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BJP vows to expose ‘agents’ of ministers Says family members of the ministers and ruling MLAs are playing roles of dalals HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 20

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in BrieF Agenda ready for Indo-Pak meetings The Cabinet Committee on Security is understood to have firmed up agenda on Sunday for upcoming Home Minister and Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan. – (PTI)

Ahead of the assembly session next month, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today threatened to expose the “family members of ministers in the Digamber Kamat-led government who are acting as ‘dalals’ and collection agents” on the floor of the House.

“Wait and see, we will expose everyone playing the roles of dalals and collection agents, during the upcoming assembly session,” BJP President Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters.

“Every infrastructure project is tendered for a price. Family members of the ministers and ruling MLAs are playing roles of

dalals and collection agents,” he maintained.

Parsekar was briefing the media after BJP State executive passed political and economic resolution in their first ever meeting.

Parsekar said corruption is rampant at all levels of governance.

“There are a number of examples that we can quote. Corruption in work orders given in case of public works department (PWD), various government jobs, excise scams, illegal mining and worst ever case of police-politician-drug nexus,” he stated.

Parsekar criticised the chief minister for being in the dark, always, about the whereabouts

OPPOSITION CHARGES Kamat is always in the dark about the whereabouts of his cabinet colleagues Government has incurred unnecessary expenditures creating a dent in the exchequer Dept liability has shot up almost 100 per cent in the last five years Debt liabilities have exceeded Rs 7,000 crore, which amounts to a per capita liability of Rs 45, 000 A man must not swallow more beliefs than he can digest —Havelock Ellis

of his cabinet colleagues, who are increasingly getting into various criminal activities.

A resolution was also passed over the total failure of law and order machinery, which according to the BJP is reflected in the sharp increase in cases of murder, rape, drug nexus and others.

“It’s true that due to the political interference, the police force is unwilling to act against the culprits involved in such acts. The very fact that police has failed to trace and arrest an ex-minister (Mickey Pacheco), who is allegedly involved in Nadia Torrado death case, proves the inefficiency of the protectors of law,” the resolution passed by BJP legislator Damu Naik reads.

Passing the economic resolution, the party leaders alleged that the Congress-led government has incurred unnecessary expenditures creating a dent in the exchequer whose dept liability has shot up almost 100 per cent in the last five years.

“The borrowings by the State government have led to the liabilities exceeding to Rs 7,000 crore, which amounts to a per (Continued on page 10)

Now, book mining rights with a click of a mouse!

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

India will soon join an elite league of countries, including Australia and Canada, where investors can get data on free mineral blocks at the click of a mouse and apply online for mining rights.

“We have asked all mineralbearing states to work in tandem with the Land Resource Department, Ministry of Rural Development, for faster digitisation of cadastral maps (map showing detailed records of land),” Mines Joint Secretary Ajita Bajpai Pande told PTI. The Land Resource Department has provided over Rs 600 crore for the digitisation process, while the Mines Ministry has earmarked initial funding of Rs21 crore for a ‘computerised on-line register of the Mining Tenement System’.

Pandey said that all mineralrich states have been asked to replicate a pilot project − tested at iron-ore rich Bellary in Karnataka and Durg in Chattisgarh − to digitise informat i o n re l a t i n g t o m i n i n g resources, including available blocks.

A mining tenement system provides online data of minerals and mines. It enables any person to see data regarding the status of concessions online on a large scale map, and accepts applications for vacant areas.

“Only advanced nations like Australia and Canada currently have the system, which offers all information on mineral concessions,” Pande said. She said the system will be implemented in Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

The system has been developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the help of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). IBM has designed formats on reconnaissance permits (for exploring minerals), prospecting licences and mining leases, and circulated them to all state governments concerned.

The system would also be useful to check illegal transportation of minerals with the help of proper records. Last year, a staggering 42,000 such cases were detected in 11 mineral-bearing states. The centre has also appointed a task force to curb illegal mining.

A supporter of Brazil cheers for his team during the match between Brazil and Ivory Coast on Sunday at Soccer City stadium in Soweto.

Mickky visited my office: Notary HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 20

Even as the police checked and verified documents and records in his office late last night, citybased notary, Adv Joey Rodrigues has said that former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco had come to his office for notarizing his affidavit which was filed in the High Court along with the anticipatory bail petition.

“All the records in the office

were verified by the police officers. There was no hanky panky at all. The affidavit of Pacheco was notarized as per the laid down procedure,” he said, even as the police has come under the scanner for their failure to lay their hands on the former minister for moving around Margao for swearing in his affidavit before the notary.

Questions are being asked how Pacheco’s visit to the city escaped the police intelligence,

and that too given the fact that the office of Adv Joey is located in a congested area like the New Market. The police had issued a look out circular for the former tourism minister and his OSD Lyndon Monteiro in the Nadia Torrado death case.

Commenting on the development, a senior police official said the police are trying to find whether the former Minister had indeed come to the office of Adv Joey to get his affidavit

notarized.

Adv Joey told Herald that no notice or summons was served on him by the police and he volunteered to open his office last night for the men-in-uniform to verify the records and registers.

“I have nothing to hide.

Pacheco’s affidavit was notarized by me in my office,” he said.

While social activist Adv Aires Rodrigues has demanded an inquiry by the Goa police on the (Continued on page 10)

JD(U), BJP at war PTI PATNA/NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

Bihar’s ruling allies JD(U) and BJP were in open war today with the latter daring Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to snap ties following the Gujarat flood aid row.

Angry over Kumar returning the Rs five crore flood relief money to the Narendra Modi government, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi of BJP boycotted the Chief Minister’s functions today.

Upping the ante, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said what

Indian techie shot dead in US PTI WASHINGTON, JUNE 20

An Indian software engineer was robbed and shot dead by a group of five people in a motel near Detroit in US, where he had gone to meet a Mexican woman.

The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Venkata Subba Reddy Cuttamanchi, who is a native of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh.

Cuttamanchi was shot dead by a group of people in Southfield near Detroit on Wednesday around 2:00 am, the Telugu Association of North America said.

The police have arrested all the five individuals, including the boy friend of the woman, who were involved in his killing.

Terror suspects allege torture, write to court PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 20

Two suspected terrorists, arrested for allegedly planning to carry out terror attacks in the city, have in a letter submitted before a local court sought bail alleging police torture.

Abdul Latif and Riyaz Ali were arrested by the state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) on March 13 this year for allegedly planning to carry out attacks at the head quarters of public sector petroleum company ONGC, Thakkar Mall in suburban Mumbai and Mangaldas Market in south Mumbai.

On June 19, when the duo were produced before the Mazgaon metropolitan magistrate for extension of their judicial custody, the accused submitted a hand written letter to the court alleging torture by the ATS.

Kumar has done is a “childish act” and that if the Chief Minister does not want to continue the alliance with BJP, “let him clearly announce it.”

“There is no use of doing this drama,” Sinha said in Ranchi, maintaining that he did not understand the logic behind Kumar returning the relief fund to Gujarat.

Apart from Sushil Modi, state minister and BJP leader N K Yadav, who represents the Patna City constituency, also pulled out from the Chief Minister’s ‘Biswas

Yatra’ (confidence march).

“I don’t want to accompany Kumar for the meeting for the arbitrary attitude of the Chief Minister in returning the flood relief money to the government of Gujarat,” a fuming Modi told reporters here after cancelling his programme with the chief minister at Paliganj in Patna district.

However, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav asserted that his party’s alliance will BJP will continue despite the “unfortunate” episode.

Sir!! We have seized illegally ripe Mangoes and calcium carbide, what do we with these kids working in the godown???

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GOA, MONDAY, 21 JUNE, 2010

CIvIC fOrum Overcrowded Mapusa Vivek Fernandes, Mapusa

Mapusa city is well known for the Friday Market and for traffic mismanagement. The vehicles always crowd the road starting from the Aldona bus stand till the taxi stand. Besides, the Mapusa market shop owners or sellers occupy the place reserved for parking. Due to lack of parking space, people park their vehicles in any available vacant space.

The Mapusa Municipality should take up this matter or otherwise there will be no space for people to walk.

Benaulim sarpanch grilled over garbage disposal sites

Water crisis in Candolim G Madhu Sudhan Rao, Candolim

There has been erratic PWD water supply in Candolim area forcing the residents to buy water for drinking purpose. Water is available just once or twice a week for one or maximum two hours, with very low pressure. It is pathetic to note that hotels in Candolim area get 24 hours water supply throughout the week. It seems the PWD officials are releasing more water to commercial areas. The matter should be urgently looked into by the concerned authorities.

Improve BSNL service Augustus Alphonso, Vasco

The Vasco BSNL Telecom customer care office should strictly limit their service of accepting bill payments to maximum 2 or 3 bills per person. Several people are left waiting in a queue for a long time as receipts for telephone bills are being issued by a single person. Such inconvenience to customers should not be repeated under any circumstances in the future.

Parking at High Court Melwin Ribeiro, Panjim

For quite some time, I have been commuting to and fro from Fontainhas to downtown Panjim, taking the short route which passes through the High Court at the Lyceum.

What I fail to understand is why the concerned authorities do not locate a suitable parking place for all four and twowheelers. These vehicles, belonging not only to a few common citizens, but also to High Court advocates and government personnel, are parked in such a way that it becomes difficult for pedestrians and vehicles to negotiate the sharp turns at two points. The vehicles are even parked in front of entrances of residences, and on both sides of the road! Will the concerned authority kindly look into this?

Benaulim gram sabha members during discussions on garbage disposal at today’s meeting.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 20

Garbage disposal dominated the gram sabha meeting of the Benaulim Village Panchayat on Sunday, with villagers questioning the Sarpanch over steps taken to identify garbage disposal sites.

At a meeting held on Sunday, the gram sabha members asked the Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes in respect of the affidavit filed by the Panchayat body in the High Court on garbage disposal. They demanded to know from the Sarpanch the location of the vermicomposting site set up by the Panchayat body and to explain how and where the

panchayat is collecting plastic waste from the village.

The gram sabha members firmly opposed any plans by the Panchayat body to shortlist open space for garbage disposal, saying the open spaces can be utilized only for recreation. The members demanded that the proposal to use open space for garbage disposal be dropped immediately saying the matter will only end up in litigations.

Agitated members contended that the Panchayat by filing an affidavit that the village has started collection of plastic waste has misled the High Court.

The Sarpanch, however, said she has started plastic collection in

her wards and has no idea about the situation in other wards.

When members questioned where the plastic waste collected from the ward is being dumped, the Sarpanch replied that it is stored in the Panchayat Ghar. However, the panchayat secretary, upon questioning by the members, told the gram sabha that no register is being maintained of any plastic waste collected in the village.

Gram sabha member Rudolf Barreto also questioned the Sarpanch over the appointment of a private contactor for disposal of waste and demanded to know the Panchayat had passed any resolution to appoint

the contractor.

Former Sarpanch Benny Fernandes expressed dismay over the affidavit filed in the High Court by the Panchayat. The gram sabha demanded to know from the Sarpanch as to who had opposed identification of garbage disposal sites in the village as stated in the affidavit.

The gram sabha members drew attention of the Sarpanch to the resolution passed by the meeting dated October 2007 identifying a site in the village for waste disposal.

Meanwhile, the gram sabha members asked host of questions on the audit report and the failure by the Panchayat to recover revenue on various heads.

After discussions the gram sabha resolved to recover the revenue from the salary of the Panchayat members.

The inaction against illegalities including a builder, also figured during the meeting.

While the Sarpanch said that the panchayat would seek legal advice before initiating action against a builder, the gram sabha members said that legal action would further delay the matter. The gram sabha also adopted a resolution demanding change in the lawyer representing the Panchayat.

The Sarpanch later adjourned the meeting to July 11, even as the gram sabha members demanded that the meeting be adjourned to next Sunday.

Lethargic BSNL service Savio Pinto, Nagoa

Come monsoon, and my BSNL telephone line plays hide and seek every alternative day. I have been bitterly complaining to the BSNL office in Verna for months now, but there seems to be no end to my misery. I was a proud customer with a broadband connection, but its functioning is a nightmare.

Very often when I complain, the line/Internet starts working, but by evening the connection disappears. I cannot hear the call, as the line has erratic disturbances.

I feel this is daylight robbery by BSNL. We regularly pay the broadband fees, but rarely get connectivity. The Verna Exchange people blame it on theft of cables or shortage of manpower or the linesman being on leave… Is that any excuse? Please someone in BSNL help me.

Negligent linesman Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai

On Saturday 12 June, a sodium vapour lamp in a faulty position near the Kapdi residence at Varkhandem in Ponda was re-fixed in a correct position. But the dirt accumulated inside this lamp was not cleared. Shouldn’t the concerned linesmen remove the dirt to assure sufficient light on the road?

The higher authorities at the Electricity Department in Ponda should take a serious view of such a negligent and lethargic attitude from the concerned linesmen; those who do incomplete work need to be taken to task without succumbing to any political pressure. The interests of pedestrians should be first priority.

Lack of traffic sense Mauro Fernandes, Anjuna

The government’s proposal to make wearing of helmets mandatory for pillion riders needs to be applauded. It is absurd to make protection compulsory only for the rider because, in case of a mishap, both the rider and the pillion rider are equally vulnerable.

Another decision that is baffling is the mandatory use of helmets only on highways. Our interior village roads are very narrow and dangerous, and more prone to accidents than the National Highways.

But simply issuing challans to errant riders will not solve the problem. It will only fill the government coffers and the pockets of some RTO and Traffic police officers. They are not at all committed in inculcating road sense and traffic discipline among motorists.

The Transport Department should make the rules more stringent, increasing fines threefold. The RTO and Traffic Cell should function more cohesively, without political interference.

Tar ball menace Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

The appearance of tar balls, oily substances and discoloration of the sea-water along the shoreline of Baga-Sinquerim, Anjuna, Vagator and Morjim in North Goa is a matter of concern. Unfortunately, the government has not shown any willingness to find the cause of this phenomenon, which occurs every year before the monsoon.

It appears that some ships are discharging oil waste on the high seas which washes up as tar-balls on the shore. This can be a health risk, as some sea water is invariably swallowed while swimming. The oily residue can have an adverse effect on the skin and the eyes.

The government should show some concern for the health of the aam admi and tourists, and get to the bottom of the problem. If need be, the Coast Guard could be asked to keep a watch on ships discharging oil on the high seas.

Do you have a complaint against some authority or service?

Are there any violations of the law that you would like to bring to the notice of the public? Do you have any suggestions for improvement and/or redressal of services?

If you do, then write to us at editor@herald-goa.com. With the aim of improving the quality of our civic life, every Monday Herald will publish the best letters on these subjects received during the week. This is in addition to our regular ‘Letters to the Editor’ column.

KEEPING THE TRADITION ALIVE! With the onset of monsoons, a farmer ploughs a field at Santa Cruz on Saturday maintaining the age-old tradition inherited from his forefathers.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

Technical snag gives 112 air passengers anxious moments HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JUNE 20

Around 112 passengers and six crew members on board the GoAir Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai flight had some anxious moments, after the aircraft developed technical snag while landing at Dabolim airport on Sunday at 6.45 am.

“The flight with 112 passengers and six crew members landed at Dabolim airport, after the pilot informed the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) about the snag he might encounter in the front landing gear wheels while landing,” said sources at the airport.

However, after assessing the snag, the pilot assured the ATC that he could safely land the aircraft, for which the ATC agreed and allowed the pilot to make a landing.

Sources further informed that the pilot had failed to reset the manual switch in the cockpit, due to which the snag indicated in the cockpit, thereby creating panic among the crew.

“When the flight took off in Mumbai, the pilot had failed to reset the manual switch, due to the snag was indicated in the cockpit,” added sources.

Not taking a risk after landing, the pilot summoned the towing tractor to take the aircraft to the parking bay, but the tractor could not be utilized as the flight engineer immediately pointed out that the pilot had failed to reset the switch and asked the pilot to take the aircraft on its own to the parking bay.

Later, the flight flew back to Mumbai safely for it return journey within an hour after the engineer cleared the flight stating that it was a small error of not resetting the manual switch.

NH WIDENING

Corlim Forum chalks out various activities HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, JUNE 20

Members of Corlim Citizens Civil and Consumer Forum (CCCCF) on Sunday chalked out various activities in the next one month to put forth their demand of asking the government to scrap widening of the national highway passing through Corlim.

The Forum at the public meeting at the Monfort Hall at MolarCorlim on Sunday has decided to submit a copy of its memorandum to PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, North Goa MP Shripad Naik and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha to look into their grievances.

At the meeting, which was attended by the residents of Corlim, the Forum has decided to lead a delegation to PWD Minister Churchill Alemao in his office at the Secretariat on Monday to apprise him about the grievances of the residents of Corlim.

The Forum has also decided to convene a public meeting at Corlim panchayat hall on June 27 at 9.45 am inviting local MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, North Goa MP Shripad Naik, concerned ZP members and all the panchas from nearby panchayats along with the locals to apprise about the impact of national highway, which would be seen in the years to come.

The Forum has also decided to organize a chain rally on July 4, which will start from the Konkan Railway Bridge at Old Goa and culminate at the Banastarim Bridge. If the demands are still not met by the government, then the Forum has decided to hold a protest march at the State assembly on July 19.

Speaking to Herald, CCCCF Secretary Baptist Pereira said: “We are objecting because NH4 national highway will pass through our Corlim village. We ask for diversion, as we do not need this present highway to be altered into a national highway.”

“We have decided to make an appeal to the National Highway Authority of India to do a resurvey and re-align the national highway,” he said.

“Our movement will continue till the State government decides to scrap the widening of NH4 national highway,” said Pereira.

It may be recalled that CCCCF members had raised fears over the likely demolition of over 40 houses along the highway in Corlim, with the Central government’s plan to widen the NH4 highway, which passes through Corlim.

The CCCCF members in order to save the houses from demolition had suggested the diversion of the highway through fields of Carambolim and Corlim, connecting to the highway at the Banastarim Bridge.

Overhead water reservoir inaugurated at Khola in the State are mainly due to the positive outlook of PWD minister and demanded that a suitable playground and a community hall is the need of the hour in this part of village area.

Alemao also declared that the government is taking up two villages on trial basis for considering all the NREG cardholders as BPL families and accordingly extend all BPL facilities to all these families.

Alemao declared Rs 1,000 to a student of Gowal Government High School, who secured first class and Rs 500 each to all other students, who passed out from that school netting 100% pass percentage.

He congratulated School Headmistress Celina and other teaching staff for molding the students correctly.

Responding to demands of Quepem MLA, Alemao also declared that a playing ground and a hall will be constructed in Gowal Khola.

Canacona MLA Vijay Poikhot

and Khola ZP member Krishna Velip, besides many panch members were not present on the occasion.

Khola Sarpanch Archana Velip, G o w a l Pa n c h a n d D e p u t y Sarpanch Ujwala Velip, BetulNaqueri Sarpanch Willuna D’Silva, PWD (water supply) Executive Engineer Dhond, Canacona Assistant Engineer Velingkar, JE Prakash Bhangle were present among several others present on the occasion.

Interestingly, many apprehensive residents left the place after it was vehemently declared that the newly constructed overhead tank will be used exclusively for local residents and not for any commercial players.

Speaking to scribes, Khola Bachao Abhiyan President Precopio Fernandes said: “Where are 1,000 households in the area, besides with CRZ strongly against new constructions, it is unlikely that even in future 1,000 residences will come up in the locality.”

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao inaugurates Rs 60.14 lakh overhead water reservoir at Gowal Khola.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

CALANGUTE, JUNE 20 (HC) -Burglars stole items worth Rs 8,800 from the WAFA Foundation Trust Teaching Institution at Saligao on Saturday.

According to reports, the burglars broke into the institute, run by Reemah Nweilaty, and decamped with two gas cylinders, a mobile handset and a cooking range, all worth Rs 8,800.

Calangute PSI Gaurish Parab is investigating the case.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JUNE 20

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao on Sunday morning inaugurated Rs 60.14 lakh worth 15 mtrs high overhead water reservoir at Gowal-Khola and released about 100 free water connections to individual houses in Khola.

Alemao said the tank will service 1,000 households in the area, even though the present demand is a meager 152 connections, including the 100 free water connections provided under tribal sub plan of Canacona constituency.

Inaugurating the tank in the ST-dominated area of Khola, Alemao said: “It is the ST community which dressed-up and took our State forward and I am of the opinion that this community deserves the fruits by way of getting most of the benefits.”

Earlier, Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar lauded Alemao saying most developments taking place

Items stolen

Corlim Citizens Civil and Consumer Forum Secretary Baptist Pereira interact with the residents from Corlim during a meeting in Corlim.

Photo by Kanzil Rodrigues

Jharkhand duo held for burglary bid at Chandor HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 20

The Maina Curtorim police have arrested two persons, both natives of Jharkhand, for an attempt to commit house burglary at Chandor on Sunday morning.

The police said the duo Andrew and Mahavir were seen inside the compound of a closed house.

Their movements were spotted by neighbours and they were caught by the residents, before being handed over to the police.

The Maina Curtorim police later arrested the duo for the abortive attempt to commit house burglary. Further investigations are on.

Cops take custody of girl HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 20

The police on Sunday took into their custody a six-year-old girl, believed to be from Karnataka, after she was found in the Gandhi market.

The girl was later handed over to a city-based NGO. Sources in the know said the minor girl, speaking in Kannada, was found in the Gandhi Market.

She could not explain how she had landed in the market and the whereabouts of her parents. Given that she hails from the labour class, the police took the girl across the city, but could not trace the parents.

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CABO-DE-RAMA FORT HANDOVER

Kavlekar backs parishioners, denounces govt’s move

Cabo de Rama fort and St Anthony’s Church inside the fort, bone of contention between government and parishioners.

Photos by Kathy Pereira HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JUNE 20

Parishioners, opposing handing over of Cabo-de-Rama fort to a central agency, received further boost, as Quepem MLA too joined the chorus denouncing the government’s move.

“I am with the people and will shortly meet Chief Minister Digambar Kamat requesting him not to accept the INTACH proposal to handover Cabo-De-Rama fort to them,” Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar told Herald.

When reminded that Cabo-de-Rama Fort is already in government possession by way of 1984 gazette publication and legally has no problem to handover the fort to any agency the government may deem fit, Kavlekar retorted saying: “A working church exists in the area and government at the best should not disturb present arrangement.”

“It should not be handed over to a third agency, as a religious structure which devotees regularly visits, the church existing in its precincts, so the best way is to keep it remain that way,” he said.

It may be recalled that Cabo-de-Rama parish-

ioners and Khola residents have raised an alarm over government’s reported move to handover Cabo-de-Rama fort to INTACH, a central agency, to undertake restoration, renovation, re-erection and reconstruction of the fort and to put it in adaptive reuse.

When PWD Minister Churchill Alemao was asked to comment on the issue, Alemao remained elusive, but added cautiously: “Since people have objections, the government may have to do re-think on the issue.”

Alemao asked the people, who met him on the matter after inauguration of an overhead water reservoir at Gowal, neighboring Cabode-Rama, to meet the chief minister on the issue.

When contacted, Khanaguinim Parish Priest Fr Saluzinho, who also looks after the Cabode-Rama parish, said: “We will be supporting the parishioners struggle to retain the church for local residents posterity and we are also assured of support by Bishop’s house on the matter.”

“By a government gazette published in 1984, the entire fort is now a government property, as none at that time filed any ob-

jections within 3 months,” said Fr Saluzinho.

“My predecessors in the past have taken up cudgels with the government authorities including Governor to handover at least 10% of this fort area having our religious house to church authorities, but none helped us, saying the matter is already settled by way of government gazette publication in 1984,” said Fr Saluzinho.

“Legally, we may not have strong base, but parishioners are strongly committed to have this church for the posterity of future generations, which sentiment, present day government should honour,” Fr Saluzinho told Herald.

KBA President Precopio Fernandes said the church is important not only to Christians, but several other belief ’s residents of neighbouring Gowal, Kurdi and even beyond comes to this church to pray and request favours.

“Previously, this church used to service Christian faiths of Betul and Khanaguinim, who now their own parishes,” said Fernandes.

Mickky’s close friend quizzed HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 20

Even as the fate of anticipatory bail petitions filed by former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco and his close aide Lyndon Monteiro would be decided by the High Court tomorrow, the crime branch today quizzed Pacheco’s close friend from Benaulim.

A businessman, who owns a restaurant and a resort in South Goa coastal belt, was questioned over the whereabouts of former minister.

Crime branch officials confirming the interrogation refused to name the businessman, who is Pacheco’s political supporter.

Sources stated that police had also sent teams to residence of Notary Joey Rodrigues, who had notarized the affidavit sworn in

by Pacheco before the high court.

The crime branch which has sought custodial interrogation of Pacheco and Monteiro has kept its hopes on the high court order. They hope that duo will surrender, if their anticipatory bail is rejected.

Earlier last week, High court judge N A Britto had recused

Assembly session HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 20

Governor Dr Shivinder Singh Sidhu has summoned the Goa Legislative Assembly, to meet at Assembly Hall on July 19 at 11.30 am.

Plates being removed from the bhandara at Ganjem-Valpoi.

Photo by Ashraf Khan

BJP to work out roadmap for 2012 polls HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 20

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) think tank today decided to work out a comprehensive roadmap eyeing for 2012 Goa polls.

“In next 15 days, we will decide the roadmap for next elections,” BJP President Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters today afternoon.

The state executive committee which met today decided to come out with a plan of reaching to a maximum number of elec-

torate, including minorities.

“Congress has pictured us as an anti-minority party. But recently the perception of these communities has changed. There are members of minorities, who have taken up membership with BJP. By 2012 polls we will cover the entire minority section,” Parsekar said. Parsekar believes that the anti-government sentiments, prevailing in the state would work in favour of the BJP. When asked, president said

that BJP will be more aggressive in the coming days. “In the coming assembly session (July) we will have an opportunity of exposing the State Government on the floor of the House for nearly 15 days,” Parsekar said.

He said that during 15-day long session, 70 to 80 questions would be raised and debated, which means that the state government would be exposed at all these instances.

SMC contract labourers to intensify agitation HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, JUNE 20

Sanquelim Municipal Council’s (SMC) contract labourers on Sunday resolved to intensify the agitation and formed a committee to put forward their demand of regularization.

It may be recalled that about 34 contract workers of SMC had resorted to a day’s strike on June 8 in protest against government’s apathy to consider their demands. They resorted to the strike after Chief Minister Digambar Kamat failed to act upon the assurance given to the workers.

Following the agitation, the chief minister once again promised that he would regularize the workers within 15 days. Since even after 15 days, nothing fruitful came out, the workers on Sunday convened a meeting and formed a committee to intensify their agitation.

According to sources, about 12 workers who were appointed in 1996 and later are yet to be regularised.

“After Sanquelim panchayat was converted into municipality, about three clerks and a market inspector was regularized, while another 12 workers were just given assurance,” SMC driver Manohar

Kamat told Herald.

The workers’ meeting was held in Samaj Mandir hall, Sanquelim. Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) President V V P Nair, General Secretary Adv G S Kubal and Women Representative of Gomantak Municipal Workers Union Minal Vaigankar were present for the meeting.

In his speech, Nair informed the workers about various benefits that the municipal workers should get as per the amendments. He also expressed full support in the workers’ struggle.

INTUC General Secretary Adv Kubal said in any municipal council, the workers are most important. “The workers are entitled for the benefit of medical, children education, safety and wages.

What is most important in this struggle is the unity,” he said.

Later, a committee was formed with Shivanand Hosmani as its president. Other members elected are Manohar Kamat (general secretary), Jyoti Kanekar (treasurer), Ashok Unchamani and others.

It was also decided to forward a memorandum to the Labour Commission, chief minister and others. The workers also expressed their opinion on the occasion.

Work to remove Bhandara plates begins at Ganjem HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, JUNE 20

To reduce chances of floods in some villages in Sattari taluka, the water resources department (WRD) has commenced the work of removing plates of Bhandara at Ganjem.

It may be recalled that WRD had constructed the bandara in river Mhadai at Ganjem few years ago under Central Government scheme ‘Pani Adva Pani Jeerva’. The bandara is located near raw water pumping station for Opa water works, Ganjem.

According to sources in WRD, water from Ganjem bandara is used at Opa water treatment plant.

WRD officials Arvind Salelkar, Arun Naik, Promod Badami and Shailesh Pokle are guiding the workers in removing the plates.

Sources informed that the work will continue for some more days. Meanwhile, villagers from Guleli, Dhamshe, Padeli, Bironde and Kankeri have urged WRD to complete the work of removing the plates soon to minimize chances of floods due to heavy rains in Sattari.

himself from hearing the case.

The case is now transferred to Justice A S Oak, who will hear it on Monday at 4.30 p.m.

Pacheco is in trouble after death of Nadia Torrado, who allegedly consumed poison and died on May 30.

Crime Branch which is investigating the case had held Pacheco responsible for her death while his OSD, Monteiro, has been accused of destroying evidence.

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Govt yet to issue work order for Malim Jetty extension Trawler owners to launch agitation

The side of the Malim Jetty to be extended by 50 meters.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JUNE 20

The tender may have been approved by the PWD five months ago, but the government is yet to issue the work order for the extension of Malim Jetty on the western side by 50 metres.

Unhappy over the inordinate delay, trawler owners met in Betim a few days ago and have decided to launch an agitation if the work order is not released immediately.

The Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Society Ltd. (MFMSL) at Betim had demanded that the Malim Jetty may be extended by an additional 100 metres as the existing 120-metre long jetty cannot accommodate all the trawlers.

The government had agreed to extend

Valpoi students yet to receive text books HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, JUNE 20

Although the new academic year commenced on June 7, students in Valpoi are yet to receive the text books.

Some parents complained that their children are forced to go to school without textbooks although two weeks are about to be completed since the schools re-opened.

According to sources from some schools in Valpoi, only students of Std 7 received almost all the books. “Students of Std 6 got only one text book, Maths, while students of Std 8 got only Science textbook and are waiting to get other books,” informed sources.

Interestingly, the students of Std 5 did not get a single text book. Some parents of Government primary schools (Urdu medium) have complained that their children are yet to receive Urdu text books.

Parents have urged the Education Department to make available all the text books soon so that their children do not suffer in the first mid-term test to be conducted in the first week of August.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

the Malim Jetty by 50 metres on the western side and PWD accordingly had invited tenders for the project.

The PWD had even shortlisted the contractor but since the past five months the PWD is yet to issue the work order to the contractor, despite repeated requests by MFMSL. When contacted, MFMSL Chairman Menino Afonso said they had met Minister for Fisheries Department Joaquim Alemao and PWD officials several times, requesting them to expedite the work.

“The minister has assured us that he will do the needful. At present, 315 trawlers are operating from the Malim Jetty and in the next season, 25 additional trawlers which are 64 feet in length will join the jetty,” said Afonso.

“Trawler owners are blaming us for not having taken the matter seriously with the government.”

Meanwhile, Afonso informed that the government has agreed to pay compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the families of fishermen who lost their lives in the storms last year.

“However, the government has so far released only Rs 50,000 as compensation in this connection. Four trawler owners lost their trawlers and purse seine nets during the last season and sustained loss of around Rs 4 crore, but the government did not pay any compensation to them.”

“If the government does not take interest in the welfare of the fishermen and the trawler owners, it may have an adverse affect on fishing activities in the State,” warned Afonso.

Need to strengthen consumer protection movement stressed HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 20

Minister for Civil Supplies Jose Philip D’Souza has expressed satisfaction with the deliberations on consumer protection and stressed the need to strengthen the consumer protection movement by active participation of consumers and consumer friendly initiative by the concerned authorities in the State.

Jose Philip was speaking at the meeting of Goa State Consumer Protection Council organised in the Conference Hall, Secretariat, Porvorim, on Friday.

The meeting was attended by the Acting Chief Secretary, Narendra Kumar, the Secretary, Civil Supplies, D C Sahoo, Representatives of Consumer Protection Council and senior government officers.

During the course of deliberation at the meeting, the Civil Supplies Minister assured to provide full support for creating a public awareness and related other activities for the benefits of consumers particularly in rural areas.

The issues discussed threadbare included water and power supply problem almost all over Goa, parking charges in all KTC

With Canacona receiving good rainfall since the last many days, few rivulets, which have gone dry past February-March, have become active from Wednesday night with water sprouting from natural spring sources other then normal rainwater.

According to sources, only few of the rivulets got running till date, while many well-known springs are yet to break open, as delayed rains are yet to hit hard enough in the mountainous regions so far.

“Delay in activation of natural streams could be related to the hottest summer witnessed during the year warming the land even past the first week of June,” informed sources.

Barring three major taluka rivers at Galgibaga, Talpona and Saleri and a couple of tributaries at Agonda and DevabhagPalolem displaying water, almost all other water bodies including various lakes and ponds, besides several tributaries running in the taluka are totally dried-up.

Environmentalist Budhu Mahale said it may take another 810 days of heavy rainfall to

sprout most other springs so as to bring back the remaining water bodies active and alive and bring all the rivers in flowing mode.

One land part of Chapoli reservoir had even developed cracks in its once water storage area, displaying acute chagrin of earth-warming disaster taking its toll amid one of the hottest summer in recent years.

The Chapoli dam reservoir was tottering at the barest minimum water storage of just 28.33 RL (reduced level) till June 15, as the releasing depth of water at dam’s releasing point stood at less than 3 mtrs in height, informed sources.

It was only past June 16 that the dam’s reservoir began to show improvements, as rains was hitting hard. Finally, the water began to add to the reservoir capacity and became richer by 0.28 RL as on Friday afternoon with the water capacity presently standing at 28.61 RL. Rains provided only intermittent respite on Friday, as Canacona recorded about 35 mm of rainfall at 6 pm, even as seasonal rainfall has touched 290 mm, sources from taluka observatory informed.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 20

Eminent artists Unnati Singh and Salvador Fernandes in association with Armando Gonsalves of Heritage Jazz, organised an art workshop with underprivileged children from the St Inez bundh, at Gonsalves Mansion in Campal, which culminated with an exhibition of art works of the works produced by these kids as well as with contemporary paintings from these senior artists. The exhibition will be on till June 30 from 11 am to 5.30 pm.

ards of plastic is to reduce the use of plastic,” informed Dongre.

“Plastic plays the role of villain right from the stage of its production. The major chemicals that go into the making of plas-

tics are highly toxic and pose serious threat to living beings of all species on earth,” added Dongre.

“When burnt plastic releases a host of chemicals into the air, besides hitting hard the eco-

These painting lessons have provided full liberty to the children to choose their favorite style and paint down their vivid imaginations. It was definitely a gleaming opportunity for art making and creative expression in order to build their confidence, self-esteem, and critical thinking skills.

Unnati Singh and Salvador Fernandes appeal not to miss the works of the underprivileged children now camouflage the lovely verandah of the Gonsalves Mansion into a vivacious art gallery of the contemporary creations. The artists are keen on taking this highly successful experiment to all the corners of the State, and any schools/organisations interested in making use of their services as well as the services of Heritage Jazz in music and art, may please visit www.heritagejazz.com and write to Armando Gonsalves.

Six persons, including a bus driver, escaped with minor injuries, after a passenger bus rammed into a hillock near Opa Water Treatment Plant, Opa-Ponda, on Thursday at about 6.45 pm.

According to reports, the accident occurred when the bus driver lost control over the bus and rammed against the hillock.

The bus (GA-01-W-4234) was proceeding from Ponda towards Opa. Bus driver Shanu Gaonkar, who sustained leg injuries, was shifted to ID Hospital, Ponda, while the five other passengers were discharged after administering first aid at ID Hospital. Ponda police is investigating the case.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JUNE 20

Environment Officer Sujitkumar Dongre speaks on ill-effects of plastic.

General Secretary of NCP, Adv Avinash Bhosle has urged the Government of Goa to reduce the tariff of Goa Niwas and Goa Sadan in New Delhi from Rs 1500 to Rs 500. State guest houses are meant to give residential facilities at a reasonable rate to the people of their State who visit the capital and therefore the increase in rates is not justified.

Adv Bhosle also urged the government not to increase the licence fees by 100% as proposed in the budget as it directly affects the Aam admi, however the amount of fines may be double.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, JUNE 20

A flowing rivulet with source from natural springs at Dumane-Canacona.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

system, some chemicals in plastic can cause array of maladies ranging from birth defects to cancer, damage nervous system and also adversely affect blood and kidneys of human beings,” he said.

Dongre stated that plastic once thrown in the open becomes a major environmental problem. “We need to make an effort to reduce or rather stop usage of plastic carry bags and instead use cloth bags whenever we go for marketing. Students can play a vital role in the campaign of plastic eradication,” said Dongre.

In his speech, District Institute and Education and Training V ice Principal Govind Hawaldar advised the students to avoid the usage of plastic carry bags and impressed upon the illiterate people about the ill-effects of plastic and how it causes damage to the environment.

“The students should make this as mission and strive to maintain environment clean in the interest of mankind,” added Hawaldar.

Students from schools in Porvorim participated in the plastic collection drive. Programme Coordinator Maria de Fatima Cruz of SCERT proposed the vote of thanks.

Personality development at Panjim

PANJIM (HND): Personality Development and Mind Control course will be organised on June 29, from 10 am to 11 am, at Institute of Personality Development, Pinto Chambers, Block ‘A’, 2nd floor and conducted by Prof Agnel Crasto, Director of the Institute of Personality Development, Panjim. The course includes voice culture, communication skills, public speaking, interview’s techniques, hospitality, human relationship, concentration and assertiveness training. The duration is of 5 days only. Those interested may contact Prof Agnel Crasto on telephone number 2435838 and mobile 9420818302.

S H O RT TA K E S Ebony and Ivory’s musical concert

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 20

Bus rams into Ponda hillock; 6 escape with minor injuries

Meet deliberates on ill-effects of plastic on environment Environment Officer from Department of Science and Technology Sujitkumar Dongre said plastic is non-biodegradable material and remains in the environment for several years without degrading.

Dongre was speaking as the chief guest at the programme organized during the plastic collection drive conducted by State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Porvorim, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Techn o l o g y, S a l i g a o a t D I E T, Porvorim.

“Plastic waste clogs the drains and thus hit sewage system. The plastic waste which is dumped into rivers, streams and seas contaminate water, soil and marine life and also the air we breathe,” said Dongre.

“Chocked drains provide excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes, besides causing flooding during the monsoons.

Plastic thus causes serious damage to the environment.

So the only way to reduce haz-

Reduce tariff of Goa Niwas, says Adv Bhosle

Art exhibition at Gonsalves Mansion

Rains resurrect ‘dry’ rivulets in Canacona HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JUNE 20

bus stands areas, improvement of Goa dairy milk distribution system, setting up of State Road Safety Council (SRSC), food and drug issue, protection of flat/apartment owners issue, availability of updating of citizen charter of ah departments, and related other matters.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Road mishap, tree uprooting reported at Vasco HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JUNE 20

Vasco traffic police and Vasco fire brigade personnel were kept on their toes on Thursday morning, after two incidents of road mishap and tree falling occurred, blocking the traffic along the NH17A and Swatantrapath in Vasco.

In the first incident, drivers of two vehicles escaped with minor injuries in a head-on collision between a tempo and truck on Chicalim slope on Thursday morning, blocking the traffic along the main road leading to Vasco.

Traffic police had to leave the traffic one-way till both the vehicles were removed from the accident after four hours.

However, by the time traffic police could clear the vehicles at Chicalim slope, an old Ashoka tree came crashing down on the Swatantrapath road, blocking entire one-way traffic.

The fire personnel swiftly cleared the road within an hour, while Vasco traffic police PI Dharmesh Angle monitored the traffic along Swatantrapath road.

Local councillor Krishna Salkar, who along with South Goa BJP Vice President Digambar Amokar present at the site, informed that no one was present on the road when the tree came crashing down.

Students of Ebony and Ivory Academy at the annual concert at Grace Church Hall, Margao.

PANJIM (HND): Linda’s Ebony and Ivory Academy held its fourth annual concert and prize distribution at Grace Church Hall, Margao recently. The students of the academy put up a breathtaking and colorful musical extravaganza of dances, song and individual performances on the piano. Over 40 students participated in the concert.

Mayor of Margao, Savio Coutinho was the chief guest. He described the show as one of the best he had ever witnessed in Goa. The guest of honour, Fr Glen D’Silva, sfx, Director of Pilar Music Society, while also full of plaudits, recalled Linda’s humble journey to the pinnacle of music success as a music teacher, director and choreographer.

Seminar on Robotics organised

Students attending the seminar on robotics at Ponda.

Photo by Amresh Parab

MARCEL (HC): Fourth year Electronics and Tele-communication students from Goa Engineering College (GEC), Farmagudi, conducted a seminar for the students of St Mary’s High School, Ponda, on ‘Robotics’. On the occasion, students were informed about robotics, basic working and formation of robots. Live demo of a robot developed by GEC students was also conducted. “This is excellent and I must thank the GEC team headed by Pranav, who enabled us to know about robots and its working. Robotics always been a fantasy to us, but now we know what it really means,” said Ashish Nair, student of St Mary’s High School, Ponda.

According to GEC student Pranav Pai Vernekar, his group has taken the initiative to spread the knowledge of robotics to the students. He said they will continue conducting such programme in school and colleges.

“Robotics is a fast-developing field and we thought school and college students should be aware of it,” said Vernekar. “As we know that computer technology is considered most advanced today, but within 20 years the robotic field will be the most advanced field. According to us, the students from schools should be given knowledge of robotics and this will definitely help them in the long run. Even our country can benefit from it,” said Vernekar.

Group members include Amol, Vaibhav Sathe and Upesh. The group as part of their project work has developed a web-based interface from where the commands given to a robot can be transmitted over the Internet. A demonstration of their project was also conducted. Members have requested schools and colleges, who wish to have robotics seminar in their institute, to contact them at GEC, Farmagudi-Ponda.

RIMC admission test in December HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 20

The next RIMC entrance examination for admission to the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), Dehradun (UA) for July 2011 term will be conducted at scheduled centres on first Wednesday and second Thursday of December, 2010.

Only boys are eligible to apply for the admission to the RIMC, Dehradun. Candidates appearing for the above test should not be less than 11½ years in age but should not have attained the age of 13 years as on 1 July, 2011 i.e. they should not be born earlier than July 2, 1998 and not later than January 1, 2000.

They should either be studying in class VIIth or passed class VIIth from any recognized school at the time of admission to the RIMC. The examination in English will be conducted on December 1 (10 am to 12 noon), Mathematics (2 pm to 3.30 pm) and general knowledge paper on December 2 (10 am to 11 am). The Mathematics and general knowledge papers may be answered either in Hindi or English. The examination will be held simultaneously for all the candidates.

Minimum pass marks in each paper including interview will be 50% and if the candidates fails to secure 50% marks in any paper, he will be declared ineligible for admission. The selection of the candidates will be purely on merit.

Copies of the prospectus with application forms and set of old question papers can be obtained from the Commandant, RIMC, Dehradun (UK) on payment of Rs 250 through demand draft in favour of Commandant, RIMC. These should be dispatched by registered post or courier only.

Locally printed/Xeroxed and without the Hologram (seal), forms will be rejected. Application forms duly completed in duplicate on prescribed forms accompanied by a bank draft, payable at State Bank of India, Tel Bhavan branch (bank code no 01576), Dehradun only will be accepted, for Rs 50 (Rs 5 in case of SC/ST candidates) in favour of Commandant RIMC, Dehradun, must be sent to the Asstt Director of Education, Panjim on or before September 30.

Application forms must be sent to the respective State governments and not to the Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun.

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GOA, MONDAY, 21 JUNE, 2010

Special vehicles to assist patrolling in Belgaum HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JUNE 20

Belgaum will now have more adept arrangements as far as the control of law and order and police assistance is concerned.

The city has become one of the few selected cities in Karnataka for getting the services of special vehicles to assist the police in controlling crime and serve the citizens better.

Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang flagged off the vehicles on Wednesday pressing them into the service of the people at a simple ceremony that was held in the premises of the SP office. “ These special vehicles named as ‘Cheetah’, will be equipped with a PSI/ASI, a police constable and will be well armed to offer appropriate police assistance,” she told reporters.

“The vehicles will be also first aid and communications gadgets to assist the police,” she said.

Belgaum social worker Saudagar goes missing HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JUNE 20

Abdul Salam Saudagar (68), a social worker from here who left home on June 5 after the sudden demise of his wife, is still missing.

Soudagar is the founder and owner of the popular Hotel Niyaz, opposite bus stand here.

Apart from being a successful businessman, he is also involved in the local educational institutions and associated with various social organisations here and has rendered help to the needy in all possible ways.

He has an excellent rapport with a large number of people in Goa too. Family members of Soudagar are in distress and have filed a missing complaint at the Market Police Station here.

The public is requested to contact mobile Ph: 09880000370 and 09880000371 in case of any information about Soudagar.

Poor selling daughters to ‘flesh trade’ agents: BJP HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JUNE 20

SP Sonia Narang flags off Cheetah at Belgaum in the presence of Additional SP Umesh Pangam, DySP G M Desur, Shataraju and other officials.

These vehicles have been strategically located at different vantage points in Belgaum city and will be at service round the clock. Apart from preventing crime, assisting in accidents, natural calamity these vehicles will be also keeping an eye on the suspicious persons.

“Controlling violence will

now be easy for the Belgaum police with the arrival of Cheetah,” said SP Sonia. The vehicles will act swiftly on the information from police control room, public and the police station of that area.

Additional SP Umesh Pangam and other senior police officials were present on the occasion.

Belgaum District Bharatiya Janata Party women’s wing has alleged that poor villagers due to their intense poverty are selling their young daughters to the agents engaged in ‘flesh trade’.

The members of the wing, who have submitted a memorandum to Superintendent of Police Sonia Narang, have complained about the rise in missing girls’ cases in and around Belgaum.

In a memorandum submitted to the SP, the women leaders have alleged that some people from Rajasthan with the involvement of some local people force poor villagers to sell their young daughters under the guise of getting them married with rich persons.

The women have urged the police department to identify such anti-social elements in the society and take stringent action against them.

Mahalaxminagar deprived of basic amenities since 2 decades!

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JUNE 20

Politicians and administrators of Belgaum might boast of taking the city to new heights of progress, but there is one area, hardly a few metres from the city, where residents have been deprived of basic amenities since the last two decades.

The misery of residents of Mahalaxminagar and surrounding areas near Laxmi Tek, here, have been deprived of basic amenities like proper supply of water, electricity and proper approach road since the last 20 years.

The irate residents here are now up in arms and are planning a strong agitation to catch the attention of the officials and people’s representatives towards the problems faced by them.

The condition of the main approach road to Mahalaxminagar which is already in a dilapidated condition has further deteriorated due to heavy rains since last week.

Few patches of the approach road have gone so bad that it has become difficult for the residents to travel to others areas.

Belgaum ZP may have won accolades from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for effective implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), but little did it knew about the drawbacks in the scheme that left hundreds of poor people unemployed.

It may be recalled that former ZP CEO and present Belgaum Deputy Commissioner Dr Ekroop Caur had proudly received the award from the Prime Minister in February.

PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 20

After failed attempts by senior Shiv Sena leaders to bring together Sena executive chief Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin and MNS chief Raj, local Sena activists have taken initiative for that.

The initiative called 'Mazi Chalval Mi Maharashtracha' (My Movement,I Belong To Maharashtra) led by a senior Shiv Sainik from Worli in Central Mumbai, Satish Walunj and six others would launch 'Thackeray Jodo' campaign here on Monday

HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

The CBI's Mumbai branch on Saturday trapped Major Dipendra Bhushan taking bribe from a newly selected jawan for clearance of the medical examination.

A CBI spokesman here said Major Bhushan is a medical officer of the Army and posted at the recruitment office at Colaba in Mumbai. He demanded Rs 50,000 from the jawan to clear him medically.

The major and his driver Bharat Oram were caught redhanded while accepting part of the bribe from the complainant.

The driver is a civilian.

The complainant who had been selected as a soldier (technical) was asked to make part payment of Rs 10,000 when he met the officer Saturday evening near CST Railway station.

AGENCIES MUMBAI, JUNE 20

The slushy approach road to Mahalaxminagar in Belgaum.

School and college students, women and elders also face difficulties while negotiating with the road.

The road has become so slushy that people riding bicycles and motor cycles frequently slip on this road and sustain minor to major injuries. The conditions become worse due to absence of street lights along the road.

Despite requests to the Benkanhalli gram panchayat, the authorities have turned blind eye to the road leaving the large number of residents of the lay-

out at the mercy of the most awful conditions.

Since last couple of months, the residents have been receiving assurances from the government authorities and elected representatives. District in Charge minister Basavraj Bommai’s through a letter has recently directed officials to take necessary measures to provide basic amenities to the residents.

To the shock of the people, no official has turned up to the layout, despite the minister’s orders.

It was observed at many places that the project has failed miserably to provide employment to the poor in many villages.

The purposeful lethargy of the authorities to oversee the sincere implementation of the projects under the scheme has attributed to the failure in guaranteeing the employment to the needy.

It is observed that many of the projects taken up under the scheme are incomplete, mainly due to the rampant corruption.

In once such incident that has raised several questions over implementation of the project, villagers of Mekalmardi in Belgaum

district have filed a complaint with Lokayukta, alleging corruption in the implementation of the scheme.

Mahantesh Hiremath and Basavraj Hosmani of Mekalmardi said: “The Gram Panchayat records show that about Rs 70-80 lakh has been spent on the drain work in the village which is far from the truth.”

“Many labourers have not been paid a single rupee even after working for many days. Since March this year, no works have been either decided upon or taken up by the panchayat,” the villagers alleged.

to bring the cousins together for betterment of Marathi people.

"Marathi votes were divided between Sena and MNS which is paving way to outsiders to rule us. If this continues Maharashtra will not have any future," Walunj told PTI. The campaign is purely on the basis of public support and there is no involvement of any big political leader, he said.

"We want, the cousins should listen to the public opinion because they are the voters and should respect them," Walunj

Mumbai army officer, driver held taking bribe

Kareena to play a sex-worker in 'Heera Mandi'

NREGS fails to provide employment in Belgaum!

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JUNE 20

‘Thackeray Jodo’ campaign to be launched today

Kareena to play a sex-worker in `Heera Mandi`Kareena Kapoor and Sanjay Leela Bhansali will finally be working together on Sanjay's next film after Guzaarish. The two had been hoping to work together for a long time but their plans fell through every time. Once Kareena returns from shooting for Agent Vinod in Morocco, the two will meet and finalise their project together.

Kareena and Sanjay were supposed to work on a film on Mahatma Gandhi's son after Devdas, but circumstances forced Sanjay to shelve the film.

They then planned Bajirao Mastain with Salman Khan, but that had to be scrapped after Kareena and Salman's Kyon Ki flopped.

Then Sanjay got busy with Black and Kareena could not be a part of it as her sister Karisma and Black's male lead Amitabh Bachchan's son Abhishek had just broken their engagement. But now, it seems the two will finally get together.

The major was caught redhanded near Bombay Gymkhana when his driver Oram got down from the vehicle to collect money. The CBI had independent witnesses to trap the officer.

Search of the driver yielded another Rs 9500, besides the tainted amount of Rs 10,000.

The spokesman said the major and his driver broke down, confessing that Rs 9500 were the bribe received by them from another candidate to pass him in the medical exam. Both confessed to have taken illegal gratification from several candidates to get them passed in the medical examination for the post of soldiers (technical) and soldiers (general duty).

Searches are on at the office of the major and the residential premises of both the major and the driver, the spokesman added.

said.

The sainiks also want Uddhav and Raj together win the 2012 BMC elections else CongressNCP would come in power.

Asked if he has spoken to any of the cousins on the issue personally, he said no. "I have not

spoken personally to them but written letters to Sena chief Balsaheb Thackeray and Raj about launching the campaign," Walunj said.

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New safety rules for VIP use of planes, copters

Longest day of the year today

A Pilot-in-Command (PIC) should either have a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) or an Airline TransNew safety rules have been put in place for VIP port Pilots License (ATPL) with at least 3,000 hours operation of planes and helicopters to avoid of flying experience, of which 2,000 hours should mishaps like the one which killed former Andhra be as a PIC on the type of aircraft to be flown. He Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy. or she should also have a minimum of 50 hours The rules, framed by the Direc- The rules, framed of night flying experience. torate General of Civil Aviation For helicopter pilots, the com(DGCA), encompass all aspects of by the Directorate mander should possess similar liflight operations -- from acquisition General of Civil censes, with 2,000 hours of flying of aircraft, employment of crew Aviation (DGCA), experience including 500 hours as and engineers to definition of VIPs. PIC on the same aircraft type. They The new rule says that a VIP encompass all should also have at least 10 hours flight would mean having amongst aspects of flight of night flying experience. the passengers any one of the eight In order to regulate flight operoperations -- from ations categories of dignitaries. of state governments and The categories include the Lok acquisition of PSUs, many of which have a fleet Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Deputy aircraft, of planes or choppers, the DGCA Chairperson, Cabinet Ministers, has specified rules for recruitment Chief Justice of India, Governors, employment of of pilots, crew and engineers and Chief Ministers, State Cabinet Min- crew and also their training programmes. isters and the SPG protectees who engineers to Similar rules have also been laid enjoy 'Z-plus' category security. down for aircraft maintenance and The President, the Vice President definition of VIPs. repairs, besides other airworthiand the Prime Minister travel on ness requirements.

IAF aircraft as a rule.

The aircraft should be fitted with all suitable While no flight would be allowed to be operated equipments needed for instrument flying and piwhen "weather conditions are not conducive to lots should hold valid instrument ratings, the safe operations", every VIP flight would be oper- rule stresses. ated with "a multiple crew composition", the Civil The aviation departments of state governments Aviation Requirement says. or aviation divisions of PSUs would have to apply Stringent conditions have been laid down for to the DGCA for undertaking aircraft operations the pilots of planes and helicopters. with a fee of Rs one lakh.

Tomorrow is the longest day of the year and some school students plan to visit the nearly 300-year-old observatory Jantar Mantar to conduct astronomical experiments.

Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) is organising a 'Khagol Mela' (Astronomical Fare) at the eighteenth century monument to educate people about the summer solstice, when the earth's axis tilts towards the sun.

Jantar Mantar, in the heart of the city, was built in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur.

Solstice, a term derived from Latin words sol, meaning sun, and sistere, which means to stand still, is an astronomical event which occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the earth's axis is most inclined towards or away from the sun, SPACE President C B Devgun told PTI. This causes the sun's apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme, so the Northern Hemisphere points directly towards the sun while the Southern Hemisphere points directly opposite the sun, he said.

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

Youths related to ultras denied passports in J-K PTI SRINAGAR, JUNE 20

Procedures for issue of passports may have been eased elsewhere but youths in Jammu and Kashmir, said to be relatives of militants, do not get their travel document.

Many of them claim they are denied passport but are not informed about it formally.

The state government, which intervened in the matter, claims that passport of relatives of militants are being issued but their kin complain that they are still denied the 'right to travel'.

Police refutes these claims and say the process is on.

'Campaign for Right to Travel', a group formed by Kashmiris who have been denied passports, allege that the government has blacklisted more than 60,000 people from receiving passports on the basis of intelligence reports that they could pose a security risk.

Devotees performing pooja at Khirbhawani temple at Tulmulla in Jammu & Kashmir during the annual Mela Khirbhawani on Saturday.

‘DU country's only radioactive polluter’

Scheme to boost Waqf boards

sought the details of such violators.

The infamous episode of auctioning the radioactive material surfaced in April this year when eight scrap dealers working in Delhi's sprawling Mayapuri scrap market suffered radiation exposure.

One person lost his life while remaining seven were in serious condition because of bone marrow damage resulting from radioactive radiation emitted by cobalt pencils of the gamma cell, auctioned by the University.

The Board cited security concerns to withold the names of organisations decommissioning nuclear material from their facilities.

It, however, said in most of the cases seeking disposal of radioactive waste, the AERB had taken action within seven days

In a bid to check rampant encroachment of Waqf properties, the Centre has launched a scheme to strengthen all of its state boards in the country.

The move comes a little more than a month after the UPA government passed a bill to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, on May 7 in the LS. As the amended waqf Act provides for penal provisions as well to prevent encroachment of properties owned by it, the focus of the new scheme would be to impart training and technology to the boards so that they can work in the changed scenario, sources in the Minority Affairs Ministry said.

The government has sanctioned Rs 7 crore for the current financial year for the scheme.

Fifteen Waqf boards will benefit from the scheme, which will also be extended to remaining 14 state boards later on.

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

Delhi University has earned the dubious distinction of being the country's only violator of radioactive waste disposal norms, according to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.

The AERB which is responsible for regulating and monitoring the safety of nuclear facilities and materials said that more than 800 organisations had approached it in last five years for decommissioning nuclear material.

"There are no reported cases of disposal of radioactive material violating the 'Atomic Energy (safe disposal of radioactive waste) Rules, 1987,' except the Gamma Cell which was auctioned by Delhi University," the AERB said in an RTI reply to applicant Abhishek Shukla who

and issued export permission for imported sources.

"For sources to be disposed of at the authorized waste management agency in the country, AERB takes about one month's time to issue disposal permission since the concurrence from the waste management agency is to be obtained first," AERB Secretary Om Pal Singh said.

According to rules laid down for the disposal of nuclear waste, the user has to provide details of the material to be disposed of locally (in India) or to be exported (to original supplier abroad).

These details are forwarded to the authorised waste management agency for its concurrence and only after that does the Board permit the user to transport the material to the agency.

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

PM may decide on Ganga MoU soon PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to announce the decision on signing a memorandum of understanding on Ganga river basin management plan between the government and a consortium of IITs during his visit to the IIT-Kanpur on July 3.

Singh has been invited to attend as the chief guest the annual convocation of the premier institute, which is celebrating its golden jubilee this year.

"Prime Minister will visit the institute on July 3. One of the major announcements on the day will be about the signing of the pact for Ganga cleaning plan between the Centre and the IIT-consortium," IIT-Kanpur director Sanjay G Dhande told PTI. He said that the actual signing will happen a few days later in New Delhi between the Environment Ministry and the IITconsortium which comprises the seven leading IITs -- Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee, Guwahati,

The PM will visit IIT-Kanpur on July 3. One of the major announcements will be about the signing of the pact for Ganga cleaning between the Centre and the IIT-consortium Delhi, Kanpur and Mumbai.

They will be pooling in their talent to prepare a Rs 18-crore comprehensive basin management plan for revival of the Ganga under the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which is headed by the Prime Minister and includes chief ministers of the states through which the river flows.

The plan, which will outline comprehensive measures for restoration of the Ganga with regard to the issue of competing water uses in the river basin,

will be completed within 12-18 months.

Dhande said unlike the previous Ganga action plan which focused mainly on water, this time concentration will be on the entire basin and how to ensure quality and quantity flow in the river.

Pinning hopes on the IITs brain to revive the holy river, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had recently said, "I expect that the project will build human resources in this area in the IITs. The next generation of

water resources experts should be developed through this project.

"That is why I preferred going to the IIT consortium rather than to a consulting company, which was the original plan," Ramesh said.

Once the IITs do their job, the implementation of the plan will have to be done under the NRGBA, whose mandate among other things is to ensure prevention of entry of untreated sewage in the river by the year 2020.

The work would broadly be undertaken by many thematic groups, each involving various tasks such as preparation of geo-spatial database management, water resources engineering, fluvial geomorphology (effective stream channel management) and socio-cultural aspects.

Capacity building and public participation, maintenance and restoration of Ganga system and improvement of its ecological health will be the other major area of focus, Dhande said.

OHERALDO

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OPINION

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www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

Whither Indian Justice?

Vol No CX No: 158 Goa, Monday 21 June, 2010

Land speculation drives Mopa?

I

n the corporate world, ‘insider trading’ is a crime. If an individual with potential access to information about a company that is not public, makes a profit from trading in that company‘s shares on the basis of that privileged information, it is considered a breach of a fiduciary relationship of trust and confidence. If caught, those engaged in insider trading have to pay stiff fines or can even go to jail.

But what happens when politicians take advantage of ‘insider’ information to make a profit? This could happen in the stock market, where by virtue of his or her position, the politician knows about policy decisions that are yet to be made public, and makes a profit from some ‘timely’ trading.

But, more often, it takes the shape of profiteering in property.

Politicians are in a privileged position. They get to know about government decisions when the files are still doing the rounds of the Secretariat, and long before these decisions become public. Therefore, they are in a unique position to sell or purchase land on the basis of this information. Isn’t this the same as insider trading?

Ministers take an oath of secrecy along with the oath of office. They solemnly affirm that any matter that comes to their knowledge in the course of their duties will not be disclosed. But one does not have to be a minister to get access to privileged information. MLAs are usually sounded out in advance about projects in their constituencies. Many are members of legislative or consultative committees, where more such knowledge comes their way. They share this information with their party colleagues. Therefore politicians, whether in power or out, whether in the assembly or not, have access to a great deal of privileged information that they can potentially profit from.

This is the substance of the allegations the members of the ‘Mopa Vimantall Pidit Xetkari Samiti’ have made against politicians, from Pernem and elsewhere. The Samiti comprises farmers of Mopa, Chandel, Kasarvorem, Varkhand and Uguem, villages whose land is being acquired for the proposed Mopa airport. They say that politicians are keen on the project mainly because many have acquired land at cheap rates near Mopa, and are hoping to reap a windfall when the airport starts to come up and land values in the area shoot skywards.

They stoutly oppose the proposed airport at Mopa, saying it will cause ecological devastation in the area and deprive villagers of their only means of livelihood, farming. Samiti members contend that more than 85 per cent of the people of the area depend solely on agriculture.

Further, Samiti members pooh-pooh the government’s promise that the proposed airport will create employment.

The airport, they say, will be built on a BOOT basis by a private company, that will then operate it. How then, they ask, can the state government − which will not be in the picture − offer employment to locals? They say that as with all big projects in Goa, locals will get only the menial jobs, while the betterpaying posts will go to outsiders with better qualifications.

But, most important, they have accused politicians − from Pernem and elsewhere, from the ruling party and the opposition − of buying up large numbers of plots of land at cheap rates in the area, so that they can sell them for much more when the airport starts to come up. This is no empty allegation.

The Samiti is armed with all the details of these land purchases, which its members have obtained under RTI from the Pernem Sub Registrar’s office.

Isn’t buying land on the basis of privileged information more or less the same as insider trading? Since it is a breach of fiduciary responsibility, shouldn’t it be punished the same way? But can we expect our government to act against MLAs and their close relatives?

All our democratic institutions are failing us and the consequences are frightening, says Dr GLADSTONE D’COSTA

T

he issue dominating the headlines is the Bhopal tragedy, and how and why Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson got away. But the fact is that the health consequences of exposure to the poisonous Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas were – and continue to be – grossly underestimated.

It not only caused immediate fatalities, but has continued to do so over the years, often in the most excruciatingly painful manner, with consequences for future generations as well. This new evidence should have been collated and used to revisit and reassess the compensation.

Instead, we have permitted the culprits to take refuge behind the fact that Union Carbide was taken over by Dow Chemical, which claims to have acquired only assets and not liabilities. Does this have any legal basis? Has no one heard of ‘vicarious corporate liability’? Or is this yet another example of our government’s generosity?

We are now the laughing stock of the world because we let our people get trampled upon like this. If our own laws were inadequate, as has been alleged in some quarters, why was no amendment tabled and passed in the Lok Sabha, or an ordinance promulgated? The truth is that our law makers were caught with their pants down; totally out of their uneducated depths. This explains the shocking reality that even today, the site remains contaminated.

At the same time, we have the ridiculous spectacle of the country’s Law Minister attacking his own judiciary for a verdict issued by the Supreme Court way back in 1996. If an attack was called for it should have come in 1996, for the sloppy manner in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigated the case after they took it over from the Hanumanganj Police Station in 1984. But was the CBI’s sloppiness a result of inefficiency or was it politically ‘appropriate’ at the time? What possessed the government to settle for such a paltry compensation for the world’s worst industrial disaster?

The text of the Supreme Court order suggests that the case was presented such that the learned judges could do little else. The assessment of the medical fallout of the leak – the crucial issue – was totally inadequate. The justification for changing the charge from Section 304-A (death by negligence) to Section 304 II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was poorly presented,

Wise Counsel

A

in spite of clear evidence in Union Carbide’s own internal assessments that there was a danger of a leak.

As for getting Anderson back, we have as much chance as a snowball in hell. Apart from the agerelated sympathy factor, the US government in its usual hypocritical manner will politely tell us to take a walk. Or they might get truly imaginative and suggest we get the required funds from all those billions our politicians and businessmen have stashed away in Swiss banks!

B S Raghavan’s article in ‘Business Line’ titled ‘A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma’ makes intriguing reading. Anderson was given VIP treatment and permitted to leave the country on 7 December 1984. A man named Adil Shahriyar was granted a US presidential pardon ‘as a goodwill gesture’ for ‘reasons of state’ on 11 June 1985. Shahriyar had been sentenced in 1982 to 35 years hard labour in the US for drug trafficking, illegal possession of fire arms, transporting arms across state borders and attempting to blow up a ship. His appeal was turned down in the US Court of Appeals because “the evidence presented supports the verdicts”. Adil happens to be the son of Muhammad Yunus, who was very closely

Fight highway expansion

Valmiki Faleiro, Margao

Francis Braganza, Verna

On 18 June, Goa Revolution Day, on my way to senior friend Rafael Viegas’ residence at Curtorim, I passed by the stinkyard called Sonsodo. What I saw was another Revolution. Never before had Sonsodo sported such a spic-and-span sight. Both Avdhut Timblo and his project manager in Margao, Eng Shridhar Kamat, deserve congratulations. Hope their technical collaborators from Delhi will also do a neat job and rid Margao of one of its long-standing headaches.

The Sonsodo story bears a message: it pays to trust and entrust responsibility to proven locals, rather than fly-by-night outstation operators. In that vein, if the River Princess is to be safely removed, the job needs to be entrusted to the Madgavkars, who have an outstanding track record on some of the world’s most challenging salvage operations.

Many will remember how the Madgavkars brought out the huge monolithic Buddha statue that had sunk to the depths of Hyderabad-Secunderabad’s Husain Sagar Lake.

Hats off to Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar for taking up the issue of land acquisition for the expansion of National Highway 17 in right earnest. This issue is a litmus test for our politicians to find out whether they are for or against Goa and Goans. The Kerala government is to be complimented for taking up cudgels on behalf of their people and directing the NHAI to keep the highway width to only 35 metres.

Land is a scarce commodity in Goa and the highway should be only four-lane, measuring a maximum of 30 metres. Or else, let us keep the present highway as a state highway and build a new highway through the fields, where the crossroads would be fewer and the cost will be less.

Rebellion Day Cedrick Fernandes, Margao Our freedom fighters need to inform us about who created the infrastructure of a radio station, airport, railways, roads, port, healthcare and education and, more important, law and order and human values? Was

Smitha Bhandare Kamat

linked to the Indira Gandhi family, and a “mentor to both Sanjay and Rajiv Gandhi”!

More recently, there was an uproar in the UK because £340 million of aid to India for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan had either been misused or ‘disappeared’. Misuse included purchase of cars, television sets, luxury beds and even funding the production of a film! The news was not the result of an undercover operation; it simply quoted the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). Why the deafening silence in India, both from the treasury benches and the opposition? This implies either total ignorance of the implications, or that everyone has a finger in the pie.

The local papers have been full of Nadia Torrado’s death. What I find disturbing is that writer after writer, even some very reputable ones, chose to go into her background, missing the wood for the trees. There are two essential facts: first, she died of Ratol poisoning. Second, she had antemortem bruises on her body. These should have prompted the investigating authorities to swing into action. Instead, we witnessed the silly spectacle of the alleged perpetrator’s residence being raided and a computer seized more than two

Needed: Something Money Cannot Buy

By Arlette Azavedo

wise woman who was travelling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met a traveller who was hungry, and she opened her bag to share her food.

The hungry traveller saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveller left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But, a few days later, he returned the stone to the wise woman. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone.”

Sometimes it’s not the wealth you have but what’s inside you that others need. A small gesture similar to the one the wise woman made, can make a big difference to someone’s life. We often feel that we don’t have the time or energy to extend ourselves to others with the small gestures that contain good manners. Yet, when someone is courteous to us, we always feel touched. Someone who lends a helping hand when we are struggling in life makes an impression on us because many people just walk right by. Even someone who simply makes the effort to look us in the eye, and

Sonsodo spic and span

Smile with Smitha

MISSING THE POINT

weeks after the incident; enough time to even change the hard disc.

The problem is that every time a young woman dies a violent death in mysterious circumstances, the first thing we look into is the victim’s character.

This happened in the Scarlet Keeling case, the Nadia case and even when the perpetrator had been arrested, in the Margao stabbing case. Our authorities seem to take perverse delight in muck raking, forgetting that the victim was a human being who had as much of a right to life as you or me. I simply cannot understand when the selfconfessed murderer is in custody, what purpose is served in publicising how many affairs the victim may or may not have had?

Good governance is a cohesive effort between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, with the press and media keeping a watchful eye.

Someone said: “A good politician is as unthinkable as an honest burglar.” Unfortunately, our politicians have taken the executive down with them into the cesspool. That leaves the judiciary and the media. Already, we have seen cracks appearing in the judiciary. Senior judges are at each other’s throats in the public domain. Occupants of the highest judicial chair in the country refuse to follow simple norms like declaring their assets, until public outrage forces the issue.

This leaves only the Fourth Estate – like the Fourth Horseman – to pull us out of the morass.

I will never forget my sense of pride at seeing a blank editorial in ‘Indian Express’ in the era of censorship during the Emergency, in 1975. It is commendable that this spirit of defiance for freedom continues. But alas, even that is under threat, with corporate houses controlling newspapers and people like Ram Jethmalani declaring on TV that he is starting his own newspaper because he is not satisfied with media reporting (just before he walked out of Karan Thapars’ interview).

My concern is that in situations like this, things generally tend to get much worse. History has shown that events move in one of two directions.

Either a star is born in the form of a leader who lifts society out of the depths of despair, or a madman like Hitler or Bin Laden, arrives on the scene. We know the reign of terror that both unleashed. Only time will tell which direction we take.

(The writer is a member of the National Executive Committee of the Voluntary Health Association of India - VHAI)

smile or greet us when entering a room stands out in the crowd.

These people carry with them the elegance and grace of another time, and we are always thankful that we have come in contact with them . A small gesture makes a big difference. We need to be aware of others; lend our hand when one is needed without an ulterior motive. Through these small actions, we make this world a better place to live in. The world is too harsh and we never know what to expect from life. The only thing that we can really depend on is one another. Hence small gestures of love during difficult times make a big difference. As we move through life, many of us touch other people in little ways that, unknown to us, have a truly profound impact on their lives. When we focus on making gratitude part of our daily life, we will find the simple gestures easier to make. Focusing on what our loved ones need, helps us remember the importance of simple gestures of gratitude. Making others happy makes us happy as well, and people will remember us for our simple gestures. If everyone did one small good deed for someone daily, the world would be a better place. Let’s be tolerant, live together in unity and discover the virtues of this powerful weapon of peace.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

Proud to be a Goan?

Tony Correia, Benaulim

A decade ago, I had the privilege of being elected President of World-Wide Goans, an organisation that sought to unite the Goan diaspora throughout the world, and organised an International Goan Convention at Kala Academy, Panjim. The theme of the convention was the Preservation and Promotion of Goa’s Cultural and Natural Heritage, and the theme song was titled ‘Proud to be a Goan!’ specially composed by Basilio Magno, who resides in Spain. It was sung with great gusto.

Ten years on, observing the appalling state of affairs in almost every field of activity in our beloved state, it is extremely doubtful if we could sing such a song with any degree of honesty. Rampant corruption, breakdown of law and order, illegal mining, destruction of the environment and loss of all traditional social and moral values have brought us to a sorry state. How can we claim to be proud Goans in such circumstances?

It is time we looked inwards to find the cause for this steep decline in our polity.

We are now free people in charge of our own affairs, and no longer have the luxury of blaming others for our problems. We can expect little sympathy if we freely and willingly place our heads in the same noose every five years by continuing to re-elect the same set of legislators, even when we are offered an opportunity of a change for the better. it not Portugal?

Our government is not decisive on ‘gotra marriages’ and ‘honour killings’. Who banned ‘Sati’? Was it not the colonial rulers?

Today, we have highly qualified people in and out of politics. Who imparted modern education and healthcare to their forebears?

Freedom fighters were saying: Be Indian, buy Indian. Many of their children are studying and working outside India; why?

Not everything about colonial rule was bad. They should not look at things purely in black and white.

Another election card?

Praxy Fernandes, Sanquelim I cannot understand why, when a proper election card with my photo on it was already issued to me in 2004, I have now been given a form at my residence with spelling mistakes in my name and my surname jumbled up, with a request to submit two photographs and Form 8 for making the relevant corrections, so that a new card can be issued. What happens to the correctly issued existing card?

How many times is this exercise of issuing

Last week at a bank, a lady dropped a big stack of papers/documents. So I went over and picked it up for her. She was grateful, but her husband was almost speechless. He said, “People don’t do that anymore. That is so rare.” It just goes to show the importance and impact of these “little” things. It’s the little things we do, everyday, that can truly make a difference for someone else.

It doesn’t have to take much time or any of our money. We get out of life what we put into it. Sure, some days it may not seem like that. Sometimes we may ask why even try to be nice. Yet, in this journey we’re on, on path we’re taking through life – what is it that really binds us together? It’s love, in all its forms. And that includes the love for our friends and even a strange. Yes, it is all of the little things that we do that make a difference. The key is what type of difference do we intend to make.

In the end there is no difference between the little things and the big things for all things affect us. Little gestures are like the wings of a butterfly which cause an avalanche on the other side of the world or just around the corner).

election cards going to be conducted? Who manipulates the records, which have to be correctly maintained? It looks like such jobs are deliberately re-tendered to contractors/suppliers, so public money can be siphoned.

Malgonkar’s lament P K Pal, Panaji Manohar Malgonkar, the well known English writer who died on 15 June at Jagalbet, a remote villager in Karnataka near Londa, praised the Goa government in his book, written 30 years back, saying: “Unlike some others [Goa] does not permit normal forest departmental operations in its sanctuaries; the welfare of animals takes precedence over the need to exploit forest produce.”

And how disappointed he must have felt more recently, when he came to know the present state of affairs in Goa and said: “Today, the mining industry has destroyed the greenery of Goa’s rich forests; has choked its rivers and has polluted the fresh air. The present government is not serious about protecting Goa’s natural heritage, which is very painful to accept.” It is the

greed of the ministers, politicians and bureaucrats that has brought Goa to such a level. And it is the electorate that has to bell the cat.

Paths of Wisdom

‘Right’ to loot Jose Maria Miranda, Margao The massive scam on Britain’s education aid to India being misused, exposed in the news report ‘Education aid to India blown on luxuries’ (Herald, 15 June), should not surprise anyone. Our governments, both at the centre and the state, have the greatest collection of crooks in their fold.

Hundreds of millions of pounds have vanished and were misused on luxury items that have nothing to do with education.

This should shame any government worth the name.

But not so; not in our country. Here, it would shock everyone if scams, misuse, frauds and embezzlement do not take place in any scheme or project. The rogues involved in these shameful activities know only too well that they can get away with anything. Almost every year, the CAG passes remarks about misuse of funds in various departments. But no one knows whether there are any investigations into such cases and what happens to them.

Digambar and Divar Joseph Pereira, Divar Recently, Digambar Kamat celebrated three years of ‘successful’ chief ministership. Sometime back, I wrote a letter to the editor urging him to avoid wasting his time on inaugurations and to devote his precious time to solve the problems of the people.

Divar island has no medical clinic with resident doctors, ever since the Liberation of Goa. Our greatest fear is that 108 ambulance cannot cross the Divar ferry to move the sick to hospital.

Retired natives of Diwar hesitate to come and settle in Goa for lack of medical facilities.

What has Digambar Kamat’s government done for Divar?

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.

The cost of being a Disciple

(Luke 14: 25-33)

Once, when large crowds of people were going along with Jesus, he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me cannot be my disciple unless he loves me more than he loves his father and his mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and his sisters, and himself as well. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

If one of you is planning to build a tower, he sits down first and works out what it will cost, to see if he has enough money to finish the job. If he doesn’t, he will not be able to finish the tower after laying the foundation; and all who see what happened will laugh at him. ‘This man began to build, but can’t finish the job!’ they will say.

If a king goes out with ten thousand men to fight another king who comes against him with twenty thousand men, he will sit down first and decide if he is strong enough to face that other king. If he isn’t, he will send messengers to meet the other king, to ask for terms of peace while he is still a long way off. In the same way, concluded Jesus, “none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up everything he has.”

Worthless Salt

(Luke 14: 34-35)

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again. It is no good for the soil or for the manure heap; it is thrown away.

Listen, then, if you have ears!”

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OHERALDO

INDIA

GOA, MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010

India has open mind on talks with Pak

OPINIONATED

Have we learnt any lessons at all?

By dr rozarIo menezes here is no denying that tragic toxic gas leak at the Union Carbide India plant at Bhopal, 26 long years ago, was a catastrophe of incomparable dimension. The ghastly impact continues to this day and will, beyond. But, is the demand for making Warren Anderson criminally liable, just a diversionary tactic or a smoke screen, to divert the attention and culpability from the truly culpable to a soft target in a distant land?

To the best of the information I have been able to collect, the Indian Penal Code does not have any legal provision to make a non-executive CEO/Director of a company vicariously criminally liable, like some other statutes e.g. the Negotiable Instruments Act do, so as to cast any criminal culpability on Warren Anderson.

Indeed, culpability,if any, should first be on the local authorities who were instrumental in the approval, licensing, installation, operation and management of the potentially toxic plant, on whom a duty was cast to ensure that the plant met the highest standards of safety, and who apparently, wholly neglected to do so, as also did the regulatory and industrial safety authorities who did not monitor, ensure and enforce such safety standards.

Also culpable, are the authorities who mismanaged/delayed the evacuation of victims immediately from the affected areas, the emergency medical management of the victims, to help minimise the toxic impact, and who, even after 26 long years since the accident, have yet to effect the removal of the toxic plant, the poisoned soil and water around the plant site and the 400 tons of toxic chemicals currently abandoned at the UCIL Bhopal plant, which continues to leak into and pollute the ground/ground water in the region. While there has been much talk, 26 years later, there has been little action the clean up the toxic mess. Equally culpable are, those who agreed to an out of court settlement for a miserly compensation for the gas affected victims, and even worse, did not ensure that the compensation speedily and effectively reached all the truly affected victims. In contrast, a few days after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, USA, a special team of officials are camping at the site, to evaluate, clear and settle the claims of people affected by the oil spill, and the effort is apparently personally monitored by President Obama, who has periodically visited the accident site. Whereas in the case of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the focus has been on the quick clean up and the assistance to the victims, in the case of Bhopal, all the focus seems to on a cover up.

While one does not hear even a whisper about action against the truly culpable (other than those convicted by the courts), various categories of persons in political, governmental, and public spheres, are baying for the blood of Warren Anderson, who apparently did not have direct connection with the dayto-day operation of the plant at Bhopal, demanding that he be held criminally liable for the same. Some months ago, an Indian Oil storage tank farm on the outskirts of Jaipur, exploded, claiming many lives and causing much damages and losses.

Has the head of the company that owned, installed and managed the oil tank storage farm been held criminally liable for the deaths and losses caused?

In the heart of Vasco da Gama, is a petroleum products tank farm, looked on by some as a living time bomb, which, worried citizens have been trying unsuccessfully for decades to have shifted out of the densely populated port town to a safer, less dangerous location. The alternative site has even been suggested, but nothing has come of it. It appears the authorities have not learnt anything from the terrible Bhopal and Jaipur incidents.

Some years ago effluent from a fertiliser plant in Goa was alleged to have contaminated the sea, land and ground water around the plant. In June 2000, ten long years ago, the River Princess drifted and ran aground around Candolim, causing serious ecological and environmental damage, yet ten years later all efforts to remove the offending vessel or hold the owner of the vessel accountable, have come to naught.

Recently various hotels in Coastal belt were allegedly pumping their sewage into the local creeks flowing into the sea. The Goa State Pollution Control Board issued notice to the offshore casinos, for alleged violation of pollution control regulations.

Many a farmer, has had his lands rendered uncultivable, due to deposit of rejects from nearby mining activity. If Warren Anderson, merely by being at the helm of parent company, Union Carbide, U.S.A., is to be held criminally liable, then by the same standard, ought not the heads of all these companies/ business establishments also be held vicariously criminally liable for the violations?

While I hold absolutely no brief for Union Carbide India, its parent company and/or Warren Anderson, I do believe, there should be only one standard when dealing with all such matters. It should not be a question of show me the person and Ill show you the rule.

(The writer is a Vasco based Pediatrician)

To convey concerns over terror

T

macy. It also maintained that willingness from Pakistan to do so will surely be a "trust building India is willing to discuss all issues that may be step." raised by Pakistan in the June 24 Indo-Pak Foreign Emphasising that Pakistan needs to tackle Secretary-level talks as it approaches the parleys terror emanating from its soil against India, the in an "exploratory mode" amid indications that sources said it further complicates the complex Pakistan may ask for the withrelationship, the two countries drawal of Armed Forces (Special Apart from terrorism, have.

Powers) Act from Kashmir.

Maintaining that information people-to-people "We are not going there in about possible attacks on Indian contact, humanitarian accusatory mode but we are nationals or the targets in the going there in exploratory issues, trade across country never cease reflecting mode," a top official source said the LoC in Kashmir a continued problem in the rehere while maintaining that lationship, the sources said it India will respond to all issues, will be raised during was Pakistan's responsibility to including contentious, if raised the parleys with ensure that groups operating

by Pakistan, with confidence. from its soil should not be able India's keenness to When Foreign Secretary Niruto carry out such attacks as any pama Rao meets her Pakistani build on the progress such strike in future will have a counterpart Salman Bashir in made earlier through very "damaging impact".

Islamabad on Thursday, the the Composite The sources said India has alagenda from the Indian side will ready sought a "detailed rebe to convey serious concerns Dialogue and back sponse" from Pakistan on over continuing terror by Pak- channel diplomacy. information about the ongoing istan-based groups, speedy conMumbai attacks trial and all the clusion of the trial of those involved in 26/11 investigative links under their possession. attacks, infiltration, ceasefire violations and drug They said these issues as well as role of JuD trafficking from across the LoC. chief Hafiz Saeed, who is a mastermind of Mumbai People-to-people contact, humanitarian issues attacks and is still roaming free, will also figure and trade across the LoC in Kashmir will also be in Home Minister P Chidambaram's meeting with raised during the parleys with India's keenness his Pakistani counterpart Rahman Malik on the to build on the progress made earlier through sidelines of the SAARC Interior Ministers meeting the Composite Dialogue and back channel diplo- on June 25 in Islamabad.

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

People bathing, washing their clothes and utensils in the Ganges ignoring the calls of the civilised society to stop polluting the river.

Geelani detained PTI SRINAGAR, JUNE 20

Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was today detained by police for making a "provocative" speech, minutes after he gave a call for a bandh in Kashmir tomorrow against the killing of two youths in Kupwara district.

Police said the 80-year-old separatist leader was detained as a "preventive measure" after Geelani addressed a religious gathering in Salkote area of Kupwara, 120 km from here.

"His (Geelani's) statements during the address seemed to be provocative and we feared it might prompt violence. So as a preventive measure, we detained him to avoid law and order problem," Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara, Uttam Chand said.

Geelani and the Hurriyat's moderate faction headed by Mir-

waiz Umer Farooq had given separate calls for Kashmir bandh tomorrow.

Violence broke out in various parts of old city this morning during the funeral procession of 25-year-old Mohammad Rafiq Bangroo who succumbed to injuries last night after being allegedly beaten up by CRPF personnel on June 12.

A mob tried to torch a mobile bunker of CRPF in Noorbagh locality, prompting the paramilitary force personnel to open fire which left Javid Ahmad Malla and injuries to four others.

Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar, however, termed as "baseless" police's charge that Geelani had made a provocative speech.

"It was a peaceful religious gathering. His speech wasn't provocative at all. These allegations are totally baseless," he claimed.

Paswan dares BJP to snap ties with JD(U) PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

With the NDA alliance in Bihar in trouble over the spat between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi, LJP Chief Ram Vilas Paswan today dared the BJP to snap its ties with JD(U) over the "humiliating" treatment meted out to it by the Bihar Chief Minister.

"Nitish Kumar has humiliated BJP so much that if it has any self-esteem, it should immediately snap its ties with JD(U)," Paswan, whose party is in alliance with Lalu Prasad-led RJD in Bihar, said.

The LJP Chief further said, "After receiving so many blows, if the BJP leaders still say the alliance will continue, it means

either this is a fake fight to address different votebanks or the BJP has literally become so dead in Bihar that it cannot react like a living entity."

Paswan also questioned the move of Kumar to return the relief money to Gujarat.

He said that the money given for flood relief belongs neither

Majority eludes UPA in RS despite good show

Don’t redraw boundaries: J&K Gov

Southern ally, has netted three more seats increasing its personal tally to seven.

Sharad Pawar-led NCP continues to have six members and the Trinamool Congress and the National Conference two each.

The elections saw the BJP, which had 46 members, almost retaining its 10 retiring seats.

It scored impressive victories in Karnataka and Rajasthan, but lost a seat in Jharkhand.

The Samajwadi Party became the biggest loser as its strength came down from ten to five.

The government is not having majority in the Rajya Sabha since long and more so after the UPAII came into existence after the Lok Sabha polls last year.

Parties like SP, RJD which are

Government should shun the "policy of appeasement" in Kashmir and at all cost prevent boundaries from being redrawn there, according to former Jammu and Kashmir Governor S K Sinha.

The "other danger" India faces as regards to Kashmir is from "following a policy of subservience to the US" at a time when Pakistan was "exploiting its indispensability" to America for its exit strategy in Afghanistan, according to him.

"It (Pakistan) appears to have persuaded the US that unless the Kashmir problem is resolved to its satisfaction, it is not in a position to provide full support for the US war on terror," Sinha said.

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

The UPA still has no majority in the Rajya Sabha despite the fact that it won most of the 55 seats in the just-concluded biennial elections to the House.

With numbers not much on its side, the ruling alliance may have to sing the mantra of consensus on several key issues and legislations including its pet reforms programmes, a quick look at the Rajya Sabha results show.

In the 245-member House, the numbers are more or less the same for the ruling alliance and in fact the Congress tally has come down to 69 from 71 it held before the polls.

A redeeming feature for the UPA was that the DMK, its strong

outside supporters of the Congress-led coalition have strong views on certain matters and are dead against the Women's Reservation Bill in its present form and are strong champions of inclusion of caste in census.

In the elections, Congress could field only four candidates from Andhra Pradesh and that too after a tie up with the filmstar-turned politician Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam.

In Karnataka, failure to have enough numbers and a pact with JD(S) cost one seat to Congress which could not renominate AICC General Secretary B K Hariprasad and had to contend with the victory of industrialist Vijay Mallya, an independent backed by JD(S).

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

Refugees: searching for a home away from home PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

Donning traditional Indian attires and dancing to Bollywood hits or bhangra tunes, refugees from various countries mesmerised Delhiites with their performance but with a message that they had lost their homes not their future.

Myanmares, Afghans, Somalis and refugees and asylum seekers of other nationalities got together yesterday on the eve of World Refugee Day and came up with an enthralling presentation here organised by the UN Human Rights Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its implementing agencies.

"For me, India is a second home away from my home," says Abdinur Farah, a 25-year-old Somali who fled to India in 2005 along with his younger sister after his family members got killed.

"I am not the one, there are hundreds of my countrymen who fled Somalia to escape deaths or persecution."

Echoing similar views, Mohammad Roheed, an Afghan

refugee, said the situation in their country forced his family to leave Kabul. "We find ourselves secured in India than never before."

India has a population of about 2,50,000 refugees of various nationalities who fled their countries because of conflicts and fear of persecution.

Among them, over a lakh are Tibetans and 73,000 Sri Lankan Tamils, who are under direct protection of the government.

Besides them, there are a number of refugees and asylum seekers of other nationalities, including Afghans, Myanmarese and Somalis who are under the protection of UN Refugee Agency in Delhi.

According to the UNHCR, about 13,500 refugees have been under its mandate, of which 9,000 are Afghans, 3,500 from Myanmar and 1,000 of other nationalities, including 700 Somalis who are living in small accommodations in nondescript corners of the city.

There are also 7,300 asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR, which determines the

refugee status of foreigners and provides them necessary protection and assistance.

Although India hosts thousands of refugees, it is not a signatory to the the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, which sets out the rights of individuals granted asylum, and the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum.

According to UNHCR officials,

India's track record in accepting and handling mass influx of refugees over the years has been commendable.

"Despite not being a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention, India has been a generous country for refugees. Perhaps, this lies in its centuries-old tradition of being hospitable to everyone," says Nayana Bose, Associate External Relations Officer at UNHCR-India.

"India has been providing asylum and protection to a large number of refugees for decades. For example, the Tibetans, who came to India along with the Dalai Lama, are well cared for and add to India's diversity."

Similarly, during and after the Bangladesh Liberation War, India opened its border and allowed Bangladeshis to come here and they were later settled in various places, she said.

India is also housing thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils who fled their country in the wake of the civil war in 1980s.

India honours the international principle of 'non-refoulement', and the rights of refugees are by and large respected through Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality before law and the right to life and personal liberty respectively to anyone residing in the country.

The principle of non-refoulement prohibits the forcible return of refugees to their own countries where they would be

subject to persecution and where their lives and freedom could be threatened.

But, human rights activists say things are not so rosy and refugees are viewed like any other foreigners who could be economic migrants or environment refugees.

According to them, the distinction between refugees and migrants often gets blurred in India and this has something to do with the break-up of the entire region along religious, ethnic and linguistic lines.

"India doesn't have a national legal frame work on refugees and in the absence of this refugees don't have any legal status in India and there is no clear protection regime for them, say activists," says Ravi Nair, Executive Director, South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC).

"A national law would help distinguish between those who are seeking asylum in India for political reasons from those who are illegally migrating to the country for economic reasons," he says.

to Kumar nor to Modi but to the people and demanded a probe into the episode.

"Kumar should explain what money he is returning. The money was given to Bihar by Modi government two years back for flood relief work. If it was not spent, then it is a crime.

And if it was spent, from where is the money now being returned. Is it from the rightful share of Dalits?" Paswan asked.

Kumar had returned Rs five crore given by the Gujarat government to Bihar in 2008 for Kosi flood relief. He was miffed at advertisements in local newspapers during the BJP national executive meeting in Patna on June 12-13 by some youths thanking Modi for the aid.

Prime accused in train derailment arrested PTI KOLKATA, JUNE 20

People's Committee Against Police Atrocities leader and one of the prime accused in the Jnaneswari Express derailment Bapi Mahato was today arrested

by West Bengal police from Jamshedpur, a senior police officer said.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by Jhargram Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) went to Jamshedpur and arrested Bapi Mahato, his relative Bimal Mahato and Bimal's wife from a guest-house, police said.

Bapi Mahato would be produced before a court today in Jamshedpur and then brought to Jhagram, SP Jhargram, Pravin Tripathy told PTI.

ANTI-NAXAL OPERATIONS

IAF wants copters recalled from missions in UN PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 20

Amid proposals for using helicopters for movement of paramilitary forces during anti-Naxal operations, the IAF has suggested to the government that its 15 choppers deputed for UN peacekeeping forces may be called back as it has constraints of resources.

The IAF has made it clear that it has no reservation in helping police and paramilitary forces in evacuation but is hard-pressed for helicopters as most of them are deployed for various operational requirements.

The Air Force has told the government that if it were to assist in anti-Naxal operations, it would require more helicopters, Defence Ministry sources told PTI. In this context, it has suggested that the 15 MI-17 helicopters deputed for UN peacekeeping missions in three African countries may be called back, they said.

"The option of calling back the choppers from foreign duties is still under consideration of the Government," the sources added.

The IAF has a fleet of mediumlift Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters, which are used for maintenance of troops in high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir and North East and to carry out relief and rescue missions during natural disasters.

The Home Ministry has proposed that IAF should provide helicopters for quick deployment and evacuation of paramilitary forces during anti-Naxal operations that may be carried out in inaccessible areas.

The proposal is currently before the Cabinet Committee on Security, which is yet to take a final view.

Use of the Air Force for combat has been ruled out because of the risk of collateral damage.

The Defence forces are not

The IAF has has no reservation in helping police and paramilitary forces in evacuation but is hard-pressed for helicopters as most of them are deployed for various operational requirements. inclined to get involved in combat operations against Naxals and want to leave it to police and paramilitary forces.

At the same time, the IAF has kept four MI-17s in Raipur on standby in case these may be required for evacuation purposes in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

Meanwhile, Naxalites have killed two people and shot at one, suspecting them of being police informers in Gudabandha police station area of east Singbhum district.

The deceased, who were killed last night, hailed from Jiyan and Bakrakocha villages. Both their throats were first slit with a sharpedged weapon and later, they were gunned down, police said.

The ultras also shot at one youth near Kasiyabeda area.

However, the injured youth was rushed to a nearby hospital and was saved, they added.

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GOA, MONDAY, 21 JUNE, 2010

Uzbeks wary as Kyrgyz forces remove barriers REUTERS OSH(Kyrgyzstan) JUNE 20

Kyrgyz forces started removing barriers dividing the burnt-out city of Osh today as the government extended a state of emergency in some regions where up to 2,000 people have died in ethnic clashes.

A Reuters reporter said authorities had removed makeshift barriers in central Osh, but cars, tyres and piles of scrap metal remained in place across alleys

leading to neighbourhoods occupied by ethnic Uzbeks, still fearful of more violence.

“Look at the situation we have in this town. Why should we be in any hurry to dismantle this?” said Sabir Mirzasharibov(42) an ethnic Uzbek construction worker.

Ethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan have caused 2,000 deaths and uprooted 400,000 people, who are crammed into squalid camps on Kyrgyzstan's

sun-parched border with Uzbekistan with little access to clean water or food.

The United States and Russia, which both operate military air bases in the strategic Muslim country, are concerned that turmoil in Kyrgyzstan could spread to other parts of Central Asia, a vast former Soviet region north of Afghanistan.

The violence erupted on June 10 with coordinated attacks by unidentified individuals in Balaclavas and quickly led to fierce fighting between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz, witnesses said.

Mainly Uzbek households were attacked in three days of unrest, with entire neighbourhoods burned to the ground.

The United Nations says an estimated one million people were affected.

Interim leader Roza Otunbayeva, whose government assumed power after President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was overthrown in a revolt on April 7, has struggled to assert control in the shattered

south.

Today, the interim government extended the state of emergency in Osh and three surrounding regions until June 25, two days before it plans to hold a referendum on constitutional reform that would devolve more power to a prime minister.

It is also enforcing a nighttime curfew in Osh. Kyrgyz authorities in the city say the barricades should be removed to help restore normal life. Tree trunks, a truck-mounted crane and a bus had been removed and a few shops reopened along the main Navoi Street, named after a mediaeval Uzbek poet.

“They are ethnic Uzbeks, but they are Kyrgyz citizens. They are not restricted in their movements,” said a Kyrgyz security official at a police checkpoint, who declined to give his name.

Armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, he was dressed in a T-shirt and dark glasses.

However, Uzbek residents are afraid of more violence.

Mirzasharibov said he and

many Uzbeks would never leave their home region for good.

Asked what he would do if clashes resumed, he said: “We will die and that's that. We've got no other way out.”

Desperate conditions The official death toll is about 190 but the government says it is probably 10 times higher.

The US envoy for Central Asia on Saturday urged Kyrgyzstan to create conditions for a safe return of refugees.

Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake, speaking after talks with Kyrgyz officials, said an international investigation must be held into the possible causes of the violence.

Kyrgyzstan's tiny, underequipped army has struggled to bring order to the south and relief organisations have been unable to reach the worst-affected areas for security reasons.

Besides camps on either side of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, some refugees are living in desperate conditions on the outskirts of Osh.

Karzai earns just $ 525 a month: list Reuters KABUL, JUNE20

Afghan President Hamid Karzai earns just 525 dollars a month, has less than 20,000 dollars in the bank and owns no land or property, according to a declaration of his assets today by an anti-graft body.

Although his modest remuneration is five times the national average, it contrasts sharply with salaries of leaders in the West, where US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron rake in around 400,000 dollars a year.

Karzai's assets were published by the High Office for Oversight and Anti-Corruption Commission as part of a decree

aimed at providing greater transparency among officials.

Although the Taliban insurgency remains the greatest threat to Afghanistan's stability, graft at almost every level of society remains a major complaint of ordinary Afghans and anyone doing business with the country.

The anti-graft body is registering the assets of at least 2,000 officials -- including ministers, members of parliament, senior military and police officers and provincial leaders -- and will start publishing them this week.

“This covers assets held by officials, their wives and children below the age of 18,” Mohammad Yasin Usmani, the commission's chief, told Reuters today.

Any official found to have withheld information risked prosecution, he said.

Senior current and former Afghan officials -- including two of Karzai's deputies -- are believed to own buildings and assets worth tens of millions of dollars -- at home and abroad.

Some have also been involved in major contracts awarded by foreign forces, and

police have been questioning 17 current and ex-ministers on suspicions of graft.

Acknowledged problem While Karzai has acknowledged a corruption problem, he says it is exaggerated by western media and insists the biggest source of graft is poor oversight of billions of dollars in aid contracts that dwarf Afghanistan's budget.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates conceded in March that Washington needed to do more to clean up its contracting procedures.

The declaration of assets, signed by Karzai, said he earned 525 dollars a month and had 15,635 euros and 134 dollars in cash two Commerzbank accounts in Germany.

While it listed no land or property, it said Karzai – who is married to a stay-at-home physician and has a young son -- had jewellery and other valuables worth 11,036 dollars.

The list makes no mention of assets held by Karzai's brothers and other relatives -- several of whom run businesses at home and abroad.

Author asked to apologise for remarks UNI KATHMANDU, JUNE 20

Hindus are upset over religion author-commentator Stephen Prothero describing their rebirth tenet as “horrible” in a recent The Colbert Report television show.

Prothero in the TV show has stated “In Hinduism, the problem is we keep getting reborn over and over and over again and that is horrible.”

His statement has drawn criticism from various quarters.

Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening has asked Prothero to apologise for his comments, which she said were unjustified and unacceptable.

However, Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said, “Rebirth offered us another chance and continuity, starting our exploration where we left it off with a head start.”

Curbs on Iran could hit Pak too Reuters ISLAMABAD, JUNE 20

Pakistan should be wary of committing to an Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline because anticipated US sanctions on Iran could hit Pakistani companies, the US special representative to the region said on Sunday. While sympathetic to Pakistan's energy needs, the US special representative to the region, Richard Holbrooke, told reporters that new legislation, which targets Iran's energy sector, is being drafted in the US Congress and that Pakistan should “wait and see”.

“Pakistan has an obvious, major energy problem and we are sympathetic to that, but in regards to a specific project, legislation is being prepared that may apply to the project,” he said, referring to the pipeline.

Pakistan is plagued by chronic electricity shortages that have led to mass demonstrations and battered the politically shaky government of President Asif Ali Zardari.

From Page 1 BJP vows to expose... capita liability of Rs 45, 000,” Parsekar said.

“The financial condition of the State and the ever increasing expenditure with high level of fiscal deficit is leading the state to debt trap situation,” he added.

BJP accused the government of incurring reckless expenditure on creation of redundant assets, most of which are of non welfare nature and in fact turn out to be liabilities which apart from having high capital cost also result in recurring maintenance and operational costs.

“Examples like village level Kala Bhavan at Zuarinagar, proposed Vasco-Dona Paula sea link, bus stands at Honda, Shiroda and Cuncolim,” Parsekar pointed out.

He said that as a result of unnecessary and mismanaged expenditure, the government is making attempts to mop up revenue, which could damage the very fabric of Goan society.

“Some of the attempts include-permitting and encouraging industries which do not generate employment to locals but create burden on infrastructure, casinos are permitted recklessly without any regulatory mechanisms, new tax burdens and sale of land,” Parseka explained.

The BJP president said that during the past three years the bureaucracy has expanded by 20 per cent.

“Today, Goa has highest government servants-population ratio which unfortunately is without any positive administrative benefits to the population mainly due to massive nepotism and corruption involved in the recruitment process,” he said.

BJP alleged that the present economic status of the state is entirely due to political trickery and financial mismanagement by present Congress-led dispensation.

Mickky’s visit

Notary services for not intimating the police when Pacheco came to notarize his affidavit, Adv Joey has said he has not committed any offense in the matter.

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GOA, MONDAY, 21 JUNE, 2010

We want good,neighbourly relations with India: Gilani

Celia could soon turn into a hurricane

peace in this region and the world at large.”

Holbrooke welcomed the restoration of dialogue between Pakistan and India and said the US would watch the forthcoming meetings between the two countries “with a sense of anticipation”.

He agreed with Gilani that Pakistan and the US should coordinate their positions and help the Afghanistan government in its peace process.

Gilani also said public support for the war on terror is vitally important and it can only be kept intact if the world community, particularly donor countries, start delivering on their pledges to help Pakistan provide relief to the people and to undertake infrastructure and social sector projects in militancy-hit areas.

While time was fast running out for the government's rehabilitation and reconstruction eff o r t s i n a re a s c l e a re d o f militants, the aid committed at the Tokyo Donors Conference held over a year ago is yet to

MEXICO CITY, JUNE 20

PTI

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 20 Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that his government wants good neighbourly relations with India and the peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues between the two countries, including the Kashmir issue.

Gilani made the remarks during a meeting with visiting US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke yesterday.

Referring to the upcoming visits to Pakistan by Indian Foreign Secretary, home minister and external affairs minister, Gilani reaffirmed Islamabad's "keen desire to have good neighbourly relations with India through peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues between the two countries, including the core issue of Kashmir (and) the water dispute.”

According to an official statement, Gilani said Pakistan had “all along strived for restoration of the composite dialogue with India in the larger interest of

26 killed by car bombers in Iraq AFP BAGHDAD, JUNE 20

Suicide bombers in two cars killed 26 people and wounded 53 in the Iraqi capital Baghdad today when they drove down a crowded street and blew themselves up simultaneously, security officials said.

The morning bombings, which came hot on the heels of attacks late yesterday that killed seven people and wounded 20, underlined the dangers of a resurgence of violence amid a persistent political vacuum more than three months after a general election.

The bombers struck outside a bank in a major thoroughfare in the mainly Sunni Arab Mansur district that provides access to the fortified Green Zone government and embassy compound in the city centre from western Iraq.

“The report of the bomb disposal team confirmed that the two attacks that happened in Mansur today were carried out by suicide bombers who drove the car bombs,” the capital's operations command said.

“Each car was loaded with 80

8 decomposing bodies found in suspect brothel Reuters BAGHDAD, JUNE 20

The decomposing bodies of six women and two men were found in a suspected brothel in eastern Baghdad, Iraqi police sources said today.

At the height of Iraq's sectarian war in 2006/07, militias frequently killed people deemed to be violating Islamic law, often targeting suspected brothels and liquor stores. The corpses were found in Zayouna district, a mixed Sunni-Shi'ite neighbourhood of eastern Baghdad, yesterday.

The bodies of six naked women were found in one room, and two men in another, the source said, adding that police were alerted by neighbours who had complained about the smell coming from the building.

The cause of death was not immediately clear due to the advance stages of decomposition, the sources said.

Islamist militias filled the vacuum created by Iraq's security chaos in the years following the 2003 US-led invasion, imposing their own interpretation of Islamic law in Baghdad.

kilogrammes of ammonium nitrate," the command said in a statement.

“They were detonated simultaneously. They targeted the Iraq Bank for Commerce."

The bank is the conduit for much of the government's foreign exchange transactions and its dealings with investors. “The bank branch was seriously damaged,” a security official told AFP. Fire from a Katyusha multiple rocket launcher killed three people and wounded four in AlObeidi, an anarchic Shiite slum district in the far east of the capital beyond the sprawling Shiite bastion of Sadr City, an official said.

And in the Zayouna neighbourhood of central Baghdad, police found the bodies of five women. A security official said they were believed to have been killed two or three weeks ago.

There has been a spate of attacks by hardline Islamists against women accused of breaking the mores of their ultra-strict brand of the Muslim religion.

be delivered by donor countries, he said.

This delay had accentuated the economic and energy crisis in Pakistan and extremist elements were taking advantage of that situation, Gilani said.

Holbrooke also met President Asif Ali Zardari and the two leaders discussed bilateral ties, the security situation in the region, the shared terrorist threat, the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, reimbursements by US from the Coalition Support Fund and strengthening of Pakistan's law enforcing agencies.

Zardari said militancy and terrorism is the common enemy and the existing cooperation between the two countries must continue to fight the menace.

Pakistan valued a long-term, multifaceted and durable relationship with the US and no isolated incident should be able to adversely impact on this relationship, he added.

He also emphasised on early reimbursement of arrears from the CSF of over USD 1.5 billion which was rising every month.

China floods deaths figure touches 132 PTI BEIJING, JUNE 20

Landslides and floods triggered by persistent rainstorms have killed at least 132 people in southern China over the past week and affected as many as 10 million people across nine provinces.

Even as the casualty figures stood at 132 dead and 86 missing, the weather department warned of more rainstorms to come.

Large swathes of southern China were inundated causing estimated economic losses of up to to 14.5 billion yuan or USD 2.1 billion and prompting evacuation of 280,000 people in various areas.

The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFCDRH) said 68,000 houses had collapsed under the impact and 535,500 hectares of crops have been destroyed, State-run Xinhua news agency said today.

The downpour that began last Sunday has triggered flash floods, inundated rivers and crops and disruptedtraffic and telecommunication.

Reuters

- Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway( left), Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (second left) Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands (centre) Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (second rightand Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (right) gather together with other guests outside the Royal Palace in central Stockholm, Sweden after the wedding of Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel Westling, the Duke of Vastergotland. The bridal couple shares the June 19 wedding date with Princess Victoria's parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, who married on June 19, 1976 in the same cathedral.

Poles vote for new prez in ‘strangest’ election Reuters WARSAW, JUNE 20

Poles voted today for a successor to President Lech Kaczynski in an election that will shape the pace of economic reforms and set the tone for Warsaw's ties with its European Union partners and Russia.

Billed as the ‘strangest’ election in Poland's 21-year postcommunist history, it was called after the death of Kaczynski and 95 other people, including senior political and military officials, in a plane crash in Russia on April 10.

The two frontrunners, both Catholic conservatives espousing family values but divided on many other issues, are far ahead of the other eight candidates in opinion polls. The winner will serve a five-year term as head of State.

Kaczynski's twin brother Jaroslaw, a combative Eurosceptic, has fought an effective campaign based on calls for solidarity in a time of national disaster, but Bronislaw Komorowski of the ruling centrist party Civic Platform (PO) looks set to win.

Many Poles fear there could be political deadlock if Kaczynski were elected and say Ko-

morowski would be a more moderate and less confrontational president.

“I voted for Komorowski because he is not dividing society.

He does not dwell on history but looks to the future and is concerned about the economy, unemployment and he wants to develop Poland's foreign relations,” Michal Nadratowski, a 34 year-old gym instructor, told Reuters as he voted in Warsaw.

Komorowski is unlikely to secure the 50 per cent of votes he needs to win on Sunday, however, forcing a run-off on July 4.

Polling stations close at 8 pm (2330 hrs IST) and exit polls showing the final estimated results will then be published.

President can veto laws About 30 million Poles of a total population of 38 million are eligible to vote. Turnout in the 2005 presidential election was about 50 per cent and only slightly better, 54 percent, in the last parliamentary election in 2007.

The government sets policy but the president can veto laws, appoints many key officials and has a say in foreign and security policy. Lech Kaczynski angered Prime Minister Donald Tusk's economically liberal government

Reuters ROME, JUNE 20

Naples in 2006, is suspected of aggravated corruption with Lunardi in connection with a real estate deal.

According to Italian newspapers La Stampa, Corriere della Sera and La Republica, in 2004 Lunardi purchased a building in Rome from Sepe's department at a price well below market value.

The next year, when Lunardi was minister, he approved a decree allocating funds for the

restoration of historic church buildings, including the 16th century headquarters of the mission department facing Rome's Spanish Steps.

In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Lunardi said he would see magistrates in Perugia soon “to clear everything up”.

There was no immediate comment from Sepe or the Vatican.

The Perugia investigation has claimed the head of Claudio Scajola, a close ally of Prime Minis-

ter Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned as industry minister in May. Scajola resigned after it was found some 900,000 euros ofcashier cheques used to buy his luxury Rome apartment overlooking the Colosseum came from a constructor arrested in the political corruption probe.

He denies any wrongdoing.

The corruption scandal exploded in February when police arrested four people including Angelo Balducci, the former head of the government department that oversees public works and a construction consultant to Sepe's missions department.

Balducci and the others were accused of orchestrating a web of corruption and kickbacks among constructors, architects and civil servants who managed tens of millions of euros of public works contracts.

Balducci is in jail in Rome.

Magistrates have turned down requests for house arrest.

A month after he was arrested, a new scandal involving Balducci and the Vatican erupted when wiretaps implicated him and a member of a Vatican choir in a male prostitution ring.

Press freedom watchdog urges ruler to free blogger

Reuters NEW YORK, JUNE 20

A global press freedom watchdog called on the emir of Kuwait to intervene for the release of a blogger who is on trial, accused of insulting the ruler and

by blocking some reforms.

Tu s k b e l i e v e s J a ro s l a w Kaczynski as president would continue his brother's habit of vetoing government bills and of thwarting efforts to prepare Poland for adopting the euro currency.

The presidential palace would become a campaign headquarters for Kaczynski's right-wing Law and Justice party (PiS) before next year's parliamentary election.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski served as prime minister briefly from 2006 to 2007, when his nationalist views, in particular his deep suspicion of Germany and Russia, put severe strain on Poland's relations with its neighbours and also with the European Union.

By contrast, Komorowski, a father of five and scion of the old Polish aristocracy, shares Tusk's ambition to bring Poland into the European political mainstream, a goal that includes adopting the euro as soon as is economically feasible.

Komorowski, as speaker of parliament, became Poland's acting president on Lech Kaczynski's death.

The crash triggered an upsurge of sympathy for Jaroslaw, a bachelor who was close to his

Italian corruption scam spreads to touch Vatican One of Italy's most prominent Catholic cardinals and a former minister have been put under investigation as a corruption scandal that has tainted the government spread to touch the Vatican.

Magistrates told Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe and Pietro Lunardi, former Infrastructure and Transport Minister in the centre-right government, they were being investigated for aggravated corruption, judicial sources said.

The magistrates in the central city of Perugia are investigating a web of corruption and favours involving public works contracts, mostly in construction for major events, such as last year's G8 summit and the Millennium celebrations.

Sepe( 67) is being investigated for alleged corruption when he was a Vatican official running the Congregation for Evangelisation of People, a cash-andreal-estate rich department of the Vatican that finances the work of missions abroad.

Sepe, who ran the department until he was moved to

inciting against the government.

Mohammad Abdul-Kader alJassem, who has been detained since May 11, denies the accusations and says his trial is politically motivated. ''We call on you to ensure that

this egregious violation of press freedom is rectified in AlJassem's June 21 court hearing and that he is released immediately,” the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a letter to the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad alSabah.

Blogger and journalist Jassem faces up to 18 years in prison if convicted, according to his lawyers. He was detained after a complaint against him was issued by the office of the ruler.

He is also accused of spreading false news that could harm Kuwait's national interests.

CPJ told the emir it had “observed with alarm the politicised nature” of the writer's treat-

Tropical Storm Celia formed in the Pacific off southern Mexico and could soon become a hurricane as it moves away from the coast, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Celia, the third named storm of the Pacific hurricane season, was 550 km south of the tourist resort of Acapulco, the Miamibased hurricane center said yesterday.

“Celia could become a hurricane later tonight or Sunday,” the center said, warning the storm will cause dangerous surf conditions along the Mexican coast.

With winds up to 100 kph, Celia was moving toward the west at 13 kph and was expected to remain well offshore from Mexico, the center said.

Tropical storm Blas, which on Thursday became the second named storm of the Pacific hurricane season, was 670 km south of Baja California and was expected to continue to move west, away from the coast.

ment, and how local news coverage of the case was banned.

It said Jassem's detention and trial violated the Gulf Arab country's constitution, which guarantees a free press. The charges against him are based on 32 of his articles, some of which date back to 2005, while the country's press law states that legal recourse must be initiated within 90 days of the date of publication, the letter said.

On his website, Jassem criticised the ruling al-Sabah family and accused Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad alSabah of mismanagement and corruption.

The emir is protected from

criticism by the constitution.

“We urge you to acknowledge that critical writing such as al-Jassem's has an established place in Kuwaiti society and should not be criminalized,” CPJ told the emir.

Kuwait has been a major ally of Washington in the Gulf since the US-led 1991 Gulf War that liberated it from a seven-month Iraqi occupation under Iraq's Saddam Hussein.

Earlier this month, its foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammad alSalem al-Sabah, rejected comm e n t s f ro m t h e U S S t a t e Department that it was concerned about Jassem's case, and said they amounted to interfering in Kuwait's internal affairs.

After that scandal, Balducci was dismissed from an elite volunteer corps called ''Gentlemen of His Holiness'', ushers who serve in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on major occasions such as when the pope receives heads of State.

- Poland's acting President Bronislaw Komorowski and presidential candidate from Civic Platform Party (PO) casts his vote, while his wife Anna stands next to him during presidential elections at a polling station in Warsaw.

brother. f a c t o r, a n d a n i m a g e makeover that has seen him tone down his often harsh rhetoric, has helped him narrow the gap with Komorowski.

“Kaczynski means a continuation of his brother's legacy. Radical changes are not good,” said Pawel Golasa (32) , a teacher selling strawberries on the street to supplement his income.

OHERALDO

Biz12:SUNDAY-Pg-12 6/20/2010 2:49 PM Page 1

BIZ

Pg12

GOA, MONDAY, 21 JUNE, 2010

The annual ritual of the Chief Commissioner’s Conference is over. At the conference, the speech of the Finance Minister gives the roadmap for the department for the year. The minister has acknowledged that direct taxes have now become the major revenue source for the government.

Direct taxes have grown at an annual rate of 24%. Last year the tax department collected a sum of Rs 3, 78 thousand crore against the target of 400 thousand crore set by the Minister. This year he has enhanced the target to Rs 4.30 thousand crore, being 13.7% over the last year.

While setting the target to collect, the FM has asked taxmen to enlarge their vision to many of the smaller towns in the country as these have emerged as growth centres.

He has also asked the depart-

Mutual Fund Scheme Name A

ment to develop special strategies to monitor TDS compliance at the district and state levels.

Looking at 8.5% being the growth rate during the coming year, the finance minister said that attempts should be made to deepen as well as widen the tax base. He has suggested that the use of technology in collating data and obtaining information from high end transactions should be made use of to bring to tax those whose lifestyles do are not reflected in their tax returns.

TAX REFORMS All finance ministers’ talk about tax reforms and Pranab Mukerjee was no exception.

Of course he had reason to

since the Direct Tax Code is to become law from the next fiscal. The Code that is stated to be the legislation of the 21st century; with radical changes both in law and procedure.

The Finance Minister has asked the CBDT to ensure that the tax officers are sufficiently trained in the implementation of the new law as also to work to provide a quick solution to the problems that you be faced in its implementation.

INTERNATIONAL TAXATION With India opening onto the global scene, taxation has also moved from being an internal agency to looking at different world systems. In response to the challenges that will be faced in the future, the Income tax department have

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

12.04 12.04 9.17 9.17 10.65 10.65 11.23 11.24

B

Baroda Pioneer ELSS 96 24.49 Growth Fund (D) 27.88 Growth Fund (G) 49.49 Bharti AXA Equity Fund - Eco Plan (Bonus) 17.25 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (D) 12.14 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (G) 17.25 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (QD) 13.26 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 17.18 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 12.10 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 17.18 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (QD) 13.21 Focused Infrastructure Fund (D) 10.12 Focused Infrastructure Fund (G) 10.12 Focused Infrastructure Fund (QD) 10.12 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (D) 12.06 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (G) 22.16 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 12.04 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 22.09 Birla Sun Life Advantage Fund (D) 89.70 Advantage Fund (G) 153.26 Basic Industries Fund (D) 29.81 Basic Industries Fund (G) 99.34 Basic Industries Fund - Trigger Plan (D) 10.73 Buy India Fund (D) 23.87 Buy India Fund (G) 39.31 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (D) 13.19 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (G) 13.19 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (D) 11.85 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (G) 11.85 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (D) 13.31 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (G) 13.31 Dividend Yield Plus (D) 14.55 Dividend Yield Plus (G) 77.50 Equity Fund (D) 71.37 Equity Fund (G) 253.80 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 21.98 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 81.51 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 12.32 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 12.32 India GenNext Fund (D) 14.06 India GenNext Fund (G) 21.62 India Opportunities Fund - Plan A (D) 18.82 India Opportunities Fund - Plan B (G) 51.67 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (D) 13.01 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (G) 16.75 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (D) 12.02 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (G) 12.52 International Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 8.23 International Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 8.23 International Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 8.80 International Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 8.80 Long Term Advantage Fund (D) 12.45 Long Term Advantage Fund (G) 13.48 Long Term Advantage Fund - Series 1(D) 11.85 Long Term Advantage Fund - Series 1(G) 11.85 Midcap Fund - Plan A (D) 24.74 Midcap Fund - Plan A (G) 105.47 Midcap Fund - Plan B (D) 13.31 Midcap Fund - Plan B (G) 13.31 MNC Fund (D) 82.46 MNC Fund (G) 191.61 New Millennium (D) 13.23 New Millennium (G) 19.04 Pure Value Fund (D) 15.15 Pure Value Fund (G) 16.17 Special Situations Fund (D) 9.59 Special Situations Fund (G) 9.59 Tax Plan (D) 44.48 Tax Plan (G) 12.68 Tax Relief 96 (D) 83.27 Tax Relief 96 (G) 11.24 Top 100 Fund (D) 14.43 Top 100 Fund (G) 20.78

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)

The road map for the tax department

17.27 14.24 20.63 23.34 23.30 51.24 19.88 24.14 12.12 12.11

Infrastructure (D) Infrastructure (G) Multicap (D) Multicap (G)

17.22 21.62 13.53 14.58

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) Focus 25 Fund (D) Focus 25 Fund (G) India T.I.G.E.R. Fund - Regular Plan (D) India T.I.G.E.R. Fund - Regular Plan (G) Micro Cap 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)

16.26 74.73 13.01 15.56 25.57 36.90 12.78 16.71 12.61 13.49 47.96 15.17 10.24 10.24 18.70 45.87 15.08 12.98 12.98 27.92 80.09 14.93 16.28 12.15 16.31 23.73 32.49 20.83 92.66

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) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan C (D) 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)

10.72 10.72 13.13 13.14 13.18 13.18 13.21 13.22 18.14 18.15 10.86 11.91 11.83 11.83 10.54 12.29 74.26 12.94 11.37 12.91 8.51 8.51 10.86 10.86 13.68 17.06 11.22 47.81

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) Future Leaders Fund (D) Future Leaders Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Sustainable Development Fund (D) Sustainable Development 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)

20.63 32.60 11.28 11.28 15.66 17.27 10.58 10.58 12.34 12.34 18.06 20.12 8.45 8.45 11.36 16.33 10.69 31.60 9.01 9.05 9.47 18.19 11.03 12.11 10.52 13.20 9.95 9.95 11.72 11.72

setting up two overseas units at Singapore and Mauritius.

Several more at the US, UK , Netherlands, Japan, Cyprus, Germany, France and the UAE are being proposed to be set up. These units will be responsible for gathering information of different tax jurisdictions as also helping to prevent tax evasion by cross border transactions.

The Indian tax department all along has been fairly insular.

The concepts of transfer pricing and international tax has only recently been brought into the statute book. While many of the matters are now

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) India Opportunities Fund (G) India Prima Fund (D) India Prima Fund (G) India Prima Plus Fund (D) India Prima Plus Fund (G) India Smaller Companies Fund (D) India Smaller Companies 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)

37.13 59.15 38.98 194.71 14.83 29.27 11.80 11.80 14.13 29.40 48.14 258.05 26.67 198.67 12.39 13.38 30.89 187.93 19.49 57.27 30.56 57.75 13.84 17.82 52.14 110.84

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) Emerging Markets Fund (D) Emerging Markets 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)

24.53 101.26 20.99 36.92 45.55 247.82 30.80 78.65 11.58 11.58 36.31 124.05 12.18 14.72 13.88 13.88 15.24 26.87 59.79 212.81 44.98 190.31 9.55 9.55 8.82 8.82 26.16 96.91 16.14 32.38 13.43 21.89 11.05 12.99 12.83 13.91 10.30 10.30

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) Equity Opportunities Fund (D) Equity Opportunities Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (D) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (G) Fusion Fund (D) Fusion Fund (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)

15.98 15.98 20.61 45.26 18.58 98.57 16.50 33.13 11.49 12.32 33.14 57.95 14.44 14.44 13.09 13.88 12.09 12.09 18.69 123.67 9.57 9.57 11.97 28.55 16.35 104.41 12.39 16.47 12.82 12.82 19.33 129.65 15.49 15.49 11.21 11.21 14.46 19.98

being the Tax tribunals, many of the judges are now really aware of the various processes that multinational companies use to plan their strategies. With several foreign companies coming into India, and several more to follow, many of them are in fact deterred from entering into transactions with Ind i a n companies in view of the opacity of the law.

In many cases they would like to do business, but would also like to be aware of the tax implications rather than being slapped with a tax bill on the end of their contracts. Our in-

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) 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)

12.26 14.94 10.31 12.28 15.15 18.33 13.02 15.07 23.71 29.26 14.02 16.99 13.30 13.45 14.62 18.26 13.66 13.66 16.52 12.06 16.52 15.74 13.43 15.74 18.72 35.38 19.56 21.53 13.21 34.99 15.99 20.13 10.49 10.49 10.71 11.99 11.99 27.28 13.43 27.24

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)

2.92 2.92 12.21 17.48 5.61 5.61 8.05 8.04 14.56 35.77 9.26 9.26 5.42 5.42 13.47 18.32 17.53 25.59 13.47 14.49 5.83 5.83 7.21 7.21 7.32 7.32 13.75 16.99 11.41 12.29 7.30 7.30

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)

30.58 96.96 18.11 20.69 11.39 11.40 8.74 8.74 7.08 7.08 10.71 12.37 16.55 23.79 14.10 43.60 10.91 10.91 10.64 17.37

L

L&T Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Global Advantage Fund (D) Global Advantage Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G)

9.83 9.83 7.02 10.12 16.86 35.68

ternational tax law is still in a rudimentary stage of development. The decided cases are few and there are several instances where on similar circumstances, judges have given opposing decisions. On the other hand, many of the tax officers are ill equipped to deal with the complexities of international accounting and tax practices. They therefore tend to err on the side of revenue, making outrageous tax demands that only inflate the outstanding tax position without bringing in substantial revenue to government. There is therefore need of both training of tax officers in international tax practices as also having information bases from which our tax officers can

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) 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)

9.21 12.99 7.51 7.51 21.36 37.00 14.26 17.88 18.59 42.44 5.69 5.69 14.69 19.99 14.02 15.09 9.22 9.22 9.87 25.05 10.78 12.15 8.57 8.57 9.94 17.45 9.83 27.45 8.04 8.04

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)

10.90 10.90 13.79 14.86 13.93 13.93 19.27 59.12

P

Principal Dividend Yield Fund (D) 16.10 Dividend Yield Fund (G) 21.82 Emerging Bluechip Fund (D) 23.52 Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) 29.72 Global Opportunities Fund (D) 15.50 Global Opportunities Fund (G) 15.50 Growth Fund (D) 23.07 Growth Fund (G) 50.92 Large Cap Fund (D) 19.97 Large Cap Fund (G) 26.98 Personal Tax Saver Fund 92.15 PNB Long Term Equity - 3 Year Plan - Series 1 (D) 11.07 PNB Long Term Equity - 3 Year Plan - Series 1 (G) 11.07 PNB Long Term Equity - 3 Year Plan - Series II (D) 11.38 PNB Long Term Equity - 3 Year Plan - Series II (G) 11.38 Resurgent India Equity Fund (D) 12.35 Resurgent India Equity Fund (G) 86.90 Services Industries Fund (D) 12.41 Services Industries Fund (G) 13.99 Tax Savings Fund 73.64

Q

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

R

19.86 19.69 19.68 19.68

Reliance Banking Fund (Bonus) 86.81 Banking Fund (D) 34.64 Banking Fund (G) 86.81 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail (Bonus) 80.38 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (D) 47.45 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (G) 80.38 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (B) 11.98 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.98 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.98 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 14.71 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 14.71 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 14.71 Equity Linked Saving Fund - Series I (D) 13.52 Equity Linked Saving Fund - Series I (G) 13.52 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 32.41 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (D) 22.90 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (G) 32.41 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 75.22 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (D) 55.59 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (G) 453.48 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 11.23 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.23 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.23 Long Term Equity Fund (D) 14.82 Long Term Equity Fund (G) 14.82 Media & Entertainment Fund (Bonus) 27.90 Media & Entertainment Fund (D) 20.06 Media & Entertainment Fund (G) 27.90 Natural Resources Fund (Bonus) 9.35 Natural Resources Fund (D) 9.35 Natural Resources Fund (G) 9.35 NRI Equity Fund (Bonus) 36.70 NRI Equity Fund (D) 21.83

draw on.

A LIBERAL HR POLICY If the tax officers are to do their best, the rotation and transfer policy should be consistent ensuring that officers are satisfied in their places of work.

The transfer policy of the income tax department was unfriendly to say the least. It ensured that senior officers were away from their families and there were rarely given their choice of place of posting.

This is now past and the present Board ensures that the majority of the officers are given their posts according to their choices. The department also had a corpus of Rs 100 crore that was set up in 1998

NRI Equity Fund (G) Pharma Fund (Bonus) Pharma Fund (D) 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)

36.70 52.21 38.94 52.21 12.03 12.03 12.03 22.53 28.91 15.14 19.42 43.50 42.25 259.04 6.02 6.01 6.88 6.88 13.71 17.68 11.73 11.73 11.94 15.44 12.04 12.04 11.86 11.87 8.22 8.21 13.28 13.28 13.21 13.21 10.47 10.47 13.61 16.43

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 FMCG Fund Magnum Global Fund (D) Magnum Global Fund (G) Magnum IT Fund Magnum Midcap Fund (D) Magnum Midcap Fund (G) Magnum Multicap Fund (D) Magnum Multicap Fund (G) Magnum Multiplier Plus (D) Magnum Multiplier Plus (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)

17.03 26.91 28.80 76.81 12.16 16.63 12.59 17.14 28.98 15.51 28.98 28.98 12.66 12.66 11.66 11.67 11.09 11.09 15.50 34.77 20.09 20.09 19.43 19.43 12.26 14.07 10.01 10.01 15.54 23.01 25.41 55.39 15.96 35.96 30.83 40.86 26.00 29.09 52.03 20.73 16.86 21.98 13.38 17.61 56.17 79.12 27.74 27.64 34.06 41.21 39.86 58.47 10.83 10.83 10.62 10.62 13.00 24.68 10.88 13.34 13.72 17.26 11.46 85.83 11.89 38.79

but never used. Thanks to the initiative of the Finance Minister this Fund will now be used for the welfare of the officers and the staff of the tax department.

FILING OF TAX RETURNS With the increased awareness of filing of returns, more tax payers come in to file their returns. 31st July is the last day for the filing of individual and salary returns.

Special arrangements are being made to receive the returns.

Although the tax department has arrangements for the filing of electronic returns, many small assesses file manual returns. As usual the rush is always on the last day. For it is in human nature, why do something today when you can do it tomorrow!

(The author of the column is a retired Chief Commissioner and the views expressed, his personal.)

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) 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)

11.89 15.06 10.03 10.03 12.65 13.89 12.32 31.68 10.77 83.16 17.22 137.81 12.36 12.36 8.19 8.19 11.08 41.35

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) Growth Fund (Bonus) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Infrastructure Tax Saving Fund (D) Infrastructure Tax Saving Fund (G) Life Sciences & Technology Fund (D) Life Sciences & Technology Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Pure Equity Fund (D) Pure Equity Fund (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)

13.74 14.72 14.93 15.85 21.44 30.12 13.08 14.10 21.89 78.29 44.49 38.99 39.42 10.81 10.81 11.61 11.61 38.34 16.88 42.19 21.83 33.15 16.71 16.71 35.32 66.34 16.18 17.19 36.90 92.99 43.50 60.64 19.14 23.85 15.04 15.04 43.35 40.36 40.10 15.00 14.99 22.47 16.85 22.48 14.28 14.24 36.80 52.27 19.43 32.78

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) Long Term Advantage Fund - Series II (D) Long Term Advantage Fund - Series II (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)

22.54 37.08 12.47 13.50 14.46 29.16 12.58 11.11 43.55 49.27 15.87 37.32 10.64 10.64 8.84 8.84 19.72 34.62 13.58 14.64 12.25 12.25 13.37 13.37 45.89 54.98 76.27 21.95 47.82 29.24 49.52 22.45 30.17 35.93 53.45

SPORTS

HE RA LD

Pg13­

GOA, Monday, 21 June, 2010

SC Davorlim Super Soccer champs

The players of Sporting Club of Davorlim receiving the trophy and cheque from Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao, GFA president, Valanka Alemao and Maria Rebello, ZP chairperson at Colva on Sunday.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JUNE 20

Sporting Club of Davorlim scored a thrilling 4-3 sudden death tie-breaker win over Betalbatim Sporting Club to emerge champions in 18th Super Soccer tournament for Eslinda Alemao memorial trophy at St John Baptist ground, Dando – Benaulim on Sunday.

Davorlim played like a well knit unit and dominated play, but several scoring chances.

Betalbatim failed to assert themselves with their strikers not being being to cause panic in the rivals defence.

Davorlim spearheaded by Rosebud Gomes and Bonnie Niasso dominated the opening session but when it came to fin-

UC Nerul in semis HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JUNE 20

Holders United Club of Nerul brushed aside the challenge of Football Club of Siolim 2-1 to enter the semi-finals of NRB Group 37th Bandodkar Memorial Soccer Tournament organized by Baina Sports Club at MPT ground, here on Sunday.

They led 2-0 at the break.

Nerul went into the lead in the 16th minute when Charles Pereira headed a Sydan Monteiuro centrre towards Siolim goal and the ball brushed past Pankaj Fondekar into the net.

In the 20th minute, John Vaz, ran solo and scored after accepting a pass from Maulali Naik.

He cut past defender Ryan D’Souza and lobbed the ball over the head of advancing Joseph Britto, the Siolim goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

After change of ends, the pace of the match went several notches up with Siolim lads on the attack.

In the 34th minute, Sandeep Dhargalkar reduced the margin after accepting a pass from Raghu Shirodkar. Hard working Sandeep ran down the right flank, cut past Newton Pereira, the Nerul defender and sent in a power-packed try which beat Siddesh Morje, the Nerul keeper hands down (2-1).

Goaded by the success, Anthony Fernandes’ try deflected off Nerul defender Benit D’Souza.

Nerul hit back and Charles Pereira missed to connect a Pankaj Fondekar pass. Thereafter, Pankaj Fondekar blasted over a John Vaz pass.

During the last 10 minutes, Siolim dominated and threw a scare in the Nerul area. However, Ryan D’Souza, Anthony Fernandes and Rakesh Vaingankar were wayward in their shooting. That apart, Nerul defender Benit D’Souza and goalkeeper Siddesh Morje thwarted the dangerous moves from Siolim lads.

United Club of Nerul will meet Saligao United in the other semifinal on June 23.

John Vaz of United Club of Nerul was awarded the man-ofthe match award by Jack Fernandes of Vasco.

Referee Inacio Pereira flashed the yellow card to Sandeep Dhargalkar of Football Club of Siolim for handling the ball and Maulali Naik and Sydan Monteiro both of United Club of Nerul for dangerous tackles.

There will be no match tomorrow.

On June 22, Nagoa Sporting Club, Bardez, will clash with Don Bosco Bosco Oratory, Fatorda in the first semi-final.

ishing their forwards let them down. They came close to surging ahead but striker Rosebud’s try was taken care by Betalbatim goalkeeper Jeromio Fernandes.

Midway through the first half, Davorlim nearly found the net but Bonnie Niasso’s scorcher missed the target narrowly.

At the other end, Betalbatim employed their usual slow build

Sao Miguel Taleigao advance HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 20

Clube Sao Minguel de Taleigao scored a narrow 1-0 victory against Sao Jose de Areal in the opening match of 39th Custodio Memorial Football Tournament at Raia panchayat ground on Sunday. There was no score at half time.

Areal attempted two long long rangers in the 11th and 17th minutes, but they did not pose problem to the rivals as goalkeeper Jose Godinho was alert.

The pace of the proceedings rose by several notches after the break and Anthony Pereira of Areal let fly a fierce shot which, however, flew over the crossbar.

A fine run down the centre

by Sao Minguel’s Valencio Estrocio was thwarted at the goalmouth by Fredrick of Areal.

Casmiro Peixtoto of Sao Minguel then blasted over in the 52nd minute.

The match-winner came soon after as Gautam Kankankar ran solo from the centre and made no mistake in slotting the ball into the net from the area.

Gautam was earlier shown the yellow card.

up but could rarely breach the Davorlim defence.

The second session continued in the same vein with Rosebud harassing the rival defence umpteen times but he was unlucky as his efforts either missed the target narrowly or Betalbatim goalkeeper Jeromio Fernandes dealt with them confidently.

Davorlim nearly rocked the rival citadel but striker Jose Gomes’ rasping drive was blocked by the Betalbatim goalkeeper with great difficulty.

In the tie-breaker, Rosebud Gomes, Bonnie Niiasso, Joaquim Figueiredo and Wilson Miranda scored for Sporting Club of Davorlim while Desmond Fernandes, Bradley Rogtao and Luis Rogtao found the mark for Betalbatim Sporting Club.

Sporting Club of Davorlim were richer by Rs 30,000 while Betalbatim Sporting Club had to settle for Rs 20,000.

Fo l l o w i n g p r i z e s w e r e awarded. Best disciplined team Margao Sports Club. Best defender of the tournament Her-

culano of United Boys of Dando – Colva. Promising player of the tournament Anthony Fernandes of United Boys of Dando – Colva.

Best goal of the tournament Nelson Gomes of United Boys of Dando – Colva.

Best goalkeeper of the tournament Jeromio Fernandes of Betalbatim Sporting Club. Best defender of the final Malcom Fernandes of Betalbatim Sporting Club. First goal of the final Rosebud Gomes of Sporting Club of Davorlim. Farewell goal of the final Wilson Miranda of Sporting Club of Davorlim.

Best half of the final Joe Max Fernandes of Betalbatim Sporting Club. Man of the final Jose Gomes of Sporting Club of Davorlim.

Urban Development Minister and GFA president, Joaquim Alemao was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Valanka Alemao, Maria Rebello,chairperson of South Goa Zilla Parishad and Anthony Leo Fernandes, deputy sarpanch of Colva.

M Brothers up HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JUNE 20

M. Brothers, Sanguem rallied to beat Fatima Boys, Dicarpale 4-3 to enter the quarter-finals of Gumboots football tournament organized by Gumboots Boys of Orlim at church ground, Orlim on Sunday.

M Brothers found the net when Jaison’s rasping drive from close range gave no chance to the rival goalkeeper. Spurred by the success, M Brothers piled on the pressure and repeatedly raided the rival citadel and were rewarded when Denzil doubled the lead with a snap shot. Jaison struck the second time when he unleashed a stiff grounder.

Stung by the triple blows, Fatima Boys regrouped quickly and took the fight to the rival camp and Agnelo Colaco blasted home. Stunned by the goal, M Brothers went on the attacking mode and created many forays into the rival territory and Denzil punished the rival goalkeeper with an adroit placement.

Fatima Boys went all out in the remaining period with their midfielders and forwards working in tandem to put the rival citadel under tremendous pressure. Milton Rocha made it 2- 4 in favour of Fatima Boys.

Fatima Boys further reduced the margin when Agnelo Colaco’s snap shot crashed into the net.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JUNE 20

Navelim Sports Club will cross swords with Verna Sports Club in the inaugural match of 34th Cana Benaulim Soccer tournament organized by Cana Benaulim Sporting Association at St John Baptist ground, Dando – Benaulim on June 21.

The winners and runners up will receive Rs 30,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively.

St Anthony’s Sports Club, Colva, Maina Sports Club, Parish

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JUNE 20

Goa take on Meghalaya in their last quarter-final group match in Dr B.C Roy trophy U-19 Junior Nationals at Mohun Bagan ground, Kolkata at 3.30 p.m. on Monday.

Karnataka are currently leading the group with six points after two wins. Goa and Uttarakhand have three points each after winning and losing one match each. Meghalaya have lost both their matches but still have a small chance of clinching one of the two semi-final spots which are up for grabs.

Defender Shane Tumedo is set to start as Meldon D'Silva is suspended and Jesvmon Carvalho is recovering from stitches to the head after a brave collision with

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 20

Jayesh Shettigar and Swera Braganza won the U-7 State chess selection tournaments in boys and girls open categories respectively organised by Rotary Club of Margao under the auspices of Goa Chess Association (GCA) at Nehru stadium, Fatorda, Margao.

In the final round, Jayesh defeated Kshaunish Naik and Swera Braganza beat Eeshani Kane.

In all, there were 14 participants in open category and 10 participants in girls section.

The top two players will represent Goa at U-7 Nationals in November in Jamshedpur.

Top five board results of final round: Open section - Kshaunish Naik lost to Jayesh Shettigar, Aryan Faldesai beat Neil Baretto, Vraj Porob defeated Sanjay Thorat, Vaibhav Prabhudesai drew with Darshan Yakkundi and Jude Fernandes lost to Sravan Suresh.

Girls section - Eeshani Pai Kane

lost to Swera Braganza, Akansha Naik beat Christabel Fenandes, Atira Dias defeated Riya Sharma, Jeevan Naik lost to Prajakta Prabhu Gaunker and Prajakta Naik won over Sadia Mamleker.

Standrik Colaco and Sanjay Kavlekar were the arbiters. Goa Chess Association and Rotary Club of Margao president, Ashesh Keni gave away the cash prizes and trophies to the winners in the presence of Damodar Zambaulikar, GCA executive committee member and Sanjay Kavlekar, coach.

Tie-breaker at Orlim

MARGAO (HC) -- Sambatty Boys,Orlim will organise their all-Goa two-a-side tie-breaker contest on June 21 at Sambatty Amteamoll, ground, Orlim at 10 a.m. Spot entries will be accepted. Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 will be awarded to the winners and runners-up respectively.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MELBOURNE, JUNE 20

Indian international, Gouramangi Moirangthem began his much awaited trials with Melbourne Heart FC today when he took the field with the rest of the Heart players.

The team trained for a total of 90 minutes, during which time Gouramangi did enough to grab the attention of the teams coaches with a fine performance on the field.

"He did pretty well considering it was

AGENCIES DAMBULLA, JUNE 20

The Indian team management has its fingers crossed over the fitness of opener Virender Sehwag, who sustained a hamstring injur y during the thrilling win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup in Dambulla.

The swashbuckling opener pulled his right hamstring in India's pulsating one-ball-tospare win over Pakistan. Sehwag was in pain during his 30-ball stay at the wicket and was assisted by Suresh Raina as a runner.

However, the team management is hopeful that Sehwag would recover in time for the matches against Sri Lanka, including the June 24 final.

With there being no specialist opener in the reserves, India would have to promote either Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma to open the innings in Sehwag's absence.

“He has pulled his hamstring. The physio has been taking care of him, but we will take a call on his fitness tomorrow," said team manager Ranjib Biswal.

Biswal, however, said pacer Ashish Nehra, who was nursing back spasms during the first match has recovered completely and should be ready for the games against Sri Lanka.

Saina Nehwal returns a shot to Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan during the finals at the Li-Ning Singapore Open Badminton Super Series on Sunday.

AGENCIES SINGAPORE, JUNE 20

Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal clinched her second Super Series title, winning the Singapore Open with a straight-game triumph over qualifier Tzu Ying Tai in the final on Sunday.

The top seed Indian ace needed just 33 minutes to beat Chinese Taipei's Tai 21-18, 2115 at Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The world No. 6, who was the lone Indian left in the fray after others crashed out by the semi-final stage, had bagged her maiden Super Series title last June at the Indonesian Open.

The in-form Saina came into the Singapore Open after winning the India Open Grand Prix gold title last week.

In a game that was close to

start with, Saina was locked 1818 with her opponent at one stage. She had seven smash winners to show against her Tai's three in the opening game.

In the second game, Saina displayed a better net game and outwitted her Tai in rallies to emerge triumphant.

The jubilant 20-year-old said she was slightly jittery at the start but gained in confidence as the match progressed.

“It feels great. I was nervous at the start of the match but I maintained my strategy of playing more rallies," she said.

“I was down 14-18 in the first game but I just told myself that 'play your best and give your 100 per cent'. I think that really worked well for me," she added.

Match Ref spares Bhajji, Gambhir for on-field spat

Youth Nuvem, Betalbatim Sporting Club, Our Lady of Gloria Sports Club, Agasaim Youth Club, Goa Velha Sports Club, Sporting Club of Davorlim, Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, CRC Chinchinim, Don Bosco Oratory, Fatorda, Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club, Varca Sports Club and hosts Cana Benaulim Sporting Association are the other teams vying for the title.

Fr Victor Viegas, chaplain of Our Lady of Patrocinio Chapel, Benaulim will be chief guest at the inaugural.

an opponent in the last match.

Mario Lobo comes back into the defence after suspension.

Captain Myron Fernandes has aggravated his knee ligament which was troubling him and Godfrey Silva maybe handed his debut to partner Pandhari Chopdekar upfront in the attacking line-up.

Speaking to Herald, Goa U19 manager Mario Aguiar said, “There is a relaxed atmosphere within the camp, but the boys know what is expected of them."

Goa probable line-up: Albino Vales, Raju Haldankar, Mario Lobo, Shane Temudo, James Fernandes, Brandon Fernandes, Allwyn Fernandes, Lyndon Pereira, Edberg Sequeira, Pandhari Chopdekar, Godfrey Silva.

Indian eves clinch hockey series UNI SURREY, JUNE 20

A brace of penalty corner goals by skipper Surinder Kaur enabled the Indian women's team trounce hosts Canada 4-1 in the third Test of the four-match hockey series at Tamanawis Park, here today.

India thus won the CanadaIndia Cup 2010 having beaten the hosts in the opening game while the second match was drawn.

Surinder, Jasjeet Kaur Handa, Surinder Kaur and Rani Rampal scored for India while Anna Kozniuk reduced the margin.

Men’s doubles holds promise for India at Wimbledon AGENCIES LONDON, JUNE 20

Sania Mirza will be the flagbearer in singles but India has a lot at stake in the men's doubles event as well with an unprecedented five players from the country competing in the main draw of the Wimbledon starting on Monday.

Although both Somdev Dev-

varman and Prakash Amritraj could not qualify for the singles main draw, some good results are expected in doubles.

India has struggled in the last decade or so to look beyond estranged partners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi but the recent rise of Somdev and the fast improving Rohan Bopanna has given many a memorable moments.

Gouramangi begins Melbourne Heart FC trial 34th Cana Benaulim Soccer inaugural: Verna Sports Club v. Navelim Sporting Club, St John Baptist ground, Dando – Benaulim, 4.45 p.m.

Gumboots Soccer: Real Benaulim,Varca v. Carnival Cruise, Orlim Church ground, Orlim, 4.30 p.m.

Sambatty Boys 2-a-side tiebreaker contest, Sambatty Anteamoll ground, Orlim, 10 a.m.

Saina wins Singapore Open Super Series crown

Navelim meet Verna

Jayesh, Swera win chess titles Goa clash with Meghalaya

The prize winners alongwith D.Zambaulikar, Ashesh Keni, president, GCA and Rotary club of Margao, Sanjay Kavlekar.

Sehwag's hamstring strain has Indian team worried

just his first day. He showed good anticipation, made some precision crosses and was good in the tackle. He certainly seems to have some good qualities in him and is a quick learner. We shall monitor him more closely over the next week and see how things go," said Melbourne Heart FC coach John Van't Schip when questioned on his first impressions.

"It was great to train with the team today. The training sessions are held at a much vigorous pace here then back home,

but in all, I am content with my performance. I know I can do better, and I will do that in the coming days as my body adjusts to the cold climate," said Gouramangi shortly after finishing his first session with the team.

Gouramangi will be leaving with the team on Monday on a short tour of Gold Coast where the team will have a few practice sessions besides also playing A-League side Brisbane Roar in a friendly match in which Gouramangi is expected to play a part.

Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar turn on the heat.

Gautam Gambhir and Kamran Akmal square off.

PTI DAMBULLA, JUNE 20

Volatile Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and his belligerent teammate Gautam Gambhir escaped punishment after ICC Match Referee Andy Pycroft took a light view of their on-field spats with Pakistani players during Saturday night's Asia Cup tie.

Harbhajan had a scrap with Shoaib Akhtar in the high-voltage match, while Gambhir featured in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with Pakistani stumper Kamran Akmal, prompting captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to separate him and drag him away.

“The ICC match referee had a chat with the players but decided not to charge them as he felt it was a heat of the moment incident," Indian team manager Ranjib Biswal said.

Pycroft, during the pep talk, advised the players to keep their emotions under control when they are on the field.

Harbhajan took two wickets in the match but more impor-

tantly hit a six off the penultimate ball to script India's sensational victory in the match.

Only in the previous over, having missed the last two balls, Harbhajan and Shoaib were seen exchanging words. After he hit the winning runs, a charged-up Harbhajan took off his helmet and roared in celebration, turning towards Shoaib, who made a gesture, seemingly asking the batsman to leave the field.

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also played down the incident.

“They are friends with each other and love each other. I think that brought them so close together," Afridi quipped.

Incidentally, both Harbhajan and Shoaib had a friendly chat after the game, suggesting that all was well between them.

Gambhir, chastised by the ICC for bringing the game into disrepute in the recent past, reacted to a barb from Akmal leading to a chest-to-chest confrontation before Dhoni sidled away his most consistent bats-

man from the hot scene.

Later, Dhoni said such tense match between arch-rivals was bound to let some sparks flying.

“If you ask me if it (sledging) happened or not, I would say let us leave it. India-Pakistan games are always intense with both wanting to win and so there is bound to be some spark in the middle," Dhoni said.

Younis not selected for England tour

Pakistan have not selected former captain Younis Khan, whose indefinite ban was recently overturned, in their Test and Twenty20 squads for the tour of England between June and September.

Twenty20 squad: Salman Butt, Shahzaib Hasan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Amin, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Wahab Riaz, Fawad Alam.

Test squad: Salman Butt, Imran Farhat, Yasir Hameed, Azhar Ali, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Zulqarnain Haider, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Wahab Riaz, Tanvir Ahmed, Danish Kaneria, Saeed Ajmal.

Gayle leads strong Windies reply AGENCIES DAMBULLA, JUNE 20

The West Indies raced to 86 for one by the end of day two in the second Test at Warner Park in St Kitts on Saturday after South Africa declared on 543 for 6.

The home side were 457 runs behind with nine wickets in hand when bad light stopped play for the day.

Captain Chris Gayle led the run chase with an unbeaten

42 while Narsingh Deonarine, promoted to the number three position ahead of Brendan Nash who occupied that position in the previous Test, was the other not-out batsman on 33.

After opener Travis Dowlin was caught by AB de Villiers at slip for 10 off a Morne Morkel delivery, Gayle and Deonarine combined for 73 runs as Gayle plastered seven fours and Deonarine hit two fours

and a six.

Before the declaration, de Villiers became the third South African to score a century in their innings following captain Graeme Smith's 132 on Friday and Jacques Kallis's 110.

De Villiers hit 13 fours and six sixes from 168 balls to help him reach 135.

South Africa won the first Test by 163 runs.

At lunch on third day, West Indies were 126 for 2.

Assistant coach Ante Milicic, Gouramangi and head coach John Van't Schip.

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OHERALDO

CAREERS & EDUCATION

GOA, Monday, 21 June 2010

Banking On A Career - III

C

.areer possibilities in the commercial banking industry are plentiful for aspiring, well-trained individuals willing to go the extra mile.

There are many more opportunities at commercial banks today than there have ever been. With entr y level tellers, leasing agents, international finance officers, trade credit specialists, and credit card banking specialists, the options in commercial banking are seemingly endless.

In bigger banks each employee is specialized in his/her role.

There is an intensive training course that provides training in the actual work involved in the bank operations. Each employee goes through such a training and is allocated responsibilities which he can perform the best.

There are some fundamental pre-requisites for success in your career, irrespective of the choices you have arrived at.

These need to be understood well.

Options

Choices available to professionals in commercial banking: There are various different levels at which a person can join the bank namely clerk, a Grade I officer, a Grade II officer or as a manager.

ing, former loan officers often fill the ranks of management.

Credit Analyst

Branch Manager

For those interested in advancing in commercial banking, credit analyst positions are an ideal place to get your foot in the door. Analysts assess consumer and business credit applications, as well as estimate the future cash, and assess the financial stability of the applying organizations.

Other duties include interacting and coordinating with lenders and other business personnel. Success as a credit analyst will be largely based on you communication skills, your accounting knowledge, and your attention to detail.

Loan Officer

This popular banking position is responsible for finding loans for business owners and the general public. Selling skills, business smarts and banking knowledge are essential for a loan officer. In commercial bank-

Pre-requisites For Success In Your Career

The most vital duty of a branch manager is to create positive customer relationships.

This interactive people oriented position is far from boring, and can be extremely fulfilling.

Often managers begin in customer service or behind the tellers counter, and work their way up. Branch managers must be sympathetic to customer needs; they must have excellent arithmetic skills, a strong work ethic, a broad understanding of the banking industry, as well as unfailing organizational skills.

Successful branch managers often advance to market managing positions and become responsible for the administration of several branches.

The duties of a branch manager include oversight of new accounts, customer service, loan

origination, safe deposit boxes, foreign exchange, and all other services offered at the branch.

He must interact and communicate with CEOs of corporates who are interested in getting their operations funded and then following up on the big customers who avail loans from the bank.

He is responsible for profit, people and resource management and strategic planning to generate more profits. There is

tomers that the bank is catering to. He should provide constant support and motivation to the staff so that they give the best possible service to their customers.

Trust Officer

Trust officers offer financial products and fiscal advice to high net-worth individuals. Officers understand and provide council in business, estate planning, investment, taxation, and probate law.

Mortgage Banker

By Maria de Lima Pereira a lot of competition due to entry of various foreign banks and financial institutes in the Indian market. Aggressive marketing and innovative policies hold the key to the success of the bank operations.

A branch manager should be able to judge this based on the area where the operations are carried on, and the type of cus-

The primary responsibility of a mortgage banker is to supply potential homeowners and businesses with loan opportunities. They work closely with real estate agents, perform credit checks, and co - ordinate with purchasers.

Often loans are sold on the securities market. Since the number of homeowners in the country continues to increase,

mortgage bankers enjoy a fair amount of job security.

Clerks are involved in various operations like keeping a record of accounts, loans, mortgages, providing services like payrolls and inventory accounting to the customers.

General

The other positions in a bank are for typist, secretary, receptionist, safe deposit attendants, messengers, file clerks and custodians. In small banks there is a lot of job rotation of an employee, hence the responsibilities are not ver y clearly demarcated.

Additional positions in commercial banking include marketing, advertising, accounting, credit card operations, securities transfer, private banking, cash management and wiring services, instalments loans, correspondent banking, loan servicing, operations, personnel, and communications.

(Concluded)

1. Good Communication and Expression.

These are not only critical but can make a great difference towards your success. For being able to express yourself well, you must understand the power of the language and work towards enhancing your abilities, both towards the written and spoken expressions. You should be well versed with Hindi and English, besides your regional language. In today’s global world, language binds us all.

You would have read or heard that one of India’s competitive advantages in the global trade with other nations is our command over English, which has today become the link language all over the world. At the same time Hindi as our National language makes the interaction possible with people amongst our different states and regions, where many languages and dialects are spoken.

2. Express yourself clearly, without choosing complicated and big sounding words or jargon. If you are shy or in confident in front of others, read a good newspaper loudly alone in front of a mirror for 20 minutes every day till you feel confident in expressing yourself freely in front of strangers.

Watch a good news programme on the T.V every day for 30 minutes and try to follow the diction of a good newsreader (preferably the same one every day).

Read a standard news magazine on regular basis. Speak to your parents and friends in the language they use, with confidence and clarity. If required you can read a good primer like the Rapidex English course and join a good language coaching school to enhance your abilities.

3. Write small notes /articles in Hindi and English twice a week and show to your parents,

By Anil Sadashiv Raje

1. Students must not only attend the classes regularly but must also be attentive in class and interact with their teachers.

They must tell their parents about the happenings in class and also tell their parents how they have fared in class and examinations Attendance in class for the term is 75per cent. Most of the students treat this remaining 25per cent like casual leave in offices and factories. If the attendance is low the students manage to obtain medical certificates.

This is a wrong practice and doctors should not encourage students to adopt this practice, unless it is genuine.

2. Students should have separate books for each subject as they have in schools. They should try to understand what is taught in the class.

3. Students must have copy of syllabus and try to solve examination papers of the last three years at least, to know the nature of questions asked.

4. Students must refer to prescribed books from the library.

For the subjects they are weaker in, they should keep a copy of the text book with them.

5. To get used to technically correct language, they must write down at least one paragraph from the book everyday.

6. Students must realize that they are no more in schools and spoon feeding by teachers is impossible. They must make their best to learn various sub-

jects. That is the only way.

God created mother, the best teacher in the world and to help mothers , God created teachers.

The mother understands her child so very well and can come down to the intellectual level to teach it everything. If the child does not understand something she creates an atmosphere for it to learn the same. Watch the relation between the child and the mother? The child is always questioning its mother about everything it wants to know.

Would all teachers come down to the intellectual level of students to help them learn the new subjects? Could they create an atmosphere conducive for an unrestrained positive student-teacher dialogue?

Would the teachers find so much time for all this?

What can Teachers do?

1. They should try to come to the intellectual level of the students.

2. They should try to get back to the fundamentals of the subject.

3. If students have made mistakes in P.A. Exams., they must explain to them how and where they have gone wrong. If it cannot be done individually, it can be done collectively. The teacher must devote all his / her time on teaching the subject.

4. Teachers should create an interest for the subject in the students so that they apply their mind to the subject.

5. They should discuss the change in teaching patterns with their students, if required, make learning easier.

In this way we can definitely produce efficient engineers in our through polytechnics. It is team work.

In India we respect degrees more than diplomas. This is probably because degree courses are more difficult to clear and also have more detailed theoretical studies in the subjects involved.

The degree courses are pursued by brighter students after

Std XII. Some who obtain a degree go on to study for Post Graduation in special subjects.

When our degree holders go abroad for higher studies they find the courses there so easy to pursue, probably because they have studied various subjects more in details whilst pursuing their degree courses in India.

Diploma holders are considered second class engineers in India. Employers prefer degree holders to diploma holders.

Diploma courses have a lot of practical work. This fact is for-

gotten by employers.

All the degree engineers and diploma engineers should be trained in such way that when they are employed by firms they should become their assets and definitely not liabilities.

Another problem is our medium. The students do not use technically correct language.

I congratulate Goa board for arranging awareness week from 31st of May to 4th June for students to know opportunities available at various Polytechnics in Goa. After 27 years of existence, people in many parts of Goa are unaware that there is an Institute of Shipbuilding Technology in Vasco and there is an Institute of Marine Studies where Marine Engineering is taught to degree engineers and diploma engineers.

I wonder whether counselling of students desirous to join polytechnics and their parents by teachers and ex-students, before taking admissions in polytechnics will help all concerned. If some devoted teachers and ex students come together aspiring candidates to the polytechnics can be counselled well.

Education Boards may arrange for such counselling with the help of good teachers and exstudents.

Let us produce better engineers. Jai Hind!

(Concluded) (The writer is a former Marine Engineer and visiting faculty at ISBT, Vasco for the last seven years)

Does Your Company Culture Match Your Personality?

C

ompany culture is an interesting thing. It’s intangible and yet it has a huge impact your job. Generally speaking, it’s defined as “the shared values and practices of the company’s employees.”

Have you ever noticed that companies can seem to have a personality all their own? That’s a reflection of the culture. Certain companies tend to attract a certain type of person. And people excel in companies that match their personality.

So what is the culture of the company you work for? Look around. What’s the atmosphere like? Is it stuffy and stiff or is it

accent. You must also try to achieve neutral accent while speaking in Hindi and English, i.e. the regional influence should not be pronounced. The tone should be full of warmth and enthusiasm.

10. The written expression should be simple, specific and purposeful. Do not use long or complicated sentences. While using simple words, keep improving your vocabulary on a daily basis, by learning new words and their appropriate usage. Consult standard Dictionaries for checking correct spellings and use of words.

11. Remember that ‘practice makes a man perfect’ and you need to keep working towards better expression on a continuous basis.

Conclusion Good command over lan-

formation on the current affairs.

9. Clarity in your verbal expression is very important. Do not fumble and speak in a cheerful firm voice. You can learn by hearing pre-recorded messages of Banks and other service providers, using Indian voices.

Never try to copy any foreign

guages will enable you to express yourself with clarity and confidence. This will help you in all spheres of life. Not only a salesman, but also a research scientist needs a good expression. It will also do wonders to your self-confidence and personality.

Co-Workers: Friends or Enemies-II

Education In Our Polytechnics-III S

What can Students do?

teachers and friends whom you trust and use their feedback to improve. This should be done on regular basis.

4. Do not feel shy in admitting that you are trying to improve your expression.

5. Converse with your friends on the phone in a clear voice and with proper expression.

6. You can follow the same policy in your Internet and email communications, by not going for the abbreviated expressions and use full form.

7. This will allow you to keep talking or writing to your friends and at the same time enhance your abilities.

8. Continue doing this till it becomes a second habit. Apart from improving your language and expression, this will increase your self-confidence and also provide you with updated in-

energetic and playful? Look at the employees. Are there certain character traits that are common amongst them? Think about the leaders. What image do they project? What is the long-term vision of the company?

Compare your company’s personality to your own. Do they work well together or do they clash?

Great Match

Mr. Toolbox is an athletic and energetic guy. He loves the outdoors and being playful. The company he works for truly matches his personality perfectly. It’s a company that makes

outdoor sports equipment. The people there are all athletic and high energy. They laugh a lot, have an after-work volleyball team, and often get caught flying model helicopters around the hallways. He bought his first suit a few weeks ago (and mind you, he’s worked there for 7 years). All in all, the company is a reflection of him and his coworkers.

Personality Clash

I used to work for a very high pressure sales company (in the financial field). The people there were all consumed with money and numbers. They were ultra

competitive and if you didn’t play the game their way, you were completely left out. Being named the “top” sales team was the only concern - and people would do just about anything to get there. Integrity was a joke. Work/life balance was a distant dream. I was out of my element.

But I tried to force myself to make it work. And every day, I grew more and more unhappy.

I was dragging others down with me.

I wondered if it was just me.

But then it dawned on me: my personality was all wrong for this company. It was like a bad

marriage - I kept taking the abuse because I thought someday it would change. Of course, it didn’t and I eventually left.

Company culture plays a huge role in job satisfaction. It’s an important thing to keep in mind when searching for a job. And if you’re not happy where you are, look at your own personality and how it matches with that of the company.

Sure, company cultures change and shift with time, but don’t try to force yourself to fit into an environment that doesn’t work for you. It can be an exhausting and unproductive endeavour.

ometimes you have to stop doing something, as well.

For instance, beating your co-worker/friend to the coffeepot every day and getting the last cup before a new pot has to be made might not seem like such a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Unfortunately, these sorts of minor annoyances can turn into something bigger in the mind’s eye and just might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, so to speak. Pay attention to what bothers your co-workers, whether friends or otherwise, about your habits, and be prepared to make little changes. Also, don’t be afraid to tell them when something they’re doing is bothering you.

As long as you don’t make your complaint in a demanding or patronizing manner, you’re likely to get a positive response.

This leads to another important rule: Keep the lines of communication open. This is important in any type of relationship. Listen for ideas, suggestions, and complaints. When people notice that you are willing to listen carefully to them, they will be more likely to listen to you.

Even if things go sour and you end up on bad terms with

your office neighbour, don’t be unwilling to listen to what they have to say. There may still be a way to fix whatever issue caused the problem, and, of course, you still have to work with them.

Sometimes, what’s broken can’t be fixed. When this happens, don’t despair. It may be possible to simply return to a purely professional relationship.

As long as the co-worker in question is willing to do the same, there’s no reason that the two of you can’t get along in a civil manner.

Take some time off to get away and think things through if you have to, and make it clear to them that you don’t want to compromise the quality of your work or theirs. If you both have the same goal in mind, you’ll be able to work together without old arguments getting in the way.

Unfortunately, the way things should be is not always the way they are. If you or your coworker cannot spend a day in the same building without tempers flaring, it may be time to consider drastic options.

Getting a transfer or searching for other employment should be your last resorts, but

don’t rule them out. If you feel there is no other choice and your co-worker has made it clear that they are not going to leave, don’t be afraid to take such steps. Speak with your boss or supervisor first. Sometimes, they can help resolve such situations by speaking with your co-worker or making sure that the two of you don’t have to work on anything else together.

If not, they will probably still be willing to help you by writing you up for a transfer or giving you a good reference.

It’s a delicate balance, maintaining a friendship, or even a working relationship, in the workplace. It doesn’t have to end badly, but it can add stress to the workday.

An argument with a friend can ruin your mood for the rest of the day, especially if that friend is at the desk next door, and a good mood is important to your concentration, which is why so many office buildings have their own psychiatrists on staff today. Whether your work is your life or is just work, it’s important to pay attention to the people around you.

Staying on good terms with them can help your day and your business run smoothly.

OPTOMETRY:

A RECESSION PROOF PROFESSION...

V

ision is the most important gift of the nature and the eyes happen to be the most sensitive of all the organs.

Eyes have also been the most delicate and complex optical system in place and any deficiency of eyes or vision calls for immediate treatment from an expert. OPTOMETRY is one of the most important primary healthcare professions dealing with eye care.

Optometrists are experts in remedying problems related to the eyes and providing vision care. They prescribe remedial measures for problems related with vision such as glasses, contact lenses or low vision devices and also eye exercises. A career as Optometrist also involves working for the underprivileged population, thereby contributing to the public health system.

Successful completion of a FOUR year graduation program after 12th standard SCIENCE gets you a degree B. Sc,

(Optom). On completion of the program one can practice independently as an Optometrist, choose to work in eye hospitals, join optical outlets or multinational companies with specialized eye care products. The options for further specialization in Clinical Optometry or research are also available.

LOTUS COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY located at the Lotus Eye Hospital, Juhu, Mumbai offers Graduation program in Optometry. Established in the year 2000, this college runs the only ISO 9001:2000 certified Optometry program in India, Complete with state of the art laboratories as also demonstration clinics, the college is part of a full fledged Eye Hospital with total infrastructure support.

For highest quality of education, the college has a well qualified team of full time faculty for theory and skill training aspects of Optometry.

Placement for LOTUS graduates is carried out through campus interviews by leading eye care companies and optical chains and presently has a 100% placement record. LOTUS COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY has an exemplary record with FIVE batches of Optometrists who are well placed across the country and also abroad. The college takes pride in cultivating self discipline and business skills with development of abilities to deal tactfully with patients, which result in total success.

Employment of optometrists is expected to grow faster than before due to increased awareness on vision care needs of a growing and aging population.

Thus Optometrist becomes one of the most rewarding careers available now...

Those interested in this career can contact: Website: www.Optomeyeinstitute.org or call 2620 7655 / 32556835.

junior herald :Layout 1 6/17/2010 3:42 PM Page 1

OHERALDO

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Goa Monday 21 June 2010

www.oheraldo.in

In Friends We Should Trust

ANY DAY CAN BE FATHER'S DAY

By Caetano de Abreu

W

By Marc de Souza

I

suspect father's day lives on because greeting card companies really push it.

Even though, I have never seen a card offering what a dad really wants - a 24 hour truce. Why don’t they have a nice card with a big white flag on it? Inside it could say, "We love you, dear dad. You are great as can be. For all of today, we will stop World War III. It's not going to happen".

Fathers are essential for life and for the successful rearing of children. They need all of society's support, for their task is critical for the future of humanity.

Over the centuries, many brilliant thinkers have commented on the essential role of fathers. Here's a selection of their musing s: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's

teeth are set on edge" (Ex. 18:2).

"Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set" (Prov. 23:28) "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (Col. 3:21). v "Undeservedly you will atone for the sins of your fathers" (Horace) .

"Like father, like son every good tree maketh good fruits" (William Langland) "An ounce of parent is worth a pound of the clergy (Spanish Proverb) .

"The father in praising his son extols himself" (Chinese Pro-erb) "It is easier for a father to have children than for the children to have a real father" (Pope John XXIII "What a father says to his children is not heard by the world , but it will be heard by

Working In the fields Sucheta S Shirwadkar , Std V, Navy Children’s School, Dabolim

ENTRY FORM MONGINIS Creative Me NAME: AGE:

STD:

hope together we are celebrating our own days. I hope we will continue to do that for a long , long time.

God bless you, all fathers.

Keep up the good work.

At The Seaside Brandon Pontes (12), Std VII, St. Clara’s HS., Assonora

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Tiffany Torcato (12), Std VII, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour HS., Navelim

Flower Vase Leon Alphonso (8), Std II, Don Bosco’s HS., Panjim

posterity) (J.P. Eixhter) I like Father's Day because it gives me an opportunity, an excuse, to tell my children that I like being their father.

But over the years, I have discovered that "Every day isn't Father's Day. But any day can become Father's Day".

I don't remember my Father's Day with my father. I know there have been a few of them, but they aren't who stand out in my mind. It is other times - everyday times - that I'll never forget.

I wouldn't be surprised if my children do not remember any official Father's Day. I

Phone:

SCHOOL: HOME ADDRESS:

MONGINIS TWO BEST CREATIVE ME ENTRIES  Brandon Pontes (12), Std VII, St. Clara’s HS., Assonora wins a gift voucher of Monginis worth Rs. 125/-

 Sucheta S Shirwadkar , Std V, Navy

Children’s School, Dabolim wins a gift

voucher of Monginis worth Rs. 75/-

ith the Monsoons in full flow and the pitter-patter of rains hitting our windows, it is time for retrospection to check where we have been wrong and somehow devise a way to rectify our mistakes.

We therefore must chart out a judicious roadmap towards the upbringing of our children which is what the parenthood is all about.

We may contemplate that our home-rules are time tested and rightfully honoured, with not even a inkling that whatever we may have inculcated in the minds of our angels is for their own good, unrealistic that in these modern times there is that element of complexities which flusters us and asks us for that Act of Contrition, as the individual mind of a child is an enigma by itself, although it can be sorted out but only with the help of childhood friends who remain steadfast together while on the quest for academic achievements.

It is by no means a small feat if rationalize that the maximum amount of our daytime is spent wisely amongst the mutual friendship of bench mates or class mates while the rest is spent in the confines of the home, and that too considering that maximum amount of time at home is spent in studying or in any extra-curricular activities. The little time that a child can spend in the bosom of the family is when indulging in indoor activities where parents may or may not join in but should be considered as prime time in developing a child's mind for the future. The other stretch is when at lunch or dinner, more often at dinner times, considering that at lunch a child might be still involved

with school curriculum and thus skip the meal, not forgetting that in modern diorama the parents could also be still at work with less time at hand to spend with their child.

In the interim, what is the course of action to be undertaken by a child if not spending time in the milieu of friendship where the eventuality remains unravelled? According to some surveys, it has opened a whole gamut of revelations in regards to progressive learning avenues for school children between the

this study conducted between both, parents and children, it was felt that a child might take a drastic step to commit suicide if the marks obtained were not up to parental expectations or if there is a rapture in friendship amongst the class pals which makes the think-tank think twice but it cannot avoid the child to take that ultimate step to end one's own life. During our childhood, in friendship, the joys abound where not even the family patronage can eradi-

temptations earlier unheard of and subjecting us to that uncontrollable rage or aversion for when we cannot get the matter done according to our specifications; we therefore fly off the handle.

Friendship is like the love endowed by our own families where righteousness is that sceptre to hold loftily in the realms of dignity and moral values where very often our own families cannot even reach to comfort us in our hour of need; but a friend can, to emphasize the bridge

ages of 9 to 14 years, by stating that children in this age group are vulnerable to three major concerns - broken friendships, fear of failure, and uncontrollable rage.

In that process, amongst the parameters used were inability to balance studies and extracurricular fests, feeling of jealousy, and class-inequality between boys and girls, and the options to counteract that feeling of despair and how to bring about a drastic change in peer attitude. In

cate that decent feeling of wellness, ergo the reason that we cherish our friendship immensely; friendship is eternal if we value and treasure the intimate feelings developed during that long period of scholastic activities.

Thus, should any misunderstanding take place we are all left within that eerie vacuum where we do not know who we are or what we are doing, which disrupts our powers, our concentration, and our understanding, leading us to

which connects the parents with scholastic training grounds. Friendship is like that wild sylvan tree which faces the discomforts of gusty winds but yet embraces us with its branches and foliage to leave us unscratched to brave another following day where life is as beautiful as it comes and will always come. So, besides the love of our parents should we not value our friendship with its roots firmly ingrained since the time of our childhood?

A Cottage Crizela Soares(10), Std IV, Fatima Convent HS., Margao

Fun on the Beach Ismenia Fernandes (11), Std VI, St Mary’s Convent HS., Mapusa

Summer Holidays Leeann Oshin Britto(12), Std VI , SFX HS, Siolim

Colour Me

Pg16

GOA,Monday, 21 June, 2010

Bangla closes varsity after riots AFP DHAKA, JUNE 20

One of Bangladesh's leading universities closed indefinitely on Sunday after five people were injured in riots by students demanding time off to watch the football World Cup, police said.

Students carrying sticks rampaged through the University of Engineering and Technology in the capital Dhaka on Saturday demanding term be cut short so they could see World Cup matches, said local police chief Rezaul Karim.

“The junior students want the campus to close so they can watch the World Cup. But some senior students, who have exams, didn't want that - so there were some very tense clashes," Karim said.

“The university held emergency meetings and decided to close immediately," he said, adding this was a week ahead of the scheduled June 26 end of term.

During the 2006 World Cup, scores of students were injured in clashes at the same university.

Bangladesh has a culture of violent student politics, especially on public university campuses.

All three of the country's main political parties have strong student wings, which they fund and sometimes arm.

The usually cricket-mad nation is currently gripped by World Cup fever, despite the National team's not having qualified for the tournament.

Irate fans last week damaged vehicles and attacked electricity distribution centres when a power cut hit television coverage of a match.

Sylvestre Estibeiro, Remedios D’Silva and Eusico Fernandes family members in jubilant mood as they show off their support to various teams.

Photo: Rozario Estibeiro

Tevez tells Argentina to heed attacking instincts AFP PRETORIA, JUNE 20

Argentina require victory against Greece to secure top spot in World Cup Group B on Tuesday and striker Carlos Tevez says they will go for the jugular.

Otto Rehhagel's side have been a model of defensive efficiency in recent years but Manchester City's Tevez says Argentina's stellar attack means they will have nothing to fear.

"Argentina are a team who go forward," he said.

"We have good players, attacking players. We must go out on the attack and show our class. We must get forward and put our opponents under pressure."

The strength of the Argentine forward line is demonstrated by the fact that Diego Milito cannot get into the side, despite having fired Inter Milan to league, cup and Champions League glory last season.

Ardent Brazil supporters, Varca youngsters Tennyson, Charlton, Assumption, Rosario, Patrick near Varca Sports Club complex.

Photo: Peter Figueiredo

Fixing fears overshadow Mexico clash with Uruguay AFP RUSTENBURG, JUNE 20

The shadow cast by one of the most shameful episodes in football history provides the backdrop to the meeting between Mexico and Uruguay in Rustenburg on Tuesday in a match that could end France's stay in South Africa.

Les Bleus' shock defeat by Mexico means the two Latin American countries find themselves needing only a point for them both to go through to the knock-out stages of the competition, a situation some fear will lead to them contriving the required result.

That was what happened in Spain in 1982 when Germany and Austria knew a 1-0 win for Germany in their final group game would see both sides advance and eliminate Algeria.

Horst Hrubesch gave Germany an early lead and the two sides played out the rest of the 'contest' at walking pace.

More recently, Italy cried foul when a 2-2 draw between Denmark and Sweden sent the Azurri home from Euro 2004, although few neutrals saw that match as a fix.

For Uruguay, a point would be enough for them to top Group A but, with Argentina looking strong favourites to top Group B, Mexico do have an incentive to go for a win.

Three points would ensure Javier Aguirre's squad top the group and probably give them a better chance of reaching the quarter-finals at the expense of South Korea, Greece or Nigeria.

Playing for a win, however,

n FIFA has said it trusts all 32 teams in the tournament to honour the principle of Fair Play but, in this situation, there is little football's world governing can do if both sides adopt zero risk tactics that leads to a goalless draw. inevitably carries the risk of being picked off on the counterattack and suffering a defeat that could allow troubled France to sneak into the knock-out phase by beating South Africa in their final match.

FIFA has said it trusts all 32 teams in the tournament to honour the principle of Fair Play but, in this situation, there is little football's world governing can do if both sides adopt zero risk tactics that leads to a goalless draw.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said his side would approach the match "as if we were just setting out on the group phase," while Aguirre underlined that side's priority was getting into the last 16.

“We just want to make sure of getting through to the next round. I hope my team are sound and will be strong and solid as they were against France."

An independent view on the likely outcome of the match comes from the bookmakers, who have set shorter odds on a draw than for any other match so far.

But the fact that they are still prepared to take a wager on the fixture indicates that they do not regard a stalemate as a foregone conclusion.

“We are prepared to believe that the game will be competitive until someone proves to us it isn't!" said Graham Sharpe, spokesman for British firm William Hill.

“However, this is likely to be the shortest price offered for any World Cup game to end in a draw! We may be green but we aren't cabbages!

Mexico will be without Arsenal striker Carlos Vela, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury suffered in the win over France.

AGENCIES PRETORIA, JUNE 20

officials and decides which ones to retain for the knock-out stage of the tournament.

"If Coulibaly is found to have made a serious mistake, especially one that affected the outcome, then he would be highly unlikely to play any further part in the tournament," an unnamed source said. "FIFA is determined to keep refereeing standards high and does not want highprofile mistakes."

Coulibaly, 39, is one of Africa's most experienced referees and has been officiating for 17 years.

Earlier this year he refereed the final of the African Cup of Nations between Ghana and Egypt.

Ref Coulibaly could face probe

Malian referee Koman Coulibaly, the subject of vicious attacks in the US media after disallowing a late goal by USA in their 2-2 draw with Slovenia, could be asked to face FIFA's refereeing committee to explain his decision.

A FIFA source told a US newspaper that Coulibaly could be asked to clarify the reasons for his disallowing the 86th-minute Maurice Edu goal even though there was general confusion for the reasons behind his decision.

USA forward Landon Donovan said: "We asked the ref many times what it was or who it was on and he wouldn't or couldn't explain it. I don't know what to think of the call because I didn't see any foul, just a normal free kick and a goal."

Referees must submit a written report to FIFA after each match, but there is no requirement to explain every decision.

FIFA rules state: “On the report form the referee shall note all occurrences such as misconduct of players leading to caution or expulsion, unsporting behaviour by supporters and/or by officials or any other person acting on behalf of an association at the match and any other incident happening before, during and after the match in as much detail as possible."

After the group stage, FIFA assess the performances of all

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Anelka refused to apologise: Domenech AFP KNYSNA, JUNE 20

Shamed France striker Nicolas Anelka could have remained with the World Cup squad had he taken up the offer of apologising to coach R a y m o n d Domenech after his foul-mouthed tirade of abuse at him.

Domenech told TF1 on Sunday that it had not been a confrontation out of the oridnary but a normal reaction from a player under pressure.

"It was not a confrontation," said 57-year-old Domenech,

who is facing a sad end to his reign as France face likely elimination after Tuesday's final Group A matches.

"People cannot imagine the pressure. We are in a dressingroom, the coach says something to a player who is already under pressure, he can react angrily, and with strong words."

Domenech conceded that Anelka's reaction had not been appropriate.

"He did not react in the most suitable fashion, but it was just a guy sitting in his corner and muttering - that would not have mattered had it stayed there," said Domenech.

"What was important was that it made the front page of a newspaper, and that exposes the in-

n Anelka's reaction had not been appropriate.

He did not react in the most suitable fashion, but it was just a guy sitting in his corner and muttering - that would not have mattered had it stayed there. What was important was that it made the front page of a newspaper, and that exposes the internal life of the squad.

-- Coach Raymond Domenech

ternal life of the squad.”

"I sorted out the problem internally, and as far as I was concerned it was done and dusted.”

"I had another chat with him (Anelka). The next day (Friday) and I left open the possibility for him to apologise, something which he did not want to do."

France playmaker Franck Ribery, echoed captain Patrice Evra's opinion as he told the programme that he was more concerned by who had leaked the story and not what Anelka had said.

"A traitor revealed too much information, it would help to know who it was," the Bayern Munich star said.

On Saturday Evra had

shrugged off Anelka's remarks.

"The problem for the France team is not Anelka but the traitor amongst us," said the Manchester United defender.

"It is imperative we rid the squad of this traitor.

"Domenech, who is the first French coach to take the team to three successive major championships, conceded that outbursts like Anelka's did nothing in terms of setting an example to the young supporters.

"The decision to exclude him was the right one," said Domenech, who prior to the finals surpassed Michel Hidalgo as the France coach to have been in charge of the most

France boycott training

matches.

"I am sorry for the children for whom the French team represents something.

"He (Anelka) does not have the right to say such things."

France must beat South Africa handsomely on Tuesday and hope that the other match between Mexico and Uruguay does not end in a draw if they are to have any hope of reaching the second round.

Domenech said he still held out hope of pulling off what he has said would be a miracle.

"There is still a possibility and we must play to the end," he said on his address on the French Football Federation website.

GrEaT SoCCEr INSulTS Infamous footballing insults following the expulsion of France striker Nicolas Anelka from the World Cup squad on Saturday:

G

Uli Stein at Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)

erman goalkeeper Uli Stein took exception to Beckenbauer preferring Harald 'Toni' Schumacher as first choice at the 1986 World Cup finals. He equated Beckenbauer to a 'clown bathing in his soup' a reference to the German coach appearing a soup advertisement. Stein was sent home and sank without a trace - Beckenbauer took them to the final and four years later they won the trophy.

Eric Cantona to Henri Michel (France)

C

antona was never one to mince his words and in September 1988 then France coach Henri Michel was his target. Michel, who had taken France to the 1986 World Cup semi-finals, left Cantona out of a squad for a friendly earning the retort: "I read a quote from Mickey Rourke, because he is a guy that I adore, who said that the man who takes care of the Oscars is a bag of shit. I think that Henri Michel is not far off that description." Cantona was suspended for 10 months by the French Football Federation.

E

Steffen Effenberg (Germany)

ffenberg let his emotions get the better of him at the 1994 finals in the United States raising a finger at the German supporters who booed the team after a disappointing 3-2 victory over South Korea. Coach Berti Vogts, supported by the German football federation, sent him home. Effenberg returned to the national colours in 1998 briefly.

Edgar Davids at Guus Hiddink (Netherlands)

D

avids was not dubbed the 'Pitbull' for nothing and he exposed simmering racial tensions among the squad when he let rip at Euro '96 at coach Hiddink accusing the coach of 'being manipulated by the de Boer brothers (Ronald and Frank) and (Dennis) Bergkamp'. "Hiddink must stop following the advice of certain arse-

holes...." Davids was sent home but the Dutch fell apart, thrashed 4-1 by England in the group and then exited at the quarter-final stage.

Davids and Hiddink kissed and made up and the player featured at the 1998 World Cup finals where they reached the semi-finals, losing on penalties to Brazil.

K

Roy Keane to Mick McCarthy (Ireland)

eane told McCarthy, the coach, that he could 'stuff the World Cup up his arse' and stormed out of the 2002 tournament to return home.

Ireland midfielder and witness to the outburst Matt Holland wrote 'people say Roy Keane went over the top. I would say he overstepped the mark by as far as Bob Beamon did when he broke the long jump world record in Mexico in 1968'.

Ireland regrouped without their one world class player and reached the last 16 bowing out on penalties to Spain. Keane returned to the Irish side after McCarthy left.

Nicolas Anelka to Jacques Santini (France)

A

nelka's ego got the better of him again as in an interview with 'Paris Match' in August 2003 when he laid into then coach Santini who had not selected him.

"I do not need the France team. He (Santini) would have to kneel down before me, apologise, and after that I would think about it."

Santini didn't and the player had to wait to be recalled to the national squad by Raymond Domenech.

A

Diego Maradona (Argentina) to media

fter Argentina had beaten Uruguay to qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa, Maradona turned his fire on the media. "This is for those who did not believe in this team and who treated me as if I was nothing. Today, we are in the World Cup finals, without the help of anybody and with honour.

To those who did not believe in us, and I apologise to the women present, I say that they can suck on it and keep sucking!"

Maradona was suspended for two months from all football connected activity and was unable to be rpesent for the World Cup finals draw in South Africa.

Terry sounds call for mutiny against Capello AFP RUSTENBURG, JUNE 20

There was a whiff of rebellion in the air at England's World Cup training camp on Sunday as Fabio Capello's disgruntled squad prepared to face Slovenia in a match that will make or break their campaign in South Africa.

Former skipper John Terry insisted the players were united in support of Capello but the tone and content of some of his comments sounded far closer to a rallying call for a mutiny against the Italian's regime.

The Chelsea defender effectively confirmed that all is not well at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus by revealing that he expected frank exchanges at a meeting with Capello sched-

uled for Sunday evening.

Asked about his Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka being sent home by France, Terry joked: "I see Nico was sent home for voicing his opinion and maybe a few of us will be sent home after this evening."

The centreback added: "If we feel something has to change, we owe it to the country and the manager to say it in that meeting tonight. If it upsets him or any other player, so what."

England go into Wednesday's meeting with Slovenia in Port Elizabeth needing a win to be sure of advancing to the knockout stage of the competition after a 1-1 draw with the United States and a goalless draw with Algeria that Terry described as "unacceptable".

Intruder gets bail AP CAPE TOWN, JUNE 20

The football fan charged with brazenly invading England’s dressing room and confronting David Beckham has been released on bail and ordered to reappear in a Cape Town court on Monday to face trespassing charges.

Pavlos Joseph was barred from attending any further matches until a final ruling is delivered.

Magistrate Jahstree Steyn released Joseph on 500 rand ($67) bail on Sunday, and ordered police to hold his passport pending a second hearing in the case.

Traced by CCTV footage from the stadium, Joseph is now attracting global publicity for a charge that would normally go unnoticed in a country with one of the world’s worst rates of violent crime.

France team leave the pitch for the team bus before the start of what was supposed to be a team training session at the Fields of Dreams stadium in Knysna on Sunday.

AP KNYSNA, JUNE 20

A draw, a loss, a tantrum and now chaos for Les Bleus.

France’s World Cup team refused to train Sunday in protest of striker Nicolas Anelka’s expulsion from the squad, prompted by a profanity-laced tirade against coach Raymond Domenech the day before.

The latest round of turbulence also led to the resignation of France team director JeanLouis Valentin, who said he was fed up with the team.

“It’s a scandal for the French, for the young people here. It’s a scandal for the federation and the French team,” Valentin said.

“They don’t want to train. It’s unacceptable.”

Before getting in a car and driving off, he added: “As for me, it’s over. I’m leaving the federation. I’m sickened and disgusted.”

Tensions boiled over after the team arrived at training and got off the bus to greet about 200

n Tensions boiled over after the team arrived at training and got off the bus to greet about 200 fans who had gathered there.

Domenech, whose tactics and management skills have been questioned, stayed on the bus to talk to France captain Patrice Evra. fans who had gathered there.

Domenech, whose tactics and management skills have been questioned, stayed on the bus to talk to France captain Patrice Evra.

Meanwhile, fitness coach Robert Duverne was on the field putting down training

cones. After Domenech and Evra got off the bus, Evra and Duverne started to argue.

Domenech tried to intervene, but Duverne then stormed off, throwing his accreditation down the field.

Afterwards, Domenech read a statement he said was written by the players to explain their protest: “The French Football Federation did not at any time try to protect the group. They took a decision uniquely based on facts reported by the press.

As a consequence and to show our opposition to the decision taken by officials of the federation, all the players decided not to take part in today’s training session.”

Evra and the players, en masse, boarded the team bus and drew the curtains.

France can still advance to the round of 16 with a win over host South Africa, as long as Uruguay and Mexico don’t draw in the other Group A match.

Eusebio to Portugal: Be wary of N Koreans AP MAGALIESBURG, JUNE 20

Eusebio doesn’t think North Korea has the same element of surprise in South Africa that it brought to the 1966 World Cup, when they beat Italy and then led his Portugal team 3-0 before losing their quarter-final match.

Portugal and North Korea meet in Group G on Monday for their first World Cup meeting since that game 44 years ago, when Eusebio scored four goals to lead Portugal from 3-0 down after 23 minutes to a 5-3 win.

“We were taken completely by surprise,” Eusebio said in comments e-mailed to The Associated Press on Saturday.

Eusebio, now a football ambassador with the Portuguese Football Federation, and 1966 teammate Antonio Simoes are in South Africa with the Portugal squad.

The pair have attended some training sessions and Eusebio thinks the Portuguese players need to show the same self-belief and resilience in Cape Town as the ’66 team did in England.

“I remember very clearly what Simoes said when we were 3-0 down. He kept saying, ‘as long as we don’t go four goals down, we’re still in with a chance,”’ Eusebio said. “And he was right.”

The North Koreans scored a late goal in a 2-1 loss to fivetime champion Brazil last Tues-

day in their first match at the World Cup since ’66.

Portugal opened their fifth World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Ivory Coast.

“The Portuguese players must be 100 percent committed to overcome North Korea, which has already proven against Brazil that it’s not a weak team,” Eusebio said. “We have to be very determined, very quick moving the ball around, solid in defense and, of course, the players need to find the inspiration to show on the pitch the talent they possess.”

North Korea are billed as a mystery team in South Africa.

Only three of their squad play

overseas and the team has made few international appearances outside of qualifying matches in recent years.

That has given opponents little chance to study its strengths and weaknesses, but 68-yearold Eusebio says it was even worse in his day.

“I think North Korea was even more unknown back then than now. There was no media then like there is today,” he said.

Eusebio was Europe’s player of the year in 1965. He moved to North America to spend the last years of his career with the Boston Minutemen, Toronto Metros and Las Vegas Quicksilver through 1978.

In 1998, a panel of 100 experts gathered by football’s world governing body FIFA included Eusebio in its International Football Hall of Fame as one of the sport’s 10 all-time greats.

Of all his celebrated performances with Portugal and Benfica, his fondest memories are of that memorable comeback against North Korea in a tournament where he was leading scorer with nine goals.

“I think all players have a special moment in their careers. For me, scoring four in that match was my special moment,” he said.

Eto’o: Exit biggest heartbreak AFP PRETORIA, JUNE 20

Superstar striker Samuel Eto'o said that Cameroon becoming the first team eliminated from the first World Cup in Africa is the greatest disappointment of his legendary career.

Eto'o opened the scoring in the 10th minute but it was not enough to deny Denmark a 2-1 Group E victory on Saturday that sealed the African side's elimination after an opening loss to Japan.

"I think so," said the Inter Milan star, when asked if this was his greatest disappointment. "All my season was focused to be ready for this World Cup. It's the only thing I could think about."

That was a season that included a second consecutive Champions League crown, this one for Inter after helping Barcelona to the 2009 crown, and was to be topped by an African-record sixth trip to the World Cup by Cameroon.

Instead, the South Africa trip has brought only heartache for the not-so Indomitable Lions, who reached the 1990 quarterfinals in the best run by any African nation at the World Cup. "It's hard. It's not normal for us to finish last," Eto'o said. "But there will be other days. They played better than us in the match. It's that simple."

Cameroon captain Eto'o, a three-time African Player of the Year who made his World Cup debut in 1998 at age 17, still hopes to rally the Lions for a solid showing against the Dutch in their final match

at Cape Town on Thursday.

"I want to finish with dignity in the last game," Eto'o said.

"That is very important."

Asked who was to blame for Cameroon's horror showing, coach Paul Le Guen took full responsibility.

"Me. Only me," he said. "The team was glad to be here. They wanted to finish better. We hoped to play to our potential more than we showed."

Le Guen, who coached Lyon to three French titles, said he had no regrets even with the poor results.

"I accept criticism and opinions but I really thought about it and I have no regrets about my team selection," he said.

But Le Guen admits he will have regrets over the World Cup losses, especially after three lineup changes failed to prove enough to grab Cameroon a victory.

"I will have regrets for tonight because we weren't clinical. I will have regret because we lost to Japan without playing well," he said.

"I have regrets from both games but for different reasons.

The match we played tonight, we weren't far away. We were very close but we didn't make it. It's a big disappointment. We didn't finish off our chances."

As a result, the Lions are truly finished for this World Cup title hunt.

"I'm very sad for the Cameroon people," Le Guen said. "We can look at the time I took over to now -we're out but we got to the World Cup. "I worked for the good of the team. It wasn't enough."

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Kiwis pull off stunning draw

Paraguay eye knock-outs AFP BLOEMFONTEIN, JUNE 20

A powerful Paraguay side beat Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein on Sunday to leave the South Americans on the brink of qualification for the World Cup knockout phase.

MORE SPORTS ON PG 13, 16, 17 A first-half goal from Enrique Vera and a second-half strike from Cristian Riveros at a sundrenched Free State stadium gave Paraguay the crucial win that takes them to four points with only Group F minnows New Zealand still to play.

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made his intentions clear from the kick-off with three attackers in his starting XI, including Manchester City forward Roque Santa

Italy's striker Vincenzo Iaquinta (9) scores a penalty at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Paraguay.............2 Italy......................1 Brazil...................3

AFP NELSPRUIT, JUNE 20

New Zealand achieved their greatest footballing result here on Sunday with a stunning 1-1 draw agaisnt defending champions Italy's in their World Cup Group F match.

The All Whites took a shock lead through Shane Smeltz in the seventh minute only for Vincenzo Iaquinta to level through

Slovakia..............0 New Zealand.......1 Ivory Coast..........1

a penalty later in the first half.

The draw puts both teams on two points with just a match remaining.

The Italians laid siege to the All Whites' goal for most of the second half but a combination of resolute Kiwi defence, brave goalkeeping by Mark Paston and errant passes condemned the reigning champions to their second consecutive draw of the tour-

nament. As much as the fourtime champions dominated possession they could not come up with the winner and the Kiwis came close to pulling off an unbelievable victory when substitute Chris Wood fired centimetres wide with seven minutes left.

Rank outsiders New Zealand got just the start they were after when from a Simon Elliott free kick in the seventh minute Winston Reid got a flick onto Fabio Cannavaro's thigh for Smeltz to poke home past goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.

But the Italians hit back when left-back Tommy Smith was yellow carded after he brought down Daniele De Rossi inside the area and referee Carlos Batres pointed to the spot.

Iaquinta sweetly converted for the Azzurri to equalise after 29 minutes.

Riccardo Montolivo drew a great flying one-handed save from Paston with 20 minutes left.

But the All Whites kept their structure and composure repelling continual waves of Azzurri attacks, with skipper and defensive rock Ryan Nelsen outstanding and Paston pulling off some critical saves.

An Italian fan cheers prior to their match against New Zealand.

Brazil down Ivory Coast, reach last 16 AFP JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 20

Brazil qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup with a 3-1 win against Ivory Coast in their World Cup Group G clash at Soccer City on Sunday, but had star midfielder Kaka controversially sent off.

Kaka was dismissed for a second yellow card in the final minutes for pushing Abdelkader Keita, but it appeared the Ivorian had wildly exaggerated the impact of the shove by falling to the ground clutching his head.

Luis Fabiano scored the first two goals, while Elano added another to make it 3-0.

Ivory Coast pulled a goal back through Chelsea star Didier Drogba.

Brazil face Portugal in their final group match on Friday in Durban, while the Ivory Coast face North Korea in Nelspruit at the same time.

Cruz, and his team established a Stoch for defender Kornel Salata vice-like grip on the match. but Slovakia failed to threaten Paraguay took the lead on 27 and as the clock ticked down minutes when Vera bent the ball Riveros gave Paraguay the twoaround the goalkeeper with the goal margin their play richly deoutside of his right boot after a served. pass from Barrios.

It followed inGROUP E M W D L F A P cessant pressure on the Slovakian Netherlands 2 2 0 0 3 0 6 defence in a first half.

Japan 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 The South 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 Americans kept Denmark their grip on the 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 match in the sec- Cameroon ond half as Slova- GROUP F M W D L F A P kia struggled to break down the Paraguay 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 South Americans' Italy 2 0 2 0 2 2 2 defence.

In a last throw of the dice Weiss New Zealand 2 0 2 0 2 2 2 s e n t o n m i d - Slovakia 2 0 1 1 1 3 1 fielder Miroslav