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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, monDaY, julY 5, 2010

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Region: Salman to play widowed father Pg 5 The usual fortune of complaint is to excite contempt more than pity.

-- Samuel Johnson

IN BRIEF Viveka’s pics with Gautam released Supporting its claim that Viveka Babajee and stock analyst Gautam Vora were in a relationship, the dead fashion model’s family on Sunday released photographs and Internet text messages exchanged between the duo and demanded Gautam to “come out with all truth about Viveka”.

The family alleged that Gautam had lied and misguided the police as well as media about the nature of his relationship with Viveka and spread the “depression theory”. (PTI )

Inflation is biggest enemy, says RBI Terming as “baby steps” the hike in lending and borrowing rates, the Reserve Bank on Sunday said it would take appropriate measures to rein in inflation, even as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee pinning hopes on good rain said the economy would grow by 8.5 per cent this fiscal. (PTI) (Report on page 10)

RNRL, Rel Power in merger deal In a mega Rs 50,000-crore deal, Anil Ambani group on Sunday announced merger of RNRL with another group firm Reliance Power, which would now become a direct beneficiary of the gas deal signed with Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries. (PTI)

Business: e-portal for Goan handicrafts launched Pg 12

Bail or jail, court to decide today HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

The fate of former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco will be decided on Monday as the Sessions Court will hear his bail plea as well as the application moved by the Crime Branch to seek his police custody.

With the Sessions Court rejecting his plea for interim bail on Saturday, the former minister will be hoping that the court grant him bail after arguments scheduled on Monday.

Both the applications for bail and police custody will come up for hearing before Additional Sessions Judge P V Kamat on Monday noon.

A s t h i n g s s t a n d t o d a y, Pacheco’s plea for interim bail had failed to find favour with the Sessions Court on Saturday.

While rejecting the plea for interim bail, Judge Kamat had made it amply clear there are no intervening and compelling circumstances for the grant of interim relief.

The Crime Branch had moved the Sessions Court on Saturday to seek Pacheco’s police custody after he surrendered before the court in the morning. Public Prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha exuded confidence that the court would hand custody of the former minister to the Crime Branch for detailed interrogations into the death of Nadia Torrado.

Sardinha reminded that the (Continued on page 10)

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar Policemen stand on guard outside Hospicio ICU unit.

Mickky tests +ve for jaundice HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

A day after he was admitted in the ICU of Hospicio Hospital, former Minister, Mickky Pacheco is down with jaundice and his blood pressure is still high.

Hospicio doctors told newsmen that Pacheco has tested positive for jaundice on Sunday.

A doctor informed that Pacheco

Voters get EC show cause

Revised rolls on Aug 19 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 4

In a massive exercise of revision of electoral rolls, the Election Commission (EC) has issued show cause notices to 147011 voters and will publish final (revised) electoral rolls on August 19.

This is a suo motto exercise conducted by the Election Commission to correct errors in electoral rolls since voters are not forthcoming in seeking corrections on their own.

“During last few months the Election Commission has undertaken the task to make corrections af ter appropriate verification of existing entries on the rolls. All the claims and objections will be disposed off

by August 16,” Arvind Bugde, Assistant Chief Electoral Officer told Herald.

While carrying out verifications, it has found that 15066 persons listed as voters are no more alive, 15 non-Indian citizens, 4124 missing, 41713 have shifted elsewhere, and

the number of repeated entries was 2135.

About 16,207 could not be verified. The entries will be deleted from the electoral rolls if on re-verification the whereabouts of these voters are not authenticated.

The Election Commission has huge task on its hands as while carrying out revision of electoral rolls, it discovered many wrong entries such as entries having wrong EPIC numbers, wrong photos (5066), wrong relation type (1815). About 18273 entries with wrong spellings and 12006 entries with wrong middle names were detected.

had complained of yellow urine and tests conducted on Sunday only confirmed that he was suffering from jaundice.

The doctor declined to comment when the former minister will be discharged from the hospital, saying that his blood pressure is still on a higher side.

(Continued on page 10)

Database to check dual entries soon HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 4

The Election Commission will soon be able to effectively verify whether a voter is listed on two different electoral rolls. It is in the process of constituting a standard database which will help to check such entries easily as all the States in the country will have access to it.

“We will able to check on any entry and verify that it is not listed on the electoral roll of any other State,” told ACEO . The new database is likely to be in place at the end of the year.

The Election Commission is set to achieve another important milestone. It intends to start with on-line registration of voters soon. “The day is not far. The process of putting in place adequate mechanism for online registration has already begun,” says ACEO.

3 Agonda boys helped in rescue of hotelier’s son Seventh abductor nabbed

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 4

Three youths from Agonda assisted the Goa Police in rescuing hotelier’s son, who was abducted at Anjuna-Vagator by seven persons on Friday night.

According to the youths, Vinod Faldessai, Roseworld Fernandes and Akshad Pagi, they first helped the police to identify the hideout of the abductors and later led police to the hilly terrain of Khola.

The youths accompanied the police to nab the seventh abductor on Sunday at about 5.30 am.

The youths praised the brave 400 policemen, including South Goa SP Allan D’Sa and PI Siddhant Shirodkar, besides Canacona PI Raju Raut Dessai in rescuing and finding the last

(From Left to Right) Roseworld Fernandes, Akshat Pagi and Vinod Faldessai, who assisted Goa Police to nab kidnappers of Anjuna businessman’s son at Khola-Canacona.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

kidnapper.

However, the youths were a bit reluctant to state that if police had given a heed to their information earlier, the rescue of the abducted person and nabbing of the holed-up abductors

could have been achieved in the daytime on Saturday.

Incidentally, one of the Nepali kidnappers carrying food, drinks and other eatables, accidentally boarded a local bus and went (Continued on page 10)

pRiCE Rs. 3.00 (air Surcharge Rs. 1.50) pages 18

Sports: Nadal regains Wimbledon, Leander wins mixed doubles Pg 13

Karnataka CM for curbs on export of iron ore AGENCIES BANGALORE, JULY 4

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking for curbs on the export of iron ore from the country. He has requested the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of chief ministers of mineral-rich States to discuss the issue.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Yeddyurappa said over-exploitation of mines and illegal mining has been a major concern of all the mineral rich States of the country. Despite several efforts by the State Governments, the problems continue to persist.

He said his government had implemented a Value Added Policy in the mining sector, under which mining leases are sanctioned only when the applicant demonstrates that there is value addition within Karnataka. The applicant has to either process the iron ore or has to tie up with a processing company in Karnataka.

Instead of bulk permits, which were misused by mine owners, now specific permits are given for each load and trip. Bar coding and hologram-based trip sheets have been introduced to avoid fake permits, and integrated check-posts have been set up. (Related report on pg 5)

Bandh today; KTC, police geared up Pvt buses to stay off roads

Dhoni knot out PTI DEHRADUN, JULY 4

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 4

While BJP’s all India bandh declared to protest the hike in oil prices coincides with the bandh announced by All Goa Bus Owners Association (AGBOA) to demand rise in the bus fare on Monday, the Goa Police and the Transport Department will have a tough job to reign in miscreants and keep buses plying.

Speaking to Herald, Transport Director Arun Dessai said they have asked KTC to bring additional buses on road tomorrow.

Besides its regular fleet, additional sixty buses will ply.

Also, warning has been issued to bus owners that their temporary licences will be cancelled if found participating in the bandh, said Dessai further adding that “this bandh is illegal as ESMA is in operation, which was introduced in April this year.”

The ESMA remains in operation for six months and in this case its validity ends on September 30.

On the other hand Sudeep Tamankar, Secretary, North Goa Bus Owners’ Association said all

1700 private buses will be kept off the road during the bandh.

The Association decided to go ahead with the decision of bandh tomorrow as they are not happy with 22.50 per cent hike decided by the government.

They have been demanding 50 per cent hike, which was declined by the government.

To ensure that organisers of bandh don’t play any mischief, all assistant directors of transport have been directed to be at the bus stands tomorrow and ensure bus services are not interrupted. Moreover, officers have been asked to take strict action against those playing mischief, said Desai.

On the other hand, police have also geared up to tackle tomorrow’s bandh. All police stations have been given additional police force of 50, informed police sources.

Also, police have sent letters to Shiv Sainiks warning them against inciting people to participate in the bandh. They have been told that action will be taken against them under Section of Cr pc if found creating ruckus tomorrow.

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni tied the nuptial knot with childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat tonight in a private ceremony attended only by family members and close friends, at a farmhouse here.

The wedding at the picturesque Vishranti Resorts at Bidhauli, was strictly a private affair with only 50-60 close relatives from both the families of the bride and the groom, along with few of Dhoni’s India team-mates, attending. (Report on pg 13)

We were more relaxed when he was absconding. His hypertension has been a pain for us guarding him at Hospicio.

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GOA, MONDAY, 5 JULY, 2010

CIVIC FORUM Toothless authorities Menino Fernandes, Sao Jose de Areal

Taxi owners oppose hike in special package fees

Restricted water to Tiswadi

getting revenue to government coffers. Today the financial static of KTC shows huge losses at the cost of tax payers,” he said.

Fernandes said the GTDC managing director has said that foreign tourists have been kept out of this package as foreigners usually explore the State on their own. “The members concluded that the government bodies do not want to hurt the sentiment of the mighty tour operators who at present take the major share of foreign tourism revenue,” he added.

Fr Maverick Fernandes spoke about the purpose of creation of the Centre for Responsible Tourism. He said the Centre was mainly concerned about creating tourism based on justice and ethics and asked all members to remain united to accomplish the mission.

Water supply to most parts of Tiswadi taluka will be restricted on Monday, due to a major mechanical breakdown at the Opa Water treatment plant late Sunday night.

PWD officials told Herald that water supply will be restricted to Panjim city, Taleigao, Santa Cruz, Merces, Chimbel, Ribandar, Siridao, Bambolim, GMC Hospital, defence establishments and surrounding areas.

Wo r k h a s b e e n i n progress since Sunday midnight as PWD authorities are hoping to restore water supply to the affected areas by Monday evening.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

SET TO FALL: The bad state of the coconut trees near Menino’s house

My application for cutting five coconut trees that threaten my house and property to the Mamlatdar court of Paresh Fal Desai at Margao proved of no avail, as I only received a judgment saying that the complainant does not stay in his house, that the coconut tree in dispute is around 18 years of age and not inclined on the house. I further realised that my case was dropped by Mr Fal Desai, as it was not under his jurisdiction.

When I made the same complaint to the Dy Collector at Margao, he ordered the Range Forest officer to conduct a site inspection.

The inspection report revealed that two coconut trees among the five were indeed threatening my house, their trunks were diseased and dangerous, and they may fall at any time during gusty winds.

On seeing the report, the Dy Collector immediately issued an order to the respondent, Santosh Gaonkar, to cut down the two dangerous coconut trees within 10 days. The respondent failed to file any written reply, but the order is still not executed, despite my arguments and written statements. It seems that the respondent is exerting some political or bureaucratic influence.

What can I do if the government machinery refuses to work, and there seems to be blatant collusion with the respondent? Do I helplessly wait for the coconut trees to fall and destroy my house? The higher authorities need to be aware of what is going on in the departments coming under them.

Much ado about footpath Anand Shettigar, Sarpanch, Candolim panchayat

This is with reference to the letter by Romualdo Fernandes ‘Footpath from Sinquerim to Ximer’ (Herald, 28 June). Mr Fernandes, has wrongly spelt ‘Ximer’ as ‘Simmer’. It looks like he is new to the village of Candolim, and does not know much about it. I wish to clarify that: 1.

There was a long pending demand for a footpath for the safety of the pedestrians.

2.

The footpath does not encroach on the road, and the question of road becoming narrow does not arise.

3.

There should be no parking on roads. When the writer says he has travelled abroad, he needs to remember that in India, roads tend to narrower than abroad. Widening the present road is difficult, as numerous old houses of villagers will have to be demolished.

4.

But the Panchayat has proposed a new road parallel to the existing one, without damaging any houses. Approval of the new road is in progress, and it should be complete in a year or two. Romualdo Fernandes was a member of the Regional Plan Committee of Candolim. How has he forgotten about the new proposed road?

KTC disregards rules Maria Lata Pereira, Tivim

Kadamba announced that from May, senior citizens would be able to get half ticket, and disabled persons would be allowed free travel on the shuttle service with appropriate identity cards.

But it seems the staff at the shuttle counters and the conductors have been given no instructions about these new rules. When shown an identity card, they sarcastically say that only if a person is completely disabled, is (s)he allowed free travel. Does this imply that only people on stretchers and wheelchairs can avail of this facility?

I have found that in Goa, rules and schemes passed by the government are never implemented. Will the KTC authorities clarify this matter urgently and instruct their staff accordingly, so that hapless handicapped and aged commuters are not inconvenienced?

Casualty a casualty!

Adv Sahish Mahambrey, Panjim

On the night of 21 June, my uncle was taken seriously ill owing to low sugar level. I rushed him to the Goa Medical College (GMC) casualty ward. There was a group of doctors who were busy laughing, chatting and having a ball of a time, least bothered about the suffering patients. The doctors available were highly uncooperative.

Ironically, the junior doctor did not even know how to read the ECG report!

There was indecision about the treatment to be given. By this time my uncle began to choke, and an oxygen mask had to be applied. The Casualty Ward is for life saving, and not a place for experimentation. Inexperienced doctors posted there will definitely face the heat if pushed into alien situations. The Casualty Ward definitely needs senior resident doctors in charge, to deal with life-threatening situations.

I have specially written this letter so that my words reach the ears of the Hon'ble Health Minister, who otherwise has done a commendable job in raising the standard of the hospital. I hope the attitude towards the patients is rectified, and the Casualty Ward itself does not become a casualty.

Members of the FATTOD (Federation of Association of Tourist Taxi Owners and Drivers) on Sunday chalked out the future course of action on the proposed hike in permit fees by the State and on GTDC decision to use theirs A/C taxi for the “Honeymoon Special Package”.

FATTOD President Jeorge Fernandes said that it is not just foreign tour operators and illegal touts who are giving hard time to taxi operators along the coast but even government decision on honeymoon package may cost the coastal belt citizen.

“Government run corporation like KTC few years back took away the livelihood of private bus operators by taking away the main bus route linking to Panjim city with high hopes of

Jeorge claimed that though diesel/petrol and all commodity prices have shot up, few private tour operators still complain on rates which were never hiked since the start of tourist taxi.

“Our tourist taxi rates are directly associated to tourists visiting Goa, but the Lamanis and Kasmiris are left free to loot tourist, while our own Government is out to compete us with hike in taxes and permit fees,” he added.

South Goa FATTOD Vice-President Alerio Fernandes said if the GTDC plans to support the Tourist Taxi operators with the proposed Honeymoon package then the operators should be taken into consideration and decide on such packages. Other spoke were Jose Fernandes and Nativide from the Mobor Taxi union.

Miraculous escape for 2 at Canacona HERALD CORRESPONENT CANACONA, JULY 4

Two persons from Khola had a miraculous escape, after the car in which they were traveling went off the road at Matvem Moll, Canacona, on Sunday.

According to reports, the car (GA-09 A-2034) driven by one of the youth from Saleri-Khola was proceeding down the steep slope and reportedly due to slight drizzling, it skidded off the road at Matvem Moll steep turn. The car went down over 4 mtrs retaining wall and onto the sloppy hillock.

The car miraculously missed crashing into three trees, before still standing on its tyres. The car finally came to a halt 40-50 mtrs from the road.

The accident left the car’s front tyre bust open, while its one-side of the body ripped through.

However, both the occupants including the driver were lucky to escape unhurt, who later reached the road to seek help.

Foreign models pose for photograph on Anjuna beach on Sunday.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

The Goa Pradesh Youth Congress secretary Kalimulla Khan Pathan has said the Youth Congress will fight for the land admeasuring 99,000 square meters at Aquem for burial grounds for all the three communities as per the resolutions adopted by the Goa Legislative Assembly.

He said though the Youth Congress is opposed to the setting up of kabrastan near Sonsoddo, Pathan, however, said the proposal cannot be opposed if the government is giving the land.

He said the Youth Congress would take up the issue with AICC General Secretary B K Hari Prasad and MP Rahul Gandhi to pressurise the government to

Lord Krishna temple at Cuncolim burgled again HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

The Lord Krishna temple located at Cancanamodi hillock at Cuncolim was burgled yet again.

In fact, the temple has been burgled for the third time in a row this year.

Besides the temple, the miscreant also lifted away the brass bells at the site of the Rakhandar ghumti near Uskiniarik.

The incident occurred last night when the miscreants broke open the main door and later ransacked the premises, including the cupboard for the booty.

The donation box was broken into and lifted the Palki item from the premise.

The value of the stolen items is put at Rs 21,700, while the overall loss is estimated around Rs 40,000.

President of the Krishna Devasthan said the burglars caused immense damage to the Temple premises in their bid to commit the theft. “Damage has been caused to the main door and

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.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

The donation box and the window grills of the Lord Krishna Temple at Cuncolim which was cut open by the miscreants last night.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

the cupboards and the donation box. This is the third time the temple has been burgled”, he added.

The Cuncolim police, who was intimated of the incident, later requisitioned the services of a police dog, which did not provide any clue to the investi-

gating agency.

Meanwhile, the miscreants also lifted away the brass bells from the Rakhandar Ghumti last night. The Rakhandar was in the news last year after miscreants had desecrated the Ghumti.

The Cuncolim police are investigating.

solve the long-pending demand of the Muslim community for a burial ground.

Condemning the statement made by the general secretary of the Sirvodem Masjid on the kabrastan at Sonsodo, Pathan wanted to know whether this general secretary of the Masjid is working for the benefit of the Muslim community or is acting

Two found dead at Canacona HERALD CORRESPONENT CANACONA, JULY 4

Canacona police on Sunday recovered two male bodies from two different places in the taluka.

In the first incident, police recovered highly decomposed body of one Dilip Prabhakar Naik (48) from Cuncolim from a farmhouse in Devabhag-Canacona.

According to Canacona police, Naik was working in the farm and had reportedly gone missing since the last few days.

Naik, who was residing at Palolem, was not seen for the last eight days till his highly decomposed body was found in the same farm, where he was reportedly working, police informed.

In the second case, Canacona police recovered body of a 27year-old man, who was found hanging from the ceiling at his residence at Kindlebhag-Tarir.

According to police, Gautam Paswan, who was working in a starred hotel in the taluka, was found hanging. His body has been sent for postmortem and further investigation is on.

Rare lizard species found in Cotigao A rare species of lizard ‘Cnemaspis goaensis’ was found in Cotigao-Canacona, the only place of its existence in the entire country.

Scientist Varad B Giri, who is a curator with Mumbai-based BNHS India (Conserving Nature since 1888), informed that it was in 1985 that ‘Cnemaspis goaensis’ was first identified and is traced only in the Cotigao forests.

“This rare species’ existence only in Cotigao is now confirmed. Interestingly, this lizard which can have growth to a maximum length of 2.5 inches, is abundantly found on trees, retaining walls in Cotigao forests and other residential areas in the village,” informed Giri.

Giri during the last several years regularly visits Goa every year to study the rare species.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

The Nagrik Sabha held at the Margao Municipal Council by the election authorities for the verification of names on the electoral roll turned out a nonstarter for want of awareness amongst the voters of Margao and Fatorda constituencies.

Around 120 designated officers and Booth Level Officers turned up for the special campaign as per the directions the Salcete Mamlatdar. However, in the absence of any awareness amongst the people, the special campaign was rendered meaningless as not a single person turned up for verification or correction of names on the electoral roll in the morning session.

The officials blamed the election authorities for not carrying out awareness amongst the public, turning the campaign into a futile exercise.

The matter was brought to the notice of the Mamlatdar of Salcette who visited the Municipal Hall at 10.30 a.m. and told the Officers to wait till 5.45 p.m. despite no public attending the Special Campaign.

The officials complained that no refreshment or food was served to the Officers on the Special Campaign Duty.

Meanwhile, the Citizens Welfare Committee, Fatorda and Margao have requested the chief minister to take actions against the election officials for their negligence in not keeping the citizens informed about the special campaign as that would have given them the opportunity to

get their names checked or enrolled on the electoral roll.

Meanwhile, inquiries have revealed that the response from the general public to the special campaign day in the villages have been lackluster for want of publicity.

Areal focuses on migrants HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

Gram sabha members of Sao Jose de Areal on Sunday demanded that the election authorities verif y whether migrants figuring on the electoral roll have been registered on the rolls after verifying the transfer certificates.

While opposing today’s meeting on grounds that it was convened without giving seven days notice, gram sabha members told the Sarpanch that no gram sabha meeting can take place on a day’s notice.

Gram sabha member Peter Viegas said that they, however, lodged their strong objection to the inclusion of migrants on the electoral roll.

“We have demanded that the members be given three months time to study the electoral roll and find out whether the migrants have brought the transfer certificates from their native states. The members will take up house to house survey and study the roll. The villagers will not allow registering of migrants on the electoral roll without the transfer certificates”, he demanded.

‘Youth Cong to fight for burial ground at Aquem’

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 4

STATE OF THE CITY? Our reader Adelmo Fernandes clicked this photograph of the road divider on Swatantra Path, Vasco city’s main avenue. Right from the market to the IOC Terminal, this road is an eyesore.

HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JULY 4

Voter verification campaign fails to take off

Rare species of Lizard ‘Cnemaspis goaensis’ found in CotigaoCanacona.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

It was previously discovered that this particular lizard species is traced about 4 kms away from Poinguinim Forest Rest House, which in turn marks to Hathipal Rescue Centre, existing at the

entrance of Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary.

Giri informed that the species will be taken for further research as to its existence only within a small geographical area like a

village in remote Cotigao and not elsewhere in Canacona taluka, other parts of Goa or for that matter in rest of the country. Giri also plans to publish posters of the rare species.

“Normally, all kinds of lizards are non-poisonous, but their certain droppings, especially the white colour one may contain ‘Omonia’ and in case this substance get mixed with eatables, the person who is allergic to ‘Omonia’ may get diahoria, vomiting, etc, while most other causes related by people to consummation of lizard contaminated food poisoning is psychological,” he said.

He also spoke on various other subjects, especially scheduling of animals.

According to Giri, experts decide scheduling of animals just by sitting at Delhi and hardly goes into fields to get first hand information.

as a doll to criticise the Congress government.

“We cannot trust such a person who worked against the Congress party candidate in the MP and Assembly polls. We know that kabrastan is a major problem faced by the Muslim community for the last 20 years.

It is totally wrong to say no to the 30,000 sq mts of land which

the Margao Municipality is thinking of acquiring for the kabrastan,” he said.

The Youth Congress secretary sought to know whether the BJP government which ruled Goa for five years has done any good for the minority community, and asked why the BJP did not resolve the kabrastan issue during its rule.

Work with Oppn to solve highway issues: SGF HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

The Save Goa Front (SGF) has urged the government to keep aside all political differences and take the Opposition leader into confidence to solve the highway problem in the best interest of Goa. SGF President Antonio Gauncar said the chief minister and the leader of the opposition used to jointly solve important issues affecting the State and called for taking the opposition into confidence to solve the highway row.

Gauncar suggested that only one road from Patradevi to Dodhamarg via Honda, Usgao, Sanguem, Canacona, Pollem can solve the people’s woes as well

as solve the problem of mining traffic instead of two existing national highways. “This one road will serve as the link road to neighbouring states too. Cost wise also, it will be less as it will avoid displacement of homes, minimise the environmental damage, save productive land and reduce unnecessary burden on Goan people,” he said.

He said the SGF has already sent in writing in 2009 the suggestion for a new road to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Meanwhile, the SGF has fully supported the 12-hour band on July 5 saying the common man is badly hit by the steep rise in prices of all essential commodities.

Shripad appeals for support of bandh HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, JULY 4

In a bid to make the Bharat Bandh on Monday a success in the State, especially in Sattari Taluka, North Goa MP Shripad Naik appealed to BJP workers (Satatri unit) and people from Sattari taluka to make the Bandh a success.

Naik and other senior BJP leaders guided BJP workers and interacted with many people from Sattari and appealed to make the Bandh a success in the interest of common man.

Later addressing a press conference, Naik said the party would enforce Goa Bandh on Monday in protest against sharp increase in prices of essential commodities and failure of the Congress government in the State and Centre to provide relief to the people.

The press conference was conducted at the residence of ex-deputy speaker Narhari Haldankar at Valpoi.

Speaking further, Naik said party leaders have established contacts with market associa-

tions all over the State to ensure success of the Bandh. “People of Sattari will whole heartedly support the Bandh and BJP has full faith in Sattari people,” he claimed.

In his appeal, he stated that all people, irrespective of caste, religion and profession, must support the Bandh and show the power and strength of democracy.

“If the government tries to create any hurdles in the Bandh called by the BJP, which is agitating for the price rise in peaceful method, then the present government will be responsible for the consequences,” he warned.

Govind Parwatkar, who is leading the Bandh in the State criticized the government policy and said the government has failed to work on the promises and assurances given to the common men.

North Goa Block BJP President Ulhas Assodkar, Sadanand Shet Tanavde and Narhari Haldankar were also present for the press conference.

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Govt mulls law on contract farming HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 4

Will “contract farming” arrest the decline of agriculture in Goa? Well! At least, the State government has got into action to bring in a legislation on contract farming with the hope of making agriculture cost effective and facilitate usage of fallow land.

A committee has been constituted to look into the aspects of contract farming as provisions in the existing Goa Agriculture Produce Marketing (Development & Regulation) Act 2007 are not sufficient to promote and allow contract farming.

“The government wants to study the matter and work out requirements in the existing provisions,” Director Agriculture S S P Tendulkar told Herald.

The committee has been instructed to inspect and report on the authenticity of the status of fallow land and give its recommendations for admitting the proposal for agriculture development and for release of incentives.

One of the reasons that farmers are not able to go into full scale commercial cultivation in the State is fragmented land holdings which make any kind of cultivation unprofitable.

With farming losing its sheen as viable occupation, large tracts of land are being left fallow.

Landlords prefer to keep their lands fallow rather than lose ownership of the land by giving it on lease.

But, it will not be easy to bring fallow land under cultivation until Tenancy Act is ade-

quately amended to protect interest of landowners. So that if the land is given on contract for cultivation of any crop to other individual or a company, the rights of tenancy shall not vest with the contracting entity.

There is also a growing tendency to keep the land fallow, particularly in the areas surrounding urban locations so that it can be diverted to other uses.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in his budget speech 2010 had assured incentives for bringing fallow land under agriculture and proposed to provide assistance of Rs 25,000 per hector with subsidy limited to two hector area.

The State urgently needs to revive its agriculture as the production and productivity in most crops have remained static. The

government in its Economic Survey 2009-10 has acknowledged that there has been a shortfall in targeted area coverage and production mainly due to nonavailability and high cost of labour. Preference for white colour jobs and the availability of other job options have pushed agriculture on the back burner.

Total cropped area in the State is about 1,65,953 hector with food grains covering 59,879 hector, horticulture crops 1,01,147 hector and other crops occupy about 4827 ha.

In the last two years the department of agriculture has been laying thrust on mechanized farming by offering subsidies on purchase of machinery. The subsidy on purchase of farm machinery has been increased to 70 per cent of the cost.

One killed at Khandepar accident HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, JULY 4

One person died on the spot while another man was seriously injured when the motorcycle they were riding was knocked down by a truck at Keriya-Khandepar on Saturday afternoon.

According to reports, the incident took place at about 1.30 pm when Ramesh Sungar and Laxman Anchal, who were riding the motorcycle, were knocked down by the truck, proceeding towards Ponda.

Ramesh died on the spot, while Laxman sustained serious injuries in the mishap. Both riders are natives of Karnataka, but were residing at Usgao.

The truck driver fled from the scene and later surrendered at the Ponda police station.

Weapons recovered from Anjuna youth’s kidnappers HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 4

Police reportedly recovered three pistols and some cartridges from those who kidnapped a hotelier’s son from Anjuna.

Police also recovered Signature whisky bottles and other food provision, which the kidnappers had reportedly brought for their night’s usage and a dismantled mobile phone.

Besides, few SIM cards of different companies were also found on persons of the nabbed kidnappers.

The kidnappers along with their prized catch had reportedly taken refuge inside a coconut storage hut existing deep inside cashew plantations at Khola since Friday late night with the three Nepalis keeping the kidnapped boy under close watch, while others, reportedly went on to explore ways and were reportedly planning to cross Goa’s border at Polem.

According to sources, two kidnappers had a dry run up to Polem border, but reportedly returned on seeing police presence at the Majali check post of Karnataka state.

It is not known how these two Nepalis reportedly on two-wheelers

CM stops land acquisition for NH-17 HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

There’s good news in store for people affected by the expansion of the NH-17.

If Power Minister Alexio Sequeira is to be believed, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Sunday issued directions to the Revenue officials to immediately keep on hold land acquisition process for the expansion of the national highway.

Sequeira told Herald that he took up with the chief minister at Nuvem on Sunday evening the contentious issue of expansion of the NH-17 and demanded that the government should first provide all information and details concerning the expansion project.

The Loutolim MLA said that he made a strong case with the Chief Minister to keep the land acquisition process in abeyance till all doubts of the public are first cleared by the government.

“The Chief Minister immediately called the Revenue officials and issued directions that the entire process be kept on hold”, Sequeira said.

The Power Minister, however, said that nothing stops the people from filing their objections to the land acquisition process.

Incidentally, Sequeira, who also holds the Environment portfolio, had postponed hearings by the Goa Pollution Control Board on the highway expansion project.

escaped police nakabandi erected at few places on Canacona highway road and the one at Polem.

The kidnapped boy reportedly informed police that he was straight away brought to the spot on Friday night, during which time two cars were reportedly changed.

Police also found that the ransom call to the kidnapped boy’s father was made from Mapusa, which initially misguided the men-inuniform.

It is also learnt that arrested Nepali youth from Palolem first sought to hoodwink police that they don’t have anything to do with any kidnapping, but soon opened up.

According to sources, about 400 personnel from different police sections were drawn in the search and combing operations.

Besides, DIG and SP’s of North and South, over a dozen of PIs (including Calangute PI) had dawned on Agonda and Khola in Canacona after learning that kidnappers were holed up somewhere in the taluka.

Besides the kidnapped boy’s father, over 25 people from Anjuna also reached Agonda on Saturday night to take possession of the rescued person.

DGP lauds men; CM announces prize HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 4

“Goa is safe,” and the recent three incidents of extortions are only isolated cases, claimed B S Bassi, Director General of Police (DGP) while applauding his men for successfully nabbing all the seven accused involved in the kidnapping of 22-year-old Anjuna youth for ransom of Rs 5 crore.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday here, the DGP said meticulous investigation with swift follow up action provided the initial breakthrough. Later, both the district police forces worked in excellent coordination with other units and launched the largest ever combing operation in the recent times in Kola jungle.

After extensive search operation that lasted the whole night, all the accused were arrested at different places in Agonda. Initially five accused were arrested and sixth was

nabbed from a hide-out in the Kola jungle in the night and captive Sterling D’Souza was freed.

One of the accused who evaded police the whole night was nabbed early morning.

Seven accused Ajay Thapa, Rajesh Kumar, Resham Thapa Magar, Raju Thapa Magar, Talin Nyona, Arjun Sharma and Janak Thapa Mogar were arrested from Kola jungle where they had made a provision for safe “hide-out.”

The DGP said this is a third time in the year police have succeeded in nabbing extortionists. But when pointed out that this also implies that Goa is becoming “unsafe” he reiterated that “Goa is safe.”

Ravindra Yadav, DIG who planned and guided the operation with involvement of senior officers such as SPs Arvind Gawas and Allen D’Sa said success of police in foiling attempts of kidnapping for extortions will discourage po-

Davorlim villagers demand scrapping of land acquisition HERALDR REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

Davorlim villagers on Sunday threatened to take to the streets if the government fails to scrap the land acquisition process to acquire land admeasuring 1.15 square meters for the multipurpose utility project.

They demanded that the Davorlim panchayat again invite PWD Minister and local MLA Churchill Alemao for a meeting with the public to explain the objective behind the land acquisition and benefits for the local villagers.

At a special gram sabha meeting held on Sunday to discuss the burning issue, the villagers warned the government not to take the locals for granted, threatening to hit the streets.

Speakers urged the villagers to brace for a long drawn agitation to demand scrapping of the project. A woman villager urged the villagers to rally behind the public and not to hesitate on the issue because someone has distributed fertilizers. “This issue affects not only the present generation, but the posterity as well. We have to preserve this land for the housing requirements for the ST Community and the original inhabitants of this village”, a speaker said.

Village Sarpanch Francisco Dias later told newsmen that the government has gone ahead with the land acquisition with-

Davorlim villagers demanding scrapping of the land acquisition process to acquire 1.15 lakh square meters of village land by the government.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

out taking the locals into confidence. “When we went to question the district Collector G P Naik, he says the land is being acquired by the government”, he said, demanding to know whether the Collector is not part of the government.

Saying that the district Collector has even refused to provide report on the multipurpose utility project, the Sarpanch said the government has gone ahead with the acquisition despite stiff opposition from the locals and charged the district Collector for misguiding the villagers.

He said the local MLA was invited for the meeting, but Alemao failed to turn up, adding that the ZP Member attended the meeting. “There was a public demand at today’s meeting to

write a letter to the local MLA and call him at the next meeting”, he added.

A local villager Andrew demanded that the land in question be reserved for Scheduled Tribes Community and the original inhabitants of the village.

“Inhabitants of the village are basically ST community people.

We want the land to be utilized for our housing needs”, he said, demanding that the local MLA Churchill Alemao should explain the villagers why the government is acquiring their land and for what purpose.

“He should come to the villager and hear our grievances.

This land should be reserved for the ST community to fulfill their basic requirements, including housing”, he added.

tential kidnappers.

When asked to explain the failure of Goa police in tracking down former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco who finally resurfaced after a month in hiding, on Saturday morning, DGP pointed out that every case is unique. In the extortion case, life of the victim was at stake and hence combing operation was conducted.

Meanwhile, Stephen D’Souza, relived after seeing his son rescued by Goa police from the clutches of his abductors, he thanked God and Goa Police.

He said, he did not sleep since his son was abducted on June 2 night and it was real nightmare.

Police awarded: Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has announced an award of Rs 1 lakh to the entire team of police that participated in the massive hunt of the kidnappers and succeeded in their operation.

Vasco to join Bharat Bandh HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JULY 4

Most of the commercial establishments, bus operators and transporters in port town have decided to shut down its operation on Monday to support the Bharat Bandh called by BJP. Most of the shop owners in the vegetable market, fruit vendors, shops and establishment owners have informed that they would remain close on Monday, as BJP workers have asked them to remain close to support the cause to roll back of hiked fuel price.

The BJP workers since Saturday evening were seen distributing leaflets and asking most of the commercial establishments to remain close to on Monday.

The private bus operators at a meeting at Kadamba bus stand on Sunday decided to remain off the road. They unanimously decided to remain off the road since the State administration has failed to assure them of providing security. Similarly, the transporters in Mormugao Port Trust will also remain off the road.

“The tourist taxi counter at Dabolim airport would also remain close, besides other vehicles at airport would also remain off the road,” informed Tourist Taxi Union President Prashad Prabhugaokar.

Mormugao Sub Divisional Police Officer and DySP Mahesh Gaonkar said police force in Mormugao taluka is geared up to tackle any sought of problem.

NGO swoops down on slaughtering at Colva HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

Even as the authorities turned a blind eye to the slaughter of cattle, activists of the local NGO conducted a ‘raid’ on the illegal slaughtering at Colva before dawn on Sunday Led by Colva Civic and Consumer Forum secretary Judith Almeida, the activists swooped down on the activity at around 4 am after lying in wait throughout the night and found a bull slaughtered at the site, while three animals were waiting their turn.

After stopping the butcher, the activists intimated the Colva police to initiate action against the illegal activity, contending that slaughtering of cattle is authorised only at the government

A veterinary officer destroys the carcass of a bull which was illegally slaughtered at Colva in the wee hours of Sunday.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

authorised abattoir.

Officials of the veterinary

department were also intimated of the incident and

were called to take further action in the matter.

A veterinary doctor, who made his presence felt at the spot, later told Herald that he has destroyed the carcass of the animal. Terming the slaughtering of animals at the unauthorised place as illegal, Dr Vaz said the local panchayat should crack a whip against such activities.

“The panchayat certainly has the powers to crack down on illegal slaughtering,” he added.

The Colva police later took into custody two persons under section 34 of the IPC. PSI Anand Shirodkar, who came to the spot, said that action would be initiated against the culprits involved

in the illegal activity.

The Civic and Consumer Forum has been closely monitoring the illegal activity for some time and decided to conduct a raid as the authorities concerned turned a nelson’s eye to the activity. The residents of the locality had complained that illegal slaughtering of animals was taking place in the area, posing a nuisance and health hazard.

Even as the Colva police are investigating into the case, Almeida has demanded an inquiry into the episode to find out whether the butcher had any understanding with the panchayat and other authorities as the illegal activity was going on at the site without any action from the officials.

Uproar in Aquem gram sabha over mega housing project HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4

The Aquem-Baixo gram sabha on Sunday witnessed uproar over a mega housing project in the village, with the members demanding to know from the chair the status of the project when the gram sabha had earlier rejected the project.

The matter was hotly debated at the meeting after which the Sarpanch promised to follow the instructions of the special committee constituted to look into the project.

The Sarpanch also agreed to serve a notice on the builder to produce the relevant court order under which he got the project renewed within 15 days.

The issue over the acquisition of agricultural fields for the rehabilitation of migrants also figured at the meeting. While condemning the blatant use of

force by the government to snatch away fertile agricultural land of poor farmers, the members demaned that the government should immediately remove the fencing and allow the farmers to cultivate their land.

Regarding the Regional Plan, the Sarpanch promised to call for a meeting of the RP Committee soon and complete the regional plan and submit to the TCP immediately.

The Sarpanch explained the steps taken by the Panchayat to prevent vector borne diseases and agreed to coordinate with the Primary health centre to create awareness and prevention.

A member Orlando Dias proposed that no constructions should be allowed to come up along the bank of the tributary of River Sal which flows through the village. The proposal was

unanimously accepted by the gram sabha. The members also complained that a lot of housing societies and even bungalows are releasing sewage in the river.

Communidade activist dead HERALD CORRESPONDENT CORTALIM, JULY 4

Noted Communidade activist and former Chicalim Communidade attorney Ashok S h a n k w a l ka r ( 5 7 ) p a s s e d away after brief illness on Sunday.

Shankwalkar died of cancer at SMRC Chicalim. He fought many legal battles to evict encroachers on Chicalim Communidade land.

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S H O RT TA K E S Books donation function

Excise dept organises Curchorem NGO to collect garbage door-to-door Anti-Drug Day at Sanguem HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, JULY 4

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, JULY 4

Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar hands over the books to Principal Gerald Delanay.

Photo by Vishant Vaze

MAYEM(HC): Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar has called upon the students to concentrate on their studies to achieve success in future studies by inculcating the habit of reading IIT-based books.

He was addressing the gathering during a books donation function organized by Rotary Club Bicholim through Book Bank of Bicholim Rotary Charitable Trust at Shri Shantadurga Higher Secondary School, Bicholim, on Wednesday. The books were donated by Upesh Damodar Prabhu.

Rotary Club Bicholim President Prithviraj Sardesai, Secretary Damodar Prabhu, Vallabh Salkar, Sudatt Mandrekar, Vijay Sardesai, Sadashiv Walaulikar and Principal Gerald Delanay were present on the occasion.

The books donated comprised CET, IIT, AIEEE and other related references, which were handed over to the school by MLA Patnekar.

Vallabh Salkar compered the function, while Damodar Prabhu proposed the vote of thanks.

Piliem school students feted

COLLEM, (HC) -- The meritorious students of Gomantak Vidyalaya, Piliem-Dharbandoda, were recently felicitated during the annual general body meeting of the school.

Vedant Sesa official Nilesh Zore was the chief guest, while Atmaram Anant Gauns and Mrs Gauns were the guests of honour. Yeshwant Gauns, ex-headmaster of Gomantak Vidyalaya, was the special invitee. School Headmaster Ajit Kerkar presided over.

Chief guest Zore felicitated Tanesh Tulsidas Prabhu and Janak Bahadur Dharma for standing first and second in the school in the board exams.

Bahu Saheb Bandodkar Sikshan Saunstha Vice President Raghoba Prabhu provided uniforms to the students of Std V, while Saunstha member Shanu Datta Gauns paid tuition fees of all the students of Std V. Atmaram Gauns donated Rs 65,000 to the school, which was deposited in the bank, the interest accumulated thereon will be utilized by the school to honour the students.

Zore congratulated the students and teachers. He also congratulated the PTA members for their co-operation in organizing various programmes.

VMC meet organised

Valpoi Mayor Gulzar bi Khan and councilors attend the meeting at the Valpoi Community Health Centre. Photo by Ashraf Khan

VALPOI(HC): Community Health Centre (CHC) Valpoi on Tuesday conducted a meeting for all the councilors of Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) and guided them to maintain cleanliness in the town to avoid diseases like malaria and also maintain hygiene in the locality.

The meeting, which was convened at the CHC Valpoi, deliberated on cleanliness of gutters to avoid spread of disease like malaria, etc.

The VMC was provided Rs 1 lakh towards maintaining cleanliness in all the 10 wards of the council.

VMC Chairperson Gulzar bi Khan, Vice Chairperson Umesh Gulelkar and all the councilors, who were present for the meeting, were guided by CHC staff including Roopali Yadav, Govind Tanavde and Arti Dalvi.

Curchorem Vikas Sanghatana (CVS) has decided to collect door-to-door garbage in Curchorem Cacora Muncipal Council area, suspending the present work of cleaning roads and the Curchorem market.

The CVS, funded by Curchorem MLA Shyam Satardekar, was silently undertaking the work of cleaning the streets and the market under the guidance of social worker Nilesh Cabral for over a year.

The door-to-door garbage drive has now been entrusted to Garbage Disposal Management & Technology (GDMT) headed by its director Rosario Dantas.

This could well be a unique project in the State where an MLA has been shelling out about Rs 4 lakh per month from his own pocket.

Dantas informed that the CVS will suspend its present work of cleaning the streets and Curchorem market and will concentrate on collecting door-to-door garbage in the municipal area.

“In fact, cleaning the streets is the moral duty of mining companies as heavy mining traffic uses the roads in Curchorem.

Secondly, cleaning the market area is the duty of the municipality. We are suspending the work of cleaning the market area because we could not get

Red Ribbon Club at Sanquelim HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

The Red Ribbon Club (RRC) was inaugurated at Sesa Technical School, Sanquelim under the guidance of Dr Pradeep Padwal, Project Director of Goa State Aids Control Society.

V R Bhavsar, Principal of the Institute, Umakant Sawant, Deputy Director(IEC) Goa SACS, Panjim and Dr Saroj Salelkar, Clinical Officer, TSU, addressed the students and delivered a session on HIV/AIDS, prevention, care, support and basic services offered by Goa SACS. They also answered the questions put forth by the students.

Jeunesse D Fernandes, Consultant (Youth Affairs), Goa SACS spoke about the importance of RRC and how the students as RRC members can conduct activities to generate awareness among themselves and in their community thus motivating others to join hands in the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The RRC Advisory Committee was also formed with V R Bhavsar as Chairperson, Principal Co-Chairperson N J Lad, Convenor D M Nawathe, Jt Convenors D V Sancoalkar and Ankita Kanekar and active student volunteers Akash Sawant and Prabhav Nadkarni.

This is the 50th Red Ribbon Club in the State of Goa, says a press release.

CVS workers collect garbage from a house in Curchorem.

Photo by Suresh Naik

the support and cooperation from the CCMC,” Dantas said.

“Though we had started doorto-door garbage collection on a trial basis, we now have decided to carry on the drive in full swing in all wards of CCMC. Now, a new additional vehicle has been purchased to collect and dispose off the garbage,” he added.

Following a public request, MLA Shyam Satardekar has directed CVS to supply special bags to collect the garbage to the families who cannot afford to buy them. ”The garbage collected by workers will be directly deposited in wheelbarrows to avoid dust bins. This is because

PMC passes resolution demanding additional staff

The PMC meetingin progress.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, JULY 4

The Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) has passed a resolution demanding additional staff at the council.

All 13 councilors passed the resolution unanimously and the resolution will be now be forwarded to the Directorate of Municipal Administration for approval.

PMC Chairperson Pradip Naik informed that they have requested for 11 drivers, 6

Vishwakamal Travels celebrates silver jubilee

Nature trail at Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

PANJIM(HND): WWF-India, Goa State office will be organizing a nature trail at Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary on July 11. Interested participants should register their names to Nitin Sawant on or before July 9. Limited seats are available. For details, contact 0832-2465480, Mob: 9822483535.

Photo by Amresh Parab

lower division clerks and 30 workers.

“We need this additional staff as the workload has increased and there are some vacant posts of retired staff that needs to be filled,” said Naik.

Naik also informed that with pre-monsoon works completed on time, there has been no water-logging in the city.

“People have complained that some drains have been getting filled by rain water and they will be cleared soon,” he added.

Bicholim college offers D’CAT course HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

Narayan Zantye College of Commerce, Bicholim will start the sixth batch of its job oriented diploma course in computerised accounting and taxation (D’CAT) on July 15.

This course has been designed by the college of its own and is conducted on self financing basis. The course contains modules on manual accounting, computerised accounting packages (Tally 9.0, Busy and ExNext Generation), Goa VAT, Income Tax and other Taxation Laws.

Lectures will be delivered by Chartered Accountants and experts from respective field. The certificate of the course will be issued by the college.

The duration of the course is nine months (excluding 6-month training in industries and under chartered accountants). The course fee is Rs 6000.

B Com graduates who are interested in joining the course may collect the application form and prospectus from the college office. The last day of admission is July 10.

Govt schemes have benefitted people, says Dhawlikar HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

TAG’s workshop on tiatr

PANJIM(HND): Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG), in collaboration with Carmel College of Arts, Science & Commerce for Women, Nuvem organised a one-day workshop on Tiatr recently at the auditorium of Carmel’s College. In all 65 students participated in the workshop.

The first session on ‘History and Format of Tiatr’ was guided

by Tomazinho Cardozo, President of TAG. The students were made aware of the history of tiatr and the original format.

The second session on ‘Script and Lyrics Writing’ was conducted by Joe Rose, a popular tiatr artiste. Rose who himself is a scriptwriter and lyricist, besides giving theoretical knowledge about script and lyrics writing, also enriched his presentation with personal experiences of writing scripts and composing songs.

The post lunch session on ‘Direction and Acting in Tiatrs’ was conducted by Fr. Nevel Gracias, a writer and director of tiatr. Besides, theoretical aspects, Fr. Gracias stressed on practicals as far as acting is concerned.

The presentations were substantiated with entertainment programme presented by Ben Evangelisto and Janet which included solo singing, duets and acting.

Earlier, the workshop was inaugurated by the Principal of the College, Dr (Sr) M. Aradhana A.C by lighting the traditional lamp in the presence of Tomazinho Cardozo, Joe Rose and the Head of Konkani Department Queenie Viegas. During the valedictory function, the participants of the workshop were awarded with certificates of participation. Agnelo proposed the vote of thanks.

street dogs and stray cattle feed on this garbage and make the area dirty,” said Dantas.

Dantas has been in the field of garbage management and has worked in Saudi Arabia Jeddah for over 23 years.

His company GDMT had worked as contractors and consultants for Jeddah Municipality and had undertaken the work of maintaining cleanliness, garbage collection and sanitary landfills.

The late Gopinath Satardekar Memorial Trust formed by Curchorem MLA Satardekar in the name of his father is providing 100 percent finance to the CVS, with a monthly expenditure of about Rs 4 lakh.

T h e E xc i s e D e p a r t m e n t , Sanguem, celebrated International Day against Drug Abuse at Government Higher Secondary School, Sanguem, recently.

On the occasion, a session on ill-effects of drugs and the impact it can have on the society was held. Dr Revansiddh Naik was the key note speaker for the function along with Adv Abilasha Naik and Excise Inspector Piedade Fernandes.

In his address to the teachers and student community, Dr Revansiddh Naik apprised the audience of various drugs available all around the world with special mention of good and evil uses of drugs.

Dr Naik briefed the students of the ill-effects of drugs as that o f c o c a i n e , b ro w n s u g a r, hashish, etc, can have on human beings once being addicted to drugs.

“Once fallen in the trap, it is much difficult to come out of the trap,” claimed Dr Naik while making a frequent appeal to the student community never to fall prey to drugs or even make an attempt to taste drugs during their lifetime.

Not only drugs, Dr Naik also informed the students to stay away from taking alcoholic drinks as it destroys once health and peaceful existence

Home Minister Ravi Naik felicitates an artiste at the Vishwakamal Travels silver jubilee celebrations in Ponda. Photo by Amresh Parab HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, JULY 4

Hundreds of people attended the musical night organized by Vishwakamal Travels Ponda to celebrate its silver jubilee at Sungrace Garden in Ponda.

The audience was entertained for over five hours by famed comedy actor Sunil Pal, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa little champs, Bollywood actor Sonali Kulkarni and Miss Goa Sparsha Deshpande.

Proprietor of the Vishwakamal Travels Devendra Dhavilar also celebrated his 51st birthday.

Home Minister Ravi Naik and North Goa MP Shripad Naik were present at the function and congratulated Dhavlikar for the event.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the function, Sunil Pal said one must be shameless and confident to become a comedian.

“When on stage, one should not be ashamed of what people will think. Do your best and you will rule the stage,” Pal said.

Pal, who expressed his fondness for the Konkani language, said he hopes to perform shows in Konkani in the near future.

Social Welfare Minister Sudin Dhawlikar disbursed cheques of financial assistance amounting to Rs 5000 to the 110 beneficiaries such as flower and vegetable vendors at village Panchayat Bandora recently.

Speaking on the occasion Dhawlikar said, during the last year as many as 5000 persons has been benefitted under the scheme in the state which is being implemented through Directorate of Social Welfare.

Speaking further, Dhawlikar said, government has initiated several schemes and programmes for empowerment of people.

Real development of people lies in their self reliance which can be achieved through various schemes of the Government, he added.

Dhawlikar said, considering the present rate of inflation the need was felt to promote self employement. He urged the elected representatives and NGOS to assist people in availing the benefits of welfare schemes and also for the development of the respective areas.

He urged people to remain united to achieve greater progress in socio economic area which he said was necessary and called upon them to extend their cooperation and support for progress.

Damodar Naik, Sarpanch Village Panchayat, Poornima Naik, ZP member Bandora also spoke on the occasion.

Sushant Naik compered, while Savitri Naik, Deputy Sarpanch proposed the vote of thanks.

Status report on vector borne diseases HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

During the week from June 25 to July 2, 2010 a total of 41 blood samples were tested for Dengue out of which 5 are confirmed positive and these are isolated cases from PHC Candolim, UHC Mapusa, PHC Betki, PHC Valpoi, UHC Vasco, says a press release issued here.

Preventive and control measures for vector borne diseases such as cleanliness drive are being undertaken all over the state by the health authorities and other concerned departments, as the 1st week of July is being observed as cleanliness drive week.

Excise Inspector Sanguem Piedade Fernandes addresses the students on International Drug Abuse Day celebration at Government Higher Secondary School, Sanguem. Photo by Alfred Fernandes

of the society and student behaviour.

Excise Inspector Fernandes explained the motive behind the celebration of the Anti Drugs Day and why it is important to create awareness among the younger generation over the ill-effects of taking drugs.

“While initially a person feels good after taking drugs, its illeffects are felt once the person gets addicted to drugs. Once in, it is difficult to come out,” said Fernandes.

He appealed the students community to inform the nearest police station or to their teachers or the excise department of any person

dealing with drugs in their locality or in the school campus.

Adv Abilasha Naik explained various provisions relating to drug addicts and drug peddlers and punishment that lie in store for the drug addicts and drug peddlers.

Higher Secondary School Incharge teacher Vanita Prabhudessai thanked the Excise Department Sanguem for organizing the function in the school in the best interest of the student community.

Prabhudessai also thanked the guest speakers for attending the function and guiding the students on the harmful effects of taking drugs.

Fusion music album Devare released at Vasco

Goa Barge Owner Association President Atul Jadav releases Marathi and Konkani album Devare in the presence of music director Milind Kakodkar, businessman William D’Costa, Pramod Desai and retired teacher Ranjit Kakodkar.

Photo by M Prabhav HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JULY 4

Goa Barge Owner Association President Atul Jadhav recently released Konkani and Marathi songs with fusion music album Devare at Lapaz-Garden, Vasco.

An experiment with classical music mix with fusion, Devare is directed by writer Milind Harishchandra Kakodkar and is produced under the banner Damodar Kalamandal, a social and cultural association of Vasco.

The album has been recorded at the Vasco-based recording studio D&A Production, while budding singers Rajesh Madgaonkar, Sunil Kerkar, Dr Vijayan Almeida, Charuta Joshi and Namrata Paradkar rendered their voices to the eights songs with fusion music and classical music.

The music direction has been done by Kakodkar and he was assisted by Anna G S Rebelo, while music composer from A

R Rehman studio N M Balaji composed the music for the album.

Congratulating Kakodkar for releasing his maiden album, chief guest Jadav said it is the responsibility of the corporate houses to support local artistes to produce such top-class albums in regional languages.

Guest of honour and GBOA Vice President William D’Costa also appreciated the efforts of Kakodkar and Shri Damodar Kala Mandal Vasco for coming up with the album in regional music.

He also urged various cultural organizations and other intellectual people to put in their efforts to promote Konkani language.

Pramod Desai and retired teacher Ranjit Kakodkar also spoke on the function. Teacher Santosh Khorjuvekar compered the function, while Milind Kakodkar proposed the vote of thanks.

Workshop on wood craft, carvings HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

The Directorate of Art and Culture yearly organizes various workshops/ programmes/ activities towards promotion and preservation of the traditions of Goa and this year it is decided to organize “Wood Crafts and Carvings Workshop” for Goan youth. The detail training of designing and modeling of wood will be taught in this workshop.

The Directorate of Art and Culture has decided to organize three different workshops of ten days each for General category, S C category and S T category in Wood Craft and Carving during this financial year.

These workshops will be conducted by the experts in the field and will impart knowledge in theory as well as practical with live demonstrations. The details such as venue, time etc will be informed to the selected participants accordingly.

Ten participants will be enrolled in each category and those who has some basic knowledge of Wood Craft and Carvings will be eligible. The enrolment will be on

first come first basic. The interested participants willing to take part in these workshop are requested to collect the Application forms available in the department of Art and Culture, Sharma Shakati Bhavan, 5th floor, Patto, Panjim on or before July 10 during office hours and submit the same by July 15 duly filled, says a press release.

Construction of speed breakers at Ponda HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

The District Magistrate, North Goa District has ordered construction of two “Speed Breakers” on the main road proceeding from RTO junction towards Old Ponda bus stand, the first one about 05 to 10 mts away from the compound wall of the Maruti Temple on the road towards RTO junction side and the second about 10 mts away from the side road proceeding towards Warkhande Village in the jurisdiction of Ponda Municipal area in Ponda Taluka, says a press release.

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K’taka CM dashes letter to PM over misuse of mines HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JULY 4

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has advocated a Value Added Policy regarding the burning mining issue in Karnataka.

The chief minister, who is in a fix over mining issue due to the cases filed by the Lokayukta over alleged illegal mining in the state and after being cornered by the opposition parties in the ongoing State Legislative Session on Saturday, has dashed a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding the issue of overexploitation of mines.

Stating that Karnataka has also advocated the Value Added Policy in mining center which is implemented by Karnataka since December 2008, Yedyurappa has urged the Center to put in place a comprehensive policy to ban export of iron ore and to make it mandatory that iron ore and other such precious minerals are utilized for value addition within the country.

He has also urged the Prime Minister to call meeting of the chief ministers of mineral rich states ‘to discuss and take a decision to ban such unbridled exports’.

In order to convince the Center that everything is in place in Karnataka as far as the mining issue is concerned, Yeddyurappa has stated that Karn a t a ka h a s t a ke n s e v e r a l

nWe have taken a decision to put in place toll plazas in 10 places on the highways of the State with computerized weigh in motion facility so that there is proper accounting of ore mined and transported. These are expected to be operational during the current year and have introduced integrated check-posts in several locations of the State to ensure better coordination of various departments like Mining, forest, commercial taxes, transport and PWD. measures in connection with the mining sector to check illegal mining.

Apart from stopping the bulk permits in mining, the government has introduced bar coding and hologram-based trip sheets to improve tracking of consignments and to avoid permits being faked.

“We have taken a decision to put in place toll plazas in 10 places on the highways of the State with computerized weigh in motion facility so that there is proper accounting of ore mined and transported. These are expected to be operational during the current year and have introduced integrated checkposts in several locations of the State to ensure better coordination of various departments like Mining, forest, commercial taxes, transport and PWD,”

Yedyurappa has stated in his letter.

The ad valorem policy adopted by Karnataka has substantially added to the revenues of the Karnataka, according to Yeddyurappa.

Apart from adopting stringent measures to control illegal mining and ensure transparency and accountability in mining, a Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary has also been constituted to monitor implementation of various measures and to resolve issues arising in the mining sector, Yedyurappa has stated.

The rising pressure for exporting has not only called for malpractices but would lead to the loss of natural resources to our nation, according to Yeddyurappa.

KTB wants two villages in every district free of alcoholics HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JULY 4

The Karnataka Temperance Board(KTB) has decided to initiate measures to make at least two villages in every district free of alcoholics and extend incentives to such selected villages.

Addressing a press conference, Karnataka Temperance Board Chairman Sachidanand Hegde said his board will get about Rs 1 crore from the government this year to take up its programmes to make as many areas in the state as possible free of alcohol addicts.

The board would be holding a huge procession and awareness p ro g r a m m e on October 2 in all parts of the state with the help of various self-help groups, youth and women’s organisations to create awareness among people about the ill-effects of alcohol addiction.

“The government had given its permission to publish note about the bad effects of taking

drugs and alcohol. Soon, the board would be able to achieve its objective to make many villages in the state free of alcohol addicts,” said Hegde.

“However, the state will not be able to impose a ban on sale and production of alcohol in the state due to various technical reasons,” Hegde said adding “The Centre had to formulate a new law to ban the production of alcohol and then only it was possible for Karnataka to impose a total ban on alcohol in the state.”

He has also urged the government to include temperance as one of the lessons in the school and college curriculum to create awareness among the younger generation about the ill-effects of alcohol.

“The board received a tremendous response to some of its programmes organised in parts of Karwar districts recently. Similar measures will be taken to attract people from various other districts to the awareness programmes being organised by the board,” he said.

Family of Matheran Railway founder knock UNESCO doors

VTU, RGUHS enter into MoU for research on technology

PTI MUMBAI, JULY 4

Upset over Indian Government's apathy towards the demand of renaming 100-year- old Matheran toy train Railway after its founding father Abdul Hussain Adamjee Peerbhoy, his family has finally knocked the doors of UNESCO before whom a proposal is underway to grant heritage status to this marvellous railway network.

In a letter to UNESCO Director Francesco Bandarin, Ali Akbar Peerbhoy, the grandson of the Matheran Railway founder, said the Government had not recognised the Peerbhoy family's contribution to public service by instituting the railway network on the Matheran hill.

Ali Akbar told PTI that no compensation was given by the Government to Peerbhoy family for acquiring the railway.

Also no memorial had been set up at Matheran to honour the founder of the Railway. Besides, their demand of renaming the railway after Abdul Hussain Adamjee Peerbhoy had also not been considered.

Ali Akbar Peerbhoy said the Government had also not informed UNESCO about the efforts put in by the founder of the Railway in setting up the network at his own cost.

'Criminal cases against APL families availing BPL benefits'

PTI MUMBAI, JULY 4

Dr Ramananda Shetty (left) and Dr H P Khincha exchanges the MoU in the presence of Dr Vasantha Kumar and Dr KVA Balaji.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JULY 4

Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum, and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), Bangalore, the two leading universities in Karnataka in the field of Engineering and Technology as well as Health Sciences respectively, have entered into the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The objective of the MoU is to establish joint research in the broad areas of technology in health Sciences.

Dr Vasantha Kumar, Registrar of RGUHS, and Dr K V A. Balaji, Registrar, VTU, signed the memorandum at VTU Headquarters, Belgaum, on June 23.

Vice Chancellor of RGUHS Dr

Ramananda Shetty and VTU Vice Chancellor Dr H P Khincha exchanged the MoU in the presence of the senate members and other senior officials from either side.

The agreement is expected to open doors for mutual cooperation between the two universities, their stake holders and the society at large.

“As a part of this MOU, the co-operation between the two universities shall be established within any fields of mutual interest related to Engineering Sciences/Technology and Health Sciences areas, and in particular, Medical Electronics, Instrumentation, Materials Science and related fields of technology, as found useful and applicable to health needs,” said Dr Khincha.

PTI

ecutive Council Member of the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE).

He hails from Deetur village, Harihar taluka, Davangere district. He has over 25 years of teaching experience. He obtained his BE degree from UBDT College of Engineering, Davangere, ME from Bangalore University Bangalore and PhD in machine design from Bangalore University.

Before joining Cambridge Institute of Technology, he had Prof H Maheshappa being welcomed by the outgoing VC Prof H P Khincha HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JULY 4

Cambridge Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Principal Prof H Maheshappa has assumed charge as the new vice chancellor of the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum, from July 1.

Prof Maheshappa will succeed incumbent Prof H P Khincha. He is the member of Academic Senate, Visvesvaraya

Technological University (VTU), Belgaum.

He is also the member of National Executive Council of Indian Society for Technical Education (lSTE), New Delhi.

He is the Chairman, Board of Examiners, Mechanical Engineering and also Local Inspection Committee, VTU, Belgaum.

He is the Charted Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India) and National Ex-

Mixed first half of 2010 for Marathi cinema M’rashtra govt mulling use of MIS in schools PTI MUMBAI, JULY 4

The first half of 2010 has ended well for the Marathi film industry with 'Hapus' which released towards the end of June collecting over Rs one crore at the box office in the first week itself.

'Hapus' starring veteran actress Sulbha Deshpande, Subodh Bhave, Makrand Anaspure, Madhura Velankar and Shivaji Satam, better known as ACP Pradyuman of CID fame, was released at 172 screens across 25 districts in Maharashtra.

The film deals with the problems of 'Hapus' (world famous Alphonso mango) growers in Konkan region and how despite the famed fruit reaching several parts of the world, the mango grower has not ben-

efited out of it.

The year started off very well for the Marathi cinema with 'Natrang' produced by Zee Talkies which continues to be the most popular and successful movie released in the last six months.

The film, highlighting the story of a male tamasha artist, brought the Tamasha genre back to Marathi cinema after several years.

It was also released with English subtitles and attracted the non-Marathi speaking audiences as well. The music of the film has done very well.

The film garnered Rs 12 crore at the box office followed by 'Shikshanacha Aicha Gho' by Mahesh Manjrekar collecting Rs 3.5 crore, political drama 'Zenda' (Rs 2 crore) and 'Harischandrachi Factory' which was selected as India's

entry to Oscars (Rs 1.5 crore).

As many as 37 films were released in the last six months.

Mahesh Manjrekar's 'Lalbaug Parel', 'Zhing Chick Zhing', 'Mumbai Pune Mumbai' fared averagely.

Marathi industry had its share of disappointments too with many movies failing commercially despite huge expectations.

Films like AB Corp's 'Vihir' failed at the box office despite achieving critical acclaim at International Film Festivals.

Other flops were 'Ringa Ringa', 'Kalshekar Aahet Ka?', 'Kshanbhar Vishranti', 'Anandi Anand', 'Erada Pakka', 'Target'.

According to industry sources, Marathi film budgets have shot up to over Rs one crore.

Salman grows old; gears up to play widowed father AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JULY 4

Bollywood’s most eligible bachelor Salman Khan is finally set to move out of his comfort zone, for the actor is all set to play a middle-class, middle-aged widower and father of two in Mahesh Manjrekar’s upcoming directorial venture.

Salman, who is famous for his macho-guy image, is all set to shock his fans with his family man avatar in ‘Ready’, Manjrekar’s Hindi adaptation of super-hit Marathi flick ‘Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho.’ News has it that Salman will be piling on kilos as per the requirement of the role. On the other hand, Manjrekar will reportedly be playing Salman’s father in the much-awaited flick.

Manjrekar`s film is about an adolescent, who loves to play cricket rather than studying,

something which Salman immediately liked.

Talking to a news daily, a source said, "Like the boy in Manjrekar`s film, Salman shared a volatile relationship with his father Salim Khan. He has also spoken of the way he was beaten as a child, and his hatred of formal education."

Confirming the news, Manjrekar said, "Yes, Salman saw the Marathi film and loved it. He has never attempted something this middle-class before. This film will open a whole new fan following for Salman. He has played the cool dude to perfection. Now, it`s time to play a not-so-cool dad."

Well, it seems Salman is in the experimental mood, for the actor plays an arrogant cop in ‘Dabangg’ and will be seen in an all new avatar in Mahesh Manjrekar’s ‘Ready’.

Horatti creates record in MLC polls HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JULY 4

Senior politician Basavaraj Horatti (JDS) won the MLC election for the record sixth time in succession bagging 7,699 votes to win as MLC from the West Teachers constituency on Saturday.

Horatti defeated his nearest rival R M Kuberappa of BJP who secured 3,800 votes, while Independent S V Sankanur polled 3,215 votes to emerge third in the race.

According to returning officer Dr Ekroop Caur, a total of 13,998 voters exercised their franchise and 637 votes were rejected for various reasons.

Horatti maintained lead throughout the five-round counting of ballots in Belgaum and won by a margin of 3,899 votes against Kuberappa.

“Both the universities will work towards establishing research centers in appropriate areas within the framework of this MoU,” added Dr Khincha.

The universities will start joint student research projects at post graduate level and faculty research, which will lead to exchange of research information between the two universities, identification of potential research areas, organizing conferences in common areas of interest, joint institution of awards for a student as well as faculty, web connectivity, etc.

“The MOU will create a new chapter in collaboration between State Universities and also promote interdisciplinary courses and research,” said Dr Balaji.

In a bid to promote e-Governance policy of Maharashtra Government, all the departments have been asked to spend half per cent of their budgetary provision on computerisation and providing online services to citizens.

"We have issued a resolution making it mandatory to all the departments in Mantralaya to spend their budgetary provision upto half per cent for computerisation of the department as part of e-Governance policy of the Government," Principal Secretary of Information Technology Department, Ajay Bhushan Pandey told PTI. The idea is that the Government wants the citizens should receive the services faster and cheaper with the help of the eGovernance, Pandey said, who has also suggested such efforts to Chief Minister Ashok Chavan in a vision document.

Learning from the past experience, the resolution has said that the departments should buy software along with hardware otherwise the machines lay unused.

The IT department has also proposed a 'Maharashtra Mandatory Electronic Delivery of Public Service Act 2010' to encourage e-services.

Maheshappa assumes charge as vice chancellor of VTU

NAGPUR, JULY 4

Maharashtra government has threatened to initiate criminal proceedings against persons and families who are 'above poverty line' (APL) but availing benefits of 'below poverty line' (BPL) in the public distribution system (PDS) of foodgrains.

"Though we have not done any survey or have statistics but have received several complaints that many APL families are taking benefits of BPL of food distribution through PDS and if they voluntarily don't withdraw their names by July 31, authorities will not hesitate to take criminal proceedings against them+, Maharashtra Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Anil Deshmukh, told reporters, yesterday.

Deshmukh said that the state was going for hi-tech foodgrain distribution and the entire system was being computerised and biometric system was adopted. It would be launched on a pilot project basis from Satara district and later entire state would be covered.

M’rashtra asks depts to reserve half of budget for e-Governance

PTI MUMBAI, JULY 4

Maharashtra Government is considering introduction of Information Management System (MIS) in all schools to ensure streamlining of processes like online school/class submission of forms and approvals.

The MIS would include all teachers using biometric system that will also analyse new requirements for teachers including training, periodical performance assessment, a senior Mantralaya official said.

For students, the biometric system will analyse new budgetary requirements, including mid-day meal, uniform, stationary, learning material, special training and pupil performance.

The process, initiated by minister of state for school education Fauzia Khan, makes online assessment and gradation of all schools and an online fee approval system mandatory.

The MIS would include an online grants and salary disbursement system and an online Centralised admission system for 11th class in all municipal corporation areas. For B Ed and D Ed examinations, the admissions would be online.

The government is also considering mapping (GIS) and Integrated Perspective plan of schools. This includes defining the concept of neighbourhood schools, geographical remoteness and distance norms and population norms like linguistic and ward/circle wise details.

A survey of the out of school children would be carried out and records of children up to 14 years within the school jurisdiction would be maintained

using UID, the official said.

A training framework for teachers is also being planned.

It includes special training, psychological counselling and certification course, the official said.

There will also be a foundation and in-service continuous periodical training including certification and the same would be considered for promotion and increments.

Considering the administrative responsibilities that come along with the job, it will be necessary to impart administrative training for head masters, the official said.

served in R V College of Engineering, Reva Institute of Techn o l o g y, P E S I n s t i t u t e o f Technology and Don Bosco Institute of Technology.

He was the founder special officer of the VTU when it was founded in 1998. He is the fellow of World Academy of Productivity Science, Canada.

He is having over 25 years of experience in teaching, training, industry, consultancy and research.

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Political parties vying for minority votes in Bihar PTI PATNA, JULY 4

Political parties are trying to outdo each other to woo minority votes in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls due later this year.

With differences within the NDA not yet settled, senior JD(U) leader and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken up on himself to woo the Muslim votes.

Last week at the Pasmanda Muslim Adhikar Sammelan Kumar spoke of the affirmative steps, including educational infrastucture for students, taken by the NDA government for Muslims in Bihar.

Kumar said that his government had restored the powers of the state Madarsa Board to grant recognition to over 2000 madarsas in the state to make them eligible for grants and other benefits.

Targetting the votes of Pasmanda Muslims, comprising nearly 50 per cent of the population of the minority commu-

nity in the state, chief minister said the UPA government was creating impediment to the state government's plans for the welfare of Muslims.

The non-implementation of the RS Sachchar and Rangnath Mishra committees' reports were a reflection of the Centre's designs to deny Muslims their due rights, he alleged.

Kumar spent nearly three hours at the function where uslim leaders praised him for returning Rs 5 crore to ujarat for relief work in the Kosi region following the advertisement controversy.

The chief minister's bid to cosy up with the minority community did not go down well with his political adversaries, the RJD and the Congress, who questioned his secular credentials for his and his party's long association with the BJP at the national level and in Bihar.

RJD leaders Ram Kripal Yadav and Shakeel Ahmed Khan lashed out at Kumar claiming that his secular image was a facade.

The RJD leaders also held Kumar responsible for the sale of the Regional Handloom Cooperative union's building at Biharsharif at an auction recently in lieu of the accumulated dues of Rs 3.70 lakh rendering 50 lakh weavers of 11 districts jobless.

If the State government was at all serious to cater to the needs of the weavers, it could have paid the due from its own coffers and adjusted it against their arrears, the RJD leaders said.

The Congress too did not remain far behind in taking on the chief minister and raked up the advertisement showing him with his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi to buttress its point.

Not to be left far behind, the BJP too would like to endear itself to the minority community by holding a political pro gramme exclusively for the Muslims, the state unit party President CP Thakur had announced last week.

Two dengue cases in Delhi PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 4

Even before the rainy season sets in, two cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital, but civic officials insist that the infection has been contracted from outside the city.

“Two patients admitted to Apollo Hospital and AIIMS have been tested positive for dengue," Municipal Health Officer, MCD, N K Yadav told PTI. These are the first confirmed case in the city this season. However, Yadav maintained that these are not "indigenous" cases.

"Both reside in Delhi. But one of them had gone to his native place in southern India while the other also went out on a vacation. They were hospitalised after coming back. The infection has been contracted from outside," he said.

Asked about reports that BJP's Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife has been admitted to Apollo Hospital with suspected dengue, Yadav said he has no information in this regard.

A sunset view from the Rajath as the Rashtrapati Bhavan is covered with the clouds, in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

Rape accused to approach HC for bail PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 4

A Kashmiri youth, accused of raping a foreign woman, will approach the Delhi High Court for bail claiming that the duo had shared a “consensual relationship” The accused Yasir Altaf's bail plea was rejected by a lower court yesterday on the grounds that the investigation was in an early stage.

However, Suffian Siddiqui, the counsel for the accused contended that there was no investigation conducted by the Delhi Police and his client was sent to judicial custody.

The counsel has prepared a bail petition to be given to the High Court, in which a statement of the victim's friend (also a foreign national) will be submitted, wherein she has stated that the relation between Altaf and the complainant was “consensual”.

“It is a case of false implication with virtually no evidence and the entire chain of circumstances cogently and firmly missing from the complaint, thus rendering the complainant's theory as false, concocted, implausible and contradictor y,” Siddiqui said.

He said the “malicious complaint has not only put an indelible blemish on the petitioner, but has also maligned the image of our nation at the internationallevel”.

Lawyer undergoes gender change to avoid marrying PTI BHUBANESWAR, JULY 4

In a curious turn of events a woman lawyer underwent a sex reassignment surgery (SRS) llegedly to save herself from forced marriage by her family.

“I did not want a family life which is being forced on girls in our society,” the woman in her mid-30s who refused to disclose her identity said from her hospital bed yesterday.

“This society is mostly male dominated, where girls have no voice of their own ... I feel free now. No one can force me to marry. It is better to become a man to get rid of sufferings met by women.”

The woman, hailing from Puri, has not informed her family before undergoing the SRS. The doctors, who first provided her counselling, had to oblige her as she threatened suicide and even submitted an affidavit stating her willingness to undergo the sex change operation.

Persons close to her, however, said she was close to a girl

and wanted to spend the rest of her life together.

As the parents of the girl were preparing to get her married, the lawyer underwent the SRS. The woman was operated upon by a team of surgeons at a private hospital here on June 29. During the seven hour-long operation, the doctors removed her female organs, including the uterus, ovary and breasts and planted necessary male organs.

The woman is responding positively to the operation and will be discharged from the hospital soon, her doctors said.

She will be injected hormones to develop masculine attributes like a male voice, beard and moustache, they said.

Plastic and cosmetic surgeon Akshya Kumar Rout, who is among those treating her at the hospital, said she would be able to lead the life of a normal man but would not be able to father a child.

Hunt to find lioness who left cubs on PTI VADODARA, JULY 4

Forest Department has intensified its search to locate a lioness which has abandoned her two t h re e - m o n t h - o l d c u b s i n Khambhla round in Visavadar forest range, Assistant Conservator of Forest L M Kandoria said today.

Talking to PTI over phone, Kandoria said, "both these cubs were located in the forest during patrolling by the the Forest Department staff and were found in the same locality for the past three days."

On learning about this, R Katara division Forest Range Officer (DFO) rushed to the spot and made arrangements for milk and mutton for the cubs. Under the care of a veterinary doctor, food is being provided to the cubs.

Katara told PTI over phone that the cubs are under constant care of the veterinary doctor as there are weak. Sasangir, the nearby forest, is the only abode of Asiatic lions, he added.

Hunt has been intensified in the forest to locate the cubs' mother, Katara said adding that the both cubs have been left in the open area of the forest.

Now they are thinking to set up a cage for keeping both the cubs in it.

AIIMS docs find cure for Rasmussen’s Syndrome PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 4-

Imagine living only with half a brain?

According to noted neurosurgeons, this is not as tragic as it might seem at first for patients suffering from epilepsy.

Such persons can be totally relieved of the symptoms of a particular type of severe uncontrolled epilepsy by severing the connections between the two halves of the brain. The other half then picks up the missing functions, helping the body lead a normal life.

Kirti (name changed), a 11year-old studying in 5th grade is a bright and chirpy girl who participates in all of her school activities and ranks among the top ten in her class.

However, she walks with a slight limp and has a mild weakness on the left side of her body but on seeing her no one can imagine she has only half of her brain functioning.

The right cerebral hemisphere of her brain was disconnected from rest of the vital organ in a complex surgery called "hemispherotomy" four years ago at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

When she was two years old, Kirti started having severe epilepsy fits and despite medication, her seizures worsened till she was totally debilitated.

“At the time of admission, she was having as many as 100 attacks of seizures a day” said Dr Manjari Tripathi, senior neurologist, AIIMS. “After investigations we found that she was suffering from an uncommon condition called 'Rasmussen's syndrome', where half the brain becomes diseased, leading to multiple epileptic attacks which may number up to few hundred a day.

“In this condition, the neurons of the brain- due to severe inflammation- lose their protec-

tive insulation and continuously short circuit, causing epileptic seizures. While there are some medical modalities of treatment available, the only thing which finally works is surgery,” Dr Tripathi said.

Fortunately for Kirti, this treatment was available at AIIMS. Dr P S Chandra, senior neurosurgeon who performed the surgery said, “Kirti was a difficult case as her epilepsy wasbadly neglected.

“Following a eight-hour surgery her entire right brain was disconnected from the left side.

Even though the diseased brain was retained within the skull, it was not electricallyconnected to the rest of the brain. The diseased portion gradually shrinks,” he explained.

“It is like a defective electrical circuit. Instead of removing it, we simply cut the electrical connections so that the normal circuitry does not fuse anymore"

said the doctor.

“This type of surgical treatment is very unusual and I have performed it on just over 45 patients over the past 10 years,” Dr Chandra, who initiated the use of this technique at AIIMS, said.

This kind of surgery is offered as a cure for a particular type of severe epilepsy, which cannot be controlled with drugs.

“When a portion of the brain gets diseased, the functions of that area of brain get transferred to the other areas of the brain, a function called plasticity. Thus, even when a large diseased portion of the brain is removed, the person continues to carry on all of their activities because the disease has now been eliminated,” he said.

Recently, a 9-month-old baby girl who was nearly 50 seizures a day, underwent a similar procedure and is now free from epilepsy.

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New CRZ pre-draft notification is useless

Vol No CX No: 171 Goa, Monday 5 July, 2010

The new pre-draft notification of the CRZ Rules opens the coast for mega-projects, says MATANHY SALDANHA

Fuel price rise proving costly

I

t seems that the slowly building discontent over the sharply rising prices of essential commodities over the past three years has suddenly come to boiling point with the recent rise in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas.

Remember that the prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) were raised considerably just a few weeks ago, leading to an increase in taxi and rickshaw fares in big cities. Besides, the last increase in fuel prices was just a few months ago, at the time of the budget.

This particular increase, however, seems to have brought together all opposition parties. Both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and the Left parties have announced a ‘Bharat Bandh’ today in protest against the fuel price hike.

But the central government has categorically ruled out any rollback in the fuel price hike and denounced the bandh as ‘unjustified’.

Since the parties that have called the bandh themselves rule no less that 12 states in India and have a strong presence in many others, the bandh is likely to be quite successful anyway. But if they manage to enforce it in Congress-ruled states as well, it will mean that the fuel price hike is far more unpopular than Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s UPA government believes it is.

This unprecedented unity across opposition parties may cause a different kind of problem for the government during the coming monsoon session of Parliament. Lest we forget, the present UPA government is effectively a minority government in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and has to do a lot of micro-management of voting in the House to ensure that it does not get voted down on important legislation or money bills. In the coming session, it will lead to unreasonable demands by small parties for tactical support on the floor of the House.

The government may be right that comparatively, it is a ‘small’ price hike. However, it must look at its decision against the cumulative background of rising food prices. Remember the parable of the heavily overloaded camel? Adding even a single straw is enough to break its back!

It is a fact that subsidies cause distortions, and that overall, we are all better-off without subsidies. But removing subsidies does not necessitate raising prices. Both the central and state governments impose heavy taxes on petrol and diesel.

Simultaneously reducing these while removing subsidies could have achieved the objective without an increase in prices.

That is why Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat should be a little circumspect about reducing state Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products to give relief to the public. He must reduce state taxes on fuel, but not unilaterally. The centre charges a whopping Rs14.78 as customs duty and excise duty per litre of petrol. The CM must get together with chief ministers of other states and pressurise the centre to shoulder its share of the burden, and give the ‘aam admi’ some much needed relief.

Weak hearted?

W

hat is it about police lock-ups and jails that afflicts the wealthy and powerful? As soon as they go anywhere near one, they always develop chest pain or unstable high blood pressure, and have to be hospitalised!

It doesn’t matter where or when. Wealthy and powerful people, it seems are highly allergic to police lock-ups and jails, and immediately get all kinds of critical health problems as soon as they go near one.

Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane should instruct the Goa Medical College Hospital to investigate into this curious medical phenomenon.

Petrol price hike Marcos Alemao, by email It is too much for the common man to survive when the Congress Government increases petroleum prices every now and then. It is not even three months since the last increase. If oil companies are losing crores of rupees, the government should cut down on money spent towards foreign jaunts and of politicians air-dashing to New Delhi every now and then.

If the Congress government is not in position to take care of its people, it should resign, call for fresh elections and make a way for any other party that will protect the interest of the common man.

Aam admi suffers Peter Andrade, Vasco Our parliament and state assemblies are full of businessmen who, in spite of having vast wealth, get most essentials free or subsidised. The fuel price hike will affect only the common man, who has given his trust to these legislators.

The Communists will howl, the BJP will

T

he pre-draft notification of the Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, 2010, published by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), is nothing but a sleight of hand to deceive the people from its pre-decided agenda of opening coastal lands for big investments. It therefore needs to be rejected outright in its present form.

The various consultations held – Environment Minister Ramesh Jairam himself attended some of them – have proven to be nothing but a smokescreen as the recommendations made at these consultations are not at all reflected in the predraft notification.

At nearly every consultation, the demand was that the new notification, while strengthening coastal regulations for long term protection of coastal ecosystems, should also recognise and protect the rights of coastal inhabitants, not only for habitat but also for livelihood.

The pre-draft notification totally neglects this aspect of recognising the rights of coastal inhabitants. It continues in the time warp of offering them only concessions. It seems that the consultations were merely held to provide a forum for aggrieved persons to ventilate their grievances, as no cognisance has been taken of the issues raised.

The pre-draft notification is a bundle of contradictions. It acknowledges that 25 per cent of the country’s population lives along the coastline.

Yet, it permits hazardous and life-threatening nuclear power plants to be set up along the coastline.

It admits that there have been many violations of the earlier coastal regulations, yet provides for regularising them. It speaks about preserving the coastal ecology and environment, yet permits housing colonies, industries and even SEZs in the coastal zone.

The blanket permissions given for certain activities along the coastline are bound to affect not only the people living there, but also its very topography. Power generating units are permitted along the coastline, which includes thermal power plants. The impact of drawing huge amounts of water from the sea and then releasing the warm water back into the sea has not been considered at all. This is bound to affect marine life, which is already being depleted not only in our country but worldwide. Even coal-based plants are permitted along the coastline. The pollution caused by this raw material need not be elaborated upon.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE What is shocking is that apart from these questionable industries, the pre-draft notification also permits ancillary units to support their activities.

This means that housing colonies – ostensibly to provide ‘quarters’ to employees – will be permitted, opening the coastline for housing projects.

Besides, the State Coastal Zone Management Authorities have been empowered to sanction housing projects involving up to 20,000 square metres of land in the coastal zone. This is a travesty, as the pre-draft notification admits that the State CZMAs have not been able to implement the earlier Coastal Regulation Zone Notification!

That the pre-draft notification is aimed at opening up coastal areas for real estate and construction activity is further evident in the exemptions given to the tourism industry. Most violations of the existing CRZ are related to the tourism industry. Yet the ministry, without taking cognisance of their earlier misdeeds, now wants to give them more opportunities to exploit the coastal areas at the cost of the local people.

Ports have also been given a go ahead with just one proviso; that they do not come up in areas threatened by erosion. But the cumulative effect of ports is not taken into account. The effect of constructing wharfs, jetties, etc, in water that is forced to change its course, and the results of this on the coastline are not at all considered.

More significantly, that marine vessels cause pollution at ports seems not to have even crossed

Wise Counsel

Don’t flaunt your ego

D

oes having a bloated ego ever help us in life? Basically, anyone who does not dedicate most of their waking hours to help others has a big ego. We are mostly self-motivated, with ambitions primarily about satisfying our own needs and worries mostly centred on ourselves. Even our desire to help others can be motivated by the desire to feel good about ourselves.

Generally, when we say someone has ‘a big ego’, we really mean their ego is out of control and gets in the way. They talk down to people, treat others as inferior, and their sense of self makes them unpleasant to deal with. There are others who have bigger egos than those with inflated egos, but manage them better.

Someone with ‘a big ego’ is likely someone who, for whatever reason, is not self-aware enough to realise their lack of respect for others. Or worse, realises it but either does not care or takes pleasure in making other people feel bad or inferior. When I meet people like this, I feel sad. To me, they are lost. Somewhere deep down inside, they probably know it. They are taking it out on everyone else, as they neither have the courage nor the tools to focus that energy on improving themselves.

protest in chaste Hindi, the Congress will explain the concept of globalisation, Trinamool’s Mamata will shout as if she is not party to the decision, and all the legislators will quietly increase their own perks and privileges. One can only say: “Aam admi-cho kaddlo ghaam; kiteak amche aamdar/khasdar apleachench kortat kaam?”.

Unjust hike Willie Severes, Majorda The government’s decision to increase the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG will definitely increase the common man’s problems. Life will get tougher. It will further raise prices of essential commodities.

The government should keep in mind that it had already raised petrol and diesel prices at the time of the Budget. This decision has added to the misery of ordinary people at a time when they are struggling to make both ends meet. The government must reconsider the price hike.

Ratol & toothpaste Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco Of late, there have been three cases in Mor-

SMILE WITH SMITHA Smitha Bhandare Kamat

the minds of the ministry officials who prepared the pre-draft.

The leeway granted to ports would embolden the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) in Goa to aggressively press for its expansion plans, which would spell the death knell for not only the local fishing community that is sought to be displaced and dispossessed of their houses and business premises, but also to the tourism industry that keeps this state afloat.

MPT proposes to develop two bays – the Vasco Bay, where the local fishing community resides and also has a jetty to carry on fishing activities, and the Baina Bay – Vasco city’s only beach – where people go to relax and enjoy the sea.

The impact of developing jetties in these bays by reclaiming large tracts of land from the sea has not been studied. The displaced water will have to be find some other place to go, and this would adversely affect the hydrology of the area, and change the coastline to the north and south of the port. The two main rivers of Goa – the Mandovi and the Zuari – would also be impacted.

Goa has been included under the special dispensation, but the sops offered are insignificant.

The pre-draft notification stresses the need to preserve khazan lands, but does not prohibit conversion of khazan lands to other purposes – even industries like pisci-culture or horticulture.

Though it states that local fishermen’s houses will be protected, it ignores other traditional

communities living on the coastline like the toddy tappers. Significantly, it also fails to specify how the houses will be protected.

The most obnoxious aspect of the pre-draft notification is the attempt to re-introduce clauses from the earlier notorious Coastal Management Zone notification, which were so vehemently opposed that the government had to allow the notification to lapse.

The most obvious example of this is the introduction of the so-called ‘hazard line’. A reading of the pre-draft notification’s fine print shows that its aim is to dilute the ‘no development zone’ demarcated under the CRZ notification. In Goa, the ‘hazard line’ assumes great significance given the fact that large tracts of land on cliffs and highlands abutting the sea have been purchased by vested interests with an eye on developing them for commercial purposes. The ‘hazard line’ would give them the opportunity to reap large profits on these investments.

Given the tenor of the pre-draft notification, the new classification of CRZ-IV relating to the waters within India’s territorial jurisdiction is also suspect, as there is no mention absolutely of what activities are permitted in these territorial waters and what is not. As it is, fishermen all over the country are being harassed under the garb of security for oil installations whenever they fish in Indian territorial waters. Whether this new classification will intensify this harassment is what worries fishermen.

Besides, given the fact that the pre-draft notification so amply provides for opening the coastal areas to investment, whether the ministry really wants to protect the territorial waters or actually wants to throw them open for global investments is another worry. Currently territorial waters is a state subject. Through this notification, the centre wants to usurp the state’s powers to carry out its own agenda.

The pre-draft notification of the Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, 2010, has to be rejected in its present avatar. The draft notification that is to follow should incorporate all suggestions made by the stakeholders and seriously consider their objections. The Ministry would do well to come up with a new legislation to protect the country’s coastline, rather than relying only on notifications.

(The author is a former Minister for Tourism, Government of Goa)

Being humble is healthy and creates opportunities you never find, if you insist on only doing things you are confident in. If happiness and fulfilment is the true goal, a big ego does not seem to be the way to get it.

When anyone is running around with a big ego, we can be assured that the person is operating out of fear. Whenever I think I have found the person who is the exception to this truth, I invariably find out later that in actuality, they are fearful.

Having an exaggerated ego is the same as thinking you are unworthy. Both the ‘too much’ and ‘not enough’ perspectives are generated from fear, and that we are separate from God. I was once speaking to my psychologist friend about egos and she said: “A big ego is a lack of trust in your own soul.” Wow! In other words, having an exaggerated self identity is like a cover-up.

It is really about not trusting in the Divine. For someone with an ego, this fear might come from lack of trust in love.

Having a big ego is alright, as long as you do not flaunt it every single chance that you get. You have got to keep it in check. If you find that every sentence coming out of your mouth is about how good you are at something, or about how much you know or even

No Kabrastan at Sonsodo

Sayed Iftiyaz, Margao

The Margao municipal councillors have given the green signal for giving land adjacent to the Sonsodo garbage dump for the Kabrastan as well as for the other two communities.

Goans have undoubtedly understood the double standards in the government’s new plan.

Margao councillor Kamalini Paiguinkar, in a Council meeting held about 10 months ago, strongly objected to this land being acquired for the Kabrastan. She jokingly said: “Give them the Municipal Garden.” But, now the same Kamalini strongly supported this land for the Kabrastan.

In the same meeting, most of the councillors objected and asked the Chairperson to refer the matter back to the Collector. Now, most of the councillors want the Kabrastan on the same land they objected to earlier!

Let Sonsodo be a cemetery for corrupt and fascist politicians of all communities. As for the Muslim Kabrastan, give us the land behind the Pandava Chapel, on which a resolution has been passed in the Legislative Assembly in 1999. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has to hand over the land to Muslims at the earliest; they are in urgent need of it.

Beleaguered Bharat Irineu Gonsalves, Verna In the letter ‘Mera Bharat Mahaan’ (Herald, 30 June), Maya Dessai disapproves of Adv Radharao Gracias’s article ‘Chauvinism versus Patriotism’ (Herald, 25 June). Not just patriots, even chauvinists will endorse Radharao’s views.

India became an independent country after 200 years of British colonial rule. But power-seeking, selfish politicians soon replaced the dedicated and committed leaders of Nehru’s era. Politics became completely divorced from ethics; men of character and integrity are not found in politics anymore.

After 62 years of Independence, money is the sole moving force. You can obtain a car license without knowing how to drive; they will authorise you to kill yourself and

about how wrong you are all the time, that is way too much.

You have got to tone it down a little bit, become a good listener and genuinely listen to what others have to say. Give them a chance.

If you are a great person, people will find that out by themselves; you will never have to toot your own horn.

I honestly think that it is not how great you are that counts, but what you do with your ego. However, without our ego, we would not do any of these things, because there simply would be absolutely no driving force to motivate us to move one finger. There is no doubt that the ego is mandatory for us to exist in every moment, but then, too much of ego is absolutely awful.

Yes, the ego was designed to receive, but receive correctly. We need to understand what this means, to use our ego towards the correct goal for which it was created. However, there’s no doubt that we do need an ego to give ourselves the self confidence to face our daily lives.

Finally, having self-confidence is essential. But having a bloated ego is damaging to one’s spiritual well-being and to one’s relationships with others. If you have one, please, it’s time to deflate that bloated ego.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

mugao alone where women consumed Ratol, apparently ‘by mistake’. Then there is, of course, the high-profile alleged suicide by Nadia Torrado, who apparently thought it was toothpaste. A young boy also died after consuming Ratol.

The question is, does Ratol taste like toothpaste; or is its packing such that it can be mistaken for toothpaste? It seems necessary to monitor its sale closely, to avoid such unfortunate incidents.

By Arlette Azavedo

others in road accidents for a few hundred bucks. Backward classes will increase like the expanding universe, because every voter has to appeased. We have more religions than any other country, but we only practice hatred.

A lawsuit can consume most of your years and still leave you with injustice. We refuse to see beyond cricket; all other sports suffer.

We blamed the British for their divide and rule policies. Now who do we blame?

Maoist menace S N D Poojary, Miramar Politicians debate endlessly on how to deal with the Maoists, even as the latter are brutally butchering our men in uniform. If those in power cannot control the situation, they should put in their papers.

There is too much double-speak, purely in terms of electoral gains and losses, without caring for the loss of lives of our brave soldiers, who are ordered to go to Naxalcontrolled areas and get killed like sitting ducks. Why can’t aircraft, armoured vehicles and other military hardware be used against these perpetrators of barbarism? Why can’t the laws of the land be applied to those who openly support Maoists? Why does civil society keep quiet at the monumental irresponsibility of our politicians?

Churchill’s charade A S Prabhu, Moira There is a saying: ‘A cat after killing 100 rats, goes on a pilgrimage.’ So is the case with PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who rattles so much nowadays that he has invited ridicule from all quarters.

Everyone knows that he changes parties and political outfits just as we change clothes. Now he proclaims himself a staunch Congressman, just like his mentor Digambar Kamat, who too has sailed in the same boat.

Churchill boasts of his contribution to Goa and Goans, but in nearly every initiative he has miserably failed. He was made ‘stop gap’ chief minister for only for 15 days in 1990, to avert a political crisis, and vacated the chair to accommodate Dr Luis Proto Barbosa. But he repeatedly boasts that he was the ‘first Christian Chief Minister of Goa’. Does he expect his statue to be erected in a prominent place in Salcette?

Churchill-bab, enough is enough. You can fool some people for some time, others for some more time, but not all the people all the time.

Freedom from FFs Luis G Fernandes, Calangute Freedom fighter Naguesh Karmali on 18 June advised Goans who had a soft corner for Portugal to leave Goa and go to that country. We do not require advice from Mr Karmali. Goans have migrated over the ages for various reasons. But nowadays they are forced to do so, because our corrupt politicians demand lakhs of rupees to give them jobs.

I would like to ask freedom fighters like Mr Karmali what their recent contribution to Goan society has been, other than speeches on 18 June and causing destruction in Panjim by breaking name plates. What have they done about the stinking garbage lying about, the unbridled corruption in public life and the complete disregard for the people by our politicians?

Letters should be 150 words or less in length, and should have the writer’s name, address and telephone number.

The editor reserves the right to edit letters for size and readability, and to delete any personal attacks or libellous /objectionable matter.

Paths of Wisdom

W P Ju h o s s c o tu r s p

Concentration After winning several archery contests, the young and rather boastful champion challenged a Zen master who was renowned for his skill as an archer. The young man demonstrated remarkable technical proficiency when he hit a distant bull’s eye on his first try, and then split that arrow with his second shot.

“There,” he said to the old man, “see if you can match that!” Undisturbed, the master did not draw his bow, but rather motioned for the young archer to follow him up the mountain.

Curious about the old fellow’s intentions, the champion followed him high into the mountain until they reached a deep chasm spanned by a rather flimsy and shaky log. Calmly stepping out onto the middle of the unsteady and certainly perilous bridge, the old master picked a far away tree as a target, drew his bow, and fired a clean, direct hit.

“Now it is your turn,” he said as he gracefully stepped back onto the safe ground. Staring with terror into the seemingly bottomless and beckoning abyss, the young man could not force himself to step out onto the log, no less shoot at a target.

“You have much skill with your bow,” the master said, sensing his challenger’s predicament, “but you have little skill with the mind that lets loose the shot.”

(Source : Spiritual Inquiry. com)

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opinionated The unprinted book: Can we read it?

By Milton Rodrigues

G

oa is known for its scenic beauty. But the beauty of the beautiful doesn’t last for ages. In the case of Goa, it is slowly shedding its natural beauty. The evergreen carpet has been replaced by the bloodshed of the mountains. Goa is not what we see in the cities, where our politicians jump from one party to another. The real Goa is hidden in villages and evergreen mountains, where the monkeys jump from one tree to the other.

The real Goa is not where our politicians blow their own trumpets. It is hidden in the forests, where the birds sing a melodious harmony worth listening to. If we reflect for a while, our love for nature is overtaken by our greed for money; selflessness is surpassed by selfishness; altruism by egoistic behaviour.

In this modern world, people have learnt to read printed books. They have forgotten the art of reading the unprinted ones. The printed books often teach us how to make profits through mining, killing animals and destroying the environment for selfish gains. One can easily read these books, as the pages of these selfish books are inscribed on human beings’ selfish hearts. But it became quite difficult for human beings to read the pages of the unprinted book.

The mourning songs of the birds; the cries of the polluted rivers; the agony of the trees; the killing of animals; overall the cry of Mother Earth, her sadness at her own children being so harsh towards her, are all at the back of our minds. It seems nature does not inspire us any more.

Just give a little exercise for your mind and heart and try to experience the inner peace within you. Did you hear the cries of Mother Earth? Can you see her wounds? Can you take a free breath and say that the air you breathe is pollution free? Nature is the unprinted book, which human beings are unable to read.

This unprinted book is also called ecology, because all its chapters are related to living and non-living components. Humans have forgotten even to glance through its contents; it has beautiful chapters.

Today, many more unnecessary chapters are being added to this book, making the book called ‘ecology’ completely meaningless. If we take a glance at the environment, everything looks its opposite. Nature is fully conquered by human beings’ selfish motives. The beautiful evergreen mountains have fallen prey to the beast called mining.

There was a time when every Goan was proud to call Goa “this sweet land of mine”, but today, we see that Goa is turned into a paradise for mines. Now we can aptly say that Goa is the unsweet land of mines. Our beautiful mountains have been destroyed by the greed of few. Can we fill the gaps created by the monster called mining?

We can destroy a thing within no time, but it takes ages to restore its beauty again. Mining has created a void in the heart of Mother Earth. We can always substitute it by planting trees.

By doing this, we may see the wounds apparently healed, but the scars will remain forever.

In Genesis, we read that God created this world and gave it into the hands of human beings, to take care of it. God gave human beings the authority over it. But that doesn’t mean we should misuse our freedom.

Goa is known for its greenery. The evergreen fields, especially during the rainy season, are beautiful to look at and worth seeing. It captures the minds of the people and gives inner satisfaction to the heart.

But today, if we look, Goa is no more the land of evergreen fields. Fields have been destroyed everywhere. The farmers are crying for their lands, but the nasty politicians do not hear their cries. The time will come when everyone will have the luxuries of life, but will have to struggle to get the grains we eat.

Humanity should have an ecology in which nature is not to be conquered, but lived and loved. We are part of ecology; how can we conquer it? Let me make you aware. Have you ever tried anytime to read the unprinted book called ecology? Did the beauty and harmony of Mother Nature awaken you from deep within? Have you tried anytime to build a friendship or have a love affair with Mother Nature?

Nature can teach us many lessons, but they are unprinted.

You need your heart and mind to read its beauty. Did you ever see the dance of the leaves? Did your hips start swaying? Did you anytime hear the songs of the birds? And did your feet start tapping? Did you ever experience the kiss of the sun? And did you bubble up with joy? Did you anytime experience the wind caressing your hair? And did you feel loved and cared?

Let me quote Helen Keller here. She asked her friend, who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, what she had seen. “Nothing in particular,” the friend replied. “How is that possible,” she asked, “that I myself walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note? Let me ask you, do you see and hear anything from nature? If not, you are no more than any blind and deaf man, even though you can see and hear.”

Let us remove the masks of blindness and deafness and try to read the unprinted book. Can we do that? It is a challenge to save Mother Earth, in whose embrace we live. Wake up, Goans. Try to save our rich and natural heritage. Otherwise, Goa will not remain the Pearl of the East.

Jaswant’s book issue now a closed chapter:BJP PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 4

BJP President Nitin Gadkari has termed as "closed" the issue of Jaswant Singh's book praising Pakistan founder M A Jinnah and said return of leaders like him will strengthen the party. :To add people to the party is going to strengthen it... It is a good thing for the party,” Gadkari said when asked about return of leaders like Jaswant Singh and Ram Jethmalani to BJP. On the former defence minister not apologising for writing the book praising Jinnah which had led to his expulsion ten months ago, Gadkari said, "These are old issues. The issue is closed.

Apart from the views, he is loyal to the party.”

“As a person, Jaswant Singh is a good man. He is a senior and experienced leader. At the time

of foundation of the party, he was there. I respect him. Apart from his book, he is loyal to the party,” Gadkari said in an interview to Karan Thapar for CNNIBN. Gadkari maintained that in a democratic party, every leader has the right to have different opinions.

“A big political party is a group of big political leaders. Everyone has some independent and different opinions. It never happens that 100 per cent opinions are same.

“There may be some opinions that Jaswant Singh may have which I may not agree with. But, in the larger interest as far as BJP is concerned, I feel he is loyal to the party, is a very respectable leader, that is why I approached him,” he said.

He claimed eminent lawyer Jethmalani, who recently won a

Rajya Sabha seat from Rajasthan as a BJP candidate, had apologised for certain remarks made by him against former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee before he was taken back.

“He cleared the things....before coming to BJP he cleared the things that those comments (against Vajpayee) were not good. That he is sorry for it," Gadkari said.

The party president said the chapter is closed and BJP as well as Vajpayee's family were satisfied with Jethmalani's explanation.

On the recent crisis with JD(U) and the bitter clash between the coalition partners ahead of assembly elections, Gadkari claimed the issue was not a creation of his party.

Asked if Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will campaign in Bihar in the wake of opposi-

NEW DELHI, JULY 4

With cell phones, palmtops, e-readers, purses, bracelets, Ipods all flashing the time of the day, just who needs a plain old wristwatch, claims Gen Y. The ubiquitous wristwatch worn by the billionaire to the daily wager as more than an accessory is now being discarded for spanking new age devices that double up as time keepers.

Youngsters say conventional watches are an “extra burden” on their wrists.

Schoolgoers however continue to opt for the sporty and flashy models of well-known brands. This they say is just because mobile phones are banned in schools and examination halls.

“I wear a watch mostly during exams in school but have to take extra care to not to break it while playing or exercising.

For tutions, I take along my mobile which serves all my purposes”, says Ritvik, a 17-

PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 4 The CBI, investigating the twoyear-old Aarushi murder case, is likely to approach a laboratory outside the country to extract crucial forensic evidence from the samples collected from the scene of the crime.

The samples including the bedsheet, blood, fingerprints, bottles and her vaginal swab were all contaminated.

The CBI has contacted a forensic laboratory outside India where certain samples collected from the scene of crime will be sent in order to extract DNA from them as it would help further investigations in the case, sources privy to the probe said.

The laboratory has the expertise for extracting DNA from samples which are highly contaminated

but have been touched by the criminal. The technique used is called touch DNA which means that that DNA of the person can be obtained from an object that he has touched. It has helped solve dead-end cases, the sources said.

When any individual touches an object he leaves behind a print that is basically made up of oils and dirt that are constantly deposited on his fingers.

As such ever ything that is touched picks up a bit of oil and dirt which are left as fingerprint on the object. Body cells become part of the fingerprint and it is these that are the source of the DNA. A single cell is enough to provide enough DNA for analysis.

So if the murderer has touched anything in the house, his DNA

profile can be chalked out even if he has used gloves because skin cells keep on drying and falling from the body, the sources said.

The samples that were collected from Aarushi's house were declared to be highly contaminated by a forensic laboratory here.

DNA evidence can become contaminated when DNA from another source gets mixed with DNA relevant to the case.

“As such no forensic evidence could be extracted by which we could zero in or rule out those suspected in this murder case,” he said.

“This laboratory has been chosen after visiting nearly all websites of the foreign laboratories that have this technique,” the sources said.

PTI NEW DELHI, JUL 4

With monsoon making a slow progress and India's live water storage capacity dipping by one per cent in the last one month, an expert group has pressed for increasing country's storage potential.

“In India, the rainfall pattern is widely varying in time and space... as a result, Indian rivers, particularly the non-perennial ones, carry very meagre discharge during non-monsoon months,” says a report by the Working Group on Water Resources for the XIth (2007-12) Five Year plan.

“This situation warrants for creation of storages as much as possible to hold the excess flow of monsoon months, in order to offset the imbalance arising out of skewed pattern of rainfall,” the report says.

In the process of planned development of water resources since independence, live storage in the country has been built up from 15.6 km3 (cubic kilometre) to present level of about 213 km3.

But, even after attaining such a storage position, the per capita storage in the country is only about 210 m3, which is way behind the achievement of many

developed and developing countries, such as Russia (6103 m3), Australia (4733 m3), Brazil (3145 m3), USA (1964 m3), Turkey (1739 m3), Spain (1410 m3), Mexico (1245 m3), China (1111 m3) and South Africa (753 m3), the report points.

“The global scenario is definitely a pointer towards need for creation of more storage to cope up with temporal and spatial variation in rainfall in the country and erratic climatic change. Harnessing of 690 km3 utilisable surface water will only be possible if sufficient storages are built p across the country,”it suggests.

The National Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development Plan has estimated that by the year 2050, the total demand of water for various uses would be around 973 km3 per year (low projection) or 1180

km3 per year (high projection).

“Considering average demand scenario, a large surface and ground water use of about 700 km3 per year and 380 km3 per year respectively would be necessary. This surface water use, in the phase of the large temporal variability would approximately require live storage of around 450 km3,” according to the projection of the Working Group.

The study says that while projects presently identified will be able to provide only 108 km3 of live storage, India may require a new live storage of 150 km3 by 2050.

“So far, the developments have been carried out on zonal basis which may not be able to equitably meet the requirements of the country as a whole. A scenario may emerge in which there

ten to music...a watch cannot provide so many facilities!," says Pallabi, a final year student of Delhi University.

Die hard loyalists however find it hard to justify the absence of the wristwatch. Jickson, a sophomore student says, “I believe a person without a watch is a careless or carefree guy. I just cannot leave my home without a watch!”

While the older generation is happy to flaunt their priced possessions like the HMT, younger counterparts prefer to flaunt the

latest trendy designer look at the corporate level.

“I buy watches to match them with my clothes but for time keeping, there are other devices as well. Even overhead clocks at the metro station can do me that favour,” says Ritika, a young journalist.

Antique watches are still prized by many as good gifting options and collectors flaunt them at social gatherings but few use it for more than just an accessory for beautification.

Amidst all this, the utility and functionality of wrist watches has succumbed to the desire for new and latest designer models which come with minor modifications and major price tags!

The New Lajpat Rai Market, the biggest wholesale hub of watches in Delhi encapsulates the 50-year-old journey of the wrist watch.

Watches of all kinds, shapes and models are sold in shops that are run by families through gene r a t i o n s . T h e m a r ke t f o r watches in India which had gone through a slump during the

emergency in 1975 with imports from Switzerland and Japan being put on hold took a few years to revive.

The woes of shopkeepers already fighting a stiff battle with waning sales are compounded with the influx of Chinese watches which are being sold from showrooms to road side vendors.

Even with all this there is no dearth of endorsements of big brands by leading Bollywood and sports personalities.

A retail shopkeeper says, "People come to me and say they want a Dhoni or an Aamir Khan watch rather than the brands."

Even well known Swiss watches depend on ambassadors like Shahrukh, Priyanka, Abhishek and Deepika to push up their sales.

Utility wise, the wrist watch may have given way to the cell phone and other gadgets that display time, but when it comes to making a style and fashion statement, watches still rule the market.

PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 4

The Delhi High Court has come to the rescue of five visually impaired students who were asked to vacate a government-run hostel in the capital where they were staying.

The court directed the government to allow these students to stay in the hostel in Connaught Place till November this year and consider their representation for an alternative accommodation .A Division Bench said “We are inclined to directed that the appellants (students) shall not be evicted till end of November...".

The bench's direction came while disposing of an appeal filed by blind student Lalit Kumar and four others challenging a single judge's order dismissing their plea for extension of their stay in the hostel.

Indian Coast Guard rying to rescue 10 foreign nationals which includes one Taiwanese and nine Indonesians personnel, from high seas in extremely adverse weather conditions, on Sunday.

Experts mull boosting water storage capacity

“I buy watches to match them with my clothes but for time keeping, there are other devices as well.

Even overhead clocks at the metro station can do me that favour,” --Ritika. year-old high schooler.

A shopkeeper who retails watches in Delhi says,"We are worried about our declining watch business due to the excessively growing demand for mobile phones that are getting cheaper by the day.”

Changing lifestyles and mindsets towards standard working hours has also led to the ever growing irrelevance of the time machines.

College students say they are least interested in buying a watch unless it adds to their style statement.

“It is not necessary to get up early now, so why would I need a watch? If required, I can set up alarm on my mobile phone, use the Internet, SMS my friends, lis-

ing hands. He had also returned Rs 5 crore being the unspent money of the aid given to Bihar

by Gujarat government in 2008, at the time of Kosi floods.

Later, both the parties said the issue was resolved and that they would contest the polls in alliance.

The BJP president, who completed six months in office, also claimed that he had solved crisis in party's Rajasthan unit.

On Jharkhand, where BJP failed to form a government with JMM support, Gadkari said, "We were expecting cooperation from Shibu Soren. He had committed to the party in writing. (But) at the time of change of roles, he was talking something different, (so) we took a decision that we don't want government in Jharkhand and we close the chapter.”

“In the long term, the situation in Jharkhand will be beneficial for us,” he claimed.

Foreign lab to examine samples in Aarushi case

Wristwatch: No longer a fad among young?

PTI

tion by certain JD(U) leaders, he said it was up to his party to decide who would canvas for its candidates in the polls. “...I want to tell you one thing very clearly: In my party the candidates, where they are contesting, which all leaders will be campaigning for them will be decided by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“It will not be decided by other parties or other leaders. It is our right, our privilege to decide who will be the leader to campaign for our party candidate,” Gadkari said. However, he maintained the issue was a closed chapter.

Last month, JD(U) leader and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had snubbed the BJP by cancelling a dinner for its top leadership after advertisements were published in local dailies showing Modi and Kumar hold-

HC comes to rescue of five blind students

would be surplus water in some regions whereas drought like situation may continue or may aggravate in some other regions.

The proposal under inter-basin transfer of water may increase additional utilisation of around 200 km3..." it says.

As monsoon makes a sluggish progress, the combined live storage in 81 major reservoirs of the country dipped by one per cent in June to stand at 12 per cent of their designed capacity.

According to figures released by the Central Water Commission on Friday, the combined live storage in the 81 reservoirs at the beginning of monsoon on June one was 13 per cent of their designed capacity, but dipped to 12 per cent on June 24.

Out of the 81, there are 43 reservoirs where this year's storage is 80 per cent or less than the average of previous 10 years. In the remaining 38 reservoirs, the storage is more than 80 per cent of the average of previous 10 years.

Monsoon rains, crucial for the country's trillion-dollar economy, have been 16 per cent deficient and stagnant over central India so far this season but meteorologists are hopeful of a revival soon.

Teenage lovers found dead in playground

Copters for more Naxal-hit areas PTI NEW DELHI/RAIPUR, JULY 4

With Naxal attacks against security forces showing no let up, the government is planning to position helicopters at a few additional places for quick response to reinforcement and rescue needs.

To enable deployment of additional helicopters, officials of the central security forces and the Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand governments are scouting for safe helipad locations as close as possible to the battalion or company headquarters.

Helicopters of the Border Security Force (BSF) are presently stationed at Ranchi and Raipur, the state capitals of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

The existing BSF fleet of three

to four Dhruv Advance Light Helicopters and two Mi-17 helicopters are deployed in supporting anti-Naxal operations and the Home Ministry is planning to add some more helicopters to it.

The new helipad sites surveyed in Chhattisgarh are Narayanpur and Kanker where the army runs a counter insurgency and jungle warfare school is located and one site at Gumla in Jharkhand.

These steps have been fasttracked in the aftermath of the April 6 Dantewada Naxal attack which killed 75 CRPF personnel and a Chhattisgarh policeman.

According to sources, helicopter support in Naxal areas has helped save the lives of paramilitary and police personnel who were injured in Naxal ambushes.

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In yet another suspected case f honour killing, two teenaged lovers were found dead and heir bodies recovered from the playground of a government school in Somain village, around 70 km from here.

SP J S Lamba said that the bodies of Reena (16) and Hyam Mohmmad (19) were found today on the playground of overnment Senior Secondary School in Somian village.

The teenagers had run away last year from their homes but were caught by police at Laloda railway station in the district later. The village panchayat was against their relationship as Reena belonged to Jat community and Shyam was a Muslim, police said.

It had decided to send Shyam to a madarsa in Punjab and the girl was allowed to stay with her uncle at Somain village, police said, adding the youth had returned recently during a vacation. Nanu, the girl's uncle, said that he had seen Shyam last night.

Pg 10:Layout 1 7/4/2010 11:58 PM Page 1

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GOA, MONDAY, 5 JULY, 2010

India, China discuss possible joint projects in Afghanistan PTI BEIJING, JULY 4

India and China today discussed the possibility of working in collaborative projects in third countries, including joint initiatives in Afghanistan to tap large mineral resources, as part of efforts to broad base their relationship.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon, who arrived here on Saturday on a four-day visit as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy began his high-level engagements by holding talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi today.

After one-and-half hour talks at the Foreign Ministry here, Yang accompanied by Menon told the Indian media that “talks went off very well... we have a tour of the whole horizon” of issues.

A significant part of the discussions between Menon and Yang reportedly centred on economic issues and the booming trade between the two countries that is expected to touch a new of high of USD 60 billion this year.

Apparently issues relating to Pakistan and the visit of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to

China beginning from July 6 reportedly to firm up cooperation to build two nuclear power plants figured in the talks.

“We also went to specifics about certain aspects of our relationship,” Yang said without directly referring to Pakistan and India’s concerns to the two nuclear reactors.

These issues were expected to figure in Menon’s scheduled talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councillor Dai Bingguo tomorrow.

India has expressed reservations over China’s proposed nuclear deal with Pakistan under which it will provide two nuclear reactors to Pakistan.

“We talked a lot about high level exchanges and visits and (steps) to further boost trade volume to create even better conditions for mutual investment, cooperation and even talked about the possibility of cooperation on certain subjects in other countries and let us have three or four party collaborative projects in the economic field as well,” he said.

Yang’s reference to projects in third country was interesting as the two sides apparently discussed collaborative projects including in Afghanistan where

Inflation biggest enemy, says RBI FM hopeful of 8.5% growth PTI KOLKATA, JULY 4

Terming as "baby steps" the hike in lending and borrowing rates, the Reserve Bank today said it would take appropriate measures to rein in inflation, even as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee pinning hopes on good rain said the economy would grow by 8.5 per cent this fiscal.

While Mukherjee appreciated RBI's 25 basis points hike in short-term lending and borrowing rates(repo and reverse-repo), RBI said "inflation is the biggest enemy".

In an unscheduled move, RBI on last Friday evening raised repo and reverse repo rates by 25 basis points to 5.5 and 4 per cent, respectively The Reserve Bank maintained that containing prices remains its main priority. "For RBI inflation is everything ..., for (finance) ministry, it is growth. But in the long run, both will converge," RBI Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty said on the sidelines of an Assocham event here.

Speaking at the event, the finance minister hoped that the economy would grow by 8.5 per

cent this fiscal if the monsoon is favourable and would attain double-digit growth in the next two years.

"If the monsoon this year is favourable, then we will get 8.5 per cent (this year) and nine per cent plus next year and double digit growth thereafter in a sustainable manner," he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also said yesterday that the Indian economy is targeted to grow by double digits in the 2-3 years.

During 2009-10, Indian economy grew at better than expected rate of 7.4 per cent. The GDP expanded over 8.6 per cent in the last quarter of the same fiscal.

However, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), June rainfall was disappointing but still 60 per cent higher than in the same month a year ago. Monsoon rains were 16 per cent below normal in June, IMD had said.

Appreciating the RBI move, Mukherjee said, "So far as interest rate is concerned, there is 25 basis points increase in repo and reverse repo rates...

It is an appropriate, welcome measure."

they want to tap trillions of dollars worth mineral resources jointly with other countries.

Recent reports said huge deposits of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like lithium were large enough to transform Afghanistan into one of the most important mining centres in the world.

India, China, United States and a vast number of European countries which are present in Afghanistan could work out a joint initiative to tap the resources which could change the face of poverty -stricken Afghanistan reeling under a Taliban insurgency.

The two sides also discussed having preparatory meetings before top international conferences like the just-concluded G-20 summit to work out common positions on vital issues.

Overall Yang in his brief talk with the media painted a positive picture of ties between the two countries.

“What is more important is that over all tone of our relationship is very positive. There is lot in common between us. I believe that Menon’s visit will really pave the ground to a large extent for further our strategic

partnership,” he said.

“So I am very pleased with this visit. We pay a great deal of attention to his visit. Menon will meet with Prime Minister and State Councillor tomorrow.

We attach a great deal of importance to this relationship.

We have really enhanced our mutually political trust; look at G-20, climate change, BRIC. You can see we actually work closely together to push forward for common cause that is to serve the interest respective peoples, developing world and mankind,” he said.

Yang also said China wants more student-related and cultural exchanges between the two neighbours.

“I mentioned given the size of respective populations, students and cultural exchange between the two countries so far have not really added too much.

There is a lot we can do. Good beginning has been made. But we really have to pitch in and do lot more together to further consolidate the social basis to further our relationship,” he said.

Yang also paid personal complements to Menon saying: “Menon and I are close and old friends.”

From Page 1 Bail or jail Sessions Court, High Court as well as the Supreme Court had all rejected the anticipatory bail applications filed by Pacheco on grounds that he is required for custodial interrogation in connection with the case.

Sources in the Crime Branch informed that the investigating agency will vehemently oppose Pacheco’s bail application and will place all facts and reports before the court for his police custody.

On the other hand, the former tourism minister will press for his bail on grounds that no case is made out against him in the Torrado case. In fact, senior legal counsel representing Pacheco, Adv Surendra Desai had argued that none of the charges under Sections 304, 306, 309 and 201 of the IPC are attracted in the case of the former minister.

Adv Desai had maintained Section 304 of the IPC for culpable homicide not amounting to murder as well as abetment to commit suicide is not applicable to Pacheco as he is no way connected with her death.

3 Agonda boys too far before alighting near Agonda Church on Saturday afternoon. He sought help to reach near Cabo-de-Rama, but was unsure about the exact location.

One of the three youths, not knowing who the person was, helped him in arranging a motorcycle pilot, to which he agreed.

According to the youths, the Nepali on reaching Cabo-deRama told the motorcyclist that it was not the place he was looking for and asked him to drive back. But on reaching an isolated spot between Molorem and Matvemmoll in Khola, he got down and paid the fare and disappeared in the cashew groves towards sea.

When police laid nakabandi at Agonda-Panna and a word spread that a boy from North Goa was kidnapped and police who detained two youths at this location are checking vehicles, initially ignored youths narration of a Nepali having being dropped at an isolated spot.

Meantime, after interrogation of arrested duo at Agonda outpost, police rounded up two more Nepali youths from Palolem beachside. Despite the arrests of the foursome, there was still no sign of the kidnapped boy.

As the interrogation continued late night, the arrested persons reportedly provided information to the police that three others along with the kidnapped boy are holed up at an isolated place, which they themselves were unaware.

It is learnt that, the youths from Agonda again narrated the incident to SP Allan D’Sa, who reportedly took cognizance and led the police to the alleged hideout.

The police equipped with torchlight, immediately found some movements at few metres from Khola road, inside the cashew vegetation and swooped on them.

Barring one who was later taken into custody and was later identified as the kidnapped son of a businessman from Anjuna, Earlier, on seeing the police the trio tried to flee.

Meanwhile, PI Siddhant Shirodkar and SP D’Sa displayed bravery in nabbing the other duo (reportedly both carrying country made pistols), while a third one ran in front of the police.

The two more who were arrested, were brought near Khola Panchayat Ghar and subjected to interrogations, even as the search for the last man was intensified with more police assisting the combing operations.

While all the arrested six abductors along with the kidnapped boy were taken to Agonda police outpost, the three youths were asked to guide three different police teams which took on foot in the forest combing operations to trace the last accused.

If the local assisting youth is to be believed, the last accused was finally nabbed at about 5.30 am on Sunday with a country made pistol in his possession.

Incidentally, two of the youths were earlier awarded

by Goa Police for helping to crack down the infamous last year’s shoot-out case at Cabode-Rama, where a Vasco local was kidnapped.

Mickky “The question of the discharge will be decided by the doctors after his medical check up”, the doctor said.

Pacheco was admitted in the ICU unit of Hospicio Hospital after doctors who attended him said he was suffering from hypertension and urinary infection.

The Sessions Court had provisional remanded Pacheco to two days judicial custody. The custody period is getting over at 2.30 pm on Monday.

OHERALDO

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GOA, MONDAY, 5 JULY, 2010

Pak govt, Oppn for joint strategy against terror PtI ISLAMABAD, JULY 4

Pakistan government and main opposition PML-N have agreed to stop the "blame game" over a wave of militant attacks in the country and develop a "joint national strategy" to tackle terrorism and extremism.

The decision was made during a telephonic conversation late last night between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

Gilani said he would convene a national conference soon to help prepare a joint strategy

against the menace of terrorism that has plagued the country.

The two leaders spoke soon after Sharif called on the government to hold negotiations with the Taliban who are willing to talk.

Sharif claimed federal authorities were not sharing intelligence on militant groups with the government in Punjab, which is ruled by the PML-N. His brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, contended that Interior Minister Rehman Malik was trying to create divisions among

provinces with his talk of "Punjabi terrorists" being behind recent attacks.

Gilani stepped in to calm the situation and spoke to the PML-N chief. They agreed to develop a joint national strategy to curb terrorism and extremism.

A statement issued by the Premier's office said both leaders felt "collective wisdom is essential to tackle this national issue which is the biggest hurdle in the way of national development."

The leaders also agreed "that it was not the time for blame

game, since the people of Pakistan are being deprived of peace, progress and prosperity," the statement said.

The country "cannot afford to bear the brunt of terrorist activities any more," they said.

Gilani accepted Sharif's suggestion that the political leadership should be taken on board to forge national consensus on the national strategy against terrorism and said he would convene a conference soon to help prepare the strategy.

The Premier told Sharif he would also discuss this pro-

posal during a meeting he would chair tomorrow to review the security situation in the wake of the suicide attack on the Data Darbar shrine in Lahore.

The federal government will extend "full support and cooperation" to all provinces to fight terrorism as the ruling PPP is a partner in all provincial governments, Gilani said.

Both leaders also agreed that "instead of criticizing each other, all political leaders... need to think and closely share information in order to prepare a comprehensive strategy" to

tackle terrorism.

The PML-N-led government in Punjab has come under increasing pressure to crack down on militants based in the southern part of the province since two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the Data Darbar shrine on Thursday.

Forty-five people were killed and over 200 injured in the attack, the latest in a series of audacious terrorist assaults in Lahore.

Prominent religious groups, including the Sunni Tehrik and Sunni Ittehad Council, have

urged the PML-N to sack Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for his links with the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba, a notorious anti-Shia group.

Sunni leaders have also called for the sealing of the Jamaat-ud-Dawah's mosques and office at Chowburji in Lahore, saying the move will help eliminate terrorism in the city.

The Sunni Ittehad Council has said it will launch a countrywide movement on July 8 to oppose what it describes as the "growing Talibanisation" of Pakistan.

...Sharif says Pak govt should hold talks with Taliban PtI LAHORE, JULY 4

Pakistan government should hold negotiations with the Taliban as part of efforts to tackle terrorism as even the US has indicated its willingness to talk to militants, top opposition leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif has said.

"If Washington says it is prepared to talk to the Taliban who are willing to listen, then a similar initiative should also

come from Islamabad. We should not only see what decision they (the Western countries) will make about our fate.

We should decide our own fate," said Sharif, the chief of main opposition PML-N. "We have this problem at home. Why don't we take initiatives? Why should we wait for others' initiatives?" he told a news conference at his home here last evening.

Asked about failed peace at-

tempts in the past, Sharif, a two-time former premier, said: "Peace is the priority and for that, ways can be found."

The PML-N is perceived as being soft on pro-Taliban militants and provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah openly campaigned with leaders of the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba terror group during by-polls in Punjab earlier this year.

However, Sharif dispelled the impression that the PML-N is

soft on or has links with militants, saying there would not have been terrorist attacks in Lahore and other parts of Punjab if this were true.

He said there was no safe haven for the Taliban in southern Punjab. "It is our duty to eliminate terrorism wherever it is breeding. But we have no evidence of terrorists being present in southern Punjab. We do not see them there," he said.

The PML-N chief also said he

Suicide bomber in gov't HQ in west Iraq kills 3

Shi'ite cleric Fadlallah dies ReuteRs BEIRUT, JULY 4

ReuteRs FALLUJA, JULY 4

A female suicide bomber blew herself up today in the governor's compound of Iraq's western Anbar province, killing three people and wounding 39, as US Vice President Joe Biden visited Baghdad, officials said.

A police source said the blast occurred in the reception area of the heavily fortified compound in Ramadi, 100 km west of the capital. A hospital source said the 39 wounded included 13 police officers.

The sprawling desert province was the heartland of a fierce Sunni Islamist insurgency after the 2003 US-led invasion and was in the grip of al Qaeda. Its main cities, Ramadi and Falluja, witnessed some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

But local Sunni tribal chiefs turned on al Qaeda in 2006 and 2007, helping US forces bring relative peace to the region.

Sectarian tensions have flared since a national election in March, which has yet to result in a new government.

A Sunni-backed alliance won a slim victory in the vote but a union of the main Shi'ite-led factions is expected to take the lead in the tussle to form a coalition government.

Insurgent groups have tried to exploit the political vacuum since the election through violence.

Al Qaeda's Iraqi affiliate claimed responsibility for brazen suicide assaults on the Iraqi central bank and the Trade Bank of Iraq last month, and police in Anbar and elsewhere have come under constant attack.

On Friday, gunmen with silenced weapons shot dead one of Anbar's most senior Sunni clerics, Imam Abdul Aleem al-Saadi, after he answered a knock on his door.

Sunday's bomb blast in the Anbar governorate office occurred as Biden visited US troops in Baghdad for the 4th of July holiday and also planned to meet Iraqi leaders.

China's urban population set to cross rural ReuteRs BEIJING, JULY 4

China's urban population is to surpass its rural population for the first time by 2015, with the number of Chinese living in towns and cities set to top 700 million, Xinhua news agency reported.

Li Bin, director of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, said that the world's most populous country is projected to have 1.39 billion citizens by 2015, up from 1.32 billion at the end of 2008, Xinhua quoted her as saying.

The number of people over 60 would pass 200 million, the first boom in the old-age population, she said. An average of 8 million are expected to turn 60 each year, 3.2 million more than the average in 2006-2010.

was opposed to the use of the term "Punjabi Taliban" to refer to militants operating in the province. "Terrorists are just terrorists and have no boundaries and territories," he said.

Sharif claimed that terrorism plaguing Pakistan is a result of policies made by federal governments in the past and that the current Pakistan People's Party-led coalition at the centre has not been able to find remedies.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski, presidential candidate of Poland's Law and Justice Party (PiS) walks with Ewa, granddaughter of late Polish President Lech Kaczynski, at a polling station in Warsaw during presidential elections on Sunday. Poles began voting on Sunday in a presidential election run-off that will help decide the speed and scale of economic reforms and set the tone for Warsaw's ties with its European Union partners and with Russia.

Lebanon's Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, one of Shi'ite Islam's highest religious authorities and an early mentor of the militant group Hezbollah, died in a Beirut hospital today, his family said.

Fadlallah, who was 74, had a wide following beyond Lebanon's Shi'ites, extending to Central Asia and the Gulf.

He had been too frail to deliver his regular Friday prayers sermon for several weeks. He was taken to hospital on Friday suffering from internal bleeding.

Fadlallah was a supporter of Iran's Islamic Revolution and the spiritual leader and mentor of the Shi'ite guerrilla group Hezbollah when it was formed after Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, though he later distanced himself from its ties with Iran.

He survived several assassination attempts, including a 1985 car bomb which killed 80 people in southern Beirut. US news reports said the attack was carried out by a US-trained Lebanese intelligence unit after attacks on US targets in Lebanon.

Iran pushes US on missing scientist ReuteRs TEHRAN, JULY 4

Iran has sent to US authorities more documents about the disappearance of a nuclear scientist it says was kidnapped by the CIA, demanding his release, the foreign ministry spokesman said.

Shahram Amiri, a university researcher working for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, went missing during a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia a year ago and Tehran accused Riyadh of handing him over to the United States, which Saudi Arabia has denied.

“The documents about Shahram Amiri's abduction by the CIA have been delivered to the Swiss embassy as the preservers of America's interests,” Ramin Mehmanparast said, according Iran's official news agency IRNA. It is the second time Iran has handed documents on the case to the Swiss who represent US

interests in Tehran where Washington has no diplomatic mission.

“The serious demand of Shahram Amiri's family, along with public opinion in Iran, is to hand our countryman over to the embrace of his family and the Iranian society as soon as possible,” Mehmanparast said yesterday.

In March, ABC news said Amiri had defected to the United States and was helping the CIA. The US spy agency declined to comment at the time but Washington officials have denied he was abducted by US agents.

Over the last month, conflicting video evidence has appeared on the Internet, showing a man claiming to be Amiri.

In the first video to emerge, broadcast on Iranian TV, a man says he was abducted and was being held in the United States.

He says he was forced to

take part in a media interview “to claim that I was an important figure in Iran's nuclear programme and that I had sought asylum in America of my own free will.”

In a second video, a man also purporting to be Amiri says he was actually studying in the United States.

In a third video, which emerged at the end of June, the man says he has fled from U.S. agents and is in hiding. He rejects the second Internet footage as a ‘a sheer lie’ and urges human rights groups to help him return to Iran.

The man in all the videos looks similar to photographs of Amiri that have appeared previously in Iranian media, although none of them could be independently verified by Reuters.

Tehran initially refused to acknowledge Amiri's involvement in Iran's disputed nuclear programme, which Washington

and its allies suspect is being used to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says it is aimed at generating electricity.

Washington secured a fourth round of United Nations sanctions against Iran in June. Earlier on Saturday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the latest round of sanctions against it ‘pathetic’.

Iran says it has numerous citizens in secret detention in the United States including a former deputy defence minister who disappeared in 2007.

Iranian media often link the case of three US citizens, arrested near the Iraqi border a year ago where they say they were hiking and held on suspicion of spying, to the fate of alleged Iranian detainees in the United States.

Some Iranian politicians have called on the United States to propose a prisoner swap.

Palestinian who planned Munich attack dead ReuteRs DAMASCUS, JULY 4

The Palestinian militant who masterminded the deadly assault on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics died in Syria yesterday, Palestinian officials said.

Mohammed Daoud Odeh, also known as Abu Daoud, died in Andalus Hospital in Damascus after suffering kidney failure. He was 73.

A former leader of the Black September Palestinian guerrilla group, Abu Daoud said he planned the Munich hostage-taking in which 11 Is-

raelis died.

But Abu Daoud, who did not take part in the attack, said he was not directly responsible for the deaths.

“I didn't kill anybody and I didn't order anybody's killing,” Abu Daoud told Reuters 1999 after publishing memoirs in which he boasted of planning the abduction.

He was buried on Saturday at the Martyrs Cemetery in Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp near Damascus.

His funeral was attended by officials from various Palestinian groups, including President

Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction.

On September 5, 1972, eight Black September gunmen scaled the perimeter fence surrounding the Olympic athletes' village, their weapons concealed in sports bags amid relaxed security.

Within 24 hours, 11 Israelis, five Palestinians and a German policeman were dead after a standoff and subsequent rescue effort erupted into gunfire.

Abu Daoud said in his book the guerrillas killed two Israelis at the start of the operation because they resisted as the com-

mandos stormed their Olympic quarters.

Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir then upset the guerrillas' plans, rejecting their offer to free the hostages in exchange for the release of 236 Palestinians held by Israel.

Then, Abu Daoud said, German police went back on their word, opening fire on the guerrillas and their hostages at the airport after promising to let them leave. When the smoke cleared, nine hostages and five guerrillas were dead on the tarmac.

He said he regretted that Palestinians had resorted

to violence because the killings backfired, creating a public outcry rather than sympathy for the Palestinian cause.

After the publication of his book Israel refused to allow Abu Daoud entry into Palestinian self-ruled areas of the West Bank from Jordan, a decision he disputed.

“The (Israeli) decision to bar my return is linked to an event that has happened 27 years ago, the Munich operation, which we considered a legitimate struggle against the enemy we were fighting,” he told Reuters in Amman.

The federal government could have turned to Parliament and politicians for initiatives to be launched to tackle terrorism instead of waiting for directives from Washington, London and other Western capitals, he said.

The government should consult other stakeholders, including foreign countries concerned about the regional security situation and remove their concerns but "it must take

its own initiatives", Sharif said.

At the same time, the government should frame a national policy which ensures that the country does not "lay down its weapons before terrorists or allow them to hold hostage a nuclear power," he said.

"Terrorism will not be accepted at any cost, we will not lay down our arms to the terrorists but at the same time we must usher in peace," he said.

Pg11 Syria jails 79-year-old lawyer ReuteRs DAMASCUS, JULY 4

A Syrian military court sentenced a 79-year-old lawyer today who campaigned for decades for an end to emergency law, jailing him for three years on charges of ‘weakening national morale’, defence lawyers said.

“This is tragic. Haitham Maleh is an old and ill man,” one of the lawyers said, while another feared that he would not survive the sentence.

Maleh, who spent six years as a political prisoner in the 1980s and was banned from leaving Syria, was awarded the Dutch Geuzen Medal in 2006, named after resistance fighters against the Nazis. Numerous international organisations and Western governments have called for his release.

The govt has intensified a campaign of arrests of political opponents over the last two years. Maleh was arrested last year after he stepped up criticism of corruption and the emergency law, which was imposed by the ruling Baath Party after it took power in 1963, banning any opposition.

Clinton on fence-mending trip to Azerbaijan ReuteRs BAKU, JULY 4

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today tried to mend fences with Azerbaijan and to promote a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute and also pressed the authoritarian, oil-rich country on human rights.

A US-backed push for a rapprochement between Armenia and US ally Turkey has hurt US relations with Azerbaijan, which worries that its interests will be suffer as a result.

Baku in April accused the United States of siding with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a largely Christian region which seceded from Muslim Azerbaijan and proclaimed independence after a war in the 1990s that killed some 30,000.

As a result of the strains in the relationship, including the absence of a US ambassador for more than a year, Baku threatened to ‘reconsider’ its ties with the United States.

Strategically located between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan has been a key supply route for US troops in Afghanistan but ties have been frayed by multiple issues.

While seeking to improve relations and make some headway on Nagorno-Karabakh, Clinton also pressed authoritarian Azerbaijan to show greater respect for civil liberties and said she had raised the case of two jailed opposition bloggers.

Hosting Clinton at his palatial summer residence on the Caspian Sea, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev made clear that his priority was NagornoKarabakh.

“This is a major problem for

us and the major threat to regional security,” Aliyev told Clinton as they sat beneath a chandelier in an airy, highceilinged room overlooking the sea.

“We want to find a resolution as soon as possible,” he added. “Our people are suffering.”

Clinton said the United States was committed to its ties with Azerbaijan. “The issues that you mention are of importance to us,” she said.

Azerbaijan wants NagornoKarabakh back, if necessary by force. More than 15 years of mediation have failed to produce a final peace deal and the threat of war is never far away.

Last month, four ethnic Armenian troops and an Azeri soldier died in an exchange of fire near Nagorno-Karabakh.

GATES VISIT Clinton is the second top US official to visit Azerbaijan in a month, following Defense Secretary Robert Gates' early June trip designed to smooth ruffled feathers and to guarantee US supply lines for Afghanistan.

Since 2001, military aircraft and supply trucks have crossed

the country carrying US and NATO forces and equipment to Afghanistan. The Pentagon wants to avoid problems that could slow Obama's 30,000troop surge.

The strains ran so deep that Gates delivered a letter to Aliyev in June from US President Barack Obama, who said he was aware of the “serious issues in our relationship” but was confident they could be addressed.

Speaking to civil society advocates, including bloggers, Clinton later said Azerbaijan had some way to go on respecting its citizens rights.

“While considerable progress has been made here, you know better than I there is work to be done,” Clinton told about a dozen young Azeris.

“There are still lots of challenges.”

Clinton said she and Obama had received letters about two Azeri bloggers who were sentenced last year to two and two and a half years in jail after a violent incident in a cafe in which the bloggers say they were the victims of an unprovoked attack.

The incident happened shortly after video blogger Adnan Hajizade posted his latest tongue-in-cheek swipe at authorities under Aliyev, in which he held a fake news conference dressed as a donkey.

Charged with hooliganism and inflicting bodily harm, their imprisonment drew concern from the European Union and widespread criticism from rights groups, with Amnesty International saying the bloggers were convicted on fabricated charges.

Gaza flotilla inquiry: Israel grants more powers ReuteRs JERUSALEM, JULY 4

Israel's cabinet granted wider powers today to a commission investigating a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, enabling the panel to compel witnesses to appear and testify under oath.

But the decision did not constitute a broadening of the inquiry's mandate to include an examination of Israeli political leaders' decision-making in ordering the May 31 interception in which nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed.

A government statement said the cabinet granted the five-man panel led by former Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel subpoena powers and that witnesses would be sworn in, effectively exposing them to perjury charges for any false testimony.

Turkel had asked the government for those specific powers and has said he would summon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Israel's military chief, Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi to appear.

Netanyahu has said he, Barak and Ashkenazi would testify.

Other military personnel are not due to appear before the panel but will be questioned in

a separate military investigation. Amid an international outcry over the raid, Israel had rejected a proposal by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for an international inquiry, but appointed two foreign observers -- David Trimble, a Northern Ireland politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Canadian ju-

rist Ken Watkin -- to the panel.

INTERNATIONAL LAW Turkel has said the commission's mandate calls for an examination of whether Israel's naval blockade of the Hamascontrolled Gaza Strip and the flotilla's interception conformed with international law.

OHERALDO

Biz12:SUNDAY-Pg-12 7/4/2010 6:53 PM Page 1

BIZ

Pg12

GOA, MONDAY, 5 JULY, 2010

E-portal for Goan handicrafts launched

The Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat taking a look at the e-portal for Goan handicrafts.

HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

Goa Handicrafts, Rural &

Mutual Fund Scheme Name A

Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd has launched an e-portal for mar-

12.15 12.15 9.21 9.21 10.65 10.65 11.30 11.31

B

Baroda Pioneer ELSS 96 24.47 Growth Fund (D) 27.86 Growth Fund (G) 49.46 Infrastructure Fund (D) 10.03 Infrastructure Fund (G) 10.03 Bharti AXA Equity Fund - Eco Plan (Bonus) 17.17 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (D) 12.08 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (G) 17.17 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (QD) 13.20 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 17.09 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 12.04 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 17.09 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (QD) 13.14 Focused Infrastructure Fund (D) 10.21 Focused Infrastructure Fund (G) 10.21 Focused Infrastructure Fund (QD) 10.21 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (D) 12.01 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (G) 22.06 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.99 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 21.99 Birla Sun Life Advantage Fund (D) 89.83 Advantage Fund (G) 153.50 Basic Industries Fund (D) 30.13 Basic Industries Fund (G) 100.40 Buy India Fund (D) 24.52 Buy India Fund (G) 40.38 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (D) 12.47 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (G) 12.47 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (D) 10.90 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (G) 10.90 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (D) 12.47 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (G) 12.47 Dividend Yield Plus (D) 14.22 Dividend Yield Plus (G) 79.55 Equity Fund (D) 71.89 Equity Fund (G) 255.64 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 22.09 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 81.94 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 12.39 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 12.39 India GenNext Fund (D) 14.36 India GenNext Fund (G) 22.09 India Opportunities Fund - Plan A (D) 18.92 India Opportunities Fund - Plan B (G) 51.95 India Reforms Fund (D) 10.22 India Reforms Fund (G) 10.22 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (D) 12.48 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (G) 17.00 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (D) 12.20 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (G) 12.71 International Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 7.88 International Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 7.88 International Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 8.72 International Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 8.72 Long Term Advantage Fund (D) 12.45 Long Term Advantage Fund (G) 13.48 Long Term Advantage Fund - Series 1(D) 12.14 Long Term Advantage Fund - Series 1(G) 12.14 Midcap Fund - Plan A (D) 25.23 Midcap Fund - Plan A (G) 107.54 Midcap Fund - Plan B (D) 13.57 Midcap Fund - Plan B (G) 13.57 MNC Fund (D) 84.83 MNC Fund (G) 197.12 Tax Plan (D) 44.98 Tax Plan (G) 12.82 Tax Relief 96 (D) 83.85 Tax Relief 96 (G) 11.31 Top 100 Fund (D) 14.38 Top 100 Fund (G) 20.71

C

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

Multicap (G)

14.96

D

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)

17.89 14.75 21.37 23.74 23.71 52.13 20.22 24.55 12.22 12.21 17.72 22.25 13.88

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 & Energy - Regular Plan (D) Natural Resources & Energy - Regular Plan (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)

16.22 74.53 12.97 15.52 25.49 36.80 12.74 16.66 12.58 13.46 48.94 15.48 10.31 10.31 19.08 46.79 15.60 13.55 13.55 28.28 81.11 15.34 16.72 12.24 16.43 23.61 32.32 20.94 93.16

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)

10.81 10.81 13.17 13.17 13.21 13.22 13.25 13.25 18.43 18.43 10.83 11.88 11.80 11.80 10.51 12.43 75.09 13.14 11.55 13.11 8.67 8.67 10.92 10.92 13.94 17.39 11.24 47.93

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) 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) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) India Bluechip Fund (D) India Bluechip Fund (G) India Flexi Cap Fund (D)

HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

keting of Goan Handicrafts.

Log on to www.ghrssidc.org or www.goanhandicrafts.com and purchase Goan handicrafts online through GHRSSIDC shopping cart. The website will provide artisans a marketing channel to sell their handicrafts.

The e portal was launched at the hands of Chief Minister of Goa, Digambar Kamat in the presence of Sameer Salgaocar, chairperson, GHRSSIDC and the Board of Directors, GHRSSIDC at a function at Maquinez Palace, Panjim, recently.

The Chief Minister appreciated GHRSSIDC's effort to provide artisans another platform to sell handicrafts through advanced technology.

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

Special offers on BSNL broadband

20.80 32.87 11.36 11.36 15.76 17.38 10.64 10.64 12.35 12.35 18.28 20.36 8.49 8.49 11.79 16.95 10.60 31.33 9.64 18.52 11.14 12.24 10.73 13.47 9.72 9.72 11.89 11.89 38.43 61.23 38.89 194.26 14.98

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)

BSNL has decided to waive off the installation charges for provision of new Broadband connections till July 31, 2010.

Also, the Home Rural Combo UL 500 plan has now been made more economical by offering a speed of 512 KBPS up to 6 GB and 256 KBPS beyond 6GB. This is for a limited period up to September 28 2010. Normally speed of 512 Kbps is available up to 4 GB only.

Some of the other home plans have also become more attractive now as the speed has been increased considerably.

BB Home UL 750 plan and BB Home Combo UL 750 plan which earlier offered speed of 256 Kbps, now offer speed of 29.59 11.98 11.98 14.10 29.34 40.99 263.07 27.00 201.13 12.67 13.69 30.93 188.13 18.99 55.79 30.98 58.55 14.00 18.03 53.33 113.37

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)

24.93 102.91 21.07 37.06 46.11 250.88 31.56 80.58 11.70 11.70 36.69 125.33 12.52 15.13 14.29 14.29 15.33 27.03 60.77 216.30 45.50 192.50 9.67 9.67 8.52 8.52 26.15 96.89 16.21 32.52 13.68 22.29 11.29 13.27 12.85 13.93 10.26 10.26

I

ICICI Pru Banking & Financial Services - Retail Plan (D) Banking & Financial Services - Retail Plan (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) 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) 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)

15.74 15.74 19.76 45.60 18.60 98.68 16.74 33.63 11.62 12.46 34.72 14.53 13.31 14.12 12.18 12.18 17.67 123.47 9.62 9.62 12.05 28.72 16.46 105.06 12.34 16.40 12.83 12.83 19.54 131.05 15.34 15.34 11.34 11.34 14.54 20.10 12.20 14.87 10.26 12.22 15.24 18.43 13.35

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)

15.46 24.12 29.77 14.34 17.38 13.19 13.33 14.61 18.24 13.73 13.74 16.86 12.31 16.86 16.04 13.69 16.04 18.95 35.82 19.83 21.82 13.58 35.97 16.40 20.64 10.53 10.53 10.75 12.02 12.02 27.94 13.76 27.90

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) JPMorgan India Equity Fund (D) JPMorgan India Equity Fund (G) JPMorgan India Smaller Companies Fund (D) JPMorgan India Smaller Companies Fund (G)

3.00 3.00 12.21 17.49 5.63 5.63 8.14 8.13 14.63 35.93 9.27 9.27 5.72 5.72 13.52 18.39 17.47 25.49 13.54 14.56 5.90 5.90 7.29 7.29 7.52 7.52 13.80 17.05 11.45 12.34 7.43 7.43

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)

30.79 97.63 18.37 20.99 11.69 11.69 8.46 8.46 7.13 7.13 10.87 12.55 16.88 24.27 14.25 44.05 11.14 11.14 10.73 17.53

L

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

9.89 9.89 6.97 10.05 16.91 35.79 9.28 13.07 7.55 7.55 21.86 37.88 14.40 18.07

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

18.72 42.74 5.80 5.80 15.24 20.74 14.17 15.25 9.32 9.32 9.98 25.32 10.87 12.25 8.57 8.57 10.08 17.71 9.95 27.78 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)

10.53 10.53 13.84 14.92 14.05 14.05 19.38 59.46

P

Principal Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Emerging Bluechip Fund (D) Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) Global Opportunities Fund (D) Global Opportunities Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Personal Tax Saver Fund PNB Long Term Equity - 3 yrs Plan - Series 1 (D) PNB Long Term Equity - 3 yrs Plan - Series 1 (G) PNB Long Term Equity - 3 yrs Plan - Series II (D) PNB Long Term Equity - 3 yrs Plan - Series II (G) Resurgent India Equity Fund (D) Resurgent India Equity Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Tax Savings Fund

16.21 21.97 23.86 30.16 14.97 14.97 23.24 51.29 18.64 27.20 93.02 11.27 11.28 11.54 11.54 12.44 87.57 12.28 13.86 74.02

Q

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

R

20.36 20.19 20.21 20.22

Reliance Banking Fund (Bonus) 86.68 Banking Fund (D) 34.59 Banking Fund (G) 86.68 Diversified Power Sector - Retail Plan (Bonus) 81.51 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (D) 48.11 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (G) 81.51 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (B) 12.18 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 12.18 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 12.18 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 14.87 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 14.87 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 14.87 Equity Linked Saving Fund - Series I (D) 14.10 Equity Linked Saving Fund - Series I (G) 14.10 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 32.81 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (D) 23.18 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (G) 32.81 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 75.62 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (D) 55.88 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (G) 455.87 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 11.35 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.35 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.35 Long Term Equity Fund (D) 15.15 Long Term Equity Fund (G) 15.15 Media & Entertainment Fund (Bonus) 28.46 Media & Entertainment Fund (D) 20.47 Media & Entertainment Fund (G) 28.46 Natural Resources Fund (Bonus) 9.63 Natural Resources Fund (D) 9.63 Natural Resources Fund (G) 9.63 NRI Equity Fund (Bonus) 37.43 NRI Equity Fund (D) 22.27 NRI Equity Fund (G) 37.43 Pharma Fund (Bonus) 53.34 Pharma Fund (D) 39.78 Pharma Fund (G) 53.34 Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (B) 11.99 Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.99 Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.99 Regular Savings Fund - Equity Option (D) 22.90

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)

29.38 15.41 19.77 44.20 42.93 263.17 5.82 5.81 6.67 6.67 13.59 17.52 11.71 11.71 12.22 15.80 12.03 12.03 11.93 11.94 8.37 8.37 13.44 13.44 13.26 13.27 10.87 10.87 13.72 16.57

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) 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)

16.96 26.81 29.31 78.17 12.21 16.70 12.64 17.21 29.91 16.00 29.91 29.91 13.20 13.20 12.01 12.01 11.12 11.12 15.83 35.52 20.68 20.68 20.00 20.00 12.36 14.19 10.06 10.06 16.17 23.95 25.94 56.54 16.16 36.41 31.08 41.19 26.32 29.52 52.81 20.43 16.94 22.09 13.41 17.66 56.65 79.78 27.59 27.48 34.59 41.86 40.10 58.83 10.94 10.94 10.69 10.69 13.11 24.88 11.10 13.61 13.75 17.30 11.56 86.56 11.92 38.87 12.03 15.24 10.35 10.35 12.91 14.18 12.54 32.25

512 Kbps.

Under plan BB Home Combo UL 1350 the speed available earlier was 512 Kbps which has now been increased to 2 MBPS up to 15 GB and 512 KBPS beyond 15 GB.

BOARD MEETINGS Clarus Finance Raasi Refrac Shiva Fert Farmax Ind Rose Merc Vishal Cotspin Galaxy Conso Sacheta Metals Zee News JJ Finance SE Investments Source: Indiainfoline.com

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)

10.83 83.57 17.78 142.26 12.86 12.86 8.32 8.32 11.24 41.92

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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)

13.81 14.79 14.34 16.30 21.91 30.77 13.32 14.36 21.67 79.27 45.72 40.07 40.52 10.80 10.80 11.66 11.66 39.31 17.30 43.26 22.03 33.46 16.97 16.97 35.50 66.67 16.50 17.53 37.56 94.66 44.48 62.00 19.22 23.95 15.01 15.01 43.41 40.44 40.18 15.10 15.09 22.41 16.80 22.42 14.12 14.07 36.93 52.46 19.61 33.09

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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) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Pharma & Healthcare Fund (D) Pharma & Healthcare Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Top 100 Fund (D) Top 100 Fund (G)

21.43 36.89 12.65 13.70 14.67 29.59 13.00 11.48 44.14 49.94 15.92 37.43 10.75 10.75 8.98 8.98 20.00 35.11 13.60 14.67 12.38 12.38 13.48 13.48 45.97 55.46 76.93 22.80 49.68 29.54 50.04 23.04 30.96 36.73 54.66 12.97 24.27 30.33 37.17 23.83 55.43 21.82 26.58

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HE RA LD

SPORTS GOA, Monday, 5 July, 2010

Nadal outclasses Berdych, reclaim crown impromptu roly poly and double fist pump towards his entourage.

A spellbinding display of brutal hitting “More than a dream for me, always and raw speed from Rafa Nadal secured a dream to play in this final,” Nadal the Spaniard his second Wimbledon said in an on-court interview. title on Sunday with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 vic“To have this trophy in my hands, tory over 12th seed Tomas Berdych. amazing. You’re (Berdych) doing an Nadal, who has not amazing season, sorry lost here since the 2007 EIGHT GRAND SLAM TITLES for today but I wish final after victory in 2008 you luck for the rest of FRENCH OPEN and injury prevented his 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 the season.” defence last year, comFrom the moment WIMBLEDON pletely nullified the Nadal bounced, weaved 2008, 2010 1.95m Czech’s biggest and stretched his way AUSTRALIAN OPEN weapons to storm to an down the corridors of 2009 eighth career Grand the All England Club to Slam and open up a cavernous lead at Centre Court like a fired-up prize the top of the world rankings. fighter, there was a sense nothing could The win, which completed a second derail the 24-year-old.

French Open-Wimbledon double in Both held their opening service three years for Nadal, came after two games to love on a bright and breezy hours and 13 minutes when his 20th day, and neither was under early presforehand winner left Berdych stranded sure, and even a male fan bellowing at the net on his first championship “I love you Rafa” could not throw the point.

Spaniard’s focus.

Nadal celebrated by slumping on Game seven turned the tone of the to his back on the baseline, holding match though, as Nadal stepped up a gear his face in his hands before embracing and Berdych’s first serve deserted him.

Berdych at the net and performing an Nadal’s forehand was starting to REUTERS LONDON, JULY 4

eat up the Berdych serve, and the Mallorcan brought the crowd to life with a searing forehand pass down the line to bring up three break points.

A cutting backhand return had the

Czech stretching and Nadal clenched his fist with stern-faced determination when Berdych’s forehand skewed out.

The pre-match build-up had focused on the Berdych forehand, which had

Rafael Nadal of Spain bites the championship trophy after beating Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in men’s singles finals of Wimbledon in London on Sunday.

dismantled six-times champion Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the last two rounds, but Nadal reminded everyone that his is the most potent weapon in the game.

Nadal held to love for 5-3 and took the second of two break points in game nine to take the opening set 63 in 34 minutes, another bullet forehand return forcing the Czech to net.

Berdych’s first serve percentage was hovering around 50, the murderous hitting that marked his progress through the draw was countered by Nadal’s chilling pace and the Spaniard quickly snuffed out any half-chances carved out by the 12th seed.

Nadal saved three break points in a 12-minute opening game of the second set, as the swirling wind started to create timing issues for both players.

Hard as he tried, Berdych could not put the Nadal serve under pressure, forehands that had been winners against Federer and Djokovic were gobbled up by the Spaniard, and there was a growing sense of frustration in the 24-year-old’s game.

It came bubbling horribly to the

Captain Dhoni ties the knot

AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JULY 4

Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni tied the nuptial knot with childhood friend Sakshi Singh Rawat on Sunday night at a private ceremony attended only by family members and

close friends, including a few of his teammates, at a farmhouse in Dehradun.

The 28-year- old wicketkeeper batsman got engaged to Sakshi, a 23-year-old hotel management student, at a private ceremony last night.

The wedding at the picturesque Vishranti Resorts at Bidhauli, about 25km from here, was strictly a private affair with only 50-60 close relatives from both the families of the bride and the groom, along with few of Dhoni's India teammates, attending.

Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, RP Singh, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma were among Dhoni's cricketer friends who were present at the wedding, according to a family member who attended the ceremony.

Owner of Chennai Super Kings, which was skippered by Dhoni in the IPL, and BCCI secretary, N Srinivasan was present at the ceremony. BCCI president, Shashank Manohar was also said to have attended the ceremony.

The wedding at the luxury resort had its share of glamour as Dhoni's friend John Abraham and director-choreographer Farah Khan graced the occasion.

The marriage rituals commenced around 8 p.m. when Dhoni on a horseback and the groom's party walked for around half a kilometer to the bride's place, located at the same resort premises.

Dhoni wore a black 'sherwani' while Sakshi was dressed up in 'churidar-pyjama'.

Tight security was thrown around the resort. The media was practically kept out of bounds and they had to station themselves at a 1-km distance from the main gate of the sprawling resort and the news relating to the wedding ceremony inside came out in trickles.

Even the select guests who attended the wedding ceremony

were seen being brought into the resort in four vehicles kept for the purpose.

A top police official said that Dhoni arrived early this morning at the farmhouse, where adequate police force has been deployed.

"We have been requested by the family members that the wedding should be totally a private affair," said the police official.

Although family sources had indicated after the engagement that the marriage will take place in October, India's tight schedule in the next few months might have prompted the preponement.

The couple is expected to host a reception in Mumbai on July 7, which also happens to be Dhoni's 29th birthday.

In Ranchi, cricket fans burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate Dhoni's wedding.

No one country should dominate ICC: Howard AGENCIES MELBOURNE, JULY 4

John Howard refuses to blame India for scuttling his bid for the ICC vice-president's job but the former Australian prime minister feels international cricket's financial powerhouse should not be allowed to dominate affairs like it does right now.

"We have to be careful of making India some kind of target of disdain in world cricket," Howard said when asked whether he considers India the primary reason for losing out on the crucial AfroAsian support for his bid. "(But) I think it is very important we understand there's got to be a fair sharing of responsibilities and no one part of the world, no one country, should dominate.”

"People in the past criticised the fact it was dominated by England and Australia and now we don't want to replace one perceived domination with another," he told Channel Nine.

"That in a way is why the ICC put in place this rotation system and that's one of the issues CA have got to take into account when it responds to what has happened," he added.

Howard said he still wants the job but it is upto Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket to consider whether he should be re-nominated.

"I'd like the job but at this stage it's

Vasco’s Koko fined by GFA l

Move for sale to Churchill

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 4

Vasco Club player Koko Sakibo has been fined Rs 5,000 by Goa Football Association (GFA) for having signed for Churchill Bros even tough he had a valid contract with Vasco Club.

Koko who is presently in Nigeria will have to return, pay the fine first and if at all intends playing for Churchill Bros will have to rescind his contract with Vasco Club, which looks quite possible. It is only after the termination of the present contract with Vasco that Koko will sign for Churchill Bros, an official stated.

Negotiations for the transfer of the player are on and it is almost certain that Koko will

partner Odafa upfront for the new season for Churchill Bros.

The transfer fee has been okayed by Vasco Club and the player is expected to be sold soon since he had a 2-year contract. “He will ultimately go to Churchill Bros, but he will have to complete the formalities,” the official stressed.

Meanwhile, big names in the form of Mahindra's Denzil Franco, Steven Dias, Mo hammed Rafi besides Dhanraj Ravanan and MP Sakeer (Viva Kerala) have also agreed to sign for Churchill Brothers SC to fill in the void of their star player Ogba Kalu Nnanna (Dempo SC), Nascimento Silveira (Chirag United SC), Reisangmi Vashum (East Bengal) and Naoba Singh.

hit a roadblock, and what happens from now on is really CA's call, it's not about me, it's about the future of the game," Howard said.

"I went into this because I love cricket very much and I had the time to devote to it and the energy and the commitment, but what happens from now on CA and New Zealand Cricket have been asked to re-nominate and they obviously separately and together will meet and talk about the situation," he added.

Howard once again expressed his disappointment at being rejected for the job and hoped CA would work out a conciliatory formula.

"They've got to pay regard to what's happened, given that we had apparently put in place a procedure for choosing by rotation the president and vice-president of the ICC, and that appears to have been pushed to one side in the last week.

"But equally they've got to look at the future of the game," he said.

Howard said India's financial might should not be viewed negatively.

"There is one part of the world where a sport at the present time remains transcendent over soccer and that is the Indian sub-continent," he said.

"The fanaticism for cricket among the 1.5 billion people in the entire region... is unbelievable and we've got to see that in a positive light," he added.

India beaten England rest KP, Swann hamburg hockey AGENCIES HAMBURG, JULY 4

The Indian hockey team fought hard but eventually ran out of steam against Olympic champion Germany to go down 3-5 in their second match of the BDO Hamburg Masters tournament at Uhlenhoster Club, here.

Bangladesh series AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 4

England have ruled batsman Kevin Pietersen out of the threematch one day series against Bangladesh starting on Thursday after he picked up a thigh injury against Australia at Lord's.

The selectors named a 13-man

squad on Sunday with Graeme Swann rested and Yorkshire seamer Ajmal Shahzad, called up last month as cover for the injured Ryan Sidebottom, retaining his place.

Kent off-spinner James Tredwell and Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott join an otherwise unchanged squad from the one that beat Australia 3-2 in the five-match series just ended.

surface in game 12 of the second set when out of the blue a slew of unforced errors gave Nadal three break points, and another errant forehand from the Berdych racket sealed the set and effectively his fate.

Berdych, watched from the Royal Box

by Jan Kodes, the only Czech man to win the title here in 1973, mixed things up with a few net forays which showed promising signs of unsettling Nadal but the Mallorcan just kept slamming the door.

Nadal saved a break point in the opening game of the third, and the pair held until Berdych, in his first slam final, served to stay in the match at 4-5.

Sensing he was only four points away from the title, Nadal went for the jugular with a trademark sidespin forehand pass to go 0-30.

Berdych battled back to deuce but the dye was cast and on his first championship point another crosscourt forehand winner settled the contest.

“It was a great two weeks for me but he was really strong today, he’s showed in the last two months he’s the champion and he deserved to win today,” Berdych said.

Dhoni continues to lead ODI batsmen ranking

St Anthony’s Sporting Club, Colva entered the finals of 34th Cana Benaulim inter-village football tournament with a narrow 5-4 win via the tie-breaker over Navelim Sporting Club at St John Baptist ground, Dando, Benaulim on Sunday.

In an entertaining encounter, Navelim Sporting Club shot into the lead as early as the third minute when Milton Gomes’ powerful shot got past the Colva goalkeeper.

Stung by the setback, St An-

thony’s Sporting Club made a desperate attempt to take the battle to the enemy camp and found success four minutes later through a penalty. Colva striker Joston Pereira was brought down by Navelim defender Richard Costa inside the penalty area and the referee without any hesitation pointed to the dreaded spot. Nelson Gomes made no mistake with the resultant spot kick to send the rival goalkeeper on the wrong way.

Crossing over Navelim Sporting Club nearly found the match-

AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 4

Leander Paes and Cara Black won the last senior title of Wimbledon 2010 beating Wesley Moodie and Lisa Raymond 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the mixed doubles.

The last year's runners-up took just 37 minutes to win the first set featuring five breaks of serve, including one for every player in the first five games.

The second set was tighter with the match going with serve, although Black and Raymond each struggled in one game. It went to a tie-break and Paes sealed victory with a volley at the net.

Paes and Black had each won the title before with different partners.

Paes has lifted the trophy twice previously - with Martina Navratilova in 2003 and Lisa Raymond in 1999 - while Black won it with brother Wayne in 2004.

Candolim prevail over Curtorim

AGENCIES MUMBAI, JULY 4

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JULY 4

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who started a new innings after marrying childhood friend Shakshi Singh Rawat in Dehradun on Sunday night, continued to top the ICC ODI batsmen chart released in Dubai.

With 807 ratting points, Dhoni is just two points ahead of South Africa's AB de Villiers in the list, which also has Sachin Tendulkar in the sixth spot.

Among others, Australia's vicecaptain Michael Clarke has climbed 10 places to the 15th position, just ahead of teammate Shane Watson who has improved his ranking by two places.

England's Paul Collingwood has improved his ranking by two places after his series contribution of 209 runs against Australia, while Andrew Strauss has moved to 39th spot after scoring 191 runs in the series.

However, Kevin Pietersen has slipped five places to 33rd spot after managing just 95 runs.

In the rankings for ODI bowlers, Australia fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris and England's off-spinner Graeme Swann have achieved career-best rankings after rocketing into the top 20 bracket.

For his nine wickets in the series, Bollinger has been rewarded with a jump of 10 places which puts him along side Kyle Mills of New Zealand in fifth position, while Harris has vaulted 21 places to claim 15th spot following his series haul of 10 wickets.

Swann, who grabbed eight wickets in the series, has leapt 15 places to sit in 17th position.

He is the third England bowler inside the top 20 behind Stuart Broad (eighth) and James Anderson (13th).

With England winning the five-ODI series 3-2 which concluded at Lord's yesterday, Strauss's side gained one place in the ICC ODI Championship to reach the fourth position just behind India, while Australia retained their position at the top of the table.

Candolim prevailed over Curtorim 2-1 in 39th Custodio memorial football tournament at Raia panchayat ground on Sunday.

Curtorim Gymkhana held sway and a Mackroy Peixoto power- packed try kissed the crossbar.

Curtorim kept up the pressure and a fine run down the centre by Mario Mascarenhas resulted in a goal in the 13th minute.

Candolim were a refreshed lot after the break and drew parity after. Roy Das darted in from the midfield, latched on to a pass from Jessel Carneiro, cleverly side-stepped advancing keeper Damaskar and placed the ball into the net. In the 35th minute, Candolim snatched the lead through J. Simoes.

Curtorim Gymkhana, des-

perate to get the equaliser, camped in the Candolim half and made frantic efforts to get a goal which were denied by goalkeeper Morje.

Towards the final stages there were minor skirmishes and frayed tempers. Two red cards were flashed to players from either side, Nelson Fernandes of Curtorim and Gauresh Shirodkar of Candolim.

On July 7, United Club of Saligao will meet Verna Sports Club.

Yesterday, Davorlim Sports beat Dramapur 2-1. There was no score at the break.

Davorlim netted through Agnelo Colaco in the 35th minute of the second half. They were awarded a penalty in the 37th minute which was neatly placed into the net by Jorex Fernandes.

Melvin Figueiredo was given a red card by the referee.

St Michael Boys in Orlim finals HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JULY 4

St Michael Boys, Orlim defeated Real Benaulim 3-1 to storm into the finals of Gumboots football tournament organised by Gumboots of Orlim at church ground, Orlim. The teams were tied 1-1 at half time.

St Michael Boys went into the lead when Fulgancio bulged the net after he received a through pass from Desmond Fernandes inside the penalty area.

Stung by the setback, Real Benaulim created many chances and repeatedly raided the rival citadel at regular intervals. They were rewarded midway in the opening session when striker Elvis Fernandes put his team on level terms

with a snap shot.

St Michael Boys were a dominant lot after the change of ends, with their for wards and midfielders working in tandem to put the rival goal under a barrage of attacks.

After a couple of misses, St Michael Boys went into the attacking mode and tormented the rival defenders with well orchestrated raids.

Joel made it 2-1 in their favour when he slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a stiff grounder.

Maclino rounded off the tally when he punished the rival goalkeeper with an adroit placement late in the second half.

St Michael Boys will meet Mad Max,Taleigao in the finals on July 6.

Priar Jugador top HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JULY 4

Street football participants at Taleigao on Sunday.

Photo: Aldrid Da Costa

St Anthony’s Sporting in finals; PY Nuvem up HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JULY 4

Leander and Cara win mixed doubles

winner when striker Sidney Colaco worked hard and unleashed a volley but the Colva goalkeeper was equal to the task to avert danger with good anticipation.

At the other end, Navelim Sporting Club goalkeeper Jonathon Faleiro was in scintillating form as he came up with superb saves to ensure his citadel remained intact till full time.

In the ensuing tie-breaker, Clifford Fernandes, Nelson Gomes, Clyde Pacheco and Leslie Fernandes were on target for St

Anthony’s Sporting Club while Jaison Pereira, Richard Costa and Reuters D’Costa converted for Navelim Sporting Club.

Yesterday, Parish Youth, Nuvem defeated Varca Sports Club 2-1 to enter the semi-finals.

Parish Youth earned an early lead in the 8th minute when Gammy D’Costa received a pass from his own half and unleashed a powerful shot which crashed into the net giving no chance to the Varca goalkeeper.

Spurred by the early goal, Parish Youth piled on the pressure and created umpteen

chances. They nearly doubled the lead when Gammy D’Costa’s free kick hit the crossbar much to the disappointment of the Nuvem supporters.

Stung by the early goal, Varca Sports Club regrouped quickly and took the fight to the rival camp and their persistent forays fetched them dividends just five minute before the lemon break when Villroy D’Cruz scored a gem of a goal after he received a beautiful pass from Vilroy Marques. The former turned around and unleashed a snap shot which caught the rival goalkeeper nap-

ping.

Crossing over, Parish Youth put up a better performance.

They came close to scoring twice but midfielder Remy Colaco and Rollin Borges tries missed the target narrowly.

After much probing, it was Parish Youth who scored the match- winner ten minutes before the long whistle when Rollin Borges tapped it home off a pass from Queitero Pango.

Varca Sports Club went all out in search of the equaliser but failed to get past the rival rearguard.

Jugador de Priar defeated Beach Boyz 4-3 in the first 5-a-side street football tournament organised by Sofla Boys at Taleigao on Sunday.

A part of the road near Ideal HS was blocked to incorporate this exciting style of football which is popular in Brazil. Loudspeakers were playing the waka waka song to create a carnival experience while some players played barefoot enthralling the onlookers while vehicles halted to watch the event.

Organiser Gavin Araujo speaking to Herald said, “This is a fast paced game which requires a good deal of skill to win. Players such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Robinho were brought up playing this style of football on the streets of Brazil."

Gavin is hoping that street football catches on in Goa as you do not need any expensive equipment to play - just a ball and a set of handball goalposts.

The game can be played all year round as the surface is made of concrete unlike grass pitches.

Bhopal maul Goa senior hockey HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 4

Goa were mauled by Bhopal 71 in the 63rd Senior National Hockey Championship in Bhopal tonight.

Goa dominated the first 15 minutes, scoring a goal within the first minute, but it was disallowed.

Bhopal, coached by legendary Dhyan Chand’s son, Ashok Kumar, hugged Goa team coach Kapil Kholi after the match and praised the Goa boys for putting a befitting display. The lone goal

for Goa was scored by Khyber Khan.

Goa will play Himachal Pradesh tomorrow.

16th Muriel Faleiro memorial soccer inaugural: Nuvem Sports Club v. Don Bosco Oratory, Fatorda, Nuvem church ground, 4.30 p.m.

careers & education:Layout 1 6/30/2010 4:25 PM Page 1

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OHERALDO

CAREERS & EDUCATION

GOA, Monday, 5 July 2010

Watching Blind Photography

I

By Christina Pinto

n life, there are experiences that challenge your thinking, allowing an entire new perspective of what is already known. When I first heard of a unique aspect of photography for the blind, there was a niggling doubt about the very existence of such a form of creative expression. Once I was convinced, it was a task to persuade others to believe in it and I was subject to a heavy grilling.

The entire basis of photog-

raphy is judging light, colour, shadow and the objects in the scene; all is made possible with sight. It is with good fortune that I met a man, who demonstrated what the mind can overcome when the heart is willing.

Mr. Dharmarajan Iyer took the initiative and refused to relinquish his right as a photographer, not when there lingered a creative spark in him. He continues to indulge in photography, a cherished hobby, learning to rely on his other senses instead of the one he had lost.

There are others like him in the city of Mumbai, who has taken up photography for what it invokes in them. Normalcy and the added strength to their selfconfidence, as well as some semblance of independence.

Moreover, the most important reason is for the blind to express themselves to the world because they too have visions of beauty

and grandeur.

My study group spent the entire day with him, watching his display that was a feat to behold; most people only enjoyed such stories via second-hand accounts found in the human-interest sections of magazines or newspapers.

He went about it the way he conducts his life, depending on imagination and his other senses. It is clear in his photographs that talent replaces sight in the endeavour to capture stilllife.

He needed some assistance, the direction of the structure and the alignment of the camera but the rest was his own doing.

Judging facets like the feel of light, sound and movement, he deduced when it was time to click.

The results are impressive.

Sometimes it required multiple tries but he never allowed the struggle to deter him from his goal of capturing art on film.

Losing sight is hard enough but to lose one’s ability to articulate the inner artistic merit, any artist will tell you, it can be devastating. Moreover, without an outlet to vent, it can leave a person feeling hollow and empty. Hence, they pursue what many regard as ‘impossible’ because to do otherwise, would be to give up on a part of their own self.

Mr Dharmarajan Iyer is an affable, easy-going man who

O

Oral Health Care –II

btaining admissions to the Dental Colleges in India, is as difficult as it is to secure admissions to Medical Colleges teaching ‘main stream’ medicine.

EDUCATION

chose to venture into the unknown because he had been a photographer for a long time before he lost his sight. A love for travel, he relishes flipping through his photography albums as they are the best reminisces of everything he had experienced on the excursions. He said, “It gives pleasant memories of the past!”

It is insignificant that he may be unable to view the pictures but for close friends and family, he can share the wonderful memories with them and that is his motivation.

An ordinary man with an ordinary passion for travel, photography and structural buildings. He photographed the building of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, he was aiming for it but then, his keen sense of hearing heard the sound of an incoming bus and he decided to change direction.

It shows how invested he is in

his surroundings; his ability to make a split-second decision produced a good photograph of a bus.

It is not an easy journey but one well worth taking; the next stop was the Gateway of India.

He needed from me to follow specific directions, the angle, feet and the direction and position from the monument. These simple measurements total to the desired picture.

For someone, who has never felt the need to measure, it suddenly is apparent how the simple pleasures of life are taken for granted.

Mr Dharmarajan Iyer has no plans on ever giving up photography without a valid reason, but until such time, he will do what he loves. Life is short and anything that brings such happiness and interest in life is worth full involvement, it is his belief.

It is not an uncommon phenomenon, handicaps are irrelevant in certain people’s decision to accomplish their goals or fulfil their dreams. There is the instance of a free-spirited woman, who lives her life and looks after her family, and she does this despite the absence of the lower half of her body.

The important aspect of their lives is that they are defined by their competence and not what they are without. Furthermore, restrictions do not exist for people who share the empowering mindset, in their view; the world exists as a place of unlimited opportunities.

Eligibility: Students who have passed 10+2 or HS or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, securing minimum 50% marks. Students opting for Masters in dentistry is selected on the basis of general, nationwide competitive examination. The All India Pre-Medical / Pre-Dental Entrance Exam conducted by the CBSE is common for both the MBBS and the Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS).

Selection: Admission to graduate courses in dentistry is through a general, nationwide

competitive examination. The All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Exam conducted by the CBSE is common for both the MBBS and the Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS) . The allocation of institutions is based on merit. Other than the centrally run medical institutions there is at least one dental college in most states, where admission is governed by domiciliary status.

A merit waiting list up to a number of 1 to 2000 is made on the base of marks obtained in the Exam. The candidates are assigned their merit list and choice. There are also private colleges which under the management quota admit students on an all India basis. But to be eligible for practice, one must

ensure that the course chosen is approved by the Dental Council of India. Aiwan-E-Galib Marg, Kotla Road, Temple Lane, New Delhi – 110002 Phone : 91-11-23238542, 91-

tating internship. Subjects such as basic anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and microbiology are covered in the first two years.

Specialization in dentistry and hands on training are provided in the last two semesters. Those who have completed the BDS

By Maria de Lima Pereira should be registered to practice dentistry by the 11-23236740 Dental Council of India. An MDS Fax: 91-11-23231252 (Masters in Dental Science) reWebsite: http://www.dciin- quires two years of additional dia.org/ training. The annual fees may Dentists earn their certifica- range from 1 to 3 lakhs and the tion with courses in anatomy, private institutions under manclinical sciences, microbiology, agement quota may charge 5 to and physiology. In the last two 10 lakhs as capitation fee. years of training, students treat patients in supervised clinical Where Dentistry is a lucrative professettings.

After graduation, a new den- sion, and many dentists prefer tist may work to be in private practice, as it for a few years provides the best financial with an estab- prospects as well as greater inlished dentist. dependence.

Private practitioners work eiIn most states, the actual li- ther alone, often setting up a censing exam clinic on their own premises, or includes writ- in partnership with colleagues, ten and practi- sharing resources and overc a l heads.

They also work in hospitals, examinations.

A d v a n c e - under the designation of Dental ment generally Surgeon. This could either be c o n s i s t s o f in a general hospital, as part of b u i l d i n g a the Government Medical Corps; client base, but with one of the services, like t h o s e w h o the Railways or the Military; or wish to teach even a company or private hosor conduct re- pital. search can spend an addi- Remuneration tional 2 to 5 In government hospitals offers years in ad- nearly Rs 6,000 a month to a freshly trained dentists along vance dental with allowances. In private hostraining and pitals the earning ranges from specialty edu- Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 whereas c a t i o n p r o - Postgraduate degree holders grams. can expect to start on Rs 7,000 Duration : upwards. Dental surgeons can The BDS (Bach- earn handsome sum by private elor of Dental practicing.

Science) deThe consultation charges gree p r o - starts from Rs.500 for cosmetic gramme is a 4 filling and can be exceed to years course 50,000 depending upon the nadivided into 4 ture of dental problem the paparts each of 1 tient is undergoing. A well years duration, established dentist can make f o l l o wed by around Rs.20,000 - 1,00,000 or one year of ro- more per month.

Scripting A Success Story Onward and Upward: Ask for a Promotion

By Caetano de Abreu

T

he commercial success story is not to be measured by a yardstick of patronage but by the unlimited efforts and unstinted diligence rendered to make that dream to become an absolute reality.

It is to be considered that there are no remunerations paid ad valorem for the time and efforts that one has put in to achieve success in his venture because more often than not the enterprise which one had dreamt about and hoping that the same will be rendered fruitful, without any consistency may turn into an utter fiasco, or in modern terminology one may say a total dud. Nevertheless, one must keep the options wide open and venture into that unknown or known milieu with confidence and full faith in one’s ability and enterprising zest to overcome all the obstacles and be confidante that luck favors the brave and thus encrypt a success story.

To be your own boss you must weigh the options placed before you and accordingly embark into the project which might be your downfall (if you are careless] or be the ultimate winner. I am stating that joys of being your own boss are unlimited, with success depending on your own effort and the chartered success is the resulting denomination over a job well done. However to achieve all that one must dream big and never in small measures as the law of average states that one who dreams small will remain smaller hence if you dream big at least a substantial quantity will come your way.

It’s said that Small Scale In-

dustries (SSIs) and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are fast becoming the Power Houses of Indian Economy and the forces to reckon with. Small Industries and Businesses, which earlier were the non-entity words in most of the Industrial Countries, are today flaunting their newly acquired wealth while simultaneously providing employment to the less privileged (which is imposing lesser onus on the Government over the employment front) to embark onto that road of prosperity.

The development of small enterprises as reported, has been considered as a safety valve for

a progressive country although there are discussions on productivity aspects of these enterprises with one end pointing total liberalization and deregulation of small enterprise economy based on concept of competitiveness , while the other end advocating uninterrupted conventional role for the State where small enterprise development is largely considered as a part of the welfare activities of the State. However we can ignore this aspect of scenario and consider what is suitable for us.

It is further reported that these enterprises is a growth engine sector of the economy with its contribution to the GDP estimated at 40 per cent while on its exports It is abutting to over 50 per cent and by employing nearly 4 crores of people.

These enterprises lead to en-

* Do you have an opinion on important issues affecting Goa, India and the world ? Are aged between 18-30 years? Have your say.

Help make a difference. Send in your articles within 500 to 900 words to

Youth Voice

C/o Education & Careers Herald Publications Pvt. Ltd. Rua Sao Tome Panjim Goa 403001 Email: junioryouth @herald-goa.com

trepreneurial development and diversification in the Industrial Sector, while also enhancing depth to the Industrial base of the economy. With the Government committed to promote this sector through infrastructural needs, skill set entrepreneurship development and technological up gradation, is the right time now to venture into this foreseen sector.

However what you may want to do, finances are definitely the deciding factor to set up any resourceful enterprise and for that the same can be made available from variety of financial institution like the following; 1. Small Industries Development Bank of India (refinance and direct lending); 2. State Level Financial Corporation; 3. National Small Industry Development Corporation; 4. Small Industry Development Corporation; 5. Commercial/Co-operatives Banks; 6. District Industry Centre. Long-andMedium term loans are provided by SFCs, SIDBI and SIDC. Banks also finance term loans as this is required to fund purchase of land, construction of the factory plant/shed, and procuring machinery and equipment. Short Term loans are necessary for working capital requirements to fund the purchase of raw materials and consumables, payment of wages and other immediate manufacturing and administrative expenses. It is to be said that acceptance or rejection of any loan application is subjective to Terms and Conditions applicable to the Bank.

It can be said that success of the venture lies in your hands as when decided there will no horses to curtail what you have set your mind to do, so why not gp for it once all the formalities are completed and the Clearances obtained and be the Master of your own life.

* Those interested in sending queries on careers can write to:

career Quest

C/o Education & Careers Herald Publications Pvt. Ltd. Rua Sao Tome Panjim Goa 403001 Email: junioryouth @herald-goa.com

Y

ou know you want it. But do you deserve it? Asking for a promotion can be a challenge, to say the least. Telling your boss you want to move onward and upward can be intimidating and downright scary. You have to go into the conversation with a plan of attack. Try following these simple steps when asking for a step up at work.

Know Why You Deserve It

A promotion is not a gift. It’s not typically handed out based on how long you’ve been with a company or how much you want it. Promotions are earned. They are based on tangible qualities and achievements. Be prepared to share the things that make you deserving of a promotion and be specific. If you’ve received some high quality compliments from clients, take note.

If your work has resulted in increased sales, decreased costs, or improved employee morale, explain what you did and what kind of impact it had. Whenever possible, bring evidence. Sales reports and customer surveys are excellent visual aids.

A word of caution: don’t ever expect that you deserve a promotion because you’re

bored or because you’ve been loyal to the company. These reasons are not compelling.

Convince your boss by showing that you’ve made an impact on your current position and you have the ability and desire to do the same thing in another capacity. Show respect for your current position and share how much you’ve enjoyed it and learned from it. Try not to focus on why you want to leave what you’re doing. Instead, focus on why you want to try something new.

ent. Share your goals with your boss and communicate your willingness to explore new opportunities.

Know What You Want

In many companies, you’ll find a wide variety of career opportunities. Consider which ones you’re interested in before

which position you’ll accept.

Remember that sometimes, you may have to take something that isn’t necessarily ideal, just as a way to get your foot in the door. Don’t be above that! It’s a perfectly common thing in business.

Many

Be Direct

Don’t beat around the bush when asking for a promotion. Don’t try to drop subtle hints thinking that your boss should pick up on it. Be straight forward and let him or her know when you feel ready to move onward and upward.

Don’t wait for the offer to be made. Many times, people assume that you’re content if you don’t say anything differ-

discussing it with your boss. You don’t want to get pushed into accepting a position you don’t really want.

A promotion should fit your needs as well as the company’s. Be clear about what position you would like, and

times, you will be asked to take on new responsibilities as a way of testing out your abilities. This may or may not include a pay raise.

Carefully consider your goals and how what is being offered will help you reach them. If you need to take

some time to think about it, do so. You should be under no pressure to make a snap decision. However, it definitely helps the negotiation process if you know what you’re willing to accept before you start the conversation.

Express Yourself

Don’t leave your boss in the dark. Share your goals and how you envision your career path. It’s ok to also share financial goals and dreams. Tell your boss that you want to own a house in the next three years. Ask what you can do to help yourself achieve this goal. Remember that you and your boss are partners in this. Your success is the company’s success. Make your definition of success clear and, most likely, your boss will help you achieve it. If not now, there will always be other opportunities for promotion. Don’t get discouraged if the timing isn’t right this time. With your career goals clearly verbalized, your boss will be on lookout to help you move onward and upward.

Dealing with Personality Conflicts at Work Dealing with Personality Conflicts

P

ersonality conflicts at work happen to everyone eventually. Unless you work at a job that completely cuts you off from contact with any other human being, the problem is simply inevitable.

Any kind of healthy workplace communication, such as a conversation, a memo or a presen-

tation, requires a basic set of communication skills. These skills are usually automatic and require no conscious thought to perform. However, when it comes to personality conflicts, you need consciously focus on specific communication skills that can help resolve the problem.

When it comes to personality conflicts at work, major issues must be resolved to preserve a productive work environment.

Avoiding the person or leaving the situation may not be possible and you must find a way to solve the problem for the safety of your job. You’re going to need to use a calm approach, basic conflict negotiations and nonconfrontational statements for the best results.

Think things through. Before you try any conflict resolution tactics with a co-worker, you need to understand the issues.

Reflect on what things the person is doing that bother you and reflect on what things you may be doing that bother your co-worker. Come up with ideas on how the two of you could compromise to make things less

stressful.

Keep calm. It’s vital to keep calm and collected during any kind of conflict negotiations.

Shouting, bullying, attacking or belittling a co-worker is going to make you look bad while making the personality conflict much worse.

Even if things go poorly, a person who acts calm and mature is going to garner much more respect than a person who acts childish.

Use non-confrontational language. How you word things during a conflict negotiation is very important. Accusing statements, such as “You act like you’re the boss,” is going to automatically put people on the defensive. Factual statements, such as “I feel as if you act like you’re the boss sometimes” prevent someone from going on the defensive. While someone may argue that they don’t act a certain way, they cannot argue

that you don’t feel like they act a certain way.

Find a compromise. The only way to resolve a personality conflict at work is to find a compromise you both can follow to develop a healthier working relationship. You need to be flexible and try to see things from your co-worker’s point of view so that the two of you can create a fair compromise.

However, you don’t need to be a pushover and concede to things that you believe are unfair or impractical.

Keep it private. Few things spread through a workplace faster than a common cold or office gossip. Regardless of how your conflict negotiations turn out, you need to keep your opinions and feelings to yourself.

Gossip or people taking sides only aggravate personality conflicts at work. The best way to keep the issue small is to keep it private.

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OHERALDO

Pg15

Goa Monday 5 July 2010

www.oheraldo.in

Just another in the crowd

By Teamea Francisca

E

ver wondered what life would be if you were unable to move around? You may have experienced it when you were ill and advised to stay in bed all day. ‘When can I get out with my friends?’ is a question that would have been surely running through your mind many times. Well, I live life like that every single day and if you ever stop to think what life might be like for me, you may perhaps not be able to actually imagine how much fun it can be. Hey! I haven’t told you who I am, I’ve been simply rattling off as you look at me waiting for the bus.

I am the little paving block on the footpath. Someone so lost in the crowd like so many others that you may not even be able to confidently single me out from the others if you come by tomorrow. Of course, if you ever notice the yellow spot on me at the corner, you may just remember. Ha-ha. But that’s temporary; a lady waiting for the bus happened to drop a packet of haldi on me yesterday and a little spilled out. A few rains and the stain will wash off. Yeah you could count my location from the edge with reference to the pole and would know. But hey! why are we even going into all those details, its not like you are going to stop to

talk unless, like today you aren’t with your bunch of friends.

Anyway getting back to life as an interlocking paving block has its highs and lows, like for everyone else.

What would life be without those, right? And yes, I do get walked on all the time, but that’s my job, my duty, it’s the reason why I am here. And honestly I’m built to take the loads of people and objects on the path so it’s no big deal really. And all day I get to catch the city as its moves. There are interesting bits of conversation that I overhear when people stop to chat up, there are flying words as people pass by and I have a lot of fun joining random words and making stories. Oh that’s real fun you should try it sometimes.

What’s even more fun is when vehicles get into the pot hole by the road and make a little splash of water onto the pavement! I just love that. And as interlocking pavers we are so united it’s amazing, we keep each other warm, we hold on to each other and that’s really special.

If there’s one thing I don’t

T

Photo by Joegoauk5 like, is when youngsters spit out chewing gum onto the pavement and its gets all sticky! Eeew! I don’t like that at all. And I am sure you don’t like chewing gum on your shoes either. Well we’d all be so much better off if everyone just spat the gum into a piece of paper and then disposed it, not on the street of course. If there’s no bin in sight, it’s advisable to put it into your bag or pocket or hold onto it until you get to one. The same with biscuit packs and the like.

You may think, what difference you would make as one in the crowd of so many others who throw things on the road. Well it’s like a paving block on the pavement, it’s because each one stays holding on to the other that the pavement remains in order.

The moment one gets out of the block the pavement slowly starts getting fragmented. I don’t know if you’ve noticed that there is no cement to hold the blocks together. It’s all a matter of each one doing their job to hold the pavement as it should be. So is it with the garbage outside our homes (I say outside because everyone is very conscious of their own living space and not really concerned about the public). There may be no rules that hold us, but if each of us does our part we can make our neighbourhood a pleasant place to walk in, to enjoy.

Life is enjoyed if lived with the right attitude and belief.

Don’t ever think you are just another block in the pavement. You are the one that can make a difference!

The Bee and Jupiter A Bee from Mount Hymettus, the queen of the hive, ascended to Olympus to present Jupiter some honey fresh from her combs. Jupiter, delighted with the offering of honey, promised to give whatever she should ask. She therefore besought him, saying, "Give me, I pray thee, a sting, that if any mortal shall approach to take my honey, I may kill him." Jupiter was much displeased, for he loved the race of man, but could not refuse the request because of his promise. He thus answered the Bee: "You shall have your request, but it will be at the peril of your own life. For if you use your sting, it shall remain in the wound you make, and then you will die from the loss of it."

Moral: Evil wishes, like chickens, come home to roost.

The Sick Kite A Kite, sick unto death, said to his mother: "O Mother! do not mourn, but at once invoke the gods that my life may be prolonged." She replied, "Alas! my son, which of the gods do you think will pity you? Is there one whom you have not outraged by filching from their very altars a part of the sacrifice offered up to them?'

Moral: We must make friends in prosperity if we would have their help in adversity.

Pooh Mehak Shah(11), Std VII, Pope John XXIII HS., Quepem

A Joker Serena Mascarenhas (9), Std III, St Therese’s HS, Vasco

Climbing Coconut Tree Elroy Fernandes (9) , Std III, St Anthony’s HS, Galgibaga

Fight For Freedom Gleeson L Menezes(9), Std IV, Regina Mundi HS., Chicalim

entrY ForM MonGinis creative Me NAME: AGE:

STD:

Phone:

SCHOOL: HOME ADDRESS:

MONGINIS TWO BEST CREATIVE ME ENTRIES  Elroy Fernandes (9) , Std III, St Anthony’s HS, Galgibaga wins a gift voucher of Monginis worth Rs. 125/-

Leann Pereira (10), Std IV, Fatima Convent HS., Margao Panjim wins a gift voucher of Monginis worth Rs. 75/-

rules?-Ii Why do we have rules?-II

here are rules to be followed in every aspect of our lives. Rules for health Lots of rules help to keep us healthy. At school there are rules about eating healthy foods and for brushing our teeth after meals and washing our hands after play time.

Brushing our teeth keeps our teeth healthy, avoiding tooth decay and keeps our breath fresh. Washing our hands regularly reduces the chance of us getting sick or catching diseases.

We have bedtime rules to make sure we get enough sleep so that we are bright and healthy the next day.

Rules for road safety and public transport Many rules help to keep us safe. Road rules help to prevent accidents and keep traffic moving smoothly. Imagine if there are no speed rules, or no traffic light rules or no rule about which side of the road to drive on, there would be chaos and horrible accidents. Similarly we must wear helmets on all roads, to prevent injury to our head, not because there is a policeman watching. There are road rules for pedestrians too Pedestrians should walk facing the traffic so they can look out better. People should use footpaths when available and pedestrian crossings to cross busy roads and one should always look left and right before crossing.

There are rules for travelling on buses and other forms of public transport. When we travel on a bus we must pay for the fare and insist on a ticket. There are also rules how we should behave while on board. Inside trains and buses there are signs that show the rules and it usually include “no smoking” etc.

Rules for games Most games have rules. We

need to follow them so that the game works and that it is fair for everyone playing.

Board games have rules, which helps to explain how to play the game.

They are usually printed on a sheet of paper with the game.

Sport games have rules, otherwise some may cheat and there is no joy in playing fairly.

Rules for the environment There are lots of rules that help us to look after the environment. We should never drop litter even if there are no nearby bins and we should keep the rubbish until we find a bin. Imagine if people threw banana peels around, someone could get seriously hurt!

Plastics dumped carelessly destroy the beauty of the place, and also retain rainwater which can breed mosquitoes. We should not cut trees unnecessarily because they provide shade and life giving oxygen

and keep the place cool.

Rules for respecting property Property is the things people own. There are rules about how we should treat other people’s property. We must not steal as stealing causes a loss and lots of distress to another besides breaking trust.

If we borrow or use something that belongs to someone else we must have the owner’s permission. Similarly there must be respect for public property, because it belongs to all of us now and future generations. Imagine if someone broke the seats on the train, or damaged the streetlights. When our turn came we would have no seat to sit on, and would have to walk in the dark. Hence we must look after it like our own and take extra care, because so many other people will use it.

We should take good care of our own property too.

We might have rules for where we keep our things and how we look after things like bikes and toys.

If we do that we will be able to find them easily the next time, and they will also last longer.

Rules for customs and traditions Some customs and traditions have rules. For example it is a rule for Catholics to go for mass on Sunday, to do poojas whilst Lord Ganesh is in our house or if we are Muslims to pray five times a day. Many times we may not know the reason why the rule is there, because the reason is forgot-

ten. But what is important is that we respect others sentiments and trust in the wisdom of our elders as long as it does not cause harm.

Conclusion Thus rules are sign posts and are there to help us behave well. They can help to keep us safe and help to keep things fair for everyone and help us complete tasks well.

They allow the world to be a fairer place especially for those disadvantaged.

Rules however are guidelines, and invite us to participate for the greater good of everyone. They should not be treated as a long list of “should”, “musts” or “ought tos”. Every rule will always have exceptions, which is why the spirit and meaning of any law is important to imbibe if we want others to follow it.

But the important thing is we must respect the rules of the place we are in for our sakes and everyone else’s or in other words the “Golden Rule”, do unto others as you would expect them to do for you.

If everyone follows it, the world would truly become a better place for you and for me and the entire human race!

Children Playing Tanvi Raut Dessai (12), Std VII, The New Educational Institute Chandor

A Bird Leann Pereira (10), Std IV, Fatima Convent HS., Margao

A Sunny Day Rhea Petra Correia, UKG, The Rosary School, Miramar

Colour Me

Pg16

GOA, Monday, 5 July, 2010

I

t has long been seen as the magic number in football, but the number 10 shirt has failed to live up to its star billing at the South African World Cup. Wearing the number ten on your back has earned exalted, almost sacred, status over the years thanks not least to the exploits first of Pele with Brazil, then Diego Maradona with Argentina with Zinedine Zidane reprising the role in 1998.

But while what the Brazilians call the 'dez' and the Argentines the 'diez' has taken on iconic stature, the current generation have thus far failed to live up to

Number 10 flops their forebears.

Brazil number ten Kaka had hoped to engrave his name in the World Cup hall of fame despite coming into the tournament on the back of an injury-plagued, below par season at Real Madrid.

But his showing remained obstinately on a lower plane as the Brazilians never hit the heights of Pele's generation, bowing out meekly to the Dutch after Kaka again failed to hit the target.

Three assists and no goals was not what fans of the auriverde had been demanding.

As for Lionel Messi, the record books will show that his second World Cup finals ended in similar ignonimity as his first.

In 2006, he was left on the bench as Germany beat Argentina on penalties.

This time, he failed to live up to his billing as the world's greatest player continually running down blind alleys as the Germans this time thrashed his countrymen 4-0.

As for England, Geoff Hurst set the historical bar sky high with his hattrick in the 1966 final.

But fast forward four decades and this year's vintage, Wayne Rooney, endured a turgid tour-

nament which saw him produce plenty of toil but with little reward.

The Manchester United terrier - scourge of English Premier League defences - saw the event completely pass him by as England struggled through the group stages before crashing out with a record loss to the Germans.

Meanhile, a detailed look at other squads from title-winning nations who disappointed shows that France and Italy also suffered from poor number ten showings with Sidney Govou and Antonio di Natale respectively not in the same league as

Zidane or 1994 finalist Roberto Baggio.

For the United States, Landon Donovan did what he could as he sought to carve out a personal number ten story worthy of the name with his three goals while Diego Forlan continues to prove his class for Uruguay.

But neither is likely to be talked about in the same breath as a Pele, a Maradona, a Hurst or a Zidane.

As for other pretenders to the number ten crown, Cesc Fabregas would walk into most teams - but Spain believe they can keep a man even of his surpreme talents on the bench most of the

time.

The Barcelona man, who at least played half an hour in Saturday's quarter-final win over Paraguay, rarely gets the chance to press his case.

At least he is still at the tournament - and so is Holland's Wesley Sneijder, star of a famous win over Brazil in the quarters, who has now scored four goals in South Africa.

The Dutch have been bridesmaids at this level for too long - witness their 1974 and 1978 final losses - so it now falls to the Inter Milan star to keep alive the legend of the perfect ten. (AFP)

Kaka was not fit for duty: doc AFP RIO DE JANEIRO, JULY 4

Argentina coach Diego Maradona, right, followed by his daughter Giannina, talks with German supporters.

Maradona in post-match altercation with Germans AGENCIES PRETORIA, JULY 4

Immediately after Argentina's 4-0 quarter-final loss to Germany on Saturday, Maradona was understandably upset. And according to Argentina's Diarios y Noticias, he let a group of German fans know it. A translation of their report: Argentina national team coach Diego Maradona had an altercation with German fans after the end of the match that

Del Bosque revels in history AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 4

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque was in jubilant mood after his team made history by reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.

And the quiet and unassuming Del Bosque then spoke of his joy ahead of Wednesday's last four duel with Germany in Durban.

"I believe in what we're doing here and reaching the semi-final represents a great moment for Spanish football," he said.

"We're amongst the four best teams in the world. It's fantastic to be playing Germany again, we beat them in the last European Championships (final).

"Germany and Spain are amongst the elite in the world.

Three European teams in the last four in this tournament speaks volumes for European football."

Technically it is the first time Spain will play in the semi-finals although back in 1950 they did qualify for the final group stage of four teams, finishing bottom and fourth, but back then there were only 13 teams in the tournament compared with the 32 of today.

But Del Bosque now stands on the brink of becoming a legend in his home country following on from his remarkable success at Real Madrid.

"It's an absolutely marvellous time for Spanish football, we've seen this not just now but due to a number factors Spanish football is now at the very top and we're very happy of course," he said.

"We didn't play a terribly good match but we have the necessary resources to face any opponent, including Germany."

Spain were far from their best against the South Americans, with their usual fluid passing game failing to click, but Del Bosque insisted that was due to their opponents.

marked the elimination of said team from the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Apparently upset over post game celebrations by fans located behind the Argentinean bench, Maradona approached and scolded them, until Dalma, one of his daughters, entered the field and contained him.

It's a shame the man who has entertained us all over the last few weeks with his exuberance and delightful antics

had to get involved in something like this. He would go on to say that this loss was "the most disappointing moment in my life" which shows just how devastated he must have been as he walked off the pitch and saw German fans in red and yellow wigs partying like it's Oktoberfest in July right behind him.

A sad end for the most interesting man of the tournament. Or anywhere else.

Brazil team doctor Jose Luiz Runco admitted Sunday that star midfielder Kaka, who failed to shine at the World Cup, was not properly fit and wouldn't have played at a lesser event.

"Maybe in other situations Kaka would not have played even the World Cup, but he really wanted to be there," said Runco as the squad touched down in Rio following their flight back from South Africa.

Kaka came into the tournament on the back of a disappointing season with Real Madrid which was marred by thigh problems which forced him to miss more than six weeks of the season.

And when he did play the 65 million-euro summer signing from AC Milan did not hit the heights, prompting him to admit that he had himself not been happy.

"I suffered a lot since I got injured," the 2007 world and European footballer of the year told journalists.

Fans were not impressed and whistles and jeers were aimed in his direction during Real's defeat by Lyon in the last 16 of the Champions League in March.

But he shrugged it all off.

"They did it in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with Milan ... it happens to all players. The fans are very emotional," he said.

Kaka failed to score in the World Cup and was also redcarded, albeit unjustly, in the group win over Ivory Coast.

13 lucky for Ooijer AFP PORT ELIZABETH, JULY 4

Andre Ooijer may be approaching his 36th birthday, but 13 is proving his lucky number as he helps the Netherlands close in on a first World Cup title.

The 35-year-old defender drew on all of his experience to recover from a 10th-minute error that gave Brazil the lead in Friday's quarter-final before superbly marshalling a Dutch defence which proved the bedrock of a 2-1 win.

Ooijer was not even meant to be on the pitch in Port Elizabeth, but received a last minute call when Joris Mathijsen pulled up injured in the warm-up and coach Bert van Marwijk gave the nod to the veteran defender.

"I wasn't nervous," said Ooijer, who had a spell with English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers before returning to PSV Eindhoven.

"I am no longer 18-years-old, I am almost 36 (he will be on the day of the final).

"The only thing that got to me, is the number 13 on my shirt. But it finally brought me good luck."

This is Ooijer's third World Cup finals, but it almost came to a premature end when Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura ran towards him in the 76th minute of Friday's game brandishing

a red card, only to replace it with a yellow.

Ooijer, who could well end up playing in Tuesday's semi-final against the Uruguayans in Cape Town, at least had the time to share a relieved laugh with the Japanese official.

But he set all those ups and downs from the match aside to revel in what he sees as a real possibility of the Dutch burying their record of never winning the World Cup. Their best finishes remain successive final appearances in 1974 and 1978.

"I am the daddy of this squad," he said proudly. "I feel there is a lot of maturity among my young team-mates. I am absolutely convinced that this team can become world champions."

Being part of the first Dutch team to win the World Cup would be the perfect reply to PSV management who relegated him to the reserves last season and subsequently opted not to offer him a new contract.

Ooijer says, though, he has no intention of hanging up his boots and has attracted interest from a Cypriot club. "For the moment, I am without a club. That has affected me, but now, that is a thousand miles away from my mind."

Iniesta looks to Germany rematch AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 4

Spain playmaker Andres Iniesta said he was looking forward to the World Cup semi-final against Germany after being named man-of-the-match in Saturday's victory.

David Villa scored the only goal of the game to move clear at the top of the World Cup goalscoring charts with his fifth strike.

But it was his new Barcelona team-mate Iniesta who got the fans' vote for the best performance in the Ellis Park stadium as it was his run through the core of the South Americans' defence that created the winner.

And now he can't wait to renew rivalries with Germany, whom Spain beat 1-0 in the Euro 2008 final in Vienna two years ago.

"We'll be playing Germany again but I don't think what happened two years ago will have any bearing on the game," he said of Wednesday's semis.

"Germany have had a brilliant World Cup so far and regardless of their excellent results they're also playing very well.

"It must be a tremendous motivation for them but we too are at the top of our game.

"We're keen to progress further, it will be a match between two teams that like to keep ball and I think it will be a great match."

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GOA, Monday, 5 July, 2010

Paraguay expect FIFa apology for ‘goal’, penalty

n Martino was angered by a pair of decisions that went against his team and potentially cost them victory.

AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 4

Paraguay coach Gerard Martino claimed he was expecting an apology from FIFA following his team's 1-0 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to Spain at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Martino was angered by a pair

of decisions that went against his team and potentially cost them victory.

In the first half Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez put the ball in the net after latching onto a long ball but the linesman's flag went up and it was chalked out for offside although television replays showed the decision was wrong.

Then in the second half, just after Paraguay forward Oscar Cardozo had seen his penalty saved by Spain captain Iker Casillas following Gerard Pique's hauling down of Cardozo in the box, t h e E u ro p e a n s w e re a l s o awarded a spot-kick.

There appeared to be minimal contact between Antolin Alcaraz and Spain striker David Villa before the new Barcelona signing went down.

Both Pique and Alcaraz were booked for their challenges although Xabi Alonso missed the twice-taken penalty.

"I should say that some decisions could have changed the

course of the match," said Martino.

"There was the first half goal scored by Valdez and also the penalty. Perhaps there was a foul but then perhaps he should have been sent off.”

"Maybe FIFA will apologise tomorrow for that, say thank you to FIFA for apologising to us."

That was a reference to FIFA president Sepp Blatter's previous apologies to England and Mexico following the second round games in which both teams were the victims of controversial refereeing decisions.

Martino was clearly bitter about what might have been, despite the fact that Paraguay reached the last eight of the World Cup for the first time in their history.

"I don't feel happy or satisfied.

For the technical team and myself, the adminstrators, managers and players, making history was trying to be there in the last week of the World

IN PICs

Cup," he said.

"When you analyse this match you're looking at a situation where we played against the team that has been number one in the world for many years.”

"Spain are through to the semi-final but it could have been us."

Martino said no-one was blaming Cardozo for his penalty miss, which would have given the South Americans the lead.

"He will know and understand that this is the history of football players who have to take on the responsibility of taking penalties.”

"This can happen, it's impossible not to feel bad but his teammates are with him and we all have to take responsibility.”

"The other day we hugged him because he scored the goal to bring us here, this time it wasn't possible.”

"He feels really bad today but in time this will be just a memory, but it's impossible to change his feelings now."

AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 4

The presence of South African icon Nelson Mandela, 91, at next week's World Cup final would make organisors "very happy" but it will be understood if he does not attend, a spokesman said Sunday.

"Former president Nelson Mandela has got an open invitation to any match of the World Cup. If he comes we'll be very happy, if he doesn't we will understand," organising committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo told reporters.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who turns 92 this month and appears increasingly frail, was instrumental in bringing the World Cup to South Africa but has yet to appear at the tournament.

He cancelled a planned appearance at the opening match on June 11 after his great-granddaughter was killed in a car accident on the eve of the first match.

On Saturday, he met with Ghana's squad after they were eliminated in a quarter-final against Uruguay.

Ronaldo is father AFP LIsBON, JuLY 4

Portugal and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has become a father, Portuguese media reported on sunday, quoting sources close to his agent and an "official" Facebook and twitter post. the post in question says that the 25-year-old has "recently become a father" while Correio da Manha newspaper reported "Gestifute," the company which is run by the player's agent, as having confirmed the news.

According to the paper,

German fans celebrate in a fountain after their team’s victory against Argentina in Wuerzburg, Germany on Saturday.

Naked dreams ruN to 2014?

Argentinean fans react to the team loss against Germany in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saturday.

which did not give a further source, "the baby's mother is from North America and she had her child in early June.

Portuguese media added that a Facebook post had Ronaldo as saying: "With the agreement of the mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, I will have exclusive custody of my son."

Ronaldo, who last year became the world's most expensive player when he moved from Manchester united to Real, had a disappointing World Cup as his country was eliminated in the last 16 by spain.

AFP CAPE TOWN, JULY 4

Germany won’t relish facing Spain: Villa ReuteRs JOHANNESBURG, JULY 4

Germany will not be happy to face Spain in the World Cup semi-finals after the European champions edged past a valiant Paraguay 1-0 to reach the last four, according to Spanish goal hero David Villa.

“We have time now to put the work in to get to the final and Germany will not be pleased that they have to play Spain”, Villa told reporters at Ellis Park.

“The match against Paraguay was our most difficult so far and we know that when our opponent sits back and defends it is tough for us but we came through and the important thing is that the team is still alive”, he added.

“Things are going well and I hope they continue to do so”, Villa said. ''The goals are important but if you win by a big margin and you score once or twice it doesn't have the same value.''

Torres holds hopes of breaking duck AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 4

Paraguayan model Larissa Riquelme watches a public screening of the Paraguay and Spain match on a screen Argentina’ coach Diego Maradona looks dejected as he leaves the pitch after his team lost. at Defensores del Chaco stadium, in Asuncion.

Loew out to pain Spain

Mandela welcome at final: official

Misfiring striker Fernando Torres said he was hopeful of finishing the World Cup with a goal after being substituted during Spain's 1-0 win over Paraguay to reach the semi-finals on Saturday.

The Liverpool forward again failed to make an impression and was taken off by coach Vicente Del Bosque after 56 minutes following his fifth scoreless appearance since knee surgery in April.

David Villa became the tournament's leading scorer with his fifth goal as the European champions downed Paraguay 1-0 to set up an enticing semi-final with Germany in Durban on Wednesday.

"I hope I'll score at this World Cup, I'm sure I will," Torres said.

It has been hard going for Torres in South Africa, but he still maintains the confidence of Del Bosque despite his lean spell.

"Physically he's fine, I should say that we took him off because the team wasn't clicking but we're very happy with Fernando's work, how he's doing and we hope he will do better in the next games," Del Bosque said.

Del Bosque expects Spain to raise the level of their game against the red-hot Germans, who hammered Argentina 4-0 in Saturday's earlier quarterfinal in Cape Town.

"We hope to raise the quality of our game, we hope our match with Germany and the other semi-final will be good adverts for

football. We hope we'll play better and we can celebrate going to the final," he said.

Torres is looking forward to pitting his wits and skill against Germany and breaking his tournament duck.

"Everyone says the Germans don't have the best defence, but I disagree and they've also shown they have good forwards," Torres said.

"They have good players like Klose, Podolski, who's playing well, but it's not about names.

"It's 50-50, it will be very close. They miss Michael Ballack but they've always been this

good and Mesut Ozil's replaced him."

Torres said he was relieved Villa popped up with the winner seven minutes from time after both teams had penalties saved midway through the second half.

"I'm happy, especially at the end of the game, after the Oscar Cardozo and Xabi Alonso penalties and all the nerves, at the end when you see we're smiling and all that tension disappears, all that's left is joy," he said.

"Paraguay played very well, they created chances but with that penalty they had the misfortune of facing our goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

"They can hold their heads up, especially Cardozo, who was broken at the end of the game, he's got my support."

Del Bosque was full of praise for the work of Casillas between the posts.

"Casillas was extraordinary, he made two magnificent saves there and certainly played his part in our win," he said.

He has tamed Fabio Capello's Three Lions, demolished Diego Maradona's dream and snuffed out Lionel Messi's magic, but can Germany coach Joachim Loew now inflict some World Cup pain on Spain?

After routing Argentina 4-0 in Sunday's quarter-final, Germany face Spain in Wednesday's semifinal in Durban with a place in the July 11 final against either the Having noted England's deNetherlands or Uruguay at stake. fence struggled for pace, Loew "My team showed great resolve, insisted on fast counter-attacks a great willingness to win and it to allow pacey midfielders Mesut wasn't just a high-level victory, but Ozil and Thomas Mueller to exa true champions' performance," ploit the space at the back with beamed Loew after Germany out- devastating consequences for classed Maradona's Argentina.

Capello's side.

The 50-year-old's contract with Against Arthe German Footgentina, GerMAN OF THE MATCH ball Federation Andres Iniesta, the many's tireless (DFB) expired last Spain midfielder, work in defence Wednesday, but if who proved the cut off Messi's Germany are difference in the supply of possescrowned world decisive moment sion and without champions next the ball to showof the match.

Sunday, Loew will case his attackbe able to name ing brilliance, his price.

Loew's team reA deep thinker, duced the world Loew has admitfootballer of the ted to seeing a year to a redunpsychologist in dant midfielder. the past and alE v e n though he never Maradona was got higher than humbled by GerGermany's Undermany's perform21 team as a ance on what he player, he has decribed as the won titles at club'toughest day of level as a coach my life' as Bastian in Austria, Turkey Schweinsteiger and Germany. bossed the midfield and Miroslav Like most of his squad before Klose scored twice in the rout.

Despite his low profile, Loew this World Cup, Loew was largely unknown outside of Ger- succeeded Jurgen Klinsmann as many, but his tactical ability and head coach four years ago and reading of the game has seen guided the Germans to the Euro his side claim the scalps of two 2008 final where they lost 1-0 of international footballs giants. to Spain in Vienna.

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GOA, MONDAY, 5 JULY, 2010

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www.oheraldo.in

Rooney, Ronaldo, Messi - stars misfire

AP CAPE TOWN, JULY 4

Rooney, then Ronaldo and now Messi. They were supposed to set the World Cup alight after scoring a total 114 goals for their clubs this season, but left South Africa after hitting only one goal in 13 matches.

Wayne Rooney huffed and puffed but failed to score before England was sent packing by Germany. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo scored – once - but didn’t run much at all before being eliminated by Spain. Argentina’s Lionel Messi couldn’t produce the magic when it counted, against the Germans in the quarter-finals.

All aged 25 or younger and described as three of the world’s best players, they were the World Cup’s biggest disappointments.

For Rooney, it seemed a clear case of fatigue. Rarely did the 24-year-old Manchester United striker storm past defenders with a typically powerful run after a season in England in which he scored 34 goals to

make up for Ronaldo’s record transfer to Real Madrid.

Ronaldo’s lone goal was little solace for a player hyped in a well-publicized commercial as Portugal’s saviour.

Even with the captain’s armband, the 25year-old forward did little to inspire his team.

He rarely tracked back in defense, lost the ball when dribbling and looked a shadow of the player who was selected as the world’s best in 2008.

That title went to Messi last year after he led Barcelona to an historic series of national, European and world club titles, and he continued his stellar performances with an astonishing 47 goals for his team in the 2009-10 season. The 23-yearold forward has often been accused of failing to reproduce his best form for Argentina, and will have done little to erase that charge in South Africa.

Diego Maradona has called Messi his heir apparent. But in his second World Cup, Messi failed to find the target and never conjured the magic of Maradona when his nation needed him, fading out of the m a t c h a s A rg e n t i n a w e re thrashed 4-0 by Germany.

“To see Messi cry in the dressing room, whoever says that he doesn’t feel pride for his shirt is stupid,” Maradona said.

Rooney, Ronaldo and Messi weren’t alone. From Brazil, there was Kaka. The 28-year-old playmaker was voted the world’s best player three years ago, but

was coming off a disappointing season after a euro 65 million move to Real Madrid, forced to play a deeper, more defensive role behind Ronaldo.

Back in his favoured position just behind the strikers with Brazil, Kaka was sent off in the group match against Ivory Coast.

He came back for the round of 16 match as Brazil beat Chile 30, and nearly scored for a twogoal lead in the quarter-final against the Netherlands. But when the Dutch came storming back in the second half to win 2-1, Kaka went quiet.

Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba have won five of the last seven African Player of the Year awards. With the weight of a continent on their shoulders, neither player could lift his team.

Eto’o, after moving from Barcelona to Inter Milan, was coming off a second straight season in which his club won everything possible - a treble of titles in the domestic league and cup, and the Champions League.

He scored twice in three games in South Africa, but Cameroon were the first team eliminated.

Drogba broke a bone in his right arm just before the tournament and had to wear a soft cast to play. He missed a late chance to break a 0-0 draw against Portugal but scored a late consolation goal against Brazil. However, the damage was done and even a comprehensive 3-0 win over North Korea couldn’t rescue a talented Ivorian team’s tournament.

There have been others hampered by injury. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon played only half of a match in Italy’s poorest World Cup showing since 1974, while Franck Ribery failed to follow in Zinedine Zidane’s footsteps for France after an injury-blighted season at Bayern Munich.

Spain’s Fernando Torres still has a chance. The 26-year-old striker has struggled since undergoing knee surgery in April, but his team has reached the semi-finals. That’s been largely

due to the scoring prowess of David Villa, who leads the World Cup with five goals.

“It’s been a difficult tournament for me because my fitness is bad, but I’m improving every game,” Torres said.

Diego Forlan has also cemented his status among the world’s best marksmen. He scored a vital free kick to keep Uruguay alive in the quarter-finals against Ghana be-

fore tucking away his penalty as his nation prevailed in a shoot-out.

Another striker who has starred is Miroslav Klose, who seemed washed up after a season on the substitutes’ bench for Bayern Munich. The rest has done him well, as he’s already scored one more goal in the World Cup – four - than he did all season in the Bundesliga.

A new group of talented youngsters have also made their mark on the world stage. The Netherlands has been aided by 22-yearold wingback Gregory van der Wiel, while 23-year-old striker Luis Suarez has scored three times in Uruguay’s run to the semi-finals.

Germany has probably the two best youngsters to emerge in Mesut Oezil, 21, and Thomas Mueller, 20.

What’s most startling about Oezil is how composed he looks on the ball, slipping passes left and right with startling ease.

Add to that his darting runs into the box and he looks like a young Kaka, a description few Germans familiar with their team’s typically stoic play could have imagined a few years back.

Mueller may be the star of the tournament so far. After only one

full season as a Bayern first-team player, the attacking midfielder has had a series of match-winning performances, scoring twice as Germany hammered England 41 and another in the quarter-final win over Argentina.

Unfortunately, Mueller will be suspended for the semi-final against Spain after picking up his second yellow card on Saturday.

“It will be a great loss,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said. Mueller might not poss e s s R o o n e y ’ s v i g o u r, Ronaldo’s flashiness or Messi’s natural elegance on the pitch.

B u t there’s hardly been a more dangerous player in the tourn a ment.

‘Hardest day of my life’, says broken Maradona REUTERS CAPE TOWN, JULY 4

1st semi-final on July 6, 11.55 pm Netherlands v. Uruguay

Germany blazing on REUTERS BERLIN, JULY 4

German newspapers predicted a World Cup triumph and poured scorn on coach Diego Maradona as “an over-the-hill gunfighter” after Argentina were ruthlessly dispatched 4-0 in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Saturday ’s win over Maradona’s Argentina in Cape Town came less than a week after Joachim Loew’s Germany team had equally clinically ended England’s hopes 4-1 in the second round.

The latest resounding victory sent the normally hypercritical German media - and its public into raptures on Sunday.

“Thanks, you heroes!” wrote Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

“Unbelievable! Germany beat Argentina 4-0. Four to Zero!”

Bild am Sonntag’s normally difficult-to-please columnist Guenter Netzer, the former international, could hardly contain himself.

“It was more than a victory, it

German fans show victory sign as their team beat Argentina.

was a demonstration of ‘Uebermacht’ (superiority),” wrote Netzer, now a popular TV pundit. “It was one of the best performances from a Germany team that I’ve ever seen.”

Netzer admitted he was wrong with his earlier public doubts about Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. “I never would have thought they would have played such a strong World Cup.” Former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann, who led the team to third place in 2006 and is now a TV analyst, was also full of praise for the team and his successor, Joachim Loew.

“The team seems to have a lot of fun and that’s the base for attractive football - and Jogi (Loew) is doing an awesome job,” Klinsmann told Reuters.

Millions of fans have packed public viewing venues and were given credit by Loew for helping motivate the team. More than 350,000 watched on giant screens set up in central Berlin.

A broken Diego Maradona, his demeanour far removed from the exuberance of his previous World Cup news conferences, said Argentina’s 4-0 thrashing by Germany on Saturday was the hardest day of his life.

“Today, close to the 50 years I will be on October 30, this is the hardest thing I’ve experienced,” Maradona said.

“This was (like) a punch from Muhammad Ali. I have no strength for anything.”

“The day I quit playing football could (have been) similar but this is much harder,” Maradona said after Argentina’s worst defeat at the finals since a 6-1 rout by Czechoslovakia in 1958.

Maradona said he could not talk so soon about the future after his team again failed to reach the last four. They have not done so since 1990, the year he relinquished the World Cup in the final in Italy having lifted it four years earlier as captain.

“I’ll have to think carefully about (the future)… I must speak to my

Nigerian soccer execs fired AP ABUJA, NIGERIA, JULY 4

The Nigerian Football Federation fired its two leaders Sunday, trying to appease the West African nation’s president.

In a statement, the federation’s executive committee said it fired president, Sani Lulu and vice-president Amanze Ugbulam, as well as a member of the federation’s technical committee. The statement said the committee wanted apologize to all Nigerians over the team’s lackluster performance at the World Cup. That performance prompted Nigeria President, Goodluck Jonathan to suspend the National team from international competition for two years.

“We passionately appeal to the President … to reconsider the earlier action of government to withdraw all the National football teams from CAF/FIFA competitions for two years,” the statement read. The federation also promised “to take urgent steps to address the ‘maladministration’ of football in the country.”

family, the players, there’s a lot (to discuss),” Maradona said.

With a hint that the future was uncertain, he said: “This wasn’t the expected finale (for us), but whoever comes in must carry on this path which is the one Argentines like.”

“I thanked (the players and coaching staff) for the job they did, that’s all. I didn’t speak about the future,” Maradona said, having emerged from a gloomy changing room.

Maradona said he had no doubts that his team had played as they should have, despite often being given the run-around by a far sharper and quicker German side.

“I could go tomorrow, but I want these kids to go on showing the real Argentine football,” he said.

“I have realised as coach and player that the football the (Argentine) people like is this, searching permanently (for goals), playing, rotating. I don’t think Argentina have another style.”

“With the (early) lead, Germany began to get ideas that they had not had previously in this World Cup,” Maradona said.

“This (loss) doesn’t knock my pride in my players because I know the result is not a reflection of what happened on the pitch. They put in their chances, we also had some.”

Maradona defended World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who was brilliant in flashes throughout the finals but failed to stamp his authority on the tournament or even find the net. “(Messi) had a great World Cup … (he didn’t score) because the ball lifted or goalkeepers were their teams’ stars.”

“To see Messi weeping in the changing room, anyone who says to me he has no feelings for the (Argentina) shirt is stupid.”

Germany ended Argentina’s run of 10 matches unbeaten at the World Cup dating back to their 10 loss to England in Japan in 2002 and including the 1-1 draw with Germany in the 2006 quarter-final which they lost on penalties.

Maradona, who took charge in late 2008, has won 18 and lost six of his matches as coach though the majority of the defeats came in a disappointing qualifying campaign last year.

2 Kenyans die in Ghana game fight AGENCIES MOMBASSA, JULY 4

Two Kenyans lost their lives in a row over last Friday night’s World Cup match involving Ghana and Uruguay.

According to the Saturday Nation, one of the men was stabbed by his colleague before a crowd intervened and stoned the culprit to death in the densely populated Githurai Kimbo Estate in the cap-

ital Nairobi.

The report said trouble started when a group of youths differed on predictions of results after Ghana's opener.

The Black Stars missed a last minute chance to become the first African side to make it to the semi-finals as Asamoah Gyan’s penalty kick hit the crossbar to force the game into a penalty shoot-out.