkar were felicitated for representing the state at the under 14 kho-kho game. Sunil Naik compered the function and Shau proposed the vote of thanks.

Sandra for Germany

PANJIM (HND): Sandra Da Cunha, a teacher at Perpetual Succour Convent High School, Navelim and a professional compere has been selected for the German bound GSE team of the Rotary District 3170 comprising of Goa, parts of Maharasthra and Karnataka.

The team will visit Germany in the Month of May and spend a month wherein there will be a professional Sandra Da Cunha and cultural exchange. Sandra has been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Panaji, Riviera. GSE is a group study exchange programme comprising of professionals from various fields.

It enables professionals to broaden their horizons towards their profession and develop a broader outlook towards life.

Media festival organised

PANJIM (HNB): ‘Prime Time - Media Day’, an inter-collegiate media festival, was hosted by the Department of Mass Media of Don Bosco College in collaboration with Tabon Animations at Don Bosco Oratory recently.

Principal Dr Marie Raj welcomed the students and stated that this was the first time that the Mass Media department had organizing an intercollegiate media fest. Lecturer, Fr Ralin D’Souza then highlighted each individual event.

Chief guest, Lavinia Gonsalves, CEO of Tabon Animations, said that the mass media students should aim to do things differently, be themselves and then only they will come out with something original.

“Mass media is one of the most exciting subjects which needs creativity and has no boundaries,” she said.

The Media Day featured a melange of items touching on various aspects of media, such as Print Ad, Radio Jingle and Screen Play, to name a few.

St Xavier’s College were adjudged the overall winners for the event. The event was part of the ongoing Decennial Celebration of the college. The event had an eclectic mix of visual, aural and written forms of media. Media day was a perfect staging ground for media aficionados to discover the varying hues on the media palette.

Seminar on water quality held

MARGAO (HR): A day-long seminar on national rural drinking water quality monitoring and surveillance program was held in the South Goa district Collectorate on Monday by the Goa Institute of Rural Development and Administration and PWD. The seminar was attended by various stakeholders and NGOs in a bid to spread awareness on safe drinking water to the rural population.

District Collector G P Naik hoped the deliberations and discussions during the one day seminar would help to provide safe drinking water to the rural households.

Assistant Director of Goa Institute of Rural Development and Administration Rekha Joshi said the basic idea behind holding the seminar was to create awareness on the quality of drinking water provided at the village level.

She said the health department has a big role to play in the scheme since it is incumbent on the authorities to provide water free from bacteria and chemicals.

POWER SHUTDOWN FEBRUARY 11 PERNEM: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are VP Allorna-Tallarna.

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PCF smells land scam in RP-21 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

After raising their suspicion over eco-tourism hubs, Pilerne Citizens Forum (PCF) on Wednesday claimed a massive land-grab scam was hidden in the Regional Plan (RP) 2021 that has converted huge tracts of land as industrial zones.

PCF Coordinator Paul Fernandes said the State Government was trying to get SEZs through the backdoor in the name of these industrial enclaves.

Pointing out to information sought under Right to Information Act, Fernandes said lakhs of square metres of green patches were planned to be converted for industrial zones without taking locals into confidence.

PCF alleged private lobbies through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have proposed acquisition of hills and green fields for industrial estates. “The survey numbers given in the information in-

Probe ordered into nationality of Majorda Sarpanch HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 9

PCF Coordinator Paul Fernandes addresses the media.

cludes hilly areas. The land acquisition process started by IDC is to favour private parties, who will later come up with residential projects,” Fernandes said.

As per the RTI information, nearly 50 lakh sq m of land in Pernem taluka alone is being acquired for industrial purpose. It is revealed further around 6 lakh sq m of land is being acquired in Tuvem village, 40 lakh sq m in Alorna and 4 lakh sq m in

Dhargalim village in Pernem.

The data figures out that apart from Pernem, areas are been acquired in talukas like Canacona (1.43 lakh sq m), Bicholim (8.63 lakh sq m), Sattari (13.81 lakh sq m), Quepem (96,000 sq m) and Mormugao (43,000 sq m).

PCF Chairman Prakash Bandodkar said that settlement areas have been converted into industrial zones in the RP.

Photo by Sachin Ambadoskar

He pointed out that in spite of a resolution from gram sabha opposing expansion of the industrial estate in Pilerne, the State Government has acquired land for the second and third phases.

Bandodkar said their attempt to meet Chief Minister and seek his clarification on the issue had proven futile. PCF has moved a local court against him alleging fraud in the RP.

The Electoral Registration Officer, Margao has asked the Assistant Electoral Returning Officer for the Benaulim Assembly constituency to conduct a detailed inquiry into the nationality proof of Majorda Sarpanch Visitation D’Silva, her husband Alex Manuel Da Silva and son Charles.

Besides, the Assistant Returning Officer has been asked to probe into the nationality status of Moises Vaz and Anthony Joseph Vaz, both residents of Majorda.

The inquiry was ordered after the Election Commission of India directed the Chief Electoral Officer to inquire into a complaint by Piedade Baptista, whether the names of these persons are enrolled in the electoral roll of the state or not.

When contacted, the Majorda Sarpanch said she has not received any notice from the election officials till date, though she has heard from many quarters that a complaint has been made against her with the Election Commission.

“I want to make it categorically clear to everyone that I am an Indian national and am a holder of Indian passport. Where is the question of me holding a Portuguese passport?”, Visitation quipped.

The Sarpanch further said that her husband and son too are Indian nationals and Indian passport holders, while terming the allegations as false and mischievous. “There are certain elements who want to dislodge me from the post of Sarpanch. I am ready for the challenge”, she asserted.

‘Fermina named women’s chief NUSI Wockhardt launches special to further strengthen NCP base’ healthcare facility for senior citizens HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 9

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, FEB 9

NCP women wing General Secretary Bharati Chavan has stated that the appointment of Fermina Khaunte as president of women’s wing of NCP Goa has been made after consultation with State NCP President Surendra Sirsat and after following the required procedure.

Chavan was speaking after opening the NCP’s women wing office at Porvorim on Wednesday.

“It’s over 12 years that NCP came into existence in Goa, but no steps were taken to form the women wing of the party,” said Chavan.

“In order to strengthen the party base, involvement of women in politics is very important and hence the appointment of women president was done by the High Command,” added Chavan.

Chavan further stated that the vote of a woman is equally important in the democracy.

“Even if the Reservation Bill is passed in the Parliament, it has been observed that there are no competent women candidates in the country to contest the elections. Hence, the need to strengthen women wing of the party has arisen,” stated Chavan.

“It will be an endeavour of the party to appraise the poor women about self-employment schemes of the government,

General Secretary of NCP’s women’ wing Bharati Chavan addresses the gathering at Porvorim.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

provide necessary training to make them competent enough to avail those schemes and thereby make them stand on their own feet,” said Chavan.

NCP Goa State Vice President Pandurang Raut stated that the mining has destroyed ecology of the State, but the State government is not bothered about welfare of Goa. “The State government has encouraged casinos and drugs, which are bound to spoil the youth in the long run. Women play an important role in the society and hence it is necessary that they are empowered in every field,” said Raut.

“Formation of women wing is the right step to organise the women of all sections of society in order to strengthen the roots

of the party in the State,” added Raut.

Fermina Khaunte said in the last assembly election, she garnered 6,000 votes which show that she has got the support of the general public.

“If the people continue to offer their support to me, I will be able to serve the people better. I plan to form women committees in all the 40 constituencies and thereby make the party more popular among the masses,” said Khaunte.

Latika Pednekar, Gajanan Bhatker, Arun Naik, Gokuldas Halarnker and Karekar also spoke on the occasion. Anil Mardolkar compered the function and also proposed the vote of thanks.

Keeping in mind the healthcare needs of senior citizens, NUSI Wockhardt Hospital, Cuncolim on Wednesday launched “Aadhar card” to provide healthcare facilities for the well-being of senior citizens at privileged price.

Addressing a press conference, NUSI Wockhardt Centre head Arvind Bhagania said the launch of Aadhar card is a small gesture from the hospital towards the social commitment for the welfare of the elderly.

He said people who have enrolled would get concession on professional charges, nursing, room rent, investigation, diagnostic procedure and priority in all services, assistance of a special help desk and benefits of a periodical awareness program.

“The idea of introducing the Aadhar card for the senior citizens is first of its kind activity which will ensure that healthcare needs of elderly will be looked after properly”, he said.

He added that the privileged card will be launched at the hands of Speaker Pratapsing Rane, along with famous Indian music composer Anthony P Gonsalves, writer and social worker Madhavitai Desai, Dr Filipe Neri da Piedade Corriea.

“Senior citizens are a treasure to our society. They have worked hard all these years and always believed in giving back to the society for betterment of

Workshop lays emphasis on time management HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, FEB 9

Asha Family Responsibilities and Rights Association conducted a workshop on ‘Time Management’ at their premises in Mapusa.

The resource person, Rui da Gama, stated that time management is nothing but methods, skills and strategies by which individuals can effectively direct their own activities towards the achievement of their objectives.

“Time is precious and the sooner a person realizes it the better. It is certainly a healthier, happier and less stressful way to live and work,” said Da Gama.

Gama further mentioned that time is a valuable resource of human beings and hence it should be used wisely and judi-

The Resource person, Rui Da Gama, addresses the gathering at Mapusa.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

ciously.

“Time management does not only mean carefully planning what one has to do with his

time, but ensuring that the tasks one tackles is towards achieving ones goals. Neither money nor materialism, but time is the

biggest wealth and those who have the time are the rich,” said Da Gama.

During the workshop, many questions were raised by the participants.

An elderly lady present asked how she should pass her time after retirement. Rui Da Gama replied that that there is no such thing as retirement.

“The Creator has given us time to serve his purpose and when an elderly person is physically slow, they can share their time by just smiling, which will add joy to the life of many others,” said Da Gama.

Advocate Suvarna Chodanker, Gerty D’Mello, Cornelio Fenanandes, Joaquim Fernandes, Vidya Naik and Joaquim Vaz were among those who participated in the workshop.

Shankutala Fountain revived, finally restore the beauty of the Mapusa market.

The Shakuntala Fountain in The issue of Shakuntala the Mapusa market was fifountain was highlighted nally revived after almost a by the media several times. decade.

Shiv Sena had also submitChief officer of Mapusa ted a memorandum to Municipal Council (MMC) and MMC chief officer on DeMMC Chairperson Sudhir cember 1, 2010, requesting Kandolkar restored the the council to make the Shakuntala fountain on Monfountain functional and reday evening. store the pride of the monThe Shakuntala fountain ument. is an important landmark of Speaking to Herald, the Mapusa Municipal marChairperson Sudhir Kanket. dolkar stated that MMC inThe fountain, which is at curred Rs 15,000 for the the entrance of the municipal restoration of the founmarket, was inaugurated in tain.

1962 by Indian Military Gov“Since nobody bothered ernor Major General K P Canto restore the fountain, it deth. The beautiful scene of remained non-functional all non-stop water flowing from Resurrected Shakuntala fountain in the Mapusa market. these years. Except for elecPhoto by Anil Shankhwalker the Shakuntala’s pot is a tricity charges, no maintetreat to the eyes of the nance expenses as such are beauty due to lethargic attitude Shakuntala fountain has stopped young and old. of the municipal authorities. It functioning, but MMC did not required to keep the fountain The fountain had lost its has been years now that the bother to make it functional and functional,” said Kandolkar.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, FEB 9

n The idea of introducing the Aadhar card for the senior citizens is to ensure that healthcare needs of elderly will be looked after properly.

--- Arvind Bhagania

community, as they possess vast experience in all phases and walks of life”, Bhagania said.

Explaining the salient features of the scheme, Bhagania said the senior citizens will be entitled for 15 per cent benefit on health check up package, OPD consultations, OPD non-invasive investigations, free ambulance services within the state of Goa, interactive health lecture by super specialist doctors with

the objective of keeping them aware of the preventive and curative aspects of health care.

The senior citizens will also be entitled for special benefit of 10 per cent basic hospitalization charges, room rent, including ICU stay and IPD diagnostics.

Speaking on the occasion, National Head Marketing Naveen Sharma said “failing health has emerged as the predominant concern for the society as it caused decline in health. The holistic approach to improve the overall health status of senior citizens will help make their life easier and safer”, adding, “We as one destination for all healthcare needs provide treatment for most of the common disorders faced during old age like cardiac problems, joint paints, kidneys infections, prostate surgeries, neurological disorders, etc”.

OHERALDO

Pg 6

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O Vol No CXI No: 041 Goa, Thursday, 10 February, 2011

Vegetable wars

W

hen a mob of Belgaum vegetable traders can destroy tonnes of vegetables bound for Goa and the local police just look on, it is time that the Goa State Horticulture Development Corporation (HDC) takes its business elsewhere. No doubt, Belgaum is the place from where Goa has been getting its vegetables for decades. But if the traders there want to conspire with Goa’s profiteering vegetable vendors – who are upset that the Horticulture Corporation’s outlets have downed their super-profits – and the local police just stand by, there is no reason to continue.

Belgaum is by no means the only source of vegetables.

There is Sirsi, Kolhapur, Satara, Karad and several other places, all of which send vegetables everyday to distant Mumbai. They would jump at a chance to send some to Goa, which is much closer. Horticulture Corporation Chairman Sankalp Amonkar and Managing Director Orlando Rodrigues should waste no time in looking for alternate sources of vegetable supplies. All of Goa’s veggies should not be in the Belgaum basket.

Belgaum’s vegetable suppliers were apparently supposed to meet yesterday to decide whether to continue supplying vegetables to the corporation. They have every right to do so. But they have no right to obstruct any trader that wants to business with Goa. Similarly, Goa has every right to get its vegetables from elsewhere. Blocking transport of vegetables to Goa may cause Goans some temporary problems, but if Agriculture Minister Vishwajeet Rane, Mr Amonkar and Mr Rodrigues are as good as their word, it is Belgaum’s traders who will lose if Goa buys vegetables from other markets.

However, the disturbing aspect of this whole business is that the government spends as much as Rs85 lakh a month on so-called ‘subsidies’ for vegetables. As anybody who has been to Belgaum and shopped in the markets there knows, there is a huge difference in both price and quality between the vegetables sold there and those sold in Goa. Except for onions during the recent crisis, it doesn’t seem as if subsidies are required if vegetables are to be sold at reasonable prices through the corporation’s outlets. Something doesn’t seem quite right here.

It is this precise point that has been raised by the Opposition BJP, which has alleged that the corporation is buying vegetables from Belgaum wholesalers at a hefty commission. In response, Agriculture minister Vishwajeet Rane has announced an internal audit into the state horticulture corporation’s subsidised scheme, to look into these allegations of cheating. But can an internal audit at all do justice to such serious charges?

There is no gainsaying that the corporation’s outlets are a boon for Goans. They not only constitute a source of reasonably priced vegetables, but also provide employment to hundreds of Goans. But this cannot be an excuse for corruption and/or cheating. If Mr Rane and Mr Amonkar want a proper clean chit for the scheme, they must do more than hide behind an internal audit.

C

Bypass blues

hief Minister Digambar Kamat has done well to assure activists from Curchorem that a special bypass road will be constructed for mining trucks. This will reduce the terrible congestion that the town faces, as well as deaths from frequent road accidents. An eight-day hunger strike by the activists has finally yielded results.

The government’s earlier proposal, to four-lane the existing district road only for the stretch used by mining trucks, made no sense at all. Apart from the usual road-widening problems with houses along the road, it would have condemned Curchorem to face mining trucks driving through the town for the foreseeable future.

Tanks Scam Joslyn Ferrao, Carmona Hats off to Damu Naik for exposing the Minister of Water Tanks Scam. It is the right time for the PWD Minister to retire from politics. The puppet Sarpanchas from his constituency defending him also need to be exposed.

These water tanks were distributed in the minister’s constituency to his supporters, no matter how rich. The puppets even told people that the PWD Minister has given the tanks (as though it was from his own money) and they should remember to vote for him and his daughter. Is this concern or freebies to get votes?

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

10 February 1911 Revolutionary group attack

On the day of the assassination of King Charles, a revolutionary group attacked and razed the Centre of Realist Catholic Party not having done with that dastardly act they also assailed and wounded many members of that Party presumed to be supporting Monarchy.

Lacunae in British Maneuvers

Colonel Gaedke of the German Forces and the celebrated military writer, published in ‘Berliner Tageblatt’ an article where he mentions the lacunae in the latest British Maneuvers while undertaking war exercises.

Unprepared ness of Brit forces

It is found out that it is doubtful that at the onset of war, the British Forces will be deployed as fast as they can, as they have only four divisions at readiness.

Parish Council Chairmen

Were appointed the Chairmen of Parish Councils and the assistants to safeguard judiciously the villages of this District, for the year 1911/12.

OPINION

Shadow boxing or real…

Keeping tabs on corruption, is something that has to be dealt with on a war footing, says erVeLL e MeneZeS

T

hat incumbency has been weighing heavily on Congress’ shoulders is amply clear and one finds it hard to even shrug them off with their many acts of commission and omission.

It no longer has the off-white image, it wore in the first term of the United Progressive Alliance government. The Mr Clean image of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken a drubbing, and neither is Congress president Sonia Gandhi as credible, as she once was.

The Naxalite wounds are still festering in central India, especially in Chattisgarh, the 2G Spectrum scandal in which former Communications Minister A Raja was given an undue lease of life, before being ultimately shown the door, and now the Adarsh building scandal in Mumbai, where the rich and infamous, even ex-Chief Ministers Ashok Chavan, and Vilasrao Deshmukh are involved.

How is corruption to be checked? That’s something the high command must deal with, on a war footing.

Green-is-my-favourite-colour Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh too has come in the firing line with his wavering stand on a number of projects like Vedanta, Polavaram and Lavasa township.

The Lavasa project, as we all know, is the brainchild of Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and he is quite likely to work towards its recognition.

The green could well fade into brown, like the dust settling on the trees of a busy mud-track.

Says Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) “one expected transparent, participatory, environmentfriendly policies and practices from someone who claims he believes in these values. When you don’t see, that one is disappointed.”

Another grouse against him is his inability to appoint people with the right credentials on the Environment Assessment Committee. The current Chairperson is believed to be a rabidly pro-large dams lobbyist which will only scuttle any move for a no-dam option.

As for our beautiful paradise of a state, it is like a gramophone record that has got stuck. The legislative assembly session has its regular share of shadow-boxing, meant to keep the aam admi pleased, because after 20-odd days, all will be forgotten. Or is it real this time? Is the angst reaching unbearable heights?

There has been a hue and cry over Home Minister Ravi Naik and his drug links through his son Roy and this not only from the Opposition but the Congress party itself. Former Power Minister Mauvin Godinho, still remembered for his power

Minding Our BuSineSS shenanigans over a decade ago, is now on the righteous side. Has the shaving of his moustache made such a drastic change to his image? As for Naik he just won’t budge and he even has the nerve to mention another Roy (Fernandes), who was once secretary, to Fatima D’Sa of the NCP, and who is now in the wilderness, after his share of notoriety.

Health Minister Viswajit Rane has resigned from chairmanship of the Mapuca Municipal Hospital committee after pressure mounted against its privatisation by Aldona ML A Dayanand Narvekar, who wields considerable clout in North Goa. Does it mean that privatisation will be put on the back-burner? It is believed that no deal can be worked out in Mapusa and surrounding villages without Narvekar’s tacit approval. He is also said to be the pioneer of the cards system (different colours) for allotting jobs. But then, most if not all, the Congress MLAs have a dubious

A fishing policy, all at sea

Facts of life

I

f there is a time of year when we focus our attention on fish, then this must be it. There is a great deal of confusion about the fishing industry. I can buy direct from a fisherman’s boat or at the fisheries jetty much cheaper than at the fish market.

At the fish market, fish is not fresh, as the ones from the fisherman’s boat. The fresher they are, the cheaper they become. Is this the story of food? The further away from the producer, other costs are incurred and these are passed on to the consumer. It is no joke, when we say our fish industry is in a seriously bad state.

There are those who earn their living from the sea and, as we eat, their livelihood is diminishing daily.

Recently, a foreigner residing in my tourist unit ‘Caravanserai’ told me that at Calangute, on the menu was Sole fish. He was presented with two tiny fish, and when he complained, the restaurateur just shrugged his shoulders and explained that this was all that was available, in the market! They could not have been of a legal size.

We can take a head-in-the-sand attitude to fishing and fish and

It is difficult to understand the criteria for Below Poverty Line (BPL) status. Can people with fathers or sons on ships or abroad be in the BPL list? It is pathetic that his close supporters snapped Cable TV wires to prevent people seeing him being cornered by Damu Naik in the Assembly.

The TV channels should show the recording of the assembly sessions again.

Oil mafia P L Fernandes, Old Goa It took the government of Maharashtra one precious life, to get cracking within a short period of time and arrest 180 people in connection with the murder of an Additional Collector, allegedly by oil mafia indulging in adulteration of oil products.

In Goa too, there may be oil mafias functioning in a similar manner, with the full knowledge of authorities and perhaps here too, we will wake up when something terrible takes place.

Tanker accident Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco The accident concerning a tanker loaded with Aviation Turbine Fuel that skidded off the road on to the fields at Sonfator, Lotoulim only goes to prove that we do not have a very effective disaster management plan in such emergency situations. It was a providential escape, which could have resulted in disastrous consequences. The resultant fuel that spilled out will have a long time effect on the cultivatability of the land. The government must adequately compensate the field owners, if the land has been rendered useless, as a result of the spillage.

Alternatively, the government must think of building road corridors wherever necessary, so that heavy vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals and highly inflammable fuel do not have to pass through the villages and cities.

We appreciate his efforts Franco Fernandes, Mapusa We appreciate Karnataka governor H R Bharadwaj for being awake and responding to people’s cries against corruption going

record, don’t they?

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao is under attack for allowing the National Highway No.17 to be broadened after having okayed construction licences in the same area. The Provorim residents are worried, if they too will have to pay toll for travelling short distances. It all seems to be hazy with each one trying to point a finger at the other, the only game in Goa. May be reducing the breadth of the highway in certain areas could be the only way out. It is something not done by highway purists, but then Goa is unique and calls for unique solutions.

Bus travel is another perennial problem, and one is sick and tired of bringing up the issue.

The Regional Transport Office is impotent, and apart from occasional flashes of order (a couple of days at most), it is back to square one. One of our fellow writers Anthony Simoes rightly calls it “cattle class” and questions the need for the

bus fares going up twice the rate of fuel prices.

Sadly, we are saddled with this malaise and no one cares to set it right, and most of all the commuters bear the burden quite stoically.

The garbage issue is another long-standing problem, but former Corporator Patricia Pinto seems optimistic with the new drive to get the youth involved. An incinerator cannot handle the wet waste, she says. So they are being separated.

She has also been to Maharashtra to learn how to treat the wet waste. The heartening aspect of the ‘Chaka Chak’ programme is that she did not figure in the pictures that came in the press unlike most of these do-gooders who first see that they are in the picture, to derive mileage. The NGOs can convert these pictures into cash. But we surely need folks like Ms Pinto and Dr Oscar Rebello, who have the interests of Goa at heart, but there are “Goan crabs” who try to pull them down.

Then there is the case of the custodial death of Cipriano Fernandes. The head of the Forensic Department, Dr Silvano Sapeco, has confirmed that Cipriano suffered two fatal head injuries. It is sad how the Goa police gained notoriety. What they should be doing is not done, but vice versa.

One needs a thorough shake-up in the police force and it should be above political interference.

Can that ever be achieved?

With all its handicaps, however, the Congress is a better option than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which cannot distance itself from the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS), a rabidly right-wing unit bent on inciting religious strife.

A recent issue of “Tehelka” lays bare the confession of Naba Kumar Sarkar, also known as Swami Aseemananda, on the Samjhauta Express and 2006 Malegaon blasts.

“Since 80 per cent of the people of Malegaon are Muslims, we should explode the first bomb in Malegaon,” he said, and goes on further “In March 2006, Pragya Singh Thakur, Sunil Joshi, Bharat Riteshwar and I decided to give a befitting reply to the Sankarmochan temple blast.” If this does not typif y Hindutva extremism, what does? And these folks have also been linked with the Goa bomb blasts by the Sanathan Sanshta, which accounted for the accidental deaths of two of their own men on the eve of Diwali 2009 and who are still behind bars in Goa. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, in his inimitable impotent manner, is still dilly-dallying over it.

fish stocks. Farming on land is ‘obvious’ and more controllable, but what happens in the depths of the ocean, is more difficult to gauge.

The candle cannot be burnt at both ends and there needs to be stronger international unity over the fish stocks of the world. It has become a global problem.

Senior anglers, who still have fishy-feelings, with their memory running deep, complain that due to heavy traffic on the river Mandovi, and noisy cruise boats, fish keep away. Also, no dredging work has been carried out since ages on the river. I vividly remember the time when beach-smart and sea-wise anglers like (now) nonagenarian Constantine Fernandes, agile Popit Fernandes, dashing and husky Jesus Antonio Estrocio and so many others in the sundazzled beauty of the afternoon, with their assorted gear, would hopefully roll down the beach side, with abated breath, prayers and spicy secrets, as the fish somewhere deep down there, awoke from their afternoon snooze and moved into the shallow waters for tea-munchings. By evening, as the sun was about to dip in its

Monitor institutions

Richard Fernandes, Margao

We, the parents of children who study in Manovikas School, are held to ransom each academic year by the school authorities and forced to cough up exorbitant amounts as fees. However, what facilities do we get in return? Dirty classrooms and inept teachers. (barely handfuls have completed their B.Ed qualification). There are vast amounts of portions of the syllabus that are left incomplete. On questioning, we are told that the school management doesn’t feel the necessity for teachers to complete the entire portion.

If that’s the case, it makes mockery of sending children to school, because these institutions are meant to educate children in toto. It would, instead, be better to study at home. As a result, some of the very basic tenets of Physics/Maths/Chemistry have not been taught to children and they will suffer as they get promoted to higher standards. Government monitoring of such institutions, is a must.

No self-respect S N D Poojary, Miramar A security officer of the Chief Minister of UP has cleaned her shoes, as she was engaged in a conversation with some people.

Our society encourages slavish servility. Of course, you need not be insolent and disrespectful, but you can maintain your dignity and self-respect.

However, some feel that they can prosper a bit by clearing up the dust from one’s shoes, so why bother about self-respect?

No match John Eric Gomes, Porvorim I was pleasantly surprised to read that according to experts, Goa is the only state in India that produces wines from local fruit (Herald, 6 Feb).

The GCCI and GTDC need to formulate a scheme to promote and market our locally produced wines. At the recently concluded

golden cup, the lucky anglers would return happily content with their bags of fish, with fresh, gleaming skin and bright eyes! The sea provides its own food. Angling is somewhat like poetry. You need a lot of patience. It is always the gift of that ravoos, chonak, palu and others to take home that makes angling so exciting, a wonder!

If you are in angler’s company, you get a lot of ‘fishy talk’. With glint in their eyes, they talk about their achievements and memories, some bragging and boasting and ruffle the feathers of others.

With their creative flair, and with gusto relating hilarious incidents, it surely brightens the day. They chortle, guffaw and laugh out loud. It’s all fun and lot of hot air!

I think about the fish. Each has a programmed life span: eat rest, breed, lay eggs and above all, avoid dangers like large hungry creatures and treacherous fish hooks and nets. Underneath the waters, a constant life and death struggle is raging around the clock.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

on in that state. We demand either the same or even better action from the Goa governor. He seems to be cushy in his palatial house, at the cost of the taxpayers, who expect him to live up to his job. Those in charge of governance have to act and look after the interests of the people. If they are incapable, then they do not deserve to remain in office.

By Marc de Souza

Grape Escape, I sampled wines from every stall searching for a good, sweet and smooth port wine. Not one stall had any, as most were dry wines, and even the socalled sweet white wine offered was sour, and harsh! I nostalgically recall the port and other wines during the Portuguese rule, and I find none of our commercial wines, never mind their propaganda, come anywhere near to their standards!

Kid’s histrionics Merlyn Fernandes, Sao Jose de Areal Recently, I came across a video on ‘You Tube’ that showed a kid slapping his mom on a popular television show in the US. The video reflects the sorry state of passive parenting. The 10 year old kid in the video seems to be imitating ‘Shin Chan’, ‘Doremon’ and ‘Eric Cartman’ as that explains his histrionic and stubborn behaviour. The mother seems helpless and petrified by her child as she may have never used the rod or asserted her role as a parent. The video rightly depicts the dangers of new age parenting.

‘Babus’ of many hues Justin Fernandes, Panjim Most of our politicians are corrupt and dishonest. Some are anti-Goan and support the migrants for the crucial vote bank, the

builders and the land mafia. Having done nothing for the common man, he has his hands full in almost all scams. There is another politician who is involved in the drug business. Some of these politicians have taken a lot of bribes from mega housing project owners on the National Highway to prevent them from getting the axe.

Goans should unmask all the dishonest and corrupt politicians before they turn Goa into another Egypt.

Dual standards Jacinto Almeida, Cortalim/UK It’s heartening to know that not a single house will go for demolition at Dandeavaddo, Chinchinim as the PWD Minister has accepted the pleas of the villagers. But what about the villagers of Agassaim who are going to lose their houses for the new Zuari bridge and also the Cortalim villagers whose houses will be razed for NH17 widening?

When the villagers approach the PWD officials with their grievances, they pass on the buck to the NHAI. Why is the PWD playing dual standards? The MLAs who represent the affected constituencies are good for nothing.

Majority rules Augustus Alphonso, Goa/Kuwait I refer to letter ‘Male notion’ by Duane Coutinho (Herald, 7 Feb). Many of us have heard the idiom ‘you can lead a horse to the water but you can’t make it drink’. So, where does Duane’s opinion lead to?

Parents do tell their children what is right and wrong but when children are disobedient, who’s wrong? So, if a majority thinks in a particular way, as Duane agreed, then the majority rules! A minority lives its life as per its own wish but who will bear responsibility for them?

So, in other words, freedom without responsibility is dangerous to individual freedom. Although our constitution guarantees the right to choose and follow our own lifestyle, it cannot bear the responsibility, and wearing attire should not unnecessarily raise a man’s eyebrows.

Men think differently, unlike women.

Take care Duane, it’s a ‘wild world’.

Paths of Wisdom

Ego and the mind

By Osho According to Osho, every human being is a Buddha with the capacity for enlightenment, capable of unconditional love and of responding rather than reacting to life, although the ego usually prevents this, identifying with social conditioning and creating false needs and conflicts and an illusory sense of identity that is nothing but a barrier of dreams. Otherwise man’s innate being can flower in a move from the periphery to the centre.

Osho views the mind, first and foremost, as a mechanism for survival, replicating behavioural strategies that have proven successful in the past. But the mind’s appeal to the past, he said, deprives human beings of the ability to live authentically in the present, causing them to repress genuine emotions and to shut themselves off from joyful experiences that arise naturally when embracing the present moment: “The mind has no inherent capacity for joy. ... It only thinks about joy.” The result is that people poison themselves with all manner of neuroses, jealousies and insecurities.

He argued that psychological repression, often advocated by religious leaders, makes suppressed feelings re-emerge in another guise, and that sexual repression resulted in societies obsessed with sex. Instead of suppressing, people should trust and accept themselves unconditionally. This should not merely be understood intellectually, as the mind could only assimilate it as one more piece of information: instead meditation was needed.

(Source : Wikipedia)

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OHERALDO

INDIA

Pg 7 GOA, THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY, 2011

opinionated ‘Govt to modernise armed China’s stealth fighter poses threat

By N K PaNT

I

magine a couple of years from now, China’s operational stealth fighter J-20 taking off from an air field in occupied Tibet, entering surreptitiously into Indian air space and thereupon, flying over pre-selected targets in peninsular India after evading the country’s air defence radar chain. The stealth plane will be capable of having free runs over our densely populated metropolitan hubs, vital military and economic targets with its lethal cargo of bombs or weapons of mass destruction (WMD) before triumphantly returning home unscathed. Such a scenario is not from somewhere in science fiction, but is quite a possibility, unless the defence policy makers in New Delhi wake up to the impending reality and initiate very strong countermeasures to deter the crafty intentions of the scheming hostile neighbour beyond India’s vast northern Himalayan frontiers.

China's would be stealth fighter aircraft, the J-20, has been compared in the military aviation circles to American Lockheed Martin’s F-117 Nighthawk, a stealth ground attack aircraft in operational service with the US Air Force till 2008. Media reports suggest that the Chinese procured parts of a F-117 plane shot down by the Serb army during a bombing raid on Belgrade, nearly a decade ago, during the Balkan conflict and thereafter copiously copied the technical details in designing their own stealth fighter. However, China’s official mouthpiece Global Times, has not only denied these insinuations but also touted J-20 ‘as a masterpiece of China’s technological innovation.’

The J-20, jointly developed by Chengdu Aircraft and Shenyang Aircraft Company, has recently flown for the first time over an airfield in the south-western city of Chengdu, in Sichuan province, adjacent to Tibetan territory. The successful test flight of J-20 for about 20 minutes duration, seems to be ample proof of the People’s Republic of China having acquired stealth technology for its future combat planes. When J-20 becomes fully operational in a couple of years, followed by its deployment against India, it will provide unmatched qualitative and quantitative air superiority to PLA Air Force vis-àvis the Indian Air Force, thereby exposing the country to Beijing’s strategic blackmail. There is no doubt, that in the years to come, this latest technological innovation in the field of combat aviation by communist China, will seriously jeopardise the security and safety of Indian citizens.

On the other hand, India is yet to acquire such intricate technology, which is rather difficult to master, because it relies on systems to hide the presence of the plane, while flying on hostile territory, and at the same time, making available to the pilot sufficient information to launch attack on enemy territory. The state of stealth is achieved with the plane's fuselage, designed to avoid detection by airborne as well as ground-based radars, and infrared sensors. The J-20 is a large fighter believed to be bigger and technologically much advanced than Russian supplied SU-30s, which are on the operational inventory of the Indian Air Force. Experts believe the plane will have quite advanced capability options in the areas of controllability and manoeuvrability. The J-20’s stealth shaping is believed to be considerably better than that seen in the Russian T-50 PAK-FA prototypes, which is reported to have joint Indian collaboration. It is even said to be a shade better than the proposed production configuration of the American F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

Incidentally, China has made dramatic transformation in the sphere of combat aviation, space and missile technology, in recent years. Its military aircraft manufacturing industry has taken rapid strides during the previous decades. Its several big aircraft plants produce copies of Russian MiG variants, SU-7, SU-33 variants, multi-role fighters, transport planes, jet trainers, helicopters etc., for induction into PLA Air Force as well as export to friendly countries including India’s neighbours such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. PLA Air Force with nearly 1,800 combat planes on its inventory is supposed to be Asia’s biggest and potent air force.

What should India do in the circumstances, when its scheming adversaries make bold and determined technological walkover by equipping themselves with formidable weapons’ delivery platforms, with a view to dictate terms on outstanding territorial disputes? In this context, IAF’s present fleet of jet fighters comprising Mirage-2000s, upgraded MiG-29s and SU30 MKIs may not be adequate to stand up to the large scale air onslaught of the PLA AF, equipped with stealthy J-20s, based near the Indian border on the Tibetan table land. Moreover, with current low combat squadron strength of 30 units against the authorised strength of 40 squadrons, IAF capabilities are in urgent need of building up. Even New Delhi’s proposed deal to the tune of $10.5 billion to acquire 126 fourth generation medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) may not suffice to meet China’s full fledged air offensive from across the Himalayas. India’s own Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas to be inducted in the IAF in the coming years, is said to have a few stealth features in its design. However, it will be a no match for China’s longer range stealth fighter.

The US Administration has recently offered India collaboration in its F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme which incorporates stealth features. New Delhi, however, appears to be reticent in accepting the offer, since it has recently inked nearly $300 million preliminary design contract with Russia to develop the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) which is similar to America’s F-35 Lightning II. The Russian prototypes T-50 PAK-FA are already undergoing ground and flight tests and also awaiting design incorporation of India’s specific requirements. While it may be a prudent step to procure more advanced stealth aircraft in future, to effectively prepare for possible conflict with the unpredictable Chinese, it is also equally inescapable for India to go full steam in developing appropriate technology for detecting and alerting India’s air defence forces of incoming hostile stealth planes.

Will PRP-Cong merger change AP politics?

PTI HYDERABAD, FEB 9

Except helping the Congress to face the challenge thrown by former MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and strengthening its base to some extent in the state, the merger of Praja Rajyam with the grand old party may not cause any dramatic changes in Andhra Pradesh politics, feel political observers.

The immediate outcome of the merger is that it will help Congress to rein in Jagan who had said the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh continues to be in office at his mercy.

"This merger is a positive sign for Congress in a long time. It

is a game of survival. It is for mutual benefit," Telakapalli Ravi, a political analyst, said.

While Congress needed him to ensure the government's stability, Chiranjeevi needed an "asylum" as the Praja Rajyam is in dire straits having no sense of direction, he said.

"Chiranjeevi lacks the strategic mind to run the party.

The party was going nowhere," he said.

The actor-turned politician, with his strength of 18 MLAs including himself, would provide a relief to the Kiran Kumar Reddy government which faced threat with about 25 MLAs siding with Jagan.

forces to counter threats’ PTI BANGALORE, FEB 9

Defence Minister A K Antony today said "violent disturbances" in India's neighbourhood pose a security challenge to the country and the Government was committed to rapidly modernising the armed forces to meet the challenge.

Inaugurating the Aero India 2011, South Asia's top air show that took off at Yelahanka Air Force Station here, Antony said India's democratic credentials and a fast growing economy have convinced the world that it can play a responsible and a stabilising role in the region.

Noting that India has always been a votary of peace, he said, "Yet, violent disturbances in our immediate and extended neighbourhood pose security challenges for our nation and the region as a whole."

"Our Government is steadfast in its resolve to meet any challenge. We are, therefore, committed to ensure rapid modernisation of our armed forces and equip them with state-of-the-art systems, equipment and platforms".

Antony said, "Our current defence expenditure -- 2.5 per cent of its GDP, is consistent with our projected security requirements and is bound to increase over the next two decades". Antony said India's aerospace sector has today emerged as the fastestgrowing one in the world, noting that Hindustan Aeronautics

Limited is one company which has some rich experience in the field.

"Some other major companies have recently entered the fray.

This is a positive and an encouraging development. We are open to Joint Ventures, publicprivate partnerships and licence production under transfer of technology for the all-round development of the aerospace industry", he said.

Antony said India has charted out a course to increase self-reliance in the defence sector by creating a strong industrial base in the country, and the recentlyreleased defence production policy spells out the blueprint of the roadmap that the country intends to follow.

"We are encouraging our public and private sector industries to become active partners in this initiative. I am sure that leading international aerospace companies will form long-term partnerships with the Indian industry", he said.

Antony said the Government

has been fine-tuning the defence procurement procedure through periodic reviews to make it as transparent and efficient as possible.

"We have expanded the scope of existing offset policy guidelines to include eligible products and services for the discharge of offset obligations.We hope that this will provide even better opportunities to foreign OEMs and at the same time build indigenous capabilities", he said.

Aero India 2011 is showcasing the latest international technology in military and civil aircraft, avionics and sub-systems, as well as radars in defence and aerospace sector.

"This event will further enhance India's emergence as an attractive market and a key outsourcing hub for global aerospace firms. India possesses all the essential ingredients -namely cost-effective manufacturing, skilled engineers, efficient organisations, the technology and software to do so."

"I am sure that domestic and international firms in the aerospace and civil aviation sector will derive maximum benefit from the business potential displayed at this show", the Minister said.

Antony said compared to the 2009 edition, international participation has gone up by 25 per cent, with over 40 foreign delegations participating at this year's Aero India.

Students of various schools participating in an awareness rally for Census, organised by the Census Department on Wednesday in Jaipur.

Jaya: PM should break silence Amar Singh faces grilling by on S-band spectrum scam SC on telephone tapping case PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 9

PTI CHENNAI, FEB 9

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to break his silence on the alleged S-Band spectrum scam and come out clean on the issue.

"How the Prime Minister, an economist of repute, can be a silent accomplice to such gross misdemeanours is beyond me.

Singh has to break his silence and come clean," she said in a statement here.

Otherwise, people would lose faith in the Central Government and the "nation will become a laughing stock before the whole world," Jayalalithaa said.

Media reports of a Rs two lakh crore loss to the national exchequer in allocation of 70 Mega Hertz of valuable S-band spectrum were shocking to say the least, she said.

Citing the reports, she said Devas Multimedia, a Bangalore-based company, was in 2005 given "com-

plete control" of 70MHz of S-band spectrum that can be used for mobile broadband services for 20 years at a throwaway price of Rs 1000 crore.

Jayalalithaa alleged the sale was made by the commercial arm of ISRO, Antrix Corporation Ltd and the allotment done without following a competitive bid-

40 Nobel laureates appeal for Binayak Sen's release PTI RAIPUR, FEB 9

A group of 40 Nobel laureates from 12 countries have rallied behind jailed rights activist Binayak Sen, convicted of sedition by a Chhattisgarh court, and called for his immediate release.

The group, which includes Indian-origin scientist Dr Venkatraman Ramakrishnan who got a Nobel in Chemistry in 2009, have issued an appeal that Sen's bail plea "be heard without delay under the highest standards of Indian law".

"We ... respectfully express our astonishment and dismay at the unjust life sentence handed down last month in India to a fellow scientist and human rights advocate, 61year-old Dr Binayak Sen," said the appeal posted on website binayaksen.net, which has been set up by Sen's supporters.

Sen, a paediatrician and social activist, was sentenced to life term by a lower court on December 24 over his links with Maoist ideologue Narayan Sanyal. Senior criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani is now representing Sen in court.

The Noble laureates, who called for Sen's immediate release, described him as "an exceptional, courageous and selfless colleague" who has dedicated his life to helping those in India who are least able to help themselves.

Ninety-one year old French scientist François Jacob, who won a Nobel in 1965, is the senior-most laureate in the group, which includes several scientists.

Among the signatories are Joseph Murray, who pioneered kidney transplant and Samuel Blumberg who discovered the Hepatitis B virus.

ding process and in total violation of the guidelines for such sale.

Last year, the Union Government had auctioned a mere 15 MHz of similar airwaves for Rs 67,719 crore, which forms the basis for estimating the loss to the nation out of the ISRO spectrum deal as Rs two lakh crore, she said.

Status quo on Ayodhya verdict extended PTI LUCKNOW, FEB 9

The Allahabad High Court today extended till May 31 the status quo on the implementation on its September 30 order on the Ayodhya title suits.

While extending the status quo, a special Lucknow full bench of the court comprising justices S U Khan, Sudhir Agarwal and V K Dixit reserved its order on three review petitions filed by local lawyer M Ismail Farooqui.

Farooqui had moved petitions seeking review in the judgement on the suits of Rajendra Singh, Nirmohi Akhara and Bhagwan Ram Lala Virajman.

The court had earlier extended the status quo till February 15.

In its September 30 order, the court had provided three months time for filing the appeal.

Former Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh today faced intense grilling from the Supreme Court as he sought to drop his allegations against Congress and its chief Sonia Gandhi in connection with the tapping of his phone in 2006.

Singh informed a bench of justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly that he was dropping the allegations he had made against Gandhi in his petition in the phone tapping case.

He was represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is also a Congress spokesperson.

"In view of your revised affidavit how do you affirm the allegations against the political party through its president," the bench said, adding, "Your averment which is based on personal knowledge cannot change."

Singh had filed the petition in 2006.

"When you say that its personal knowledge, it means it is

With several Hollywood biggies undergoing full 3D conversion in India, the country is being considered as a hub for the conversion from 2D (normal/reeling) shooting to 3D and is on the international radar for the same.

Even though Bollywood too is seriously thinking about 3D projects for their releases in the coming future, no conversions have been done as yet.

Vikram Bhatt's soon to be released 'Haunted' will be India's first stereoscopic 3D film while Shirish Kunder has announced that his Akshay Kumar-Sonakshi Sinha star-

rer 'Joker' will be in 3D. Shirish told PTI that 3D is the medium of the future.

"The next big transformation after black and white to colour. 3D gives viewers the experience that they are actually in the space where the film is taking place and it also gives filmmakers an opportunity to curb piracy," he felt.

Vikram said a 3D film would be 40 per cent more than the normal budget of a film.

After James Cameron's 'Avatar', Prime Focus completed the full 3D conversion of the recently released 'Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader' with the help of their proprietary software View D. The

something that you know personally and which cannot change with the passage of time," the court observed when Singhvi submitted that he had made the allegations in 2006 out of his personal knowledge that political rivals including Congress party was behind the tapping of his phone.

"If that is your personal knowledge, it cannot be contradicted by yourself," the court said, noting, "Your personal

knowledge is dubious and the court is a victim of your affidavit."

While pulling up Singh for changing his stand, the bench said, "The court started hearing your case. Many years have passed and many hours were devoted in your case on the basis of your averments. We tend to rely on them."

Singhvi was visibly uncomfortable when the bench repeatedly asked him to read out the portion of his petition in which Singh had made allegations against the Congress party and its president.

During the hearing, the court said, "In the petition, you have said that the party in power was misusing the authority but now ever ything is found to be bogus."

The court also asked as to why the petition should be entertained.

"Why should the court entertain the petition about a person who has not come with clean hands?," the bench asked.

No security for people in UP, says Rahul Gandhi PTI AMETHI, FEB 9

Raising the issue of law and order in Uttar Pradesh where a spate of rape cases have been reported recently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today alleged that there was no security for the common man in the state which was hampering its development.

"There are certain things lacking in UP including security. Rape cases are taking place in the state," Rahul said after laying the foundation stone of a CRPF centre here.

On Monday Rahul had visited three rape victims in Banda, Kanpur and Sultanpur districts, which had drawn criticism from the ruling BSP with state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma asking why the Congress leader "did not see similar incidents in other states".

Claiming that the environ-

3D is medium of the future, feels Bollywood PTI MUMBAI, FEB 9

n The court started hearing your case. Many years have passed and many hours were devoted in your case on the basis of your averments. We tend to rely on them.

film is the industry's biggest full 3D conversion film to date.

In addition, Prime Focus has also completed the work for Clash of the Titans, Cats & Dogs and My Soul to Take for 3D conversion.

Today, a viewer needs a perfect balance in the technology and the storyline rather than pure entertainment. 3D is considered to add a lot of realness to the whole storyline and make the entire effort look extremely real, says Merzin Tavaria, co-founder and Chief Creative Director, Prime Focus.

Tavaria said a film can be shot on 3D using stereoscopic cameras but it is expensive and time consuming.

ment for development was lacking in UP, Rahul said he did not agree with the refrain that "people of the state do not work".

"I slightly differ, people in UP work, but certain things like security, industry, health and education are lacking and without

them nothing much can be done," he said.

The Congress leader said that when people from UP go to Maharashtra and Delhi, they get an environment – health facilities, education and security- to work for development.

appointments

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New Nepal PM faces acid test AGENCIES KATHMANDU, FEB 9

Still floundering to form his cabinet almost a week after he became Nepal's new prime

minister with the support of the Maoist party, communist chief Jhala Nath Khanal now faces a critical test - the budget.

The 61-year-old will need to have the current budget ratified by parliament by Feb 15 - Tuesday - or else face the collection of revenue and state expenditure coming to a grinding halt.

A stormy budget is the legacy Khanal has inherited from the previous government of Madhav Kumar Nepal that failed to pass the budget (for the current financial year) in parliament due to opposition by the Maoists.

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PAK BARBARISM IN FULL DISPLAY Gilani rejects proposal to amend blasphemy law PTI ISLAMABAD, FEB 9

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has approved a recommendation to reject official proposals to amend Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law and to pardon a Christian woman sentenced to death for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed.

The Minority Affairs Ministry had proposed the amendment of the blasphemy law while the Interior Ministry had launched an initiative to pardon Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death under the law last year.

But Law Minister Babar Awan had recommended that both proposals should be rejected.

The Law Minister's recommendation was approved by Gilani yesterday, The News daily reported today.

An order issued by Khushnood Lashari, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, said: "The Prime Minister has been pleased to approve the proposals contained in the subject note of Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs".

"Ministries concerned are being conveyed necessary directions on actionable proposals, copies of which are being endorsed to you (ministries) separately," Lashari said.

Awan said his proposals had been endorsed by Gilani, who agreed to reject the proposal for amending the blasphemy law and to return the Interior Ministry's proposal seeking a pardon for Asia Bibi while her appeal against her death sentence is pending in the Lahore High Court.

On Monday, Awan sent a note to the Prime Minister, "strongly advising" the premier against amending the blasphemy law or pardoning Asia Bibi.

Awan argued that the law with the death penalty for blasphemers, as interpreted by the Federal Shariah Court, was in consonance with Islamic injunctions as laid down in the Quran.

Regarding the pardon sought for Asia Bibi by the Interior Ministry, Awan wrote to the premier: "The Ministry of Interior is advised to follow the legal course of respecting the principle of re lis-pen-

dens.

"No action is required by executive authorities as Asia Noreen had already sought herself legal remedy under section 410 of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898 by filing an appeal against her conviction," Awan said.

Referring to the Minority Affairs Ministry's move to amend the blasphemy law, Awan wrote: "So far as the request made to the Prime Minister of Pakistan by the Ministry of Minorities which is also referred to the Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs Division to look into the reforms of blasphemy legislation as a matter of urgency is concerned, it has no substance. Therefore, no action is recommended".

Awan, in his note to the Prime Minister, also called for the rejection of Pakistan People's Party lawmaker Sherry Rehman's private bill seeking amendment of the blasphemy law.

He recommended: "The present private member's bill as reported in the press stands verbally withdrawn by the member concerned too".

The blasphemy law had already been

examined by the Federal Shariah Court, which decided that the legislative instrument was in "accordance with the injunctions of Islam" and that any "alternative punishment (is) repugnant to the injunctions of Islam," Awan wrote.

Awan further concluded that the death penalty for blasphemy is in accordance with the injunctions of Islam and "need not to be changed or amended".

The impression created by some people that Pakistan's laws do not meet international standards of human rights "is totally baseless and ill-founded," he said.

The PPP-led government has backed down from a move to review the blasphemy law due to pressure from religious hardliners and extremist groups like the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, which have organised protests across the country over the past few weeks.

The hardliners have also praised a police guard who assassinated Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer last month for opposing the controversial law.

Obama ‘kicks the butt’; wife, kids delighted PTI WASHINGTON, FEB 9

Two years into office, the White House's puffer-in-chief Barack Obama has quit smoking and a delightful First Lady Michelle has confirmed it.

"It’s been a while now... a year now... Barack has quit and I am very proud of it as he can now look his kids in the eye and say he doesn't smoke", the First Lady said of the development.

Perhaps his two daughters have been his motivation, she said. "He has always wanted to stop our kids are getting to the age where he wants to look them in the face because they want to know, 'You don't smoke do you dad? He wants to be able to say no," the First Lady said.

Obama has been struggling to beat his addiction during his barnstorming campaign in 2008 and the first two years of his presidency, but his wife refuses to take credit for it saying she has not been nagging him.

Saddam had $60 m bounty on Bush, Rumsfeld daughters PTI WASHINGTON, FEB 9

Villagers perform Yangko, a popular rural folk dance at a folk art festival in rural Qingdao city, eastern China’s Shandong province, on Wednesday. This folk art festival is held in several areas that celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year (Spring Festival) displaying many kinds of folk arts.

Egyptians intensify ‘Go Mubarak’ campaign PTI CAIRO, FEB 9

A threat of either "dialogue or coup" held out by Egypt's emerging strongman and Vice President Omar Suleiman infuriated anti-government protesters, who stepped up their 'Go Mubarak' stir and attempted to storm the country's Parliament today.

Thousands of protesters -who staged their biggest rally yesterday since the demonstrations demanding embattled President Hosni Mubarak's immediate ouster began on January 25 -- ignored a government plan to transfer power in an orderly manner and continued

Moscow bombing suspect’s siblings arrested AGENCIES MOSCOW, FEB 9

Russian officials say they have arrested the brother and sister of the suspected suicide bomber who attacked a Moscow airport last month.

Russian security sources have identified the suspected bomber as Magomed Yevloyev, 20, from a village in Ingushetia in the northern Caucasus.

Officials now say they have arrested his brother, Akhmed, and sister, Fatima, Interfax news agency reported.

A Chechen warlord has said he ordered the attack on Domodedovo airport.

Some 36 people were killed and about 180 people were wounded in the bombing.

Yevloyev's siblings can be held for up to two months while officials investigate whether or not they were involved in the attack, Russian media reported.

Doku Umarov - one of Russia's most wanted men - claimed in a video posted online that he had ordered the bombing. The footage is dated 24 January, the day of the attack.

He is the self-styled leader of the "Caucasus Emirate" and is considered the head of the Islamist militant insurgency in the North Caucasus.

Umarov has previously claimed responsibility for the March 2010 suicide bombings on the Moscow Metro in which 39 people died.

He is also said to have ordered the November 2009 bombing of a train from Moscow to St Petersburg that killed 26.

their sit-in on the Tahrir Square, the hub of unrelenting rallies against the regime in the heart of Cairo.

In a fresh move to broaden their movement, several hundred protesters attempted to block entrance to the Parliament building in the capital city, but were stopped by heavily-armed soldiers.

Unable to rush into the premises, the protesters squatted in front of the gates of the Parliament building blocking entry and later announced that they would not allow lawmakers from the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) to go inside.

"We will die here till our demands for departure of Mubarak are met," the protesters said.

Ayman Nour and Mohammed ElBaradei, the opposition leaders, strongly assailed the warning from the Vice President that if the movement does not enter negotiations, a "coup" could take place, causing greater chaos in the country.

"If dialogue is not successful, the alternative is that a coup happens, which would mean uncalculated and hasty steps including lots of irrationalities," Suleiman told editors of state and independent newspapers last night.

Qaeda continues to attack US PTI WASHINGTON, FEB 9

The top al Qaeda leadership based in Pakistan continues to plan attacks against the United States and its allies, the Pentagon said in a report on Wednesday.

"Afghanistan is where al Qaeda, given sanctuary by the Taliban, planned the attacks that murdered more than 3,000 innocent people on 11 September 2001. Al Qaeda senior leadership remains in Pakistan and intends to continue to attack the United States, allies, and our partners," the Pentagon said in its report titled 'The National Military Strategy (NMS) of the United States of America 2011'.

The Nation's strategic objective is to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates in Afghanistan and Pakistan and

prevent their return to either country, the report said.

"Success requires the Joint Force to closely work with NATO, our coalition partners, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

We will continue to erode Taliban influence, work with the Afghan government to facilitate reintegration and reconciliation of former insurgents, continue to strengthen the capacity of Afghan security forces, and enable Pakistan to ultimately defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies," it said. The Pentagon said the threat of violent extremism is not limited to South Central Asia.

Groups such as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Al Aaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, alShabaab, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and others emanate from Somalia, Yemen, and elsewhere.

Former US secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld revealed on Wednesday that Saddam Hussein had a USD 60 million bounty on his daughters' head and also targeted ex-president George W Bush's two daughters.

"I was concerned," Rumsfeld told ABC's "Good Morning America" in his first live television interview since leaving office over four years ago.

"Of course, the president and his family had secret service protection. My family did not. And it was a somewhat awkward moment in the meeting.

Koreas end talks abruptly AGENCIES SEOUL, FEB 9

Military discussions between North and South Korea ended on Wednesday with no improvement in their badly strained relations and no agreement about whether to hold more substantive talks in the future.

A Defence Ministry official in Seoul said the talks ended abruptly at 2:30 p.m. when the North Korean delegation “unilaterally walked away from the table and out of the meeting

room.”

Another military official said the North Korean delegation had repeatedly refused to apologize for an artillery barrage against a South Korean island in November and a torpedo attack in March that sunk a warship and killed 46 sailors.

The North has said the artillery exchange was provoked by the South and that it had not been involved in the sinking of the ship.

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Pg 12 TRAI recommends 6-fold cost for 2G spectrum PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 9

Virtually in line with estimated loss pointed out by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in 2G spectrum allocation, telecom regulator TRAI today recommended Rs 10,972.45 crore for a pan-India license with 6.2 Mhz spectrum.

Going by this valuation, six new pan-India licenses given in 2008 would have garnered Rs 65,834.7 crore to the government along with additional revenue from other firms who were given licences in fewer circles.

The CAG had estimated loss of up to Rs 1.76 lakh crore from 2G spectrum allocation .

This had included new licences, dual technology licences and revenues from additional spectrum beyond the contracted limit of 6.2 Mhz held by various operators especially BSNL, Bharti and Vodafone.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also

recommended 'one-time' entry fee for additional spectrum beyond 6.2 Mhz. In fact the regulator has classified valuation of spectrum in two categories. There are different prices for spectrum up to contracted limit of 6.2 Mhz and different for additional airwaves.

The spectrum price varies from circle to circle in both categories. In case of contracted limit, the price ranges from Rs 7.60 crore per Mhz in Jammu and Kashmir to Rs 187.38 crore in Tamil Nadu.

For the additional spectrum the range is Rs 22.89 crore in Jammu and Kashmir to Rs 431.95 crore in Andhra Pradesh.

These revised prices should be made applicable with effect from April 1, 2010 on pro-rata basis depending upon the number of years left for licences to expire, the TRAI said adding that any licence coming up for renewal would have to pay for spectrum based on new

price.

These prices are for spectrum in 1800 Mhz band.

In November 2010, TRAI had recommended cancellation of 38 licenses and legal examination of the feasibility of cancelling 31 more licenses.

These licenses hold spectrum in frequency band of 1800 Mhz as well as 800 Mhz bands.

If these cancellations take place, it will then be possible for the government to auction surplus spectrum and treat the auction price as the relevant price of spectrum beyond 6.2 Mhz for the given licensed service area, TRAI said.

This spectrum pricing methodology has been arrived at by experts roped in by the telecom regulator.

While the figures given by the experts may be adopted, it should be done with full realisation that these are estimated figures and may or may not always match the exact market price, TRAI said.

Govt spells out measures to retrieve black money PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 9

Black money parked in tax havens abroad will be taxable income under the Direct Taxes Code Bill, the Centre told the Supreme Court today, spelling out a host of measures to retrieve it.

The government also informed the apex court that it has completed negotiations for Tax Informations Exchange Agreement (TIEA) with 10 countries where the money is believed to have been stashed.

The ten countries are Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Island, Isle of Man, Cayman Island, British island of Jersey, Monaco, St Kitts and Nevis, Argentina and Marshall Island.

It said Cabinet approval has been granted in relation to eight of these agreements.

"It is submitted that the central government has proposed new provisions for unearthing black money in the Direct Taxes Code Bill by defining taxable assets as inclusive of the deposits in banks located out-

side India in case of individuals and such bank deposits not recorded in the books of account in case of others," an additional affidavit filed by the Ministry of Finance said.

The affidavit comes in the wake of searching questions posed by a bench of justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar on a PIL filed by eminent jurist Ram Jethmalanai and others, seeking retrieval of black money stashed in banks abroad.

The government said it has initiated the process of negotiations with 65 countries to amend the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and broaden the scope of the article concerning exchange of information.

It admitted that it did not conduct any fresh study on black money so far due to the reason that credibility of any estimate of such money was doubtful and transactions by their very nature were "unrecorded, unreported, complex and layered."

Gati eyes strategic tie REUTERS MUMBAI, FEB 9

Logistics firm Gati Ltd is in talks with an international player to form a strategic partnership in its shipping business, Managing Director Mahendra Agarwal told news channel ET NOW on Wednesday.

"An international company has been identified with whom we are talking for a strategic partnership in the shipping business," Agarwal said.

"This will have a two-fold advantage. It will bring great amount of value in terms of the topline and bottomline for the shipping business. It will also unlock the value for the shareholders of Gati," he told the channel.

Sensex continues slide PTI MUMBAI, FEB 9

Heavy selling in infrastructure scrips and Anil Ambani group companies amid persisting concerns over high interest rates, widening probe in the 2G spectrum scam and weak Asian trends pulled down the stock markets today, with the BSE benchmark Sensex falling another 183 points. Marketmen said a Credit Suisse report projection that India's economic growth may dip to 7.7 per cent in 2011-12 -- from government estimates of 8.6 per cent this fiscal -- raised investor fears that high inflation and rising interest rates could hit corporate earnings hard.

ADAG group company Reliance Infra was the worst sufferer from the Sensex pack, with a fall of 18.79 per cent.

Aban Offshor, 615, 615, 511.7, 524.55 Abb Ltd., 644.2, 650, 605.05, 616.95 Abg Shipyard, 343, 345.2, 320, 337.7 Acc Limited, 965, 965, 932, 938.9 Adani Enterp, 586.9, 595.75, 568.4, 582.2 Aditya Birla, 745.8, 749.85, 728.75, 734.4 Allahabad Ba, 192.9, 194.35, 186.75, 188.7 Alstom Proje, 552.3, 556.85, 516.6, 528.85 Ambuja Cemen, 118.9, 120.15, 116.9, 119.1 Andhra Bank, 137.15, 138.25, 133.7, 136 Ashok Leylan, 50, 50.35, 47.9, 49 Asian Paints, 2477.5, 2492.8, 2428.05, 2475.2 Axis Bank Li, 1185, 1195.05, 1150, 1160.65 Bajaj Hindus, 78.6, 78.9, 71, 71.9 Bank Of Baro, 820, 827.8, 803.05, 815.6 Bank Of Indi, 412.2, 414, 392.05, 397.9 Beml Limited, 673, 677, 570, 584.85 Bharat Elect, 1692, 1692, 1614.75, 1657.5 Bharat Forge, 320, 322.5, 308.5, 311.4 Bharat Petro, 599.2, 601.8, 576.1, 584.95 Bharti Airte, 326.4, 336.7, 324.65, 332.15 Bhel, 2180, 2183.6, 2031.4, 2085.6

Bhushan Stee, 378, 384.7, 355.2, 359.8 Biocon Limit, 324, 325.8, 313, 319.25 Bombay Dyein, 378, 378.6, 322.25, 331.9 Bosch Limite, 6031, 6095, 5995, 6041.6 Brigade Ente, 102.1, 103.8, 93.15, 94.75 Cairn India, 321, 323.85, 308.4, 311.75 Canara Bank, 551.3, 552.8, 520.2, 531.4 Central Bank, 149.7, 150.7, 140.7, 142.4 Century Text, 306, 309.85, 278.75, 285.05 Cesc Ltd, 286, 286, 268.1, 271.8 Chambal Fert, 70.6, 70.6, 66.25, 67.05 Chennai Petr, 204.05, 204.85, 193, 195.1 Cipla Ltd, 317.5, 318.4, 308.8, 311.6 Colgate Palm, 814.95, 825, 802, 817.1 Container Co, 1131, 1139.9, 1080.05, 1103.55 Crompton Gre, 259.8, 261.95, 244, 250.5 Cummins Indi, 631, 647.65, 615.05, 626.05 Dabur India, 92.45, 92.45, 89.35, 90.75 Deccan Chron, 83.85, 83.85, 71.6, 75 Dish Tv Indi, 55.6, 57.7, 54.05, 56.5 Divi’s Labor, 646.05, 649, 601, 625.25 Dlf Limited, 235.35, 246.8, 228.05, 241.65 Dr. reddy’s, 1526, 1549, 1494.05, 1518.45

Edelweiss Ca, 36.9, 36.95, 35, 35.4 Educomp Solu, 422, 427.8, 393.6, 401.5 Eih Limited, 97, 98.5, 93, 93.9 Engineers In, 292, 294.8, 282.5, 289.3 Essar Oil Lt, 113.1, 113.5, 97.5, 103.8 Essar Shippi, 90.5, 92.45, 81.95, 84.1 Exide Indust, 127, 129.55, 123.5, 126.5 Federal Bank, 343.95, 351.9, 333.2, 338.25 Financial Te, 655, 758, 655, 726.35 Gail (india), 436.25, 450.75, 426.55, 446.3 Gammon India, 125.05, 125.1, 107.15, 113.4 Glaxosmithkl, 2244.8, 2247.85, 2171, 2197.8 Glenmark Pha, 287.75, 295, 282.9, 287.9 Gmr Infrastr, 35.2, 35.5, 29.5, 31.75 Godrej Indus, 159.7, 163.45, 154.3, 155.35 Grasim Indus, 2305.9, 2305.9, 2244, 2252.15 Great Offsho, 273.8, 273.8, 250, 253.15 Gtl Infra.Lt, 38, 39, 37.1, 37.45 Gujarat Mine, 111.5, 114.35, 102.5, 104.35 Gujarat N R, 52.8, 52.8, 50.1, 50.65 Gujarat Stat, 96, 96, 88.5, 89.95

Gvk Pow. & I, 27, 27.6, 24.35, 24.85 Hcl Technolo, 459.1, 467, 451.5, 462.7 Hdfc Bank Lt, 1998, 2035, 1981.4, 2022.3 Hdfc Ltd, 584.1, 616.45, 582.3, 608.3 Hero Honda M, 1516.1, 1516.1, 1415.15, 1440.55 Hindalco in, 231.9, 232.2, 217.3, 219.35 Hindustan Co, 34.5, 34.7, 31.5, 32.35 Hindustan Ma, 62, 62, 56.15, 57 Hindustan Pe, 344.35, 351.35, 333.1, 337.8 Hindustan Un, 271.65, 278.7, 269.45, 276.4 Hindustan Zi, 1216, 1239, 1177, 1213 Housing Dev, 135.85, 136.7, 126.45, 128.35 Icici Bank L, 951, 985.9, 939.8, 957.05 Idea Cellula, 68, 68, 65.4, 66.25 Ifci Ltd, 50.05, 51.4, 47.25, 48.15 India Cement, 86.2, 89, 86.2, 87.15 India Infoli, 64, 67.95, 64, 65.4 Indiabulls F, 148, 148, 137.6, 143.35 Indiabulls R, 113.05, 113.5, 102.1, 106.7 Indian Bank, 203.5, 207.9, 196, 202.25 Indian Hotel, 85.1, 87.5, 84.55, 85.05 Indian Oil C, 321.9, 325.3, 310, 315.7 Indian Overs, 122.1, 123, 117.65, 118.65

Indus Dev Ba, 115, 131.25, 115, 125.95 Indusind Ban, 216.05, 221, 205.5, 209.65 Infosys Tech, 3085, 3159.7, 3067.9, 3130.7 Infra. dev., 130, 131, 115.45, 123.3 Ispat Indust, 21.5, 22.3, 21, 21.05 Itc Ltd, 156, 156.5, 152.75, 153.9 Ivrcl Infras, 70.8, 72, 60.5, 63.35 Jai Corp Lim, 155, 155, 130.5, 133.5 Jaiprakash A, 81.1, 81.95, 70.05, 72.1 Jet Airways, 467, 467, 431, 445.35 Jindal Saw L, 201.5, 204.35, 180, 188.3 Jindal Steel, 629, 642.65, 608.4, 614.55 Jsw Steel Li, 817, 840, 750.85, 782.35 Kotak Mahind, 335.2, 362.6, 333, 355.95 Lakshmi Mach, 2108.65, 2139, 2108.65, 2115.95 Lanco Infrat, 37, 37.95, 30.8, 32.95 Larsen & Tou, 1506.9, 1538, 1471.05, 1481.85 Lic Housing, 178, 180.8, 169.05, 171.15 Lupin Limite, 396, 398, 366.25, 378.55 Mahanagar Te, 43.05, 43.6, 40, 40.8 Mahindra & M, 629.5, 666.7, 618.9, 655.2 Maruti Suzuk, 1174, 1189, 1145, 1154 Max India Lt, 145, 151, 143.05, 146.15

"However, keeping in view the recent international and domestic developments, a study has now been proposed to be conducted by the Finance Ministry for a thorough assessment/survey of unaccounted income/wealth both inside and outside the country, particularly bringing out the nature of activities engendering money laundering with its ramifications on national security."

BIZ

GOA, THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY, 2011

Rs 7105-cr loss caused by Unitech, Swan PTI MUMBAI, FEB 9

Swan Telecom and Unitech Telecom companies had together caused a loss of over Rs 7,000 crore to govt exchequer as both had offloaded their shares for hefty sums after getting the 2G spectrum, alleges CBI. With the arrest of Shahid Usman Balwa, promoter of Swan, the focus of CBI is now on officials of Unitech who had been instrumental in getting the Unified Access Licenses (UAS) during September 2007 and January 2008.

In a 5-page FIR, CBI charged the officials of the Department of Telecom and some private companies entered into a criminal conspiracy and caused wrongful gains to themseleves.

BOARD MEETINGS Ace Software Prakash Inds India Cements Ramco Inds Ramco Systems Alchemist Rlty Indian Oil Corp Indo Zinc Rohit Ferro Ankit Metal ITDC Asian Hotels SIEL BGR Energy Kesoram Inds Simplex Proj Lactose India Bombay Dyeing BSL Lloyds Metal Cairn India Lloyds Steel CESC Madras Cements Maxwell Inds Ecoboard Inds Ecoplast Monnet Inds Temptation Food Escorts Fin Moser Baer Eurofinmart MRF Everest Fin Nelco United Brew Omaxe Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA JM FINANCIAL MUTUAL FUND has announced the conversion of JM Core 11 Fund - Series 1, a three year close ended equity oriented scheme will be converted into an open ended equity oriented scheme with effect from March 5 2011.

In case the investor is not in agreement with the aforesaid change, investors have the option to exit without payment of any exit load. The option to exit without payment of exit load can be exercised up to March 4 2011.

Post the conversion of the scheme into an open ended scheme, facilities such as Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), Systematic Transfer Plan (STP) and Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP). Purchase or redemption of units can be done on any business Day as per daily NAV. There will not be any exit load for the investors wishing to redeem their units, post conversion of the scheme into an open ended one. However, the Trustee may introduce exit load in the future, with prospective effect i.e. after March 5 2011, after following the procedure as set out in the SID.

Moser-baer (, 46.5, 46.5, 40, 40.85 Mrpl, 67.5, 68, 60.1, 61.45 Nagarjuna Co, 94.3, 97.2, 90, 92.2 Nagarjuna Fe, 27.4, 27.5, 25.05, 25.55 National Alu, 418, 418, 399.15, 400.8 Neyveli Lign, 99.95, 99.95, 94, 95.25 Ntpc Ltd, 174.8, 175.25, 170.05, 171.35 Oil And Natu, 283.55, 287.4, 272, 274.3 Omaxe Limite, 133, 134, 126.45, 131.15 Oriental Ban, 305, 320, 305, 313.35 Pantaloon Re, 270.2, 270.2, 239.4, 245.7 Parsvnath De, 41.5, 41.7, 32.75, 32.75 Petronet Lng, 124.9, 127, 121.75, 125.6 Power Fin Co, 259.05, 259.6, 251, 255.65 Power Grid C, 97, 97.2, 94.75, 95.9 Praj Industr, 67.05, 68.9, 64.65, 65.2 Punj Lloyd L, 77, 77.8, 67.35, 68.45 Punjab Natio, 1004.85, 1014.8, 990, 994.4 Rajesh Expor, 129.5, 132.2, 129.5, 130.2 Ranbaxy Labs, 501.4, 504.4, 481.85, 488.35 Rashtriya Ch, 81.1, 81.1, 75, 76.1 Reliance Cap, 478, 478, 388.4, 412.15 Reliance Com, 109.5, 109.8, 90.65, 94.65

Reliance Ene, 1001, 1040, 1001, 1040 Reliance Ind, 525.05, 525.05, 451.6, 470.3 Reliance Ind, 908.4, 937.2, 903.65, 914.3 Reliance Pow, 123.7, 124, 106.45, 112.2 Rolta India, 138, 138, 130.65, 132.2 Satyam Compu, 60, 60.2, 56.4, 56.85 Sesa Goa Ltd, 317.1, 317.35, 294.25, 297.55 Shipping Cor, 112.9, 114.25, 109.05, 109.55 Siemens Ltd, 847, 853.9, 844.05, 847.6 Sintex Indus, 153.85, 154.5, 146, 147.9 Sobha Develo, 207.55, 207.55, 195, 200.6 State Bank O, 2635, 2635, 2565, 2581 Steel Author, 158, 158.9, 151.5, 153.05 Sterlite Ind, 165.35, 165.35, 157.2, 159.5 Sun Pharmace, 395, 421.5, 393.15, 410 Sun Tv Netwo, 410, 416, 396.35, 410.7 Suzlon Energ, 48.7, 48.85, 43.15, 44.75 Tata Communi, 225.65, 225.65, 215, 216.55 Tata Consult, 1122.5, 1129.6, 1083.7, 1098.3 Tata Motors, 1100, 1117.8, 1052.5,

1073.6 Tata Power C, 1200.15, 1224.9, 1190, 1215.7 Tata Steel L, 618.9, 620.7, 595.15, 599.15 Tata Teleser, 16, 16, 13.7, 14.4 Tech Mahindr, 616, 623.95, 561, 583.1 The Ge Shpg., 280, 288.3, 276.25, 279.05 The Phoenix, 187, 190, 183.5, 183.95 Thermax Ltd, 620, 623.9, 590, 606.55 Titan Indust, 3227.8, 3279.8, 3005, 3088 Torrent Powe, 211.5, 211.6, 202, 203.75 Triveni Engg, 90, 90.65, 82.3, 84.6 Tv18 India L, 72.55, 73.8, 70.3, 72.45 Uco Bank, 98.9, 102.1, 95.55, 97.2 Ultratech Ce, 950.05, 953.35, 886, 897.25 Union Bank O, 319.75, 323, 314.5, 317.7 Unitech Ltd, 41, 41, 36.7, 37.7 United Phosp, 133, 136.9, 129.35, 131.35 Videocon Ind, 195, 196.9, 190.2, 194.35 Vijaya Bank, 80.7, 81.15, 75.9, 76.85 Voltas Ltd, 167.85, 171.4, 159.05, 162.8 Wipro Ltd, 425.25, 431, 418.05, 424.1 Yes Bank Lim, 246, 248.95, 233.55, 236.1 Zee Entertai, 115.15, 116.75, 112.4, 115

Pg 13

SPORTS

Goan boxers outplay TN

GOA, Thursday, 10 February, 2011

Vasco down Globe, enter semis fdf football tourney

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 9

Goa’s Ibrahim Mulla in action against TN’s Joseph.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 9

In what was expected to be a tough boxing competition between Tamil Nadu and Goa, turned out to be a one-sided affair with Goan boxers hammering away their opponents and winning eight of the nine bouts as the referee stopped the contest in the second round itself at Campal, here.

The first two bouts – light fly and fly were a virtual walkover in favour of Goa as the Tamil Nadu boxers could not stand the barrage of punches of the Goan boxers. Santosh V representing Goa in the light welter boxed very technically and proved his selection for the National Games defeating his Tamil

opponent 10-2.

Ibrahim Mulla, who won the best boxer award in the State championship made short work of his opponents. The only boxer to lose on a split decision to Pathibaran of Tamil Nadu was Goa’s Sheldon Dias.

Santosh Verma of Goa was awarded the best boxer award.

Earlier, the State championship junior finals were held wherein Kevin Gorge of Panjim Boxing Club defeated National medalist Akshay Borkar and was awarded the best boxer in the junior category. Clyde Fernandes of Mapusa was awarded the best boxer in the youth categor y. Panjim Boxing Club claimed the team championship award.

Kevin George receiving a medal from Victoria Fernandes, MLA and president, GABA in the presence of Clyde Lobo, secretary, GABA.

UCC Margao beat Shiroda, in last four t20 cricket

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 9

Santosh Verma receiving his best boxer trophy from Peter Braganza, secretary, Panjim Boxing Club.

Cricket trials at Ponda HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 9

GVM-Sports Excell Cricket Academy has selected the following boys at the completion of Ponda Youth inter-school cricket tournament to attend the trials for the Mumbai tour.

Tushar Gaude, Atish Satarkar, Shaheed Sandhi, Chandresh Gaude, Ganesh Khadka, Munsief Mufarwar, Anwar Khan (Dada Vaidya HS, Curti), Sunny Mistry, Shubhendu Parab (MIBK HS, Khandepar), Ashilesh Gaonkar, Sidhanth Naik, Satyam Naik (Symbiosis HS, Shiroda), Saidatt Mamlekar, Pravin Singh, Abhinay Naik, Mayank Lohar, Somanand Naik, Shubham Margaj (Almeida

HS, Ponda), Gautam Shet, Harish Naik (Sharda English HS, Durbhat), Sachin Gaonker, Satyam Gaonker, Gaurav Nagvekar, Teron Vaz, Unal Gaonker (Navdeep HS, Tarvalem), Vigiel Chaudari, Yogesh Parwar, Rohit Parpati, Rohit Naik (Pragati Vidyalaya, Borim), Manthan Velip (Kamakshi HS, Shiroda), Nehal Naik, Narendra Pilyekar (Sarvodaya HS, Usgao), Shahish Naik, Nafis Ali (St Mary's HS, Ponda), Kishan Gaude, Saish Naik, Manthan P Naik, Ashok Naik, Ashish Naik (Anandibai HS, Madkai), Tukaram Gaude, Vikrant Gaude, Suraj Gaude (GHS, Bethoda), Vikrant Gaude, Akshay Naik, Sanket Madkaikar, Sanket Gaude (Navdurga HS,

Madkai), Nitin Kashyap, Yogesh Gaude (RPRS HS, Bandora), Gautam Naik (Kamlabai Hede HS, Shiroda), Deepak Naik, Sanved Talaulikar, Ugam Naik, Swapnil Gaude (Mahalaxmi English HS, Talaulim), Bhavesh Naik, Pranal Sawant (Lokmanya Tilak Vidyalaya, Kavlem).

The players may report to Anish Anand, coach, GVMSports Excell Cricket Academy at sports complex, Ponda on February 11 at 10 a.m. with full playing kit.

The players selected will attend a coaching camp for a fortnight before proceeding to Mumbai to play against some leading cricket academies.

The Ponda Municipal volleyball court at Tisk Ponda which has been renovated at the cost of Rs 7 lakh by the Public Works Department, Ponda. The court which was one of the best volleyball courts in the State, had witnessed State volleyball league matches and National level players in action in the All-India tournament for so many years. However, the court was in a bad shape for the last six to seven years. The Government took the initiative to renovate and it is ready for inauguration.

Photo: Nilesh

Rich haul of medals by JKA-Goa HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 9

JKA-Goa claimed a good medal haul of 3 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze medals in first All-Goa Karate-Do Association’s karate championship at indoor stadium, Campal, Panjim on Monday. They are being trained by sensei Agnelo Rodrigues, 4th dan, at Borda Margao Dojo.

Medal winners: Aarav Sundararaj (kata, below brown/black belt, gold). Airson Estibeiro, (kumite, below brown/black, silver).

Vilsmon J Fernandes (kata, brown/black belt, silver).

Akhilesh Manoj Saraf (kata, below brown/black, silver). Sanskruti Dwivedi (kata, brown/black belt, silver), Michelle P S Estibeiro (kata, below brown/black, bronze).

Sufiyan F Munshi (kata, brown/black, bronze). Omkar R Shirodkar (kata, brown/blackbelt, bronze). Saachi Salkar, (kata, below brown/black, bronze).

Saachi Salkar (kumite, below brown/black, bronze). Sachi Kolvalkar (kumite, brown/black, bronze). Sachi Kolvalkar (kumite, brown/black, bronze). Om Pramod Shetgaonkar (kata, below brown/black, bronze). Finoshka Rodrigues (kumite, b ro w n / b l a c k , b ro n z e ) .

Prathamesh Naik (senior U-50 kg, kata, black belt, gold). Seraj Shaikh, senior U-60 kgs, kata, black belt, gold. Prakash Naik senior U-60 kg, kata, under brown/black betlt, bronze).

Sponsorship vital for Nat MX: Ashley l ‘All is not well in Calangute’

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 9

“We need the financial backing of the sports and tourism departments and Goa Govt to make the National MX Championship a great success in Goa in 2011,” stated Ashley Gomes, president, Goa Motor Sports Association (GMSA).

“Look at what Singapore has done for hosting the F1. We are not asking the Govt for hundreds of crores like the National Games, we need just Rs 3 crore to host the National MX Championships in a grand style. We need the Govt machinery to back us up in coordination with the SAG. Now that we have got the official rights to host the National MX in Goa, I hope the Govt and especially the sports and tourism departments will not lose the great opportunity that Goa got and make the best

use of it to promote Goa as an adventure sports tourist destination, which will attract the high end foreign and domestic tourists,” Ashley remarked.

“This is one of the most expensive sport in the world and those involved are huge corporate companies from the automobile and petroleum industry.

We must bring them to Goa, as not just motor sports sponsors but also keeping in mind that most other sports in Goa will also get a chance to tap these companies as sponsor partners for their events,” stated Ashley.

“Most importantly the beach belt authorities must find a way to get an equal balance between tourism and also maintaining a sporting culture amongst our youth,” pleaded Ashley.

Talking on social responsibili t y, A s h l e y e x p l a i n e d : “Calangute, Candolim beach belts are considered the hub of tourism of Goa. The progress of these villages has been more of a one-sided graph. Some 20 years ago there were only 50 bars and two football grounds and eight volleyball courts and three badminton courts. Today there are over 500 bars, and still only two football grounds and the eight volleyball and three badminton courts have disappeared. Where do you expect our youth to go and play? There

Koko Sakibo was sent off as Vasco Sports Club overcame Globe Football Club, Hyderabad 3-1 in the quarter-finals of FDF football tournament in Bhopal on Wednesday.

Koko opened the scoring for Vasco early on, but Globe managed to equalise before the change of ends.

After the interval, Jerose Oliveria and Christopher Borges punted in for Vasco for victory.

Twenty minutes from the end, Koko was sent off along with a Globe defender reducing both teams to ten-men. Koko will now miss Vasco’s semi-finals match on Friday. “Losing Koko is a big blow, but this also gives other players a chance to prove themselves,” remarked Vasco coach, Gavin Araujo.

is no park, no jogging track, no community halls and to make matters worse we now have drugs problems, prostitution, dance bar culture which is rising by the day. We must realise that we are sitting on a time bomb.

As such, we have to do something about it, no longer can we behave like ostriches, and sit in our posh bungalows and hypocritically say `all is well’.”

“One must not forget here are a lot of educated and good citizens living on this beach belt and you bet they are not happy with the way we are going. We have a herculean task ahead, but I am confident that if the local leaders take the initiative and rise above party lines, bury their differences, and work together we can look forward for a better future especially for our youth. Being involved in the field of motor sports, there is lot that I can do for this beach belt and later take it to the rest of Goa,” stated Ashley.

Speaking about the dangers of motor sports, Ashley agreed that it is a dangerous one. “We take every precaution possible and till date, touch wood, we have not had a single death on our race tracks since two decades. The riders wear all the safety gear needed and the officials of the FMSCI ensure that all safety norms are adhered to.

The marshals warn the riders of the dangers that lie ahead and so avoid any untoward incident.

Compare that to our roads.

There is traffic coming from all directions, and to make matters worse there is cattle, goats, dogs, and not forgetting pedestrians who are also sadly treated like animals on our roads, especially hen crossing. I can confidently say that our race tracks are safer than our civilian roads.”

“The GMSA has planned a series of training camps to try and help our children to ride safely on our roads and to encourage parents to send their children to school on cycles.

This cycle training camp, the first of its kind in Goa, will be launched in Calangute constituency in association with Calangute and Candolim panchayats soon after the exams, under the banner ‘Together for Calangute’. As regards motorcycles, we have the expertise to train riders to jump almost up to the height of the second floor of a building and land safely and that too at high speeds. We are ready to share our racing secrets with our youth if it means to save lives. Hope the concerned authorities assist us to do our best to save our youth from road accidents and help them to be more responsive riders,” Ashley concluded.

Union Cricket Club of Margao defeated Shiroda Youth Club by 33 runs to sail into the semi-finals of All-Goa Union of Trophy T20 cricket tournament organised by Union Cricket Club of Margao at SAG sports complex, Fatorda on Wednesday.

Batting first, Margao continued their good showing with the bat and scored 157 for 7 in 20 overs. Mukhtar Kadri bulldozed Shiroda’s bowlers and cracked 79 runs while Abijeeth Kate contributed 39. For Shiroda, Pranay Gharat was the most successful bowler scalping 4 for 27.

In reply, Shiroda failed to chase the victory target and scored 124 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Pranay Gharat (47) was the top scorer for Shiroda while Atik Shaikh chipped in 31 runs. For Margao, Manish Pednekar (3-23) and Debashish Bagchi (2-23) were the successful bowlers.

Mukhtar Kadri of Margao was declared man-of-the-match.

Brief score: Union Club of Margao, 157 for 7 in 20 overs.

Mukhtar Kadri (79), Abhijith Kate (39), Debashish Bagchi (13).

Pranay Gharat 4-27, Vikrant Prabhu 1-25, Jalish Shaikh 1-18 beat Shiroda 124 for 8 in 20 overs. Pranay Gharat (47), Atik Shaikh (31), Jalish Shaikh (13).

Manish Pednekar (3-23), Debashish Bagchi (2-23), Abhijeet Kate (1-24).

Vasco Club hammer Dabolim HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 9

Salgaocar Sports Club and Sporting Club de Goa played out an amazing 2-2 draw in a friendly match at Tilak Maidan, Vasco on Wednesday morning. Salgaocar led 1-0 at the lemon break.

Young Gilbert Oliveira gave Salgaocar the lead with a spectacular shot from the wing

which caught the Sporting custodian off guard as it looked like a cross.

After the change of ends, Pritam Singh found the equaliser from the penalty spot for Sporting.

S h o r t l y a f t e r, P r i t a m punted in his second to give Sporting the lead. Salgaocar came back near the end and

found the equaliser through Ekene.

In a GFA U-14 match, at T i l a k M a i d a n , Va s c o o n Wednesday, Vasco Sports Club thrashed Dabolim Youth Club 22-0.

At the Curtorim ground, on Tu e s d a y, A v e M a r i a AW C thumped Macasana Welfare Club 8-2.

Pg 14 GOA, Thursday, 10 February, 2011

SPORTS

Mumbai FC’s Nishant fails dope test in I-League AGENCIES NEW DELHI, FEB 9

Mumbai FC's midfielder Nishant Mehra on Wednesday tested positive for an in-competition prohibited substance - tetrahydrocannabinol - in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list. With this act he has gained the tag of being the first footballer in the history of the I-League to fail a dope test.

Mehra's 'A' sample tested pos-

Klins to lead Goa sub-jrs HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 9

Klins Racias Mendes will lead the Goa football team for 33rd sub-junior National football championship in Kolkata, from February 14 to 24.

The team: Klins Racias Mendes (captain), Quan Gomes (vice-captain), Aliston Fernandes, Simon D’Mello, Elison Pereira, Sanito Joe Colaco, Jorge Rodrigues, Franzil Issac Negredo, Floyd Clinton Fernandes, Akshay Santosh Mandrekar, Austern Fernandes, Jesus Anthony De Souza, John Savio Pereira, Joel Joaquim Fernandes, Avrhishto Lois Fernandes, Filboun Joepaul Crasto, Shawn Ashwed Fernandes, Leichobam Binaton Singh, Russell Anthony Vaz, Amay Kanangutkar, Gajanan Kambli (manager) and Seby Rodrigues (coach).

Bhakti draws again

PANJIM (HSD) -- WIM Bhakti Kulkarni drew with Korpa Bence (2165) of Hungary in the third round of First Saturday Round Robin IM Budapest Chess Tournament in Hungary. Bhakti is now on 1.5 points after three rounds.

itive in the dope test that was conducted in Pune.

Now the midfielder will appear before the NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) panel on Thursday.

The footballer's 'B' sample will also be tested in his presence before an appropriate action is taken against the player.

"If his 'B' sample tests positive tomorrow, he will face a twoyear ban under NADA rules since it is his first offence," I-League

CEO Sunando Dhar said.

Tetrahydrocannabinol is basically a synthetic drug used in parties and not as a performance enhancing drug.

Random dope tests in the ILeague started last month in Pune and so far it has been conducted on nine out of the 14 participating teams.

Tetrahydrocannabinol is the active chemical in cannabis and is one of the oldest hallucinogenic drugs.

As per the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) guidelines, the dope tests are being conducted at the behest of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for the first time in the National League.

The first footballer to test positive so far was East Bengal's central defender Arun Malhotra, who, was stopped from boarding the flight to Busan Asian Games at the last minute.

Aiming at Asian title: Colaco l Dempo-Churchiil derby on Saturday

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 9

Dempo Sports Club chief coach Armando Colaco on Wednesday said his main aim this time around was to claim the Asian Champions League.

“We are playing the AFC qualifying round on February 19 and if we qualify, it will fulfill my greater ambition. Unless you play against tougher teams, you will not know where you stand,” said Colaco.

When asked whether he would accept the post of India coach, Colaco said he would not mind taking up the job if it was offered to him.

The Dempo chief coach-cum-

secretary has won everything in Indian soccer and an elevation to the coveted post might seem to be next step.

“If they call me, I don’t mind taking up the assignment. But, they need to call me,” he added.

Colaco was happy with the performance of his boys in the last two matches. “Of course, the defeat suffered at the hands of Salgaocar and Air India affected us. But getting back on track is important. I am happy with the show in the last two matches. I don’t blame anyone for the loss as it is just football and in football, if you win it’s everybody and if you lose it’s everybody. However, it’s necessary to be careful,”

stated Colaco.

“Injuries and absence of key players in the first phase became synonymous with Dempo this season. While some players have recovered from injuries, the return of India players has strengthened the team and indeed has helped us.”

Dempo next face a tough challenger - Churchill Brothers and Colaco believes that the match will be tough. “We know each other very well and it’s a derby where sometimes the better team loses and that is football. Having said this, I know that we need a victory and I shall do everything to defend the title.”

Agasaim pip St Sebastian HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 9

Francis “Pocket” Silveira scored the winning goal from the penalty spot as Agasaim Youth Club edged out 10-men St Sebastian Sports Club, Santa Cruz in GFA’s Second Division at Dr Remigio Pinto ground, Taleigao on Wednesday. Agasaim led by a solitary goal at the breather.

St Sebastian captain McDavid Dias was shown the yellow card for “dissent with action” towards referee Anthony Vaz, after he awarded the penalty to Aga-

Umer gets B Licence

saim in the 57th minute. After Francis converted the penalty, McDavid was shown his second yellow for dissent.

Agasaim opened the scoring through Sushant Borker, who saw his stiff grounder from outside the box creep under the rival keeper’s hand on its way into the net.

On the half hour mark, St Sebastian nearly found the net but Benoy Barretto’s shot came back off the cross bar.

After the interval, St Sebastian came out strong and their per-

sistence paid off, when Benoy Barretto found the equaliser after he finished off a move which started from a free kick taken quickly.

Eight minutes later, Agasaim re-took the lead from the penalty spot.

After St Sebastian was reduced to ten-men they continued their raids forward but in the end Agasaim held on for victory.

Agasaim moved to seven points from six matches while St Sebastian stayed on three points from four outings.

MPT hold Calangute 1st division football

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, FEB 9

Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) were held 1-1 by Calangute Association in GFA’s First Division L e a g u e a t Po r i a t g ro u n d , Calangute on Wednesday.

In a keenly contested encounter, MPT shot into lead in the 32nd minute through Jose Colaco off Recson Quadros.

Stung by the reverse, Calangute fought back and leveled the score in the 40th minute through Pedro Gonsalves off Franky.

Changing over, Calangute exerted pressure on the MPT defense and could have doubled their lead in the 51st minute but Pedro shot wide. Calangute continued its dominance over MPT but their forwards failed to score. The MPT defense led

by Shaikh Niazi and Reliston Fernandes too were equal to their task giving no room for the Calangute forwards. Both the teams had to settle for a draw and share the spoils.

Verna down Ambelim gfa under-14 league HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 9

Snows Football Academy gained a walkover as their opponents Mandopa Sporting Club failed to turn up at GFA’s U-14 League at Raia panchayat ground, on Wednesday.

At Assolna ground, Verna Sports Club beat Ambelim Sports Club 2-0. There was no score at half time.

Verna dominated the proceedings but near misses prevented them from opening their account in the opening session.

Verna put up a better performance in the second session and attacked the rival citadel repeatedly. Their hard work paid off when Vilroy Fernandes bulged the net. Midway in the second session, Flyod Fernandes’ snap shot deflected off a rival defender and eluded the Ambelim keeper.

Progress lift Germania Trophy

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, FEB 9

Goan Professional League coach Umer Mutawalli has successfully passed the ‘B License Football Coaching’ course conducted by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and All-India Football Federation (AIFF) in Chennai, recently.

Mutawalli is the only Goan player, who has successfully cleared the exam among 27 from all over India.

GFA Second Divison: St Mathew SC v. Clube Sao Minguel de Taleigao, Taleigao ground, 4 p.m.

GFA U-14: United Boys of Palolem v. Sarzora SC, Agonda ground; Raia FC v. Guardian Angel SC, Raia ground. Kick off 4 p.m.

GFA U-16: Sarzora SC v.

Guardian Angel SC, Sarzora ground; Rossman Cruz Nagoa SC v. Sirlim SC, Nagoa ground; Macasana Welfare Club v. Ave Maria AWC, Curtorim ground.

Kick off 4 p.m.

Roque Colaco memorial U14 soccer semi-finals: Our Lady of Rosary High School, Fatorda v. Infant Jesus High School, Colva, 3.30 p.m.; Don Bosco High School, Panjim v.

Regina Mundi High School, Vasco, 4.30 p.m., Don Bosco Oratory ground, Fatorda.

St Sebastian soccer quarters: Vailankani Boys Calangute v. St Sebastian Boys, Greenfield, St. Cruz, 7 p.m. Interward: Segundo Bairo v. Cabeca Sports Club, 8.15 p.m.

All-India inter-YMCA basketball: Hyderabad YMCA v.

Visakhapatnam YMCA, 7 a.m.; New Delhi YMCA ‘B’ v. C P Ed. YMCA, 8.30 a.m.; Secunderabad YMCA v. Ernakulam YMCA, 10 a.m.; Fort Cochin YMCA v. Kalyan YMCA, 11.30 a.m.; Bareilly YMCA v. Poona YMCA, 3 p.m.; Calcutta YMCA v. Panjim YMCA, 5.30 p.m.; Coimbatore YMCA v. Bombay YMCA ‘B’, 7 p.m.; Bombay YMCA ‘A’ v. Guntur YMCA, 8.30 p.m., Don Bosco indoor stadium, Panjim.

Tukaram Mahale, captain of Progress High School, Panjim receiving the winners trophy from Pramod Kamat in the presence of Prashant Kakode and Satish Shirodkar at Campal on Wednesday.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 9

Progress High School, Panjim defeated Mahila Nutan English High School, Margao by 2 runs to claim the All-Goa Germania inter-school cricket tournament organised by Panjim Gymkhana at Bandodkar ground, Campal, Panjim on Wednesday.

Progress won the toss and elected to bat. They scored 84

for 9 in 20 overs. Baleshwar Nishad (10), Tousif Shaikh (14), Tukaram Mahale (35). Suyesh Prabhudessai (14-2), Tejas Borkar (16- 5), Vedant Naik (19-1), Gaurav Naik (9-1).

In reply, Mahila Nutan managed to score 82 for 10 in 20 overs. Vedant Naik (12), Adish Desai (13). Tukaram Mahale (91), Baleshwar Nishad (17-4), Tousif Shaikh (15-2).

GOA DIARY 6-a-side cricket at Parsem

PANJIM (HSD) – Parsem Warriors will organise their 6-a-side cricket tournament on February 13 and 20 at Parsem at 10 a.m.

The winners and runners-up will take home Rs 2,500 and Rs 1,500 respectively.

GCA umpires meet

PANJIM (HSD) – The Goa Cricket Association will organise a meeting for qualified umpires of North Zone on February, 10 at Indoor Academy, Porvorim at 5 p.m.

North Division cricket

PANJIM (HSD) – The North Zone Division ‘A’ cricket matches will begin on February 12 at Porvorim and Panjim, according to a Goa Cricket Association press release.

Chess tourney at Sanquelim

PANJIM (HSD) – The Lions Club of Sanquelim will organise their open chess tournament on February 12 and 13 at Shivajirao Desai memorial hall, Sanquelim at 2.30 p.m. Top ten players will be awarded. Details may be obtained from Dr Saroj Desai on 9922353522, Prasanna Swami on 9890218971 or Sham Bodke on 9422456261.

Tennis cricket at Carambolim

PANJIM (HSD) – Sunshine Sports Club, Carambolim will organise their 2nd All-Goa tennis ball cricket tournament from February 18 to 20 at panchayat ground, Carambolim. The winners and runners-up will walk away with Rs 12,000 and Rs 6,000 respectively. The semi-final losers will take Rs 2,000 each. The last date to submit entries is February 15. Details may be obtained from Narendra on 9822153107 or Mohan on 9765650225.

Table tennis at Campal

PANJIM (HSD) – The Panjim Table Tennis Club in association with Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sports Authority of Goa will organise their annual GCCI Cup, a talent search non-ranking table tennis tournament from February 16 to 19 at 4 p.m. at indoor stadium, Campal, Panjim. The tournament will be held in the U-12, U-14 and U-18 categories for boys and girls. Those seeded in the top eight will not be allowed to participate. Details may be obtained from Noel Estebeiro on 9890057200 or Sandeep Heble on 9326129171 or Sunny Sports, 18 June Road, Panjim by February 15.

Individual prizes were also awarded: Best batsman – Tukaram Mahale. Best bowler – Tejas Borkar. Man-of-the-finals – Tejas Borkar. Man-of-the-series – Tukaram Mahale.

Pramod Kamat, Law Secretary, was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Prashant Kakode, secretary, Panjim Gymkhana and Satish Shirodkar, sponsorer.

Raunak stars in Borda’s thrilling win HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 9

An all round performance by Raunak Nargundkar (2-10 and 36) and his 101-run second wicket partnership with Aniket Naik sealed a thrilling 7-wicket victory for Borda RCC over Agonda RCC in late Shubham Naik U-14 cricket tournament at Agonda on Wednesday.

Agonda won the toss and elected to bat. Amar Komarpant (30), Saideep Painguinkar, (24) and Hrishikesh pednekar (27 not out) batted well to reach 136 all-out in 36 overs.

Apart from Raunak, Kaushik Kamat (3-13), Sameer Shirodkar (2-34) bowled well as Nimay Kamat and skipper Herambh Prabhu chipped in with one wicket each.

Chasing 137, Borda lost Nilay Dalal early but a 101-run second wicket partnership between Raunak and Aniket brought Borda close to a seemingly easy victory.

However, Agonda fought back and captured four quick wickets to put Borda back. An eighth wicket pair of Kaushik and Herambh finished the match in Borda’s favour in 39.3 overs.

For Agonda, Hrishikesh Pednekar took two wickets while Akshay Sutar, Manish Naikgaonkar, Saideep and Aman took one each. Raunak was declared man-of-the-match.

Pg 15

SPORTS

Fight among India, Pak & Lanka: Raina PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 9

Young middle- order batsman Suresh Raina reckons that with the dominance of four-time world champions Australia almost over, it would be a fight among the three sub-continental teams in India, Pakistan and Sri L anka in the upcoming c r i c ke t World Cup. "I see t h i s Wo r l d Cup as a fight among the sub continental teams - Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. England can also

n I see this World Cup as a fight among the sub continental teams -- Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. England can also be the real challengers. They are doing well, especially after their success in the Ashes.

be the real challengers. They are doing well, especially after their success in the Ashes," Raina told PTI in an interview from Bangalore.

"This is a fresh World Cup and in the last four years other teams have also improved a lot as compared to the Aussies. It's important to get a good start in the tournament," he added.

The Uttar Pradesh player also said this was the best Indian side ever and if it could make it to the last four stage, it would be the firm favourite to win the title.

"It's all about making it to the semis. I hope if we can make it to the last four stage, then we will definitely be in the final.

We have some very good players now. It's very important to reach the semis".

"I think this is the best ever Indian side...we have the best batsman in Sachin Tendulkar and with Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir there as well at the top, the batting is very strong," said Raina.

Raina said coach Gary Kirsten and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have done a great job with the team and success has given them confidence.

"Gary Kirsten and Dhoni have been doing great with the side.

He (Kirsten) is the best coach and 'captain cool' Dhoni is the best skipper.”

"With Sreesanth back in the side, the pace attack looks very

good, while in Harbhajan (Singh) leading the spin armoury along with (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Piyush) Chawla, it looks a fully balanced line-up."

The 24-year-old batsman, who may have to compete with the likes of Virat Kohli and Yusuf Pathan for a place in the final XI, is however confident of batting at any position and sees himself in a role of a finisher.

"It's (finishing a game) not easy. You have to read the situation well. Any miscalculation can go horribly wrong. You have to rotate the strike and at the same time it's very important to play your natural game", he said.

"I've been scoring for the Indian team. I am finishing the games well. It's true that I am scoring in the 30s. But batting at 6 or 7, those are valuable runs when you have to play for the team's cause," said Raina, referring to his performance in the five-match ODI series in South Africa where he failed to notch even a half-century.

"I've been batting at different positions. Be it at No 3, 4, or at 5 and 6 as in last few years. I've improved as a batsman," said Raina, who holds the record of becoming the first Indian to score centuries in all the three formats of the game.

A poor form had cost him a place in the 2007 World Cup squad and Raina said he was disappointed about the past but

Kirsten pays special attention to Sehwag, Gambhir on day one

Team India attend a meeting during a training session at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore on Wednesday.

PTI BANGALORE, FEB 9

After Praveen Kumar's elbow injury ruled him out of the World Cup, the Indian team management seemed to be extra cautious and careful about the players who are coming back from injuries.

No wonder that coach Gary Kirsten paid special attention to the Delhi duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir who have recently recuperated from shoulder and elbow injuries respectively, during the first day of India's that got underway at the National Cricket Academy here today.

Both Sehwag and Gambhir didn't take part in the ODI series in South Africa keeping the World Cup in mind.

Sehwag was the first to hit the nets today and knocked for

ICC approves Sreesanth, two Australians as replacements AGENCIES DUBAI, FEB 9

The International Cricket Council has approved Indian speedster S Sreesanth's inclusion in the India's World Cup squad while also confirming Callum Ferguson and Jason Krejza as replacements in the Australian side.

The ICC said the Event Technical Committee of the World Cup has approved Krejza as replacement for the injured Nathan Hauritz and Ferguson for Michael Hussey in the Australia squad for the February 19April 2 tournament in the sub-continent.

"In addition, the committee has approved the replacement o f P r a v e e n Ku m a r w i t h S Sreesanth in the India squad," ICC said in a statement.

The confirmations were conveyed to Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India on behalf of the event technical committee, the statement added.

Krejza will replace Hauritz, who is suffering from a shoulder injury, Ferguson comes in for Hussey who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury while Sreesanth replaces Kumar, who is suffering from an elbow injury.

n The serious business, however, is expected to start from today as India play their first warm-up match against Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Sunday before leaving for Chennai where they will round off the preparation with the second and the last practice match against New Zealand on February 16. about 30 minutes, followed by Gambhir and then Yuvraj Singh.

Kirsten, who according to Indian team members never gets tired by giving throw downs did the same for the trio.

After a much-needed 16-day break, the members of the squad seemed to have refreshed as one saw the players upbeat and happy during their two-hour session.

The session started with a 30minute football match between

two groups in which coach Kirsten also participated and then most of the top-order batsmen save senior-most pro Sachin Tendulkar had a knock at the nets.

The maestro preferred spending some quality time at the NCA gymnasium.

The other Indian batsmen, including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli and Yusuf Pathan were also seen knocking at the adjacent nets.

AGENCIES MELBOURNE, FEB 9

though he only made 87 runs in six innings at the last World Cup in 2007.

The Western Australian said he felt that he should have been given the same chance as Andrew Symonds had been in 2007, when the all rounder missed the early part of the tournament through injury.

"The precedence had sort of been set at the last one with Andrew Symonds," Hussey added. "He came in for the third or fourth game and played a really big part in our team.

"I was hoping that it would be the same sort of thing for me, they'd give me every chance to have a crack at it at least."

Hussey's was under pressure for his place in the Australia side for the Ashes at the start of the

Barring Harbhajan Singh, all the bowlers, including part-time spinners Yusuf Pathan and Yuvraj, rolled their arms in the presence of bowling coach Simmons.

Simmons also paid special attention to the fringe bowlers like Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin and S Sreesanth.

Harbhajan, preferred to stay away from the net session today and was seen doing some light stretching exercises during the fag end of the session.

The serious business, however, is expected to start from tomorrow as India play their first warm-up match against Australia at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday before leaving for Chennai where they will round off the preparation with the second and the last practice match against New Zealand on February 16.

Mike Hussey stunned by ‘bitter pill’ of exclusion

Australia batsman Mike Hussey was stunned to be dropped from the World Cup squad and felt the selectors had ignored precedent in not giving him a chance to recover from injury.

Hussey was Australia's top batsman in the recent Ashes series and selected for the Feb.19April 2 tournament on the subcontinent despite rupturing his hamstring in a one-dayer against England last month.

On Tuesday, however, Cricket Australia decided they were not prepared to take a chance on him recovering in time and he was replaced in the 15-man squad by Callum Ferguson.

"I'm really disappointed and a bit shocked by the news," the 35-year-old told Fox Sports.

"I tried to push my case forward. I said I would really push (to be fit) by the second game and definitely right by the third game but it's not a risk the selectors wanted to take.”

"It's a pretty hard pill to swallow, that's for sure."

Hussey, nicknamed "Mr Cricket" because of his passion for the game, has scored 4,469 runs in 151 one-day internationals at an average of 51.96, al-

n I tried to push my case forward. I said I would really push (to be fit) by the second game and definitely right by the third game but it's not a risk the selectors wanted to take.

summer but his innings of 195 in Brisbane and 116 in Perth were among the few highlights of the 3-1 series defeat for the hosts.

"This just shows you can't look too far ahead ... it can all end pretty quickly," Hussey said.

Australia, who have won the last three World Cups, leave for India later on Wednesday and play their first Group A match of the tournament against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad on February 21.

wants to start afresh.

"It was definitely disappointing to miss out on 2007. Having missed out on the last World Cup, it's a dream come true for me to be picked this time around. It's a hugely important tournament for me.”

"It's a fresh World Cup and I'm truly honoured to be part of the side, representing the billions of fans who support the country. The occasion is more special as we will play in home conditions. All eyes would be on us. Everybody is upbeat. I'm really excited for the showpiece event to start," Raina said.

"No doubt, there is pressure.

After all, this is the biggest stage

of the game. But we are used to this and with great cricketers like Sachin, Sehwag, Dhoni in the dressing room, you never really feel the pressure."

Raina also believes a good performance in the World Cup would take a player to the next level.

"I see it as a very good opportunity. If you perform well, you will take your game and confidence to the next level. It's very important to stay focussed, be relaxed and at the same time be humble and disciplined in your approach.”

Speaking about the South Africa tour, Raina said, "We lost all ODIs in 2005. But this time

we showed real fighting spirit.

We drew the Test series that has never happened. We fought till the end and in the ODI series also we came very close."

Raina signed off saying everybody in the Indian team would try their best to bring back the World Cup and keep the faith of the billions of supporters.

"The World Cup belongs to the country, the billions of Indians who pray for us and support us. Nobody knows if Sachin Tendulkar will play in the next World Cup. Only he knows. Not just for Sachin but for the entire countrymen we will give our best to bring back the World Cup," he said.

GOA, Thursday, 10 February, 2011

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Brothers in arms: Grand President Vernon DeCruz (extreme left) with other members of the Catenian family

BY NOMRATHA FERNANDES HERALD FEATURES trengthening family life through friendship and faith’ is their motto.

These words lie just below a symbol of a chain in a circular structure with a cross inside, forming the motto and symbol of The Catenians.

‘Catena’, the very word means a chain connected to each other, something that links one thing to another. The Association lives by that very concept.

In 1903, Bishop Casartelli envisioned The Catenian Association. This was at a time when the emerging middle class Catholic population of England and Wales was unsure of its place in society. With a solution in mind for his people, the founding father of the Association formed a group called ‘The Chums Benevolent Association’ in 1908, which later adopted its present name.

From this humble beginning, the association spread to many countries in the course of time. Its present strength is over 11,000 members, while its geographical extent covers Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Malta, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe and now India, or rather, Goa. “Goa just got its new circle,” says Vernon DeCruz, grand president. “I inaugurated it a few days ago.” He goes on to explain circle formations with the association. “People have to be invited by a member to attend a Catenian meeting or an event. The invitee belongs to what we call a circle. With the expansion of circles, they are then grouped into provinces,” he says. With 100odd families coming together, Goa has three Catenian circles. How does one become a member of this Association? “The Association is open to gentlemen who are over 21 years old and are practising members of the Catholic Church,” says DeCruz. He expounds, “When a gentleman wants to join the association, he is fully informed of his expectations as a brother, as a friend, as a father and as a son. He is then told of the aims of the association and his duties towards it. Then, he is asked whether he would like to join.” The aims and objectives of the association are simple and revolve around faith, friendship, family and

fun. These are circulated through circle meetings.

A Catenian meeting is held every month and the venue could be a Parish Hall, City club , Hotel or any other convenient location for an after meeting fellowship. “Through the meetings a subject pertaining to the Catholic faith is discussed after prayers for the dead,” says DeCruz. Besides meetings, the Association organises other entertainment and leisure events too, where the families of the gentleman join in. Here is where the sense of family doubles. Joining this association will bring one a sense of security, affirms the grand president. He goes on to state why. “The association brings Catholic people together; it gives them a chance to meet others who share the same faith and value, continuously helping in upholding family values.”

A highlight of the association is the fact that they don’t stand against anything, but focus on strengthening what they believe in, in the process positively influencing the members to make the right choices in a time when the world presents conflicting values. They are non-political, not yet another prayer group and not a fund raising arm of the Catholic Churc.

Says Basil Fernandez, a member from Goa, “Its nice to be a part of an association that promotes fellowship, friendship and makes one feel like their family, especially as we find individualism in the front seat today – my work, my house, my job, my life. We only hope it expands.”

Vernon DeCruz and the Catenian group of around 50, along with their spouses spent an entire week in Goa. They had a good time at local hotspots, besides official duty. “The people have been lovely and welcoming. I am very pleased with the level of enthusiasm among the Catenians here,” DeCruz vouches. To add to that, the International Leadership called on the Archbishop of Goa who responded positively and has welcomed this hundred-year-old Association into his diocese. Soon circles will spring up in the towns of Margao, Vasco, Mapusa, Porvorim and Calangute.

Amongst all of that, DeCruz seemed most happy with the fact that another circle was formed within the radius of Panjim, and even happier on its expansion.

The Catenian Association, recently inaugurated the third Catenian circle in Goa at the hands of grand president Vernon DeCruz who was in Goa along with other Catenians. He speaks to Herald about the Association, its mission and much more

With a Burst of Yellow, Indians mark Basant Panchami

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ustard fields danced in the wind, hundreds of thousands took a holy dip in rivers, young men and women sought the blessings of Saraswati, the goddess of learning...For it was Basant Panchami, the day Indians mark the onset of spring. If one of the biggest congregations was in Sangam – the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati in the pilgrim town of Allahabad – then many also assembled at the Tattpani hot springs in Himachal Pradesh for a bath.

“Lakhs of devotees have taken the holy dip since early morning at Sangam,” said an official of the Allahabad district administration.

In rural Punjab, people basked in the glory of yellow mustard fields. Youngsters and children could be seen flying kites.

People across West Bengal offered ‘anjali’ or special prayers to Saraswati, the goddess of learning, amid the chanting of hymns and booms of the ‘dhak’ drums. Many homes install small idols of the goddess and she is also worshipped in public marquees and educational institutions.

“Wearing yellow or saffron coloured clothes, we line up to seek the goddess’ blessings. And the tradition is not to touch books on this day,” said Anushua Mukherjee, a young college student in Kolkata.

Typically, Bengalis keep their books in front of the goddess’ idol for her blessings. Many children also write their first words on this day. Hundreds of devotees, many from states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand, assembled in Tattpani in Himachal Pradesh to take a holy bath at the hot water sulphur springs.

A fair was held at the famous Sikh shrine of Guru-ka-Lahore in Bilaspur district. It is believed that Sikh Guru Gobind Singh’s marriage was solemnised at this village on Basant Panchami.

In Jharkhand, where it is a government holiday, many tribal students collected money for the Puja.

“Students pray to goddess Saraswati to do well in studies.

Idols are installed and prayers performed as per Vedic rites.

On the next day, they are immersed in rivers or ponds,” said Shashidar Mishra, a priest.

Agra had another reason to celebrate – the birthday of 18th century poet Mian Nazir Akbarabadi, the ‘people’s poet’. The modest tomb of Nazir was lit up as admirers queued up to pay homage to the poet, who sang of love and the life of the common man in Agra.

(Courtesy: IANS)

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UNESCO to assess Damage to Hindu Temple in Cambodia

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he United Nations cultural agency plans to send a mission to assess the damage caused to the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage site, by the recent armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.

Tensions first escalated between the South-East Asian neighbours in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the temple, which dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border.

The temple, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) earlier that year. The temple is composed of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800-metre-long axis.

The site is exceptional for the quality of its carved stone ornamentation and its architecture, adapted to the natural environment and the religious function of the temple, according to UNESCO. There have been renewed armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia in recent days, prompting calls for restraint by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova Tuesday reiterated her call for calm and restraint around the temple.

“World Heritage sites are the heritage of all humanity and the international community has a special responsibility to safeguard them. This requires a collective effort that must be undertaken in a spirit of consultation and dialogue,” she stated in a news release.

“Heritage should unite people and serve as an instrument of dialogue and mutual understanding and not of conflict.”

(Courtesy: IANS)

Adding to the Jazz Magic Heritage Jazz’s three-day Jazz musical festival ‘Jazz for Goa’ will feature many a Dutch musician, jamming up with Goan artists to create. Herald gives another peek into five other artists who will perform at the event

F

HERALD FEATURES rom the number of international musicians to be featured at the music festival ‘Jazz for Goa’, here’s another pick of five performers who will set the mood at the festival to be held from February 12 to 14 at the International Centre Goa. Alexander Beets began his musical education at the age of six with the piano, clarinet and tenor-saxophone. He started playing jazz with his brothers and enchanted the audiences with their music. He then pursued his Masters in organisational management and recorded with other famous tenor players as Hans Dulfer, Houston Person and Ronnie Cuber. Being one of Holland’s most soughtafter saxophone-players he also

conducts courses and seminars in international artist-management and runs his own music agency and owns his a record company along with his brother.

Singer and composer Anne Chris graduated from the Conservatory of Amsterdam and went on to take postgraduate studies during which she specialised in writing her own compositions. She later recorded her debut CD, for which she sang in different styles in addition to jazz standards; she also recorded a Brazilian song and her own compositions, which are a mix of jazz and pop. For her second album, ‘Play for Now’ in January 2010, she had

ten original songs which were released under her own label.

Anne Chris was invited by jazz pianist Berend van den Berg to be part of a concert tour through India.

DJ Maestro, as a teenager, was mesmerised by the turntables, mixers, headphones and vinyl albums of his friends, who took their drive-in show to school parties. His Blue Note Trip-nights in clubs attracts many dance lovers, with his amazing mix of modern and vintage from the Maestro’s record cases. With his own record label, ‘Dig This!’, being program director at the Swingin’ Groningen festival and founder of the Dutch station Radio Jazz, Maestro has a big hold on everything that has to do with funk, latin and jazz in the Netherlands.

Dutch pianist Mike del Ferro is a highly soughtafter composer, pianist and arranger who writes and performs in an impressive array of musical genres.

Travelling the world extensively, searching for collaborations with musicians from cultures quite different to his own, his musical results have been eye-opening, building musical bridges between cultures. He has combined elements of Western music interspersed with jazz improvisation paying tribute to the ancient structures of Asian, South American and African traditional music. Having recorded dozens of albums in many different genres, he is the Director of Jazz Programs for American Voices.

Adding the Goan beat will be our very own Bondo. His talent has gained him the title of the most sought after percussionist in India. Bondo is one of the most innovative percussionists in the state who formed the Tribal Group nine years ago with farmers from different parts of the state who preserved their tradition through music. Bondo was trained under Ustad Alarakha Khan in Mumbai and played at various venues since then.

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Thursday, 10 Feb 2011

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas, organised by the Director of Art and Culture is underway till February 10 at the Kala Academy, Panjim. Call 2420452.

‘Color Ecstasy’, an exhibition of paintings by Puran Singh Jhala Will be held from February 12 to February 20,2011 from 11am to 7pm at SeShah House, Saligao.

‘Aangan’, an exhibition of paintings by Gopal Pardeshi is on display at Kala Academy art gallery till February 10, 2011 from 10am to 7:30pm.

‘Asturi’, an exhibition for woman by woman organised by the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Women’s Wing will be held from February 10 to 13 from 10am to 8pm at Azad Maidan, Panjim. Registration is open. E-mail goachamber@gmail.com.

Call 2424252.

‘A condolence meet in order to condole the death of late Rosary Ferns’ is organised by TAG on February 10, 2011 at 5pm at the Pavillian Hall, BPS Club Margao.

Landscapes of the Mind’ – Impressions from near and far, an exhibition of mixed media paintings by Rani Sarin will be held on February 12 and 13 from 10am to 7pm at Gallery 3 of the Sunaparanta – Goa Centre for the Arts, Altinho, Panjim. Call 2421311.

A Solo Singing Competition, organised by Omkar Cultural Association will be held on February 19 at 5.30pm in Dhargal. Call 9823306652 or 9673997188.

Third Konknni (Romi Lipi) Literary and Cultural Sammelan, organised by the Dalgado Konknni Academy will be held on February 19 and 20 at Kala Academy, Panjim.

Call 2420452.

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email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

HOROSCOPE ‘Ensuring peoples participation in the International Year of Forests’ will be the discussion of this fortnights Friday Balcao session to be held on February 11 from 4pm to 6pm at Goa Desc Resource Centre, No 11, Liberty Apartments, Feira Alta, Mapusa. Email goasdesc@gmail.com.

HFT, jazz, fusion and world music band will play live on February 12 at Goa Chitra, Benaulim. Call 6570877.

Jazz for Love, a performance by Dutch band will be held on February 12 and 13. E-mail prog@incentgoa.com. Call 9765404391 or 2452805-10.

‘Heritage Walk through Panjim’, organised by Goa Heritage Action Group will be held on February 13 from 8am to 9:30am. The starting point will be the main head post office in Panjim. E-mail GHAGwalks@gmail.com.

SEQC’s Twenty Paces – Solo KnockOut Quiz Finals will be held on February 20. Call: 2452805-10 or email: prog@incentgoa.com International Year of Forests 2011 will be the focus at the Friday Balcao, a fortnightly discussion will be held on February 11, 2011. Friday Balcao will be from 4pm to 6pm at the Goa Desc Resource Centre No.11 Liberty Apartments Feira Alta, Mapusa and is open to members of the public.

Painting exhibition of contemporary abstracts, acrylic and mix media on small and large, ready to hang stretched canvas by Piety D’Silva are on display at till February 28 from 5pm to 7pm at Pietyz-Abstractz Artz World, Borda-Margao. E-mail dasilvamaan@yahoo.com. Call 9822185185.

‘Sunset Art Programme’, an innovative art programme for children, organised

by Kala Academy will be held every Sunday from 5pm to 6.30pm for 6 weeks at the Jetty.

Call 2420452.

People are ready for you to make your move -- and 21 Mar - 19 Apr eager to help you, so just ask!

Financial dealings have to take precedence today -- otherwise, you are sure to feel shut out when things start to go south. It's a really great time for you to prioritize and get on top of things.

Taurus If an innovative idea makes you uncomfortable now, you must 20 Apr - 20 May l i s t e n a l l t h e more! Your great personal energy should help you enjoy and make the most of almost anything. It's likely a good day for you to take care of chores that you've been dreading, as your mood can't slip.

Follow your Gemini heart as it drifts toward the things that really matter. Obey emo21 May - 20 Jun tions. Have you checked your pile of paperwork lately? It's a good time to do just that, as that bill you were sure was paid might be hours away from delinquency, and who needs that? Make your own luck.

Get ready to find new insights about a particularly confusing work 22 Jun - 23 Jul situation now.

Focus on your home life today -- redecoration, dealing with your mate and even just billpaying are all favored right now. Your energy is strong, so you should be able to handle whatever pops up.

It's okay to change your mind. Reevaluating your posi24 Jul - 23 Aug tion can be a mature move.

Your sense of right and wrong is a little riled up right now, and you probably ought to seek out an authority figure to help you set things right. A cop, a boss or a family matriarch should do the trick.

Things are slowing down, which is a good thing ... you 23 Aug - 22 Sep need time to reflect on life. You and that new person might seem to be opposites, but you're actually quite compatible -- in whatever way makes sense to you. See if you can get your friends to help integrate this person better.

You don't need to come up with the right idea -- you just 23 Sept - 22 Oct need to find a better one. You need to find some new way to tell your mate, friends or family how attached you are -- they need the reminder! It can be as simple as a few words or as grandiose as a Christmas pageant.

Scorpio S l o w d o w n your output. It's much better to be a thinker 23 Oct - 22 Nov right now than a doer. You're against it -- whatever it is! Go right ahead and express your opposition to that idea or fad that is taking everyone by storm, as you need to burnish your iconoclastic cred and this is the perfect time.

Sagittarius Put the finish-

Capricorn Y o u ' v e reached a point of no return, but little re22 Dec - 20 Jan sistance. So do things your own way. Your positive energy helps you see the brighter side of your duties and responsibilities today. You may want to see if your boss or family is willing to give you more leeway to handle things as you see fit.

Aquarius Decisions will pop up at unexpected points.

You will have to 21 Jan - 19 Feb a c t q u i c k l y now. You and a friend need to get together and remind each other what you see in each other. Break out the old stories and see where things go -- you may remember things differently, so it could be educational.

Forces around you can help you get in the right place at 20 Feb - 20 Mar the right time - just ask. Today is all about communication, so make sure all lines are open.

Your thumbs may be sore from all that texting by the time you hit the sack, but you should also be quite a bit further ahead than you were this morning.

Aries

Libra

ing touches on a social plan -and don't forget confirm 23 Nov - 20 Dec t o things. Who needs your help the most?

That's your most important question today, as your energy is best spent on others.

It's a good time to scroll through your contacts and figure out who's next.

WORD OF THE DAY

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Pisces

DID YOU KNOW? What does NASDAQ stand for?

philately Pronunciation fi-lat-l-ee Function Noun Meaning 1: the collecting of stamps and other postal matter as a hobby or an investment 2: the study of stamps and material relating to postal or fiscal history Example Sentence Philately was not just a pastime for Mark, it was a passion.

LAFFS

The NASDAQ Stock Market also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. NASDAQ originally stood for ‘National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations’. The world’s first electronic stock market is located on a telecommunications network, facilitating trading directly between the investors and their buyers or sellers. It is the largest electronic screen-based equity securities trading market in the United States and secondlargest by market capitalisation in the world. The system opened 40 years ago on February 8, 1971. As of January 13, 2011, there are 2,872 listings. The NASDAQ has more trading volume than any other electronic stock exchange in the world. Though the word began as an acronym, it has now evolved to a proper noun and is simply known as Nasdaq.

WIZARD OF ID

Funny Quote

“For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.”

– Bob Wells DAILY GROOK ORGAN BARGAIN

by Francis Rodrigues aren't mafia thefts before funeral time, of human body parts - organ'ised crime?

GARFIELD

MIND BENDERS

SUN MOON TIDES

Tongue Twister Thursday 33° C | 20° C Dawn 06:40

Clear

Sunrise 07:02

Moon rise 11:17 High 02:11

On a lazy laser raiser lies a laser ray eraser.

Sunset Dark 18:37 18:59 Moon set 23:34

TIDES Low High Low 09:04 15:38 20:42

17:30 Farishtay 21:00 Golmaal Returns 09:45 12:00 14:25 16:30 19:00 21:00 23:05

3 Men and a Little Lady You Only Live Twice Like Mike Rob-B-Hood Behind Enemy Lines Blue Streak The Sixth Sense

10:15 Underworld 12:00 He's Just Not That Into You 14:30 Black Water 16:30 Takedown 18:30 My Sister's Keeper 21:00 Land of the Lost 23:15 The Devil's Advocate

08:30 11:30 15:00 19:00 22:30

Why will the world not come to an end?

High —

D Tide timings are for Mormugao Harbour. For Panjim/Calangute add 20 mins. For Colva add 30 mins

Last ‘Riddle Me This’ Answer: An Egg

17:45 The Aviator 21:00 Kung Fu Hustle 23:10 An American Werewolf in Paris

Metro Lajja Mawaali Ab Tak Chhappan Homeward Bound 08:00 Judwaa 12:00 Sangram 16:00 Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai 20:00 Dil To Pagal Hai

09:00 NBA Regular Season 12:20 Underworld: Evolution 14:25 The Boys Are Back

08:00 12:00 16:00 20:00

09:45 Krishna 13:45 Naagmani

Saajan Masterji Aulad Ke Dushman Vaastav: The Reality

13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

Papad Pol Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo Lapataganj FIR Gili Gili Gappa Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Mrs. Tendulkar Gili Gili Gappa Papad Pol Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo Mrs. Tendulkar Lapataganj FIR

11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30

Geet Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Rang Badalti Odhni Geet Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Rang Badalti

IDIOT BOX 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

Tere Liye Saath Nibhana Saathiya Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya Behenein Gulaal Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Tere Mere Sapne Hamari Devrani Sapno Se Bhare Naina Maryaada ... Lekin Kab Tak? Chaand Chupa Badal Mein Gulaal Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya Sasural Genda Phool Saath Nibhana Saathiya Tere Liye Sabki Laadli Bebo Saath Nibhana Saathiya Sasural Genda Phool Chaand Chupa Badal Mein Behenein Gulaal Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Tere Liye Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 16:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 22:00 22:30

11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30

Krishnaben Khakhrawala Maa Exchange Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Krishnaben Khakhrawala Saas Bina Sasural Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa C.I.D Krishnaben Khakhrawala Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Maa Exchange Saas Bina Sasural Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka

Pavitra Rishta Apno ke liye Geeta ka Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli Bhagonwali Pavitra Rishta Sanskaar Laxmi Sanjog Se Bani Sangini

SUDOKU 780

Riddle Me This

15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00

Ram Milaayi Jodi Bhagonwali Apno ke liye Geeta ka Sanjog Se Bani Sangini Jhansi Ki Rani Pavitra Rishta Bhagonwali Apno ke liye Geeta ka Dil Se Diya Vachan Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Jhansi Ki Rani Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli Pavitra Rishta Ram Milaayi Jodi Sanjog Se Bani Sangini Sanskaar Laxmi

Mrs. Tendulkar Lapataganj Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta Mrs. Tendulkar

16:00 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Geet Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Geet Yeh Ishq Haaye!!

Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani Dhoond Legi Manzil Humein Geet Rang Badalti Odhni Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani

10:30 11:30 12:25 13:20 14:15 15:10 16:05 17:00 18:00 19:00

Sports Crash Breaking The Magician's ...

India's Minute to Win It Reaper Wipeout Sports Crash World Records Smashed Top Chef Wipeout India's Minute to Win It

20:00 World Records Smashed 21:00 Breaking The Magician's Code 22:00 India's Minute to Win It

12:00 13:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Burn Notice The Bold and The Beautiful Two And A Half Men The Bachelor How I Met Your Mother Friends Two And A Half Men The Simpsons Burn Notice Friends The Simpsons Koffee With Karan How I Met Your Mother The Bachelor Burn Notice

10:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 21:30 22:00

Versus ICC World Cup H/ls Versus Epic Encounters ICC World Cup H/ls Epic Encounters Score Tonight Gameplan Versus

14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30

Capturing The Cup India Edition Epic Encounters World Cup Superstars Football Crazy Bpl Express Football Crazy Premier League World Sportscenter India Sportscenter Asia Best of the Best World Cup Superstars The Contenders Best of the Best

12:00 2010 India tour of South Africa H/ls 14:00 FIFA: Futbol Mundial 14:30 European Tour Weekly 15:00 Real NBA 15:30 Serie A Show 16:00 La Liga H/ls

17:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 21:30 22:30

WWE: Raw Real NBA Football League Show La Liga H/ls Speed UEFA Champions League H/ls WWE: Raw

12:00 13:00 19:00 19:30 20:30 21:00

World Cup 99 With Wasim ICC World Cup H/ls Superstars Legends World Cup Superstars Superstars Legends Epic Encounters

13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Dangerous Encounters True Stories Fight Science Nat Geo Wild Nat Geo Amazing!

Nat Geo Wild I Didn't Know That Wild Russia Mega Factories Megacities

Instructions for Sudoku 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

SUDOKU SOL 779

HERALD CROSSWORD - 780

08:00 English News 09:00 Prevent Child Abuse 09:30 Villagewise Tiracol 10:00 English News 11:00 Concert of Classical Music 11:30 Fairyland 12:00 Snaden Shawn Dance Jhalak 12:30 HCN Smash Hits 13:00 English News 14:00 Grape Escapade 14:30 Clown Fiesta 15:00 Trendsetter 15:30 Success Mantra 16:00 English News 17:00 Concert of Classical Music 17:30 Jazz Gospel Concert 18:00 English News 19:00 Divine praises 19:30 Prevent Child Abuse 20:00 English News 21:00 In search of Malabar Viper 21:30 Santa Cruz Mando 22:00 English News 23:00 Snaden Shawn Dance Jhalak 23:30 Fairyland Note: Subject to change

Across 1- Configuration; 5- Burrowing animals; 10- X-ray units; 14- Calculus calculation; 15- Heartburn; 16- Drop; 17- Milk source; 18Sherpa's home; 19- Cosecant's reciprocal; 20- Vacancy; 22- Adjust to zero; 23- Cheer for Manolete; 24- Kind of reaction; 25- Rapid irregular eye movement; 29- Peevish; 33- Daffy's pal; 34- Inter ___; 36- This, in Tijuana; 37- Jackie's second; 38Bendable twig, usually of a willow tree; 39- Sun. talk; 40- ___ boy!; 42- Fluid-filled sac; 43- ___ there yet?; 45- Volatile petroleum distillate; 47- Belief that there is no God; 49- Nav. officer; 50- Sweet potato; 51- Herring type; 54- Ecstatic; 60- Put down; 61- "Til ___ do us part"; 62- Tabula ___; 63- He sang about Alice; 64- Farewell; 65- Author Silverstein; 66- Dirty money; 67- Actor's parts; 68K-6; Down 1- Destiny; 2- City near Provo; 3- Gather, harvest; 4- Digging tool; 5- Operated by one or more persons; 6- Arch type; 7- Edges; 8- Greek letters; 9- Gal of song; 10- Floral ornament; 11French friends; 12- Take a meal; 13- Editor's mark; 21- Now ___ me down...; 22- Furrow; 24Equipment; 25- European kingdom; 26- Artery that feeds the trunk; 27- Brittle; 28- Gut course; 29- Michelangelo work; 30- Japanese immigrant; 31- Simmers; 32- Seraglio; 35- Fleur-de___; 38- Folk singer Phil; 41- Leading; 43- Cries of discovery; 44- Regret; 46- Big bang cause; 48- Infectious disease; 51- Hit with an open hand; 52- Trim; 53- Small brook; 54- Fix up; 55-

Frozen rain; 56- To ___ (perfectly); 57- Wonka's creator; 58- Aha!; 59- Still; 61- ___ es Salaam;

SOLUTION - 779

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Thursday, 10 Feb 2011

G

HERALD FEATURES HRSSIDC is organising three exhibitions in the next two months for which applications are invited from handicrafts artisans from all over Goa for participation in the exhibitions. Stalls will be given to artisans free of cost on first cum first served basis.

Aparant Maand 2011 will be held from February 11 to 20 at Kranti Maidan, Ponda and from March 5 to 13 at Bodke Grounds, Sanquelim. Preference will be given to Goan artisans registered with GHRSSIDC. Artisans will have to submit written applications personally by 4pm today for participation at Ponda and by 4pm on or before March 1 for Sanquelim. Artisans who have submitted their applications will be required to assemble at the respective exhibitions grounds on first day at 10am to take possession of the stalls.

GHRSSIDC will be also organising Gandhi Shilp Crafts Bazaar to be held from February 18 to 27 at GTDC Grounds, Baga. Stalls will be given to artisans from all over India free of cost on first cum first served basis with preference given to artisans having allotment letter from Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts). Artisans will have to submit written applications personally by 4pm on or before February 17. Those who have submitted their applications will be required to assemble at the GTDC Grounds, Near Baga Beach on February 18 at 10am to take possession of the stalls.

Applications for the above exhibitions will have to be submitted at GHRSSIDC Head Office, Crafts Complex Neuginagar, Panaji.

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Nritya Sankul, Margao Nritya Sankul is an organisation founded by Sachika Almeida, who has carved a niche for herself as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and dance therapist. Nritya Sankul conducts full fledged classes for mentally challenged, street children, AIDS patients, people with special needs and also corporates. For Nritya Sankul, dance is not just a passion but a way of life and wants it to share and promote its totality to everyone.

Jayant Kastuar Jayant Kastuar is one of the most renowned personalities in the world of Indian performing arts. Upon higher training for about 10 years under Pandit Durga Lal he came to be recognised as an outstanding representative of Lal’s performance style. Kastuar has performed in major festivals in India and abroad.

Dr Sandhya Purecha

Raminder Khurana Lyrical grace, chiseled dusky charm and sparkling eyes highlight Raminder’s recital adding a touch of joyous finish to her lucid dance movements. Her dances highlight her dedication; perseverance, talent and her depiction of ‘mudras’ bring to life the frozen sculptures in the temples of Orissa. Raminder epitomises elegance and sophistication by blending modern sensibilities with the ancient ethos of eastern India to create the highly lyrical dance art of Odissi.

Potpourri of Dance Talent to feature at Classical Dance Festival HERALD FEATURES he Kala Academy Goa with the joint auspices of West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur and Shree Mahalasa Saunsthan, Mardol will organise a 3-day Classical Dance Festival on February 11, 12 and 13 at the Shree Mahalsa temple premises, Mardol with the participation of national level artistes. The festival will be inaugurated at the hands of Pratapsingh Rane, Speaker, Goa Legislative Assembly and Chairman, Kala Academy in the presence of Vinod Kamat, President, Shree Mahalasa Devasthan Committee, on February 11 at 7pm.

Renowned artistes are going to be part of this event. Jayant Kastuar from New Delhi will stage a ‘Kathak’ dance recital while Dr Sandhya Purecha from Mumbai will present a Bharatnatyam dance recital. Young talented dancer, Raminder Khurana from Mumbai will present an Odissi dance concert.

Along with the renowned artistes, Jyoti Goswami from Goa will stage a Bharatnatyam while the students of the Kala Academy as well as the Nritya Sankul, Margao will stage Kathak and Bharatnatyam dance recitals.

The Kala Academy has appealed to all the music lovers to be a part of this event. The 3-day festival is open to all.

T

Faculty of Indian Music and Dance of Kala Academy, Panjim Students of Faculty of Indian Music and Dance of Kala Academy, Aditi Kundaikar, Suprita Manjunath and Divya Gopalan will be staging Bharatnatyam dance recital under the guidance of Pulin Goswami and Tejaswini Loundo, Saikshi Amonkar and Tapasya Vernekar will perform Kathak dance recital under the guidance of Chandan Singh.

Jyoti Goswami Jyoti Goswami is an upcoming Bharatnatyam dancer holding a Diploma in Bharatnatyam from the Faculty of Indian Music and Dance of Kala Academy. She has also done her post-graduation in Bharatnatyam from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidhyalaya, Mumbai.

Jyoti has performed at various festivals like Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Smriti Sangeet Samaroha and Nakshatra Utsav of Kala Academy. Besides Goa, she has also performed at Rabindra Bhavan, Bangalore and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai.

Dr Purecha is one of the foremost exponents of the Thanjavur style and a front ranking Bharatnatyam dancer. She has enriched Indian classical dance by her own unique talents. Her rare sense of artistry and immense commitment to the traditional dance idiom is evident in her innovative dance presentations. Sandhya Purecha is the only dancer in India presenting the 324 shlokas of the Sanskrit text in an audio visual form. Her repertoire includes solo and group performances, cross cultural experimentation and ballets.

She has also choreographed mythological, historical Sanskrit and contemporar y ballets.

O Maria celebrated 50th Day of Continuous Shows HERALD FEATURES onkani film O Maria, produced by M B Creations Goa and directed by Rajendra Talak celebrated its 50th day in Inox (Panjim) and Osia (Margao) on Sunday, February 6, 2011. Renowned film actress Varsha Usgaonkar was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

Varsha expressed her happiness for the success of Konkani film and thanked the audience for their support. She expressed that Goa must start its own satellite channel and produce serials like the other regional channels.

Rajendra Talak thanked the audience for their continued support and appealed for the special screening of the film in schools and colleges at concessional rates as it has a strong message, “Save Goa”.

The cast of the film including Meenacshi Martins, Aryan Khedekar, Kevin D’Mello and Queenie Fernandes were also present.

Lucky seat prize was given to Rony Fernandes at the hands of Varsha Usgaonkar.

It is a matter of pride to all Goans that for the first time in recent years, a Konkani film has received such a tremendous response and has been running successfully for over 50 days.

K

Pg3

GHRSSIDC invites Participation for Upcoming Handicraft Exhibitions

Asturi to showcase Efforts of Women Entrepreneurs HERALD FEATURES oa Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Women’s Wing, is organising its annual exhibition ‘Asturi’, an exhibition for women by women for four-days, from February 1013, 2011 at Azad Maidan, Panjim. The exhibition will be open from 10am to 8pm daily and has been organised with an aim to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products and widen market opportunities.

The total number of stalls is around 50 and will feature a wide range of items like handicrafts, food items, apparels and other products made by these women belonging to various self help groups and other individuals.

This four-day exhibition offers benefits to both budding women entrepreneurs as well as existing women entrepreneurs. Budding women entrepreneurs and those who want to setup businesses can learn and enrich themselves with the advice and experiences of successful women entrepreneurs. The specially created stalls have been offered at subsidised rates exclusively for women to display their products manufactured or traded by them.

The GCCI Women’s Wing will also have a fashion show on February 11, fancy dress for ladies on February 12, cookery and sweet dish competition on February 13 and talent competition for children on February 13.

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ishal Bhardwaj’s Saat Khoon Maaf seems starkly similar in structure to Italian film maestro Vittorio De Sica’s Sette Volte Donna. Vishal Bhardwaj has admitted that Saat Khoon Maaf is loosely based on Ruskin Bond’s Susanna’s Seven Husbands. However, there’s another inspiration we’ve come across. The Priyanka Chopra starrer shows an uncanny resemblance to Italian film maestro Vittorio De Sica’s Sette Volte Donna (1967) in terms of structure.

The De Seca film has seven mini-stories of adultery shot episodically and stars Shirley MacLaine in all the seven stories. Not just that, a recent SKM promo where a mourning PC walks with a funeral procession strikingly resembles a similar sequence in the 1967 flick.

It could simply be a coincidence. Filmmakers do tend to think alike, after all. Despite repeated attempts to contact him, Vishal Bhardwaj remained unavailable for comments.

Brangelina to adopt Four-year-old Haitian Girl

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Thursday, 10 Feb 2011

Is Saat Khoon Maaf inspired from an Italian Film?

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Paris Hilton takes up Bodybuilding

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ocialite Paris Hilton has reportedly started bodybuilding and is sticking to a high-calorie diet after her boyfriend Cy Waits encouraged her to do more exercises. The 29-year-old socialite, who showed off a larger, more muscular figure when she walked down the ramp at a Brazilian fashion show last week, is said to have been inspired by her fitness fanatic boyfriend Cy Waits and is apparently now on a 3,500 calories a day diet to keep her energy levels up for her intense workouts.

“Paris has always preferred to stick to dieting all the time to maintain her figure. But since she’s been dating Cy, she’s got the bug. It’s a massive turnaround and now she’s working out so much that she’s often been seen on the treadmill drinking a milkshake,” said a source.

Hilton’s new daily exercise routine includes weightlifting, bench presses and running on the beach with Cy, 35.

Hilton is delighted with the changes in her body and is planning to keep up her new regime. The source added: “She wants to change her image and get properly healthy. At first she was unsure and it took some getting used to, but now Paris loves her new b o d y. A n d C y loves it too.”

Ranbir Katrina are Perfect Dates for Valentine’s Day

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rad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are set to adopt a four-yearold Haitian girl named Leah, according to reports. The couple – already parents to Maddox 10, Pax Thien, seven, Zahara, six, Shiloh, four and two-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne – is apparently in the process of adopting the little girl who lost her entire family in last year’s devastating earthquake.

According to reports, Jolie fell in love with Leah when she visited the Caribbean nation in February last year. Since then, the actress has reportedly been in regular contact with government officials, charity workers and adoption agencies to sort out the red tape.

“Angelina’s lawyers are in the process of getting an authorisation so Leah can spend some time with her in America. That’s standard procedure, basically they need to make sure Leah will adapt well,” said a source.

“A lot of observers from groups such as the Red Cross are ensuring that Angelina is treated like anybody else and not fasttracked, which would be viewed invidiously.

“There is also a concern about the Haitian authorities not being able to deal with such international pressure. But for now, Angie is almost reaching the final steps of the gruelling adoption process.

“If Leah fits well within her family in the States, she will be able to adopt her,” the source added.

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ccording to a recent poll, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are the most wanted Valentine’s Day dates. We aren’t saying for each other, though that is a possibility, but the two have topped a list of Bollywood actors with whom youngsters will like to go on a date with this V-Day. Though Shahid Kapoor was declared as the sexiest male star by the portal conducting the poll, Ranbir ruled the hearts of the young girls.

Ranbir received 39.4 per cent votes leaving behind Shahid with 37.7 per cent votes from the female fans as their Valentine dates. Imran Khan stood at the number three position with 15.9 per cent votes, while newcomer Ranveer Singh and Abhay Deol were at the bottom of the list with 4.5 and 2.5 per cent respectively.

When it comes to the male fans, then Katrina Kaif led the league with a big share of 35.6 per cent followed by Deepika Padukone with 22.4 per cent votes. Actress Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor got 17.5, 12.4 and 12.1 per cent votes respectively.

Cockroaches are the Inspiration behind Future Robots

Women find Men’s Seeming Indifference more Attractive

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sk anyone who has ever tried to squash a skittering cockroach – they’re masters of quick and precise movement.

And scientists are now trying to incorporate this feature in robots of the future.

Professor Amir Ayali, zoologist at Tel Aviv University in Israel, says the study of cockroaches has already inspired advanced robotics.

Robots have long been based on these six-legged houseguests whose nervous system is relatively straightforward and easy to study, according to a Tel Aviv statement.

He and his fellow researchers are delving deeper into the neurological functioning of the cockroach.

This, he says, will give engineers the information they need to design robots with a more compact build and greater efficiency in terms of energy, time, robustness and rigidity. Such superior robotics can be even used to explore new terrain in outer space.

Ayali says it’s clear why robotics have been inspired by these insects. A cockroach is supported by at least three legs at all times during movement, which provides great stability.

“Not only do cockroaches arguably exhibit one of the most stable ways to walk, called a tripod gate,” he explains, “but they move equally quickly on every kind of terrain. Their speed and stability is almost too good to be true.”

This research was recently presented at the International Neuroethology conference in Spain as well as the Israeli Neuroscience Meeting.

Courtesy Agencies

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recent research has found that ‘playing hard to get’ might just work. A woman is seemingly more attracted to a man when she is uncertain about how much he likes her, says a new study.

“If we want to know how much Sarah likes Bob, a good predictor is how much she thinks Bob likes her,” write study authors Erin R Whitchurch and Timothy D Wilson of the University of Virginia and Daniel T Gilbert of Harvard University.

“But what if Sarah is not sure how much Bob likes her?” This might lead Sarah to spend a lot of time thinking about Bob, wondering how he feels, and she might find him more attractive the more she dwells on him, according to a Virginia statement.

Forty-seven female undergraduates at the University of Virginia participated in the study.

Each student, who believed that the experiment was designed to study whether Facebook could work as an online dating site, was told that male students from two other universities had viewed her profile and those of 15 to 20 other females.

Then the women were shown four men’s Facebook profiles that they thought were real, but were actually fictitious.

Some of the women were told they’d seen the four men who liked them the most; others were told these were four men who rated them about average.

A third group were told the men could be either the ones who liked them most or the ones who liked them about average – so those women didn’t know about the level of the men’s interest in them.

As other research has found, women who believed the men liked them a lot were more attracted to the men than women who thought the men liked them only an average amount.

However, the women who found the men most attractive were the ones who weren’t sure whether those men were into them or not.

Sanitary Napkins could reduce Cervical Cancer Risk

Editor –in-chief: R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat. Chief Editor-Features: Christina Viegas.

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early 12 per cent of women who use sanitary napkins are at a lesser risk of cervical cancer than women who resort to unhygienic sanitary practices, a survey said.

“Unhygienic sanitary practices can lead to infections in the urinary tract. This can result in cervical cancer,” said Alka Kriplani, professor with the gynaecology and obstetrics department of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The country-wide survey conducted by AC Nielson and voluntary organisation Plan India, among women and adolescent girls, also showed that the reproductive tract infection (RTI) incidence was 70 per cent more common among women with unhygienic sanitary practices.

“Sanitary napkins in rural regions are hardly used and women are totally unaware about hygiene practices. So the incidences of cervical cancers and RTIs are more common there,” added Kriplani.

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related

deaths among women after breast cancer in the country.

The biggest barrier to adoption of quality sanitary napkins in India turned out to be ‘affordability and accessibility’ as nearly 70 per cent of women said that their families cannot afford sanitary napkins, the survey said.

The study stated that over 88 per cent of women resorted to shocking alternatives such as cloth, ashes and husk sand during menstruation, thereby causing severe reproductive health problems.

“Apart from smoking and papilloma virus, dietary factors, multiple pregnancies, hormonal contraception, and family history of cervical cancer, HIV infection, and consumption of hormonal drugs can also lead to cervical cancer,” explained Kriplani.

India has one-fourth of the world’s burden of cancer of the cervix with nearly 1,32,000 women being diagnosed every year.

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