19 April10 HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD.

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Sports: ‘Super’ Dan lifts Asian B’ton title Pg 18

My son is my son till we have got him a wife, But my daughter’s my daughter all the days of her life.

— Thomas Fuller

IN BRIEF Indian Embassy’s website hacked The website of the Indian Embassy here has been attacked twice by Chinese hackers, prompting the mission to boost its cyber security.

Sources in the Indian Embassy said at least two cyber attacks were traced to Chinese servers, but denied leakage of any confidential information, which is processed by “standalone” computers. – (PTI)

Pope vows to stop abuse of young Pope Benedict XVI met with a group of clerical abuse victims Sunday and promised them the Catholic Church would implement “effective measures” to protect young people in the future. The Vatican said Benedict expressed his “shame and sorrow” at the pain the men and their families suffered. – (Agencies)

Business: Markets to remain edgy on Goldman, RBI Policy Pg 12

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India: Kajol to be conferred Dinanath Puraskar Pg 7

THAROOR BOWLED OUT

The Minister of State for External Affairs was asked to quit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the wake of controversy surrounding the IPL Kochi franchise. The minister handed over his resignation on Sunday evening which has been forwarded to the President PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

Shashi Tharoor tonight resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs after the high-level Congress Core Group decided that he should quit in the wake of controversy over the IPL Kochi franchise, capping a week-long drama that threatened to suck the government and the party into it.

54-year old Tharoor, a newcomer to politics from internat i o n a l d i p l o m a c y, w a s summoned by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to his residence late tonight and asked to tender his resignation.

“Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs has submitted his resignation from the Council of Ministers to the Prime Minister today. The Prime Minister has forwarded his resignation letter to the President with a recommendation that it be accepted,” PMO spokesman said tonight.

Tharoor, a writer and a former Under Secretary General in the United Nations, earns the dubious distinction of becoming the first minister in the UPA-II to go under the cloud of corruption charges.

The continuance of Tharoor, a first time MP from Thiruvananthapuram who courted controversies throughout his 11-month stint, became untenable in the government ever since the IPL

Meghalaya CM offers to quit

controversy exploded.

He got into serious problems after IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi revealed that Tharoor’s friend Sunanda Pushkar had equity stakes in Rendezvous Sports World (RSW), heading the consortium that owns the Kochi team.

It was later disclosed that Pushkar got sweat equity of the value of Rs 70 crore RSW following which the opposition has been gunning for his removal on the ground that it was misuse of office for pecuniary gain.

That Pushkar today offered to surrender the sweat equity and to quit RSW failed to convince the Congress top brass which met at the residence of the Prime Minister in the evening to finalise its strategy before Parliament resumes tomorrow after the week-end.

Singh, who met Gandhi oneon-one before the Core Group discussions, consulted her again before recommending the resignation to the President.

Tharoor’s meeting with the Prime Minister in the night was the second during the day. He met him at noon to explain his side of the story.

Indications that he was on his way out came when Tharoor went to the Prime Minister’s residence at night in a private car without the beacon light.

Throughout the day, he avoided the media.

PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

Meghalaya is heading towards formation of the fourth government in two years in the same assembly with Chief Minister D D Lapang today offering to quit conceding loss of majority in the CLP. The beleaguered chief minister met Congress President Sonia Gandhi who is understood to have advised convening of a CLP meeting to elect its new leader.

“Lapang met Gandhi this evening and apprised her of the developments. The CLP meeting is likely to be held in Shillong tomorrow evening to elect the new leader,” a senior Congress legislator said over phone from New Delhi.

A meeting of the alliance partners of the Congress in the government is also expected to be held later, he said.

Before meeting Gandhi, Lapang had admitted that he has lost majority in the Congress Legislature Party and said that he was ready to quit making way for his deputy Mukul Sangma to take over.

CBI has told the Supreme Court that it has evidence to prosecute Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in a disproportionate assets case as there is proof that she had amassed illegal wealth.

In an affidavit filed on Friday, the investigating agency said there is evidence to prove that the BSP chief and her family members acquired assets far exceeding their legal source of income.

The CBI said it has statement of witnesses to show that the UP Chief Minister forcibly acquired gifts from people.

Earlier, Mayawati had placed before the Supreme Court the records from a debate in Parliament to counter the allegations of CBI that there was ample evidence to prosecute her in the case.

CBI, in its affidavit filed in July 2009, said the competent authority has already taken a decision to file the final report under section 173 of the criminal procedure code in the designated trial court.

The agency had pointed out

Tharoor said people should be working on Gandhi Jayanti rather than staying at home.

He criticised new visa guidelines adopted in the wake of the gaps exposed by the arrest of David Headley and Tahawwur Rana.

Tharoor was also criticised for his views on Nehru for his vision on Indian foreign policy.

Shashi Tharoor in talks with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Sunanda surrenders stake PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

Sunanda Pushkar today quit Rendezvous Sports World which is a stakeholder in IPL Kochi after she decided to return her free equity worth Rs 70 crore to the franchise in a last ditch attempt to save her friend, Union Minister Shashi Tharoor.

The 48-year-old business executive, based in Dubai, decided to disassociate from the franchise in the wake of allegations that Tharoor had misused his office to secure the bonanza for Sunanda.

Rendezvous is understood to

that her declared assets of Rs one crore in 2003 went up to Rs 50 crore in 2007 and said there was “ample evidence” to show she had amassed wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income.

Mayawati has claimed she had received the money through donations from party workers, which included meagre sums of Rs five and Rs ten which they contributed on her birthday.

The UP CM filed a petition in May 2008, seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings against her in the case alleging it was registered due to “political reasons”.

The investigating agency had in July 2008, responded to the apex court notice saying there was sufficient evidence to show that Mayawati amassed wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income.

CBI alleged the assets shown by her in Akbarpur Parliamentary constituency were worth over Rs 1 crore whereas the assets increased to over Rs 50 crore in her declaration papers submitted during the 2007 assembly polls.

Sun to show no mercy!

Hot spell may be a boon in disguise for farmers PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

There will be no respite from searing heatwave conditions for the next couple of months as a strong anti-cyclonic system is sitting over central and northwest India and showing little signs of moving away.

However, the weatherman has said the heatwave conditions could augur well for the monsoon as heating of central India is one of the parameters that indicate a good rainy season.

“In the near future, we don’t see any major change to take place. The hot conditions will continue. Both the day and night temperature is going to stay on the higher side,” Ajit Tyagi, Director General of India Meteorological Department (IMD), told PTI in an interview.

A strong anti-cyclone system is active over central and north-

west India and only a stronger extra tropical weather system or cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal could dislodge it resulting in some relief from the heat, he said.

“Any major change can be caused only by a change in air mass associated with active disturbance. That is not taking place this season and it is continuing. It is likely to continue also,” Tyagi said.

An anti-cyclone is a large atmospheric circulation system

Sashi Tharoor’s career began with a controversy when he stayed in a luxury hotel instead of the official accommodation embarrassing the govt that swears by austerity.

When govt asked its officials to fly economy class, he called it as “cattle class” on Twitter.

Can prove DA case against Maya: CBI

PTI SHILLONG, APRIL 18

TUMULTUOUS ROAD...

associated with relatively high pressure at the surface and in the lower troposphere.

Anticyclones usually form when an airmass is cooled over a cool ocean surface, or over land during winter when little sunlight is available.

This heat spell may be a boon in disguise for the farmers as absence of rain or hailstorm would enable them to have a smooth harvest of the rabi crop and good rains would certainly be of help for the kharif season.

“There is no hailstorm or rains in March or April so far. The wheat crop is not affected. Many a time in March, a good spell of rain and hailstorm affects the crops. Heating is positively causing discomfort putting stress on water, power but it is good for (weather) system,” he said.

have accepted her resignation.

Sunanda’s decision to quit came after her dramatic announcement that she was voluntarily surrendering her equity to IPL Kochi.

This came shortly after Tharoor had met Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh and explained his controversial role in “mentoring” the Kochi franchise.

In a statement from Dubai, Sunanda said she was shocked to find “certain vested interests” questioning her credentials and because of the “unpleasant publicity” she was opting out.

Sunanda said, “as a woman professional, I am shocked to find how easily certain parties with vested interests, questioned my credentials mainly because I am a woman. I, therefore, voluntarily offer to return to Rendezvous the sweat equity they had offered me.

No flights over Europe for 4th day PTI LONDON/MOSCOW, APRIL 18

European skies were a virtual no-fly zone for a fourth day today, with volcanic ash drifting from Iceland reaching as far as Russia, stranding millions of people as over 17,000 flights were cancelled.

About 30 countries have now closed or restricted their airspace, with the volcanic ash creating chaos over the vast swathe of the European continent, right from the Arctic circle in the north to the French Mediterranean coast in the south and from Spain into Russia.

Over 40,000 flights have been cancelled since the volcano erupted throwing ash and fine particles across the European skies.

The grounding of major airliners was costing the industry at least USD 200 million a day, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The flight cancellations also affected attendance of world leaders at the funeral of late Polish President Kaczynski.

US President Barack Obama was unable to fly to Krakow city for the funeral. Prince Charles and British foreign Secretary David Miliband also cancelled their journey to Poland to attend the last rites of Kaczynski, who died in a plane crash in Russia last week.

In Britain, flight restrictions were extended until at least

0100 BST (530 IST) tomorrow and forecasters say the ash cloud could remain over the UK for many more days.

In a bid to ease the travel chaos, Netherlands and a few other countries have started test flights to see if jets could fly safely, either below or over the ash clouds.

Dutch airline KLM and German airline Lufthansa carried out test flights in their countries’ airspace to see if it is safe for planes to fly.

KLM said its aircraft had been able to fly its normal operating altitude of 13km over Dutch skies and no problems had been reported.

It’s simple, to operate this fire hydrant, first call fire fighters then call PWD for its water pressure then the Electricity Department for current.... then

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Camurlim gram sabha rejects new project construction file HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 18

The Camurlim gram sabha on Sunday has rejected the construction file submitted by an Institute of Management Studies after members raised serious objections to the setting up of the project in the village.

At the gram sabha held on Sunday, gram sabha members demanded to know about the Centre and whether the proposed project would take care of the waste and other issues including the existing roads.

More Obituaries on Page 10

Sarpanch Basil Fernandes informed after the meeting that the gram sabha members were opposed to the issuance of construction license to the ground-plus-one storey building in the village on grounds of garbage and waste disposal, lack of approach roads and the destruction of tree cover.

Meanwhile, the Sarpanch has assured the gram sabha members that he would invite the PWD Minister and other officials for a discussion on the Margao-Borim highway passing through Camurlim village.

At today’s gram sabha, members pointed out that that the highway is being taken into paddy fields even when there is adequate space for the project along the existing highway.

The Sarpanch said that the members felt that the highway should go as per the existing highway and can be aligned to avoid destruction of houses and other structures. “I have assured the gram sabha members to invite the PWD Minister and official for a discussion on the highway”, he added.

Agitated Benaulim members recall file for approval HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 18

Agitated gram sabha members of Benaulim village on Sunday demanded the recall of a mega housing construction file forwarded to the Town and Country Planning department for technical approval.

At the gram sabha meeting, the members pointed out that the Panchayat did not place the revision plan submitted by the builder before the gram sabha meeting for discussion and approval as per a gram sabha resolution and demanded its immediate recall from the TCP office.

Members further pointed out that the existing road to the project is hardly three meters and wondered how the project can be cleared with the proposed road of 10 meters.

The meeting witnessed an uproar over the absence of the Sarpanch Carmelina Fernnades on medical grounds and the failure by the deputy Sarpanch Stanley Fernandes to answers queries raised by the members on a host of issues. Members demanded to know from Stanley over the presence of the Sarpanch in the panchayat office a day ago when she was on sick leave. They con-

tended that the absence of the sarpanch on medical grounds is just a ploy to avoid the gram sabha and answer queries raised by the members.

The gram sabha meeting had to be adjourned without transacting major business as the deputy Sarpanch expressed his inability to reply to the questions raised by the members.

The gram sabha members were sore over the fact that today’s meeting was an adjourned meeting of the month of January and wondered when the Sarpanch would convene the gram sabha meeting of the month of April.

The members also pulled up the panchayat secretary for not properly recording the proceedings of the last gram sabha meeting and demanded that the secretary take serious note of the sentiments of the gram sabha.

The issue over the issuance of construction license for Karle properties came up for discussion at today’s meeting. The filing of the complaint by the deputy sarpanch against some villagers was also discussed, with members demanding the withdrawal of the complaint lodged with the police.

More Obituaries on Page 10

Mini replica of Mangesh temple HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 18

M a rc o u A r t i f a c t s , a u n i t u n d e r A l c o n G ro u p , w i l l offer its first mini replica of Shree Mangesh Temple with deepstambh at Shree Mangesh Te m p l e , Mangueshi, on April 19, at 5.30 pm.

The replica of Shree Mangesh Temple is being made in three types, Gold, Silver and Bronze plated.

Marcou Artifacts, which was recently established at Corlim Industrial Estate, intends to cerate artistic mini replicas of important temples, churches and famous monuments from the State as ‘Souvenirs of Goa’ for international and national tourists visiting Goa.

Mini Ravindra Bhavan at Carmona: Alemao HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 18

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao has vowed to build a mini Ravindra Bhavan in the village of Carmona to benefit the inhabitants residing in the coastal villages of Cavelossim, Carmona, Orlim and Varca.

Alemao made the announcement after laying the foundation stone for the Panchayat ghar of the Carmona village Panchayat on Sunday morning.

Soliciting support from the villagers to build hall cum mini Ravindra Bhavan in Carmona, the PWD Minister said people from the coastal belt are forced to either go to Margao and other places for want of a spacious and modern hall along the belt. “The land required for the purpose will be

acquired by the government.

I only want your support and cooperation to make the Ravindra Bhavan a reality”, he said.

Asserting that he has ushered in all round development of the Navelim constituency

in his three years stint at MLA, Alemao offered to develop and upgrade the Carmona cemeter y with additional graves. He also offered to develop the Parochial house of Carmona Church with the permission of the Church authorities.

Reminding the people about the election promises made by him to build the three bridges across River Sal, Alemao said work on the bridges is going on in full swing and would become a reality soon.

Making an appeal to the people not to put spokes in the development on political considerations, Alemao said the bridges once completed would usher in development and would help the future generations.

Uncollected waste continues to litter around Curti-Khandepar HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, APRIL 18

Even as Curti-Khandepar panchayat has appointed a contractor to collect and dispose garbage, uncollected waste, especially plastic, is seen at various garbage collection points in the panchayat area.

Prominent among them is the Haveli and Naga Masjid wards. Residents here have accused the panchayat of not taking the matter seriously and claimed that only after media highlights the issue, garbage is cleared.

Even as the panchayat claims that the garbage is collected on time, but one can notice heaps of plastic waste scattered at the garbage collection points, especially in Haveli and Naga Masjid areas.

“It is only after media reports about the issue, garbage disappear. It does not matter whether we complaint to the panchayat or not, the scattered garbage often greets visitors here,” said Vaishnoi Sajan, shopkeeper at Naga Masjid area.

The nullah at Naga Masjid has also become another dumping ground for waste. Littered with plastic and other waste material, the nullah is abundant with

Plastic along the Haveli-road in Curti-Khandepar panchayat..

Photo by Amresh Parab

sewage water.

Residents claimed that on various occasions they requested the panchyat to act, but nothing has been done.

“I have taken up this issue of nullah which is in a pathetic state. The panchayat had as-

sured us that they will clear and the tendering process to rebuild the nullah was in process. But monsoon is fast approaching and I don’t feel that anything is going to happen,” said a villager.

However, Curti-Khandepar

‘More youth pursuing agricultural activities’ HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, APRIL 18

G o a B a g a y a t d a r S a h a ka r i Kharedi Vikri Saustha Maryadit Chairman Narendra Savoikar has claimed that a growing number of youth have been pursuing agricultural activities since the last few years.

“We thought that agriculture activities were on the decline, but now it seems that youth are coming forward. Agricultural produce from farmers in the State has also increased and this is indeed is a good trend,” said Savoikar, while addressing a press conference to highlight various schemes of the Goa Bagyatdar to farmers.

“There is a need for more youth to venture into this ac-

tivity. We have different schemes for farmers and they can contact our branches spread across the State.”

Even as audit report is still in its final stage, Savoikar is confident that the Goa Bagaytdar’s turnover this year will cross Rs 118 crore.

“In fact, we hope to touch Rs 150 crore in the next financial year,” he added.

The Goa bagayatdar, which initially started with agricultural produce, has now expanded to a variety of products in its 28 branches all over the State.

“The focus still remains on agricultural produce, with a special emphasis on organic fruits and vegetables” said Savoikar.

He admitted that farming is

an exercise that pays dividends only at a later stage. “Being a farmer requires a lot of hard work that pays later. People must change the attitude towards farming and the false belief that nothing is left in farming. Without farming, our state will lose its identity,” said Savoikar.

He informed that the State government has introduced a coconut palm insurance scheme. “Farmers can contact our Goa Bagayatdar branches for information and application forms regarding the scheme.

The Goa Bagayatdar is also giving crop loans to its members up to Rs 50,000 at an interest of 7 per cent rate,” Savoikar added.

panchayat refused the charge.

Newly appointed Sarpanch S Naik said the panchayat does not have sufficient funds to undertake the nullah works and the contractor is assigned the task to clear the garbage.

Car falls into culvert, 6 escape with injuries HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 18

Six people from Gujarat escaped with minor injuries, after the car in which they were traveling fell into a culvert at Dumane-Canacona on Friday night.

According to sources, Tata Indigo car (GJ6BA 9998) having the word ‘Army’ went over the culvert at Dumane, before turning turtle, injuring all the six occupants.

It is learnt that the Gujarati men were reportedly travelling after having a bash at Palolem and were proceeding towards Agonda, when the mishap occurred.

Fr Agnelo memorial inauguration

CURCHOREM (HC): ArchbishopEmeritus Raul Gonsalves will inaugurate and bless the memorial of Ven Fr Agnelo De Souza in the premises of Guardian Angel Church, Curchorem, on April 19, at 4.30 pm.

The inauguration and blessing will be held in the presence of SFX Provincial of Goa Province Society of Pilar Fr Kyriel D’Souza.

The inauguration and blessing will be followed by Eucharistic celebration.

This memorial is built to commemorate the appointment of Ven Fr Agnelo De Souza in Sanvordem Parish as Capella Cura on April 19, 1917.

Free medical camp

VALPOI (HC): Valpoi Senior Citizens Forum will conduct a free medical camp for senior citizens of Sattari taluka at Church hall, Valpoi, on April 22 from 9.30 am to 5 pm. The camp is being conducted under the co-ordination of Central Committee of Forum for Senior Citizens of India, Margao. A team of doctors including orthopaedic, general physicians and dentist will check the senior citizens. Interested citizens from Sattari taluka may contact Forum Secretary Vincy Gonsalves at Valpoi.

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Agitated Power Dept employees demand action against assailants

PWD staff transferred, but yet to be relieved of old posting HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 18

It appears strange but it’s true.

P ublic Works Department transfers of employees from Bardez, who were transferred following allegations of corruption and indiscipline made by the Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar in the Assembly, are in fact, yet to be relieved to take over their new posting.

The Public Works Department had issued order of transfer of 35 employees from the Porvorim and Mapusa Water Supply Division XVII last month and they were supposed to join their new posting with effect from April 1, 2010.

The 35 employees included one Junior Engineer, five tanker drivers, 10 plumbers, five pump operators and 14 labours.

While the five drivers have joined duty at their new postings in South Goa, sources said due to political interference, the others have not been relieved yet from Division XVII. When contacted the PWD officials simply tried to pass the buck on one another.

The Executive Engineer Kamladinni said that he has already issued order and the Assistant Engineer Surlakar has to implement and relieve the employees.

“I have issued order it is now upto the Assistant engineer to implement the order,” Kamladinni told Herald.

Efforts to contact the Assistant Engineer turned futile.

However, Chief Engineer J N Chimulkar said “it is upto the Executive Engineer to get the order implemented.”

Herald has learnt that the three legislators from the surrounding constituencies have been been pressurising the executive engineer not to transfer their men.

This is despite the leader of Opposition assuring the assembly that no MLAs would interfere if action is initiated against some “erring” employees.

PWD Minister Chruchill Alemao, who had assured the Assembly to take action, refused to offer his comment on the issue when contacted by Herald.

“I will look into the matter,” was all what he said.

Parrikar had said in the Assembly that the water supply for Bardez was sufficient but the distribution management was very bad due to corrupt practices of the employees.

Biometric attendance for Secretariat staff Electricity employees at the residence of Power Minister, Aleixo Sequeira demanding police action against the assailants involved in the assault of employees at the Camurlim sub station.

Photo by Sidharth Mehta

The incident happened on Saturday evening when the power linesmen were engaged

One of the linesmen claimed that the car driver returned back moments later in the office with

CAMURLIM ASSAULT in restoring lines damaged due to an accident. An altercation is believed to have ensued between a car owner and the linesmen over a petty matter.

8-10 persons in a car and van, and mercilessly beat up the power employees in the office.

When contacted, Maina Curtorim PI Sidhant Shirodkar in-

formed that the police have arrested three persons Rohidas Borkar, Christie D’Souza and Johnson Dias for the assault on the power employees William Colaco, Seby Colaco and Andrew Fernandes.

PI Shirodkar said the police are on the look out for the remaining persons involved in the attack.

Further investigations are on.

Man commits suicide at Pissurlem HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, APRIL18

A 3 feet purple heron makes a landing at Carambolim lake.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

Aussie woman complaints of rape HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 18

A 25-year-old Australian woman complained of allegedly being raped at Palolem on Saturday night, while Canacona police rounded up a Nigerian national in this connection.

According to sources, the Australian woman approached Canacona police on Sunday morning alleging rape by a Nigerian national with whom she had allegedly partied earlier in a starred hotel.

The woman further told police that she had drinks in another restaurant till wee hours of Sunday, before accompanying the accused and passed rest of the night at his place of stay, a beach hut, at Palolem beach.

Acting on the complaint, Canacona police reportedly rounded a Nigerian youth staying at Palolem, who is accused of rape and sent the complainant and accused to GMC Hospital for medical tests. The reports are reportedly awaited.

However, several phone calls to Canacona police were not attended till late Sunday night.

Sources informed that Canacona PI Raju Raut Dessai, who is personally handling the rape complaint, was held at GMC Hospital in Bambolim with the complainant and accused, as the test reports were still awaited.

Sources also informed that police earlier in the evening conducted panchanama and also

video filmed the alleged place of offence at Palolem. Police have also recorded the statements of the complainant and accused.

Later in the evening, sources informed that another Nigerian, a friend of the accused, was also questioned by the police.

It is learnt that the woman, who was staying at some beach huts within municipal coast, got befriended with the Nigerian friends, who were earlier staying in a starred hotel, only a day ago, after which the duo shifted to a beach hut at Palolem.

Sources further informed that on Saturday night, the three attended a party at a star hotel, and later had drinks in a restaurant at Palolem beach, after which, in the wee hours, the woman and Nigerian (accused of rape) came to spend the remaining night at the hut, while his friend stayed back, where the Nigerians had earlier in the night checked-in.

The woman then after reportedly spending the remaining night left the hut early Sunday morning, while at about noon police came searching for the Nigerian saying that the woman has lodged a complaint alleging rape.

However, sources informed that police investigation is still underway in the incident, as no other information from the police could be ascertained, as calls were unattended till filing the report.

A 65-year-old man from Pissurlem-Sattari committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence on Saturday.

According to Valpoi police, the incident occurred at about 2.30 pm when Vithal Keshav Chari’s wife and son had gone out for work in the fields. The exact cause of the suicide is not known. PSI N D Parwar is investigating the case under the supervision of PI Shivram Vaigankar.

This is the second suicide case reported at Valpoi in the last few days. On April 15, one Sugandha Patil (20) of BhuinpalSattari committed suicide by consuming poison.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 18

The Government will soon launch biometric system for attendance of employees in the Secretariat.

There are around 700 employees including ten IAS officers, 18 Joint Secretaries and Under Secretaries.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 18

The Bicholkars dreams of the completion of the parallel bridge, which is under construction, may not realise in the near future as the government has failed to clear the file to revised estimate for the project.

Tenders for the project was floated in 2008 but no contractors were ready to bid as the estimated cost of the project of Rs 2.2 crore, which was done in 1997, were well below the present cost.

On a single tender contract, Aditya Contractors took up the contract at a revised estimated cost of Rs 6.16 crore in 2009 and began construction in March itself.

The contractors have completed the piers of the 63 meter

The car which hit the labourers at a construction site near Jetty, Mormugao.

Photo by M Prabhav

“The work order will be issued soon,” Secretary GAD (General Administration department) S K Jha told this paper indicating that the tender would be allotted this month.

He said two companies are vying for the tender and that presentations are going on in the last few days.

Biometric attendance tracker uses fingerprints and attendance gets marked instantly.

With this system, late coming in and early leaving will be tracked down discouraging employees from leaving early.

The proposal is to install 2-3 biometric time tracking machines in the Secretariat.

Dept working on plan for changing rooms at Colva beach: Mickky HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 18

To u r i s m M i n i s t e r M i c k k y Pacheco has said his department is working on a plan to see how best to erect changing rooms on the beach stretch frequented by tourists and locals alike.

Speaking to Herald, Pacheco said the question of erecting changing rooms needs to be addressed taking into account the CRZ regulations, given the permanent nature of the structures, but hastened to add that the Tourism department is certainly aware of the need for changing rooms atleast every 300 meter stretch of the beach.

Reacting to the news item, Gaping holes in the changing room at Colva, Pacheco maintained that the so-called structure at Colva has not been erected by the Tourism department as a changing room. “The

Bicholim parallel bridge hits roadblock

7 injured in mishap at Vasco

VASCO (HR): Six labourers and a car driver were injured, when a vehicle hit the labourers at a construction site along the highway near Jetty, Mormugao, on Sunday evening.

According to Mormugao police, the accident occurred at about 3.15 pm when the car (GA-06-A-6015) was proceeding from Vasco towards Sada. On reaching a sharp curve near jetty, car driver Premanand Parab lost control over the vehicle and hit the labourers, who were constructing the retaining wall.

The injured labourers were rushed to Cottage Hospital in Chicalim, from where seriously injured Nilamma, Kamala and Malkanna were shifted to GMC Hospital in Bambolim, while Malkappa, Hanumanta and Malava were discharged after administering the first aid.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, APRIL 18

Eleven persons, who were arrested in connection with clashes between two neighbouring families on Friday evening over construction of a temporary shed in front of a house at Bicholim, were released on bail on Sunday.

It may be recalled that two persons were injured in the clashes when preparations for the famous Shirgao Zatra at Bicholim were in progress.

Bicholim police had arrested Vishwadeep Chari, Shivram Chari, Swamitra Chari, Deepak Chari, Prabhavati Chari, Mayur Chari, Bhimavati Chari, Prakash Chari, Uday Chari, Suhasinin Chari and Somakant Chari.

Meanwhile, Ramakant Chari and Lalita Chari, who were injured and were shifted to Asilo Hospital at Mapusa, were discharged.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 18

Agitated Power Department employees called on the Power Minister, Aleixo Sequeira demanding action against the culprits involved in the assault on employees at the Camurlim sub station on Saturday evening.

The employees met Sequeira at his residence at Manora-Raia on Sunday morning and demanded the immediate arrest of the guilty involved in the assault.

The Power Minister gave the employees a patient hearing and told them that he has been in contact with the Margao Sub Divisional Police Officer, DySP Umesh Gaonkar and Maina Curtorim PI Sidhant Shirodkar to nab the assailants.

Sequeira later told Herald that the police officers have promised to act immediately and said the employees will go to the police station for identification of the miscreants. “By tomorrow, I expect the police to nab all the culprits and put them behind bars. I have requested the staff to cooperate with the police and provide all details to the police to nab the culprits”, he added.

The Power Minister, however, made it quite clear to the staff that work in the Power Department should not be hampered because of the unfortunate incident, but at the same time asserted that no efforts would be spared to punish the guilty.

Bicholim clashes: 11 held released

bridge and ready to undertake the slab.

However, sources said, the work has gone very slow as the file of the revised estimates is pending with the finance department for last one year.

“If the slab work is not completed before monsoon the work will suffer and so will the Bicholim citizens,” sources claimed adding “the contractors has done mud filling for laying the slab which if not one before monsoons will be washed away causing heavy losses.”

Also, sources added, once the contractor removes the machinery and the manpower it will be tough to get it back and as such will only add to costs.

Sources also said that the Speaker Pratapsing Rane has personally taken up the matter with the chief minister Digambar Kamat but to no avail.

Sources also informed that the new bridge is immediately required as the old bridge is from Portuguese regime and its condition is deteriorating as such it cannot take the load of mining trucks.

Also, they said traffic has increased 10 times in Bicholim in last one decade.

PWD Chief Engineer J N Chimulkar, when contacted, however, tried to play down the issue.

“The file will be cleared soon, the budget has been presented by the chief minister and the secretariat will clear the revised estimate file,” he told Herald.

However, the sources said the top officials had said the same thing last year too after budget but nothing happened.

structure being used as a changing room was once a pedestal of the life guard tower. The Tourism department has not converted the structure into a changing room nor has authorised anyone to change clothes inside the room or has designated the structure as a changing room”, Pacheco said.

But, when his attention was drawn to the fact that visitors, especially women, are put to embarrassment for want of a changing room at Colva and other beaches along Salcete’s coastline, the Tourism Minister said the department is working out a plan to put changing rooms in place for the benefit of the visitors.

A local NGO, Colva Civic and Consumer Forum headed by convenor Judith Almeida had on Saturday cried foul over the state of affairs of the changing

room with gaping holes. She had maintained that women visitors to the beach are being left embarrassed with the structure being used as a changing room has gaping holes.

Sources in the know informed that the tourists, especially women, use the structure as a changing room in the absence of any such facility near the beach.

A biometric time attendance system has many advantages over conventional time tracking used at organizations. Typically such organizations maintain a register book, where people enter their name, time-in, time-out and other required details.

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S H O RT TA K E S Felicitation function

VASCO(HR): Murgao Patrakar Lekhak Sangh (MPLS), Vasco, will felicitate senior journalist Clerencio Furtado (Kelly) from Vasco on his 60th birthday at Hotel La-Paz Gardens, Vasco, on April 26.

The felicitation committee is headed by Shyam Kaskar, a senior journalist, and other members from the media and social field.

Furtado started his journalistic activities in 1970 being the representative of Konkani daily Uzvadd run by Gomantak Publication.

Thereafter, he was a correspondent of Navhind Times in 1976. Later he joined as a reporter of the West Coast Times, English daily published from Margao.

Presently, Furtado is a freelancer in sports news and a stringer for Navhind Times.

Blood donation camp held

PANJIM(HND): Goa State AIDS Control Society organized recently a blood donation camp in collaboration with the Blood Bank, Goa Medical College, Bambolim at ITI., Altinho, Panjim in which 43 donors participated and donated blood.

Camp was conducted under the supervision and guidance of Dr Clare D'Mello, Medical Officer(Blood Bank, GMC) and Suresh Laad, Consultant (Voluntary Blood Donation, Goa SACS).

Director Craftsmen Training Centre spoke on the importance of blood donation, says a press release.

Prakash is Merces Sarpanch

Transport dept sees 31% hike in collection of mining cess HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 18

Riding over the increased collection of mining cess, the State transport department has witnessed 31 per cent hike in its revenue for the last financial year.

Director of Transport Venencio Furtado told Herald that the collection of mining cess, which also increased from Rs 10 crore to Rs 20 crore in 2009-10, has prepped up its revenues for last fiscal.

The transport department succeeded in collecting cess of Rs 26.76 crore from mining companies. As such, the State earned almost Rs 54.57 crore through mining cess in last four years.

The statistics available from the transport department reveals that in 2006-07 the state department collected Rs 4.38 crore, in 2007-08 Rs 3.41 crore and in 2008-09 Rs 10.2 crore

Rotary Club constructs toilet blocks at Sada school HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 18

Former Merces sarpanch Venita Colaco congratulates Prakash Naik on his election as sarpanch. Photo by Kanzil Rodrigues

OLD GOA(HC): Prakash Naik was elected sarpanch of Merces panchayat at a special meeting in the panchayat office.

It may be recalled Venita Colaco had resigned as sarpanch on March 20 following a mutual understanding and the post had been vacant for three weeks.

At a special meeting, Naik was elected unopposed as none of the other members filed their nominations to the post.

Only one panch, Sandhya Hoble, in the 11-member panchayat did not attend the meeting, which was presided over by Sailesh Phaldesai.

Naik has been elected for the second time as sarpanch of Merces panchayat in the present term, while Yogita Kavlekar continues to be the deputy sarpanch.

Later speaking to reports, Naik said his main aim would be to work for the development of Merces village by taking all members into confidence under the leadership of St Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes and her son Rudolf Fernandes.

Patto residents thank Parrikar PANJIM(HND): The residents of Government colony, Patto have thanked the Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar for taking up issue of dumping hot-mix, laterite stones and other material at the Patto colony which had put the residents to great hardships.

The heaps of hot-mix results in emanation of unbearable stink and the residents were compelled to close the doors of their balcony.

On complaints from some of the residents, Parrikar promptly visited the site and took up the issue to the PWD Minister Churchill Alemao who instructed the PWD Division –II (Roads) to look for alternate dumping site and stop dumping at the Patto colony giving relief to the residents of Patto.

IAC chief visits GMC

Dr Alain Verhest, Dr Arun Chitale, and Dr R G Wiseman Pinto at the scientific meeting held at GMC.

PANJIM(HND): Dr Alain Verhest, President of IAC (International Academy of Cytology ) and Professor of Pathology Jules Bordet Cancer Hospital Brussels Belgium visited Goa Medical College and interacted with the doctors. He spoke on Clinical Genetics and FISH ( Fluoroscent in Situ Hybridisation).

Dr Arun Chitale, Professor of Pathology Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai, Surgical Pathologist, Joslok Hospital, Sur HN Hospital Mumbai also spoke on Renal and Gastro Intestinal biopsies.

Dr R G Wiseman Pinto, Professor and Head Department of Pathology and Incharge Medical Education Cell of Goa Medical College and Hospital Chaired the Scientific Session. The Goa Medical Council gave CME accrediation to the programme which was well attended, says a press release.

Speed breakers notified at Varca HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 18

The District Magistrate, South Goa Margao has notified erection of speed breakers in front of Church at Varca;- (Sketch-I) on the road leading towards Margao in front of Julies Hair and Beauty Shop at Varca, on the road leading towards Cavelossim in front of Captain Bar, Varoa and at Cawona Carmona (Sketch-2) on the road leading towards Varca, in front of Gate of Villa Carvalho and on the road leading towards Cavelossim at a distance of 20 meters from the junction near Electricity Pole.

Also at Tamder-Carmona (Sketch-III) at a distance of 15 meters from the junction in front of Tito Provision Wine Stores on the road leading towards Church at Carmona at a distance of 10 meters near Compound wall on the road leading towards Gawona, Carmona and has also directed to install cautionary sign boards demarcating the location of the ‘Speed Breakers’.

Rotary Club of Dabolim completed the construction of new toilet blocks at Yuvak Sangh School in Sada. The toilets have been provided under matching grants programme of the rotary foundation of Rotary International in partnership with Rotary Club of Vasco da Gama, and 3 Rotary Clubs from USA - Rotary Club of West Hampton, Southold and Easthampton, and numerous local donors. The project was inaugurated by the Shankar Kirlaparkar on behalf of the district governor Gurudatta D Bhakta in the presence of the school management and Rotarians from Vasco da Gama and Dabolim clubs.

By providing the toilet blocks, the children including girls will have the privacy and the hygiene of proper toilets.

Part of the school project of Rotary Club of Dabolim, the club plans to improve the infrastructure of schools. Other focus areas of the school project include improving the quality of teachers and purchase of teaching aids.

Restricted water supply

PANJIM(HND): There will be restricted water supply to the entire Pernem taluka on April 19, says a press release.

wThe transport department succeeded in collecting cess of Rs 26.76 crore from mining companies. As such, the State earned almost Rs 54.57 crore through mining cess in last four years. were collected as mining cess, which accounts to Rs 17.81 crore for the three financial years.

However, once again the state felt short off its expected target of iron ore cess, which was set at Rs 90 crore.

The transport department for the year 2009-10 has earned a total revenue of Rs 136.23 crore, which is 31 per cent more then last fiscal year where department earned Rs 104.10 crore.

As per the data, the transport department revenue has shown an increasing trend in last four years. In 2006-07 it collected Rs 82.53 crore while in 2007-08 it went upto Rs 92.70 crore.

Apart from mining cess, increasing revenue is attributed to increase in collections of taxes on passenger and goods vehicles, receipts from sale of forms, receipts under the Indian Motor vehicle (MV) Act, State MV Act, commodities and services and other taxes and duties.

However, as per the data, the state did not earned a single rupee through the imposition of taxes on goods carriers in last four years.

Prof Pradeep Masurker addresses the gathering at Mapusa.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

also the parents for sending their children to this camp.

“Students should bear in mind that health is wealth and hence they should take care of their health, dress well, be neat and organized,” said Karpe.

In her welcome speech, G a n e s h G u r u k u l D i re c t o r Shushma Narvekar said the objective of organizing the Personality Development camp was to provide an opportunity to the students to upgrade their knowledge and skills and stimulate that hidden talent.

“During the 5-day camp, they were taught to be creative, practice meditation and yoga, dis-

worship it.

A resident even informed that the smaller mount hill with the one resembling God Shankar could be of Goddess Parvati and have appeared just behind to protect Lord Ganesh existing on the lower tract of retaining wall.

Conference on electronic technologies organised Goa Public Service Commission Chairman Prakash Dessai inaugurated the two-day national conference on ‘Electronic Technologies’ organized by the Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi.

“Through all such conferences, we have fresh ideas coming in. Such conferences should not go waste and it should be recorded and studied. You have to make sure something good comes out of it for the benefit of the society,” said Dessai.

Urging the students to work on e-waste, he said: “Apply your mind on how to deal with elec-

With the day finally dawning, the famous Lairai Jatra at Shirgao, the village is abuzz with traditional festivities as a large number of Dhonds, the special devotees of Goddess Larai, have been thronging Shirgao village to participate in the Jatra.

The local Dhonds have been fasting since Thursday, while outsiders have also been preparing themselves since the last one month, as they will take

part in the famous Homkund.

The festivities, which will take place for five days, begin with the villagers worshipping the pious Kalash of Goddess Lairai.

The Dhonds will then bathe in the famous Dhondachi Tali and will visit Mudder, the original place of Goddess Lairai.

Rituals in the temple begin early morning and continue throughout the day. The Dhonds gather near the Homkund at midnight and walk on the embers barefeet.

Portuguese, French classes

Lord Ganesh and God Shankar resemble ‘Mount hills’ worshipped at Barcem-Padi village, which is at the foot of Karmalghat.

Photos by Kathy Pereira

tronic waste, which has become a concern world over. Devise ways so that the e-waste can be recycled or reused.”

According to the organisers, the conference is being held with an objective to bring together and provide a common platform to researchers in the field of electronics to put forth their ideas and work.

“The response was overwhelming with as many as 108 papers received from 200 authors including members of the academia, research organisations, students and other professionals from various parts of the country and also from foreign universities,” said Head of the Electronics and Telecommunication Department Prof Rajesh Lohani.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, APRIL 18

PANJIM(HNB): The

cover their capabilities and strengths and make best use of them,” she said.

“Ramesh Sapre, Sangeeta Jadhav, Sangam Chodanker, Mansi Prabhu and Anuradha Karpe have imparted the knowledge to the participants on various subjects like communication, science, crafts, animation, painting, drawing, etc. In all, 50 students participated in the camp,” added Narvekar.

On the occasion, prizes to the students, who emerged victorious in various competitions, were distributed by the guests.

Aarti Kulkarni compered the programme.

Lions convention at Margao on May 8, 9 HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 18

idols of Ganapathi and Cobra carrying God Shankar, some days ago and accordingly the news spread like wildfire.

Soon residents of Barcem and other nearby localities garlanded the Ganapathi resembling mount hill and began to

Dhonds encircle the Homkund at the Shirgao zatra.

Photo by Vishant Vaze

upcOMinG EvEnTS

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 18

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, APRIL 18

The death anniversary of Sant Gora Kumbhar was recently celebrated at Bicholim.

The programme began with the worship of Sant Gora Kumbhar by Shankar Harmalkar.

L ater, Arjun Gosavi and Savlaram Malgaonkar were felicitated by Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar in recognition of their services to the society.

Mayem ML A Anant Shet, Bhagwan Harmalkar, Ladu Kudaskar, Satyawan Harmalkar, Ramakant Shetkar, Vilas Kunkalkar, Satish Kunkalkar and Vishnu Chowgule were present on the occasion.

The function was compered

by Vilas Kunkalkar, Puja Utturkar and Bhushan Harmalkar while, Mukund Harmalkar proposed vote of thanks. The programme continued till late night with a cultural programme.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 18

Prof Pradeep Masurker said personality development is nothing but grooming one’s inner and outer self to bring about positive change in one’s life.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the concluding day of the Personality Development camp organized by Ganesh Gurukul at Mapusa on Friday.

“This process includes boosting one’s confidence, improving communication skills, widening one’s scope of knowledge and learning fine etiquettes and manners,” said Prof Massurker.

“Each individual has a distinct persona that can be developed and polished. The personality development camp provides an opportunity to the students to showcase their talents. Hence such camps should be organized in vacations for the students,” opined Masurker.

He further said apart from teachers, the parents play a vital role in moulding the character of their children. The parents should allow their children to watch informative programmes and serials on television, which will help them to increase their knowledge and skills.

Guest of honour former school headmistress Anuradha Karpe complimented the Ganesh Gurukul for organizing the personality development camp and

Shirgao gets ready for Lairai Jatra

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, APRIL 18

‘Personality development brings positive change in one’s life’

‘Mount hills’ resembling Ganesh, Shankar appear in Barcem After God has appeared to humankind in almost every form and on most of the objects, ‘mount hill’ is the latest entity where idols resembling Lord Ganesh and God Shankar have appeared and are worshipped in Barcem-Padi.

The two ‘mount hills’ existing in close proximity of each other nearby to the highway at the foot of Karmalghat on Margao side are claimed as having similarity to the idols of Lord Ganesh and God Shankar.

The mount hills cropped up over a concrete retaining wall, constructed a few years ago to avoid landslides on a Kuctcha road nearby to ‘Pola code’ bus stop on Padi side of the Karmalghat foot.

Sources informed that some farmers using the road reportedly first noticed the appearance, reflecting similarity to

Sant Gora Kumbhar death anniversary commemorated

“Out of this, 72 short listed papers were selected for presentation and publication in the conference proceedings,” said Lohani.

Goa Engineering College Principal Vivek Kamat and Scientist Dr Y P Costa were also present during the inaugural ceremony.

Distribution of computers HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 18

Computers under the Students Cyberage Scheme have been received and will be distributed to the XII std students of 200910 batch on April 26 from 9 am onwards at Fr Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar.

The Lions District 324-D2 will be hosting the first multiple convention in Margao on May 8 and 9. The Mega convention is going to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat with Past International President Ashok Mehta as the chief guest.

More than 1500 delegates from South India and other places are expected to witness this event which will be held at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. This event is going to be a curtain raiser for more and more social and community service activities in the State.

The particulars of the event were finalized at the meeting of the organizing committee held at Margao recently under the Chairmanship of Past District G o v e r n o r, L i o n Va s u d e v Valawalker, Lion Dr U Madhav Shetty, District Governor and 1st Vice District Governor Lion Nitin Maganlal, organizing secretary of the convention. Immediate Past district governor, Adv Lion Ravi Hegde, PDG Lion Ganesh Daivajna, 2nd VDG Lion Krishna Punaji were also present at the meeting.

Chairmen and co-chairmen of various committees of the event participated in this meeting.

They submitted the reports of their respective sub-committees at the meeting.

The members of various Lion Clubs in the District 324-D2 were appealed to register themselves as the delegates of this convention being held in Goa for the first time. Further information about the convention can be obtained from Lion Mahabaleshwar Borkar, Public Relations Committee Chairman or Lion Gangaram Morajkar, CoChairman Public Relations Committee (Mobile 9422440247), says a press release.

Detroit Institute will conduct Portuguese and French classes for children from April 19 to April 24 and from May 3 to May 8 at its institute in Panjim.

The course will have an audio-visual and interactive sessions.

The children will also get a chance to experiment with Portuguese and French cuisine as part of the course. The course will be conducted at Detroit Institute, Jose Falcao Road, Near Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Opposite Progress High School, Panjim.

For further details, contact on 9822131835.

Sancoale gram sabha

PANJIM(HND): Sancoale panchayat will hold its ordinary gram sabha on April 25 in the panchayat hall at 9 am. It will read and confirm the proceeding of the last gram sabha, place budget for 2010-2011, place annual account for 2009-2010 and also read the proposals received form the public for the development works. Ant gram sabha member who desires to place any proposal before the gram sabha may send it to the sarpanch in writing at four days in advance ie by April 21 upto 12 noon.

Mango mania at Cidade HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 18

‘Mango Mania – Return of the King’, with the best varieties of mangoes, will be held at Cidade de Goa, from April 20 to June 10.

Alphonso, Musarad and Mancurado which are by far, the best available varieties, form an integral part of this mango mania - return of the king festival. Perfect for gifting, customized boxes of 12 Alphonso mangoes will be available at Docaria.

Cidade’s team of expert chefs have rustled up a varied fare to entice the taste buds of gourmand connoisseurs of the State.

The special menu will be made available at Laranja, Café Azul and Alfama.

Celebrate with mango mania cocktail and mocktails before moving on to crab meat and mango salad or smoked chicken with sweet mango chutney and many more.

The chefs have an extensive repertoire of soups and main course dishes, letting one discover prawn and mango chowder or mango and coconut

cream soup, before one partake of pan fried basa fish fillet with mango hollandaise or raw mango fish curry with rice or grilled chicken with mango and cayenne pepper salsa or achari aam gosht (Jaipur mutton cubes pickled with raw mango and served with naan or paratha), vegetable shashlik with spicy mango salsa (skewered vegetables grilled and served with mango coulis) or aam aur subz pasanda (vegetables gently simmered in sweet mango curry and served with naan or paratha) and many more.

Assorted beverages on offer are conventional fresh mango juice, to unique beverages like mango citrus delight and mango power punch, Aam ka Panna and Mango lassi are some of the delectable items that form a part of this special offering.

Choose from desserts such as mango cheese cake, mango crepes suzette, mango raft sundae and many more.

For more information, contact 2454545 or visit www.cidadedegoa.com.

POWER SHUTDOWN APRIL 19 BICHOLIM: Between 8.30 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Happy Home area, Karapur Tisk, Kodal area in V.P. Sarvan in Bicholim Taluka.

DONA PAULA: Between 9 am to 4 pm. Areas affected are Rajbhavan, Marvel colony, Marvel village and surrounding DonaPaula areas at 11 KV Models Feeder CORLIM: Between 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Kunkolkar saw mill, Se Cathedral Church, ASI Museum, Navelkar Ornate Estate of Old Goa and surrounding areas.

APRIL 20 DONA PAULA: Between 9 am to 4 pm. Areas affected are Models Millenuim, Models Meridian, Caranzalem area, Swin sea Hotel, Kamat Kinara, State Bank, Tonca and surrounding Caranzalem area.

CORLIM: Between 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Dauji, House of Bom Jesus, Market and vicinity of Old Goa. VEREM: Between 9 am to 4.30 pm. Areas affected are Verem market area, Betim and surrounding areas.

APRIL 21 DONA PAULA: Between 9 am to 4 pm. Areas affected are La citadel Colony, Alto Nagalli, Chowgule Bungalow and surrounding areas.

CORLIM: Between 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Dotorbhat, ICAR, SFX residency and vicinity of Old Goa. TALEIGAO: Between 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Kevenem, Noble Shelter complex and surrounding areas.

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Railways praises Hubli staff for achieving targets HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, APRIL 18

Divisional Railway Manager of Hubli division of the South Western Railway (SWR) has congratulated all officers and staff of the division for achieving the targets of Hubli Division during 2009-10.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a function at Hubli to commemorate the 55th Railway Week on Tuesday.

Vasco-da-Gama railway station has won the GM’s efficiency shields as the best maintained major station, while the shield for the best maintained minor station was bagged by Almatti station of Hubli division.

Indian Railways celebrates this week every year to commemorate the starting of first train in India which ran between Boribundar and Thane, a stretch of 34-km route on April 16, 1853.

Railway men and women are honoured during this week with cash awards, medals and merit certificates. Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Hubli Division Prem Chand presided over the function that was held at Chalukya Railway Institute at Hubli.

“Hubli Division which has earned the honour of being one of the top five earning divisions of Indian Railways has also bagged the General Manager’s efficiency shield for Inter Divisional Rajbhasha Rolling Shield,

Seasonal diseases on rise in Belgaum district HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, APRIL 18

With the temperature rising, the number of patients in the city too also seems to be soaring.

Sudden change in temperature is causing several seasonal diseases and infections which calls for proper attention. The most common ailment found during the summer season is dehydration which if ignored may lead to body ache, headache, weakness and high fever. Doctors in the city have advised people to take necessary precautions as the scorch summer season brings lots of diseases during the summer.

“People should include lime juice and salads in their daily diet,” said Dr Raji Tejasvi, a senior gynecologist and physician.

“Water borne-diseases like throat and viral infections are common during the season,” she added calling for proper precautionary measures.

Adesh Sharma with the awardees of Accounts Department of Hubli Division.

apart from sharing efficiency shield for engineering and accounts departments with Bangalore Division,” said Sharma.

“The success has endorsed the good work done by every employee of Hubli Division,” added Sharma.

“Hubli Division remained at No1 position among three divisions of SWR in loading as well as earnings. It has also maintained best track record and on the safety and improvement in the passenger amenities,” he said adding that during 200910, Hubli Division has achieved excellence in many aspects of railway working, scaled new peaks and created new records with best ever performances.

Sharma highlighted some major achievements of the division like best ever clearance of 6.8 trains per day on Castlero c k - Ku l e m g h a t s e c t i o n achieved during December 2009, best ever wagon turnout

The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), which is engaged in protection of Kannada language and culture in the state and especially in border areas, is now being accused of harassing people and institutions in Belgaum.

The KRV was seen carrying out the act of moral policing by stopping trucks transporting sugar. The incident that took place recently near Nandgad has irked the management of Malaprabha Co-operative Sugar Factory near Belgaum.

Speaking at a press conference, the factory Vice Chairman Rajendra Ankalagi said the factory was transporting sugar in three lorries with valid documents.

“The KRV had no right to check

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, APRIL 18

Residents of Mahalaxminagar area near Laxmi Tek, Belgaum, have been experiencing the worst blackout ever due to the lack of proper supply of electricity.

Thanks to the lethargy observed by the HESCOM authorities, this layout next to the jurisdiction of Belgaum City Corporation and Cantonment area according to HESCOM is a village. This is because, even today, it is connected to the rural power grid. Today, the area is getting less then 12 hours of power affecting their normal life. This is one of the rarest examples in modern times, where urban area is being treated at par with rural areas.

Actually this layout along with some other layouts in the area is the part of Benkanhalli gram panchayat. All the other areas under this gram panchayat like

the documents, as it is the job of the police. The police also approved of KRV’s illegal act and detained thetrucks for a day at Nandgad police station.

We will not spare anyone in this regard and have decided to lodge a complaint to the authorities,” Ankalagi said.

“We will be also filing a defamation suit against the KRV as their illegal act has brought shame to the factory and to the member farmers,” added Ankalagi.

The KRV had on Thursday held three trucks transporting sugar and handed over to the Nandgad police station. The KRV had also demanded for the superseding the present board of directors who under the chairmanship of former minister D B Inamdar had regained the power in the factory defeating the panel formed by the local BJP MP and four MLA’s.

K’taka to start 500 science colleges in rural areas HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, APRIL 18

To attract rural students towards basic science courses, the Karnataka government has proposed to start 500 science colleges mostly in rural areas from the next academic year.

After inaugurating the new college building of Government PU college at Pashchapur village in Hukkeri taluka, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri said the village would be granted a PU Science College next year.

“The government has also proposed to start 300 Com-

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, APRIL 18

The Hubli Division of South Western Railway has achieved the freight loading target of 33.6 million tonnes and surpassed the passenger traffic target of 29.7 million passengers for financial year 2009-10.

Thus Hubli Division is among the top five earning divisions of Indian Railways and during 200910, a loading target of 31 million tonnes was fixed and subsequently the target was further increased to 33.6 million tonnes.

The target was successfully achieved by Hubli Division in spite of constraints like closure of several mines in Hospet-Bellary area and slack period between April-June 2009 due to no demand of iron ore in the international market.

According to a press release from the South Western Railways (SWR), Hubli division has loaded 84% of the entire loading target of South Western Railway. Mysore Division remained at the 2nd position with a loading of 5.46 million tonnes and Bangalore Division stood at the 3rd position by loading 1 million tonne only. The gross earnings of Hubli division were at Rs 2,968 crore for 2009-10.

Thus there was a substantial increase in the number of passengers carried by Hubli Division.

Hubli Division carried 36.25 million passengers during 200910, as against 30 million passengers last year. The Hubli Division has surpassed the target by 22%.

The passenger earnings have also increased by 13% over last year.

‘Mahalaxminagar residents deprived of power supply’

KRV accused of indulging in moral policing

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, APRIL 18

of 1.5 days achieved during June 2009, best ever Train Unit release in January 2010 was 1,234 wagons, best ever repeat overhauling of 185 wagons achieved at Hospet, best ever track renewal of 62 Ultimate Tensile strength (UTS) was completed during December 2009.

Hubli Division has also commissioned 22 Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) at different locations and commissioned 14 UTS including 14 UTS-cumpassenger reservation system (PRS) and seven PRS centres at post offices.

Network Touch screen has been commissioned at 10 stations, while a large number of traffic facility works have been completed at Sankval, Rayadurg, Hospet, Munirabad in 2009-10, besides a remarkable improvement in the passenger amenities.

Sharma also said the safety record of the Hubli Division has been satisfactory.

Hubli division among top five earners

merce colleges in the state from the coming academic year,” he informed.

Following poor results in IInd PU examinations in the recent years, Kageri warned the lecturers of government PU Colleges to impart better education to avoid disciplinary action.

He advised the government PU colleges to adopt the methods used by private schools for achieving better results.

Minister for Horticulture and Prisons Umesh Katti after briefing the history of PU College at Paschapur said the government has also started high schools at Islampur, Basapur and Mavanur villages of the taluka.

Ganeshpur, Hindalga, Jyotinagar, Laxminagar and Saraswatinagar are connected to the urban grid of HESCOM and are enjoying power supply at par with Belgaum.

An engineering college owned by the local MP which comes under the Savagaon area has been connected to the urban grid. But residents of Mahalaxminagar have been left to suffer with the rural power grid of HESCOM. The residents had submitted memorandums in this regard to Deputy Commissioner Dr J Ravishankar and ZP CEO Dr Ekroop Caur, but nothing has worked.

It is understood that the Benkanhalli gram panchayat has already completed necessary formalities and submitted related papers for the action from HESCOM authorities. It is a matter of a distance of about 200 mtrs that would connect the layout to the urban grid.

However, despite several reminders, HESCOM authorities seem to have turned blind eye to this layout leaving the residents to suffer.

“We hardly get only 12 hours of power supply that is affecting our daily life,” said Irappa Jinaga, an ex-serviceman residing in this area since last couple of years.

Irappa’s son is pursuing degree engineering and his daughter is in Std 12. Like Irappa, all the other families who have constructed to this layout are suffering very badly as a large number of school students in this area while many others are pursuing their medical, management and engineering degrees.

“Though ours is an approved layout, we are suffering whereas some of the illegal layouts in the vicinity are enjoying the regular power supply and other amenities,” an irate senior citizen said.

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SIT summons Togadia for questioning in 2002 riots PTI AHMEDABAD, APRIL 18

The Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has summoned Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international general secretary Praveen Togadia to appear before it on April 19, for questioning in connection with the 2002 post-Godhra riot cases.

"Our international general secretary Togadia has been summoned by the SIT on April 19," VHP sources told PTI. Sources in the SIT said Togadia has been summoned with regard to the complaint of Zakia Jaffery, wife of slain exMP Ehsan Jaffery, who was among the 69 killed in the Gulburg society riots on February 28, 2002.

Zakia in her complaint has alleged that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 62 others, including his cabinet colleagues, police officials and senior bureaucrats, aided and abetted post-Godhra riots in the state.

According to Zakia's complaint, Togadia "collaborated with the other accused in per-

petration of violence in pursuance of the conspiracy."

SIT has also questioned Narendra Modi with regards to Zakia's complaint for over nine hours on March 27.

The Supreme Court on April 27, 2009, had asked the SIT to inquire into Zakia's complaint. She had approached the apex court after the Gujarat High Court refused on November 3, 2007 to give any direction and asked her to seek redressal before the Magistrate's Court.

She had alleged that between February and May 2002 there was a "deliberate and intentional failure" of the state government to protect the life and property of innocent.

SIT has already recorded statements of many people named in her complaint which include former minister of state for Home Gordhan Zadafia, BJP leader I K Jadeja, former BJP MLA from Lunawada Kalu Malivad, sitting MLA from Mehsana Anil Patel, ex-IPS officer R B Sreekumar, social activist Teesta Setalvad, and IG Shivanand Jha.

Beneficiaries can’t challenge concession conditions: SC PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

The Supreme Court has held that those availing concessional facilities in transport from government or private organisations cannot challenge the conditions imposed for providing the benefits.

In other words, if persons like senior citizens, physicallychallenged and students are extended concessional facilities, then the beneficiaries have to abide by the conditions imposed for availing them.

"It cannot for a moment be doubted that a concession granted by a carrier, be it the Railways or the Airlines or the Road Transport Corporation is a concession only and no person is entitled to insist that the concession should be with conditions determined by that person," a bench of Justices H S Bedi and J M Panchal said in a judgement.

The apex court passed the judgement while setting aside a Rajasthan High Court order which had directed the Indian

Airlines and certain private carriers to do away with the conditions imposed by them for extending concessional air tickets to senior citizens.

In the case, the airlines had stipulated that a senior citizen applying for a concessional ticket will have to do so at least seven days in advance and that the beneficiary will be required to stay a minimum of two days at the outgoing destination in order to be eligible for the return ticket.

The High Court struck down the conditions as arbitrary and illegal on the petitions filed by certain senior citizens.

Aggrieved by the High Court judgement, the Centre appealed to the apex court contending that it was not for courts to interfere and decide on such policy matters, unless it was irrational and arbitrary.

Concurring with the Centre's view, the apex court said the High Court had taken an erroneous view as it did not give any reason as to why the conditions were unjustified.

HC refuses to ‘condone’ excess height of conductor PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

After serving as a conductor with Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) for seven years, Manoj Thakur may lose his job, as Bombay High Court said that rules cannot be bent to allow for his excess height.

Thakur is 179 cm tall, whereas rules say that maximum height of a bus conductor can be 178 cm.

His height has not posed any problem for him so far, his lawyers contended before Nagpur bench of High Court, but the High Court put finger on the rule.

Thakur applied to MSRTC in 1999 for a job on the compassionate grounds after his father, an employee with the corporation, died.

He sought conductor's post.

However, the corporation said that he was not eligible, because his height was in excess of the prescribed height.

He was offered a cleaner's post instead. But Thakur decided to move the court, saying that MSRTC's decision amounted to "unfair labour practice" as defined in Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Unfair Labour Practices Act. The Industrial court rejected his plea, so he moved High Court. In 2003, High Court passed an interim order that he be appointed as a conductor, temporarily, while the case was pending.

When the case came up for final hearing before the High Court, his lawyer argued that while working as a conductor since 2003, Thakur had not faced any problem on account of his height.

However, the High Court held that if the courts were to relax the rule, that would "render it meaningless", because then somebody who is 180 cm tall may make the same argument.

Kajol to be conferred Dinanath Puraskar PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

Actress Kajol will be felicitated with the Master Dinanath Vishesh Puraskar for her contribution to cinema.

The award will be given away by legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar on April 24 at the Shanmukhanand auditorium in central Mumbai.

The award would consist of Momento and cash prize of Rs 50,000.

The other awardess include singer Hariharan, Pandit Shivanand Patil in the field of music, Prashant Damle for the best drama of the year "Bahurupi", Naseema Hurzuk founder of helpers of the handicapped with the Anandmayee Puraskar, actor Mohan

Joshi for his contribution to theatre and Madhu Mangesh Karnik (literature).

Shanta Sheke Saraswati award would be given to Prof Vasant Abaji Dahake for his dedicated services in poetry.

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OPINION

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O HERALD O

Pseudo Democracy!

Vol No CX No: 102 Goa, Monday 19 April, 2010

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On trial: our attitudes

ike a very well-written plot, the still-unconcluded Scarlett Keeling episode has a lot of drama entangled in it. Ash from a volcano in Iceland has now kept the dead girl’s mother, Fiona MacKeown, from flying to Goa to depose in a Panjim court.

Given the sensational nature of this case, it is not too surprising to find a lot of media hype generated over it. The British press, in particular, has blown this into probably the single most important story that readers back home have heard from Goa since the Commonwealth Retreat in 1983.

But besides the drama, and the multiple tragedies involved, this case involves a clash of attitudes and assumptions. It just goes to show how in our globalised world, we see things very differently, based on our cultural assumptions and biases. In the bargain, almost every side emerges the loser.

Did the outrage—not wholly unjustified—over a single case in Goa get a lot of attention because of the clout of the British tabloids? Did MacKeown pay a high penalty in the court of public opinion because of her untraditional lifestyle, and partGipsy roots? Does television reduce serious issues to a media circus by targetting sound-bytes (by the beach, in this case)?

Was cheque-book journalism partly at fault for ensuring the ‘story’ emerged in a certain manner, probably unfair to many involved?

To begin with, it must be conceded that it is wholly unacceptable for the police to keep the lid of a unexplained death case for four to five days. What was surprising that the story of Scarlett’s death emerged first in the UK, and not in Goa itself. It is in nobody’s interest—definite not that of Goa’s tourism industry—to try to avoid adverse publicity by sweeping the truth under the carpet. A far more productive approach would be to frankly access the risks to tourist visitors, both foreign and Indian, and make this known to those visiting Goa. But doing this presumes that the State is open, transparent and honest in the way it works; we cannot hazard such assumptions, given past experience.

But once the story emerged, the manner it was treated was bizarre, to say the least. Police and government authorities have already received the flak they deserve, for first trying to make light of the case. But lesser attention has been paid for the authorities later bowing to the pressure of the (mainly) foreign media.

From the response that emerged in the West, it seemed almost like a return to age-old stereotypes. The “lustful Indian male” is a colonial perception of the West, going back to 1857.

India’s First War of Independence as it has been called (the “Sepoy Mutiny” to South Asia’s then rulers) saw allegations of war rape used as British propaganda to justify the colonisation of India. Today it is accepted what rape incidents by Indian rebels against English women and girls were uncommon during the revolt.

Others subsequently built on the stereotype of Goa being a terribly wild place, the culmination of which saw Goa dismissed as the “rape capital”. But if politicians had their own reasons for fuelling such talk, there were other attitudes that emerged from a case which depicted a severe clash of perceptions.

Middle-class morality found disfavour with MacKeown’s lifestyle choices, which she was hard-pressed to defend. Ideally, a crime should be a crime, regardless of who is involved. Back home in the UK, the mother of the dead teenager is facing charges of 19,000 pounds benefit fraud.

For the overseas media, this is a campaign against corruption and crime in a Third World destination. But the involvement of both along the seamier side of Goa’s tourism industry is not new, nor is it going to be fought with screaming headlines alone. As media reports continue to rake up emotions and garner sympathy for diverse parties involved, few seem to be concerned about a Goa that often feels it is at the centre of change rapid enough to lose complete control of.

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It is ironic that humanity continues to suffer despite enormous development writes PETER FERNANDES

rom the dawn of humankind, Man has felt the need to be in control. Nevertheless, the ontological and metaphysical entities continue to mystify us. However, foolishly we try to entertain pseudo hope to control what is beyond our reach, and what belongs to a different domain.

It would be far better to bow our heads in humility and faith, than pursue false ambitions to govern the universe. Nevertheless, the empirical realities comfort us, for we are familiar with the objects belonging to this realm. Even so, at the very outset, we must realize that the empirical substance exists because it comes to us from the One who is beyond our realm. For this reason, authority (which doesn’t exist naturally, but is bestowed from above) over something and somebody, should always be viewed with humility and in the true spirit of service.

Man is a social animal. He lives in fellowship with other humans beings, to grow into full status. Human societies are often organized according to their primary means of subsistence.

Society is not a vague entity, but real, which is ontologically independent, and utterly irreducible to, the qualities of constituent individuals. It’s a structure, which gives the individuals a space to grow, and responsibilities towards others, in order to achieve desired goals for an individual and the community at large. The flipside of such a structure is that it can and often turns out to be more oppressive and then liberating. Human history is an evolution of our continuous struggle to remedy the wrong in the society; to seek truth, to grow in wisdom, so as to develop a better organization which will provide true freedom for all with responsibility towards one another. This process is ongoing, and will continue till the end of time.

It shouldn’t dishearten us, but this is so, because we are human and on our own cannot arrive at a perfect place here. However, in time, varied forms of authority have been applied to rule the community. One such form was democracy. It has elevated the human race to a new level of interaction, and thus created an egalitarian society. However, for some known, and unknown reasons, this democracy did not flourish, until late in the seventeen century. On paper, this system of governance designates the satisfaction of the human quest for ideal authority to rule

Press Notes

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Values Devalued the people with integrity and honesty. Unfortunately, the ideal persists to be a distant reality, even in the most advance countries of modern times. For that reason, we have to ask a million dollar question. Where should we look for a remedy to redress the wrong in a democratic country? Could it be in the system or in the very soul of human kind?

Mankind has witnessed tremendous advancement in every field of knowledge, especially in science and technology. It is ironic that humanity continues to suffer despite enormous development under somewhat a just system, but with unjust minds who exercise the power over the people. The progression of knowledge has changed the objects we employ, but it did not help to purify our heart and soul that we might become a better humanity. Power corrupts, and it corrupts absolutely! This evil has ruled the human heart from the every dawn of creation.

Once in power, it draws the individual to its lowest ebb of honest and sincerity, and blinds the person in such a way that he is unable see clearly and justly all that is around him. At the outset, it is

evident that there is a general misconception among the elected representatives regarding power. In a democracy, it is really the people who have the power, and those who have been given positions in government, are public servants, meant to serve the community who elected them.

Unfortunately and realistically, it’s just the opposite. Once elected, representatives grow hardened hearts - the effect of power, and they handcuff the people, whereby they amass wealth through unjust means.

One of the main lacunas in democracy is corruption, which kills the very spirit of the system, leading to anarchy. This system was intended to address and redress the needs of all and steady the development of the community, as well as be the protector and saviour of the common man.

The tragedy is that the rich and the powerful enjoy the benefits and the simple people sell their power for a mere 500 rupees at the voting boots. What a shame! The Democracy of Goa is not of the people, by the people and for the people. It belongs to major lobbies, (read especially

the mining). Subsequently, democracy in Goa is pseudo democracy, which is of the lobbies, by the lobbies and for the lobbies. Goans should not be surprised to hear this. During it’s long rule, the Portuguese were much more benevolent towards their subjects. Now, we lived under the powerful lobbies, who don’t care for the people or State of Goa, but only for their own profit and wellbeing. All this is destroying the culture and the sublime environment of Goa . The government for the “aam admi” is a whitewash which deceives the common populace, because no government has worked for the people, keeping them in mind as a priority, but “big-brother.”

The G-7 is preventing the “aam aadmi ” government from carrying out its duties. This is the flip side of democracy, which gives leverage to the elected representatives to stymie the growth and the governance of the State. The G-7, whose agenda is greed and distrust, with its crime connections has been branded as evil and selfish by the people of Goa. They are absolutely right.

However, there is a greater malady, which needs to be delved into, to unearth the truth. Perhaps, the leader of the “aam admi” government has had the bigger piece of the “mining” pie, and the G-7 is left with little to chew on. In the advent of such impediments to the democratic form of government, we ask, which has corrupted the system to its very core? What is our answer? Should we continue to live in a pseudo democracy, or refine ourselves with knowledge and wisdom to overcome these hindrances, which are detriment to our progress? Therefore, we need power to transform us. This power comes from above, and is within us. Only from the All-powerful, Almighty one will we receive the hope that one day these injustices to our State will be declared as such.

Let us begin again to trust ourselves. The Almighty will keep us strong in faith and humility so that we will do what we know as right. Only by His power can we begin to move forward. Look to the future with hope, for we will not resign ourselves to live in a pseudo democracy, but constantly work to regain trustworthy politicians, police, and government leaders. Have heart!

In the words of Shakespeare, "Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge that no king can corrupt.

Media sensationalism and trivialisation!

oa”s Heartbeat: Preity and Ness together again? Carmen Electra regrets getting fake breasts! Sunanda Pushkar: the minister’s “external affair” I don’t feel the need to marry john! : Bipasha Am I the only one who feels strange after reading such news items? Or is there a fraternity, like me, who wonder what Preity and Ness being apart or together, has to do with me?

If Bipasha does not want to marry John, am I supposed to rejoice or lament?

First Carmen Electra gets fake breasts—God alone knows why I should be interested in that!! But worse she regrets it-should I organise a penance ceremony for it?

For days together the media carried the story of Sania and Shoaib and one poor fat deserted wife or not a wife! A one liner would have sufficed to know about the actions of India’s tennis sensation. Why then is the press and our esteemed TV channels with seemingly great commitment to NEWS doing this? Who are they catering to? The people who live on celebrity gossip? Are their own lives so mundane that ‘real fun’ is to be derived vicariously from others’ escapades and miseries?

Does this tell anything to you about the society we are living in?

Or am I one of the very few, who, when they see such items, feel a distinct sense of the bizarre and the absurd? Media, especially, newspapers, magazines and TV channels, are very powerful entities.

They have the power to formulate public opinion and thus, a responsibility towards that public.

That sense of responsibility is lost to some extent, in the race to gain higher ratings and debating on non issues. How much do we really know about Shashi Tharoor and his ‘lady love’, to comment on their relationship and who are we to conduct a mass courtroom drama to ascertain whether Shoaib is a rogue or victim? More importantly, how do their personal lives impact ours in anyway?

Will their story change the quality of our lives? Will learning the details about their sex lives bring a great revolution in society?

Seventy six men were butchered by the Maoists but the TV channels divided their time equally between the Sania- Shohaib mess and the massacre! This country has 60 percent of its people living below poverty line. There is the Maoist and Naxal threat. There is the never ebbing terrorist threat. There is no safety or respect for women, made obvious in the number of infanticides, feticides, witch hunts, rapes and honour killings.

By Sajla Chawla

There is not much credibility in the working of the government; there is very little accountability too. We live in an unsafe world where thousands are homeless and live on the streets of the metropolitan cities, and endure extreme climate like in the extreme cold of 2 degrees C, in Delhi, where newborns lie uncovered and unattended to on a concrete footpath, while the elite classes, boil and sanitize the bottles of their children or have maids to do so. Yet the media almost never tackles these issues.

If they do, it is often to sensationalize it and then never follow it up.

I want to see this country develop as a whole, the farmers, the daily wager, the labourer. Media depicts the lavish lives of the rich and the famous and thus a poor man feels more starkly, the difference between the classes.

The media is one such powerful estate, which can bring about social awakening and change. Often, they do so, with great results.

But very often they focus on non issues while this great big country is caught in such toils and travails and real survival issues. It is time the media reassess its role in society and works towards development, rather than get caught up in trivia.

Letters to the Editor Find peace in spirituality Paulo Mascarenhas, Panjim We are all human beings, whether lay or religious. It is amazing to see so many of good lay as well as religious people amongst us belonging to all types of race and creed.

Much print has been used to write about the weak nature of our Catholic priests in recent times. The father of the prodigal son did not dig his past rot, but rather he embraced him and prepared a great banquet to celebrate his home-coming. Any person, whether lay or religious, should not roll for years in the dung of sin, but rather use the Sacrament of Confession instituted by Jesus himself to release himself or herself from bondage of sin.

For any person of any creed, the spirituality is the only weapon to spend his or her earthly days in peace and joy.

Ban the cheerleaders Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco Cheerleaders have indeed become the new face of sports in India. Goa is no exception.

Goan cheerleaders were seen in action at the 1st National cheerleading championship at Ravindra Bhavan at Fatorda recently.

In all four states participated in the championship and probably the number of States

participating in the championship will increase in the years to come. Cheerleaders have become all too prominent after the first edition of the IPL held in India.

The pretty, slim, scantily clad damsels gyrating to ear-blasting music have become a common feature in every edition of the league. Music and dancing girls are a heady combination. In this fiasco it appears the sports that is being played in the middle is all but forgotten.

It was noticed on the live telecast that many of the spectators were in fact cheering the cheerleaders as they danced to the music. Having dance and music at the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony is understandable. But why have these extravagant entertainment on the sidelines during the matches?

Children below the age of 15 years form a substantial chunk of the spectators on the field as well as the TV viewers across the country. Having to watch girls gyrating after a boundary or a six is scored or wicket falls does not augur well for the young impressionable minds. This can have a far-fetched effect on little minds in latter life as they could seek undesirable gratification for themselves after every success they come across as they progress in life and in the process ruin their lives.

Smile with Smitha Smitha Bhandare Kamat

Letter of the Day

A fish(y) advice

Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute

PETA has urged Goans to turn vegetarians and give up eating fish as it contains a lot of mercury and is bad for the health. Most Goans will find this morsel of advice very unpalatable. Asking a Goan to live without fish is like asking a fish to live without water! Fish and feni are central to Goan culture. There are, however, some Goans who are vegetarians, but the majority who are not, must have their plate of fish-curry rice everyday.

Assuming that Goans give up fish, what are the alternatives? It is an established fact that red meat is a health hazard. Besides, it is also a wealth hazard, as meat, any meat, is expensive. The poor and middle-class Goans manage to survive on small fish that is relatively cheaper.

Vegetables too are equally expensive and injurious to health. They are usually grown using contaminated water and contain a lot of pesticides. Fruits, likewise, are artificially ripened using deadly chemicals and as such are a health hazard. Fish, therefore still remains the hot and safe favourite of Goans.

We must however take PETA’s warning about over-fishing very seriously as according to it there will be no fish left by the year 2048. The ‘ban period’ when no fishing is permitted must be strictly enforced so that stocks may be sufficiently replenished.

It is understood that being a cheerleader is a status symbol in the US with a reported estimated 1.5 millions participants. Is dancing by scantily clad women in tune with the Indian ethos? The answer is big ‘No’.

It is high time the Sports Ministry at the centre brings a total ban on having cheerleaders performing on the side-lines of an international match in any sports.

Enforce civic sense Michael Vaz, Merces After earning a dubious distinction a couple of months ago that 60 per cent of Indians are used to answering the nature’s call in the open, we are now reminded that there are more cell phones in our country than toilets. Once again we are in the limelight for the wrong reason. It only goes to prove what scant respect we have for basic civic amenities! And that is disgusting, despicable and disgraceful.

Let’s not forget that we boast of being one of the leading countries in the developing world. We also claim to be one of the richest countries in Asia. We have taken long strides even in space technology. Of late, we have been in the forefront for giving aid to some

of the backward countries. Our business magnates have competed in the international arena and have bought several ventures.

Yet we are so poor and so backward as not to have toilets, a basic amenity!

The tragedy is many of the people in the villages are reluctant to give up their ageold delight of relieving themselves in the open air. Even in a developed place like Goa, which recently received a pat from the Planning Commission boss, these things are not uncommon. People who go for early morning walk have complained of the nauseating smell emanating around, spoiling their morning exercise. We need stringent laws to change people’s attitudes.

I-T dept’s IPL fiasco Er Jayesh Shrikant Rane, Mumbai Recently, the Income Tax department raided IPL’s head office in Mumbai, which could have happened early since this is the third year that the IPL is being organised.

It clearly shows that I-T department has a very poor approach in this case. It is a known fact that team franchisees have invested big amount of money in the IPL. In such a situation, there was a need to keep

close look at the business of IPL, which however did not happen.

Now I-T will probe from where the money is coming to IPL, whether in the form of black money or foreign money.

However the question that arises is: Why did the I-T department take such a long time to wake up from its slumber? It only shows how alert the I-T officials are.

The need of the hour for the I-T department is to remain alert all the time as corruption has become deeply rooted in the country. It now remains to be seen what would be the outcome of this IPL fiasco, whether the I-T officials are able to nab some culprits or allow them to go scotfree. It also remains to be seen whether the finances of the IPL franchises are made public.

Sorrowing lies our land Lisa Dias-Noronha, Chorao Everyday, when I cross the Mandovi river on the Chorão-Ribandar ferry, I see six to eight iron ore laden barges making their way to the harbour and at least 4 empty barges returning. Irrespective of the time of day, these barges are taking our mud away in the name of 'development'. The ore is on its way to China, even after the Chinese have recently said our quality is poor.

In the name of development our villages still do not have water supply on a daily basis; electricity is supplied with such high and frequent fluctuations damaging our household equipment; there is no frequent public transport service; food prices keep rising; the menace of garbage and stray dogs is a nightmare.

Our ministers, mining magnates and small time illegal miners have taken our trust for granted. Yes, take our mud away, and in a short time, we will have to observe that 'sorrowing lies our land'.

Letters should be 150 words or less in length, and should have the writer’s name, address and telephone number. The editor reserves the right to edit letters for size and readability, and to delete any personal attacks or libellous /objectionable matter.

Paths of Wisdom

Remember the SmallThings

By Mother Teresa Some of my sisters work in Australia.

On a reservation, among the Aborigines, there was an elderly man. I can assure you that you have never seen a situation as difficult as that poor old man's.

He was completely ignored by everyone. His home was disordered and dirty.

I told him, "Please, let me clean your house, wash your clothes, and make your bed." He answered, "I'm okay like this. Let it be."

I said again, "You will be still better if you allow me to do it."

He finally agreed. So I was able to clean his house and wash his clothes. I discovered a beautiful lamp, covered with dust. Only God knows how many years had passed since he last lit it.

I said to him, "Don't you light your lamp?

Don't you ever use it?"

He answered, "No. No one comes to see me. I have no need to light it. Who would I light it for?"

I asked, "Would you light it every night if the sisters came?"

He replied, "Of course."

From that day on the sisters committed themselves to visiting him every evening.

We cleaned the lamp, and the sisters would light it every evening.

Two years passed. I had completely forgotten that man. He sent this message: "Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still."

I thought it was a very small thing. We often neglect small things.

Printed and published by Vinayak Pai Bir for and on behalf of Herald Publications Pvt Ltd. Printed at Herald Publications Pvt Ltd, Plot No: L-135, Phase II, Verna Industrial Estate, Verna, Salcete, Goa. Published at PO Box 160, Rua Sao Tome, Panjim, Goa - 403001. Editor-in-chief: Mr R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat (Responsible under PRB Act). Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 2224202, 2228083, Fax: 2222475 (all Editorial); 2230535, Fax: 2225622 (Advertising); Margao: 2737689. Mumbai Office: 16-A, Bell Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Sir PM Road, Fort, Mumbai - 400001 (Tel: 22840702/22844908). RNI No: 43667/83.

HOW TO CONTACT US: mail@herald-goa.com — For press notes, general queries. junioryouth@herald-goa.com — Junior Herald & Careers. heraldmirror@herald-goa.com — Sunday Mirror. reporters@herald-goa.com — For Reporters. business@herald-goa.com — For Business news. editor@herald-goa.com — For Letters to the Editor. sports@herald-goa.com — For Sports news. advt@herald-goa.com — For Advertisements. 2day@herald-goa.com — For Herald 2day. tiatr@herald-goa.com — For Tiatr Reviews and Reports. Disclaimer: Except for the editorial above, articles and letters in Herald represent the views of the concerned authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

OHERALDO = =

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GOA, mOnDAy, 19 ApRiL, 2010

OPinionatED Goa is not going.

It has gone

BY AIRES RODRIGUES

We all talk about saving Goa. The moot question is, ‘Is there anything at all that remains to be saved?’ It’s good to be optimistic but the ground reality is that Goa’s decay has been expedited during the last five years in particular. The political vampires have sucked Goa’s blood. The political vultures have not shied away from feasting and even stripping the bones clean.

We have seen Goa’s environment and ecology damage done in broad daylight. Despite so many NGOs and so many activists, Goa has reached this current critical state. ‘Why’, is an issue every Goan should ponder on .

The last five years has witnessed a record number of people’s protests and public meetings on various issues. There have been several hunger strikes. Some have even composed poems, others have written songs highlighting various issues.

Films and documentaries have been released on issues concerning Goa. Many have voiced their outrage by writing articles and letters to Editor in various newspapers. Has all this been a waste of time and energy? The deaf, dumb and blind government continues presiding over the merciless and insensitive slaughter of Goa. Goa, being a small state, could have led by example. While we could have managed the state with five Ministers, we have a Jumbo cabinet. With every Goan Minister has his own agenda, we virtually have 12 Chief Ministers misgoverning this State and at times holding Goa and Goans to ransom.

Politics was meant to be a dedicated mission. Unfortunately, it has become a very lucrative business. Today corruption has been institutionalised. Politics should not be the scoundrel’s last resort. Unless the political and electoral procedures are totally revamped and overhauled, this current sad state of affairs will become a vicious spiral which will only get worse.

Goa’s basic infrastructure is in doldrums. It just cannot cope with the growing needs of the ever expanding population. It is painful to see our hills and fields being converted into concrete jungles. When will all this stop? Given the choice, our politicians will not even spare the rivers and rivulets.

India belongs to us all and nobody is against migrants.

What has to be ensured is, controlled migration into Goa. Every migrant should be entitled to the same rights and privileges that a Goan would receive if he had to settle in Kashmir, Kerala or Karnataka.

Law and order is a key to the prosperity and well being of any society. A small state like Goa could have maintained its peace and tranquility but the ground realities are a matter of great concern. With no corrective steps being taken we have reached a point of no return.

Today murders and rapes are on the increase. At times the Police lack the will to investigate because of political pressure.

The Government should study the causes of crime so that appropriate measures taken rather than taking action after the horse has bolted. Today the Goa Police force lacks any independence. It is most unprofessional and unbecoming of the politicians in power who have over the years systematically eroded the authority of Goa's Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) in the matter of the posting of police personnel. Politicians speak about the independence of the police and of the law taking its own course. The reality is very different as they interfere in the day to day working of the police.

It is time to make the Police force function as a professionally-competent body and not as mere agents of the political party in power. Superficial steps would be merely cosmetic and would not provide long-term benefits. There has to be a consensus to ensure that the police get their independence and identity. It is a shame that over the years officers have been manipulated and emasculated by politicians in power and in fact the officers have no role to play except to dance to the tunes of those in power. In effect they have been bound and gagged. The frequent transfer and victimization of police officers at the instance of politicians has to stop. It affects the morale and credibility of the entire police force.

In Goa, where unfortunately money and muscle power rules the roost, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) can go a long way to protect us from being trampled upon by the rich, the mighty and the well connected. A PIL is a way to accommodate and enable the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society to ventilate their grievances and to seek the necessary redressal with the aid and assistance of NGOs and public spirited individuals.

The Right to Information Act (RTI) is another tool that can be used by every individual to make an impact and bring about change. We all have to be ardent supporters of the RTI Act. A lot of information was earlier suppressed by the Government. Now the RTI should give people a feeling of participation.

Sadly there is no will and desire on the part of the authorities to attend to Goa’s pressing problems. It is for this reason that there is a decline in the number of quality tourists visiting the State. Our beaches and other tourists’ spots are covered with garbage and filth. With a government unable to remove the grounded River Princess for almost a decade we can only dream of a sea link connecting Panaji to Vasco.

The onus for Goa’s current state of affairs is on us. We Goans are very laid back. There has been some awakening and awareness in a few villages. But all this has come very late.

With the cancer of corruption and destruction of Goa having spread at a galloping rate what now only remains to be done is writing the obituary of what was once a beautiful Goa. Are we paying the price for being too ‘Sussegad’? The Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had once said “ Ajeeb hai Goa ke log”. A strange lot aren’t we?

1 drowned, 3 hurt after Christian meet attacked in MP PTI BETUL (MP), APRIL 18

One person drowned in a well while running away for safety and three others injured after a Christian prayer meeting underway in a field was attacked by unidentified persons who had covered their faces with saffron cloth at village Saliya near here last night, police said.

Around 8 - 10 persons armed with lathis and tube lights stormed into the Christian prayer meeting and attacked the congregation following which a person ran for safety and fell in a nearby well which had no boundary walls, police said.

Three others, including a woman, were injured in the incident, they added.

The deceased has been identified as Amit Gilbert (25), a Christian who had come to attend a meeting from Raipur district of neighbouring Chhattisgarh state, Superintendent of Police R L Prajapati said.

The attackers also damaged chairs and other stuff at the venue of the meeting, the SP said.

The unidentified persons have been booked under relevant sections, the Sarni police station area Sub Divisional of Police (SDOP) Abhishek Raja said.

Prima facie, it appears that Gilbert ran for safety following the attack and fell in the well, he said adding that investigation were on. He said the body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem.

Govt unlikely to bring women’s Speaker mulling change of time quota bill in LS this session PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

With political consensus missing and the government facing hard times on some fronts, the Women's Reservation Bill is unlikely to be brought in the Lok Sabha this session, which concludes on May 7.

"Are we short of problems that we add one more to it," said a senior Congress leader and Union Minister when asked whether the government was going ahead with the bill in the Lok Sabha in this session.

He said there were no plans to bring the bill in the remaining part of this session, underlining the fact that the government's priority was to get the financial business passed and desist from any fresh controversy.

The government had so far been saying that the bill would be introduced in the Lok Sabha this session.

It has changed its opinion in

view of differences among leaders at an all-party meeting held earlier this month to break the logjam over the bill and the Yadav trio declaring a virtual war on the issue.

Mulayam Singh (SP), Lalu Prasad (RJD) and Sharad Yadav (JD-U), staunch opponents to the Bill, are sticking to their demand for quota within quota and UPA ally Trinamool Congress has also joined the chorus.

The 21-member SP and fourmember RJD are outside supporters of the government and have threatened to withdraw support if it went ahead with the bill.

Not only did consensus elude the meeting, RJD and SP utilised the meeting of 13 parties to discuss price rise to garner support for their cause.

The bill has taken a back seat in the government's scheme of things in view of the BJP and the 13-party grouping

brought together by the Left parties planning to corner the government on the price rise issue.

Left parties were on the side of the Congress as also the BJP in the passage of the Constitutional amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The bill envisages 33 per cent quota for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Now, a section in the BJP is also singing a different tune on the issue with senior leader Gopinath Munde saying that there should be quota for OBC women in assemblies and the Lok Sabha and he would press his party to take this view.

Though he described this as his "personal opinion", Munde had said "I will persevere to have my party take this view."

Opposition has also drawn up plans to give the Congressled government a tough time with the BJP-led NDA making it

clear that it would coordinate with other parties in bringing a cut motion to force rollback of the hike in prices of petroleum products and fertilisers.

BJP has 116 members while its allies JD(U) has 20, Shiv Sena 11 and Akali Dal four.

The 13 non-NDA and nonUPA parties, which have been brought together by the Left parties and account for 87 MPs, have also decided to bring a cut motion.

Congress-led UPA has a strength of around 265 members, including some independents and BSP's action of not attending the meeting of 13-party grouping has raised its comfort level in the event of a crisis in the 543-member House.

A cut motion puts to test the strength of the government in the Lok Sabha. If the motion is adopted, it amounts to defeat of the government on a money matter.

of Question Hour PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

With the Opposition parties frequently disrupting Question Hour over various issues, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is seriously contemplating measures to prevent this including changing its time.

After the first two days of the second phase of the Budget session were wasted over the Dantewada issue and Shashi Tharoor row, a worried Meira Kumar told PTI Bhasha, "not allowing the Question Hour to continue is a matter of concern. I am thinking of measures which can help in preventing the Question Hour to be disrupted."

She added, "Question Hour is being targeted but this is what makes the Parliament a public institution in true senses, where legislature's responsibility towards people is established."

The Lok Sabha Speaker said she had still not decided over the measures but "whatever is the right measure, will be taken."

Sources in Lok Sabha Secretariat, however, said the Speaker was possibly looking at the possibilities of changing the time of Question Hour and the officials were looking at the feasibility of holding it in

the evening.

Asked if all political parties would be consulted on this issue, Kumar said, "We will talk to all the parties but this is only at the level of discussions."

In the first Budget Session of 14th Lok Sabha, 19 hours and 21 minutes were spent in discussing the general budget, five hours for Question Hour, whereas, 47 hours were wasted in disruptions.

In the 15th Lok Sabha's first budget, 50 hours were spent discussing the Budget, 20 hours on questions, whereas, 23 hours and 45 minutes were wasted.

In both the Houses of Parliament, the day's proceedings begin with the Question Hour and senior officials of various Ministries and departments work as per its timing and later on take up other non-Parliamentary work.

The proposition of holding the Question Hour in the evening is likely to affect the work of Ministries and Bureaucrats.

A few Parliamentarians said, to add weight to the issues raised by them, some political parties demand cancellation of the Question Hour to discuss the matters raised by them without waiting for the Zero Hour.

TN all set to pioneer e-waste policy PTI CHENNAI, APRIL 18

A white tiger in a pond tries to keep himself cool in a Lucknow zoo on Sunday.

Orissa doctors’ cease-work evokes lukewarm response PTI BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 18

The indefinite cease-work called by Orissa Medical Service Association (OMSA) appeared to have evoked lukewarm response today with the authorities claiming near normal attendance of doctors and smooth functioning in various hospitals.

"Around 70 doctors have reported for duty today. Except 3-4 doctors, almost all of them are working," Gangadhar Rath, Chief Medical Officer of the Capital Hospital, said adding that the strike called by OMSA had absolutely no impact on the functioning of the hospital.

However, he said a close watch was being maintained on the situation and adequate measures have been taken to deal with any eventuality.

Health services at government hospitals in most parts of the state were also reported to

be normal with most doctors reporting for work, sources said.

All 27 doctors at Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) joined duty and its functioning was not affected due to the strike call, CMO of RGH Rajendra Patnaik said.

Similarly, there was little impact in other hospitals in Sundargarh including the district headquarter hospital with emergency and casualty functioning normally.

Though some doctors stayed away from duty, work remained unaffected, Chief District Medical Officer of Sundargarh, Bikram Kindo said.

OMSA members began their cease work demanding improved promotion avenues under Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP).

Leaders of agitating OMSA, in the meantime, have gone underground fearing arrest as the state government warned

I’m all for glamorous roles: Raima Sen AGENCIES NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

Actress Raima Sen, known for experimental and offbeat roles in ‘Chokher Bali’ and ‘Antar Mahal’, says she now wants to show her glamorous avatar on the big screen.

“Yes, why not. I’m all for glamour and I would love to portray a glamorous character,” Raima, who showcased her talents in both Hindi as well as regional movies, told IANS in an interview.

She made her debut with “Godmother” in 1999, followed by Rituparno Ghosh’s “Chokher Bali” and Prdeep Sarkar’s “Parineeta”. She also featured in “Antar Mahal” in Bengali and “The Bong Connection”. But the 30-year-old denies on being typecast to a specific genre.

“No it’s not a conscious decision at all. Like I said, I end up choosing the best of what I get. So if a great commercial

movie comes my way, I’ll grab it. I want to work with different directors and experiment with different, interesting roles ranging from out and out commercial to offbeat.”

Raima thinks she has been fortunate enough with her lineup of film when she looks back and feels lucky at her achievements.

“I’ve learnt a lot, experiences that cannot be measured in words and sentences and feelings that cannot be captured in a gist. But overall it’s been a fun experience. I cherish all the movies I’ve done so far and I’ve been lucky to have many opportunities to work with great co-stars and directors.”

Talking about the challenges she faced while playing a mother of an eight-year-old child, she said: “It was definitely the most challenging task because I had to get under the skin of a mother and behave like one.”

of tough measures under provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to deal with the indefinite strike.

Health Minister Prasanna Acharya said action would be taken against those doctors staying away from work.

As the OMSA refused to join talks on the demand, the government was also planning steps to de-register doctors to tackle the cease-work, official sources said.

The OMSA President Madhusudan Mishra, who had been transferred to a hospital in Sundargarh district, was yet to join there.

Doctors had refrained from a proposed strike last year after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik assured them that a decision on DACP would be taken soon. "However, no progress has been made on this so far, forcing us to resort to strike," Mishra said.

Dead baby found alive PTI NASHIK, APRIL 18

A new born premature baby, who was declared dead by a government-run hospital, was found alive after she started crying on the burial ground, hospital sources said today.

The incident occurred after the baby's mother Savita Pawar gave birth to the child.

However, seeing no movements in the baby after the birth, the doctors declared it dead.

"While taking the baby for burial, the bay started crying, forcing relatives to stop further process and returned from the spot," Savita told reporters here.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Naresh Patil has demanded action against the doctor. Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) Commissioner will take further action, sources added.

Court comes to aid of minor lovers PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

An affair involving minors ended on a happy note with a Delhi court intervening to help them marry each other though the father of the girl had registered an FIR against the teenaged boy, who was charged with rape.

The girl, who was just above 16 years, appeared before the court and expressed her desire to marry the accused, which prompted the court to acquit the boy of the serious charge of rape.

Ravi, who was in jail since June last year after his arrest, heaved a sigh of relief as Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau sentenced him to the period which he had already served during judicial custody, for the offence of kidnapping.

The girl's family was hesitant due to caste differences but were suitably advised and counselled by the court.

After wooing global automobile giants and becoming a leading software exporter, Tamil Nadu is all set to pioneer an e-waste policy to encourage green information technologies.

"A comprehensive e-waste (electronic-wastes) policy has been finalised and will soon be signed by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and other ministers concerned. It will be ready in two or three weeks", State IT Minister Dr Poongothai told PTI. The policy, she said, would address issues pertaining to public health and environment due to the impact of the 'ineffective and continuous disposal' of e-waste.

"It will educate the public and officials concerned on how to avoid recycling electronic equipment more often", she said, adding that it would also recommend changing only the component in an electronic item.

Poongothai said the policy would have a single window facility to guide investors.

She said Tamil Nadu has registered an impressive jump in software exports even during the economic slowdown in 2008-09 at Rs 36,680.40 crore, a 29 per cent increase over last year.

Non-Governmental Organisation Toxics Link said a study carried out by them revealed that e-waste was a problem of staggering proportions in the state, which produced more than 21,810 tons in 2009.

Arun Senthil Ram, a top official who led the survey, said it was based on "market supply method", in which five compo-

nents like televisions, mobile phones, computers, washing machines and refrigerator were taken into account.

Prabhu Srinivasan, proprietor of Trishyiraya Recycling India, a company providing Ewaste management consultancy, electronic and electrical waste recycling in the country, said other e-wastes like leadacid automotive batteries, alkaline and button batteries, nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries, printers, heat pumps and air conditioners also pose environmental problems.

He also said electronic waste is increasing every day, as computers, mobile phones and televisions get quickly outdated in the market and are thrown away for newer versions.

“In the past, when pots were broken, they were not thrown away. The broken pots were crushed into fine clay powder.

That improved clay was used to make striking and fine-looking new pots. Today, we use many materials once and then consider them as waste. Our task now is to develop the ageold art of recycling exercises by our forefathers,” he said.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recent survey report said the top 10 cities generating e-waste are Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat and Nagpur.”

“There are 36,165 hazardous waste generating industries in the country, which generates 6.2 million tonnes of hazardous waste every year, of which landfillable waste is 2.7 million tons, incinerable 0.41 million tons and recyclable hazardous waste 3.08 million tons,” the survey said.

42 pilots found tipsy last year; experts raise safety concerns PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

Airline pilots are known to be high fliers, professionally and socially, but the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is not amused that many pilots have recently been found "high" on duty.

"During last one year, total number of 42 alcohol positive cases were detected," the DGCA said.

This information has been provided by the DGCA in response to an RTI query by Abhishek Shukla who sought details of pilots found drunk on duty.

The DGCA did not give any details of the pilots or the names of the airlines involved, except to say that action "is taken against the crew members as per regulatory provisos."

The DGCA is the regulatory body for civil aviation in India

and is responsible for ensuring safety of operations.

Drunkenness among pilots directly impacts flight safety and aviation authorities around the world, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation, mandate a zero tolerance to alcohol where pilots and cabin crew are concerned, experts say.

In response to the RTI questions, the DGCA did not specify whether the pilots were detected before they boarded the aircraft and whether they were prevented from operating a flight after alcohol was detected in their blood sample.

The nature of the action taken against the pilots was also not revealed.

Alcohol in the blood of pilot as well as cabin crew is a serious flight safety issue, experts say.

"The rules prescribe that

there shall be no trace of the alcohol in the blood of the pilot and the cabin crew. Alcohol in the blood numbs the senses and dulls the reflexes and increases response time.

The effect of alcohol is much more at high altitudes," former Director General Civil Aviation Kanu Gohain told PTI. Rule 24 of Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members from taking any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight.

Any crew member who tests positive in the pre-flight medical check or refuses to take a breath analyser test is required to be taken off flying duty for at least four weeks and the airline is required to initiate disciplinary proceedings.

In case of any accident or a near-miss, it is mandatory to test the pilot and co-pilot for traces of alcohol.

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PPP vows action on UN Bhutto killing report PTI ISLAMABAD, APRIL 18

Pakistan's ruling PPP has vowed to take "appropriate legal actions" against ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf and others named in a UN panel's report as being responsible for the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

The PPP's core group or top leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, decided on this course of action during a meeting held late last night.

Zardari, who became head of the PPP after his wife Benazir Bhutto's death in 2007, chaired the meeting.

The meeting accepted the UN commission's report on the facts and circumstances of Bhutto's killing and "recommended to the Prime Minister to take appropriate legal actions in the light of the" report, said a statement issued by the PPP. The PPP expressed its "resolve to expose and bring to justice all those, including Gen (retired) Pervez Musharraf, who planned, abetted and indulged in the criminal act, screened off the offenders and destroyed the evidence," party spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

The UN commission's report, which indicted the previous regime led by Musharraf for failing to provide effective security to Bhutto despite numerous threats to her life, calls on Pakistani authorities to make a determination of the criminal responsibility for planning and carrying out the assassination.

Musharraf may sue UN panel: Aide PTI ISLAMABAD, APRIL 18

Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf may sue members of the UN commission that probed the assassination of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto for holding him responsible for her killing, one of his aides has said.

"In the report, Musharraf has not been accused personally but it has been mentioned that his government failed to protect Benazir Bhutto," Chaudhry Fawad, a lawyer for Musharraf, told 'The News' daily.

During a news conference, a member of the UN commission mentioned Musharraf's name while responding to a question.

Fawad said Musharraf's legal team will seek an explanation from the UN commission whether its member intentionally named the former President or uttered his name unintentionally.

"If the UN commission member unintentionally mentioned the name of the former President, no action would be taken but if he did so intentionally the former President would move the International Court of Justice against the UN commission," Fawad said.

Musharraf -- who has been living abroad since April last year -- had received the UN panel's report and studied it, he said, adding the former President was consulting his lawyers in Pakistan and abroad in this regard.

The PPP's core group recommended that the Prime Minister should take appropriate legal actions against government officials mentioned in the UN panel's report.

PPP spokesman Babar said the meeting was of the view that the UN panel's report had endorsed the party's position that Musharraf was responsible for Bhutto's assassination.

The meeting recalled that Bhutto too believed that Musharraf wanted to eliminate her and she had mentioned this

in a letter and in numerous press and public statements, he said.

The News daily quoted unnamed sources as saying that the PPP’s core group recommended that the names of all officials accused of negligence in providing security to Bhutto should be put on the Exit Control List, a document listing the names of people barred from travelling out of Pakistan.

T h e c o re g ro u p re c o m mended that all suspects who were currently outside Pakistan should be brought back to the

country.

It also recommended that the government should monitor the activities of officials named in the UN panel's report, the sources said.

Another PPP spokesperson Fauzia Wahab, a close aide of Zardari, told the Dawn newspaper that the party had decided to constitute a committee to identify people within the PPP who were responsible for providing security to Bhutto.

She said the UN panel's report had categorically held the Musharraf government, the former government of Punjab province and the administration of Rawalpindi responsible for Bhutto's murder.

Wahab said cases had already been registered but these could be altered in the light of legal experts' opinion after examining the UN commission's report.

Shortly after Bhutto's assassination in December 2007, the PPP's central executive committee called for the setting up of a UN inquiry commission to probe her killing.

Subsequently, Parliament adopted a unanimous resolution calling on the government to approach the UN for setting up of an inquiry commission.

The PPP's core group thanked the UN commission for its efforts.

The core group's meeting was also attended by Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Law Minister Babar Awan and senior PPP leaders Jahangir Badar and Rukhsana Bangash.

Woman detained for Moscow blasts PTI MOSCOW, APRIL 18

A 20-year- old Lithuanian woman, suspected to be linked to twin suicide blasts in Moscow metro last month in which 40 people were killed, has been detained, a media report said today.

A resident of western Lithuanian city of Klaipeda, the woman with Chechen links was detained at the Vilnius international airport while trying to get on a flight to Moscow shortly before metro bomb strikes, RIA Novosti reported from quoting the Lietuvos Rytas Lithuanian daily.

The woman attracted attention of Lithuanian special services as she persistently tried to obtain a Russian visa and her luggage contained literature about explosives and detailed Moscow metro map.

Subsequent investigation revealed that she had a Chechen friend, who perished after returning to his homeland in 2007.

The girl soon ran from home and was found six months later in a small German town where she lived in a Chechen family.

She used to say that she wanted to convert to Islam and after returning to Klaipeda maintained contacts with other Chechens living there.

Prosecutor General's offices in Lithuania and Russia, as well as Lithuanian State Security Department did not comment on the report.

On Friday, Russia said it has arrested main plotters of the Moscow bombings.

China quake toll crosses 1700 PTI BEIJING, APRIL 18

"There will be new schools!

There will be new homes!", wrote Chinese President Hu Jintao on the blackboard of a makeshift classroom in Qinghai, as he visited the quake-devastated region where the death toll in last week's 7.1 temblor mounted to 1,706 today.

As the death toll neared 2,000 in the Tibetan-dominated province, as many as 256 persons still remained missing on the fifth day after the quake that razed many buildings to the

ground.

"There will be new schools!

There will be new homes!", Hu Jintao wrote on the blackboard while visiting a makeshift classroom being run from a tent for orphaned students in the quake hit town Yushu.

Hu then led the students to read aloud the words he wrote on the blackboard.

The President, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, who cut short his tour to the BRIC summit at Brasilia in the wake of the national tragedy, was seen on the state television surrounded by

heavy security personnel.

While promising to rebuild the schools and homes, Hu also asked rescuers to continue searching for sur vivors.

"Rescuing those people who are trapped is still the main task.

We must treasure each life," Hu said after meeting survivors in a village.

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had visited the region on Thursday and Friday goading the relief teams to step up rescue efforts to save people buried under the rubble before '72-hour golden period' ended.

Suicide bomber kills 7 in Pak

Rescue headquarters announced that an estimated 17,000 people have been saved from the rubble.

The quake has left 12,128 persons injured, of which 1,424 are in severe condition, Miao Chonggang, deputy head of the China Earthquake Administration's quake relief and emergency response department, told media here today.

Miao said currently more than 15,000 rescuers, including over 11,000 from the People's Liberation Army and armed police were conducting the relief operations.

Turkish Cypriots go to polls

Considering that the quake hit province which is located adjacent to Tibet, officials promised to take into consideration religious as well the food habits dealing with the quake affected people.

As mass funerals were conducted for hundreds of bodies yesterday with the help of Buddhist monks, officials said the government has taken into consideration the diet habits and needs in practicing religious service among people from minority ethnic groups in relief work in the quake zone.

A resident walks with his bike past a boys school which was destroyed by a suicide bomb blast in Kohat, located North West Frontier Province, Sunday.

REUTERS KOHAT, (Pakistan), APRIL 18

A suicide car-bomber killed seven people and wounded 26 in an attack on a police station in Pakistan's northwest today, police said.

It was the second attack in the Kohat region in as many days. Yesterday, two suicide bombers attacked people displaced by fighting between the army and militants, killing 41 of them and wounding 65.

Quake strikes New Guinea REUTERS PORT MORESBY, APRIL 18

An earthquake struck the east coast of Papua New Guinea today but there were no immediate reports of casualties, officials said.

The US Geological Survey said the 6.3 magnitude quake occurred at about 9:15 a.m. (0445 IST) in the Pacific island nation and that the epicentre was 18 miles (29 km) east of the city of Lae. Officials at the National Disaster Centre in Lae said the quake had been felt in the city but there were no reports of buildings collapsing.

Today, the bomber drove a van into a roadblock outside a police station in Kohat town.

“Seven people including a child were killed and 26 people wounded, five of them policemen,” a top police official, Abdullah Khan, told Reuters.

Another police official said five policemen were among the dead.

The military has carried out a series of successful crack-

downs against homegrown al Qaeda-backed Taliban fighters in the country's northwest. Militants have responded with a wave of bomb attacks killing hundreds of civilian and security officials.

A group affiliated with Pakistan's Taliban claimed responsibility for yesterday's attack on a centre where displaced people were registering for aid, about 40 km (25 miles) away from the site of today's attack.

Can Iceland volcano be a disaster in the making?

PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

With the Iceland volcano 'Katla Strato' disrupting human activities and hiting economy of the global airline industry since four days, a volcanologist here has said that in the present human memory, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo volcano in Philippines has been the largest.

Pinatubo eruption in 1991 produced a large cloud of ash that went up to a height of 45 km and cooled the earth's temperature by 0.5 degree centigrade. On the 1 to 8 Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), this eruption measued 6.

South East Asia experienced several such volcanic episodes like the Toba eruption about 75,000 years ago followed by the explosive activity of Krakatoa volcano in 1883. The VEI of Toba is 8.

"Compared to Pinatubo and Toba, the VEI of the Katla strato volcano, located east of Eyjafjallajokull (also known as Eyjafjoll) is small. But due to the circuiting pattern of winds around north Europe, and the

proximity of countries like UK, France, Germany, the ash plume from Iceland volcano is able to spread to this short distances," Dr D Chandrasekharam, Chairman,Geosyndicate Power and an earth scientist with IIT here told PTI today.

The VEI denotes the magnitude of an eruption based on a combination of erupted ash volume and eruption plume height.

Volcanic ash besides carbondixide, hydrogen sulphide and hydrochloric acid, also contains tiny particles of glass and pulverised rock that can damage the engines of aircraft flying high.

In a volcanic eruption, the minimum time taken for a 4 micron size particle to settle down on the surface of earth is about 54 hours. If there is a wind turbulence, this may take more time. Smaller particle will settle at much slower rate.

Talking about the climate change, Chandrasekharam said the amount of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and hydrochloric emissions from the eruption of Katla Strato volcano

US lacks plan to curb Iran’s nuke drive: Gates

REUTERS NICOSIA, APRIL 18

Turkish Cypriots vote in a presidential election today which could shape the future of Cyprus's fragile reunification process and Turkey's bid to join the European Union.

Some 164,000 Turkish Cypriots are choosing between incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat and challenger Dervis Eroglu. Opinion polls put Eroglu, a staunch supporter of Turkish Cypriot independence, in the lead.

Polling stations open at 0500 GMT and voting ends at 1500 GMT. The final result of the vote, which has to be ratified by an election council, is expected by 2330 IST. The winner will have to negotiate a settlement on the divided island with rival Greek Cypriots now living in the south and who represent Cyprus in the European Union. Without a deal, the Greek Cypriots will block Ankara's bid to join the bloc.

“A lot of people see it's (a deal) within reach, and if you can't do it now it's very hard to see when the next opportunity will come along,'' a diplomat close to the peace process told Reuters.

The Iceland volcano Eyjafjallajokull continues to erupt early 18 April 2010 causing widespread air traffic disruption with clouds of volcanic ash. The volcano erupted on April 14. Experts say there is no end in sight to the ash which is a severe danger to aircraft engines.

Reuters WASHINGTON, APRIL 18

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has warned the White House the United States lacks an effective strategy to curb Iran's steady progress toward nuclear capability, The New York Times reported citing US officials familiar with the document.

Gates' secret memorandum was sent in January to President Barack Obama's national security adviser, General James Jones, and it touched off an intense effort inside the Pentagon, the White House and the US intelligence agencies to develop new options for the president.

Those options included a revised set of military alternatives, still under development, to be considered should diplomacy and sanctions fail to force Iran to change course.

In that case, Iran could remain a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty while becoming what strategists call a ''virtual'' nuclear weapons state, the newspaper said yesterday, citing US officials familiar with the document.

Among his concerns, Gates included the lack of a response should Iran choose the course that many officials and analysts consider likely -- assembling all the major parts needed for a nuclear weapon, such as fuel, designs and detonators, but stopping just short of assembling a fully operational weapon.

Officials familiar with the memo's contents described only portions dealing with strategy and policy and not sections that apparently dealt with secret operations against Iran, or how to deal with Persian Gulf allies, The Times said.

One senior official described

the document as “a wake-up call,” the newspaper said, adding that White House officials disputed that view and insisted that for 15 months they had been conducting detailed planning for many possible outcomes regarding Iran's nuclear program.

The Times said Gates spokesman Geoff Morrell declined comment on specifics in the document but issued a statement on Saturday saying, “The secretary believes the president and his national security team have spent an extraordinar y amount of time and effort considering and preparing for the full range of contingencies with respect to Iran.”

A senior administration official told The Times there was a line Iran would not be permitted to cross.

The official said the United States would ensure that Iran would not “acquire a nuclear capability,” a step Tehran could get to well before it developed a sophisticated weapon.

Poland to bury president, ash cloud deters Obama, Merkel REUTERS KRAKOW, (Poland), APRIL 18

Poland prepared today to bury President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, killed in a plane crash last weekend, but a volcanic ash cloud over Europe prevented many world leaders from attending.

US President Barack Obama cancelled his plan to travel to the funeral in Krakow, Poland's ancient capital, citing the ash cloud. A number of other dignitaries including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Britain's Prince Charles also pulled out.

The funeral at Krakow's Wawel cathedral crowns a week of unprecedented national

mourning for the Kaczynskis and 94 other, mostly senior, political and military officials who perished in the crash in western Russia on April 10.

Up to 100,000 mourners packed into Warsaw's Pilsudski Square on Saturday for a commemoration of the dead that included a Roman Catholic requiem mass and tributes from Prime Minister Donald Tusk and interim President Bronislaw Komorowski.

Officials said 180,000 people had paid their respects before the Kaczynskis' coffins since they went on public display in the presidential palace yesterday.

The coffins were moved to Warsaw cathedral late on Saturday

where many more people were filing past them through the night into today.

Kaczynski's twin brother Jaroslaw, a former prime minister, and other family members insisted the funeral go ahead on Sunday as planned, even though the volcanic cloud has shut down airports across northern and central Europe, including Poland.

Obama said he regretted not being able to go to Krakow.

“President Kaczynski was a patriot and close friend and ally of the United States, as were those who died alongside him, and the American people will never forget the lives they led,” he said in a statement shortly

before he had been due to fly.

Poland, part of the Soviet bloc during the Cold War, is now a member of NATO and a close US ally. Merkel of Germany, Poland's western neighbour and biggest trade partner, also expressed regret at being unable to attend. Poland's meteorology institute said it expected the ash cloud to partly disperse from over Polish territory today.

The Kaczynskis, due to be transported to Krakow on Sunday morning aboard a military plane flying at an altitude of less than 5,000 metres because of the ash cloud, will be buried in the Wawel crypt with Poland's kings, national heroes and poets.

Wawel is a large complex of buildings on the Vistula River that includes a castle, cathedral and fortifications. The cathedral was the coronation site of virtually all of Poland's monarchs.

Wawel Castle was the centre of government for five centuries until the end of the 16th century.

Some Poles have staged protest rallies and joined petitions on social media site Facebook against the decision to bury Kaczynski in such a hallowed spot.

Kaczynski, president since 2005, was a polarising figure whose support levels had fallen to about 20 percent before his death. He had been expected to lose a presidential election

due in the autumn and now likely to be held on June 20.

To his conservative admirers, Kaczynski was a patriot and man of deep moral and religious convictions. To his foes, he was a narrow-minded reactionary out of step with an increasingly liberal, outward-looking and European Poland.

The protests were the first cracks in an otherwise remarkable display of national unity since the crash. Warsaw's quaint Old Town, rebuilt brick by brick after its near-total destruction by the Nazis in 1944, has become a shrine to the 96 dead, bedecked with flowers, candles, crucifixes and red and white national flags threaded with black

are yet to be determined. The eruption appears to be small to cause major climate change, climate, he said.

However, Canadian scientists are expecting the climate to get warmer and the region to get above normal rainfall, Chandrasekharam said adding a constant review of the data is required for further understanding and prediction.

"If Eyjafjoll continues to erupt with more intensity, then, the ash plume may loom over Europe for longer period affecting normal life. However, the good news is that since Volcanic eruptions can be predicted well in advance, life is safeguarded," he said.

Unlike earthquakes, predicting volcanic eruptions is possible with fair amount of accuracy.

On April 13, 2010 at about 2300 hours (Local time), seismic swarm was detected below Eyjafjoll and people living around that area were evacuated.

This seismic swarm culminated into two km long N-S trending fissure and initiation of ash fall.

Democrats lead in UK opinion poll REUTERS LONDON, APRIL 18

Britain's Liberal Democrats overtook their rivals for the first time to lead an opinion poll on Saturday, increasing the prospect of a hung parliament where no party has outright control.

The survey from BPIX for the Mail today said support for the Liberal Democrats, usually the third force in British politics, had soared 12 points to 32 per cent, with the main opposition Conservatives down 7 points on 31 per cent and ruling Labour Party down 3 points on 28 per cent.

Britain has not had a hung parliament since 1974 and the pound weakened on Friday over fears a coalition or minority government would struggle to tackle Britain's huge budget deficit approaching 12 percent of gross domestic product.

If the latest poll results were repeated nationally, the quirks of Britain's electoral system mean Labour would emerge as the largest party in parliament, according to a Sky News seat predictor, and could remain in power if the Liberal Democrats offered their support.

The poll boost followed Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's well-received appearance in a live television debate on Thursday. Viewers and commentators judged the 43-year-old to have performed better than Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron.

The BPIX poll is the most favourable yet for the Lib Dems among surveys conducted since the debate.

Polls by YouGov on Friday and ComRes on Saturday both gave the Liberal Democrats an 8 point surge, putting the party second behind the Conservatives but ahead of Labour.

OHERALDO

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BIZ

GOA, TUESDAY, 19 APRIL, 2010

Fin reforms can triple mkt size by 2020: FICCI PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

Indian capital markets can grow three-fold by 2020 if reforms to increase retail participation, reduce cost of trade and enhance investment by pension funds are initiated, says a study by FIccI-Mckinsey & company.

"In order to enable Indian capital market to triple in size by 2020, reforms are needed," it said identifying low depth in equity markets, less retail participation, high costs of trade and insignificant participation by pension funds as major challenges for the markets. Market capitalisation of prime bourses in India was about Rs 8.63 lakh crore as on April 16 while the share trade quantity on NSE was 1.37 crore and on BSE 1.17 crore.

Although engulfed with challenges, equity capitalisation in India has grown over six fold, and trading value over 3.5% in

MUTUAL FUND SCHEME NAME

NAVs (Rs)

A

AIG India Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) India Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) Infrastructure and Economic Reform - Regular (D) Infrastructure and Economic Reform - Regular (G) Axis Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G)

12.24 12.24 9.15 9.15 10.47 10.47 10.90 10.91

B

Baroda Pioneer ELSS 96 24.32 Growth Fund (D) 28.06 Growth Fund (G) 49.81 Bharti AXA Equity Fund - Eco Plan (Bonus) 18.29 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (D) 13.86 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (G) 18.29 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (QD) 15.04 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 18.22 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 13.83 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 18.22 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (QD) 15.00 Focused Infrastructure Fund (D) 10.79 Focused Infrastructure Fund (G) 10.79 Focused Infrastructure Fund (QD) 10.79 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (D) 12.99 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (G) 23.87 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 12.98 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 23.81 Birla Sun Life Advantage Fund (D) 89.24 Advantage Fund (G) 152.48 Basic Industries Fund (D) 30.42 Basic Industries Fund (G) 101.35 Basic Industries Fund - Trigger Plan (D) 10.94 Buy India Fund (D) 22.78 Buy India Fund (G) 37.52 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (D) 14.84 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (G) 14.84 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (D) 12.78 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (G) 12.78 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (D) 12.15 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (G) 12.15 Dividend Yield Plus (D) 13.88 Dividend Yield Plus (G) 73.96 Equity Fund (D) 72.35 Equity Fund (G) 257.30 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 21.94 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 81.37 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 12.30 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 12.30 India GenNext Fund (D) 13.86 India GenNext Fund (G) 21.32 India Opportunities Fund - Plan A (D) 19.58 India Opportunities Fund - Plan B (G) 53.76 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (D) 13.27 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (G) 17.08 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (D) 12.25 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (G) 12.77 International Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 8.76 International Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 8.76 International Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 9.02 International Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 9.02 Long Term Advantage Fund (D) 13.36 Long Term Advantage Fund (G) 13.36 Long Term Advantage Fund - Series 1(D) 12.02 Long Term Advantage Fund - Series 1(G) 12.02 Midcap Fund - Plan A (D) 25.46 Midcap Fund - Plan A (G) 108.54 Midcap Fund - Plan B (D) 13.70 Midcap Fund - Plan B (G) 13.70 Tax Plan (D) 45.90 Tax Plan (G) 13.08 Tax Relief 96 (D) 82.53 Tax Relief 96 (G) 11.14 Top 100 Fund (D) 14.30 Top 100 Fund (G) 20.60

C

Canara Robeco Emerging Equities (Bonus) Emerging Equities (D) Emerging Equities (G) Equity Diversified (Bonus) Equity Diversified (D) Equity Diversified (G) Equity Tax Saver (D) Equity Tax Saver (G) F.O.R.C.E Fund - Retail Plan (D) F.O.R.C.E Fund - Retail Plan (G) Infrastructure (D) Infrastructure (G) Multicap (D) Multicap (G)

16.95 14.00 20.25 23.01 22.98 50.54 19.58 23.78 11.79 11.78 17.29 21.71 13.39 14.43

Key to abbreviations: R Price: Repurchase Price; S Price: Sale price; D: (Dividend; (G): Growth

D

DWS Alpha Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) Alpha Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) Alpha Equity Fund - Wealth Plan (D) Alpha Equity Fund - Wealth Plan (G) Investment Opportunity Fund - Regular Plan (D) Investment Opportunity Fund - Regular Plan (G) Investment Opportunity Fund - Wealth Plan (D) Investment Opportunity Fund - Wealth Plan (G) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G) DSP BlackRock Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) India T.I.G.E.R. Fund - Regular Plan (D) India T.I.G.E.R. Fund - Regular Plan (G) Natural Resources and New Energy - Regular (D) Natural Resources and New Energy - Regular (G) Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (D) Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (G) Small and Mid Cap Fund (D) Small and Mid Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G) Technology.Com - Regular Plan (D) Technology.Com - Regular Plan (G) Top 100 Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) Top 100 Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) Treasury Bill Fund (D)

16.16 74.27 12.93 15.47 26.02 37.55 13.00 17.00 12.84 13.74 47.36 14.98 18.50 45.37 13.03 13.03 26.90 77.15 14.49 15.81 11.90 15.98 24.04 32.91 20.53 91.34 11.18

E

Edelweiss Absolute Return Equity Fund (D) Absolute Return Equity Fund (G) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan B (D) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan B (G) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan C (D) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan C (G) ELSS Fund (D) ELSS Fund (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan A (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan A (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund - plan B (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan B (G) Escorts Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) High Yield Equity Plan (Bonus) High Yield Equity Plan (D) High Yield Equity Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Leading Sectors Fund (D) Leading Sectors Fund (G) Power and Energy Fund (D) Power and Energy Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

10.52 10.52 13.05 13.05 13.09 13.09 13.12 13.12 17.88 17.88 10.80 11.85 11.76 11.76 14.43 75.14 12.46 10.95 12.44 8.72 8.72 10.67 10.67 13.98 17.43 11.17 47.60

F

Fidelity Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Growth Fund (D) India Growth Fund (G) India Special Situations Fund (D) India Special Situations Fund (G) India Value Fund (D) India Value Fund (G) International Opportunities Fund (D) International Opportunities Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund (D) Tax Advantage Fund (G) Fortis China-India Fund (D) China-India Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (D) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (G) Franklin Asian Equity Fund (D) Asian Equity Fund (G) Build India Fund (D) Build India Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) India Bluechip Fund (D) India Bluechip Fund (G) India Flexi Cap Fund (D) India Flexi Cap Fund (G) India High Growth Companies Fund (D) India High Growth Companies Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D)

19.85 31.37 10.94 10.94 15.37 16.95 10.53 10.53 12.25 12.25 17.35 19.33 8.43 8.43 11.01 15.83 10.59 31.32 10.51 13.19 10.24 10.24 11.73 11.73 34.01 54.19 38.99 194.77 14.94 29.51 12.30 12.30 14.20

India Opportunities Fund (G) India Tax Shield (D) India Tax Shield (G) Infotech Fund (D) Infotech Fund (G) Pharma Fund (D) Pharma Fund (G) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (D) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (G) Templeton India Growth Fund (D) Templeton India Growth Fund (G)

29.55 30.94 188.20 19.67 57.81 29.07 54.94 14.43 18.58 53.72 114.20

H

HDFC Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Core & Satellite Fund (D) Core & Satellite Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Long Term Equity Fund (D) Long Term Equity Fund (G) Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund (D) Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund (G) Premier Multi-Cap Fund (D) Premier Multi-Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G) Top 200 Fund (D) Top 200 Fund (G) HSBC Dynamic Fund (D) Dynamic Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Equity Fund (D) Midcap Equity Fund (G) Progressive Themes Fund (D) Progressive Themes Fund (G) Tax Saver Equity Fund (D) Tax Saver Equity Fund (G) Unique Opportunities Fund (D) Unique Opportunities Fund (G)

23.77 98.11 20.91 36.77 44.10 239.95 29.58 75.52 11.24 11.24 35.36 120.79 11.79 14.25 13.58 13.58 14.98 26.41 58.36 207.75 43.57 184.31 9.54 9.54 27.35 95.61 15.93 31.95 13.72 22.35 11.15 13.11 12.93 14.01 10.28 10.28

I

ICICI Pru Banking & Financial Services Fund - Retail (D) Banking & Financial Services Fund - Retail (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Dynamic Plan (D) Dynamic Plan (G) Emerging S.T.A.R. Fund (D) Emerging S.T.A.R. Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) Focused Equity Fund (D) Focused Equity Fund (G) Fusion Fund (D) Fusion Fund (G) Fusion Fund Series - II (D) Fusion Fund Series - II (G) Fusion Fund Series - III Retail Plan (D) Fusion Fund Series - III Retail Plan (G) Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) Indo Asia Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) Indo Asia Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (D) Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (G) Power (D) Power (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Target Returns Fund - Retail Plan (D) Target Returns Fund - Retail Plan (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G) Technology Fund (D) Technology Fund (G) R.I.G.H.T. Fund (D) R.I.G.H.T. Fund (G) IDFC Classic Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Classic Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan B (D) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan B (G) Imperial Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Imperial Equity Fund - Plan A (G) India GDP Growth Fund (D) India GDP Growth Fund (G) Premier Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Premier Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (D) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (G)

15.25 15.25 20.07 44.07 18.12 96.12 16.52 33.18 30.41 53.17 14.19 14.19 12.90 13.68 11.92 12.78 11.94 11.94 18.88 124.97 9.77 9.77 12.32 29.38 16.46 105.10 12.60 16.76 12.77 12.77 19.23 128.96 15.36 15.36 10.92 10.92 14.60 20.18 12.22 14.90 10.28 12.24 15.08 18.24 15.24 15.24 23.45 28.94 15.40 16.75

Strategic Sector (50-50) Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Strategic Sector (50-50) Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) ING C.U.B. Fund (Bonus) C.U.B. Fund (D) C.U.B. Fund (G) Contra Fund (B) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Core Equity Fund (D) Core Equity Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Domestic Opportunities Fund (D) Domestic Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan A (D) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan A (G) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan B (G) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund - Series I (D) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund - Series I (G) Tax Saving Fund (Bonus) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G)

12.99 13.13 14.75 18.41 13.80 13.80 16.19 11.82 16.19 15.65 13.35 15.64 18.52 35.00 18.69 20.56 12.94 34.27 15.69 19.76 10.49 10.48 10.70 11.98 11.97 26.66 13.13 26.62

J

JM Agri & Infra Fund (D) Agri & Infra Fund (G) Basic Fund (D) Basic Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Emerging Leaders Fund (D) Emerging Leaders Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Financial Services Sector Fund (D) Financial Services Sector Fund (G) HI FI Fund (D) HI FI Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Multi Strategy Fund (D) Multi Strategy Fund (G) Small & Mid-Cap Fund - Regular Plan (D) Small & Mid-Cap Fund - Regular Plan (G) Tax Gain Fund (D) Tax Gain Fund (G) Telecom Sector Fund (D) Telecom Sector Fund (G) JP Morgan India Tax Advantage Fund (D) India Tax Advantage Fund (G) India Equity Fund (D) India Equity Fund (G) India Smaller Companies Fund (D) India Smaller Companies Fund (G)

3.07 3.07 12.97 18.57 5.73 5.73 8.09 8.07 14.36 35.26 8.96 8.96 5.63 5.63 12.69 17.26 17.72 25.87 14.73 13.70 5.83 5.83 7.24 7.24 7.84 7.84 13.48 16.65 11.16 12.02 7.02 7.02

K

Kotak 30 (D) 30 (G) Contra (D) Contra (G) Emerging Equity Scheme (D) Emerging Equity Scheme (G) Global Emerging Market Fund (D) Global Emerging Market Fund (G) Indo World Infrastructure Fund (D) Indo World Infrastructure Fund (G) Lifestyle Fund (D) Lifestyle Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Select Focus Fund (D) Select Focus Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G)

29.96 94.99 17.99 20.56 11.25 11.25 9.08 9.08 7.26 7.26 10.25 11.83 16.07 23.10 15.00 43.20 10.73 10.73 10.59 17.29

L

L&T Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Global Advantage Fund (D) Global Advantage Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Hedged Equity Fund (D) Hedged Equity Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Multi-Cap Fund (D) Multi-Cap Fund (G)

9.90 9.90 7.08 10.22 16.84 35.65 9.11 12.84 7.60 7.60 22.02 38.16 14.42 18.09

the last 10 years as the country took a number of regulatory reforms and witnessed many financial products. To further increase these numbers, India is required to embark on major reforms to expand the retail customer base, spread the products beyond equities and make markets competitive to reduce costs, it said.

Indian primary as well as secondary markets are dependent on FIIs, who contribute more than 70% of the trading volume. There is a need to strengthen domestic institutional investors (DII) as well as retail participation, it said.

"Moving the Indian pension fund market closer to international levels could potentially create equity inflows of up to Rs 2,500 billion at current levels, giving a much needed boost to DII participation," it said. The report further said the current retail equity share, excluding promoters'' holdings,

Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund - Series I (D) Tax Advantage Fund - Series I (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G) LIC Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (D) Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (G) MF Equity Fund (D) MF Equity Fund (G) MF Growth Fund (D) MF Growth Fund (G) MF India Vision Fund (D) MF India Vision Fund (G) MF Opportunities Fund (D) MF Opportunities Fund (G) MF Tax Plan (D) MF Tax Plan (G) MF Top 100 Fund (D) MF Top 100 Fund (G)

18.50 42.24 6.07 6.07 14.50 19.73 14.11 15.19 9.43 9.43 9.83 24.95 10.76 12.14 8.55 8.55 10.05 17.66 9.83 27.45 8.12 8.12

M

Mirae Asset Global Commodity Stock Fund - Regular Plan (D) Global Commodity Stock Fund - Regular Plan (G) India Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (D) India Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (G) Morgan Stanley A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (D) A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G)

12.14 12.14 13.62 14.71 13.91 13.91 19.41 59.57

P

Principal Dividend Yield Fund (D) 15.39 Dividend Yield Fund (G) 20.86 Emerging Bluechip Fund (D) 23.61 Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) 29.83 Global Opportunities Fund (D) 16.29 Global Opportunities Fund (G) 16.29 Growth Fund (D) 23.04 Growth Fund (G) 50.84 Large Cap Fund (D) 19.38 Large Cap Fund (G) 26.17 Personal Tax Saver Fund 91.04 PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 Yrs - Series 1 (D) 11.25 PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 Yrs- Series 1 (G) 11.25 PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 Yrs - Series II (D) 11.33 PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 Yrs - Series II (G) 11.33 Resurgent India Equity Fund (D) 12.33 Resurgent India Equity Fund (G) 86.78 Services Industries Fund (D) 12.37 Services Industries Fund (G) 13.95 Tax Savings Fund 73.70

Q

Quantum Long-Term Equity Fund (D) Long-Term Equity Fund (G) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G)

R

19.53 19.37 19.41 19.41

Reliance Banking Fund (Bonus) 79.88 Banking Fund (D) 31.87 Banking Fund (G) 79.88 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail (Bonus) 80.02 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (D) 47.23 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (G) 80.02 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (B) 11.70 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.70 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.70 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 14.85 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 14.85 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 14.85 Equity Linked Saving Fund - Series I (D) 13.13 Equity Linked Saving Fund - Series I (G) 13.13 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 31.78 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (D) 22.45 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (G) 31.78 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 74.43 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (D) 55.00 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (G) 448.68 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 11.44 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.44 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.44 Long Term Equity Fund (D) 14.46 Long Term Equity Fund (G) 14.46 Media & Entertainment Fund (Bonus) 28.07 Media & Entertainment Fund (D) 20.18 Media & Entertainment Fund (G) 28.07 Natural Resources Fund (Bonus) 10.15 Natural Resources Fund (D) 10.15 Natural Resources Fund (G) 10.15 NRI Equity Fund (Bonus) 35.26 NRI Equity Fund (D) 20.98 NRI Equity Fund (G) 35.26 Pharma Fund (Bonus) 49.07 Pharma Fund (D) 36.60

Pg12 BOARD@MEETINGS

is low in India.

It suggested cut in complexity and cost of opening demat accounts, increased education and indirect investor participation through MFs to bring in more retail participation.

Hero Honda Shree Digvijay Cera Sanitary Channel Guide Midas Pharma Modern Steel Money Matters ETC Networks Sesa Goa TCS

Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA RELIANCE MUTUAL FUND has approved April 21, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend in the Reliance Fixed Horizon Fund-X-Series 7- Retail Plan, Institutional Plan and Super Institutional Plan. The face value per unit is Rs 10.

The fund house has decided to distribute upto 100% of distributable surplus available as on the record date, as dividend.

IDFC MUTUAL FUND has approved April 21, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under the dividend option of IDFC Fixed Maturity Plan - Thirteen Months Series-1 (IDEc-FMP-TMS1). The fund house has decided to distribute entire appreciation in net asset value of dividend option, since inception until April 21, 2010, as dividend.

KOTAK MAHINDRA MUTUAL FUND has approved April 21, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under the dividend option of Kotak Quarterly Interval Plan (QIP) Series 5. The face value per unit is Rs 10.

The fund house has decided to distribute upto 100% of distributable surplus available as on the record date, as dividend.

Pharma Fund (G) Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (B) Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (D) Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (G) Regular Savings Fund - Equity Option (D) Regular Savings Fund - Equity Option (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (D) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (G) Religare AGILE Fund (D) AGILE Fund (G) AGILE Tax Fund (D) AGILE Tax Fund (G) Banking Fund - Regular Plan (D) Banking Fund - Regular Plan (G) Business Leaders Fund (D) Business Leaders Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Mid N Small Cap Fund (D) Mid N Small Cap Fund (G) PSU Equity Fund (D) PSU Equity Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

49.07 11.85 11.85 11.85 22.67 29.08 14.94 19.17 42.71 41.48 254.29 6.26 6.25 7.15 7.15 13.17 16.99 11.53 11.53 11.82 15.29 11.88 11.88 11.49 11.50 8.18 8.18 13.05 13.05 12.70 12.71 10.08 10.08 13.16 15.89

S

Sahara Banking and Financial Services Fund (D) Banking and Financial Services Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure - Fixed Pricing Option (D) Infrastructure - Fixed Pricing Option (G) Infrastructure -Variable Pricing Option (D) Infrastructure -Variable Pricing Option (G) Midcap Fund (Bonus) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Midcap Fund (Growth Auto Payout) Power & Natural Resources Fund (D) Power & Natural Resources Fund (G) Star Value Fund (D) Star Value Fund (G) Super 20 Fund (D) Super 20 Fund (G) Tax Gain (D) Tax Gain (G) Wealth Plus - Variable Pricing Option (D) Wealth Plus - Variable Pricing Option (G) Wealth Plus Fund - Fixed Pricing Option (D) Wealth Plus Fund - Fixed Pricing Option (G) SBI Blue Chip Fund (D) Blue Chip Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund - Series I (D) Infrastructure Fund - Series I (G) Magnum Comma Fund (D) Magnum Comma Fund (G) Magnum Contra Fund (D) Magnum Contra Fund (G) Magnum Emerging Businesses Fund (D) Magnum Emerging Businesses Fund (G) Magnum Equity Fund (D) Magnum Equity Fund (G) Magnum Global Fund (D) Magnum Global Fund (G) Magnum NRI - Flexiasset Plan (D) Magnum NRI - Flexiasset Plan (G) Magnum Pharma Fund (D) Magnum Pharma Fund (G) Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (D) Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (G) One India Fund (D) One India Fund (G) Shinsei Industry Leaders Fund (D) Industry Leaders Fund (G) Sundaram BNP Paribas Capex Opportunities Fund (D) Capex Opportunities Fund (G) Equity Multiplier Fund (D) Equity Multiplier Fund (G) Financial Services Opportunities - Retail Plan (D) Financial Services Opportunities - Retail Plan (G) Growth Fund - Regular Plan (D) Growth Fund - Regular Plan (G) India Leadership Fund - Regular Plan (D) India Leadership Fund - Regular Plan (G) Media & Entertainment Opportunities - Retail (D) Media & Entertainment Opportunities - Retail (G) PSU Opportunities Fund (D) PSU Opportunities Fund (G) Rural India Fund (D) Rural India Fund (G)

15.94 25.26 28.70 76.55 12.20 16.68 12.61 17.17 28.73 19.51 28.73 28.73 13.01 13.01 11.65 11.65 10.89 10.89 14.98 33.61 19.21 19.21 18.61 18.61 12.27 14.09 10.48 10.48 16.34 24.19 25.63 55.85 16.33 36.83 30.25 40.10 28.78 51.49 27.86 27.75 31.33 37.91 39.51 57.96 10.80 10.80 10.54 10.54 13.42 25.42 10.99 13.47 13.03 16.39 11.29 84.44 11.61 37.98 12.43 15.75 9.82 9.82 12.19 13.38

S.M.I.L.E Fund - Regular Plan (D) S.M.I.L.E Fund - Regular Plan (G) Select Focus - Retail Plan (D) Select Focus - Retail Plan (G) Select Midcap - Regular Plan (D) Select Midcap - Regular Plan (G) Select Small Cap Fund (D) Select Small Cap Fund (G) Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (D) Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (G) Tax Saver (OE) (D) Tax Saver (OE) (G)

12.30 31.65 10.96 84.57 16.90 135.26 12.41 12.41 8.43 8.43 11.12 41.49

T

Tata Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Management Fund (D) Equity Management Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund - Plan A (D) Equity Opportunities Fund - Plan B (G) Equity P/E Fund (G) Equity P/E Fund - Trigger Option A 5% (D) Equity P/E Fund - Trigger Option B 10% (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure - Plan A (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure - Plan A (G) Growing Economies Infrastructure - Plan B (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure - Plan B (G) Select Equity Fund (D) Select Equity Fund (G) Service Industries Fund (D) Service Industries Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund - 1 (D) Tax Advantage Fund - 1 (G) Tax Saving Fund Taurus Bonanza Fund (D) Bonanza Fund (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Ethical Fund (Bonus) Ethical Fund (D) Ethical Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Star Share (D) Star Share (G) Tax Shield (D) Tax Shield (G)

13.75 14.72 15.24 16.17 20.66 29.03 12.69 13.68 22.45 80.29 44.36 38.88 39.31 11.44 11.44 12.04 12.04 44.08 61.45 19.38 24.15 14.69 14.69 42.86 39.41 39.16 14.86 14.85 21.70 16.27 21.72 14.26 14.21 35.51 50.44 18.99 32.04

U

UTI Banking Sector Fund (D) Banking Sector Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Energy Fund (D) Energy Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Equity Tax Savings Plan (D) Equity Tax Savings Plan (G) India Lifestyle Fund(D) India Lifestyle Fund(G) Infrastructure Advantage Fund - Series I (D) Infrastructure Advantage Fund - Series I (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Leadership Equity Fund (D) Leadership Equity Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Master Equity Plan Unit Scheme Master Plus Unit Scheme (D) Master Plus Unit Scheme (G) Master Value Fund (D) Master Value Fund (G) Mastershare (D) Mastershare (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) MNC Fund (D) MNC Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Pharma & Healthcare Fund (D) Pharma & Healthcare Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Top 100 Fund (D) Top 100 Fund (G) Wealth Builder Fund (D) Wealth Builder Fund (G) Wealth Builder Fund - Series II - Retail Plan (D) Wealth Builder Fund - Series II - Retail Plan (G) Long Term Advantage Fund - Series II (D) Long Term Advantage Fund - Series II (G) Transportation and Logistics Fund (D) Transportation and Logistics Fund (G)

21.51 35.40 12.72 13.78 14.09 28.44 12.62 11.13 43.04 48.70 16.01 37.64 10.19 10.19 9.17 9.17 20.27 35.58 13.59 14.66 12.29 12.29 45.46 54.37 75.42 23.61 46.63 28.93 49.00 22.06 29.62 34.18 50.85 12.88 24.11 28.25 34.61 24.05 55.94 22.02 26.82 14.57 15.55 15.08 17.26 13.24 13.24 14.94 24.47

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HE RA LD

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GOA, TUESDAY, 19 APRIL, 2010

Mkts to remain edgy on Goldman, RBI policy

‘Selling car above actual price unfair’ PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

The National Consumer Commission has upheld an order of a state forum directing an authorized car dealer to pay Rs 30,000 to a person for selling the vehicle above the price mentioned in the bill.

"We have no reason to take a different view of the matter as the petitioner had misrepresented that ex-showroom price of the vehicle was Rs 3.63 lakh whereas it was only Rs 3.33 lakh which is clear from the bill," the Commission, comprising Members Justice K S Gupta and Justice R K Batta, said.

It passed the order on a plea of Kota-based Kamal Auto Hyundai, seeking to set aside a Rajasthan State Consumer Commission order which had directed the agency to pay Rs 30,000 to buyer Pavan Chand with interest but set aside the compensation of Rs 10,000, awarded by the District Forum.

The Commission agreed with the view of the lower consumer fora that there was a deficiency in service and unfair trade practice in misrepresenting the facts to the customer as there was a reasonable difference between the price demanded and the actual one.

The complainant moved the District Forum for refund of extra money alleging deficiency in service and unfair trade practice which gave its decision in his favour.

PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

The domestic stock market is likely to remain under pressure on concerns of a possible rate hike by the apex bank on Tuesday and the lawsuit by the US markets regulator against Goldman Sachs for securities-related fraud, say analysts. The market is likely to open on a week note reflecting the steep fall on the Wall Street last weekend after US Securities and Exchange Commission charged Goldman Sachs with fraud on sub-prime mortgages, they point out.

"There will be a weak opening for the markets on Monday.

It will then look at global cues for direction and is expected to move sideways from there on,"CNI Research MD Kishor P Ostwal said.

Interest rate-sensitive sec-

tors like banking, realty and auto would be watched during the week as any interest rate hike would bring down the shares of the companies in these sectors. "The RBI policy announcement on Tuesday will further tighten the liquidity or interest rates, which will dampen markets," HDFC Securities head for private broking and wealth management Vinod Sharma said.

Marketmen, however, expects that the decline will be short-lived and later on buying will emerge at lower levels. The course of the market will be decided by the earnings and guidance by TCS and RIL. "The market will take cues from the result performances of TCS and RIL which is due to come in the next week and especially the outlook of these companies for the current fis-

cal," SMC Capital vice-president Rajesh Jain said. This week the BSE Sensex dropped nearly 2 per cent to close at 17,591.18 points.

The barometer index snapped nine consecutive weeks of gains, during which it gained 11 per cent. On Friday last, the US market regulator had charged investment banking major Goldman Sachs with fraud and causing an loss of over USD 1 billion to investors by misrepresenting facts about a financial product tied to sub-prime mortgages.

Following this, the Dow Jones declined 132 points or 1.13% to close at 11,018.66 and S&P 500 ended down by 1.61% to 1,192.13. During the week foreign funds put in over Rs 10,881.5 crore in the domestic market.

WiMax to drive broadband growth in India: Intel PTI TAIPEI, APRIL 18

Wireless technologies like WiMax will lead the Indian broadband growth story, helping achieve the goal of having 100 million broadband users by 2014, world''s largest chipmaker Intel said here today.

The government has set a target of achieving 100 million broadband subscribers by 2014

LAUNCH PAD

Panasonic 50” full HD 3D Plasma TV

PANJIM (HBD) -- Ranbir Kapoor launched Panasonic's 50-inch Full HD 3D compatible plasma display panel (PDF) and highprecision active shutter glasses that enable the viewing of theatre-quality, true-to-life 3D images in living rooms.

Aiming to bring Full HD 3D TVs to the market in 2010, the company steps up its efforts in developing the related technology, Ranbir Kapoor has been associated with Panasonic from last more than a year now and feels proud to be a part of the team as he himself is a complete tech savvy person.

The new PDF and glasses evolved from Panasonic's worldfirst Full HD 3D Plasma Home Theatre Systeml that was developed in 2008 and comprised of a 103-inch POP and a Blu-ray Disc player, theatres.

The 50-inch PDP uses Panasonic's newly-developed highspeed, 3D drive technology that enables rapid illumination of pixels while maintaining brightness. The panel also incorporates across talk reduction technology allowing for minimizing double-image (ghosting) that occurs when left- and right-eye images are alternately displayed. PDPs have excellent video response with full moving picture resolution2. The new panel offers even improved performance, achieving clear, high-quality and high-resolution images in 3D. The high-precision active shutter glasses incorporate Panasonic's technology that precisely controls the active shutters with the left- and right-eye images shown on the PDP. All these technologies work in tandem with each other to create Full HD 3D images that delivering immersive, movie-theatre-like experience in which the viewers can feel as if they were part of the scene.

To describe further about the technologies involved with the new panel, Panasonic newly developed the high-speed 3D drive and crosstalk reduction technologies to improve plasma's unique properties to deliver crisp and clear Full HD 3D images.

Panasonic also developed the crosstalk reduction technology using newly-developed phosphors with short luminescence decay time and illumination control technology to reduce double-images that occur when left- and right-eye image are alternated on the panel.

Samsung’s Corby TV, Metro TV PANJIM (HBD) -- Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, announced the launch of India’s first mobile phone duo with integrated broadband Mobile TV on the CDMA platform – Corby TV and Metro TV. The integrated customized TV solution for Corby TV has been developed by Samsung in association with Apalya Technologies Pvt Ltd. Corby TV has a large 2.8” QVGA vibrant TFT display and a highly optimized content bit rate which enables easy streaming and a seamless TV viewing experience.

For users of Corby Speed, Samsung is also offering free software upgrades to Corby TV. The Corby TV is priced at Rs 9699.

In addition to Corby TV, Samsung has also launched Metro TV in the CDMA market with superior content streaming capabilities. The Metro TV boasts of mobile broadband capabilities upto 2.4 Mbps and multimedia downloads direct to the Micro SD card. The Metro TV is priced at Rs 6999.

Tata Photon Plus Offer: Free Mobile TV Subscription for 3 months from the date of activation plus 15GB data usage free per month, up to 2 months for Postpaid and 10GB data usage free for 2 months on Prepaid.

Thus Prepaid consumer can watch approximately 100 hours of TV Free on Tata Photon Plus service for 2 months from the date of activation and Postpaid Subscriber on Tata Photon Plus service can watch approximately 150 hours of TV free per month for 2 months from the date of activation.

Reliance Mobile Offer: Free Mobile TV Subscription for 2 months from the date of activation plus Up to 15GB data usage free per month, up to 2 months for Postpaid and Up to 10GB data usage free for 1 month on Prepaid.

Thus Prepaid consumer can watch up to approximately 100 hours of TV Free on Reliance Mobile service from the date of activation for 1 month and Postpaid Subscriber on Reliance Mobile can watch up to 150 hours of TV free per month for 2 months from the date of activation.Both the offers are valid till June 30, 2010.

as against 8.59 million users by the end of February 2010.

"India has over 8.5 million broadband customers as of now and the copper line infrastructure is limited. So going wireless is the only option for India and the growth will come from wireless technologies like WiMax," Intel managing director (WiMax programme office-APAC and META business development) Lil Mohan told PTI, adding over the next threefour years, majority of broad-

band connections would be on the wireless platform.

WiMax (worldwide interoperability for microwave access) is designed to provide highspeed access to the Internet with much faster data downloads. Intel, which makes chips for the WiMax platform, works with partners like equipment vendors for deployment of the technology.

Mohan expects the bidding process for WiMax to be over

by May and that players would

commence operations by yearend. "The next few years are big for WiMax and one would see huge growth in numbers.

High-speed data access is expected to bridge the urbanrural digital divide and help address concerns of delivering essential services like education, finance and healthcare," he said. Asked about end-consumer pricing, he said, "pricing is going to be important as it has been for the telecom industry.

It will provide people access to high-speed broadband, which will further bring in growth for the economy." A study by McKinsey projects that a country''s GDP expands by 0.6 per cent for every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration.

The auction of spectrum for mobile broadband is slated later this month in the country and the government has received applications from 11 companies, including Bharti

Airtel, Idea Cellular and Aircel.

This is expected to make the bidding process highly competitive.

The government has kept the reserve price at Rs 1,750 crore for pan-India spectrum licence. Two blocks of 2.3 MHz spectrum in each circle will be put up for auction.

Successful bidders are also expected to immediately launch services, providing the much needed thrust to increase broadband penetration.

Pg13 DCB eyeing Rs 150 cr through QIP PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

Development Credit Bank (DCB) plans to raise Rs 150 crore through a QIP after sixmonths by which time it expects to return to profitability, a top bank official said.

"We have obtained our Board approval to raise Rs 150 crore through a QIP. This will, however, be done only in the next 6-12 months depending upon market conditions. Our first aim is to return to profitability," DCB's MD and CEO, Murali Natrajan said.

The bank posted a loss of Rs 78 crore in FY 10, reducing it from Rs 88 crore in the yearago period. In Q4 FY 10, its loss stood at Rs eight crore, substantially down from the Rs 91 crore in the year-ago period.

"We aim to return to profit after the first two quarters of this fiscal. We are well-capitalised with our capital adequacy ratio at 14.9 per cent (Basel II) and hence there is no urgency to raise funds," Natrajan said.

Credit growth is expected to pick-up going forward and the bank would consider this aspect, as well as prevailing market conditions before going-in for fund-raising, he said.

Board approval has also been obtained to raise up to Rs 200 crore through a rights issue but this might not be resorted to, he said.

Gruh Fin looking to raise Rs 100 cr Tier II capital PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

Small-ticket home-loans lender, Gruh Finance, plans to raise around Rs 100 crore of Tier II capital through an issue of nonconvertible debentures, most likely in the second-quarter of this fiscal, a top company official said.

"We might consider a private placement of non-convertible debentures in Q2 this fiscal to raise funds of around Rs 100 crore in our Tier II structure," Gruh Finance's Managing Director, Sudhin Choksey said.

Gruh Finance is a subsidiary of HDFC with the latter holding a slightly over 60 per cent stake in the company.

The company will decide on the timing depending upon prevailing market conditions,

he said.

"We don't want to borrow at high rates. We will wait for the right time, most probably till Q2 this fiscal," Choksey said.

The company is strong on the capital front with its capital adequacy ratio at 16.5 per cent and hence, there is no urgency to raise funds, he said.

The company clocked a net profit after tax at Rs 68.96 crore in FY 10, up from the Rs 50.28 crore in the year-ago period.

Gruh Finance expects a 20 per cent growth in its disbursals this fiscal.

"There is a good demand and we expect a 20 per cent growth in disbursals this fiscal, Choksey said.

Gruh Finance, which presently services around

50,000 customers, is a leading player in small-ticket home loans of up to Rs five lakh and in locations with a population of less than 50,000.

"The strategy this fiscal will be to consolidate our operations in the seven states where we are operating in presently. We are very strong in Gujarat, Maharashtra and north Karnataka," Choksey said.

The company now plans to expand its footprint into south Karnataka as well, besides strengthening its operations in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, he said.

"We want to consolidate and emerge strong in our present markets. We will look at further expansion after that," Choksey said.

M&M eyes double-digit growth in 2-wheelers PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is eyeing a double-digit growth in its two-wheeler business in the next two-years and will also explore the inorganic growth route for expansion, a senior company official said.

"We are growing and will continue to grow to make M&M a strong brand in the two-wheeler segment. We are targeting a double-digit growth in the next two-years by grab-

bing opportunities which will enable us to grow faster," Mahindra & Mahindra (twowheeler sector), President, Anoop Mathur said.

M&M which took over the two-wheeler business of Kinetic Motor in 2008, has already launched three 125-cc scooters—two power scooters, Mahindra Rodeo and Duro--and the Mahindra Flyte.

The company is targeting the adult stylish male for the Rodeo, while the Duro is tar-

HDFC retail loans grow 25% PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

Country's second largest private sector lender, HDFC Bank has seen a growth of 25 per cent in its retail loan book in the last fiscal on the back of healthy demand from home, auto and personal loan segments.

In March alone, the lender disbursed around Rs 4,000crore retail advances, out of which auto loans comprised Rs 1,300-crore, home loans Rs 1,200-crore and personal loans around Rs 600 crore, HDFC Bank's Country Head, Retail Asset's & Credit Cards, Pralay Mondal said.

"Overall there is a pick up in demand for retail loans.

Clearly, the consumer confidence has come back and we expect to sustain the growth momentum in FY 11 as well," Mondal said.

During FY 10, HDFC Bank is understood to have clocked a growth of 30-35 per cent in its total loan book, which is way

above the average growth achieved by the industry during the period.

On Friday, private sector lender, Indusind Bank announced a 30 per cent loan growth in FY 10 and said that the growth in FY 11 is likely to be 25-30 per cent.

The credit growth in the banking industry in last year stood at 16.7 per cent just above the 16 per cent credit growth target set by the Reserve Bank of India.

Promoted by mortgage lender Housing Development Finance Corporation, HDFC Bank has total gross advances of Rs 1,21,051 crores and total deposits stood at Rs 1,54,789 crores as on December 31,2009.

As of now, nearly 55 per cent of the loan book of HDFC Bank comprises retail assets and the rest corporate advances. Moving ahead, the lender would focus equally on both portfolios, Mondal said.

geted at the entire family. The Flyte is for the women commuter. The company has sold 70,008 units in FY 10.

"We have already achieved a milestone in the two-wheeler segment after selling 10,000 units within four-months of launch. We are very optimistic about the future," Mathur said.

The company presently has an eight per cent market share in the scooter segment and is looking to increase it this year.

Fruity water from Bisleri soon PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

Bottled water major, Bisleri International, plans to launch water with fruity flavors this summer or in the coming festive season, a top company official said.

"We plan to launch flavored water and the research for the same is on. We are waiting for the right time to launch it. We want to hit on the right flavour like peach or green apple or anything which is different and appealing to our consumers. We are also looking at value-added flavoured water like natural ayurvedic additive. It will cater to consumers who are tired of plain water or sweetened carbonated drinks," Bisleri's Director, Anjana Ghosh said.

Today's consumer has become very health-conscious and is very keen on having something different like having a fruity taste added to water, Ghosh said.

Mobile Store to adopt organic, inorganic routes PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

Essar group-promoted The Mobile Store (TMS), plans to adopt both the organic and inorganic routes for growth and also rejig its operations, a senior company official said.

The Consumer Durables and IT (CDIT) products-chain plans to enter Tier III towns and add 300 more stores this fiscal, TMS' CEO, Srikant Gokhale said.

Presently, it has 1,300 stores in 200 cities.

The company would strongly focus on smaller towns in a bid to tap the high-potential existing there, he said.

"We will be adding 300 more stores this year with our our main focus on the high poten-

tial and catchment areas in rural India. The opportunity is immense in the small towns.

We are looking at organic growth as well as acquisitions," Gokhale said.

Gokhale did not, however, divulge details of any planned acquisitions or capex plans of the company for this year.

TMS, had early this year, acquired a CDIT player, Xcite, a franchise of Alghanim Industries, one of the largest retailers in the Middle-East and which had seven stores in India. TMS also plans to revamp its stores with a view to make it a more touch, feel and interactive one.

"We want to change the whole experience of shopping at TMS. The stores will now be

more interactive as customers can touch and feel the handsets or other gizmos and understand its usage. This way we will be able to engage our customers completely," Gokhale added.

The company also plans to introduce more brands of smartphones, IT goods and accessories in the coming months, he said.

TMS enjoys a 45 per cent share in the Rs 8,000 crore CDIT market and is growing at par with the industry level of 10-12 per cent year-on-year.

Gokhale, who earlier used to head Xcite, said that the company would also be investing heavily on adding more workforce and on training its sales force.

Videocon to invest Rs 15,000 cr in mobile biz PTI AHMEDABAD, APRIL 18

Videocon Mobile Services (VMS) has set a mammoth target of achieving 10 crore customers in three years and would invest Rs 15,000 crore in the sector.

V N Dhoot, chairman of Videocon group, while launching its services in Gujarat said that telecommunication is one of the focused areas of the group and it will invest Rs 15000 crore to develop necessary infrastructure in the coun-

try.

"Today, Videocon is starting its services in Gujarat where the company has earmarked an investment of Rs 1000 crore for its GSM venture," Dhoot said.

"In coming months, we will target to cover 100 per cent of the urban population and 50 per cent of rural population in the state. Our services will be offered from around 20,000 retail outlets at the beginning and plan to cover 45,000 outlets in next two months," he said, elaborating on the com-

pany's aggressive plans for GSM venture in the state.

Talking about 3G services, he said that it would bring revolution in the telecommunication sector. Videocon has applied for 3G services and has aggressive plans for the same, he added.

According to Dhoot, what will differentiate Videocon mobile from other service providers is its innovative tariff plans and value added services (VAS) which will be rolled out very shortly.

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CAREERS & EDUCATION

GOA, Monday, 19 April, 2010

Managing And Protecting Intellectual Property- I

T

he world economy is slowly but surely moving towards the knowledge economy, innovations and new inventions are increasingly intangible in nature. This makes it difficult for the innovator or the inventor to apply for patents for these new kinds of innovations. This changed scenario led to the development of the concept of IP. As more intellectual advancement takes place in a developed country, the perils of intellectual theft are frequently faced by them. The situation is worse of in a matured economy than a growing one. A still not-muchpublicised career is that of a Patent Attorney OR Manager.

Mind business Intellectual property, also IP, is all about allowing people to own their creativity and innovation like they hold any physical property. IP protects innovation and ideas, thus paves way for intellectual work to flourish without any hindrance. Whatever comes under creations of the mind is called IP. IP Management Dividing IPR Management across industries would be as follows: IT and Telecom Technology.

Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Energy, Oil and Gas Technology Of these three options, currently the most business is focused on IT, Telecom, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology.

However industry players believe that the next 20 years will belong to IPR Management to the Energy field. There are many other forms of patents based on industry.

Within each of these paths, it can further be divided into the following roles. * Commercialization analysis * Identifying useless IPR

ties

* Determining the royal-

* Market dynamics of technology sub-segment Work The role of an IPR specialist is to help the inventor gain patents on his invention. The inventor can be a large corporation, a small business a team

By Maria de Lima Pereira of scientists and even a lone inventor that's working out of his garage. The first step taken by the IPR specialist is to understand the invention itself. he then researcher whether such technology already exists in some form. After this he goes about understanding how best the invention can be patented so that maximum monetization is achieved. The final step is to file the patent with the Patent Office.

The IPR Specialist in India

does about 80 percent of his peer in the US. This is because in India the specialist does not pursue litigation. Once Indian courts see more action in the IPR space, we can expert more IPR specialists that can apply their skills in court.

The thrill is picking up an unstructured problem and then fixing it. The work culture is extremely young and therefore they energy is enormous. They interact with people dealing in R&D for over 20 years, CFOs and CTOs, and so the level of interaction is at another level all together," he says. illustrating the high points of job.

Eligibility Anyone who is at least a graduate in science, technology or engineering can become an IPR attorney. There is no need to already have a law degree to become an IPR attorney. Students have to pass an exam to be registered as a patent attorney. The exam would be held every year in November, comprises two papers (100 marks each) followed by a viva voce (100 marks). If

the candidate does not have a degree in law, a qualifying exam is conducted at the patents office in Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi.

Skill Sets An IPR specialist needs to degree in science or engineering and then supplement this with a degree in law. Considering that IPR Management covers a number of industries, specialists fro/for each industry is required.

If the professional is moving laterally from, being a telecom engineer and into IPR Management of telecom technologies, then he comes with a certain amount of skill sets already. From here he would have to gain the legal acumen to understand how to apply his skills in IPR Management.

Training of a fresher usually takes two to three years.

The brand of your graduate or PG college helps only initially.

After about two years this disparity disappears and growth is based purely on performance.

A thorough knowledge of a technology field will always be preferred to high scores in tests.

Experience gained on the first jobs in specific domains, can be applied in the respective fields within IP management.

To be a successful IP Attorney, a grasp of the law with a good knowledge of IT and technologies is essential. The internals and workings of technology, products and processes would come handy while doing research. Knowledge of technology is more important than the law itself, since the IP attorney is dealing only in the Copyright Act and nothing else, unless of course he or she is practicing in other forms of law.

Sensing intellectual theft and trying to curb the situation is very important for an IP Attorney.

If the situation goes out of hand an IPR attorney should have a sound knowledge of law to bring the responsible persons to books.

A good writing, presentation skill and research oriented are few of the soft skills which are looked for in an IPR Attorney.

Help Make Your Company’s Website An Effective Marketing Tool

T

oday’s economic times demand pragmatic spending.

Businesses need to find innovative as well as practical solutions that help them continue attracting customers and maintaining awareness among their target audiences in the market place.

Your company Web site provides such a practical solution.

With the tight budgets and limited resources in today’s business environment, organizations are forced to closely evaluate spending especially when it comes to marketing. A Web site, however, is a tool that all businesses can leverage to help increase brand exposure, expand their target market and help grow their business.

Today, India has over 81 million Internet users1. According to industry forecasts, the number of Internet users is expected to nearly double to 1.8 billion worldwide through 20102. Being a part of this ever-expanding digital world starts with your Web site.

Your Web site can be a cost-effective way to help promote your business to various target audiences and communicate your business strengths. Think of your Web site as a calling card or an elevator pitch. It can quickly and easily convey your company’s offerings, its strengths and allow interested visitors to buy your products or services. It helps position your business as efficient to consumers, competitive to potential investors, and it can serve as the first introduction to people you want to hire.

Like most things, building your Web site into an effective marketing tool starts with the basics. The site needs to be easy to use, branded to suit your company image and have customer service response systems in place.

The right domain name A domain name represents your company’s brand and identity on the Internet. To help boost your recognizability on the Web, your domain name should be simple, easy to remember and something that people can associate with your

company.

Selecting the right domain name helps increase your visibility on the net. A .com domain name is a good choice, since it is one of the most popular domain names on the Internet today3. It is by far the most likely extension most people try when searching for a Web site, and today’s Internet search engines are geared to recognize .com.

If the domain name you want for your company is already

ta ken , yo u c a n search for similar words or names, an interesting tag line, a product or service name, or consider a ”Hinglish” option.

Yo u c a n also

use a domain name suggestion tool freely available on most .com registration sites.

You may also want to consider registering multiple domain names at this stage in order to increase the chances of your potential customers finding you online. These similar name domains can be possible misspelling and variations of your

main domain name. These other domain names can be used to redirect your visitors to your main Web site.

Content is King A key factor to a successful Web site is good content. This requires effective planning and presentation of information based on an understanding your customers’ requirements. It is therefore prudent to determine your target audience and then build content that responds to their specific r e quirements vis-àv i s your business.

navigation

We b

Clear Web site Good navigational design is an essential ingredient for any good W e b site; nav-

igation is t h e roadmap of your site.

Visi-

tors to your Web site need to know three essential things: where they are, where they can

go, and how they can get back to where they came from.

Helping your customers find you Helping people find your Web site on the Internet is also important. You should promote your domain name at every opportunity, from the business card to office supplies. This helps introduce your company to businesses who may not be familiar with what you do but have a need for your services and products.

In addition, you can register your domain name on one or more search engine Web sites, since many Internet users utilize these Web sites to search for companies and services. Besides registering the Web site, some technical adjustments are also important in your Web site development (“search engine optimization”), so that it responds better to the searches.

Listing your Web site for visibility You can also agree with another website owner of a similar or related interest to list each other’s Web site links. To do so, locate Web sites that make a good match to your own and contact the owner to ask if they will link to your Web site in exchange for you linking to theirs.

If you sell accessories on your Web site, for example, you can set up a link exchange with another Web site that sells apparel or shoes.

Having a .com domain name also helps to increase your visibility on the net. A .com domain is one of the most popular domain names on the Internet today3 and is by far the most likely extension most people try when searching for a Web site.

For more information, SMS COM to 53030.

In today’s economic environment, businesses will be wellserved to look at their company’s Web site as an effective marketing tool that helps to maintain consistent brand exposure, especially with limited resources.

During the first quarter of 2009, the overall base of .com and .net domain names grew to 92.4 million domain names, according to the VeriSign Domain Name Industry Brief (June 2009)

Trust Potential That Exists In Goa

S

ometimes there is a lot a person would like to do in life. However circumstances force us to make some tough decisions. The joys of success are sweet though, when one achieves despite all odds.

In 1984, the shacks along the coastline did brisk business. Miguel Rodrigues was then a young man with a lot of drive within him. His intention was to study further. But, due to circumstance in those days, he had to take a decision between continuing with his education or helping his father run their shack at Colva. Eventually, he opted to help his father. “The competition in those days was very stiff and this did not allow us to expand,” he recalls.

As time went by like any youngster would dream, Miguel also had a dream. It would surely tend towards some kind of expansion. “I dreamt that I would start a restaurant in my village,” he says. He took his dream to a next level before becoming reality when he bought a plot of land in his village, Benaulim in 1997.

Miguel has gone through setbacks, and another misjudgement did put him through some hard times.

But then the enterprising entrepreneur went on to start a small restaurant in the plot he purchased. Thus his dream came true in every way. “I named it ‘Joecons’ after my parents Jose and Conçeição,” he reveals with pride.

Incidentally, in the same year he ventured into the fishing business. “From a modest start with one fishing trawler, I went on to buy five trawlers in six to seven years,” he says with some satisfaction. Eventually another God sent opportunity came by and Miguel joined as a partner in a firm called ‘Quality Goods and Exports’ that was the initiative of Ibrahim Maulana. The firm

has three partners and is dedicated to fish exports business.

Today the company reports of a great success rate with a great team at the helm.

‘Joecons’ has now celebrated 25 years of its existence as a business enterprise. On the occasion, the new venture ‘Joecons Beach Resort’ was inaugurated. “This is another stepping stone that was set off by that initial venture called ‘Joecons’,” avers Miguel. But Miguel hastens to add, “I have many more dreams, but I look up to God’s blessings to make them all reality one day.” He dedicates his success to, “Hard work and the grace of God that has been with me along this journey to success.”

Miguel cannot stop his heart from spilling out some of his in-

timate thoughts about Goa. “Goans today don’t seem to trust the potential that exists in Goa. Yet at every step I take, I can see a business opportunity,” he muses. The depths of his heart pour out when he says, “I request the people of Goa in general and the youth of my village in particular, to trust their potential and start something. There a re a l o t o f unutilized opportunities lying within our reach!” He feels this happens because there is no proper guidance given to youngsters today. All want to make a quick buck. But Miguel has some wise words to say on this, “You must not run after money, money must run after you!”

We must strive to develop

our villages instead of fighting each other,” he adds . Miguel gives an example of his own village, “Earlier Benaulim was dependent on fishing. Now it is more dependent on tourism. I request our politicians to come forward and make changes for the good of our villages,” he pleads.

Miguel has some strong opinions about what needs to be done, especially to improve the tourism industry in Goa, “In Benaulim, for instance, the prawn hatchery that is now abandoned, could be converted into a sea aquarium of international standards. Also garbage treatment plants must come up at any cost.”

Miguel is confident and completely trusts the potential Goa has. He says, “So many things can be generated in unexpected ways, thus generating a decent livelihood. But this can happen only if we trust the potential that exists.”

REGENCY INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES SCHOOL OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT Press Release Plus+ The Hospitality industry plays a major role in the overall economic growth of the country. Along with the rapid industrial growth and promotion of tourism, the catering and hotel sector is booming and offering huge job prospects to Indians.

'Hotels in India' have supply of 110,000 rooms. According to the tourism ministry, 4.4 million tourists visited India last year and at current trend, demand will soar to 10 million in 2010 - to accommodate 350 million domestic travellers. With this era of globalization and growth in the Hospitality industry, the demand for qualified and experienced professionals in India and overseas is increasing.

RIMS School of Hotel Management is registered under society act of Govt. West Bengal. The college is affiliated to London Centre of Management. London UK, Wing of Cavendish College, Under British Accreditation Council for Independent and Higher Education.

Certificates are also awarded from NAAC-A grade University, recognized by UGC, Min. of H.R. Govt. of India The institute is dedicated to provide "Quality Education & training" of International Standard. The aim is to produce graduates who can function effectively as managers by applying his/her developed skill & knowledge in Hotel and other service industries.

Courses offered at RIMS are: Diploma in Food & Beverage Service-1year Certificate in Food & Beverage Service- 6 months Diploma in Food Production - 1 year Certificate in Food Production- 6 months Diploma in Front Office – 1 year

Why RIMS Sophisticated and innovative training methods.

100% guaranteed placementachieved in India and Abroad from last three consecutive years.

Internationally Accepted Curriculum.

Exams conducted directly by LCM & UNIVERSITY. Corporate etiquette - Interface ( Students vs. Corporate leaders) Over 22hours of on job Training every week.

Over 30hours of Classroom interactions every week.

Over 12hours of In-House practical every week.

Teacher student ratio 1:20 RIMS Support Centre facilitates theoretical inputs, practicals, on-the-job training, designed guest contact exposure, compilation of feasibility reports for new ventures, educational tours, Seminars, Workshops, Personality development opportunities.

For further details contact: Branch office: PHONE:-0832-6484946/3293983 House No.337, Near Dolphin Fountain FAX: -033-2710726 Before B M Services, Borda, Margao, Goa E-mail: info@rimskolkata.com Website: -www.rimskolkata.com

ARENA ANIMATIONS,

Camp for students between the age group of 10 years to 16 years so that they understand fundamental concepts of Animation, and can take informed decisions about careers in this field.

In this camp students will be involved in learning the fundamentals of computers, Multimedia, Basic Art, Drawing, Scanning and Coloring, Working with Animation, Creating a Character, Animating a Character, Applying Sound and Motion and finally a Project and will get to know all the different ways to express Art. The Teachers are great Artists who love teaching. Do not miss

Panaji is the Animation & Multimedia education brand of Aptech in Goa. Students who go through the ANIMATION career courses offered by Arena Animations can find placements in a wide spectrum of Industries This summer, this Academy is promoting a Creativity Contest on Graphic Designs on the subject A NEW WORLD – VISION 2050, open to amateurs in the age group of 12 – 30. The contest will be held in the Premises between 22 and 30 of May, and the prize distribution will be on 18 June. And on offer are prizes worth Rs 50000/-

A

Participants can choose to enter in any one of the following modules.

Sketching , Digital Graphics or Matte Painting.

The event is sponsored by White Cloud, Gera Developments Pvt Ltd & Mustafas.

The judges, Greg Acunha, Assis D’Souza, Roque Fernandes, M u t h u k u m a r, Koushik Chakraborty and Floyd Sequeira, are highly experienced and drawn from the Trade.

Registrations are open till 30 April on approved entry forms with one photograph.

Also, for aspiring animators, this year, the Academy offers a unique Animation Summer

the opportunity to enroll in this unique activity to enhance your children’s creativity and artistic skills. The sessions are conducted in a safe and artistically rich environment.

For further information please contact 9423885224, 9823013484, 9823611824, 2225153 or mgmanimations@gmail.com or visit our website www.mgmgoa.com or our centre at Arena Animations Academy (franchisee Panaji Goa MGM Animations Academy), Midas Touch, 3rd Floor, Panaji Market Square, Opp. Hotel Navtara, Above HDFC Bank, Panjim – Goa

How To Deal With Ragging?

lthough ragging is a punishable offence, we still see youngsters hanging themselves to the ceiling. A bully will always do what he is good at, but what is topping you from defending yourself? If not anything, you should at least learn to defend yourself against any potential danger of any magnitude. The world will always suppress the weak, but you have the choice to be weak or well built.

One man with courage makes a majority. If you want to protect yourself you should first change the way you think. If you think you are too feeble you will always be dominated and bullied.

You have to tell yourself that there is nothing more important then yourself respect. If you can’t defend yourself you lose all rights to be respectable.

It is always better to jump in the battlefield and then die fighting rather then dieing without even trying.

It is true that no one makes you feel inferior without your consent. Nobody will rag you

unless you allow them to. Don’t allow anybody to scare you, believe that you are mighty enough to scare them all.

O n c e you let it happen to you, y o u will never have the courage to fight it. If you are unable to do it yourself you can always resort to help. If you are alone and nobody is in sight when you are

being ragged raise an alarm and shout for help. You can be sure that you’ll be heard. A drowning man will clutch at a straw.

Most of the time, the ones ragging, are the ones who put up a strong face but are uncourageous, actually. Like we say, empty vessels make the most noise. Because ragging usually takes place when you are a fresher, being extra alert then can be of help. Learn a few basic self defence mechanisms. Keep things handy that can help you protect yourself like pepper spray or if needed, a Swiss knife.

Remember that facing your fears is the best way to fight them. Might is right!

junior herald :Layout 1 4/15/2010 4:00 PM Page 1

OHERALDO

Pg15

Goa Monday 19 April 2010

www.oheraldo.in

A Kid's Life In...China N

i hao (hello), my name is Goashuang. I'm a 10-year old girl living in Beijing, the capital of a beautiful Asian country, China. I speak Mandarin and like most of the people in my country, I belong to the Han ethnic tribe. Did you know that China has more people than any other country in the world? In fact, one fifth of the world's population lives in China. We have tall mountains, farmland, lowlands, plains, and dry deserts.

I just got back from playing a game of ping pong with my friends. Ping pong is my favourite game. Some other games my friends and I like to play are volleyball, basketball, and badminton.

Boy is it cold. It gets pretty cold in the winter, but in the summer it's warmer. Unfortunately it's not summer right now; it's the cold winter. I have school tomorrow and I can usually count on it being extra cold there. I have to wake up at seven o'clock, in the morning so that I can be at school at eight o’clock . I have ten minutes between classes and a two-hour lunch break. I am in the f i f t h grade. I will start junior high school in the seventh grade. There are three years of junior high school. After that I will start senior high. There are three years of that too. I go to school six days a week and have a holiday on Sunday. At school I learn to write using the Chinese writing system.

We use characters instead of an alphabet. Each character is a symbol that stands for a complete word. I usually ride my bike to school. A lot of

people ride bikes in China.

On Sunday my family goes to the park. We do not go to any type of church since our government discourages religion. We watch people practice T'ai Chi Ch'uan i n

the e a r l y morning.

It is

a form of martial arts. Later my friends and I play basketball.

It's almost supper time. For supper, each member of my family starts with a bowl of rice. Then we can help ourselves to the nearest dish which might include soup, pork, and fish. For breakfast we have noodles and leftover rice. The only utensils we use are chopsticks and soup spoons. Tea is the favorite Chinese drink.

We eat different food on holidays. My favorite holiday is

DID YOU KNOW? In China frogs' legs fried in ginger and scallions are said to strengthen one's legs.



In China people work and go to school six days a week.



 There are almost 250 times more bikes than cars in China.  In the winter it could be 4 degrees F. in northern China and 68 degrees F. in southern China.

China has more horses than any other country in the world.



A FAIRY Jade da Silva(6), Std I, Sharada Mandir, Miramar

A COTTAGE Jonas Asslen Vaz, Std VI, St Pius X Convent HS., Orlim

NATURE’S BEAUTY Craig Wilfred D’Mello (10), Std IV, Chubby Cheeks Primary School, Pilerne

National's Day, because of the fireworks and parades.

If you come to visit China, be sure to see the Great Wall of China. Did you know the Great Wall is the longest structure ever built? It's about 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) long. It was built entirely by hand. The wall crosses northern China between the east coast and north-central China.

My sister is getting married.

We had a fortune teller come to our house. She decided on the wedding date for my sister based on her birth date and by consulting the Chinese almanac.

I'd like to tell some interesting things about my country.

Did you know there are over one billion people living in China? The cities are very crowded. The two largest

cities in China are Shanghai and Beijing (also spelled Peking), which is also China's capital city. Even though we have many big cities, most of the people in my country live in rural villages and small towns. Many of them herd sheep and goats or grow crops.

Chinese people are very creative. Did you know that the Chinese were the first people to invent the compass, paper, porcelain, and silk cloth?

Well I got to go. Bye.

A VILLAGE Denon Fernandes (9), Std IV, St Joseph’s School, Sao Jose de Areal

The Pieces Of The Puzzle- II

By Auriel Ribeiro Sa

I

n the drawing room, his father sat, reading the newspaper. Sahir asked him if he could take the puzzle to school. “Why not, beta”, his father replied with a knowing smile, folding the paper as he continued “You can show it to your Geography teacher and your friends can learn the map easily too, nah?” Sahir nodded happily.

Today he would get a good remark from his teacher and a lot of attention from his friends. Oh, how he loved his Dad! “Thanks, Dad, I was sad that you did not get me the toy I wanted but this is far better.

I will take good care of it at school, don’t you worry.”

Sahir assured his father with a tight hug. “I know you will.

And this vacation we can go on a tour to some of these places. Maybe a North India tour first, then a tour to the Himalayas next year and another to see the places in South India the year after that. What do you say? Would you like that?”

“Yes, Dad, yes.” exclaimed Sahir, excitedly, “But can we afford it?” “Don’t you worry your little head, beta”, said his mother. “Dad has his LTA facility and the Government firm he works for has housing quarters in every state. We won’t need to spend much and can still have a good time.”

Sahir walked out of the house on a cloud, with stars in his eyes and bells on his feet. “I have the best Dad in the whole wide world” he thought to himself as he trotted off to the bus-stop, his puzzle box tucked under his arm.

When Sahir reached the class, he placed the box on his desk. His friend, Atul

looked curiously and asked, “Kya hai, buddy?” Sahir highlighted all that had happened that morning. Atul immediately wanted to see the puzzle so Sahir opened the box.

The other students eager to watch, looked on, as Sahir pointed out the various states to them. “Aiyo, this is my state.” cried MS,

Munnaswamy for short.

“And this is mine.” said chinky-eyed Bijoy. The boys all began to search for their respective states, so no one noticed the arrival of their teacher, Mrs. Braganza.

“Ahem, Good Morning, boys.” All the boys scurried to their places. Approaching Sahir’s desk, she adjusted her spectacles and peered out of them. “What have you brought us today?” she sternly asked the frightened boy. “N—o—thing, miss, just a puzzle. My Dad gave it to me as my bir---th--thday gift.”

Mrs. Braganza picked up the box and looked at the cover.

Suddenly, she smiled. “Good choice, son. Can I hold on to it for now?” Saying this, she picked up the pieces and carefully put them into the box. Then she kept the puzzle in the cupboard and began the class.

Sahir was worried. Would the teacher give him his present back or would she take him to the princi-

pal? He could not concentrate on the lesson.

T h e teacher, realizing his predicament, called him up to her table and asked for his calendar. Right there in front of the whole class, she patted him on the head and gave him a positive remark. Sahir walked on a cloud for the second time that day as he went back to his desk.

In the recess, the boys usually played in the corridor. Sahir had seen Mrs. Braganza take the box away with her. He approached the staffroom, but there was a big crowd of teachers near his teacher’s

chair. He peeked through a small gap and gasped. His Geography teacher was solving the jigsaw puzzle and the other teachers were helping and encouraging her. He was overjoyed and ran back to tell his friends. They all ran to the staffroom to watch the fun.

When the teachers heard the commotion, they came out and one of them asked, “Who brought this to school?”

Sahir came shyly forward.

The teachers surrounded him, congratulating him and his History teacher said, “I always thought Sahir was not interested in studies, but today he has proved us wrong. Keep it up!”

S a h i r walked on a cloud for the third time that day, a happy grin on his face. (His parents loved him, his friends loved him, his teachers loved him and all was well with the world again. ) All because of a simple jigsaw puzzle of the map of India.

Oh, how he loved his Dad, and his puzzle and his beautiful country India. He vowed there and then that he would not pester his parents for silly presents again. He would instead ask them to keep their promise and take him on tours to see all the wonderful places of India. He could click photographs with the camera that Mohit Chacha had given them when he came from USA. What fun! He couldn’t wait to pack his bags.

Moral: Love your country India for she is your ‘Motherland and look after her well.(concluded)

A BOAT Benedict Ribeiro Jr. KG, Don Bosco’s HS., Panjim

PARROT PERCHED ON BRANCH Elron Antao (9), Std IV, St Joseph’s School, Sao Jose de Areal

AN AEROPLANE Sharvari T Gaunekar (7), Std II, GVM’s KG & Primary School, Ponda

BEAT THE HEAT Gavin Gomes (15), Std IX, Our Lady of Snows, Raia

Colour Me ENTRY FORM MONGINIS Creative Me NAME: AGE:

STD:

Phone:

SCHOOL: HOME ADDRESS:

MONGINIS TWO BEST CREATIVE ME ENTRIES  Denon Fernandes (9), Std IV, St Joseph’s School, Sao Jose de Areal wins a gift voucher of Monginis worth Rs. 125/-

 Craig Wilfred D’Mello (10), Std IV, Chubby Cheeks Primary School, Pilerne wins a gift voucher of Monginis worth Rs. 75/-

HE RA LD

SPORTS

Pg16

GOA, Monday, 19 April, 2010

Football development centre in Pune

PUNE: In what promises to

be a new chapter in Indian foot-

ball, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel inaugurated the BV & KW’s Abhijit Kadam Football Development Centre (AKFDC) in association with FA, AIFF and Liverpool. AKFDC endeavours to be the India’s first centre aimed at creating football industry professionals by providing courses in coaching and refereeing apart from building a talented football talent base.

UC Nerul lift Calangute Cup HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, APRIL 18

United Club of Nerul prevailed over Navelim Sporting Club 4-3 via the tie-breaker to lift the Calangute Panchayat Cup in the finals of the inter-village soccer tournament organised by Calangute Association at Poriat ground, Calangute on Sunday.

There was no score at the end of the regulation period.

Navelim had a good opportunity to forge ahead in the 6th minute but Nerul goalkeeper Siddu brought off a superlative save.

Nerul fought tooth and nail and created a scoring opportunity the very next minute, but Pankaj shot wide.

Navelim had two more good scoring opportunities but striker Alvito failed to find the net on both occasions.

Changing over, the teams failed to score on a couple of occasions. The deadlock was resolved via the tie-breaker. John Vaz, Xavier Clemente, Newton Pereira and Charles Pereira were on target for Nerul while Richard Costa, Sanford Cardozo and Sydney Colaco converted for Navelim.

Nerul won the coveted Calangute Panchayat Cup and Rs 20,000 while Navelim had to be content with Rs 15,000 and a trophy.

Fo l l o w i n g p r i z e s w e r e awarded: Upcoming goalkeeper - Agnelo D'Souza, Friends XI. Best goalkeeper of finals – Siddu. UC Nerul. First scorer of the finals - Richard Costa. Navelim SC. Best defender - Benedict D'Souza, UC Nerul.

The prizes were given away by the guest of honour, Laxman Porob Palyekar, Alex Fernandes president, Calangute Associa-

UC Nerul players receiving the Calangute Panchayat Cup from Calangute Sarpanch Laxman Palyekar in the presence of Alex Fernandes, president, Calangute Association and Panchayat members at Poriat ground, Calangute on Sunday.

tion, Sneha Salgaonkar and Albert Fernandes, members Calangute VP and other club officials. The guest of honour and Calangute VP members were

Areal enter last four

earlier introduced to the players

by Alex, Jerry D’Souza, vice-president and Luis Gonsalves, sports secretary.

Earlier a minute’s silence was

observed in memory of Jerry Xavier Dias, a member of Calangute Association’s First Division team, who died in a tragic road accident. A purse of Rs 1

lakh was later handed over to Marieta Dias, sister of Jerry by Calangute Association as a token of love and appreciation. Luis proposed the vote of thanks.

Goa girls Nat throwball champs

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, APRIL 18

Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club prevailed over Chandor Club 6-5 via the sudden-death to move into the semi-finals of 12th AllGoa Immaculate Conception Football Festival organised by Immaculate Conception Sports Club at Avedem panchayat ground, Paroda on Sunday. The teams were locked goalless at the end of the normal period of play.

Chandor enjoyed a slight edge over Areal in the opening session but missed a couple of chances as their forwards ran out of ideas on reaching the rival danger zone. Djon Fernandes muffed a sitter with only the rival goalkeeper at his mercy.

Changing over, Areal nearly found the match-winner but Fredrick Endro blasted wide from hand-shaking distance.

In the ensuing tie-breaker, Fredrick Endro, Mariano Rebello, Franky Valladares, Avron Travasso and Mario Barretto were on target for Areal while Glimson Rodrigues, Djon Fernandes, Danny Peixoto, Sammy Dias and Suraj Zambodkar converted for Chandor. In the sudden-death Luis Barretto netted for Areal while Moura failed to score for Chandor.

The Goa girls throwball team which won the Sub-Junior National Throwball Championship alongwith Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, Pratap Gawas, MLA, T Ramanna, Ashok Parob and others at Valpoi on Sunday.

Photo: Ashraf Khan HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, APRIL 18

T h e G o a g i r l s ’ t h ro w b a l l team emerged champion defeating Haryana 25-27, 2519, 25-23 in the finals of 19th Sub-Junior National Throwball Championship at F o r e s t Tr a i n i n g S c h o o l

ground, Valpoi, on Sunday.

Haryana lifted the boys crown defeating Karnataka 25-21, 2519 in the finals.

Health Minister, Vishwajeet Rane was the chief guest and gave away the prizes. Pratap Gawas, MLA, was the guest of honour. Also present were T

Ramanna, general secretary Throwball Federation of India, Ashok Parob ex-ML A, VMC chairperson Gulzar Khan and Sanquelim Municipal chairperson Sunita Verekar. Hanif Shaikh proposed the vote of thanks. Fehmida Khan and Reshma Khan compered.

We can beat Dempo too: Vishwas

AGENCIES MUMBAI, APRIL 18

“We had planned and prepared for the game against Churchill Bros. Everything went according to it. We believe we had a chance to win against Churchill by just playing the ball along

Goa Velha up HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 18

Goa Velha Sports Club trounced Chinchinim Villagers Union 5-0 to move into the quarter-finals of 3rd All-Goa Alvernaz and Lalush Alemao memorial football tournament organised by Churchill Brothers Sports Club at Varca ground on Sunday. Goa Velha led 2-0 at the breather.

Goa Velha scored through Vishant Pednekar 2, Adoly Caiado 2 and Joy Fernandes. Vishant was given the man-of-the match prize.

the ground,” said Sporting Clube de Goa coach, Vishwas Gaonkar.

The Flaming Oranje are placed at the bottom of the table and have another five games to go before their fate will be decided. And the going wouldn’t be easier given that they face the league leaders, Dempo SC in the next game.

“The boys are showing a great spirit. Everyone now believes in us. I told the boys that we are not playing any big teams.

It’s just 11 against 11 and you have to show that you are better.” “The same trend will continue against Dempo too.”

But victories for Shillong Lajong and JCT on the same day wasn’t good news for the Goan club but Gaonkar chooses to look on the bright side.

“We are not concerned about

others. We have to focus on our victory. Each one has the power of ‘I can.’ If everyone in the team believes in that power then it becomes ‘We can.’ “For us, it’s a knock-out tournament. With the help of God, everything is possible,” said an optimist Gaonkar.

The former Sesa Football Academy coach wasn’t pleased with the refereeing as he made his displeasure known.

“I was a little annoyed with some of the refereeing decisions. It was not a penalty and Samanada shouldn’t have got the card (red),” he added.

(Goal.Com) S TA N D I N G S : D e m p o 4 1 points (21 matches), Mahindra 37 points (21 matches), Churchill Bros 32 points (20 matches), Chirag 31 points (21 matches),

Adarsh trounce Friends XI sodiem siolim soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 18

Adarsh Yuvak Sangh scored a fluent 3-0 win over Friends XI, Vaddem in Sodiem Siolim soccer tournament organised by Sodiem Siolim Sports and Cultural Association, at St Anthony’s

church ground, Siolim, on Sunday. Adarsh took the lead through Rohidas Mahloji in the 29th minute. However, in the 30th minute, Chalton D’Souza wasted a penalty shooting wide.

In the 32nd minute, Mervin Britto doubled the lead for Adarsh.

Changing over, Rohidas rounded off the tally in the 15th minute.

Betalbatim move into quarters cayman cup HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, APRIL 18

Powered by a brace from striker Denzil Rogtao, Betalbatim Sporting Club outclassed Ambelim Sports Club 3-1 to storm into the quarter-finals of All-Goa Cayman Cup inter- village football tournament organized by Curtorim Gymkhana at Curtorim ground, on Sunday. Betalbatim led 1-0 at the breather.

Betalbatim set a fast pace

from the outset and repeatedly raided the Ambelim goal. Betalbatim were rewarded in the 5th minute when striker Denzil unleashed a snap shot which beat the Ambelim goalkeeper after receiving a through pass from Desmond Fernandes.

Stung by the setback, Ambelim tried their best to level the score but their attacks were thwarted by the Ambelim defenders.

Changing over, Denzil doubled the lead for Betalbatim in

the 43rd minute with a blistering right footer off a cross from Bradley Rogtao.

Ambelim fought back and reduced the margin in the 57th minute when Samson Fernandes unleashed a 25-yard volley which crashed into the net. Rosario Fe r n a n d e s o f B e t a l b a t i m rounded off the tally in the dying minutes of the game.

Conceissao Dias, panch, Curtorim VP, was the chief guest and was introduced to the teams.

Mohun Bagan 29 points (20 matches), Pune 28 points (20 matches), JCT 25 points (21 matches), Viva Kerala 25 points (21 matches), East Bengal 24 points (20 matches),Air India 24 points (21 matches), Lajong 24 points (21 matches), Salgaocar 23 points ( 2 1 m a t c h e s ) , M u m bai FC 21 points (21 matches), Sporting Clube de Goa 20 points (21 matches).

GFA Taca Goa U-20 league soccer: Dempo Sports Club (Juniors) v. Sesa Football Academy (Juniors), Duler stadium, Mapusa; Vasco Sports Club v.

Sporting Clube de Goa, Tilak stadium, Vasco. Kick-off: 4 p.m.

Cayman Cup soccer: Enfermos Sports Club, Navelim v.

Young Strikers, Benaulim, Curtorim ground, 4.30 p.m.

Eslinda Alemao memorial soccer: St Anthony’s Sporting Club, Colva v. AA de Majorda, Davorlim ground, 4.30 p.m.

3rd Alvernaz and Lalush Alemao soccer: St Savio Sports Club, Calangute v. Cuncolim Union, Varca ground, 4.45 p.m.

3rd Colormax Imperial Rolling Trophy soccer: Candolim Sports Club v. Saligao United, Dr. Gustavo Monteiro stadium, Candolim, 4.45 p.m.

Sodiem Siolim soccer: Nagoa Sports Club v. Peddem Bomm, Anjuna, St. Anthony’s church ground, Siolim, 4.30 p.m.

South Goa volleyball: Maina VI v. St Anthony’s, Colva; Veling, Ponda v. Piety Sports Club, Navelim; Upasnagar v. Xeldem, Butica volleyball court, Navelim, from 7 p.m.

HE RA LD

Pg17

SPORTS

GOA, Monday, 19 April, 2010

Kodagu will get sports package soon: Gill PTI MADIKERI, APRIL 18

Ben Watson of Wigan Athletic scores at the DW Stadium in Wigan, England on Sunday.

Wigan ends Arsenal’s title hopes with 3-2 win Wigan 3 Arsenal 2 Portsmouth 1 Aston Villa 2 AGENCIES LONDON, APRIL 18

Three goals in the final 11 minutes gave Wigan Athletic arguably the most stunning victory in their Premier League history and slammed the door shut on Arsenal's faint title hopes.

The Gunners appeared to be coasting to victory on the back of goals either side of half-time from Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre, and with it hauling themselves to within three points of leaders Chelsea.

But after a run of eight defeats and a draw in the league against Arsenal, Wigan added to their maiden wins over Chelsea and Liverpool this season as Ben Watson, Titus Bramble and Charles N'Zogbia conjured an astonishing comeback.

The remarkable result leaves Wigan seven points clear of the drop zone and seemingly safe, whereas Arsenal can now kiss goodbye to any hope they had of the title after back-to-back defeats in the space of five days.

Tottenham Hotspur's victory over leaders Chelsea on Saturday had given the visitors a glimmer of hope on the title front, but that has now evaporated,

and they have only themselves to blame for a late collapse.

For 40 minutes here they found themselves frustrated by a Wigan side desperate for points in their battle to stay in the top flight for a sixth successive season.

After being booed off the pitch on Wednesday following a goalless draw against an already-relegated and understrength Portsmouth side, Wigan were determined to restore the faith of their fans.

There was certainly an urgency about Roberto Martinez's side, but for 80 minutes they lacked a cutting edge.

Instead it was Arsenal who were in the ascendancy, initially in the 41st minute as Nicklas Bendtner split covering defenders Maynor Figueroa and Bramble with a through ball of pace and precision.

After riding Bramble's challenge and pulling away from Figueroa, Walcott then slid the ball underneath the advancing Chris Kirkland for his seventh goal of the season.

It was deserved as Walcott should have scored minutes prior to that after Abou Diaby had released him in behind Wigan's defence.

Although left with a one-onone opportunity with Kirkland

just outside the six-yard box, he opted to try and find Bendtner with a square ball, only to pull it behind him, allowing Wigan to clear.

Walcott could, and perhaps should have given Arsenal a twogoal cushion on the stroke of half time, only to narrowly clear the bar with a rising drive from just inside the area.

Prior to Walcott's opener Wigan were lively, but barely troubled Lukasz Fabianski, playing in his first league match since the end of last season with Manuel Almunia out with a wrist injury.

N'Zogbia, rumoured to be a target for Wenger in the summer, was narrowly wide with one curled effort, whilst a low, powerful 20-yard drive was straight at the Pole.

As a contest, it seemed to turn inside the opening three minutes of the second half, initially after just 40 seconds as Wigan were denied a penalty.

Referee Lee Mason, turned down appeals after Samir Nasri appeared to pull on the arm of Watson.

Moments later, and from Arsenal's first attack of the half, Kirkland superbly denied Diaby at close range, with the ball eventually running for a corner.

Nasri proceeded to deliver an

outswinger to which Wigan's defence were guilty of falling asleep, allowing Silvestre an unmarked header from the penalty spot beyond Kirkland's outstretched grasp.

Starting for Thomas Vermaelen, who misses the end to the season with a calf strain, it was Silvestre's first goal for a year since a 4-1 win on this ground.

In another match, Nathan Delfouneso climbed off the bench to score his first Premier League goal and keep Aston Villa's faint hopes of a top-four finish alive at Portsmouth.

It was no more than Villa deserved, the young striker prodding home on 82 minutes from Emile Heskey's flick-on.

But it was still a little harsh on the hosts after another brave display, kick-started by Michael Brown's curler.

John Carew followed that with a drilled leveller and missed penalty among a glut of chances, but V illa won through.

And it could prove a crucial intervention from 19-year-old Delfouneso, his winner pushing Villa up to sixth spot, two points ahead of Liverpool, four behind Manchester City and six off fourth-placed Tottenham.

Button leads McLaren one-two in China REUTERS SHANGHAI, APRIL 18

World champion Jenson Button calmly steered his way through the chaos of a wet Chinese Grand Prix for his second win of the season today, leading Lewis Hamilton to a McLaren one-two.

The 30-year-old Briton, who took the lead in the overall standings after celebrating his second win of the season and ninth of his career, yelled ''We really earned that one!'' on his team radio as he crossed the line. ''For me it's my best victory,'' said the grinning Button, who had started fifth on the grid. ''It was very tough conditions and the great thing is our pace was good. It wasn't just the luck of calling the weather.''

Hamilton, who carved his way through the field from 12th on lap four to finish 1.530 seconds behind his compatriot in the first British one-two since 1999, may yet pay the penalty for his aggressive drive after a post-race probe into a pit lane clash with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.

German Nico Rosberg got his second successive third place for Mercedes with Spain's Fernando Alonso, who earned a drivethrough penalty for a jump start, finishing fourth for Ferrari.

Button now has 60 points overall, 10 clear of Rosberg with Hamilton and Alonso third and a point further back.

McLaren lead the constructor's standings with 109 points to Ferrari's 90.

Pole-sitter Vettel, who won the last race in Malaysia and here last year, could only manage sixth behind Robert Kubica's Renault, leaving the Shanghai race still without a repeat winner after seven years. ''Today was very chaotic and

Kodagu district in Karnataka will soon a get sports packages from the Centre according to Union Sports and Youth service minister Dr M S Gill.

He was speaking after inaugurating 'Ashwin Pratishtana' in Kals school started by national running champion Ashwini Nachappa and her husband Datha Karumbaiah in Gonikoppal.

He said it would make compulsory to build suitable play ground for the children in all the schools.

Gill said he had already discussed the matter with Union Human resourses Development minister Kapil Sibal.

He the the department was planning to award sports scholarships and give additional five marks to talented sports persons seeking jobs.

Rs 678 core will be spent for the Common Wealth games to be held in New Delhi to be held during October and Rs 300 crore will be spent for extra security measure, he said Special adventurous sports would introduced in the hilly areas of Kodagu and Ooty, he said.

Govt had planned to arrange national level inter state sports meet in Bangalore and Hyderabad and the talented youths will selected for Olympics, he said.

Jenson Button celbrates victory with Lewis Hamilton on Sunday.

on the first corner, heavy rain and another safety car later in the race contributed to an entertaining but chaotic race.

Rosberg emerged in the lead after the first few laps followed

by Button and Kubica with the race favourite Red Bulls and Hamilton scrambling to change tyres to match the conditions.

Hamilton showed through his uncompromising clash with Vettel at both the entrance and exit to the pit lane that he was by

no means cowed by criticism of his driving in Malaysia.

The Briton's drive included an audacious move to pass both Vettel and Adrian Sutil at one corner and a thrilling battle with seven-times world champion Schumacher.

Button overtook Rosberg on the hairpin before the start-finish straight and made his first pit stop immediately afterward, still getting back out in front just before the second safety car on lap 20 bunched up the field again.

Force India's point-scoring streak came to an abrupt end in a chaotic Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday with Adrian Sutil finishing 11th while his team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi retired after an opening lap brake problem.

On a day when changeable rainy conditions created a lottery for tyres and position, only 17 drivers brought home the car, the last being Hispania's Karun Chandhok.

"It is disappointing to see our run of points end and not to have been able to make more of these conditions, but that's sometimes

what happens in this type of conditions," Force India chairman Vijay Mallya said after the race.

"We've got some work to do now that Renault has opened up a sizeable advantage but we have some developments in the pipeline and the season has a long way to run. We'll regroup and come back strongly in Spain I'm sure," said Mallya, also the team principal.

Sutil reckoned strategy was crucial today and felt things could have been slightly different but for the last pit stop which cost him a couple of extra seconds.

"It was a real strategy race this time. At times it was difficult to know which was the best tyre to be on, as it would rain and then dry and then rain again," Sutil said.

"I lost a couple of positions in this final stop and that was what dropped me back to 13th.

Although we could close to within a second of Michael (Schumacher) I just ran out of laps to get past. But that's how it is, sometimes you win in this type of race and sometimes it just doesn't go your way," he said, rather philosophically.

Force India returns empty-handed

AGENCIES MONACO, APRIL 18

Rafael Nadal defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 6-1 in Sunday’s all-Spanish final to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the sixth straight year and end his title drought.

The second-seeded Nadal clinched his first title since the Rome Masters in May 2009 by overpowering the sixth-seeded Verdasco with a stunning display of attacking clay-court tennis.

Nadal is the only player to win six consecutive titles in the same tournament since tennis turned professional in 1968, and the 23-year-old has tied topranked Roger Federer with 16 Masters titles, one behind Andre Agassi’s record.

Nadal sealed the win on his first match point with a forehand pass and fell to the ground, rolling on his back as he savored his victory.

“It was emotional for me today, it was my best week for a long time,” Nadal said. “It’s unbelievable, Monte Carlo is my favorite tournament.”

It was Nadal’s 32nd straight win at Monte Carlo since his third-round loss to Guillermo Coria in 2003, and the relief at clinching his 37th career title was evident as he sobbed into a towel when he sat down.

Although Federer was not playing at Monte Carlo, Nadal’s win and early form on clay will make him a favorite to reclaim his French Open title from the Swiss player at Roland Garros when the tournament starts late next month.

Verdasco had no answers in losing his 10th straight match to Nadal, who covered every part of the court and showed the agility, strength and power that were his hallmarks on clay

before his sudden dip last year.

“Sorry for today,” Nadal said to a smiling Verdasco as the two players gave their speeches.

“I hope one day Rafa gets tired of winning here,” said Verdasco, who has four career titles but was seeking his first Masters trophy.

Nadal’s victory tied him with Britain’s Reggie Doherty, who won the Monte Carlo event six times overall, between 1897-99 and 1902-04.

Just like in 2007 and ’08, Nadal did not drop a set during the tournament.

After the first-set whitewash,

Verdasco started the second aggressively and got a huge roar when he finally held his serve.

The cheers turned to jeers when Verdasco hit a lazy shot into the net to lose his serve and trail 4-1, but some spectacular rallying in the sixth game got the crowd back on his side and he forced Nadal to save five break points.

After winning one long rally, Verdasco dropped to his knees and threw his hands up to the sky after winning a point, and even Prince Albert of Monaco rose out of his seat to join in the applause.

Barca draw gives Real title hope Sevilla 3 Sporting Gijon 0 Espanyol 0 Barcelona 0 Villarreal 2 Atletico Madrid 1 AGENCIES MADRID, APRIL 17

Espanyol's battling 0-0 draw at home to La Liga leaders Barcelona will have made interesting watching for Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho.

The Italians host the European Cup holders in a Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday, volcanic ash permitting, and were able to witness a rare sight as Barca found themselves harried, hurried and ultimately held by their super-motivated city rivals.

The visitors lost defender Daniel Alves to a red card after 62 minutes and Espanyol, who hit the woodwork in the first half, were perhaps unlucky not to come away with more from a game in which Barca were uncharacteristically defensive in outlook.

The champions moved on to 84 points

from 33 games, but chasing Real Madrid could close to within one point if they can beat third-placed Valencia at the Bernabeu today.

Roared on by their own, Espanyol gave Barca very little space, while a succession of fouls disrupted the rhythm of the game, players rapidly crowding round the referee to exert maximum pressure at every stoppage.

Barca did not have one decent shot on target and were lucky to go in at the break level after a quick Espanyol counter-attack ended with Pablo Osvaldo's effort being pushed on to a post by Victor Valdes.

Matters got worse for Pep Guardiola when Alves picked up his second yellow card but he still opted for attack throwing on Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to join Lionel Messi in the second half.

Espanyol have not conceded a goal at home in 2010 and looked secure at the back despite Barca continuing to dominate proceedings, and they were a constant worry for their neighbours on the counter.

Earlier, Frederic Kanoute and Luis Fabiano were on target to help Sevilla beat Sporting Gijon 3-0 at home, moving them up to fourth with 54 points.

Mali striker Kanoute scored following a free kick in the eighth minute and Sporting's chances of getting back into the game were hindered when forward Mate Bilic picked up his second yellow card in the 32nd.

Brazil striker Luis Fabiano guided a majestic header past Juan Pablo in the 53rd, and Sporting picked up a second red card when defender Jose Angel walked in the 83rd.

Juan Cala wrapped up the points with a close-range header to keep up Sevilla's push for a return to Champions League action next season.

In the late game, Europa League semi-finalists Atletico Madrid, set to host Liverpool next week, suffered their third successive defeat, going down 2-1 at Villarreal.

Diego Godin and Giuseppe Rossi scored to put Villarreal sixth with 49 points. Sergio Aguero pulled one back for the visitors.

AC Milan title hopes crushed REUTERS ROME, APRIL 18

in the end to take sixth can be quite important,'' said Vettel. ''Obviously, our main competitors finished ahead, so that's not nice.

It was a very difficult race for us.''

Renault's Vitaly Petrov passed both Michael Schumacher of Mercedes and the Red Bull of Mark Webber on the last few laps to take an impressive seventh place in the Russian's first completed Formula One race.

Alonso's premature start, a safety car for a three-car pile up

Nadal wins 6th straight Monte Carlo Masters title

AC Milan's Serie A title hopes were hanging by the shortest of short threads today after Giampaolo Pazzini's injury-time header sealed a 2-1 home win for Champions League hopefuls Sampdoria.

The defeat comes at the end of a difficult week for Milan, with rumours swirling that rookie coach Leonardo is on the verge of leaving after just one season despite repeated denials.

Third-placed Milan have four games left and lie six points behind Inter Milan and four adrift of AS Roma, who can retake top spot with victory over derby rivals Lazio later (2200 IST).

Barca may face bus trip to Milan REUTERS MADRID, APRIL 18

Barcelona have been forced to bring forward their Champions League trip to Inter Milan amid worries about the cloud of volcanic ash disrupting flights across Europe, the European champions said.

Barca are due to play Inter in their semi-final first leg on Tuesday and will attempt to fly to Milan today, instead of Monday as originally planned, they said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com).

At a meeting held after a 0-0 draw against city rivals Espanyol in La Liga yesterday, the club have decided to leave after training today.

If it is not possible to fly into Milan they will attempt to fly to somewhere nearby in Italy, but if all the airports are closed their last alternative is to travel by bus.

Milan began Baby-faced Bari 1 Napoli 2 brightly forward Pazzini Catania 2 Siena 2 enough and punished them were rewarded Udinese 1 Bologna 1 deep into stopwhen striker page time when Parma 2 Genoa 3 Marco Borhe produced the riello, looking Atalanta 2 Fiorentina 1 type of tradeto force him- Cagliari 2 Palermo 2 m a r k h e a d e r self in Italy's Sampdoria 2 AC Milan 1 which could also Wo r l d C u p rocket him into squad, nodded in a corner to Italy coach Marcello Lippi's give the visitors a 20th minute plans. lead.

Sampdoria stand two points Antonio Cassano equalised clear in the fourth and final with a penalty early in the sec- Champions League qualifying ond half after Milan's Daniele spot after leapfrogging Palermo, Bonera was dismissed but the who were held to a 2-2 draw at Rossoneri, who have not won Cagliari. the scudetto since 2004, then Sixth-placed Napoli, five bewasted a host of good chances hind Samp, made sure they still despite being down to 10 men. had a shot at fourth thanks to

Ezequiel Lavezzi's double in a 2-1 victory at Bari.

The result was a further dagger to the hearts of Juventus fans, whose famous club have sunk to seventh, six points behind the Champions League spots, after Friday's 2-0 defeat at Inter.

Bottom side Livorno, who lost 2-0 at Chievo yesterday, will have to wait at least another week to be put out of their misery and relegated after Bologna could only draw 1-1 at Udinese following Antonio Di Natale's late leveller.

Resurgent Atalanta moved just two points behind fourthfrom-bottom Bologna after a 21 win over Fiorentina.

Pak will win T20 WC: Asif UNI LAHORE, APRIL 18

Medium-pacer Mohammad Asif has asserted that Pakistan will go all out to defend the World Twenty20 crown in the West Indies, later this month.

The national team players have been undergoing a training camp here ahead of the mega event and Asif revealed that all the cricketers have been benefited immensely. ''We will win the World Cup. ''I only know that Pakistan are favourites and we will win the World Cup,'' Asif told PakPassion.net. ''The training camp has been very good preparation for all of the boys. Yes it's been hard work, but I believe it will definitely help ahead of the World Cup in the West Indies. The preparation for such an important tournament has to be spot on,'' he added.

Asif has been going through the paces under the watchful eyes

of national bowling coach Waqar Younis and he was all praise for the legendary fast bowler. ''Waqar has been very helpful with his thoughts on my bowling.

He analyses the art of bowling very well and has constantly provided me with feedback, advice and support. We have worked together on some new things, a few variations here and there and they have worked out very well. ''The camp has provided me

with an opportunity to once again work with one of Pakistan's greatest ever cricketers. We had already worked together on the tours of New Zealand and Australia and we have continued in Lahore the work that we put in, on those tours. Waqar hasn't spotted any major technical flaws in my bowling, but as I said, we have worked on some minor adjustments and new ideas here and there,'' Asif stated.

SPORTS

Wigan end Arsenal’s title hopes with 3-2 win Pg. 17

UC Nerul lift Calangute Cup Pg. 16

GOA, MONDAY, 19 APRIL, 2010

www.oherald.in

Pg 18

DeccanChargers:AdamGilchristcGambhirbNehra10,MonishMishrarunout 25, Tirumalsetti Suman bYadav 5, Rohit Sharma c Karthik bYadav 11, Andrew Symonds cManhasbMishra54,MitchellMarshcManhasbNehra13,Bodapati Sumanthnotout 7,ChamindaVaascNehrabCollingwood3,RahulSharmanot out14.Extras:3.Total:145for7.Fallofwickets:1-11,3-47,4-66,5-116,6-121,7128. Bowling: D P Nannes 4-0-22-0, A Nehra 4-0-32-2, U Yadav 4-0-24-2, A Mishra 4-0-28-1, PD Collingwood 3-0 23-1,TM Dilshan 1-0-14-0.

AGENCIES DelhiDaredevils:DWarnercRohitbMarsh5,VSehwagcRohitbVaas8,TDilshan NEW DELHI, APRIL 18 lbwbHarmeet11,GGambhircRohitbOjha4,MManhasrunout(Marsh)23,PCollingwoodnotout51,D Half-centur y from Andrew KarthikbOjha1,AMishrabHarmeet4,ANehranotout22.Extras:5.Total:134-7.Fallofwickets:9-1, Symonds and a superb spell 19-2,25-3,39-4,68-5,72-6,86-7.Bowling:CVaas4-0-19-1,MMarsh2-0-19-1,HarmeetSingh4-0-41from Pragyan Ojha saw Deccan 2,ASymonds2-0-8-0,POjha4-0-16-2,RahulSharma4-0-29-0. Man-of-the-Match: ASymonds.

Deccan make it to last four

Murali Vijay of Chennai Super Kings is stumped by Kumar Sangakkara.

Dhoni ensures CSK semis berth PTI DHARAMSALA, APRIL 18

Chennai Super Kings today blazed into the IPL semi-finals with a sensational late blitzkrieg by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni taking them to a sixwicket victory over Kings XI Punjab here.

Chasing a huge 193 for a win, Dhoni cracked a 29-ball unbeaten 54 with a late flourish of fours and sixes to take his side to victory with two balls to spare in a high scoring thriller at the HPCA Stadium here.

Needing 16 runs from the last over, the Chennai captain hit a hapless Irfan Pathan for 18 runs with the help of two sixes and a four to take his side's score to 195 for four in 19.4 overs.

Dhoni, who ended the match in style with a six, was dropped in the previous over bowled by Juan Theron when on 32, Pathan being the culprit.

Dhoni struck five fours and two sixes in his blistering innings sharing 47 runs from three overs in their unfinished fifth wicket with Albie Morkel (eight-ball 14).

B’lore blasts shift IPL semis to Navi Mumbai PTI MUMBAI/BANGALORE APRIL 18

Unwilling to take any chances, the Indian Premier League authorities today shifted both the IPL semi-finals to Navi Mumbai following yesterday's twin blasts in Bangalore which was the original venue.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said in a statement that even though the IPL security agency found the blasts of low intensity, the authorities had no other way but to shift the matches to the DY Patil Stadium, which would also host the April 25 final.

"While reluctant to relocate the semifinals at such short notice, yesterday's incidents have made it clear that the current environment in Bangalore prevents us from continuing with our original plans," Modi said.

He said the incidents were assessed by local police and the IPL's security agency as being of a minor nature but they have forced our hand.

"This decision is naturally disappointing for the people of Bangalore but has been taken with the tournament's best interests, and the interests of its many varied stakeholders, in mind," Modi said.

Accordingly, the DY Patil Stadium will host the semi-finals on April 21 and 22, the third place playoff match on April 24 and the final on April 25.

"Despite this setback, we're confident the semifinals and fi-

nals of DLF IPL 2010 will be successfully contested and provide a fitting finale to a remarkable tournament," Modi added.

There were around 40,000 spectators inside the Chinnaswamy Stadium at the time of the blasts and security was beefed up before the game started.

Apart from the two blasts that delayed the start of the match by about 45 minutes, and in which 15 people sustained injuries, another bomb was found and defused at a another place outside the stadium.

Another unexploded device was found near the stadium today and some explosive material was also recovered.

Earlier, the Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari had said in Bangalore that they would give the go ahead to hold other IPL matches in the city only after resolving various security issues.

"Permission to hold the rest of the matches will be given after carrying out thorough searches and making necessary arrangements," Bidari told reporters in Bangalore.

Bidari said search operations this morning had led to recovery of some explosive material stuffed in a flex column and an unexploded bomb about 150 metres away from the stadium.

Meanwhile, some cricket fans went to the stadium and demanded refund of tickets for other matches.

Solution in sight, Kochi chief meets Modi in Dubai PTI DUBAI, APRIL 18

A solution to the simmering row over Kochi franchise's ownership appears possible following a meeting today between the team's new chairman Harshad Mehta and IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi who exuded confidence of an early resolution.

An aide of the Dubai-based Mehta, who also had a brief courtesy meeting with ICC's Principal Advisor I S Bindra, said "he (Mehta) is not willing to comment anything until the IPL’s Governing Council meeting".

Asked to comment on Mehta's meeting with Modi, the aide said "he would not like to comment on either".

The meeting comes in the wake of reports that Sunanda Pushkar, a close friend Union Minister of State for External Affair Shashi Tharoor, offered to surreder her sweat equity as she was distressed by the entire controversy.

"Kochi issue would be resolved. I am confident the Kochi team will continue and contribute to the success of IPL," a confident Modi told PTI. Both Modi and Bindra, along with former BCCI president Sharad Pawar, are here for an ICC meeting.

Modi said he had no personal issue either with the team owners

or Tharoor, who is in the eye of a political storm after it was found that her friend Sunanda is one of the Rendezvous stakeholders.

"It is not Modi Vs Tharoor. It is not BJP Vs Congress or any other political party or political leader. My priority is cricket and we would resolve the entire issue at the earliest," Modi said.

Sunanda, on her part, has offered to give up her 'sweat equity' of nearly 19 per cent of the 25 per cent free equity of Rendezvous in the Kochi franchise.

Although no details were available about the meeting between the two, Modi said that his sole interest was to promote IPL which was created jointly by everybody including all teams and BCCI and for whose success everybody is working together.

Modi also refused to comment on Pushkar's sweat equity, saying that everything would be set right.

The raging controversy has led to speculation that Modi's wings would soon be clipped with a section within BCCI miffed with his way of functioning. Modi, however, claimed he had no difference with BCCI President Shashank Manohar.

"I have no difference with Shashank Manohar and I have been asked to attend the ICC meeting (on his behalf)," Modi said.

S Badrinath (53 in 36 balls) and Suresh Raina (46 in 27 balls) were the other main contributors for Chennai.

With today's win, Chennai ended their league engagements with 14 points from as many matches with a net run rate of plus 0.274. They have assured a semifinal spot in the tournament.

Earlier, put into bat, Punjab piled up a big 192 for three, thanks to a breezy 99-run unbeaten fourth wicket partnership between Shaun Marsh (88)

IT issues summons to BCCI PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 18

The Income Tax department has issued summons to the BCCI seeking complete details of the eight original Indian Premier League franchises.

"Day before yesterday they had asked for details only about the two new franchises – their shareholding patterns, addresses, player auction and bidding process etc. Now they want us to furnish all the details about the eight other franchises too," Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, Chief Administrative Officer of the BCCI, said today.

Apparently the IT authorities are investigating the entire IPL structure, which has become a huge revenue-earning entity for the BCCI, since its inception in 2008.

Shetty said IPL chairman Lalit Modi or CEO Sundar Raman would be representing the Board during the summons on April 23.

Kings XI Punjab: M Jayawardene c Tyagi b A Morkel 21,S Marsh not out 88, K Sangakkara b Ashwin 33,Yuvraj Singh lbw b Raina 1,I Pathan not out 44. Extras: 5. Total: 192-3. Fall of wickets: 341,90-2, 93-3. Bowling: S Tyagi 2-0-24-0,D Bollinger 4-0-39-0,A Morkel 4-0-48-1,R Ashwin 4-0-20-1,S Raina 4-0-33-1,J Kemp 1-012-0,S Jakati 1-0-14-0.

Chennai Super Kings: MVijay st Sangakkara b Powar 13,M Hayden c Sangakkara b Powar 5,S Raina c Goel b Theron 46,S Badrinath st Sangakkara b Chawla 53,MS Dhoni not out 54,A Morkel not out 14. Extras: 10.

Total: 195-4. Fall of wickets: 13-1, 27-2, 89-3, 148-4. Bowling: R Powar 4-0-28-2,I Pathan 3.4-0-44-0,VRV Singh 3-0-40-0,P Chawla 4-0-28-1,JTheron 4-0-43-1,Yuvraj Singh 1-0-7-0. Man-of-the-Match: M S Dhoni.

and Pathan (44).

Chennai suffered two quick losses in the beginning of their run chase when off-spinner

Ramesh Powar removed Murali Vijay (13) and his opening partner Matthew Hayden (5) cheaply.

‘Super’ Dan lifts Asian B’ton title UNI NEW DELHI, APRIL 18

World Champion Lin Dan of China won his maiden Asian Badminton Championship title with a clinical demolition of Zhenming Wang in the men's singles final at the Siri Fort stadium here today.

Dan, the Olympic and threetime World Champion, who also has four All England Badminton titles demolished his young Chinese opponent 21-17, 21-15 in 39 minutes.

In the women's singles final, it was again an all Chinese clash with Li Xuerui, who knocked out top seed Indian Saina Nehwal yesterday, emerged winner after a hard-fought 21-13, 1821, 21-19 win over Xin Li. Malaysian pair of Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying overcame stiff ressistance from Korean pair of Yoo Yeon Seong-Kim Min Jung to beat them 21-17, 20-22, 2119 in an hour and six minutes to win the gold in mixed dou-

bles.

Korean Cho Gun Woo and Yoo Yeon Seong upset top seed Hung Ling Chen and Yu Lang Lin of Chinese Taipei 21-19, 12-21, 21-17 in an adrenaline rushing last encounter of the day to win the men's doubles.

Although, most of the finals today were close, Lin Dan's exploits were what a good crowd had come to see and they were not left disappointed as the Chinese enthralled them with a great exhibition of his skills. ''It's great to win my first Asian Badminton title and the last two tournaments that I played - the All England and the Swiss Open - I wasn't playing well, so it's an important win here,'' said the 26-year-old Dan after his win.

There was more joy in the Chinese camp as their women's doubles pair of sixth seed Pan Pan and Qing Tian humbled Vivian Kah Mun Hoo and Khe Wei Woon of Malaysia 21-10, 21-6 to win the summit clash.

Chargers outclass Delhi Daredevils by 11 runs and storm into the semi-finals of IPL in here , on Sunday.

Paul Collingwood scored an unbeaten 51 from 42 balls but Delhi's top order failed yet again as they finished on 134 for seven in their 20 overs in reply to Deccan's 145 for seven.

Defending champions Deccan won five matches in-a-row to join Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last four.

Tournament's top wickettaker Ojha with 20 wickets once again rose to the occasion as he claimed two for 16 in his four overs. Harmeet's change of pace got him two wickets for 41 runs in four overs, while Chaminda Vaas' excelled on his comeback for one for 19 in four overs.

Delhi's top order woes continued as their top four batsmen perished cheaply with Rohit Sharma taking three brilliant catches to play a hand in three of those dismissals.

David Warner was the first wicket to fall, caught at first slip

by Rohit Sharma off Mitchell Marsh for five. Virender Sehwag, dropped on 0, didn't make most of the lifeline before he was brilliantly caught by Rohit diving full length to his right at first slip off Vaas for eight.

Tillakaratne Dilshan tried to play the paddle sweep against Harmeet Singh, but missed the ball and was trapped leg before wicket for 11. Gautam Gambhir (4) tried to chip Pragyan Ojha through midwicket but was once again done in by Rohit, who came up with another good diving catch.

Earlier, Delhi Daredevils pacers Ashish Nehra and Umesh Yadav claimed two wickets each to restrict Deccan Chargers to 145 for seven in their 20 overs.

KSEB win Wilred Leisure Cup HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 18

KSEB defeated ICF 25-14, 2516, 25-21 in the finals of 2nd All-India volleyball tournament organised by Wilred Leisure Sports Club at St Alex church court, Curtorim, on Sunday night.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

The final was witnessed by record nearly 5,000 crowd.