India-Post_06-05-2015_e-paper

Top Stories

V O I C E

O F

I N D I A N S

W O R L D W I D E

India Post www.indiapost.com

NEW YORK • WASHINGTON D.C. • CHICAGO • ATLANTA • CALIFORNIA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

PM for making Yoga a mass movement Details on page 6

Israel welcomes Narendra Modi's visit plan

VOL 20, No. 1081

June 5, 2015

50¢

Periodical Postage

INDIAN VISITORS TO U.S. TO GROW 42 PC

WASHINGTON: The number of Indian tourists visiting United States this year is expected to grow by 42 per cent, more than four lakh tourists in absolute term compared to 2014, a report has said.

US department of Commerce in a report said international visitors who stay one or more nights in the United States will reach a record 77.6 million this year - up more than 3.6 per cent from total visitors in 2014.

However, China with a whopping 163 per cent projected

growth is expected to lead globally and in the Asia Pacific region followed by Colombia (54 per cent), India (42 per cent), Mexico (37 per cent) and Taiwan (33 per cent).

Venezuela is the only country expected to have a decline in volume during the forecast period. Three countries - Mexico, China, and Canada - are expected to account for 61 per cent of the projected growth from 2014 through 2020.

Details on page 5

Details on page 6

Ro Khanna again in fray for Congress Details on page 8

Indian-origin UK hotelier murdered Details on page 6

Mansarovar yatra hit as China shuts Tibet border Details on page 6

MAFS rally to save Care Program

Rajan defends modest rate cut by RBI

Details on page 16

Details on page 8

US, India to fight terrorism together: Clinton

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 30-31 Classifieds ------------------------- 48

Details on page 8

Community Post -------------- 16-24 Date Book -------------------------- 47

INDIA POST SURVEY

Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 32-35

survey@indiapost.com

Horoscope ------------------------- 48

This week’s question

Immigration Post ------------- 44-46

Should Ro Khanna fight again for Congress?

Life Style ----------------------- 50-52 Philosophy ------------------------- 49

Last week’s result

Modi’s one year in office shows lot of promise?

YES 77%

NO 23%

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4

INDIAN BEE-HIVE: Vanya Shivashankar (left) 13, and Gokul Venkatachalam, 14, hold up the championship trophy as

Real Estate -------------------- 36-38

co-champions of the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington on May 28. (Report on page 5)

TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-15 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

2

India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 5, 2015

June 5, 2015

India Post www.indiapost.com

NEWS on your desktop www.indiapost.com

3

4

India Post

India Post www.indiapost.com The Weekly Newspaper Serving Indians Worldwide

Romesh & Sunita Japra Publishers Rajesh Verma Co-Publisher Vikram Paul President Krishan Sharma Mg Director & Joint Editor Vinod Dhawan Senior Editor Naresh Sodhi General Manager Amit Saini IT Director Ghanshyam Bisht Supervisor Graphics SAN FRANCISCO & SILICON VALLEY Vijay Thapar CPRO & Advertising Deepak Chhabra Promotions Priya Nayar Bureau Chief Sonia Sidhu Marketing Analyst Ritu Maheshwari Director Promotions Rakesh Kapoor Correspondent Ratika J. Paul Photo Journalist Neeloo Kapoor Photo Journalist Sudesh Kumari Correspondent Rama Mehra Advertising Vidya Sethuraman Correspondent Archana Asthana Correspondent Sujata Singh Correspondent Manasi Maheshwari Youth Correspondent Raaj D. Photo Journalist LOS ANGELES Mrs Shashi Trivedi Bureau Chief J S Bedi PR & Marketing Mrs Prem Kishore Sr Correspondent Greg Heffernan Correspondent Ms Bobby Sharma Correspondent Babeeta Kaur Dhillon Correspondent Pavan Kaur Bhatia Correspondent CHICAGO Ramesh Soparawala Resident Editor A Q Siddiqui Correspondent ST. LOUIS Ashwin Patel Correspondent NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY Pinky Kaur Bureau Chief Srirekha N. Chakravarty Correspondent Nikita Japra Correspondent Sukhvinder Saini Circulation ATLANTA Sanjay Saggere Bureau Chief FLORIDA B K Madnani CANADA Firdaus Ali Correspondent BOSTON Gope Gidwani Bureau Chief

June 5, 2015

IndiaNewsweekly Post Mission Statement To empower the Indian Diaspora and make their voice strong and effective in countries of their adoption. RJ Media conglomerate offers a credible, professional and complete package of news, opinion, entertainment, networking and information.

Publisher’s Diary

A

s a civilian - a socially conscious citizen of the world, if I may call myself I have always wondered what is it that makes the millions of men and women in uniform to cross into that realm of selflessness and perform an unquestioned duty in a job that calls for the ultimate sacrifice of one's own life for the sake of their nation.

The sense of awe in me increases multifold when I think of such individuals who go on to fight somebody else's wars and die for the sake of people they may not even relate to, in the name of "peacekeeping".

May 29th was the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers and as is customary, the UN held commemorative functions and presented medals to meritorious peacekeepers.

Historically, more than a million military, police and civilian personnel have served in over 70 UN peacekeeping operations to date that have claimed the lives of over 3000 peacekeepers.

India, it may be pointed out, takes pride in having contributed 180,000 Indian troops, the single largest contributor to UN peacekeeping, having participated in 44 of the 69 peacekeeping operations over the past seven decades. It has now launched a virtual memorial wall to honor the peacekeepers.

It is sad, however, that unlike the regular armed forces who are recognized and honored in their respective nations, not many civilians are even aware of the existence of the UN Peacekeepers that comprise troops from 122 member states.

If anything, their efforts have largely been panned by critiques of the UN in general, for having met with more failures than successes in their missions.

Peacekeeping is an anomaly in regions of incurable strife such as sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. In fact, it is a crime, if not a sin, to commit soldiers' lives for causes that are of political making where more nations than those directly involved, have a mercenary stake to keep the conflicts raging.

These wars bring no resolutions let alone peace. Because the cause of such wars is lost even before they start and the life of a peacekeeper is wasted even before being deployed.

Romesh K Japra

rkjapra@indiapost.com

DETROIT Ashok B Jain, M D Bureau Chief Gurminder Singh SAN DIEGO Neelu Bhardwaj Bureau Chief SACRAMENTO Madan Sharma Bureau Chief Janak Sidhra Correspondent Upen Shukla Correspondent CENTRAL VALLEY (CA) Dr Ram Saini Bureau Chief Sheila Rogers Correspondent YUBA CITY (CA) Satnam Tatla Correspondent CAROLINAS Nalini Raja Patel Correspondent INDIA Vinod Dhawan Senior Editor & Bureau Chief NEW DELHI Vijender P Shah Graphics Jitender Singh Rawat Graphics PUNJAB Shiv Japra Bureau Chief Anil Kanwar Senior Correspondent/ Marketing DOABA, PUNJAB Romesh Kaura Correspondent HYDERABAD M Sagar Kumar Bureau Chief MUMBAI Nidhi Soparawala Correspondent Frank Fernandes Correspondent VADODARA, GUJARAT Vaidehi Patel Correspondent India Post (ISSN-1064-3868) is published weekly for $30 for 52 issues yearly by India Post, 1860 Mowry Ave # 200 Fremont, CA 94538. Periodicals postage paid at Norwalk, CA and additional mailing office.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the corporate headquarters: 1860 Mowry Ave # 200 Fremont, CA 94538 Copyright © 1994 Indamec, Inc. DISCLAIMER India Post assumes all advertisers to be reliable and responsible for all liability for their claimers

INFO-CENTER CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 1860 Mowry Ave # 200 Fremont, CA 94538 Tel: 510-565-9993, Fax: 510-790-2806; E-mail: priya@indiapost.com E-SUBSCRIPTION: Priya Nayar Tel: 510-565-9993; E-mail: priya@indiapost.com Classifieds: Tel: 510-938-8668; E-mail:classifieds@indiapost.com or Tel: 510-565-9993, E-mail: priya@indiapost.com Graphics Inquiry: Tel: 510-936-9490; E-mail: ghanshyam@indiapost.com For Editorial: Priya Nayar Tel: 510-565-9993; E-mail: priya@indiapost.com

For advertisement rates call the office nearest to you: SAN FRANCISCO & SILICON VALLEY 1860 Mowry Ave # 200 Fremont, CA 94538 Tel: 510-938-8667 e-mail: nareshsodhi@gmail.com Priya Nayar: 510-579-2760 e-mail: priya@indiapost.com

LOS ANGELES 16224 Alpine Pl. La Mirada, CA 90638 Tel: 562-441-5511, shashi19@yahoo.com

CHICAGO

2543 W Devon Ave Chicago IL 60659 Tel: 773-973-7394; Fax: 773-973-7396; Email: sramesh@aol.com

NEW YORK Tel: 908-338-3752 (Marketing) Tel: 732-283-4939 (Editorial) E-mail: indiapost2000@yahoo.com

NEW JERSEY 21 Longfellow st., Carteret, NJ 07008 Tel: 732-969-1114; Fax: 732-969-3735 E-mail: indiapost2000@yahoo.com

BOSTON Tel: 617-298-9200; Fax: 617-298-1104 GOPE; E-mail: ggidwani@aol.com

HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: 'Unfair' offer Kangana Ranaut was offered a whopping Rs 2 crore deal to endorse a fairness cream but she turned down the offer.

Cover Story: Tourism boost The number of Indian tourists visiting United States this year is expected to grow by 42 per cent to four lakh

Community: MAFS rally Metropolitan Asian Family Services and Universal Metro Asian Services face very difficult time because of budget cut

No review US government will not ask the Supreme Court to review the hold on President Barack Obama's executive action

Life style: Indian films Many Indian films made their entry at 68th annual Cannes Film Festival hoping to grab attention & critical acclaim

TORONTO, CANADA Tel/Fax: 416-744-8610 DELHI Jin Kushal Suri Complex, 3rd Floor, 230-A, Masjid Moth, (NDSE Part-II) New Delhi - 110049 Tel: 11-26257769 / Fax: 11-46142969 E-mail:delhi@indiapost.com MUMBAI • Fernandes Mansion Tam Taloa, Bassien (W) Mumbai Tel: 09619 330159

Techbiz:

VADODARA

Travel:

E-mail: v_patel83@yahoo.com Tel: 011 91 98797 79976

For editorial, contact: editor@indiapost.com or call 510-797-7799

5 16

Immigration:

ATLANTA 67 Peach Tree Dr., Ste. 102, Buckhead Atlanta, GA 30309, Tel: 404-425-3021 E-mail: sanjay@eBolo.com FLORIDA 8401 West Sample Road 30, Coral Springs, Florida - 33065

• Vaidehi Patel 31/32 J\Jaysantosi Nagar Society, behind Utkarsh Petrol Pump, Karelibaug, Vadodara-390018. Gujarat (India)

30

Maggi case A case has been lodged against Nestle India over safety standards with Bollywood actors also roped in

New adventure in Goa Goa Tourism is upping the state's adventure quotient with trial runs of sea planes, amphibious vessels and hot air balloons.

44 50 12 40

Cover/Top Stories

June 5, 2015

India Post

5

www.indiapost.com

Indian visitors to US to grow 42 pc WASHINGTON: The number of Indian tourists visiting United States this year is expected to grow by 42 per cent, more than four lakh tourists in absolute term compared to 2014, a report has said.

US department of Commerce in

more than 3.6 per cent from total visitors in 2014.

However, China with a whopping 163 per cent projected growth is expected to lead globally and in the Asia Pacific region followed

by Colombia (54 per cent), India (42 per cent), Mexico (37 per cent)

China with a whopping 163 per cent projected growth is expected to lead globally and in the Asia Pacific region followed by Colombia (54 per cent), India (42 per cent) a report said international visitors who stay one or more nights in the United States will reach a record 77.6 million this year - up

and Taiwan (33 per cent).

Venezuela is the only country expected to have a decline in volume during the forecast period. Three

countries - Mexico, China, and Canada - are expected to account for 61 per cent of the projected growth from 2014 through 2020.

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker speaking at the IPW 2015 luncheon issued the '2015 Spring Travel Forecast' showing America continues to be a premier travel destination and will continue to see strong visitation growth through 2020.

"We want and welcome international visitors to see and experience all America has to offer. As the world economy continues to shift, promoting travel and tourism is essential to our competitiveness... to the success of our businesses and economy,"

Indian-Americans win Spelling Bee once again WASHINGTON: Scripting history, two Indian-American children have won the world's prestigious spelling bee in a tie the second time in a row, maintaining the community's complete dominance on the competition.

Vanya Shivashankar, 13, and Gokul Venkatachalam, 14, were declared co-champions of the Scripps National Spelling Bee as they together lifted the golden trophy amid confetti and applause in a repeat of last year's surprise tie - a feat achieved by IndianAmericans for the second consecutive year.

The two winners will each receive over USD 37,000 in cash and prizes. With this year's success, young Indian-Americans have won as many as 14 of the past 18 contests and the eighth year in a row.

This is also the first time a sibling of a former champion won.

The third spot was also bagged by an Indian-American Cole Shafer-Ray from Oklahoma.

"This is a dream come true. I have wanted this for such a long time," Shivashankar, the sister of 2009 champion Kavya Shivashankar, said while dedicating the award to her grandmother who passed away in October.

Appearing for the fifth and the final time for the contest, the eighth-grader from Kansas confidently spelled words as cytopoiesis, bouquetiere and thamakau before she was asked to tackle the golden word.

Basketball enthusiast Venkatachalam spelled words like poblacion, caudillismo and nixtamal before official bee

pronouncer Jacques Bailly broke the news to him that Shivashankar had correctly spelled scherenschnitte, the German-derived word for artistic paper cutting.

Asked later what was on his mind when he heard the word nunatak, his winning word, he said: "Me and Vanya are going to be champions."

The racist trolling is however

Indian-Americans account for just under 1 per cent of the US population, but make up more than a fifth of the 285 spellers who competed for the 88th edition of the bee. In 2014, Sriram Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe were declared the joint winners casting an ugly pall over social media as the reaction from some of the nearly one million people viewing the finals live posted biased views about the domination of non-Americans on the contest.

"One year I wish an American kid could win," read a Twitter post.

"The kids in the spelling bee should only be AMERICAN," a third tweet said.

Earlier, slamming the racist backlash against the winners of Indian-origin, the bee's longtime

director Paige Kimble said their domination of the contest could be put down to their "perseverance".

Indian-Americans account for just under 1 per cent of the US population, but make up more than a fifth of the 285 spellers who competed for the 88th edition of the bee. In 2014, Sriram Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe were declared the joint winners.

This year, 25 of the 49 finalists were Indian-Americans. Of the last 10, seven were Indian-Americans. A total 285 children were competing against each other, of whom 139 were boys while 146 were girls.

Shivashankar was the only contestant who was participating in the Bee for the fifth time. She previously competed in 2010, 2012 (tied for 10th place), 2013 (tied for 5th place) and 2014 (tied for 13th place).

In his previous appearances, Venkatachalam tied for the 10th place in 2012 and bagged 19th place in 2013.

Coming to hobbies, Shivashankar plays tuba and piano besides acting and recently won the Mid-America Music Association award for Exceptional Pianist and Jazz Pianist.

An eighth grader from St Louis Missouri, Venkatachalam said he had worked hard for the contest for the past several years and said he takes to spelling like his idol LeBron James does to basketball.

In addition to playing the sport, Venkatachalam is a fan of rap and alternative music, counting among his favorites Nas, Linkin Park and Macklemore. -PTI

Pritzker said.

"Obama has understood from the beginning how vital travel and tourism is to the economic health of the United States.

Visitors to our country spent a record USD221 billion on travel goods and services last year, sup-

3.8 percent to 4.6 per cent annual growth rate in visitor volume during the 2015-2020 time-frame. By the year 2020, it is projected that 96.4 million visitors will travel to the U.S. - an increase of 29 per cent over 2014.

The latest forecast produces a

According to the current forecast, the United States will see a 3.8 percent to 4.6 per cent annual growth rate in visitor volume during the 2015-2020 time-frame porting 1.1 million total US jobs," she said.

According to the current forecast, the United States will see a

compound annual growth rate during the forecast period of 4.3 per cent - a slight increase from the 2014 Fall Travel Forecast.-PTI

Ro Khanna again in fray for Congress WASHINGTON: Young IndianAmerican Ro Khanna has announced that he will contest for a US House of Representatives seat that represents most of the Silicon Valley in California for a second time after losing out in the 2014 polls by a narrow margin.

"I am running to represent this community in Congress," Khanna said as he announced his bid for the 2016 elections. He lost of veteran Democrat and his own party

generation. It's an anxiety driven by economics. We're earning less, but working more. The cost of living, especially here in the Bay Area, is through the roof," he said.

Khanna announced that this time too he would be contesting against his own party colleague Honda, who won the 2014 polls by a narrow margin of 3.6 per cent votes.

California laws provides for contesting against own party col-

Ro Khanna

“We're earning less, but working more.

The cost of living, especially here in the Bay Area, is through the roof� colleague Mike Honda in his maiden Congressional bid in 2014.

"I was raised to believe in the American Dream. My parents immigrated to the United States so that my brother and I could have a shot at it through a good education and hard work," Khanna said.

"What's heartbreaking is that today, for the first time, there's an anxiety about whether that American Dream will exist for the next

league.

Honda has accepted the challenge.

"Mike Honda welcomes the challenge and believes his long history of serving the district honorably and with principle will outweigh the determination of the wealthy interests backing his overly ambitious challenger," a statement issued by Honda's office said. -PTI

6

Top Stories

India Post

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Israel welcomes Modi's visit plan NEW DELHI: An elated Israel has warmly welcomed the announcement of Narendra Modi's visit to the Jewish nation, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister, saying it would lead to "tightening" of the bilateral ties.

A day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced Modi's plans to visit that country, Israeli Ambassador to India Daniel Carmon told PTI that high level visits "are a natural ingredient of the tightening relationship" between Israel and India.

The envoy gave no indication of when the visit will take place and said that mutually agreed dates will be finalized through diplomatic channels. Modi's visit will be preceded by Swaraj's trip in next few months.

"High level visits between both countries, as we have witnessed in the past months, are a natural

ingredient of the tightening relationship between Israel and India.

"In this context, Israel welcomes any visits by PM Narendra Modi and FM Sushma Swaraj at mutually agreed dates that will be

No dates have been finalized. It will take place as per mutually convenient dates."

India had established "full" diplomatic relationship with Israel in 1992 formulated through diplomatic channels. I'm confident that such visits will further expand the relation and take them to new

heights," Carmon said.

In reply to a question, Swaraj had said, "As far as my visit is concerned, it will take place this year. I will visit Israel, Palestine and Jordan. As far as Prime Minister's visit is concerned, he will travel to Israel.

No dates have been finalized.

It will take place as per mutually convenient dates."

India had established "full" diplomatic relationship with Israel in 1992 though it had recognized the country in 1950.

No Indian Prime Minister or President has ever visited that country.

The then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had become the first premier of that country to visit India when he came here in 2003.

He is credited with transforming bilateral relations from diminutive defense and trade cooperation to strategic ties. -PTI

Mansarovar yatra hit as China shuts Tibet border KATHMANDU: About 25,000 foreign tourists, mostly Indians, planning to visit Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet through Nepal have been forced to change their plans as China has shut down all border points in the region after the recent devastating earthquakes in Nepal.

Nepal's tourism and civil aviation ministry has asked the foreign ministry to raise the issue with the Chinese authorities, saying that taking 25,000 foreigners to Kailash Mansarovar through Nepal will benefit the country at a time when the tourism sector has been hard-hit by the April 25 devastating earth-

quake and subsequent aftershocks.

These 25,000 foreigners, including Indian, Russian, Malaysian and other European tourists, have booked their tours for Kailash Mansarovar through 38 tour and travel companies based in Nepal.

China has closed border points at Tatopani, Rasuwa and other places, stating that there can be landslides and it would be difficult to travel or trek.

Travel operators have asked the government to take initiative to allow tourists to visit Kailash Mansarovar by helicopter or on foot from Nepalgunj-Surkhet, the

western part of Nepal that is close to the Hindu pilgrimage site, local media reported.

No tourist has, however, cancelled bookings so far, the chairman of Kailash Tour Association, Prakash Shrestha was quoted as saying.

Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded that the tour should be allowed even by opening the Hilsa point in Humla district.

"A total of 25,000 tourists are still ready to come once we give them the time-table," said a tour operator.

About 80 per cent of tourists visiting Kailash Mansarovar are Indians and around 40,000 visit the pilgrimage site via Nepal every year.

The May-July period is considered the main season for visiting Kailash Mansarovar, a popular Hindu and Buddhist shrine.

Nepali tourism operators in association with Indian tour operators make all arrangements for tourists to visit Kailash Mansarovar.

Entrepreneurs claim that over 100,000 people will get employment if these 25,000 tourists come to Nepal.

"The government must, therefore, facilitate it," said an entrepreneur. -PTI

PM for making Yoga a mass movement NEW DELHI: Keen to ensure success of the first International Yoga Day on June 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched for making Yoga a mass movement, connecting people and strengthening the bonds of humanity.

In a post on 'Facebook', he said the entire global community has come together in support of celebrating the first-ever International Day of Yoga on June 21.

"Now, that strong support has also turned into immense enthusiasm, I am seeing several people and organizations across the

world are working towards making the first ever International Day of Yoga a memorable event," Modi said.

In the run-up to the Yoga Day, the Prime Minister would be sharing a post daily, covering various aspects of Yoga, the PMO said.

The United Nations had in December last year declared June 21 as the International Yoga Day, with 177 countries voting in favor.

The proposal had been mooted

by Modi during his first address to the UN General Assembly in September last year. -PTI

Indian-origin UK hotelier murdered in Punjab LONDON: An Indian-origin hotelier from Britain who went missing in India three weeks ago has been murdered in Punjab, the UK government has said.

Ranjit Singh Power, a 54-yearold businessman from Wolverhampton, was last seen at Amritsar airport on May 8.

His family in Britain had offered a reward of 25,000 pounds to trace his whereabouts after he did not contact them for a week.

The Foreign Office confirmed the death of the British national in India.

Assistant Jalandhar Police commissioner Balwinder Singh Kahlon told BBC they have charged a man with murder and police divers are searching for a body.

A local journalist from Punjab said a man has been arrested and police are examining a car they believe to be connected to the case. Power was reportedly strangled.

Power's family in Britain had feared he may have been kidnapped after he uncharacteristically failed to stay in contact with them and did not catch his return flight from Amritsar on May 14.

Initially offering 10,000 pounds for information leading to their father's return, his daughter Emma Power later said they had raised

that to 25,000 pounds.

Power owned the four-star Ramada Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands region of England, and was in the habit of ringing his family every day.

But this time, he last spoke to his partner, Angela Bir, on May 7 when he landed in India.

"Father would contact England

Ranjit Singh Power

two or three times a day if not more. We have not heard from him at all. He is very careful and has always been aware of his security," Emma said.

Power, who grew up in the West Midlands, had been placed on the West Midlands Police's Missing Persons list.

He had bought the Ramada Park Hall Hotel four years ago from its previous owners. He previously owned the Connaught Hotel in Wolverhampton before selling it in 2004. -PTI

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

India Post

7

8

Top Stories

India Post

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Rajan defends modest rate cut by RBI MUMBAI: Doing some plainspeaking, Governor Raghuram Rajan has said Reserve Bank of India is not a 'cheerleader' and he may have "erred a bit" in lowering the policy rate to push investments as growth was not happening at the ground level.

there was no visible pick-up in the consumer demand, he added.

"In some sense it is a Goldilocks policy, just right given the current situation," Rajan said, while defending his third 0.25 per cent rate cut this year despite lingering concerns over the below-

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan at a press conference in Mumbai on June 2

He said Gross Domestic Product growth might be weaker than what the headline number suggested and questioned why an economy needed rate cut when it was growing at 7.5 per cent.

There is a "contradiction" in the higher GDP growth numbers and poor corporate earnings while

normal monsoons as well as steadily firming oil prices and their impact on inflation.

After two off-policy rate cuts of 0.25 per cent each since January, Rajan has reduced the shortterm lending rates by 25 basis points to 7.25 per cent.

"The RBI is not a cheer leader.

Our job is to give people confidence in the value of the rupee, in the prospects of inflation, and having established that confidence, create a longer-term framework for good decisions to be made.

"Every time an exporter comes to me and says that stability has been very valuable for us to make decisions, that reinforces my view that our main role is not to act as cheer leaders," Rajan told reporters here at the customary postpolicy press briefing.

His response came on a query as to why RBI chose a moderate 25 bps cut and not a "boosterdose of 50 basis points".

However, he added that he might have erred a bit to push investments in spite of higher headline growth numbers, as investments have been stalled for many quarters now.

"In fact, we have sort of erred a little bit on focusing on encouraging investment, given the need to alleviate medium-term supply constraints," Rajan said, adding however that recent corporate earnings confirm that at the ground level growth is not happening nor is there any visible pick-up in the end user demand.

He termed the policy move as neither conservative nor aggressive, but based on the current data available and underlined that "going forward, as in the past, our policy steps will be data contingent".

He also denied being under government pressure for cutting the rates, saying the decision was purely based on available data.-PTI

Shastri named coach for Bangladesh tour NEW DELHI: Former captain Ravi Shastri has been named interim coach of the Indian cricket team for the tour of Bangladesh starting June 10.

Shastri, who served as Team Director during the tour of Australia and the subsequent World Cup earlier this year, is a stop-gap arrangement for the short tour as the BCCI is yet to decide on a fulltime coach to replace Duncan Fletcher, whose contract has ended.

"BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya has named Ravi Shastri as interim coach of the Indian team. This is for the Bangladesh

tour and future decisions will be taken after this," BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur said.

Ravi Shastri

India will play one Test and three One-Day Internationals during the tour of Bangladesh.

Shastri represented India in 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India and was part of the side, which lifted the 1983 World Cup. Shastri had traveled with the Indian team to Bangladesh in 2007 as cricket manager after Greg Chappell resigned from India coach's duty following the World Cup debacle that year.

In the other support staff appointments, Sanjay Bangar and Bharat Arun will continue to serve as the batting and bowling coaches respectively.-PTI

US, India to fight terrorism together: Clinton WASHINGTON: The US and India need to fight violence, terrorism and poverty together, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has said.

In her remarks to a delegation led by Jain leader Acharya Dr Lokesh Muni, Clinton said in future India will play a larger role on the international platform.

Meeting Clinton on the 10th foundation year of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, the delegation among others included international coordinator of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti Karamjit Singh Dhaliwal, Congressman Joe Crowley and Congresswoman Grace Meng.

Noting that violence and terrorism cannot solve any issues, Clinton said problems can be solved through dialogues and discussions.

The US and India need to fight together against violence, terrorism and poverty, Clinton said.

Appreciating the 'Peace Education' program of Acharya Muni, she said that religious leaders can

play a vital role in making the world a better place to live in, a statement said.

Muni invited Clinton to India to participate in 10th Anniversary celebration of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti.

Clinton is seeking a Democratic

Hillary Clinton

presidential nomination to run for the White House in 2016. If elected, she would be the first woman president of the United States.

This is her second presidential bid. In 2008, she lost in the Democratic Party primaries to current US President Barack Obama. -PTI

China mum on call for UN ban on Pak militants BEIJING: Declining to spell out Beijing has faced a similar its response to charges of putting charge in the past of stalling UN a "technical hold" on India's calls action against Lashkar-e-Taiba for UN action against Pakistan- leader Hafeez Saeed with queries based militant groups, China has seeking more details to the outfit's said it recognizes that India and links with al-Qaeda.

China faced threat from terrorism External Affairs Minister and should enhance cooperation Sushma Swaraj said at a press to combat the menace. conference in New Delhi that InAsked for her response to dia has conveyed to China that charges that China has put a terrorism was an issue which con"technical hold" on India's request to list Hizb-ul-Mujahideen China has reportedly put a chief Syed Salahuddin technical hold on action in the UN Security Council sanctions com- against Salahuddin at the mittee on al-Qaeda and behest of Pakistan. associated entities, Chinese Foreign Ministry Beijing has faced a similar spokesperson Hua charge in the past Chunying declined to comment.

"It is not convenient for me to cerned Beijing too and it should give any specific comments. Hope keep that in mind while voting in you can understand that," Hua the UNSC. told a media briefing here.

Pressed further about IndiaShe cited rules of the UNSC China terrorism cooperation resolution 1267 to impose sanc- which figured during Prime Mintions against terrorist groups. ister Narendra Modi's talks with China has reportedly put a top Chinese leaders during his technical hold on action against visit here last month, Hua said Salahuddin at the behest of Paki- "both our countries faced threat stan. from terrorism".-PTI

Top Stories

June 5, 2015

India Post

9

www.indiapost.com

Modi is the last word in government: Jaitley NEW DELHI: Rejecting criticism that he has concentrated all powers in his hands, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a hands-on Prime Minister who listens to everybody but

is nothing wrong in that. Even in Vajpayee government, everybody was consulted but the PM had the last word," Jaitley told Rajat Sharma on Aap ki Adalat program on India TV. When asked to comment on a

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley with Prime Minister Narendra Modi

his word is final.

He contrasted this with the 10 years of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had "no actual powers".

"In a democracy, the Prime Minister always has the last word. I can't deny that Narendra Modi is a strong leader but he is a hands-on Prime Minister who listens to everybody.

"As is expected in a democracy, his word is final. And there

description by The Economist magazine that Modi is a "oneman band", he said he cannot be compared to Singh who was "portrayed as PM in office but not in power" by the same publication, according to a release issued by the channel.

"For 10 years, we had a Prime Minister who had no actual powers. I have been an admirer of Manmohan Singh for his personal competence but the Congress never gave him a free hand.

Had the Congress allowed him to work according to his competence, the history of India would have been different," Jaitley said.

Stressing the importance of a Prime Minister wielding real authority, he said, "The nation can't be run under an arrangement where PM has the designation but lacks actual powers. Prime Minister Modi is a very hardworking leader who also axpects his colleagues to be equally hardworking."

Rejecting Rahul Gandhi's charge of Modi government being a "suit-boot ki sarkar", the Finance Minister said it is actually "soojh-booj ki sarkar" (government that thinks intelligently).

"You come up with such arguments when you have no substance in your utterances. In the last one year, it has been proved that this is a "soojh-booj ki sarkar," he said.

Asked to respond to Rahul Gandhi's accusations that National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was trying to snatch farmers' land and hand it over to big corporates, Jaitley said the Congress vice president has not read either his own party's Land Acquisition Act of 2013 or the new Bill.

He said 35 per cent of the population of India lived in urban areas while the rest were in rural areas and there was a need

Chatwal to contribute $1 mn to Sikh project NEW YORK: Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal will contribute USD 1 million to an ambitious project coming up in India aimed at better acquainting the Sikh youth and the international community about the origin and values of the Sikh faith.

The 'Mool Project' is an initiative of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) under the leadership of its President Manjit Singh GK and General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

The project would cost between USD five to six million and is expected to be completed in two years.

Chatwal, who will be providing the lead support to the project, told PTI here that he will contribute USD 1 million towards the project, which will include an auditorium, art exhibits, digital research library and a museum.

The project's infrastructure, to be housed in the Sikh Centre for

International Studies in the Rakab Ganj Gurdwara Estate in New Delhi, will showcase the history of Sikhs and the presence of core values in Sikhism's sacred texts.

This will be done by present-

as abroad sometimes lack better understanding of the Holy Book Guru Granth Sahib and the project will help spread the message of Sikhism to both Sikhs and nonSikhs.

Indian American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal (2nd from right) at a press conference announcing the “Mool Project” initiative

ing stories from the history of Sikhism and other relevant sacred texts using state of the art communication technologies.

Describing the initiative as "unique," Chatwal said that the young Sikhs living in India as well

"The Guru Granth Sahib is not just for Sikhs. The project will help convey the message of the Guru Granth Sahib to everybody," Chatwal said as he called on Sikhs across the world to support the project.-PTI

for land for urbanization, highways, irrigation projects and rural infrastructure.

"His (UPA) Act would have stopped the development of rural areas of the country. Even his own chief ministers like B S Hooda of Haryana and Prithviraj Chavan of Maharashtra opposed the Act saying it will bring development of the country to a

To a question on the opposition charge that Modi insulted them on foreign soil, Jaitley said it was meaningless in this era of technology revolution as criticism made within the country gets spread all across the world.

"By that yardstick, we should not criticize even on internet as it gets spread outside India. Even criticism made within Parliament

‘The nation can't be run under an arrangement where PM has the designation but lacks actual powers. Prime Minister Modi is a very hardworking leader who also axpects his colleagues to be equally hardworking’ halt," he said.

Jaitley said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had exempted 13 areas in their Act and the NDA government added five more to that list which includes land for national security projects and nuclear establishment, rural infrastructure and affordable housing for poor.

"Tell me, was it to benefit corporates," he asked.

Rejecting the charge of crony capitalism against the government, the Finance Minister said it was the Congress which indulged in corruption to favor business houses.

reaches every part of the world through satellite," he said.

Defending the alliance with People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, Jaitley said options for government formation were limited and a vacuum would have given a handle to separatists in the state.

"Despite differences with PDP, we drafted a common minimum program. This is because the fight in Kashmir is not between NDA and UPA. It's between India and separatists. We tried to ensure that a big part of population comes with us instead of going with separatists," he said.-PTI

Sena says Rahul no match for Modi MUMBAI: After refusing to share BJP's euphoria on the first year of the NDA Government, ally Shiv Sena has lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi while attacking Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, saying "hundred Rahul Gandhis cannot match Modi."

Hitting back at Sena, Congress said the future will show that only one Rahul will be enough to counter not only Modi but the entire Sangh Parivar and their "politics of communalism."

An editorial in Sena's mouthpiece "Saamana" said, "Rahul Gandhi has started moving and speaking after his 56-day sabbatical which has restored confidence among Congress workers. However, the question is how long this renewed energy will last before Narendra Modi's mega wave."

Taking on Gandhi's "suit boot ki sarkar" jibe, Sena alleged "suitcases filled with cash used

to exchange hands during the Congress rule."

Modi is absolutely right when he says that "suited and booted" government is much better than a "suitcase government", it said, adding "suits are worn by people around the world and that a country's image does not improve by wearing scruffy clothes."

It said the confidence of the business community has been restored since the Modi Government came to power last year.

"The country is witnessing a new spark under Narendra Modi. India's 'suit wearing people' (referring to the business community) roam the world with confidence and pride," the Sena mouthpiece said.

Congress spokesperson for Maharashtra, Al-Nasser Zakaria, however, reminded Sena that Gandhi is not just a man of words but also a man of action." -PTI

10 India Post

Top Stories

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Vajpayee to be honored by Bangladesh DHAKA: Bangladesh is set to honor former premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his outstanding support for the country's independence from Pakistan in 1971 when he was a Lok Sabha member.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman familiar with the process said Bangladesh will hand over Vajpayee's "Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his upcoming visit to the country from June 6.

Vajpayee, who is unwell, could not visit Bangladesh to receive the honor.

"From the very beginning of the Liberation War (in 1971), he (Vajpayee) took a firm

stand in favor of Bangladesh's independence... as the then president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Lok Sabha member he mobilized campaign at home and in international arena for the rights of Bangladesh's people," the official said quoting the draft citation of the award.

Besides, the official said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also approved a proposal to honor the families of the members of Indian armed forces for sacrificing their lives for the cause of Bangladesh's independence.

The proposal suggested that it was a "national responsibility" on the part of Bangladesh to acknowledge formally the

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

supreme sacrifices of Indian soldiers.

Officials said Dhaka decided to send the martyrs' family members a letter alongside a certificate to be signed by the Bangladesh premier expressing tributes for their contributions.

The then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was the first "foreign friend" to be conferred with the 'Bangladesh Liberation War Honor Award'. Her daughter-in-law and Congress party president Sonia Gandhi received the honor on her behalf in 2012 at a special ceremony.

Most of the subsequent recipients were also from India which extended the most crucial support for Bangladesh's independence with incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee being one of them.

Bangladesh decided to honor the 1971 "foreign friends" soon after the ruling Awami League was elected to power in 2008. -PTI

BJP leader's son to get CNN heroes award THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Adarsh Alphons, a New York based artist and son of BJP leader Alphons Kannathanam, has been nominated for the 2015 CNN Heroes award for providing free art classes to schoolchildren.

Adarsh Alphons who heads a nonprofit outfit ProjectArt Inc, has been nominated with nine others for the 2015 CNN Heroes award.

His organization provides free art classes to school children in New York.

The group h o l d s classes in libraries Adarsh Alphons and the children exhibit their art in galleries at the end of each semester.

ProjectArt has expanded from a branch in Harlem in New York in 2011 to 11 libraries throughout the city.

"The group has reached roughly 1,000 children," Kannanthanam, BJP national executive member and a former IAS officer, said here.

On receiving the honor, Alphons said, "I believe art is essential to a well-rounded education because it lets a child learn things that they wouldn't learn through other fields".

BJP leader Alphons Kannathanam earned the monicker 'Demolition man' when he demolished illegal buildings and reclaimed land worth crores of rupees while he was the Commissioner of Delhi Development Authority (DDA).-PTI

Top Stories

June 5, 2015

India Post

11

www.indiapost.com

India, Sweden to restart strategic dialogue STOCKHOLM: India and Sweden have signed several agreements to boost ties and decided to restart the bilateral strategic dialogue besides finding ways for investment by the Nordic country in India's defense sector under the ambitious 'Make in India' initiative.

The decision to restart the bilateral strategic dialogue was conveyed to President Pranab Mukherjee, who is here on a state visit, the first ever by any Indian head of state, by Swedish Prime Minister Stefen Lofven who called on him along with his cabinet colleagues.

It was agreed that the two countries would re-start their strategic dialogue between the two National Security Advisors, Secretary (West) in Ministry of External Affairs Navtej Sarna told reporters here.

Asked why the dialogue was stalled in 2011, Sarna made it clear that there was no breakdown in the talks but only that the two countries had got into election mode. "Now that two new NSAs

had been appointed, they will restart the process which is expected to begin soon," he said.

President Pranab Mukherjee at a banquet hosted by their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustf, Queen Princess Victoria, His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip and Ms. Sofia Hellqvist, at Stockholm, in Sweden on June 1

The President and Swedish Prime Minister witnessed signing of agreements between the two sides which included an Agreement on Visa Exemption for diplomatic passport holders.

The others agreements signed included a Memorandum of Un-

India abstains in vote on US, Palestinian NGOs UNITED NATIONS: India has abstained from voting on the applications of an American and a Palestinian non-governmental organization for special consultative status in a UN committee.

India was the sole abstention in the vote for US-based Freedom Now, which works to free individual prisoners through legal, political and public relations advocacy efforts.

In a voting conducted during

derstanding in the field of Sustainable Urban Development, MoU for cooperation in the field of Micro,

vor while India abstained.

Guinea, Mauritania, and Turkey were absent during voting.

India also abstained from voting on the application of The Palestinian Return Centre, which was granted special consultative status by a recorded vote of 12 in favor.

While Israel, US and Uruguay voted against the center, Greece and Russia abstained from voting.

Freedom Now Executive Director Maran Turner expressed disappointment over the outcome of the vote.

India also abstained from "There are member states on the NGO voting on the application of Committee that seem intent on interfering The Palestinian Return Cenwith the work of NGOs, tre, which was granted spe- including both those working within the borcial consultative status ders of their states but also internationally, the meeting here of the Economic such as Freedom Now. and Social Council (ECOSOC) on "It is a very worrying trend inMay 29, the UN Committee on deed when the United Nations is Non-Governmental Organizations used as a mechanism by member rejected Freedom Now's applica- states to harass civil society and tion for NGO consultative status. international organizations seekOf the 19 members in the com- ing to address human rights violamittee, 11 voted against Freedom tions," Turner said in a statement.

Now, including Azerbaijan, China's delegate, who voted Burundi, China, Cuba, Iran, Nica- against Freedom Now's candiragua, Pakistan, Russia, South dacy, said all organizations seekAfrica, Sudan, and Venezuela. ing consultative status must reGreece, Israel, the United spect United Nations values and States and Uruguay voted in fa- principles.-PTI

Small and Medium Enterprises, Letter of Intent with Collaboration

in Polar and Ocean Research and two health-related agreements.

As many as 15 agreements between various universities of India and Sweden were signed on the sidelines of the visit at the Swedish foreign ministry.

Sarna also said that Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist would be in India for two days beginning June 10 during which he will look at the possibility of engaging with New Delhi in the defense sector.

With changed Foreign Direct Investments rules and Make in India campaign, it is expected that the Swedish government would look for India as a manufacturing base, he said.

During the meeting, the Swedish Prime Minister also shared the view that in a reformed United Nations Security Council, Sweden believed that India had creden-

tials to be a part of it. “In view of the size as well as speed at which it was growing, India is a natural claimant for being a part of the UNSC," Sarna quoted the Swedish Prime Minister as saying.

Lofven also told the President that Sweden supported India's entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which is a voluntary association of 34 countries favoring non-proliferation of unmanned delivery systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.

Mukherjee also extended invitation to Swedish Prime Minister for an official visit to India so that other areas for a possible investment from Sweden could be explored.

A proposal for holding a joint India-EU summit was also talked about.-PTI

Tech News India has potential to take GDP to double digit: Jaitley BHOPAL: Buoyed by the country's GDP growth of 7.3 per cent in FY 2014-15, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here India has the potential to improve the economic growth to doubledigit.

"The country has the potential of taking the economic growth to double-digit. The government will take appropriate action in the regard," Jaitley told reporters here.

Underlining that manufacturing sector has registered a growth of over 7 per cent, Jaitley said this shows the revival of the industry is underway.

Jaitley said the economy could have registered more growth in agriculture "but due to weather conditions, much progress couldn't be made in this sector.

Had the monsoon in the past been good the growth could have been more."

Jaitley said the gloom that prevailed (during the UPA regime) earlier has given way to a new enthusiasm in the country in the last one year. -PTI

India clocks 7.5% growth, overtakes China NEW DELHI: India has overtaken China to become the world's fastest growing economy by clocking 7.5 per cent GDP for the March quarter, prompting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to say that the economy is clearly on "a recovery path".

The economic growth rate on sequential basis improved from 6.6 per cent in the third quarter (October-December) of the financial year 2014-15. For the fiscal as a whole, the GDP grew by 7.3 per cent, up from 6.9 per cent a year ago, mainly due to improvement in services and manufacturing sectors.

The fourth quarter GDP data, Jaitley said, "gives us a broad idea of how the Indian economy is moving. It is absolutely clear that the economy is in a recovery mode".

The performance of manufacturing and services indicates that "we have a potential to grow at 89 per cent and beyond", the Minister added.

While manufacturing sector output grew by 8.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of last fiscal ended March 31, 2015, services sector including trade, hotels, transport and communications clocked a robust growth rate of 14.1 per cent.-PTI

TechBiz 12 India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 5, 2015

Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha and President of BMW Group India, Philipp Von Sahr pose next to the newly launched BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe at BMW India Bridal Fashion Week in New Delhi on May 29

Maggi noodles row: Case lodged against Nestle, 5 others BARABANKI: A case has been lodged against Nestle India in a local court here over safety standards of its Maggi product, while actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta have also been separately dragged

to the court for promoting the 'twominute' noodles brand.

While the case against Nestle India and five others was filed by the UP food regulator FSDA (Food Safety and Drug Administration), a local advocate filed a separate case against the three cine personalities.

"Following FSDA Commissioner P P Singh's permission to file a case against Nestle India, a case has been filed in the court of ACJM (Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate) here," Barabanki Food Safety Officer V K Pandey said.

The case has been lodged against the company's Nestle Nagal Kalan Industrial Area unit (Haroli, Una in HP), Delhi-based Nestle India Limited, an Easy Day outlet in Barabanki and the Delhibased parent firm Easy Day, as also against their FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) managers, Mohan Gupta and Shabab Alam, Pandey said.

The FSDA had found monosodium glutamate and lead in excess of the prescribed limit in Maggi samples tested by it.

The FSDA had collected the samples from the Easy Day store in Barabanki and had sent the consignment for testing, which showed that the quantum

of lead present was 17 times more than the stipulated limit, which is considered hazardous.

The Union Consumer Affairs Ministry has also asked the Food

Safety and Standards Authority of India to look into the matter while Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that a class action suit can also be initiated in the matter if a complaint is lodged in this regard with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

The second case has been lodged by a local advocate in Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court against the cine stars for promoting Maggi noodles, saying they have been found to be harmful for public health.

Madhuri Dixit

Talking to newspersons, the advocate said he has lodged the case in the court of CJM against the three film stars who have claimed the instant noodles as healthy in TV promotions under sections 420, 272, 273 and 109.

He said these film stars have earned hefty sums by terming Maggi noodles

as healthy in advertisements and alleged "this wrong publicity amounts to malafide intentions and

playing with the health of the kids and young people of the country".

Madhuri meets Nestle officials Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit was also slapped with a notice by Haridwar Food and Drug Administration to explain within 15 days claims made in the advertisement regarding the nutrition value of Maggi.

The Bollywood actress said she met officials of Nestle and they assured her that there would be no compromise on the quality of the popular snack.

"Like most of India, I have enjoyed Maggi noodles for years. I was very concerned after recent reports and met with the Nestle team," she tweeted.-PTI

Uttarakhand will also test Maggi samples DEHRADUN: In fresh troubles for Nestle over safety standards of its famous Maggi noodle brand, the Uttrakhand Food Safety Department has collected samples of the 'twominute' noodles from the company's Pantnagar plant and other cities, including Dehradun, in the state.

The samples have been sent them to the state government laboratories for tests.

"A team comprising state Food Safety Department officials visited the Nestle plant at Pantnagar and collected eight samples of Maggi noodles, which were sent to the state government laboratories," District Magistrate of Udham Singh Nagar Pankaj Kumar Pandey told reporters here.

Maggi noodles came under the scanner last month after the UP Food Safety and Drug Administration asked Nestle India

to withdraw a batch of Maggi noodles "which were manufactured in February 2014" after it found presence of non-essential taste enhancer MSG and high levels of lead in the samples.

Disputing the claim, Nestle India had said: "The company does not agree with the order and is filing the requisite representations with the authorities."

Meanwhile, the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry has also asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to look into the matter.

Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said "It is a serious issue. We have referred the matter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

"Under the current law, FSSAI has the power to take action, including imposing fine and hefty punishment," Paswan said.-PTI

TechBiz Post

June 5, 2015

India Post

13

www.indiapost.com

Simplified tax return form is just 3 pages NEW DELHI: The controversial requirement of filling foreign travel and dormant bank account data has been dropped in the new 3page ITR forms introduced by the Finance Ministry, which extended the deadline for filing returns to August 31.

However, the assessees have been asked to give their passport number as also details of their active bank accounts, the Finance Ministry said.

The main ITR form will not contain more than three pages, while 'other information' will be captured in the "schedules" which will be required to be filled only if applicable.

These ITRs will replace the 14page form that was notified earlier this year, triggering a major controversy with individuals, indus-

trialists and MPs saying the tax filing would become cumbersome as those forms sought unnecessary details including foreign trips and bank accounts.

It was supposed to come into force this year, in place of 12-page ITR forms that had been in use in previous years.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had ordered putting these forms on hold following the controversy.

The last date for filing of Income Tax Return (ITR) has also been extended for this year by one month to August 31, as the software for new forms is under preparation.

The new forms are likely to be available for e-filing by the third week of June.

Also a new ITR 2A form has been proposed for individuals or Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) who do not have capital gains, income from business/profession or foreign asset/foreign income.

The Ministry has done away

with disclosure of details of dormant accounts which are not operational during the last three years, while assessees will have to furnish account number and IFS Code of active current or savings accounts, without mentioning the balance in those accounts.

Further, an expat who is not an Indian citizen and is in India on a business, employment or student visa, would not mandatorily be required to report the foreign assets acquired by him during the previous years when he was nonresident and if no income was derived from such assets during the relevant previous year, the Ministry said in a statement.

The salaried individuals and those persons without any business or professional income are required to file I-T returns in either ITR-1 or ITR-2 by July 31 every year.

"In lieu of foreign travel details, it is now proposed that only Passport Number, if available, would be required to be given in Forms ITR2 and ITR-2A. Details of foreign trips or expenditure thereon are not required to be furnished," the statement said.

Following the controversy over the ITR forms for Assessment Year 2015-16, which sought details of bank accounts and foreign visits,

Mobile, hotel, other services now costlier NEW DELHI: People will have to shell out more while using mobiles, eating out and travelling as the service tax rate has gone up to 14 per cent.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget had proposed to raise service tax from 12.36 per cent (including education cess) to 14 per cent. The proposal took effect from June 1.

The tax is levied on all services, except a small negative list.

Some of the key services that will attract higher tax and hence become costlier are: railways, airlines, banking, insurance, advertising, architecture, construction, credit

cards, event management and tour operators.

Mobile operators and credit card companies have already started sending messages to subscribers conveying the increase in service tax rate which will have a bearing on the bills.

According to railway ministry officials, fares for First Class and AC classes in passenger trains, besides freight charges, will go up by 0.5 per cent from June 1.

"Curr e n t l y, 3.7 per cent s e r vice tax is levied on train fares for AC Class, First Class and freight.

This will go up to 4.2 per cent from June which means the rise is only 0.5 per

cent," the official said. Currently, there is abatement of 70 per cent on passenger services.

Jaitley had proposed to raise the service tax rate to 14 per cent to facilitate a smooth transition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, which the government wants to roll out from April 2016.

Once implemented, GST will subsume service tax, excise and other local levies.

"To facilitate a smooth transition to levy of tax on services by both the Centre and the States, it is proposed to increase the present rate of service tax plus education cesses from 12.36 per cent to a consolidated rate of 14 per cent," Jaitley had said in Budget speech.

Education cess, which is levied on service tax, will be subsumed in the service tax rate with effect from June 1.

Although the Budget also proposed a 2 per cent Swachh Bharat cess on selected services, the government is yet to come out with a notification in this regard.-PTI

the revenue department had put them on hold.

The ITR forms, notified last month by the CBDT for the current assessment year, had specific columns for banks accounts, IFSC Code, names of joint account holders and foreign visits, including the ones paid by companies.

came to know of this. I immediately called up and said stop it because to me whether it was twelve and a half or thirteen and a half, both seem a little excessive," Jaitley had said.

At present individuals/HUFs having income from more than one house property and capital gains

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was in Washington when the controversial ITR Forms were notified last month, had put on hold the forms. He had then promised "extremely simplified" forms.

"I am in favor of the easing.

This was twelve or twelve and a half page form, which has existed.

Three or four more questions were added...So it became thirteen and a half pages.

"I was in Washington when I

are required to file Form ITR-2.

Observing that majority of individuals/HUFs who file Form ITR-2 do not have capital gains, the statement said, "with a view to provide for a simplified form for these individuals/HUFs, a new Form ITR 2A is proposed which can be filed by an individual or HUF who does not have capital gains, income from business/profession or foreign asset/foreign income." -PTI

14

TechBiz Post

India Post

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

India Inc says downside risks persist NEW DELHI: India Inc has said the economy is showing signs of recovery but called for drastic reforms at the ground level to improve investor sentiment and sought serious attempts to revive growth in agriculture sector.

The growth of agriculture sector should be seriously looked at as there is a significant decline, PHD Chamber President Alok B Shriram said in a statement.

"Though there is an uptick in GDP growth...lots need to be done at the ground level for the physical effects of reforms undertaken during the recent times." "...Make in India initiative requires drastic reforms in labor laws, land acquisition with ease of doing business at ground level.

Sentiment boosting announcements will widen industry growth trajectory and help in achieving potential rate of economic growth," he added.

Ficci said that some downside risks continue to pervade. "Agriculture output may be impacted with a sub-normal monsoon forecast this year, weak demand remains a persisting concern and a firm turnaround in the domestic capex cycle is awaited," it said.

Ficci's business confidence surveys indicate that firms are still apprehensive about undertaking fresh investments.

Assocham too said that the policy makers need to continue with the proactive stance.

"The need is for creating an investment and industry friendly environment that is largely focused on growth, job creation, poverty alleviation and passing the benefits of the economic growth to the lowest sections of the economy" The government needs to keep on pushing more ground-level reforms and improve implementation so as to realize the economy's true potential, the chamber said.

The Indian economy grew at 7.3 per cent in 2014-15 due to improvement in the performance of both services as well as manufac-

turing sectors. The fourth quarter of last fiscal saw the economy grow at 7.5 per cent, better than 6.6 per cent recorded for the previous three months.

"The need is for creating an investment and industry friendly environment that is largely focused on growth, job creation, poverty alleviation and passing the benefits of the economic growth to the lowest sections of the economy," Assocham added.

Industry body CII said that the figure indicates that the policy and reform initiatives taken by the government are bearing results on the ground.

"We expect further improvement of the key levers of the economy, going forward, as the government steps up public investment, which in the process crowds in private investment to rekindle a new demand cycle in the economy," it said in a statement.

ment has done well to promote agriculture and infrastructure and it should now focus on industry, he said, while promising to consider the demand of the state for more initiatives to encourage manufacturing activity.

Hoshangabad was chosen as the centre for producing paper for printing currency notes several decades ago by Morarji Desai, who was the then Finance Minister and later became the Prime Minister.

However, it produced paper for printing of currency notes of smaller denominations only, Jaitley said.

With the development of new facilities at Hoshangabad and also Mysore, it would be possible to produce currency printing paper in adequate quantity to meet

NEW DELHI: ColdEX, India's leading integrated cold chain solutions provider, was awarded the SCALE award for Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence by CII (Confederation of Indian Industry).

The award ceremony was held at Hotel ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.

The award was given to ColdEX for their overall quality of ser-

first choice of clients when they look for cold chain solutions. We are investing in expanding our warehousing facilities and integrating state of the art technology to give maximum satisfaction to our clients.''

Sunil Nair, CEO, ColdEX ''we are honored to receive this award and recognition for the second time in a row. We redeem our pledge to deliver the high-

vices among similar service providers in the industry who were nominated as well. This is the second time in a row that ColdEX has received this award for their excellence in providing quality services.

Speaking on the occasion, Gaurav Jain, Managing Director, ColdEX, Said "ColdEX is delighted to be honored with this award, and such recognitions always motivates us to strive ahead. We aim to become the

est level of customer satisfaction and assiduously work towards delighting our customers."

R Dinesh, Chairman, CII Institute of Logistics Advisory Council, Chairman SCALE Awards & JMD, TVS Sons Limited highlighted at the event that "CII believes that this will be a step towards bringing in global standards in logistics and supply chain sector and enable more outsourcing to take place."

India Post News Service

The GDP numbers for the fourth quarter show a rebound in growth compared with the previous quarter on the back of improved performance of the mining and manufacturing sectors as well as trade, CII added.-PTI

Facility opened for currency paper in MP HOSHANGABAD: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has inaugurated a new production line here to manufacture currency paper, saying it symbolizes the beginning of the 'Make In India' initiative and would ensure high-denomination notes are printed on locally-made paper.

Currently, currency notes of larger denominations are printed on imported paper though ink used is mostly produced within the country, the Minister said.

Jaitley made these comments after inaugurating the New Bank Note Paper Line with an annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes at the Security Paper Mill (SPM).

The Minister also expressed happiness that a beginning of government's flagship program 'Make In India' is being made in Madhya Pradesh, a state which has ceased to be a Bimaru (sick) state following various initiatives taken by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in the recent past.

The Madhya Pradesh govern-

CII confers ColdEX with Scale Award

the need of the nation.

The Bank Note Paper Line facility at Mysore will have a capacity of 12,000 tonnes and is expected to be commissioned by the year end.

A Finance Ministry statement read: "The combined savings of foreign exchange from these two Bank Note projects will be about Rs 1,500 crore in coming years."

-PTI

Switzerland to reveal dormant bank accounts ZURICH: Having started making public the names of Indians and other foreign nationals with Swiss bank accounts that are under scanner, Switzerland will now publish a list of accounts that have remained unclaimed for 60 years.

The list would be published later this year by the Swiss Banking Ombudsman and would include unclaimed assets held by foreigners in their bank accounts in Switzerland, while giving their lawful beneficiaries an opportunity to submit a claim.

These accounts have remained unclaimed since 1955.

Speculation is rife there may be accounts belonging to some erstwhile kings, members of ruling families of the erstwhile princely states and other wealthy individuals from India, who could have opened Swiss bank accounts but did not transfer the ownership to their children or other persons.

However, Swiss authorities and banks are yet to make public any details about nationality of such account holders.-PTI

June 5, 2015

TechBiz Post

India Post

15

www.indiapost.com

Rs 2 lakh penalty for not answering tax queries NEW DELHI: Failure to answer questions from the tax department can entail a penalty of up to Rs two lakh from the next financial year under the new black money law, which has got the assent of the President.

The Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 provides for a minimum penalty of Rs 50,000.

Besides, tax authorities would be able to send summons or notices via electronic mails (emails) and fax to seek information from those under probe for suspected black money stashed abroad.

The Act has got the President's assent and will come into force from April 1, 2016.

The new law, which has provisions to deal with the problem of the undisclosed foreign income and assets, was passed in the Rajya Sabha on May 13, two days after it got the Lok Sabha nod.

A person shall be liable to a penalty if he has, without reasonable cause, failed to answer any question put to him, by a tax authority in the exercise of its powers, the Act says.

The penalty will be imposed if he fails to sign any statement made by him in the course of any proceedings which a tax authority may legally require him to sign and also for their failure to attend or produce books of account or documents called in

Tata Steel workers vote for 'industrial action' in UK LONDON: Tata Steel workers have voted in favor of "industrial action" against the firm over its proposal to end the British Steel Pension System (BSPS), two of the employees' unions Community and GMB said.

"Members of Community, the biggest union in Tata Steel, have voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action," Community said in a statement.

The ballot was in relation to a dispute over Tata Steel's proposal to close the BSPS, it added.

Members from another union GMB in Tata Steel also voted in favor of industrial action.

"Community is calling for Tata Steel to return to the negotiating table to seek a way to end the dispute," it said.

In total 88 per cent members voted in favor of a strike action, the union said, adding that the average turnout was over 76 per cent and was as high as 84 per cent at Tata Steel's works in Port Talbot, where 96 per cent of members voted for strike action.

The combined vote in favor of other forms of industrial action was 96 per cent, it added.

Over 6,000 Community members were balloted across all Tata Steel UK sites.

The industrial action ballot of nearly 17,000 workers is sought by unions to decide between a strike, lock-out and action short of a strike based on the majority view of the employees.-PTI

response to summons issued to him.

The penalty "shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees", it said.

The service of any notice, summons, requisition, order or any other communication may be made by delivering or transmitting a copy to a person by post or by such courier service as may be approved by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

It can also be issued in the form of any electronic record and "by any other means of transmission of documents, including fax message or electronic mail message, as may

be prescribed".

The CBDT may make rules providing for the addresses including the address for electronic mail or electronic mail message to which the communication may be delivered or transmitted to a person, as per the Act. .

A notice or any other document required to be issued, served or given under the Act by any tax authority shall be authenticated by that authority.

"Every notice or other document to be issued, served or given for the purposes of this Act by any tax authority shall be deemed

to be authenticated, if the name and office of a designated tax authority is printed, stamped or otherwise written thereon," it said.

The person shall be precluded from taking any objection in any proceeding or enquiry under this Act that the notice, issued for assessment, was not served upon him, not served upon him in time or served upon him in an improper manner.

However, this provision shall not apply, if the person has raised the objection before the completion of the assessment, the Act said.-PTI

Desi News Music program for Blind Foundation of India HARISH RAO

CHICAGO: The Blind Foundation of India (BFI) is hosting its 6th Annual Music Program (Taraane, Kal Aur Aaj Ke) on Saturday, June 6 at the Avery Coonley Performing Art Center in Downers Grove, a south west suburb of Chicago. The program starts at 6:00 pm with Dinner.

The program highlights include Drs Dipak Shah and Dr. Sheela Shah accompanied by Hitesh Master and Orchestra Sa Re Ga Ma. There will be a special guest, famous standup comedian from New York, Dr. Sandip Buch. The Bollywood dances would be part of the entertainment program as well.

The Blind Foundation of India (BFI) was established in 1989 with a charter to prevent and cure blindness and educate and rehabilitate permanently blind people in India.

There are over 15 million blinds in India accounting for one-third of the world's blind population. So far, BFI team has raised over $4 million and supported 120,000 free cataract operations, gave 10,000 Braille kits to blind children for education, donated 115 vans to transport doctors and patients. On the prevention front, over 750,000 children in government schools have been examined for their eyesight and provided necessary interventions, free of cost.

Democrat fundraiser in Botterman's honor SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Palatine and Wheeling Township Democrats hosted a fundraiser Sunday May 31at Chevy Chase Banquets to honor the legacy of Patrick Botterman who died young few years back.

He was the Committee Chairman of Wheeling Township Democratic Organization. He worked very hard to improve the image of Democrats in suburbs when Republicans controlled the Chicago suburbs.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

16 India Post

Practical & helpful tips on overcoming anger Details on page 23

MAFS demonstration to save Community Care Program NAZNNIN BEGUM

CHICAGO: Metropolitan Asian Family Services (MAFS) and Universal Metro Asian Services, the two community based service organizations, face very difficult time because of Governor Bruce Rauner's proposed budget cut of approximately $140 million to the Community Care Program (CCP) The Community Care Program (CCP) is a resource that allows seniors to "age in place" in the comfort of their own homes. CCP provides essential Homemaker services (caregivers), Adult Day Care Services, and Comprehensive Case Management to help seniors avoid costly emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and Medicaid Nursing Home admissions.

Governor Rauner proposes to change the eligibility requirements for this program to make it more difficult for seniors to have access to these Medicaid cost saving services, and he wants to cut the amount of homemaker service each senior receives by 6 hours per month.

For last two months, MAFS and CCP have been in the forefront providing strong advocacy efforts to support our seniors and save Community Care Program. On April 21 a representation was led to Illinois capital Springfield to meet bipartisan legislatures which urged them to save the lives of

MAFS and CCP seniors voicing their concerns through demonstration in Chicago downtown

seniors and other innocent immigrants by not proposing the budget cut in the house.

On May 27, both these organizations joined with dozens of other organizations such as Illinois Association of Community Care Program and Home Healthcare Provider (IACCPHP), Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Coalition of Limited Speaking Elderly (CLESE), Home Life Healthcare Corporation (HLHC), Illinois Case Coordination Council, (ICCC) Illinois Adult Day Services Association (HLHA)

Details on page 18

Hindu goddesses at Bangkok museum India Post News Service

N

ational Mu-seum Bangkok is displaying Hindu goddesses in its "Feminine Deities" special exhibition, which will run till July 26.

Details on page 20 A group of MAFS team members

and AAPR to save the services that are very important for immigrants, seniors, people and children with mental and physical disabilities.

Many seniors and persons with disabilities rely on a combination of CCP and Medicaid Home Health Services. Medicaid Home Health assists individuals with their medical health care needs by providing skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other essential care to those who are considered "home bound" and cannot leave their homes to manage their

medical needs.

Mrs. Santosh Kumar, Executive Director MAFS, observed that "Cutting CCP's funding sets off a chain reaction of events putting family members in situations where they have to determine how to provide care for their loved onesincluding having to reduce work hours, potentially quit their jobs, or place loved ones prematurely in a nursing home. This places strain on family members and prevents older adults from aging independently and with dignity in the comforts of their own homes."

Cont’d on page 19

Community Across America

June 5, 2015

India Post 17

www.indiapost.com

Rotary Club recognizes Dr Manu Vora RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: The Rotary Club of Naperville conferred a Paul Harris Fellow Medal to Dr. Manu Vora for his 26 plus years of dedicated service to the Blind Foundation for India.

The Awards Ceremony was held on May 21 at Mason Sabika Restaurant in Naperville with 120 guests in attendance. In all 10 individuals were recognized with a distinct honor of Paul Harris Fellow Medal.

Paul Harris Award Winners were selected in various categories such as Club Service,

Community Service, International Service, Vocational Service, and Youth Service. Dr. Vora was selected in the International Service category for his tireless efforts to alleviate sufferings of over 15 million blind people in India accounting for one-third of the world's blind population. His work as a Chair of the "Save The Children Holiday Fund Drive" at AT&T Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies from 1986 to 1999 sponsoring 52 children in 19 countries around the world was also recognized.

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through

Munaf Patel inaugurates cricket tournament SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: United Christian Cultural Association [UCCA] kicked-off their 2015 UCCA Cricket Tournament ceremoniously with India's star cricketer Munaf Patel serving as the chief guest. The presence of the Indian star clearly enthused the young cricket teams gathered on Saturday, May 23 at the Dee Park Cricket Ground in Desplaines, a north side suburb of Chicago.

The crisp sunny Memorial weekend af-

atmosphere, exciting trophies, cash awards and prizes. Keerthi acknowledged several community leaders present at the inaugural, more notably, Iftekhar Shareef for facilitating the presence of ace cricketer Munaf Patel at the inaugural ceremony and added it is the goal of UCCA to see a new generation of youth embracing the game of cricket.

Pledging his unstinted support to the cricket tournament and other community-

India's star cricketer Munaf Patel, Chief Guest seen with the UCCA Cricket Tournament kick-off guests [L-R] Dr. Nandan Thogaru, Babu Varma, Vasanth Charles, Iftekhar Shareef, Keerthi Ravoori, Shirley Kalvakota, Raju Pasumarthi, Satish Dadepogu, Vinay Bandikala & Sharath Kalvakota

ternoon brought cheers, applause and accolades to Munaf as he inaugurated the two-month long thrilling Inter-Church Cricket tournament beginning with the first match which kicked off to a rousing start.

In his brief remarks, Munaf said he was honored to be at the inaugural ceremony to kick-off the cricket tournament which, he said, would help augur the promotion of cricket in Chicago. He commended the teams and spent extended time taking pictures and talking about the finer elements of the game of cricket to the team captains and members; thus endearing himself to the avid cricket fans.

Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, UCCA Director, in his inaugural remarks praised the UCCA leadership for their remarkable efforts in putting together a resolutely competitive cricket tournament complete with festive

oriented events Iftekhar Shareef said cricket is perhaps one of the most potent sports that has intrinsic magical propensity to bring the community youth together. Raju Pasumarthi, UCCA President, outlined the vision of the UCCA and said it is excited to unveil a series of memorable programs which seek to bring the community's youth together and bring out their latent talents in the sportsmanship spirit of competition.

Vasant Charles, Director, conducted the inaugural program and said that UCCA has been hosting cricket tournaments for the last three years and this tournament matches will be spread across two months with the grand championship finals slated for August 8. Vinay Bandikalla, Tournament CoChair explained the tournament format.

Shirley Kalvakota presented flower bouquets to Munaf Patel and Iftekhar Shareef.

the improvement of health, the support of in India. With support from BFI, medical education, and the alleviation of poverty. partners in India have performed over The Rotary Foundation helps fund hu- 125,000 free Cataract operations, examined manitarian activities, from local service over 750,000 school-going children in pubprojects to global initiatives. The club or district can apply for grants from the Foundation to invest in projects and provide scholarships. The Foundation also leads the charge on worldwide Rotary campaigns such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Rotarians and friends of Rotary support the Foundation's work through voluntary contributions.

The Blind Foundation for India Dr Manu Vora (center) was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He is flanked by (BFI) is a registered Rotarian Julie Carlsen and Rotary District 6450 Governor Nicki Scott 501 (c) (3) charitable organization in operation since 1989. The lic schools for eyesight issues, provided mission of BFI is to prevent and cure blind- 10,000 Braille kits and donated 115 mobile ness, and educate and rehabilitate perma- vans to transport eye doctors to villages nently blind individuals in India. To date, and patients to eye hospitals for Cataract BFI has raised over $4 million to benefit over removals. For more information on BFI, visit: one million people with visual impairment http://www.blindfoundation.org

18 India Post

Community Across America

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Democrat fundraiser in Botterman's honor SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Palatine and Wheeling Township Democrats hosted a fundraiser Sunday May 31at Chevy Chase Banquets to honor the legacy of Patrick Botterman who died young few years back.

He was the Committee Chairman of Wheeling Township Democratic Organization. He worked very hard to improve the image of Democrats in suburbs when Republicans controlled the

Chicago suburbs.

The keynote speaker was Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for Congress in the 8th Congressional District. Botterman was also a trustee of Harper College, local community college.

This annual event honors the late Patrick Botterman, who taught northwest suburban Democrats how to organize. Alex Armour was the recipient of the

2015 Botterman Award. Thakar S Basati is an Executive Board Member of Greater Palatine Area Democrats.

From left to right: Raja Krishnamurthy, candidate for 8th Congressional District, Thakar S Basati and Patrick Heneghan, candidate for Judge

'Tyaag' to perform for Nepal recovery SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Aavegh Dance Troupe will showcase its encore production Tyaag" or "letting go" on Saturday, June 27 at 5 pm at College of Dupage's McAninch Arts Center.

Described as "visceral," "moving," "honest and "transformative by audience members, September 2014, Aavegh Dance Troupe debuted its third production Tyaag, which brings together the different dance styles of Indian classical, Indian folk, ballet, modern, and contemporary dance to depict dif-

young professionals an opportunity to pursue their creative interests, Aavegh also seeks to raise awareness and donations for nonprofits with a mission tied to each production's theme.

Aavegh started in February 2005 by Supna Jain, an accomplished Bharata Natyam, modern, and Indian folk dancer. It is an innovative dance troupe as it provides young professionals balancing full-time careers and families an opportunity to continue to pursue their creative interests as

A glimpse of Tyaag performance from Avegh Dance Troupe

ferent experiences of releasing the past and moving forward.

The production explores a range of human experiences including saying goodbye to a loved one, letting go of a son as he goes to war, sending your son to his first day of school, and moving forward from debilitating cancer.

Set to a powerful soundtrack, each piece's message is enhanced with original poetry authored by Aavegh members.

Unique not only in its dance style and its efforts to provide

dancers, artists, and poets. By blending Indian classical and folk dance with modern dance forms, art, and poetry, Aavegh's unique productions play to each of the senses, a patchwork of dance, artwork, poetry, song - and heart.

Since its inception, Aavegh has raised over $12,000 for organizations such as Apna Ghar, CARE, Women's Heart Association and Rainbows for All Children. For their June performance Aavegh will be focused on raising funds for the recovery efforts in Nepal.

June 5, 2015

Community Across America

India Post 19

www.indiapost.com

Islam Center holds annual BMA hosts grand marketing conference fundraiser dinner GEETHA PATIL

A.Q. SIDDIQUI India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Islam Center of Chicago (ICC) annual fundraiser dinner was held last week at White Eagle Banquet in Chicago. It was attended by a large number of

the North side Muslim community for over 24 years. It has a full time Elementary school from Pre K to 8th grade where quality academic education is available in an Islamic environment. The school also runs full time Hifz Quran classes for boys and girls. The school

ranged. For last 10 days, ICC made full arrangements for worshippers intending for Eitekaf (Ramadan exclusive worship).

The presentation also highlighted ICC future plans that included more after school activities, new building for ICC school,

Imam Hussain Sattar and guest scholar from New York Imam Shaikh Hasan Abunar at ICC Fundraiser

prominent Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern families and religious scholars.

Hafiz Azam Hashmi welcomed the guests and emceed the program on behalf of At Takaful Islamic Society. He introduced ICC full time school students memorizing Quran.

Mazhar Shah Khan made an audio video presentation for ICC full time school and other activities. ICC is providing religious educational and social services to

teachers, scholars in Islamic studies, prepares full time school students to meet the challenges of further studies.

The ICC full time school students participated in Science Fair Regional and four of them were selected for the State's Science Fair out of 50 states. Other ICC students also won awards of excellence. Hundreds of Muslims join 5 times the Friday prayers at ICC mosque. In Ramadan Iftaar and Taraveeh prayers are ar-

a Day Care center for Muslim children and additional parking around ICC mosque. Mazhar also discussed the ICC annual budget, its shortfall and requested for generous donations.

The presentation was followed by speeches by Imam Hussain Sattar and guest scholar from New York Imam Shaikh Hasan Abunar. Abdul Hai and team of ICC volunteers later helped arranged the dinner in male and female sections.

AHC observes substance prevention week

CHICAGO: Business Market- marketing, demand generation, ining Association (BMA), as a tegrated internal and external marbranch of Association of National keting communications. The GloAdvertisers (ANA), organized a bal ACE Awards recognized cregrand three- day conference from ative excellence in B-to-B marketMay 27-29 at the Sheraton in ing across all disciplines - online, downtown Chicago. mobile, social, print TV, experien"Be more" was the theme of the tial and integrated content. profession's 2015 annual global BMA nurtures the community conference of BMA15. This theme of B-to-B marketers with consishighlighted the business move- tent, quality opportunities for peer ment in the electronic world where more and more is expected of marketers: they need to know more, master more and deliver more-often in less time and with tighter resources.

More than 885 b2b marketers from 450 companies, 37 states and the District of Colombia and 12 nations attended BMA15.

Fifteen major companies warmly sponsored all three days' pre-conference sessions, keynote sessions, and other breakfast, morning, luncheon, afGary Slack, Emcee and an organizer addressing the BMA Meet ternoon and networking gala sessions. Microsoft was the title spon- connection learning, and developsor of the event. ment. BMA provides an impresOpening and wrap-up remarks sive array of sessions with high were given by Steve Liguori, 2014- quality speakers. Gary Slack, the 15 BMA Chair and Howard organizer and Michael Krauss, the Sherman, 2015-16 BMA Chair. The co-organizer of the event since BMA B2 Awards recognized the 2009 proudly say attending dynamic work of business market- BMA's annual global conference ers' across 24 categories and 113 is fast becoming a ritual that atdivisions including innovative tracts all the aspirants in our proglobal brand, strategy, customer fession.

NAZNNIN BEGUM

CHICAGO: National Prevention Week, an annual health observance dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues was held from May 18-23. During the week, the staff and volunteers from the Asian Health Coalition (AHC) and Coalition for Asian Substance Abuse Prevention distributing information about the problems and consequences of teen substance use at local high schools.

Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, accord-

ing to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the 2014 Illinois Youth Survey, alcohol is the drug of choice for youth in the community, followed by marijuana and

tobacco. While about 17% of 8th graders report using alcohol in the past year, this number skyrockets to 57% by 12th grade. Similar patterns have also be seen with mari-

juana and tobacco use.

"Prevention is the key to reducing these numbers. By educating youth and parents, you are providing them with the tools and knowledge to make safe and health decisions." said Alia Ryan, Substance Abuse Program Manager at the AHC. "Staff from the Coalition worked with teens from Chicago's Chinatown community to create a selfie contest which encourages high school students to open the conversation of substance use among their peer and help further spread the awareness", Alia added.

MAFS demonstration to save Community Care Program Cont’d from page 16

"These proposed cuts unfairly target Illinois' hardworking individuals who will have to balance work, personal life, children and unpaid, full-time care for their loved ones. I urge state legislators to fully fund CCP so our state's older adults can receive the programs and services needed to age at home with dig-

nity," she added, MAFS and CCP have made a strong plea to everyone working with the seniors and with those suffering with disabilities to join them in advocating keeping these essential services accessible to the community by not cutting the funds in the Budget. To save the program, please communicate to the Community Care Hot Line number at - 1-844-226-1190.

20 India Post

Community Across America

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Hindu goddesses at Bangkok museum India Post News Service

N

ational M u seum Bangkok is displaying Hindu goddesses in its "Feminine Deities" special exhibition, which will run till July 26.

Hosted by Thailand Fine

Ayesha Siddiqui gets QuestBridge scholarship SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: Ayesha Siddiqui, an Indian American senior student at Lane Tech High School, Chicago, has won the prestigious QuestBridge scholarship among top 4 of CPS class of 2015.

Out of more than 1100 graduating high school students, four are selected for the QuestBridge scholarship awards for Class of 2015. Ayesha Siddiqui, Araceli

ety.

Ayesha thanked her father A.Q. Siddiqui, a local journalist, mother Talath Siddiqui, a close Telugu family friend Ayloo Srikant and his wife Dr Amba for guidance and all moral support.

QuestBridge is a powerful platform that connects the nation's brightest, low income students and leading institutions

National Museum of Bangkok

Ma Saraswati at Museum

Arts Department, it shows sculptures of Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati.

Said to be the largest museum in Southeast Asia established in 1874

by King Rama V; National Museum Bangkok contains "The King Ram Khamhaeng Inscription" included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, King Taksin's throne, restored

Bhuddhaisawan Chapel built in 1795, etc.

Applauding this move by the National Museum Bangkok, Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, observed that Art had a long and rich tradition in Hinduism and ancient Sanskrit literature talked about religious paintings of deities on wood or cloth. He urged major art museums of the world, to frequently organize Hindu art focused exhibitions, thus sharing the rich Hindu art heritage with the rest of the world.

Ayesha with Award

Martinez, Paul Alves, John Jack from Lan Tech High school got the QuestBridge scholarship and admission in University of Chicago.

Ayesha was honored in an award ceremony for scholars held at Lane Tech High School auditorium in Chicago last week.

Ayesha was also honored as Lane Tech Scholar, Illinois State Scholar and AP Scholar. Earlier this year, Ayesha was also included in National Honor Soci-

of higher education. As an aggregator of excellence, QuestBridge provides a single, internet-based meeting point which links exceptional students with colleges, scholarship providers, enrichment programs, employers, and organizations seeking students who have excelled despite obstacles. QuestBridge aims to increase the percentage of talented low-income students attending the nation's best universities.

Great importance and benefits of satsang PT ANIL JOSHI

S

atsang is derived from the Sanskrit word sat meaning truth or reality, and sangha means a gathering of people or devotees especially in a temple, private residence or in any other place with a common vision or purpose of seeking truth. In short, Satsang implies brotherhood or fraternity established in a particular locality.

In Indian philosophy Satsang can exist in the following forms: 1) A comradeship of seekers of the "highest truth" who listen to, talk about, and embrace truth. They give importance to the Vedic ways of realizing the fundamental truth of life. 2) A fellowship of gurus, sadhus or saints who guide people how to seek truth. 3) A companionship of religious texts that facilitate people to realize truth. 4) The company of a true teacher or satguru who is within you. That is you are always with the "Truth."

Truth is what is real and what exists in front of you. So all that is there with you is Truth.

Very often, preachers describe

the Vedic ideas of truth and encourage people to observe the common moral, ethical, and religious values and beliefs that are beneficial to reform and maintain the honor of realizing truth in life.

Satsang members make a seri-

Pt Anil Joshi, Priest Grayslake Hindu Temple, Chicagoland

ous commitment to their personal growth in spiritual awareness and practice helping and removing each other's barriers, prejudices, and ignorance that come in their spiritual quest. They develop relationships of compassion and

appreciation across all living creatures and nature. They honor Truth by conquering the conflict and confusion existing in the world and take refuge in the Truth.

They participate actively in the spiritual practices, religious prayers, chanting of sacred hymns, singing of bhajans, kirtan, reciting of the holy writ with or without exposition, listening to lectures or reading quietly or reflecting on or discussing or assimilating the meaning of scriptures, religious or theological topics, or Bhagwat Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata on a regular basis.

Being in the company of gurus, saints, religious texts, or pious likeminded people who worship together and hold spiritual discussions helps you to understand the sacred precepts and teachings of spiritual growth and attaining of liberation.

Understanding of ultimate truths of life - birth and death increases your experience of the Truth. They open up your heart and quieten your mind and make

your detachment process from the worldly life easier and help you lead a humble, selfless life in peace.

The benefits of Satsang, or being with the Truth, are endless. In Satsang you always seek embracing the Truth. No thoughts, suspicion, fears, or judgments can limit or narrow your experience of the

are considered higher than the isolated individual religious practice as the holy fellowship is all the time morally elevating.

In Satsang, the seeker of the Truth learns to make himself useful to others by engaging in acts of Seva, or social services which are so highly prized in Hinduism.

Being in the company of gurus, saints, religious texts, or pious like-minded people who worship together and hold spiritual discussions helps you to understand the sacred precepts and teachings of spiritual growth and attaining of liberation.

Truth. Satsang of any form creates an environment which is conducive for experiencing the presence of God that is the Truth.

A very high level of importance is assigned to Satsang meet since it is considered essential for the spiritual edification and ethical progress of an individual. Collective worship and prayers in Satsang

The seva can take the form of cleaning temple premises, shrines, preparing and serving food to the devotees, and the poor, respecting women, children and elderly, giving away charities, teaching free in temples, and contributing to sustainability and Go Green Initiative.

Cont’d on page 23

June 5, 2015

Community Across America

India Post 21

www.indiapost.com

Musings from Chicago: Compulsory voting - Masterstroke or impractical idea?

I

n November last year, Gujarat became the first Indian state to pass a bill making voting in the local body elections compulsory. With O.P. Kohli as the new Governor in office, the Bill managed to get the Governor's assent in the third attempt. Even though the Bill was passed by Gujarat legislative assembly as early as 2009, Kamla Beniwal had rejected it twice during her tenure as the Governor of Gujarat, drawing sharp reactions from many quarters. Now with elections to as many as 315 local self-governments due in October this year, the state Government is likely to notify this bill (hence, making into a law) just well in time.

A number of experts doubt the constitutional validity of compulsory voting and consider it a violation of the Article 21 of the Constitution of India which guarantees personal liberty. On the other hand, the supporters of this legislation point out that people can still have their personal liberty by choosing to vote for NOTA (None of The Above) and rejecting all the candidates.

The Kapoor Committee - set up by Gujarat state government - did invite suggestions from the public on the magnitude of penalty or punishment for those evading voting.

However, we shall have to wait on the exact quantum of punishment as spelled out in the law.

Where else is this provision?

Presently, approximately 26 countries in the world enforce compulsory voting in one way or the other. The major nations among these include Argentina, Brazil, Singapore and Australia. Notwithstanding their national laws which make 'not voting' a punishable offence, most of these countries haven't been able to enforce the punishments effectively. Some of these nations, such as Australia and Brazil, accept valid reasons, such as sickness or non availability, for skipping to vote. In Brazil, failing to vote would debar you from getting a passport, whereas in Bolivia, you won't be able to withdraw your salary from the Bank for a period of three months, if you fail to vote!

Dr Munish Kumar Raizada According to many experts, a considerably low voter turnout in the local elections was the key driving force behind the introduction of this law in Gujarat. Arguing that the local elections don't arouse much interest in the public, the experts say that a law will help the people make use of their constitutional privilege. Interestingly, it would be incorrect to assume that we are alone in this regard. The 2014 midterm elections in the USA saw the lowest voter turnout in 72 years! Only 36.4% of the eligible voters came out to cast their vote, as compared to the 40.9% turnout in the 2010 midterm elections.

The advocates of compulsory voting argue that as a non-voter, you lose the right to criticize the government and its policies since you didn't have any part to play in its formation at the first place. On the contrary, rather than remaining a neutral voter, your no-show at the elections effectively converts you into a negative vote.

As LK Advani once remarked: "Voters, who without any legitimate justification, have not been exercising the valuable right of franchise the Indian Constitution has conferred on them have, unwittingly thus, been casting a negative vote against all the contesting candidates without intending to do so."

Is the idea really feasible?

In all probabilities, the Kapoor committee would recommend a nominal fine for the law violators. But taking into account the huge demography of the country, collection of such fines would be a tedious task to say the least. The last thing you would want is to spend more in collecting fines than the amount of fine itself! Human behavior forces us to repel anything which is made 'compulsory' for us. In Brazil,

DR MUNISH KUMAR RAIZADA

for instance, where voting is compulsory, a Rhinoceros 'Cacareco' won the local elections in 1959 when the people decided to utilize their compulsory voting right to protest against rampant corruption.

Incentivizing a positive rather than punishing a negative has always paid rich dividends. For example, during the recent Delhi assembly elections, a number of restaurants, gyms and salons in the capital announced discounts for the customers if they showed their 'inked finger'. While the real impact of such campaigns in boosting the voting percentage still remains to be deciphered, such ideas surely give food for thought.

The recent years have seen a steady rise in the voter turnout in all elections in the country. This is directly pro-

portional to the rising literacy rate. None would argue against the fact that voter education plays a major role in enhancing the voter turnout. The Election Commission has been organizing several events to raise awareness among the public regarding the significance of their single vote.

To push the initiative even further, in 2011, the Government earmarked 25th January as the National Voters' Day. Many celebrities have also taken up the cause of voter education in the past few years, and their efforts have shown results. Whether the clause of compulsory voting further adds to the rising political conscience of the country or it backfires on the Government authorities, remains to be seen.

The author is a Chicago-based columnist. Email ID: Pedia333@gmail.com Twitter @DrMunishRaizada

22 India Post

Community Across America

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Mirth, joy, emotions at Hasya Kavi Sammelan ARCHANA ASTHANA

SUNNYVALE: The audience at the event hall in the Sunnyvale Hindu temple last week was experiencing waves of laughter, fully immersed in the Hasya Kavi Sammelan taking place there. With poets, singers, and storytellers, experienced in wordsmithing, gracing the occasion, it was no wonder that the light hearted mood was palpable. This event was presented as collaboration between the Indo American Society of Bay Area and the Uttar Pradesh Mandal of America (UPMA). A delegate from the UP government was also present as part of an effort to reconnect people of UP origin to their roots.

The lively evening began with an introduction by Archana Panda, the MC and one of the organizers, who also elicited audience participation. She began the session with her poetry woven into songs based on love in all its aspects...spiritual, physical, emotional, and devotional.

Henceforth, each member of the visiting delegation took turns at the podium to connect with the audience, be it with their emotive poetry and singing, or pot shots at politicians, or a string of jokes reminding us of WhatsApp exchanges!

Arun Gemini from Haryana, India, in his deadpan delivery requested the audience to put their cell phones on Manmohan Singh mode (silent), and their hands in Narendra Modi mode (action), thus adequately setting the expectation of a fun-filled evening.

Arunji even made fun of being from Haryana, as the birthplace of Kavi sammelan, since the epic poem, Gita in Mahabharat was sung there by Lord Krishna, and Arjun, who decided to enter battle rather than endure more of it.

Arunji went on to entertain with clever juxtaposition of words, and finding humor in India's defeat at the Olympics, because, even though they were bodily defeated, they remained winners spiritually.

He included pithy comments and suave leg pulling of the politicians,

business community and the legal system, all fair game for such creativity.

Ved Prakash Ved from Delhi brought in the hasya ras using the infamous relationships between mothers and daughters-in law, dating back to the times of Sita in Ramayan, when she willingly went for Banwas, rather than put up with three mothers in law at home.

He explored the problem of adulteration in India, where a gamut of things are spurious, from food additives, atmospheric pollution to illegitimate children!

There was dark humor disguising the message that we should indeed be fearful of food that threatens to consume us, rather than the other way around. Vedji took on allegations against baby Krishna by the gopis and his mother Yashoda as having stolen the churned butter.

However, Lord Krishna could dispute that through a health report which did not detect any spurious additives in it, thereby declaring Krishna innocent. In his lighter selections, he introduced a piece on Mallika Sherawat, a top

Bollywood dancer, who reaches heaven and wreaks havoc on the citizens.

Ritu Goyal, from Delhi also sang her own compositions on relationships. Her song about women in love was alive with imagery, as was the one about fathers and their

try. Rituji delivered more such songs and prem ras about gender roles and gender differences.

Both Arunji and Rituji commented on a teacher's positive role in young lives and created poems about the languages we speak. In the case of Rituji, she saluted the

Ved Prakash Ved from Delhi brought in the hasya ras using the infamous relationships between mothers and daughters-in law, dating back to the times of Sita in Ramayan, when she willingly went for Banwas, rather than put up with three mothers in law at home. sentiments, and the many roles they play in a family indeed brought out a few tissues to the eyes to wipe away a stray tear in the audience.

Her nuanced portrayal of a wife's sentiments and the sacrifices she makes to adjust to her busy husband who has no time for his wife, saw many audience members nodding their heads in agreement as a mute testimony to the marriage between man and his gadge-

Hindi language and paid homage to the richness it brings, while Arunji made fun of the "foreign" language, English.

All in all, there were deep, dark issues presented through the medium of song and poetry, belying their seriousness; as well as pure hasya ras and vyang (wit and satire), which brought mirthful laughter at the genuine and unpretentious nature of the emotions they elicit.

SCE alerts customers on utility bill scam India Post News Service

ROSEMEAD, CA: Southern California Edison (SCE) continues to advise customers to stay vigilant and learn to protect themselves from a telephone bill scam that demands immediate payment for allegedly past-due electricity bills.

It's getting costlier too since in April, SCE customers lost an estimated $27,000 to phone scams, an increase from $17,000 in March.

Recently, an SCE business customer was defrauded out of $3,000 after responding to a scam call. So far this month, more than

500 scam phone calls have been made to SCE customers, with some paying between $1,500-$3,000.

Some customers have even reported seeing a red truck thought to be from SCE with the words "Service Disconnect" parked outside their homes or businesses.

Scammers also have created fake telephone lines and recordings that state: "Hello. Thank you for calling Southern California Edison Disconnection Department." Another trick is telling customers local police will be called if they don't pay immediately.

Many impostors urge customers to use a reloadable prepaid

card to make payments.

"You should be leery of anyone who calls you asking for money. Utilities are not going to

Phone impostors claiming to be with SCE call customers and fraudulently threaten to disconnect their electrical service unless immediate payment is made

call and request payments over the telephone," said Hector Tamayo, a detective with the Claremont Police Department "The biggest red flag is when these callers request money on a reloadable prepaid card. Most people should be able to catch on when the caller is asking you to send a payment through a prepaid card."

So how does the scam work?

Phone impostors claiming to be with SCE call customers and fraudulently threaten to disconnect their electrical service unless immediate payment is made on a supposedly past-due bill. The caller demands payment immedi-

ately and tells the unsuspecting customer to buy a prepaid debit card - and there are many different kinds - and load a specific amount of money on it and call the impostor back, providing the serial number off the back of the card.

Once you give out the serial number, the cash is untraceable and gone for good.

And although more customers are learning to recognize phone scams, impostors continue to cheat people out of their money using more elaborate and deceptive ploys.

Cont’d on page 23

June 5, 2015

Community Across America

India Post 23

www.indiapost.com

Practical & helpful tips on overcoming anger SWAMI NIKHILANAND

I

n the last article, we addressed the question of why we some times do wrong things even when we know it is wrong. We learned that desire is the cause, because it clouds our power of discrimination and causes us to do wrong, seemingly against our will.

We also learned that by increasing our spiritual understanding, we can strengthen the ability of our intellect to overcome the wrong impulses generated by desires.

On the same topic, Shree

A few practical tips to control anger Here I will share with you some techniques that I learned from my Guru Ji, Jagadguru Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj.

1. The most simple and powerful technique of all is to remind yourself that Shree Krishna is also seated in the heart of the person with whom you are angry. You should actually visualize Him there. He resides in the heart of every living being, giving life to them and keeping track of their

Your goal is to receive Shree Krishna's grace by attaching your mind to Him. However, when you invite anger into your heart, then you have chased Shree Krishna away. He and anger cannot both remain in your heart at the same time.

Krishna also explained that desire can give rise to anger, if the desire is unfulfilled. This anger affects our mind in a similar way to desire, clouding our judgment, and causing us to do wrong things. Since we all have desires, we are all likely to be affected by anger at some time or another. Thus, we also need to learn how to overcome the effects of anger on our mind.

actions. He is in your heart, and He is in your enemy's heart. At the time you feel angry and feel that you can't overcome it, remembering this point will dissolve the anger instantly and put a smile on your face. Of course, you have to be willing to overcome the anger if you are, then this simple point will be enough. Remember, if you say something out of anger that

hurts even your enemy, then you are hurting Shree Krishna, because He is also present in their heart.

2. Your goal is to receive Shree Krishna's grace by attaching your mind to Him. However, when you invite anger into your heart, then you have chased Shree Krishna away. He and anger cannot both remain in your heart at the same time. So ask yourself: who do I want in my heart - anger, or Shree Krishna?

3. If you want to be angry, be angry at anger itself.

4. When you get angry at someone who has wronged you, you feel justified. But ask yourself: when you get angry, are they being harmed, or are you? It's your heart which is burning and your thoughts and sleep which are being disturbed by the emotional reaction you are having. In other words, the moment you get angry, you have already lost. If you want to win, then decide not to get angry.

5. We do not like to think of ourselves as foolish. Yet, if someone calls us a fool, we immediately become angry. In other words, with just one word, the other person was able to turn us in to a fool.

Then how intelligent are we, really?

"We are doing what we can to inform our customers about these criminals so they don't fall victim to their scams. We often include important information like this on our bill inserts, so I would encourage customers to review those pages of their monthly statements," said Kari Gardner, manager, SCE Consumer Affairs.

"Also, helping spread the word to their employees and their friends about these scams will help prepare them in the event they receive telephone calls from individuals demanding money for payment."

SCE customers who suspect a fraudulent call should ask for the caller's name, as well as their department and business phone number. End the call and report the incident immediately to local police or SCE at 1-800-655-4555.

If you do pay an impostor, call SCE to report the scam and provide the card number you used

to pay the scammer. In addition, call your local law enforcement agency and file a police report for your loss.

Signs of a scam

Helping spread the word to their employees and their friends about these scams will help prepare them in the event they receive telephone calls from individuals demanding money for payment.

Here are a few red flags to help you spot a telephone bill scam.

Scam: Caller demands immediate payment with the threat of shutting off your utility service.

Fact: SCE never calls customers over the telephone to collect overdue bills and will never demand immediate payment with the

India Post News Service

SAN JOSE: Prof. Shiva Singh of San Jose City College has been honored as "Best Instructor of the Year" at the Associated Student Government (ASG) Hall of Excellence Award Banquet.

The Award ceremony was held in San Jose City College on May 14 in front of District Chancellor, College President, Administrators, staff, Faculty and students.

Prof. Shiva Singh has been teaching at San Jose City College for the last 13 years for the San Jose Evergreen Community Colleges District. Earlier, he had a long career in IBM, General Electric, Unisys Corporation and high tech after finishing his graduate studies.

Prof Singh has two sons, one is CEO of a high tech company in Silicon Valley and other is Reserve Major in the US Army and Full time Police Officer in the City of Mountain View.

Prof. Singh has lived in San Jose for last 41 years. His wife Meera Singh is a housewife. He is also heavily involved in philanthropic work in his home district in India.

Recently he built a Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple and a Dharmshala in his home town. He is also building a Durga Temple in his neighboring village of Ujjain Bangara and a Memorial Monu-

ment in memory of his ancestors.

He says he has adopted his village and plans to repair or build a home for every person who can't afford it but needs it.

Cont’d on page 24

SCE alerts customers on utility bill scam Cont’d from page 22

Prof. Shiva Singh honored as 'Best Instructor'

threat of service disconnection Scam: You're instructed to buy a prepaid debit card at a store within the next 30-60 minutes and load it with money.

Fact: SCE does not accept prepaid cards for bill payments.

Scam: Caller claims to be from SCE's Disconnection Department.

Fact: SCE does not have a Disconnection Department.

Scam: Caller asks for money in person.

Fact: SCE employees never ask for, or collect, money out in the field.

Scam: You get a call on a weekend or holiday about an unpaid bill.

Fact: SCE does not conduct credit transactions on weekends or holidays.

Scam: You're told a truck with SCE letters and Service Disconnect is en route to your home or business, or parked outside.

Fact: SCE does not own or operate vehicles with Service Disconnection signage.

Great importance and benefits of satsang Cont’d from page 20

It is in Satsang that our true spiritual discipline evolves. This is where virtues are learned.

Satsang is the Guru's own school where one practices godlike qualities.

Although Satsangs discuss secular matters affecting self and the communities, its spiritual core makes it stand out in the Hindu society since it is here the Divine Name alone is cherished. Attendance at Satsang brings one near to God which is obtained through the grace of Guru. He who comprehends the Guru's word realizes this truth.

Joining Satsang helps in conquering the evil propensities of the mind, dispelling ego and getting enlightened in the company of the holy people. It is applauded as a valuable means for our moral and spiritual growth.

Satsang is the place where you are able to ask questions or doubts about spirituality, any practices, and principles and get them cleared. Without this cleansing, one will not be able to practice spirituality wholeheartedly. One gets to share one's spiritual experiences and their significance in realizing absolute Truth. This gives others a motivation to persevere on this path.

Satsang helps to nurture the sattvikta and win over the rajasik and tamasik elements within and without us as otherwise, it becomes difficult to even think about God and spiritual practices.

One also gets the benefit of growth of Divine Consciousness (Chaitanya) and positivity that emanates from the sattvikta. However the amount of positivity received by each seeker is directly proportional to the seekers spiritual level and lack of ego.

24 India Post

Community Across America

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Practical & helpful tips on overcoming anger Cont’d from page 23

6. Don't speak when you are angry. Wait until things cool down to resolve the situation.

So far, I have explained how to overcome the effects of desire and anger on your mind so that you can resist the harmful impulses that they generate. However, that alone is not enough. We should also strive to reduce the desires and anger from the inside.

If we could reduce or even eliminate them internally, then we would never be in danger of being impelled to do wrong things

under their influence. This would, however, seem to be impossible, given what we know about the origin of desire and anger. Why is it so? This will be explained in the next article.

How can I learn to implement the teachings of the Gita?

Swami Nikhilanand ji helps both young and old not only understand the philosophy of the Gita but also how to implement it in daily life. He says, "It's not just a theory to be understood and filed away - it has to be lived. Only then will someone appreci-

ate the value of what is taught in a scripture like the Gita. In his Family Gita classes, the

There is plenty of time for questions, and the kids are especially enthusiastic about getting the answers to long-held confusions about Hinduism. The adults benefit too

highest teachings of the Gita that relate to God, soul, dharm, duty, karm yog, meditation, liberation, and enlightenment, etc, are broken down into simple and easy-to-understand modules in an interactive workshop format so that each child and parent understands how their life will improve if they decide to apply this knowledge into daily practice.

There is plenty of time for questions, and the kids are especially enthusiastic about getting the answers to long-held confusions about Hinduism. The adults benefit too, when they learn the nuances about the philosophy at a much deeper level. All in all, the family Gita class is an excellent opportunity for the whole family to gain a greater appreciation of Hindu heritage, culture, and religion.

"These are fun and interactive classes there is even a friendly game of Jeopardy at the end of each hour-and-a-half session. But the topics covered have the power to really change a person's life for the better. They learn things like how to balance spiritual practice with everyday demands of life in

Swami Nikhilanand

the world, whether it be at school, home, office or business; how to perform their duty without attachment; how to do their best, but not be attached to the results; how to develop a higher sense of duty and compassion for all living beings; how to develop a stronger sense of self; how to reduce stress; how to remain calm in all situations."

Disciple of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj: Swami Nikhilanand Ji is a Canadian born Hindu spiritual leader based in Austin, Texas. He is a sanyasi disciple and pracharak of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.

Attracted to the teachings of Hinduism from a young age, Swamiji eventually let his deep spiritual longing lead him to India, where he was most fortunate to come under the guidance of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Thereafter, living in the ashrams of JKP, he extensively studied Hindi, the philosophy of the prime Sanskrit scriptures (Vedas, Darshan Shastras, Gita, Bhagwatam), and practiced meditation in the tradition of raganuga bhakti. In 2003, he was given sanyas.

Swamiji conducts weeklong Family Gita classes across various cities in the U.S. Through these enlightening sessions, Swamiji imparts the true knowledge of the Hindu heritage, tradition and universal principles to children and adults alike. For more information regarding upcoming Family Gita classes in your city, please visit

SATYAGRAH BOUND Indian Americans Making A Difference

June 5, 2015

India Post

25

www.indiapost.com

A monthly column highlighting the achievements of Indian Americans locally and beyond.

W

ith this monthly column, we intend raising political awareness and become an inspiration for each of us to excel, reach greater heights. We Indian Americans are going through a transitional evolution in this country, as we get entrenched in doing some good; as entrepreneurs, high tech geeks, doctors, lawyers, imposing our good will upon this fantastic country. But as we all discover, our involvement can run deeper and wider to impact issues near and dear to our hearts. It starts with simple contribution and involvement in our local community. There are few who are already beginning or have made their mark - we want to highlight these SatyAgrah souls as inspiration and learning for all of us.

We invite success stories you have observed around you, provide us your insights on

Indian Americans heroes and heroines locally and nationally who made things happen. The ones who helped address a simple issue in the community to make life a bit better; perhaps got elected to the school board, appointed to the planning commission or library commission. The one common theme that you may discover, the experience is rewarding and transformative at the same time - there is value in being involved and being an engaged citizen. These perspectives will help construct roadmaps for our community to empower ourselves, to represent our local communities as leaders, and make this glorious country of America a better place. You can email your recommendations for this spotlight coverage to Rishi at Rishi<at>RishiKumar.com

Joining Asian/Pacific Islanders strengthens us: Deepa

D

RISHI KUMAR

I am currently in law school, so I'm fosoon you found yourself on a hot seat as overlooked as well. On the surface, a the campaign manager for current Sena- Bangladeshi-American person may not feel cused on my legal career. As I've gotten to tor Jim Beall's Senate run. How did that that they have a lot in common with some- learn more about the law, I have seen that one of Korean heritage, and there are many ways to make come about? a positive difference. HoldBy the time the opportunity with Jim so, it can seem unfair that ing political office is one way, Beall came up, I had a lot of community ex- they would have to check the but it isn't the only one. For perience. Throughout my undergraduate same box. But, the reality is example, Vanita Gupta at the years, I pursued opportunities in state gov- that Indian-Americans only Department of Justice's Civil ernment and politics, which constitute approximately 3 Rights division, is leading served me well after I graduated million of the US population. the charge on police reform, from Berkeley. I had the privilege If we stand united with the which is quickly becoming of managing Anu Natarajan's suc- broader Asian/Pacific Isone of the most important iscessful re-election bid to the Fre- lander community, our numsues of our generation. mont City Council, and I worked ber increases to about 15 million. Together, we can indeed, What can we as a commuin the state Legislature. nity do to seed leadership Most importantly, though, I be giant. I am optimistic that with the next generation of was very fortunate to have been we can work together beDeepa Sharma: From the Indian Americans? What mentored by some of the smart- cause ultimately, our issues days as campaign are the few things you are est political strategists, like Katie are quite similar. manager to Jim Beall focused on to make it hapMerrill. I felt prepared to lead Jim Our Indian American comBeall's Senate race because I munity has political strengths - financial pen power - and weakness - our voting record.

I would say that there hasn't been an learned from one of the best.

Winning Senator Beall's race What strengths and weaknesses do you organized effort to build the pipeline of leadDeepa Sharma with CA State Senator Jim Beall and CA was truly an amazing experience. see? How do we address the shortcomings? ership in the Indian-American community.

State Controller Betty Yee (right) Actually, I think the perception that In- We need to ensure that our best and brightI'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to work for someone dian-Americans are financially powerful is est are being mentored for community leada weakness. It isn't entirely true, and con- ership positions. City or state-level comas his campaign manager on his Senate race like Senator Beall. in 2012. She also serves on the California You are very involved with the API Cau- tributes to the notion that Indian-Americans missions are a great starting point for leadDemocratic Party's Asian/Pacific Islander cus. Do you see the Indian American com- don't have pressing issues that need to be ership development, and can lead to larger Caucus. Deepa completed her undergradu- munity creating our own identity in poli- addressed. Indian-Americans are deeply opportunities. I would like to see a tighterate studies at University of California, Ber- tics or should we have the common Asian affected by issues like the costs of higher knit network of community-minded people keley, where she majored in Political Science. front? Do you see collaboration happen- education, or even, the shortage in the hous- get together regularly and learn from each ing supply, which is leading other's experiences.

Deepa, The road not traversed by many is to the phenomenon we're Rishi is Silicon never easy. What were some of the chalseeing today where an engi- Valley's energizer lenges along the way as you established neer has to spend close to bunny deeply enyourself in public service as a minority half of his or her income on gaged in local woman? Where does the firepower come rent. causes to make his from?

Although it's true that as community a better I was always drawn to public service. As a whole, Indian Americans place. He is an I explored my interests as a teenager, I had have the highest household elected city an amazing opportunity to serve as an inmedian income, there was a councilmember in tern in then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin recent study that came out Saratoga, CA who Newsom's office in 2004. In that position, I showing that Indian-Ameri- continues to follow had a firsthand view of how people in leadcans needed to reach a higher his passion for community service and comership can make a huge difference in everylevel of educational attain- munity building. Rishi's day job is as a Siliday people's lives, particularly in the realm ment to reach positions of con Valley hi-tech executive but community of civil rights. For example, gay marriage power than others. So, we service has become his passion. Rishi Kumar would not have been on the national radar (From left) With Bay Area's Indian American elected council without courageous decision-making. That members Rishi Kumar and Ash Kalra, CA State Controller Betty can't take it for granted that is also the founder of the Bay Area Indian many people in our commu- American Democratic Club whose charter lesson has always stayed with me, and Yee (center) and fiance Puneet Chhabra nity are doing well, because is to further the interests and values of Inshowed me that the road less traveled is the dian Americans, work towards political eming between us Indian Americans with the there are struggles, too. most interesting.

Another issue that I see is a lack of effi- powerment and advance ethical standards I'd say the most challenging aspect is Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino popucacy in the political process, generally, but in the political system. You can reach him being a young person in this field: people lation?

It's an important debate that we are hav- I think that problem is certainly not unique via his website www.RishiKumar.com. Rishi are less apt to listen to your ideas because they are seen as being rooted in idealism ing right now. In one sense, the API com- to Indian Americans. The overall low turn- would love to get your recommendations rather than experience. But I learned that if munity is not a monolithic bloc: there is so out in the most recent elections is illustra- for coverage of engaged Indian American leaders who are trailblazers in the commuyou're really committed and persistent, you much diversity that gets overlooked because tive of that. of the broad Asian/Pacific Islander label. If you decided to make a run for a politi- nity. Email your recommendations to him at will be heard.

Rishi<at>RishiKumar.com You graduated from Berkeley and very And because of that, specific problems get cal office - when, why and how? eepa Sharma is a rising third year law student at the University of Cali fornia, Hastings. She has served as a Legal Extern for the Honorable Maria Rivera at the First District Court of Appeal and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Prior to law school, she worked as a Legislative Aide to Senator Jim Beall, and served

26

June 5, 2015

India Post www.indiapost.com

FOR ALL YOUR

TRAVEL NEEDS INTERNATIONAL DOMESTIC

AIR INDIA AND ALL OTHER MAJOR AIRLINES.

PACKAGE DEAL TAJ TOUR-SOTC

SEEMA WORLD TRAVEL, INC. One of the Oldest Travel Agencies in St. Louis

Competitive Rates & Confirmed Seats for All Major Airlines 10635 Page Ave., St. Louis, MO 63132

Tel: (314) 423-9990 or (800) 55 SEEMA CALL:

Sita Ram Patel @ 847-568-0535 New York (Hicksville)

AIRWING TRAVELS INC.

Tel: (516) 931 4600

Est. 1991 Toll Free: (866) 532 3413

New Jersey (Iselin)

Tel: (732) 658 5450

Lowest Fares / Confirmed Seats to INDIA & Other Destinations Worldwide Save upto 40% on First and Business Class OPEN 7 DAYS - Call or Email : AIRWINGTRAVELS@GMAIL.COM

Fax: (314) 423-0391

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

India Post 27

India Post 29

June 5, 2015 www.indiapost.com

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Jeena Jeena : Badlapur 2 Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan : Roy 3 Jee Karda: Badlapur 4 Khamoshiyan : Khamoshiyan 5 Sooraj Dooba Hai : Roy 30 India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 5, 2015

6 Tu Hai Ki Nahi : Roy 7 Judai : Badlapur 8 Tu Har Lamha : Khamoshiyan 9 Chhil Gaye Naina : NH10 10 Dard Karaara : Dum Laga Ke Haisha

K

angana Ranaut is winning hearts with her double whammy in Tanu Weds Manu Returns. And now the actress has given her fans another reason to go gaga. Kangana was offered a whopping Rs 2 crore deal to endorse a fairness cream but she turned down the offer. Talking to Hindustantimes.com, she clarified that she never understood the concept of fairness and that she did not want to set a bad example for the youth by endorsing a fairness cream brand. She added that even her sister, Rangoli, is dusky, yet beautiful and going ahead with this deal would mean that she was insulting her.

In an interview with Bollywoodlife.com, Kangana recalled that people called her stupid for losing out on The Dirty Picture and opting for Tanu Weds Manu. She said that one has to lose something to win some too. She further shared that she had taken multiple risks in her career and that she would continue to do so. For Queen, she said that despite having big banners on one side, she opted to work with new director, who had a limited budget. Reportedly, Kangana also shared that, for her, Queen was also a risk.

R

itiesh Deshmukh took to social networking site, Twitter, and shared a couple of images of his six-month old toddler, Riaan. The first image that he shared was a family picture that featured Riteish, Genelia and the cute baby, Riaan. He tagged the image as; "Riaan completes Us" [sic] The adorable kid seems to be extremely photogenic, just like his parents. The picture was taken by professional photographer Mrunal Kalsekar.

Riteish shared the image on May 26, which was his father, Vilasrao Deshmukh's, 70th birth anniversary. The second image featured Riaan paying his respects to his grandfather.

After Genelia gave birth to Riaan, the couple showcased the first look of their baby on social networking sites. Little Riaan looks absolutely adorable and cute.

T

he record-setting PRC release of his Bollywood satirical comedy PK has now cemented Aamir Khan's standing as the highest grossing foreign star of nonEnglish language films in China. As of this past weekend his current release there, PK, owns the record for the most successful Indian film in Chinese history, and if it can continue to perform well for another week or so it could even become the mainland's highest grossing nonEnglish language foreign film ever.

Lest that seem like only a modest achievement, consider this: for his next film Khan is paired with no less a Chinese luminary than mega-star Jackie Chan in a China-India coproduction film that's scheduled to release in 2016.

With their action-comedy vehicle Kung Fu Yoga, Khan and Chan aim to set a high bar for movies being made under the India-China film treaty. Each country stands to benefit by opening up more revenue opportunities in the other's territory, and there's no better way for them to do that than by putting their top film emissaries up to the task.

June 5, 2015

Bollywood

India Post 31

www.indiapost.com

P

P

riyanka Chopra who will be portraying the role of Maratha war rior Peshwa Bajirao's first wife in Bajirao Mastani, says her character Kashibai is a tortured soul in the story, and that has made the role challenging for her.

The 32-year-old, who is awaiting the release of Dil Dhadakne Do, said that her role as the first wife in the film was emotionally draining and traumatizing.

"I haven't dealt with such emotions. I needed to find out a way to feel those emotions to portray the same. In those times, the women did not say as much, so it's mostly expressions... I am not vocal. I have a poignant role, where Kashibai is a tortured soul," said Priyanka.

"For the first few days, I used to be so emotionally drained that I could not have conversations with people," added the Barfi actress.

orn-star-turnedBollywood-actor Sunny Leone gave her statement to the Thane police in the indecency case a housewife has registered against her.

Leone told the police it is inappropriate to link her past with her present.

"The objectionable video clips circulating here belong to when I was working in the adult film industry in the US. I have distanced myself from any such roles after becoming a part of the Indian film fraternity. I feel it would be improper to haunt me with the past when I am trying to move ahead in life," Leone, an Indian-origin American, was quoted by a source as telling the police.

The complaint against her was registered by Anjali Palan, a member of a right-wing outfit, at the Ramnagar police station.

Leone was summoned to the Thane police headquarters as the cyber cell, which is probing the matter, is based there.

R

anveer Singh's character in "Dil Dhadkane Do" may be confused about love but the actor says he is clear-headed about it in real-life and his greatest ambition is be a family man. The actor plays a rich child in the Zoya Akhtar's film whose father wants him to marry for social status.

When asked if he will marry when offered money like his character, Ranveer said, "I would get married for love, so that I can be an honorable family man, which is my only ambition right now. This guy (in the movie) is confused, but I am clear that I want to be an honorable family man like my father and I am working towards that."

Ranveer and Deepika, who worked in "Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela", have never admitted to their relationship publicly but have heaped praise on each other quite often.

But when quizzed about Deepika recently, he said, "I am here to talk about myself, my work and not about anything else. I will feel good if you would ask me about myself."

Â&#x201E; Health

Line

NY steps up crude-by-rail spill monitoring ALBANY, N.Y.: New York regulators are stepping up air monitoring at the Port of Albany and enhancing spill response capabilities along rail corridors as part of efforts to reduce health and environmental risks stemming from crude oil transport through the state.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens said the DEC will develop geographic response plans and deploy specialized spill response equipment along rail corridors used to move crude oil.

The agency is working with state and local agencies in 21 counties to complete in-depth reviews of sensitive resources along the crude-by-rail transport corridors to determine where spill response equipment is needed.

The response plans for all 21 counties are to be finished by April 2016.

The port air monitoring plan is in response to neighbors' concerns over increased crude-handling there.-AP

Â&#x201E; US to review pilots' mental health NEW YORK: US aviation regulators has announced a study of the mental health of US airline pilots in the wake of the Germanwings and Malaysia Airlines disasters.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the study's findings could result in changes to the way pilots are evaluated for fitness to fly.

"US pilots undergo robust medical screening, but recent accidents in other parts of the world prompted the FAA to take a new look at the important issue of pilot fitness," the FAA said in a statement.

The crash of a Germanwings flight in France in late March, killing all 150 people aboard, apparently was deliberately caused by a co-pilot who had a history of severe depression.

A Malaysia Airlines flight inexplicably went missing in a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014. No wreckage from the flight, which was carrying 239 people, has been found. But investigators have in part focused on whether deliberate pilot actions were to blame.

The FAA said the research will be conducted by a committee including US and international government and industry aviation experts, as well as specialists in aerospace medicine. -AFP

Health Science

India hopes to attain MDGs on child mortality, maternal health

32 India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 5, 2015

Details on Page 34

More heat waves in offing due to global temperature rise NEW DELHI: The intense heat wave sweeping across India could be another manifestation of an extreme weather event, a green body has said, warning that more heat waves were in the offing due to rise in global temperatures.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also noted that about 2,000 people have been killed in India by this weather condition with the worst-affected states being Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where maximum temperatures have hovered around a searing 45 degrees Celsius.

It said climate records show that human-induced global warming had turned 2014 into the hottest year on record while eight out of the ten warmest years in India were during the recent past decade (2001-2010), making it the warmest decade on record with a decadal mean temperature anomaly of 0.49 degrees C. "More heat waves were expected as globally temperatures have risen by an average .8 degrees in the past 100 years.

Night-time temperatures are rising too, with Ahmedabad and Delhi recently reporting 39 and 36 degrees centigrade. The number

of heat wave days may go up from about 5 to between 30 and 40 every year," a CSE statement said.

The Delhi-based green advocacy and research body said there is also enough evidence of extreme weather events being on the "rise". It noted that although compared to 2010, heat wave conditions in 2015 so far have been of a

tion that is sweeping across India currently could be another manifestation of an extreme weather event," it said. Due to unprecedented heatwave conditions, the Health Ministry has also extended assistance and medical aid to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it has claimed nearly 1,200 lives, and is likely to come out with

shorter duration, yet with a higher death toll.

"This could be due to the sudden change in temperatures after a prolonged wet February and March that had kept the temperatures cool," said Arjuna Srinidhi, program manager, climate change, CSE. "The intense heat wave condi-

an advisory for all states to deal with the situation.

A heat wave is declared when the temperature is five degrees or more than the average temperature recorded on that particular day over the last three decades.

Cities feel the brunt of the elevated temperatures because of the magnified effect of paved sur-

faces and a lack of tree cover which is known as the "urban heat island effect".

"Urban heat island effects can make ambient temperatures feel 3 to 4 degrees more than what they are," said Srinidhi.

CSE said that owing to the rising temperatures, ultra violet (UV) rays are emerging as a "serious menace" for people's health.

A story by "Down To Earth" magazine also cited data from the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) to show that in several cities including Delhi, UV rays are above normal.

IITM set up a monitoring system in Delhi two weeks ago and has found that UV rays are ranging between 6 and 9 on the UV index. This carries medium to high health risk, CSE said.

"Building resilience through climate change adaptation becomes an imperative role of the state and national governments. This includes building awareness about heat waves and their effects, issuing proper warning systems and building capacity of health workers to deal with such events," CSE researchers said.-PTI

As Delhi sizzles, toxic ozone levels rise NEW DELHI: With increasing temperature, the toxic ozone levels, which cause a number of health problems especially for asthmatics, have breached the permissible limits in the city, the MET department has said.

The level of toxic ozone in the national capital was highest this year during the last two weeks when the maximum temperatures hovered above 40 degrees Celsius.

Surface ozone increases due to high temperature coupled with high levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.

Normally, Delhi's air quality problem is mainly due to particulate matters such as dust, dirt or smoke and not so much because of gaseous pollutants, unlike in the western countries where sur-

face ozone pollution is a major issue.

"However, with rising temperature, the level of toxic ozone in Delhi has shot up and was the highest during the last two weeks

(SAFAR), said.

SAFAR, which facilitates information on air quality, weather and radiation (ultraviolet index), operates under the aegis of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology

Delhi University (North Campus), Dheerpur and Aya Nagar recorded the maximum levels of ozone with a peak of 120ppb at Dheerpur on May 27, which was the worst ozone day in Delhi. this year. In some areas of Delhi NCT, surface ozone (8 sunlit hour average) touched as high as 120 ppb (part per billion), which is classified as poor in Air Quality Index," Gufran Beig, Project Director, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research

(IITM), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

The permissible limit is 50 ppb (8 hour day average).

"There is huge variability from one location to another within Delhi among 10 SAFAR stations,

which is understandable as NOx (nitrogen oxide) level is highly variable along with CO (carbon monoxide)," Beig said.

Delhi University (North Campus), Dheerpur and Aya Nagar recorded the maximum levels of ozone with a peak of 120ppb at Dheerpur on May 27, which was the worst ozone day in Delhi.

The area around Pusa recorded minimum level of around 60-80 ppb where temperature is almost 3-4 degrees less.

"Elevated level of poor ozone will prevail for next two days and thereafter, it will start descending as cloudy conditions are likely to prevail on May 31, followed by light thunderstorm," Beig said, adding, ground-level ozone can result in a number of health effects to a common man.-PTI

Health Science Post

June 5, 2015

India Post 33

www.indiapost.com

Heatwave: Ministry extends aid to AP, Telangana NEW DELHI: The Health Ministry has extended assistance and medical aid to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where the heatwave has claimed nearly 1,200 lives, and is likely to come out with an advisory for all states to deal with the situation.

Amid the scorching heatwave, sweeping through many parts of the country, claiming 1,242 lives altogether, the Health Ministry is likely to issue advisory for the first time ever on the "do and don'ts" to help states as well as people to cope up with the intense heat.

"This year, the heatwave condition is unprecedented and there has been a large number of deaths. The Health Ministry is likely to come up with an advisory soon for all the states and common people," a senior health Ministry official told PTI. Health Minister J P Nadda who is presently attending the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva also spoke over phone to the Union Health Secretary and took stock of the situation especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states.

"He also directed the Secretary to talk to respective state Secretaries of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and provide them with all help and medical aid, if there is a need," the senior official said.

Of the 1,242 deaths, the two southern states account for most of the fatalities.

As per the latest figures, the toll due to heat wave in Andhra Pradesh stood at 852 while it was 340 in Telangana - together accounting for 1,192 deaths.

Besides Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, sweltering conditions persisted in Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal with temperatures hovering around 45 degrees Celsius in most

Health Minister J P Nadda

places in these states.

The heatwave is likely to continue for another two days in Telangana and three days in coastal Andhra Pradesh, said Y K Reddy, Director of Meteorological Centre, Hyderabad.

He said the deaths could be taking place due to exposure to heat for long durations.

The state government had issued an alert to doctors to be ready to provide medical assistance to the heat wave-affected people.

43 deaths due to heat wave are reported from Odisha while seven have died in Gujarat.-PTI

2 Indian docs to pay $3.6 mn for healthcare fraud NEW YORK: Two Indian-American doctors and their cardiology firm have agreed to pay more than USD 3.6 million to resolve allegations that its facilities falsely billed

The tests included stress tests, cardiac catheterizations and external counter pulsation, which were not medically necessary, US Attorney Paul Fishman for the District of New Jersey said. federal health care programs for tests that were not medically necessary.

Jasjit Walia and Preet Randhawa and their New Jersey-based cardiology prac-

tice Garden State Cardiovascular Specialists will pay the amount to resolve allegations that they submitted claims to federal insurance program Medicare for various cardiology diagnostic tests and procedures.

The tests included stress tests, cardiac catheterizations and external counter pulsation, which were not medically necessary, US Attorney Paul Fishman for the District of New Jersey said.

Garden State owned and operated several facilities in New Jersey under the name NJ MedCare/NJ Heart.

The allegations resolved by the settlement were raised in a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens with knowledge of fraud to bring civil actions on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery.

The whistleblower, Cheryl Mazurek, will receive more than USD 648,000 as part of the settlement.-PTI

Delhi hospitals to treat heatstroke on priority NEW DELHI: The Health Department has directed all hospitals, including private medical clinics and nursing homes, in Delhi to treat patients of heatstroke as emergency patients.

According to officials, the move by the Health Department came after increase in the number of patients complaining of heatstroke due to intense heat wave in Delhi and NCR region.

"All the government hospitals along with private medical institutes and clinics have been asked to treat patients complaining of heatstroke as emergency case and give immediate treatment," a senior official said, adding no hospital should refuse admitting such patients.

The department has directed all the hospitals to ensure necessary arrangements in their emergency departments in the form of cooled areas, manpower, medicines and IV fluids, ice packs, etc.

The department has informed the hospitals and nursing homes that due to persistent high temperature in the national capital in last few days, there is an apprehension of rise in cases of heatstroke.

The official said dehydration should not be taken lightly as it could be fatal, although

no cases of causality due to heatstroke has been reported yet.

In the national capital, temperature has soared beyond 45 degrees Celsius and hospitals are overflowing with heatstroke patients showing symptoms like fatigue, weakness, nausea, profuse sweating, rapid pulse, muscle cramps, rapid shallow breathing and paleness of skin.

Even the Health Ministry is likely to come

Dehydration should not be taken lightly as it could be fatal, although no cases of causality due to heatstroke have been reported yet. out with an advisory for the first time for all the states on preventive measures to tackle the situation.

Health Ministry officials had said that the advisory would be for all the states as well as people in general on various "dos and don'ts" to cope up with the extreme conditions. -PTI

34 India Post

Health Science Post

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Flaws in gene testing; results often conflict

T

he first report from a big public-private project to improve genetic testing reveals it is not as rock solid as many people believe, with flaws that result in some people wrongly advised to worry about a disease risk and others wrongly told they can relax.

Researchers say the study shows the need for consumers to be careful about choosing where to have a gene test done and acting on the results, such as having or forgoing a preventive surgery. ``We have very clear documentation that there are differences in what patients are getting'' in terms of how tests on the same gene variations are interpreted, said the study leader, Heidi Rehm, genetics lab chief at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

When deciding to get tested, either through a doctor's office or by sending in a swab to a private company, ``patients need to choose labs that are sharing their data'' with the broader research community so scientists can compare and learn from the results and make testing more accurate for everyone, she said.

Dozens of companies now offer gene tests to gauge a person's risk of developing various disorders. One of the newest tests on the market costs $250 and checks about 20 genes that can affect breast cancer risk.

But not all gene mutations, or

tors and patients alike. And most variants are uncommon, making it even tougher to figure out which ones matter and how much.

To solve these mysteries and give patients better information, the U.S. government several years ago helped form and fund ClinVar,

A scientist works with DNA samples in a New Orleans laboratory. The first report from a big public-private project to improve genetic testing reveals it is not as rock solid as many people believe, with flaws that result in some people wrongly advised to worry about a disease risk and others wrongly told they can relax.

variants, are equal. Some raise risk a lot, others just a little, and some not at all. Most are of unknown significance - a quandary for doc-

a database for researchers around the world to pool gene findings, coded to keep patients' identities confidential. More than 300 labs

contribute to it, including universities such as Harvard and Emory and some private companies such as Ambry Genetics and GeneDX. The group made its first report at a conference in Washington.

The study also was published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.

So far, the project has tracked more than 172,000 variants in nearly 23,000 genes, a small portion of the millions known to exist but some of the more common ones that have been identified.

More than 118,000 of these variants have an effect on the risk for a disease - and 11 percent have been analyzed by more than one lab so results can be compared.

In 17 percent of those cases, labs interpreted the findings differently, as either raising the risk of a disease, having no effect on it or having an unknown effect.

At least 415 gene variants now have different interpretations that could sway a medical decision, such as whether to have healthy breasts or ovaries removed to lower the risk of cancer, or to get a medical device such as an implanted defibrillator to cut the risk

of sudden cardiac death. ``The magnitude of this problem is bigger than most people thought,'' said Michael Watson, executive director of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, one of the study's authors and a partner in the data pooling project.

And it can harm patients.

Rehm described a woman who had genetic testing and wrongly was told she did not have elevated risks for breast cancer.

She later developed the disease but could have had preventive surgery had the right gene analyses been done.

An independent expert, Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, California, commended the study leaders and the database project for ``cleaning up the mess'' from labs that have not shared data in the past. ``We need millions of people sequenced, sharing all the data,'' to make things better, he said.

With more sharing, the mystery gene variant problem `` will largely go away, but that's going to take a few years at least.''-AP

NY Assembly votes for universal WHA ends with key decisions on health issues health coverage ALBANY, N.Y.: The New York Assembly has voted 89-47 for legislation to establish publicly funded universal health coverage in a so-called single payer system.

All New Yorkers could enroll.

Backers said it would extend coverage to the uninsured and reduce rising costs by taking insurance companies and their costs out of

the mix.

With no patient premiums, deductibles or co-payments for hospital and doctor visits, testing, drugs or other care, New York Health would pay providers through collectively negotiated rates. It would be funded through

a progressive payroll tax paid 80 percent by employers and 20 percent by employees.

Also, waivers would be sought so federal funds now received for New Yorkers in Medicare, Medicaid and Child Health Plus would apply. ``Employers are shifting more and more health care costs to

workers or are dropping it entirely,'' said Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, chief sponsor. ``The only ones who benefit are the insurance companies.''

The Manhattan Democrat estimated universal care would save New Yorkers more than $45 billion

annually, cutting the statewide total cost for health care to about $255 billion in 2019.

Assembly Republicans doubted Gottfried's estimate and questioned what would happen to everyone now employed by insurance companies. ``All I can say right now I think this is the last think New York state needs as far as an additional cost,'' said Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, an Erie County Republican. She said they're still trying to grapple now with the cost of the federal Affordable Care Act. That extended health care coverage to about 1 million New Yorkers, more than half in Medicaid and the others in private insurance with possible tax subsidies to offset costs.

An identical bill hasn't advanced in the state Senate and isn't expected to before the legislative session ends in June. Senate Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon said that Gottfried's bill faces two major hurdles, resistance from senior citizens to giving up Medicare for a new state program and obtaining federal waivers to apply Medicaid and Medicare funding to support it.-AP

GENEVA: The World Health Assembly meeting ended after key decisions like establishing a USD 100 million contingency fund for public health emergencies, setting up of an emergency workforce and adoption of an action plan for combating anti-microbial resistance, were taken.

Critical resolutions on anti-microbial resistance (AMR), poliomyelitis, health impacts of air pollution, WHO reform for better response to health emergencies, global vaccine action plan, Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health Innovation and Intellectual Property (GSPOA) among others, were adopted at the 68th World Health Assembly (WHA).

"A specific, replenishable contingency fund of USD 100 million has now been agreed upon. We need it to be funded by voluntary contributions and we need it to be used at the discretion of the DG for standing up for an initial response of three months and if necessary for six months in any kind of health related emergency," said Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General for Emergencies, at a press conference.

India also committed USD 2.1

million voluntary contributions to the global health body towards the new WHO contingency fund for implementation of research and development demonstration projects and for the Member State mechanism on Substandard/spurious/falsely-labeled/falsified/ counterfeit medical products at the 68th WHA.

'A specific, replenishable contingency fund of USD 100 million has now been agreed upon.

We need it to be funded by voluntary contributions' Ebola outbreak which "overwhelmed" the global health organization was a pivotal focus at this year's WHA with critical reforms being made like creating a single new program for health emergencies and uniting all outbreak and emergency resources across the three levels of the organization.

The WHA also approved the program budget for 2016 and 2017. -PTI

June 5, 2015

Health Science Post

India Post 35

www.indiapost.com

Tattoos can cause long-term health risks NEW YORK: Tattoo lovers, beware! Getting inked may come with long-term medical risks and adverse skin reactions that may require laser surgery, a new US study has warned.

Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Centre have found that as many as 6 per cent of adult New Yorkers who get a tattoo have experienced some form of tattoo-related rash, severe itching or swelling that

lasted longer than four months and, in some cases, for many years.

"We were rather alarmed at the high rate of reported chronic complications tied to getting a tattoo," said senior study investigator and NYU Langone dermatologist Marie Leger.

"Given the growing popularity of tattoos, physicians, public health officials, and consumers need to be aware of the risks involved," said Leger.

Leger said some adverse skin reactions are treatable with anti-inflammatory steroid drugs, but others may require laser surgery.

For stronger reactions, surgery is sometimes necessary to remove tattooed areas of the skin or built-up scar tissue and granu-

lar skin lesions, which can rise several millimeters on the skin and cause considerable itching and emotional distress, researchers said.

Leger said the study findings, derived from survey interviews with some 300 adults in New York's Central Park in June 2013, mirror those in other European countries, which have only recently begun to monitor medical complications associated with tattoos.

"It is not yet known if the reactions being observed are due to chemicals in the ink itself or to other chemicals, such as preservatives or brighteners, added to them, or to the chemicals' breakdown over time," said Leger.

"The skin is a highly immune-sensitive organ, and the long-term consequences of repeatedly testing the body's immune system with injected dyes and colored inks are poorly understood," said Leger.

"Some of the reactions appear to be an immune response, yet we do not know who is most likely to have an immune reaction to a tattoo," Leger said.

Among the study's other key findings was that similar types of short-term complications, including delayed healing, pain, swelling, and infection within weeks of getting tattooed, occur in as many as 10 per cent of people.

In addition, the data showed that only a third of those who did experience a reaction sought medical advice or help.

Most long-lasting complications occurred in skin regions injected with the two most common tattoo ink colors, red and black.

Almost half (44 per cent) of chronic reactions were to red ink, even though only slightly more than a third (36 per cent) had tattoos with red ink. One-third of chronic cases involved black ink, while over 90 per cent of tattoos encompass black coloring.

The findings appear in the journal Contact Dermatitis.-PTI

German mum's quadruplets face big health risks BERLIN: Doctors at a Berlin clinic have said quadruplets, whose very premature births to a 65-year-old German mother have captured headlines and stirred debate, face big health risks.

Eight days after their delivery, two of the newborns are receiving help with breathing and one has undergone surgery for an intestinal problem, said the medical experts at the prestigious Charite hospital.

Teacher Annegret Raunigk, who already had 13 children, gave birth to the quadruplets by caesarian section in the 26th week of pregnancy, after travelling to Ukraine for fertility treatment.

Speaking at a press conference, Christoph Buehrer, head of neonatal ser-

vices at the Charite university hospital, said the babies were born before fully maturing in the womb, making them "absolute high risk" cases.

"These are children who can die, who can contract serious illnesses or have after-effects," he said, adding that the risks were not tied to the fact they were quadruplets.

The clinic's head of obstetrics, Wolfgang Heinrich, told the press conference that, to his knowledge, Raunigk was the oldest woman in the world to have given birth to quadruplets.

News of Raunigk's multiple pregnancy emerged in April when she dismissed critics who said she was acting irresponsibly due to her age. -AFP

ADB to give $300 mn loan for urban healthcare NEW DELHI: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said it will lend USD 300 million to support India's National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).

"India has made good progress toward improving health services in rural areas, but over 77 million urban poor and vulnerable still have limited access to basic health services such as child immunization. The NUHM is meant to change that," ADB Director (South Asia Human and Social Development Division) Sungsup Ra said.

The government launched NUHM in May 2013 to strengthen health service delivery in urban areas.

"The ADB has approved a USD 300 million loan to support India's NUHM," an ADB statement said.

The funds will be disbursed over next three years, subject to achievement of results, which include better health facilities and higher childhood immunization rates.

The loan period is 25 years, with a grace period of 5 years.

The loan will help strengthen the networks of primary health facilities in urban areas and introduce a quality assurance mechanism for them, ADB said.

India is urbanizing rapidly. This has

caused massive growth in the number of urban poor, ADB said, adding that vulnerable segment of the population cannot afford the private health providers.

The loan will be complemented by USD 2 million in technical assistance provided by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction

and administered by ADB to strengthen program implementation in selected states.

The NUHM aims to strengthen health systems across cities and towns to deliver quality health services for all, targeting the poor and vulnerable.

Manila-based ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. -PTI

Â&#x201E;

Realty Tidbits

CCI orders probe against Jaypee Greens NEW DELHI: Fair trade regulator CCI has ordered a probe against realty firm Jaypee Greens for alleged violation of the competition norms in a housing project in Greater Noida.

This is the second major probe against a realty major in the NCR region. The case relates to a project involving construction and sale of villas in Greater Noida area in the national capital region.

The investigation has been ordered by CCI on a complaint filed by a buyer, who had booked a villa worth Rs 4.05 crore for which he had already paid 95 per cent of the total cost but was allotted the accommodation after 8-month delay.

The complaint alleged that the firm was abusing its dominant position.

The Competition Commission of India said it examined the provisional allotment letter issued by Jaypee and found that "some of its clauses as elaborated in the earlier part of this order, prima facie, are unfair, one sided and heavily loaded in favor of the Opposite Party (Jaypee Greens)".

The Commission said conduct of the Jaypee "emanating from its dominant position in the relevant market, prima facie amounts to imposition of unfair terms and conditions on the Informant and other buyers of Villa in Jaypee Greens which is anti-competitive in terms of...(the Competition) Act. -PTI

Â&#x201E;

DLF's 3 more buildings get Gold certificates

NEW DELHI: Realty major DLF's three office buildings in Kolkata and Hyderabad, covering 5.2 million sq ft, have got 'LEED Gold' certifications from the US Green Building Council and the company plans to make all commercial properties environment-friendly that commands premium rents.

LEED is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

India's largest realty firm has received LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for three buildings - two IT park towers in Kolkata and one in Hyderabad.

With this, DLF's 17 office buildings, including 12 in Gurgaon, have been certified with LEED Gold, totaling 16.61 million sq ft of area.

"Most of our office buildings are now certified green LEED Gold buildings. It helps our MNC tenants in deciding their preference for DLF buildings, being assured of the quality of our buildings," DLF Whole-Time Director Rajeev Talwar told PTI. -PTI

Real Estate 36 India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 5, 2015

Property tax relief for 17 lakh families MUMBAI: In a major relief to 17 lakh families settled in Mumbai, the Maharashtra Government has decided not to increase property tax for next five years for those who own or occupy less than 500 sq/ft property.

The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The implementation would be with effect from April 1, 2015.

Stable prices bringing NRIs back to real estate NEW DELHI: Stability in housing prices and favorable rupee movements are bringing back the NRIs in a big way to the real estate market, mortgage giant HDFC has said.

To tap their interest, HDFC as also a number of property developers are undertaking special marketing campaigns including by way of organizing property fairs in places with high NRI population such as the US and the UK. Interestingly, the non-resident Indians living abroad are showing a renewed interest in the Indian housing market at a time when the local demand is relatively sluggish.

"We are seeing a lot of interest from the NRI community.

The rupee depreciation against the US dollar is also helping, for the prospective home buyers from the American continent," HDFC Ltd Managing Director Renu Sud Karnad told PTI. HDFC, the country's largest mortgage lender, has organized 'India Homes Fair' exhibition in London which has more than 100 projects on display from across India.

Karnad said that housing prices have stabilized, while softening of interest rates have helped make the home purchase much more affordable.

Property consultancy major CBRE's South Asia Head (Residential Services) A S

from city to city, he said the NRIs account for 30-35 per cent of apartment sales in Kerala.

Their contribution in Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR markets are 10-12 per cent, Sivaramakrishnan added.

Cushman & Wakefield' Execu-

Sivaramakrishnan said that NRIs have become extremely important for the Indian real estate market and they contribute 8-10 per cent of the total housing sales volume across India.

Stating that the contribution of NRIs in housing sales varies

tive Director (Residential Services) Shveta Jain also said that investments in the real estate sector by NRIs have gained momentum over time with prices being stable or reaching bottom in select cities and markets, rupee devaluations and attractive long

term returns.

"With city limits expanding to peripheries, investors have a variety of products ranging from affordable to luxury developments and special housing projects like senior homes to choose from.

"Given the tepid demand from resident buyers and investors, developers have also undertaken special marketing efforts to target NRIs, whose investor confidence in Indian real estate market will get a further boost with the introduction of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill," Jain added.

Karnad said that the projects on display during its London fair are from Bengaluru, Chennai, Gujarat, Goa, Hyderabad, Kerala, Mumbai, NCR, Pune, Punjab and Kolkata, among others.

The options include flats, villas and plots and customers would be given exclusive offers and value-added benefits.

HDFC would be holding such exhibitions for the eighth year in a row at a foreign location, showing its popularity amongst the NRI and PIO (Person of Indian Origin) community in London and other cities abroad.-PTI

Starwood to launch St Regis brand in India NEW DELHI: Global hospitality major Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc will bring its luxury brand, St Regis Hotels & Resorts to India by opening its first property in Mumbai in third quarter this year.

Starwood is bringing in the brand through partnership with Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure.

"Starwood is maintaining strong growth momentum in the region and the arrival of St Regis in Mumbai reinforces our commitment to growing our luxury portfolio in this important market," Starwood Hotels & Resorts MD India and Regional VP South Asia Dilip Puri said in a statement.

The 38-story St Regis Mumbai will feature 386 guest rooms, in-

cluding 60 suites. The Palladium Hotel, operated by Pallazzio, is

being rebranded as 'St Regis Mumbai' and is undergoing exten-

Mr Hoyt H Harper, Senior Vice President, Brand Management, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts (right) and Mr Dilip Puri, MD India and Regional vice Presient South Asia, Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd at a press conference in Bangalore

sive refurbishment.

"Starwood's global reach and its powerful loyalty program will further strengthen our outreach to affluent travelers and elevate India's luxury hospitality landscape," Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure Ltd Director and ED ABIL Group Amit Bhosale said.

St Regis Mumbai will join a growing portfolio of Starwood hotels in India where the company currently operates 43 hotels, with an additional 37 hotels in the pipeline.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc currently has over 1,200 properties in around 100 countries and over 180,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.-PTI

Real Estate Post

June 5, 2015

India Post 37

www.indiapost.com

How 11 US cities stack up rent-wise NEW YORK: Renters are on the rise in America's biggest cities, but many tenants are scrambling to keep up with growing rent bills and shrinking vacancies, according to a study.

From Boston to Miami, New York to Los Angeles, more than half of tenants are paying what experts consider unaffordable rents, says a report by New York University's Furman Center, which studies real estate and urban policy, and bank Capital One, which is a leading affordable-housing lender and financed the research.

While various housing experts have noted such trends, the study zooms in on 11 of the nation's most populous cities. Overall, it's a portrait of increasing competition and often slipping affordability, but the picture isn't universally bleak and looks noticeably different from city to city. ``The study brings into light the limited options there are for renters,'' Capital One community finance chief Laura Bailey says.

A look at the findings: THE CITIES The study analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data from 2006 to 2013

on the central cities of the 11 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. ON THE RISE As of 2013, most residents were renters in nine of the 11 cities, all except for Atlanta and Philadelphia, compared with five in 2006.

At least 60 percent of residents are

come to save toward homeownership, ``it's a reinforcing cycle,'' Furman Center faculty director Ingrid Gould Ellen says.

But other factors may include home-downsizing within the giant and aging baby boom generation and hefty college debt that slows some young people's saving for a home purchase.

MORE RENTALS BUT LESS AVAILABILITY

Amid growing demand and tight supply, median rents rose faster than inflation in all the cities but Dallas and Houston, where they were nearly flat. Washington's median rent shot up by 21 percent over the seven years, to $1,307 a month. now tenants, rather than owners, in Boston, L.A., New York and Miami. Nationwide, about 35 percent of people rented in 2013, up from 31 percent in 2006, the Census Bureau says.

Experts trace much of the rise in renting to the 2008 mortgage and financial crisis, which left some people unable and others reluctant to own homes. And when rent becomes a stretch, leaving less in-

In each city, the amount of rental housing grew faster than any rise in owner-occupied homes. In fact, the data suggest some homes were converted to rentals.

Nonetheless, the vacancy rate declined everywhere except Miami and Washington, where increases were slight. San Francisco surpassed New York for the title of tightest rental market: New York's 3.8 percent vacancy rate was the

IT/ITeS corners lion's share of office space NEW DELHI: IT/ITeS sector continues to be the main driver of the office space market as it absorbed 69 per cent of the total office space leased in the JanuaryMarch quarter in eight major cit-

Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad.

"The total absorption for Grade A properties in office spaces was recorded at 8.5 million sq ft in Q1

ies, according to Cushman & Wakefield (C&W).

The property consultant said Bengaluru recorded the highest absorption at 3.77 million sq ft during the first quarter of 2015, out of 8.56 million sq ft leased in these cities.

These cities include Delhi-NCR,

2015, higher by 20 per cent year on year. Among the total share in absorption, IT/ITeS continued to remain the main driver with a share of 69 per cent of total lease space," C&W said in a statement.

This was followed by service and industrial sectors like BFSI, consulting, engineering & manu-

facturing, which contributed 15 per cent in total absorption and play an active role in commercial real estate.

Other sectors, including FMCG, trading, education, logistics, shipping, travel and tourism, accounted for 13 per cent while the figure stood at a meager 3 per cent for telecom and healthcare sectors.

Cushman & Wakefield South Asia Executive Managing Director Sanjay Dutt said: "There is visibly increased leasing activity and appreciation of rent along with commercial terms. This is likely to continue as demand seems robust."

"With the change in global outlook towards India, we can look at hitherto stalled or delayed plans of global companies coming to India materializing. The new positive announcements by the government have helped bring fresh air to the real estate market in India. However, critical aspects like ease of business, land availability and business sustainability and continuity still remain a key concern."-PTI

lowest in 2006, but by 2013 San Francisco had the floor with a mere 2.5 percent. New York, L.A. and Boston were hovering around 3.5 percent. Atlanta, meanwhile, had the highest vacancy rate of the cities in the survey, at nearly 10 percent.

CLIMBING RENTS, UNEVEN BURDENS Amid growing demand and tight supply, median rents rose faster than inflation in all the cities but Dallas and Houston, where they were nearly flat.

Washington's median rent shot up by 21 percent over the seven years, to $1,307 a month. New York's rose by 12 percent, to $1,228. The calculation is in inflation-adjusted for 2013 dollars, includes utilities and encompasses market-rate, rent-regulated and subsidized housing.

New York has about 1 million rent-regulated apartments, perhaps helping explain why it has a lower median rent than Washington, San Francisco ($1,491) and Boston ($1,263). Meanwhile, median rents were under $1,000 everywhere else except Los Angeles ($1,182).

But rents don't tell the whole

story of affordability: Renters' median household incomes varied widely over the years. Housing experts like to gauge affordability by the percentage of income that goes to housing costs, with anything over 29 percent being rent-burdened. Over 49 percent is considered severely burdened.

On that scale, the landscape is uneven. The percentage of rentburdened tenants grew in six cities while dropping in the rest, and the findings were full of seeming contradictions. San Francisco had the highest median rent but the lowest percentage of rent-burdened tenants, 45 percent; Miami had a far lower median rent, but 68 percent of tenants were burdened.

One reason: San Francisco renters' median household income was $61,200 a year, nearly 1.5 times what their Miami counterparts made.

TO SAVE ON RENT, STAY PUT In each city, apartments that had come open within the last five years were less likely to be affordable to low- and middle-income tenants than apartments that hadn't. -AP

Land pooling policy to increase housing supply NEW DELHI: Delhi's Land Pooling Policy is expected to unlock about 20,000-25,000 hectares of land for development, which is likely to boost housing supply and keep prices under control, according to real estate developers and property consultants.

The Urban Development Ministry has approved the regulations for land pooling policy in Delhi.

"With the government's notified operational guidelines for Land Pooling Schemes, Delhi may soon be able to unlock its potential for real estate development and infrastructure formation across almost 20,000 hectares of land concentrated across peripheral zones, CBRE South Asia CMD Anshuman Magazine said in a statement.

This is expected to expand Delhi's urban limits, while re-directing realty development from other NCR towns into the national capital, he added.

"This is also expected to miti-

gate Delhi's housing gap, especially in the affordable segment," Magazine said.

Realtors' apex body CREDAINCR President Manoj Gaur also welcomed the government's move, saying "this will open up a new property market in the national capital region."

He said there have been very

few housing projects from the organized players in the Delhi market.

"The policy is estimated to unlock around 20,000-25,000 hectares of land across Delhi, primarily in the urban villages and smaller towns at the city's peripheries. -PTI

Real Estate Post

38 India Post

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Sahara not bidding for Grosvenor House hotel NEW DELHI: With its prized property, Grosvenor House, put on sale by lender Bank of China for a loan 'default', crisis-hit Sahara group has said it is not participating in any re-auctioning of the London hotel.

The bank has Grosvenor House under "administration" to recover its loans, while Deloitte and realty consultant JLL have been mandated to find a new buyer through an auction.

Those reported to be interested include Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, China's Fosun Group, Constellation Hotels and M&G Prudential, while sources had earlier said that Sahara group is also in the fray through some 'financier', even as it was continuing to work on a refinancing arrangement with Bank of China.

Some media reports had also said that Sahara, through its company Aamby Valley City Mauritius, was participating in the re-auctioning of the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

"In the same context, we would

hereby like to clarify that Sahara or any of its group companies is not participating in any such reauctioning," Sahara group said in a statement.

The group had earlier said that it is working on a refinancing transaction to repay the loans to Bank

Subrata Roy, who has been lodged in Tihar Jail for over a year, through monetization of its various assets, including the iconic London hotel.

Sources had earlier said that Sahara group is still negotiating a 'refinancing' deal to transfer the

Subrata Roy

of China and regain control of the iconic property.

Sahara has been trying to raise funds to secure release of its chief

Bank of China loans to some other lender, while it was also working with a 'financier' backed by some global banks to ensure a better

DLF targets Rs 4,000 crore sales bookings NEW DELHI: Realty major DLF has kept the new sales bookings target for this financial year at last year's level of about Rs 4,000 crore as the company feels that it would take at least 12 months for housing sales to improve.

The country's largest real estate firm achieved gross sales bookings of Rs 3,850 crore in 201415 fiscal, down 5 per cent from Rs 4,070 crore achieved in the previ-

ous year.

In a conference call with analysts, DLF Executive Director (Finance) Saurabh Chawla said that the sales bookings target for 201516 fiscal is Rs 3,500-4,000 crore.

The company had given the same guidance for last fiscal as well.

On sales outlook, DLF said in a presentation that it would take "at least 12 months for the sales momentum to begin improving; the key factor would be in general, reduced interest rates and GDP growth and, in specific, demand/ supply conditions in micro markets."

The sales volume in most geographies shall continue at a diminished pace similar to FY14 and FY15, it added.

The real estate sector is facing huge slowdown, especially in

housing sales, from last few years due to high property prices as well as interest rates.

DLF, however, said that actual users continue to purchase into projects which are unique due to both location and product attributes.

"Projects which have better visibility from construction run rate will have higher customer interest," it added.

Notwithstanding muted sales momentum, DLF plans to launch next phases of its existing projects including 'Capital Greens' in the national capital.

DLF said that since the 'normal' sales momentum is still some quarters away, the company is in a dialogue with few private equity (PE) players "for part cash out in some marquee projects and mitigate cycles before launching in FY16".

Earlier this year, DLF had announced plans to raise about Rs 3,000 crore as private equity at project level.

Last week, DLF reported 16 per cent fall in consolidated net profit at Rs 540.24 crore in 2014-15 from Rs 646.21 crore in the previous year.

Income from operations fell by 8 per cent to Rs 7,648.73 crore from Rs 8,298.04 crore in 2013-14.

valuation of the property - thus working with a 'two-way strategy' to ensure that it gets necessary funds to be deposited for Roy's release and also retain the control of the hotel it had purchased in 2010.

According to Sahara, the London hotel was being "treated under default" because Bank of China declared "an event of default" on the US loans due to some "technical breaches" in the financial covenants.

The loan on Sahara's three hotels - Grosvenor House in the UK and two other prime hotels (The Plaza and Dream Downtown) in New York -- from Bank of China is "cross collateralized and cross guaranteed".

The three overseas hotels have been at the centre of Sahara's fundraising plans and were acquired between 2010-2012 at an estimated valuation of USD 1.55 billion.

Market experts peg their current valuation at upwards of USD 2.2 billion, after taking into account the appreciation in their values, but the bidders may put in lower bids given the 'distress' nature of the sale.

The group has been engaged in a legal battle with Indian markets regulator Sebi for a long time over a case involving raising of funds from investors to the tune of over Rs 24,000 crore.

Sahara, however, claims that it has already repaid 95 per cent of the investors' money directly.-PTI

NYC Council criticizes Cuomo's housing plan NEW YORK: The fate of $100 million in state funds for New York City public housing is the latest battleground in the frequently contentious relationship between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio.

When the state budget agreement was passed in April, Cuomo pledged the money for the decaying New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the first state investment into the aging system in nearly two decades.

He did not designate a use for the funds. However, NYCHA officials earmarked it to repair damaged roofs atop 123 aging buildings and pledged to match the state's gift, committing $300 million for roof repairs over the next three years.

But earlier this month, the state changed plans and is now directing the funds to smaller, more quality-of-life repairs like playground equipment and landscaping. That move drew an angry reaction from the City Council, which held an oversight hearing and demanded that the money be used for roof repair. ``Playing politics with the health and safety of public housing residents, who are living with mold growth and water leaks, is unacceptable,'' said Councilman Ritchie Torres of the Bronx, who accused the governor of choosing popular programs over critical infrastructure investments in the NYCHA system, which has more residents than the city of New Orleans.

De Blasio's office - which will uphold its commitment to the roof funding - said that the government

``can't afford to abandon this plan.'' ``After years of federal and state disinvestment, these residents deserve an aggressive vision to tackle one of the greatest problems affecting their homes,'' said mayoral spokeswoman Ishanee Parikh.

A spokesman for the governor said the quality of life improvements were needed and that the change in plans will ``free up resources for NYCHA to invest in its capital program.''

Cuomo and de Blasio, who miss few opportunities to extol the virtues of their decades-long friendship, have clashed repeatedly over the mayor's agenda Cuomo and de Blasio, who miss few opportunities to extol the virtues of their decades-long friendship, have clashed repeatedly over the mayor's agenda, a conflict that has seemingly escalated in the final weeks of the state's legislative session.

The men met behind closed doors when de Blasio made a trip to Albany to lobby lawmakers, but Cuomo has coolly responded to a number of the mayor's other proposals, including changes to a real estate development tax break and permanent control of the city's public school system.-AP

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

India Post 39

40 India Post PREETI VERMA LAL

G

oa Tourism Development Corporation is really upping the state's adventure quotient with recent trial runs of sea planes, amphibious vessels and hot air balloons.

Amphibious vessels: Next time, you are in Goa, watch out for a gigantic yellow duck.

A duck that wades through the inland waterways and can even waddle on land. You can hop onto to this yellow duck and enjoy the best of what the Goan rivers and its verdant landscape has to offer. Wait, this is no ordinary duck. It is a T Duck, Goa's first amphibious vessel that will be open to public after monsoon. Manufactured in Goa by Amphibious Design India, the 33-seater passenger vessels can operate both on land and sea. The amphibious vessel will run throughout Goa in over seven routes across five talukas with onehour tours to the state's backwaters, crocodile swamp, bird-watching sites and more.

Hot air balloon: You can now get a bird's eye view of Goa standing in a hot air balloon and floating mid-air. The Cameroon

www.indiapost.com 180 will be part of the hot air balloon fleet that will take tourists atop Goa's picturesque landscape offering spectacular aerial views of the state's tourism sites.

This adventure project will be operated

by Camping Retreats of India Pvt. Ltd, a Delhi-based agency well known for its high standards of security, safety and customer service in conducting tiger balloon safaris in India and abroad.

Sea Plane: Come September and sea planes will become operational in Goa. Mehair company has identified several places to fly the seaplane - from Vasco to Dona Paula, to Coco beach (Nerul), Miramar, Chapora, and Mandovi in Phase I of the project. The 9seater planes will pick up passengers at Dabolim airport and fly them to the destination. For example, you can get to Coco beach in 7 minutes. The seaplane will land in the water close to a floating jetty onto which the passengers will alight. Smaller boats will ferry the passengers to shore from where they can drive away.

June 5, 2015

June 5, 2015

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post

41

www.indiapost.com

Once vilified, BP getting credit for Gulf tourism boom ORANGE BEACH, ALA: The fallout from the oil spill that left Gulf Coast beaches smeared with gooey tar balls and scared away visitors in 2010 is being credited, oddly, with something no one imagined back then: An increase in tourism in the region.

Five years after the BP disaster, the petroleum giant that was vilified during heated town hall meetings for killing a way of life is now being praised by some along the coast for spending more than $230 million to help lure visitors back to an area that some feared would die because of the spill.

Questions remain about the long-term environmental impacts of the BP disaster, with a report released just last week finding a definite link between the spill and a record die-off of the bottlenose dolphins that tourists love to spot along the northern Gulf Coast.

Pockets of oil still blot the sea floor and spots along Louisiana's coast.

Meanwhile, many are still wrangling with BP over spill-related claims. Attorneys for businesses and individuals claiming damages from the spill announced a $211 million settlement recently with Transocean Ltd., owner of the failed Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.

Yet, at the same time, parking lots are full outside the same coastal hotels and condominium towers that struggled for business and slashed prices while crude was pouring into the gulf off Louisiana's coast in 2010.

Visitors bob in surf where oil once washed in, and some restaurants have 90-minute waits for dinner on the weekend. Tourist business has doubled in Alabama's

that Alabama and Mississippi had coastlines. ``I've traveled as recently as the spring to California and there were people there who were saying, `Hey, I saw those commercials about Alabama,'' said coastal condominium developer Bill Brett. ``I really think those commercials

spill and had to keep it out of the oil-marred waters that summer.

Today all that seems like a bad, distant dream as he watches clear gulf waters slide past the hull during an afternoon of sailing off Alabama's coast. ``We're just amazingly thankful,'' said Scarritt. ``I think our area

Tourists line the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala. Industry officials say Gulf Coast tourism is surging five years after the BP oil spill.

helped.''

Brett is an owner of Brett/ Robinson Real Estate, where he said business is up about 30 percent since the year before the spill.

The company has developed 19 buildings with more than 3,200 condo units on the Alabama coast, including one that was finished with a $37 million settlement from BP after the spill.

The tourism surge isn't happening in a vacuum: Many U.S. attractions have seen big increases during the same period as the economy recovered following the 2008 financial crisis and Americans returned to the road.

The theme parks of Orlando, Florida, helped draw a record 62 million visitors to the city last year.

But back in 2010, there were questions and fears over whether the tourist economy of the northern Gulf Coast would ever recover from the spill. Residents feared that images of oilsoaked birds and Demarkis Mosley, left, and his wife, Alexandria, of blackened beaches Starkville, Miss., play in the sand on their vacation in would permanently Gulf Shores, Ala. change travel patlargest beach towns since before terns and leave towns like Gulf the spill, officials say, and Shores, Alabama, and Destin, Pensacola Beach, Florida, is so Florida, as the forgotten coast.

Ted Scarritt, who offers tourist clogged with visitors that traffic is cruises in Orange Beach aboard his a primary problem.

53-foot catamaran ``Wild Hearts,'' Many attribute the change in remembers crying and praying large part to the millions of dollars while the spill was happening. that BP spent on tourism grants and advertising that promoted the Scarritt, who also owns a beach Gulf Coast nationwide to people service company, purchased the who previously didn't even realize sailboat only months before the

has recovered profoundly. You can look at the water right now, you can look at the beach. We're fine.''

Picking up shells in the surf at Pensacola Beach, Autumn Ventling of Nashville, Tennessee, didn't realize the spill ever occurred; she was just 18 at the time.

Today, she said the white-sand beach and emerald-colored water appear beautiful, just like so many other beaches on the Gulf Coast. ``I can't tell anything happened,'' said Ventling, 23.

Part of that is because of a massive cleanup program BP conducted on beaches after the spill.

For months, big machines with metal sifters dug deep to remove remaining mats of tar from the sand, which was then spread back on the seashore.

While the cleanup work was going on, BP was also shelling out cash to revive tourism.

BP spokesman Jason Ryan said the company provided $179 million in tourism promotion grants to the gulf states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, and it aired commercials nationally touting the region as recently as early 2013. The company hasn't disclosed the cost of the spots, he said.

But under an agreement with

plaintiff's attorney who sued over the spill, BP provided another $57 million for private groups and government to promote tourism and seafood on the Gulf Coast.

The rebound has been a relief to people like Jeanne Dailey, owner of Newman-Dailey Vacation Rentals in Destin.

During the long summer of 2010, Dailey spent many sleepless nights fearing oil would wash ashore and kill the tourism business. The Destin area never got the heavy patches of oil that polluted Alabama beaches, Mississippi coastal islands and the boot of Louisiana, but the perception that the entire coast was coated in oil prompted hundreds of vacationers to cancel travel plans, she said. ``Once I made peace with the fact that I might have to declare bankruptcy, things started to get better,'' she said.

BP's ad campaign combined with sales incentives combined to lure people back to the area eventually led to a strong rebound, Dailey said. Five years later, her business is thriving and preparing to mark its 30th anniversary-AP

42

India Post

Travel & Hospitality Post

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

Goa nod to sea plane landing amid protests PANAJI: The Goa government has gone ahead with its tourism proposal amid protests by fishermen community and conducted trial of sea plane landing on Mandovi River in the heart of the state.

The traditional fishermen have threatened to end their lives if Goa government allows the sea planes to operate in the waters disturbing their livelihood.

However, despite agitations, Goa Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar decided to go ahead with this unique tourism proposal by giving a nod to fly the first ever plane, from Dabolim airport, to successfully land in River Mandovi in the heart of the state.

"We have been opposing this project. Government wants to get this activity at the cost of our live-

Turkish Airlines flies into San Francisco PREETI VERMA LAL

T

urkish Airlines, the national flag carrier of Turkey, and the world's fourth-largest carrier has added San Francisco to its global network, bringing this hub of global technology 'online'.

With this flight, Turkish Airlines has added the 2nd destination in California and 11th in the Americas.

Flights between SFO and Istanbul will be operated using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft seating a total of 337 passengers, made up of 28 business class and 309 economy class seats. Turkish Airlines' flights to San Francisco will operate 5 times per week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays in both directions.

To commemorate this important event, a special livery has been applied to the aircraft operating the first flight on this route. To signify the new link between these two major world cities, Turkish Airlines combined a modernist perspective

with minimalist design and created a unique livery for the Boeing 777300, named Safranbolu.

Turkish Airlines has existing services to Buenos Aires, Sao

Turkish Airlines that flies to more than 200 international locations, has been named the "Best Airline in Europe" by SkyTrax, an independent international agency that

Paulo, Toronto, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, Boston and Montreal, For the fourth year in a row,

monitors the aviation industry and whose aviation benchmarking surveys are considered among the most reliable in the world.

lihood," said Goenchya Ramponkarancho Ekvott President, Agnelo Rodrigues, ahead of the trials in the capital city.

Rodrigues said fishermen will commit suicide as a protest act if government does not scrap the proposal.

The nine-seater plane took sortie along the river front till Miramar beach and also took off to Chapora River situated around 20 kms away.

Goa Tourism had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maritime Energy Heli AIR Services Pvt. Ltd. (MEHAIR) to launch this service in Goa. The state will be the second after Maharashtra to have such services meant to boost tourism.

Parulekar said fishermen are

raising unwarranted issues.

"Their livelihood will not be affected. Government is completely aware and concerned about the traditional fishermen. The sea plane service will attract large chunk of high end tourists who will give boost to our economy. If tourism sector has to grow we will have to be innovative," the minister said.

State Tourism Director Amey Abhyankar said that several routes will be identified for the plane in consultation with Fisheries Department, Captain of Ports and Goa Coastal Police to ensure that operations do not affect the marine eco-system, fishing activities, inland water transportation and water sport operations.

"The aircraft service would start post monsoon," said Siddharth Verma, Co-founder, MEHAIR. He said the questions about the impact of this service on the flora and fauna are unwarranted. "It comes and goes very quickly so that there is no question of any impact," he said, adding it is far environment-friendly compared to the boat.

Verma said it is a high profile project which will boost local industry and provide employment to locals. "It will also lead to boom in real estate around waterdrome," he

added.

According to him, the service can operate in waters and also in the rocky area.

"It offers overnight air connectivity to any region. The vacation destination is converted into weekend destination due to quick connectivity," he said.-PTI

June 5, 2015

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post

43

www.indiapost.com

Skyscanner eyes 40 mn users from India by 2017 NEW DELHI: Global travel search portal Skyscanner is targeting four-fold jump in the number of users from India to 40 million by the end of 2017 for which it will increase coverage for international travels and provide enhanced options of domestic flights and hotels.

The company had around 10 million users from India visiting its site in 2014.

"We are looking to increase the number of people using our site from India to around 40 million by end of 2017.

Around 10 million people from the country visited our site in 2014," Skyscanner CEO and Co-founder Gareth Williams told PTI. The company is witnessing one of the fastest growth rates in India, he said, adding that it grew 145 per cent in March 2015 as compared to the same month last year.

Outlining the company's strategy, he said: "We are concentrating on increasing coverage of in-

ternational travelers, deeper coverage for domestic travelers for flights and hotels in India."

Williams further said: "We will also be increasing product localization, while adding other forms of transportation such as rail

travel."

Other steps being taken are marketing initiatives such as second year partnership with Delhi Daredevils team for the IPL, he added.

Elaborating the company's targets, he said: "Our aim is to become the most trusted, the most used travel service for flights and hotels in India."

Commenting on the growing importance of the Asia-Pacific region for the company, Skyscanner Asia Pacific General Manger Andy Sleigh said: "The region contributes about 20 per cent to the company's global traffic."

Globally, the company had posted USD 150 million in revenue last year.

Founded in 2003, Skyscanner currently employs around 600 people from more than 50 different countries in its offices in the UK, Singapore, Beijing, Shenzhen, Miami, Barcelona, Sofia and Budapest.-PTI

'UNESCO tag could keep heritage encroachment-free' NEW DELHI: Earning the coveted UNESCO tag would not only have ramped up revenues through enhanced tourism but also helped in keeping monuments and heritage buildings in Delhi free of encroachment, say experts.

"I think we have lost a great opportunity. The world heritage tag would have propped the city right on the global map, increased footfall and thus led to an increase in revenues.

"But, it also would have lent a strong platform for safeguarding of our heritage from encroachment," says Member of Heritage Committee (joint) of the three municipal corporations, Vartika Sharma.

Sharma, who has been associated with the nomination process, right from its conception days, felt "disappointed and disheartened", when she learnt that Delhi was no longer in the race for the prestigious recognition.

The Centre has decided to pull back the UNESCO nomination, saying the tag would have put a "lot of restrictions" on carrying out infrastructure work in the national capital.

All civic and urban bodies -the North, South and East munici-

pal corporations (erstwhile unified MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority (DDA) -- and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage ( I N TA C H ) held marathon meetings since 2008 to define the ultimate content and form of the nomination.

INTACH Delhi Convener A G K

Menon says, "Our policy-makers apparently believe that heritage is anti-development."

"But I ask, have Rome, Paris and Edinburgh become less prosperous after becoming heritage cities.

Has the development stopped in those places? This decision to remove it from the reckoning at the last moment is an anomaly," he told

PTI. Besides it wasn't as if "we are asking the whole Delhi to be preserved", he adds.

"The nominated zones constitute 1.5 per cent of this historic city and UNESCO tag does not become a burden or an impediment, but a wealth generator, only if they could see," he says.

According to South Delhi Mayor Subhash Arya, Delhi winning the heritage status would have meant "more power in our hands to enforce conservation, preservation and anti-encroachment laws for heritage".

"I agree there are many heritage buildings and spaces in south Delhi, like Chirag Delhi, Mehrauli, Badarpur among others, which have been encroached upon. Not that we don't have laws in place to tackle them but this tag would have meant pressure exerted internationally," he says.

The Mayor, however, says, he was not in a position to pass a judgment on the Centre's decision, "but a heritage tag would not have hurt us". . DDA Vice-Chairman Balvinder Kumar says "the urban body was involved in delineating the heritage zone in the city for the nomination process". -PTI

Wyoming tourism foresees good summer season CHEYENNE, WYO: Lower gas prices and other indicators point to plenty of out-of-state visitors coming to Wyoming to enjoy national parks and other attractions this summer, tourism officials say.

Gas prices are about $1 lower than they were at this time last year, state tourism executive director Diane Shober said. ``So that just in and of itself is really good in terms of more discretionary income for consumers,'' she said. ``They certainly have more to spend on their trips.''

Advance reservations to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, response to state advertising campaigns, Cheyenne

generated $168 million in state and local sales taxes.

The Wyoming Office of Tourism has an annual budget of about $14 million, much of which is spent on advertising to entice people to the state.

Shober said advertising is a key to getting people to visit Wyoming and her office constantly is evaluating its effectiveness and making changes, including buying online ads. ``The thing that we did this year is we shifted some dollars out some of our TV and put it into a broader national footprint through all of our digital work,'' she said.

Tourists photograph Old Faithful erupting on schedule late in the afternoon in Yellowstone National Park, Mont.

Frontier Day ticket sales and international bookings are all strong, Shober said. ``There's nothing that says it wouldn't really be a good summer,'' she said.

A record 10.1 million people visited the state last year. Visitors spent $3.3 billion in 2014, which

Digital advertising is more flexible, allowing the office to make changes at any time as opposed to ads in magazines and on TV, Shober said.

Online ads also link to short videos designed to entice people to explore Wyoming's attractions further, she said. -AP

Historic lighthouse in Muskegon now open for public tours MUSKEGON, MICH: A historic lighthouse in Muskegon is now open for public tours.

The Muskegon Chronicle reports a ceremony was held over the weekend to commemorate the start of tours at the Muskegon South Pierhead Light, which was built in 1903.

Muskegon Mayor Steve Gawron says ``lighthouses are our icons'' and they've been ``the emblems of so much of our identity'' in the Lake Michigan community.

After a ribbon-cutting, many in attendance took the opportunity to climb to the top of the 48-foot tall structure.

The Michigan Lighthouse Conservancy acquired the South Pierhead Light as well as the nearby South Breakwater Light in

2010. Since then, volunteers have been sought to help preserve and protect the landmarks. Details about preservation efforts are posted online.-AP

In Brief US accepts job applications of H-4 visa holders WASHINGTON: US authorities have started accepting employment authorization applications for H-4 visa holders, who are spouses of H-1B nonimmigrant workers and were not allowed to work so far in the country.

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) started accepting the applications for H-4 visas.

Issuing employment authorization card (EAD) to certain category of spouses of H-1B visas is one of the legislative measures taken by President Barack Obama to fix the immigration system of the country.

As a result, about 1,80,000 would be eligible to work in the US. According to the DHS, it will issue EAD within 90 days of receiving the application.

Under existing regulations, DHS does not extend employment authorization to dependents (also known as H-4 nonimmigrants) of H-1B nonimmigrant workers.

The new rules allow H-4 dependent spouses of certain H-1B nonimmigrant workers to request employment authorization, as long as the H-1B worker has already started the process of seeking lawful permanent residence through employment.-PTI

Â&#x201E; Officials delay immigrants' work authorization PORTLAND, ORE.: A new lawsuit alleges federal immigration officials routinely delay issuing employment authorization documents to eligible immigrants and fail to issue interim documents, thwarting their ability to work legally.

According to the suit, immigrants who are renewing their work authorization are also at risk: They can lose their jobs, benefits and, in some states, their driver's licenses. As a result, immigrants can't support themselves and their families while their immigration applications are pending.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle. It seeks class action status.

Work permits are typically issued to people eligible for asylum, green cards and other types of visas and immigration statuses.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is required to decide most employment authorization applications within 90 days. Initial applications based on pending asylum claims must be reviewed within 30 days. -AP

Immigration

How 3,000 stranded migrants reached land

44 India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 5, 2015

Details on page 46

US won't seek high court review in immigration case WASHINGTON: The government will not ask the Supreme Court to review a judge's decision that put on hold President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration, the Justice Department said.

The decision came one day after a federal appeals court panel refused to lift a Texas judge's injunction that kept the sweeping immigration plan from taking effect.

U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen issued a preliminary injunction on Feb. 16 that halted Obama's executive action, which could spare from deportation as many as 5 million people who are in the U.S. illegally. More than two dozen states sought the injunction, arguing that Obama's executive action was unconstitutional.

The U.S. government on Feb. 23 asked Hanen to lift his injunction while it appealed his ruling against the executive action to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Hanen denied the request, and the U.S. government appealed. That appeal was denied.

Spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said the Justice Department would not seek a stay of the decision.

Instead, he said, the Justice Department will now focus on defending the merits of the executive action itself in an appeal that will be argued the week of July 6 before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

people who have long ties to the United States and who are raising American children,'' Rodenbush said in a statement. ``The department believes the best way to achieve this goal is to focus on the ongoing appeal on the merits

People stand together as they hold a press conference to protest the district court judge in Brownsville, Texas, who issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocks the implementation process of President Obama's Executive Action on immigration in Miami, Florida.

``The Department of Justice is committed to taking steps that will resolve the immigration litigation as quickly as possible in order to bring greater accountability to our immigration system by prioritizing deporting the worst offenders, not

of the preliminary injunction itself.''

The Obama administration plan has been denounced by Republicans as an example of executive overreach. Obama has argued that the action was necessary because

of inaction by Congress.

The executive action announced in November remains on hold after the appeals court panel refused to allow it to take effect immediately.

In refusing to stay the Texas judge's injunction, 5th Circuit judges Jerry Smith and Jennifer Walker Elrod said that the federal government lawyers are unlikely to succeed on the merits of the appeal. Judge Stephen Higginson disagreed in a lengthy dissent.

Immigrant advocates decried the continued roadblock. And, White House spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine said the two-judge majority in the ruling ``chose to misinterpret the facts and the law.''

In denying a stay, Smith and Elrod rejected the government's argument that it has such broad discretion to defer legal action against immigrants absent judicial review. The Obama policy, the ruling said, goes beyond simple nonenforcement. ``It is the affirmative act of conferring `lawful presence' on a class of unlawfully present aliens,'' Smith wrote.

Details on page 46

90k Indians apply for US visa, 4k get it NEW DELHI: The number of student visa applications for the United States has registered a 60 per cent increase this year with a whopping 90,000 applicants, of whom only about 4,000 could make the cut.

According to an official statement, around 4,000 students managed to get student visa which saw over 90,000 applicants, a number which doubled at the US embassy and consulates, especially in Mumbai and Hyderabad, over the last 12 months.

"The US Embassy in Delhi, and Consulates General in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, opened their doors to over 4,000 Indian students who applied for visas to pursue education in the United States," it said.

The students will join a grow-

ing league of their counterparts in the US, which stands at nearly 103,000 at present, making them the second largest group of foreign students in the country after

China.

"Student visa applications across India increased 60 percent last year. Consular officers approve the vast majority of student

visa applications. 78 per cent of Indian students opt to study Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields," the US Embassy said.

According to the embassy, in terms of popularity of study disciplines among the applicants, engineering tops the chart, followed by computer science.

"Last year Indian students in the United States contributed USD 3.3 billion to the US economy," it said.

Congratulating the successful applicants, US Ambassador to In-

dia Richard Verma said, "Indian students are a great asset to United States universities and colleges. Both countries benefit greatly when our students study and learn together."

On the occasion, celebrated as Student Visa Day, the embassy and the consulates treated the applicants to an informative morning in a festive, collegiate atmosphere, with the consulates playing music ranging from college songs to pop music.

"It has been an honor to meet India's future leaders today at Student Visa Day. I am continually impressed by the caliber of Indian students that I meet, and amazed by what they contribute to both India and the world," Ambassador Verma remarked after talking with the applicants here.-PTI

Immigration Post

June 5, 2015

India Post 45

www.indiapost.com

US IT industry calls for raising H-1B visa cap WASHINGTON: More than 5,45,000 tech jobs remain vacant in the US which is having a deep impact on Silicon Valley-based firms, American IT industry has said while arguing in favor of raising the cap on H-1B visas to attract the brightest minds from across the globe.

"Silicon Valley's advanced, traded industries power innovation and growth throughout the US economy. But denying companies access to the skilled workers they need is like asking them to work with one hand tied behind their backs," said Robert Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, in an op-ed in the Courier Post.

"Instead, the United States should raise the cap on H-1B visas and broaden overall high-skill innovation so that our economic engine can be fuelled by the brightest minds from all over the world," he argued.

Atkinson, who reflects the voice of the US IT industry, wrote that more than 5,45,000 technology jobs remain unfilled because of the shortage of workers who are qualified for high- skilled posi-

In this year's lottery to allot scarce visas, more than 15,000 visa petitions filed by companies in the Silicon Valley are likely to be rejected. tions in the so-called "STEM" fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"This gap stymies growth in advanced technology industries and hurts American competitiveness," he said.

Referring to the imbalance in the supply and demand for H-1Bs, he said last month the US Citizenship and Immigration Services received more than 2,33,000 applications in less than a week for just 85,000 available permits, forcing administrators to use a lottery system.

In addition to 65,000 Congressional mandated H1-B visas, the US grants an additional 20,000 H1B visas to those who get advanced degrees from a US educational institute.

"The deleterious impact of the STEM shortage and low H-1B visa cap is particularly bad for Silicon Valley. The region files more than 10 per cent of the nation's H-1B visa petitions," he wrote.

"In this year's lottery to allot scarce visas, more than 15,000 visa petitions filed by companies in the Silicon Valley are likely to be rejected. This will cause the region to forfeit an opportunity for significant growth in advanced industries," Atkinson said.-PTI

Arizona residents protest Border Patrol checkpoints AMADO, ARIZ.: Protesters their citizenship status. frustration. have begun demonstrations For over a year, a group of Border Patrol official Manny against the U.S. Border Patrol Arivaca residents have been moni- Padilla said at the Amado protest checkpoints that dot southern toring the stop, jotting down the that stopping people inside the Arizona, saying the stops amount type of car, driver and interaction U.S. remains a crucial component to the unwanted militarization of they can see from a distance. Two of the agency's strategy. their communities. of the activists involved in a law``It's very difficult to stop all Federal authorities say the suit against the Border Patrol have traffic at the immediate border,'' said checkpoints on highPadilla, who runs the ways and small roads Tucson Sector, which north of the U.S.-Mexico comprises much of line are vital to catching Arizona. immigration violations, He said the checkdrug smugglers and hupoints are strategically man traffickers, but located in routes commany area residents say ing from the border as they're fed up with ana ``defense in depth, if swering citizenship quesyou will, to the bottions each time they drive tom-line operations.'' to work or the grocery The Border Patrol store. tracks how many ar``Every time I have to rests and seizures pull out an I.D. out of my agents make at checkpurse,'' Carlota Wray, an points, but it doesn't Protesters Sophie Smith (left) of Arivaca and Geena Arivaca activist, said. ``I release the information Jackson (center) of Tucson argue with Pima County don't like that.'' publicly.

Sheriff's Lt. Jeffrey Palmer (right) at the Border Patrol checkpoint on Arivaca Road in Amado on May 27 Wray is among those The Tucson Sector who say the checks are has 11 such stops, intrusive and invite racial profil- asked a federal judge to grant them and the Border Patrol has dozens ing. closer access to agents at the of others around the Southwest She and several dozen others checkpoint. and in northern states near the gathered around a checkpoint In a handful of other communi- U.S.-Canada boundary. The Boralong a two-lane road in Amado, ties, residents gathered at small der Patrol is allowed to monitor and where agents under a metal tent rallies and events such as art have checkpoints within 100 miles ask all who drive through about shows to call attention to their of the border. -AP

UK unveils plan for referendum on EU LONDON: Britain's first Conservative-only government in nearly two decades unveiled its legislative agenda, confirming plans for tougher immigration policies, a referendum for the EU membership by the end of 2017 and more autonomy for Scotland.

In a speech to mark the official reopening of Parliament after the May 7 general election, Queen Elizabeth II read out a list of bills that Prime Minister David Cameron's government will attempt to pass through Parliament over the coming session.

The 89-year-old Queen laid out plans for an in-out EU referendum by the end of 2017 among other key policies drafted by Cameron's team after his surprise victory in polls.

It is now official that the UK government will try to reform Britain's relationship with the European Union (EU) and then offer the public a yes or no referendum on leaving the union.

Titled as a "One Nation" program, the British monarch read out the 26-bill package from her throne at the House of Lords as part of an elaborate royal tradition which involves a lot of pomp

and ceremony.

"My government will legislate in the interests of everyone in the country. It will adopt a one nation approach, helping working people get on, supporting aspiration, giving new opportunities to the disadvantaged and bringing different parts of our country together," she said.

Other important bills include a proposal to devolve more power to England, Wales and Scotland from Westminster, where the national Parliament sits.

The government said it would introduce legislation to transfer significant powers to the Scottish Parliament, making it one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world.

The home secretary will have new powers to ban extremists groups, and law-enforcement and local authorities will be able to close down premises that they deem are used to support extremism. Employers will also be able to ban suspected extremists from working with children.

A new immigration bill will allow police to seize the wages of anyone employed unlawfully. PTI

PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. Attorney-at-Law

Former Assistant StateÂ&#x2019;s Attorney

Civil & Criminal Litigation Felonies, Misdemeanors, Inc DUI 1 Personal Injury, Business, Divorce etc.

1 Property Tax for Commercial Properties 1 1

http://www.proy-singh.com

2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 204, Tel: 773-381-1820 Chicago, IL 60659

Immigration Post

46 India Post

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

How 3,000 stranded migrants reached land

M

ore than 3,000 migrants abandoned by human traffickers have been rescued or washed ashore this month in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Some are Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar, while others are Bangladeshis seeking better economic prospects. Many more are feared to still be stranded at sea, abandoned by traffickers amid a regional crackdown.

Here's a look at the migrants who have made it ashore over the last three weeks: May 10: Boats carrying 582 Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims washed ashore in Seunuddon, North Aceh district, western Indonesia. They were believed to be from four ships abandoned by their captains and smugglers.

Many were sick and weak after more than two months at sea, and dozens were rushed to hospitals for medical treatment. They were first taken to a sports stadium in Lhoksukon, the district capital.

They are now being sheltered separately in Lhokseumawe, the former capital and closest big town.

May 10: Hours after migrants

were found in two fishing villages on the northern resort island of Langkawi. The 486 Rohingya and 672 Bangladeshis were believed to

Ethnic Rohingya men gather near a temporary shelter in Langsa, Aceh province, Indonesia, May 22. Thousands of refugees and migrants have washed ashore in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, about half Rohingya and the rest from Bangladesh, according to the International Organization for Migration.

wash ashore in Indonesia, Malaysian authorities detain 1,158 immigrants, including 61 children, who

have arrived in two boats that were later found stranded at sea after the captain and crew abandoned

the vessels. They were believed to have been at sea for weeks, with many of them suffering from malnutrition, diarrhea, abdominal pain and urination problems. They were initially held at the home ministry sports complex and a government shooting range, and transferred to a detention camp on the mainland four days later.

May 12: Two Bangladeshi migrants are found floating about seven miles off the coast in Indonesia's East Aceh district. The two were believed to have jumped into the sea from a ship, and were transferred to join those already in Lhokseumawe.

May 14: 106 migrants - 54 Rohingya and 52 Bangladeshis - are found on a small island off Thailand's southern coast of Phang Nga province in an area known for world-class scuba diving called the Surin Islands. The migrants had traveled on the same boat but authorities said it was unclear how they ended up on the island. They were brought to an immigration

detention center.

May 15: A total of 682 migrants are found crammed onto a boat off Langsa in eastern Aceh, Indonesia. Local fishermen towed the vessel ashore. The 425 Bangladesh men and 257 Rohingya Muslims 118 men, 76 women and 63 children - are being sheltered in two warehouses in seaport town of Kuala Langsa.

There were two other rescues of migrants the same day in Indonesia. Nine Bangladeshis and 38 Rohingya were rescued and sheltered in nearby town of Tamiang, and 53 Bangladeshis and 43 Rohingya were rescued and towed to Pangkalan Susu in nearby province of North Sumatra.

May 20: A total of 433 migrants crammed onto a trawler, mostly Rohingya, are rescued by Indonesian fishermen after being stranded at sea for months. The migrants are being sheltered in Bayeun village; the men are staying in three tents, and the women and children are placed in a former paper factory.-AP

Ricketts vetoes driver license US won't seek high court review in immigration case bill for immigrants Cont'd from Page 44

LINCOLN, NEB.: Gov. Pete Ricketts vetoed a bill that would end Nebraska's status as the only state to ban driving privileges for young people brought to the

Pete Ricketts

country illegally as children but allowed to stay under a federal program.

The announcement sets up another showdown between the Republican governor and lawmakers who passed the bill last week with a veto-proof majority.

Ricketts argued in his veto letter that the bill would grant driver's licenses to an overly broad group

of people in the country illegally, not just the so-called Dreamers enrolled in the federal program. ``The bill is wrong on principle and the bill is overly broad,'' Ricketts said. ``The effort to advance (the legislation) demonstrates once again how the failure of the federal government to properly address national immigration policy wreaks havoc on state governments.''

The federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program approved by President Barack Obama in 2012 gives the youths - known as DREAMers - a Social Security number, a two-year work permit and protection from deportation.

Lawmakers gave the measure final approval last week on a 34-9 vote. The bill has won support from a coalition of prominent agricultural, business and religious groups that say the youths contribute to the state and its

economy.

Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, the bill's lead sponsor, said he expects lawmakers will override the veto. ``It's unfortunate that Gov. Ricketts is choosing to try to score cheap political points on the backs of bright young immigrant youth,'' he said. ``The bill has broad bipartisan support in the Legislature and outside the Legislature.''

The state policy was approved in 2012 by former Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican who campaigned heavily against illegal immigration. Ricketts has argued that those who arrived in the country illegally shouldn't receive privileges intended for legal residents.

A similar law in Arizona was blocked by a federal appeals court in July, leaving Nebraska as the only state with such a policy. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska is challenging the policy in court.

An advocacy group for the youths issued a statement urging lawmakers to override the veto. ``We are gravely disappointed in Gov. Ricketts' choice to harm young Nebraskans and Nebraska communities with his veto,'' said Darcy Tromanhauser, the immigrants and communities director for Nebraska Appleseed.-AP

Higginson noted congressional inaction on the issue in his dissent and said the administration was acting within its authority.

Smith and Walker were nominated to the court by Republican presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush; Higginson, by Obama. ``This decision is a victory for those committed to preserving the rule of law in America,'' Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement.

Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, said the decision will result in confusion and fear in immigrant communities. But she predicted eventual victory in the courts.

The first of Obama's orders to expand a program that protects young immigrants from deportation if they were brought to the U.S. illegally as children - was set to take effect Feb. 18. The other major part, extending deportation protections to parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been in the country for some years, had been scheduled to begin May 19.

Hanen issued his injunction believing that neither action had taken effect. But the Justice De-

partment later told Hanen that more than 108,000 people had already received three-year reprieves from deportation as well as work permits. Hanen said the federal government had been ``misleading,'' but he declined to sanction the government's attorneys. Earlier this month, the U.S. government told Hanen it had mistakenly awarded three-year work permits to another 2,000

``This decision is a victory for those committed to preserving the rule of law in America,'' Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. people.

Along with Texas, the states seeking to block Obama's action are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.-AP

Datebook

June 5, 2015

India Post 47

www.indiapost.com

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

CHICAGO

Upcoming

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat Jun 6 • Vocab Bee 2015 in Sherman

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's

Oaks

Sun, Jun 14 • EKTAA- Chhandam School Show (Fremont)

Venue: ALOHA Mind Math | Reading | Writ-

Venue: Centerville Jr. High School Audi-

ing - Sherman Oaks, 12501 Chandler Blvd,

torium, 37720 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA

Los Angeles, CA 91607

94536

Time: 11:30 am Contact: 747-300-1015

Time: 4:00 pm Contact: 510-378-0545

Sun, Jun 7 • Kumar Sanu Aashiqon Ki

Sat, Jun 27 • The Classic Burmans

Mehfil Live in Bay Area

Venue: Carrington Hall, 1201 Brewster

Venue: San Jose Airport Garden Hotel, 1740

Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062

Sun, Jun 7

Sat, Jun 13

• Ek Shaam Ekal Ke Naam With Rana Chatterjee & Sangeeta Melekar

• 18th Annual Concert of Asavari

Venue: Nicholas Music Center Rutgers University, 85 George St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Time : 3:00 pm

Venue: Valimar Club House, Valimar Blvd, White Plains, NY 10603 Time : 3:00 pm Contact: 9149488969

Sat, Jun 13 • 9th Annual Kite & Color Festival

Fri, Jun 26 • Exclusive Indian Standup

Venue: Buena Vista Camping Resort, 775 Harding Hwy, Buena, NJ 08310 Time: 11:00 am Contact: 856-503-6606

Venue: Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019 Time : 6:30 pm

Sat, June 20 • Speed dating Event for Vaishnav Vanik Youth Venue: Royal Alberts Palace, 1050 King Georges Post Road, Fords, NJ 08863 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: 732-261-4048

Comedy Show

Sat, Jul 18 • Dhammal Comedy Of Father And Son Venue: Community Center Auditorium, 14309 Holly Ave, flushing, NY 11355 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 732-822-6163

North First Street, San jose, CA 95112 Time: 6:30 pm Contact: 408-579-9426

Wed, Jun 10 • Jbl Presents A.R.Rahman The Intimate Concert

Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 408-802-5128

ATLANTA Upcoming

Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Sat, Jun 6 • Help Nepal (Dayro and Hasairo)

Time: 8:00 am

Venue: Sardar Patel Bhavan, 5331 Royal

Contact: 207-401-9800

Woods Pkwy, Tucker, GA 30084

Venue: Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, 777 Chick

Time: 8:00 pm

Fri, Jun 12 • Dil to Pagal hai ..Unforgettable Hits of 90s

Sat, Jun 13 • Diversity of Movement

Venue: Mehran Restaurant, 5774 Mowry

Venue: Mountain View High Theater, 2351

School Rd, Newark, CA 94560

Sunny Hill Rd, Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Time: 7:30 pm

Time: 3:00 pm

Contact: 408-646-0330

Contact: 678-346-8537

Sat, Jun 13 • Hindustani Classical Vocal

by Smt. Kalpana Zokarkar

Mon, Aug 31 • MITHAS 2014 Membership

Venue: Rainbow Court, 21690 Rainbow Ct,

rial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02142

Cupertino, CA 95014

Time: 07:00 pm

Time: 07:30 pm

Contact: 857-205-9731

Venue: Wong Auditorium, MIT, 70 Memo-

Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Swami Ishatmananda • Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life Venue: Public Library-95th Street 3015 Cedar Glade Rd Naperville IL 60564 Time: 1st friday of every month 7-8 pm Contact: 630-637-0662

• India Eternal: From the Vedic Age to the Present Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 10915 N. Main Street Glendale Heights, IL 60139 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 630-655-8822

India Post

Classifieds

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

For Classifieds Ads Call NORTHERN CA (Sonia) Tel: 510-938-8668 sonia@indiapost.com (Priya) Tel. 510-275-4467 priya@indiapost.com SOUTHERN CA (Shashi Trivedi) Tel: 562-441-5511/ Fax: 562-947-0632 shashi19@yahoo.com CHICAGO (Ramesh Soparawala) Tel: 773-973-7394 / Fax: 773-973-7396 sramesh@aol.com NEW YORK (Pinky) Tel: 908 338 3752 pinky@indiapost.com

SUBSCRIBE TO INDIA POST E-PAPER Mail to: subscribe@indiapost.com or login to http://www.indiapost.com/subscribe/

www.indiapost.com

48

Horoscope

June 5, 2015

India Post

49

www.indiapost.com

Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar June 5th - June 11thth 2015 (March 21 to April 20)

E

fforts made in the past will show results now. You may successfully negotiate a big contract with a large organization. Chances of making some money through stocks and lottery still strong.

You may be taking a short trip to a coastal area with family this week. You will be slowly getting ready for an upcoming big event in the family.

(April 21 to May 20)

A

government agency may give some run around causing little frustration in mind. Money wise you will do better and hit your financial goals without any difficulty. You may travel to a nice place with family this week. People prone to blood pressure should be extra careful for next few weeks. Any contract you sign will benefit you for long.

(May 21 to June 20)

C

ombination of Venus, Mercury and Jupiter if favorable. You will hear encour aging news from many directions. You may finally lay your hands on a nice property with lots of greenery around.

A family reunion will cheer you up and you will get to spend some quality time with children. You are in line for a promotion or big raise.

(June 21 to July 22)

Y

ou will be excited and start preparing for an up coming long distance journey. You will attend couple of dinners this week and enjoy the company of family and a close friend. Stocks and any other kind of speculation will be profitable. There will be slight delay in relocation plans.

You may order some real nice furniture for the house.

(July 23 to August 22)

(November 23 to December 22)

Y

ou may accept a new as signment or job this week.

It will be definitely better than previous one. People in business will see sales surging up.

You may replace one of the old vehicle with a new but economical car. You may spend some quality time with other professionals and quickly get acquainted. Clearance from government agency will come.

(August 23 to September 22)

A

ny change in career at this point will prove to be blessing in disguise later on. You may dispose off some money making stocks and pocket the money. Some money can also come through legal channel this week. You may have to spend some money on repairs to one of your vehicle. You may change or drop your plans to attend a party this week.

(September 23 to October 22)

L

uck is definitely on your side. All hurdles big or small, will be followed by excellent solution. You will also receive valuable advice and guidance from a learned person. You may change your plans to visit a holy place because of some other important issue. Loan application will get approved after submitting more paper work.

(October 23 to November 22)

M

eeting with some very successful people will go well and a favorable outcome is on the horizon. Do not go out of your way to help any one. You will be making a wise investment this week. Children will finalize a short vacation. You may invite few close friends at your place for dinner. It will be better to change the court date.

PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations.

He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

Y

ou will enjoy the company of new friends. Business will pick up all of a sudden. Idea of initiating a law suit will continue to occupy your mind.

Some visitors will confirm the date of their arrival. People seeking for a change will be called for second interview and receive verbal confirmation. Bank balance will keep growing.

(December 22 to January 19)

H

ard work and patience will ultimately pay off.

Things will get less stressful at work. You will continue to look for solution to an issue involving a child. Some of you may contact a small claim court to file a claim. An old friend will stop by to give invitation. You may start preparing for an upcoming long distance journey.

(January 20 to February 18)

Y

ou will feel content the way things are shaping up lately. Presence of three good planets in fifth will provide the necessary intellect and wisdom to make the best choices in personal as well as professional life. Some of you will be taking an important short business trip this week. Bank balance will start creeping up from now.

(February 19 to March 20)

Y

ou will gain an edge over the strong opponents and prove your point. Favorable outcome in legal matters also possible. You will get to meet few old friends at the party. Some of you may replace an old vehicle with new luxury model.

You will buy some nice items for the house also. You will also give final shape to a short vacation.

510-886-4370 www.parashar.com

50 India Post

M

www.indiapost.com

any Indian films made their entry at the recently concluded 68th annual Cannes Film Festival hoping to grab attention and critical acclaim.

It is a dream come true for any filmmaker to showcase his flick at the Cannes Film Festival.

'Miyan Kal Aana', directed by Shamas Nawab Siddiqui, was one of the prominent movies from India to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

This film explores the intricacy of 'Halala Law', when a couple is faced with a com-

paid his or her dues.

Shot in Budhana (Uttar Pradesh) and Delhi, the film delves deep into how women are relegated as mute spectators in the society as patriarchy takes major decisions for them.

Delhi-based filmmaker Madhureeta Anand also came up with a similar subject. She presented her film 'Kajarya', which deals with the sensitive issue of sex selection and gender violence, at the festival.

Madhureeta reveals that the major revelation while researching for the film has been the fact that sex discrimination is more prevalent amongst the

plex situation.

"When I found the subject, I was sure I wanted to make a film on the same," says Siddiqui while talking about the film.

The director adds he was confident enough that the film would be selected at Cannes because of the uniqueness of the subject.

Made on a budget of Rs. nine lakhs for a 17-minute film, it is backed by actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who happens to be the director's elder brother.

Justifying the cost behind the film, Siddiqui clarifies that unlike other short films, he and his producers ensured that every person associated with the film was

educated and economically advantaged than the uneducated section of society.

"The truth is patriarchy is the enemy of love, equality and peaceful co-existence. It's not even about men and women as genders," she adds.

The filmmaker is currently shooting for a feature film titled 'Kotha No 22', which is a thriller set in a brothel. The shooting of the film is expected to start in Agra in September.

'Smile Foundation' from India was also present at the festival with a variety of films.

"There are many festivals, but Cannes is the biggest cinema platform

June 5, 2015

Shot in Budhana (Uttar Pradesh) and Delhi, the film delves deep into how women are relegated as mute spectators in the society as patriarchy takes major decisions for them. where leading distributors, broadcasters and promoters from across the globe participate and here all the participants are very serious about their approach," says Jitendra Mishra, the festival director of 'Smile Foundation'.

Mishra, who visited Cannes to promote his flicks, even talked about the future of children's films in India.

"I believe films are the most powerful medium to depict the reality in an interesting and engaging way," he elaborates.

However, he laments that even though India has the largest youth population in the world, there are hardly any good films for them.

Indian filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan's film 'Masaan' was awarded the International Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival.

Set in Varanasi, the film explores the stories of four people from a small village and how they struggle to deal with their moral dilemmas.

Cont'd on Page 52

India Post 51

June 5, 2015 www.indiapost.com

Cannes winner that no one predicted

I

n Cannes, everyone had a pre diction as to what would win, but the winner turned out to be a film that nobody predicted: Jacques Audiard's Dheepan, the gritty, powerful story of a Tamil guerrilla, a young woman, and a girl who pretend to be a family so they can leave the terrifying vio-

Jacques Audiard

lence of war-torn Sri Lanka and settle in supposedly civilized France-only to find themselves in a housing project filled with drug dealers packing guns. It's a good, intelligent, finely directed film that seemed, in the crazy logic of

Cannes where people want masterpieces, to be merely a good, intelligent finely directed film. The jury clearly thought it better than that, and Audiard, a consistently interesting and excellent director of the old school has won the Palme he's been heading for over the past twenty years.

The Dark Horse Winner: Rooney Mara From the moment Carol screened early in the festival, it was almost an article of faith that the Best Actress prize would go to Cate Blanchett for her emblematic portrait of the title character, a well-off, wellturned-out fifties wife who begins a love affair with a young department saleswoman played by Rooney Mara. Only a handful ventured the opinion that, in fact, Mara was actually better than Blanchett because her performance lets us in rather than locks

us out. Turns out the jury agreed.

The Winning Future: Young Directors Three awards went to comparative newcomers. Best Screenplay went to Chronic, a bleak story about a nurse by the Mexican director Michel Franco. The Jury

A scene from Dheepan

Prize went to Yorgos Lanthimos's amusingly offbeat comedy The Lobster with Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz. And the Grand Prix (basically second place) went to Laszlo Nemes for Son of Saul, a

Salman's hit-and-run case papers missing MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government does not have any "information" on Bollywood actor Salman Khan's 2002 hit-and-run case as the files pertaining to it were gutted in a fire at Mantralaya, an RTI query has revealed.

This was disclosed to Mansoor Darvesh, a city-based RTI activist, who had sought to know from the state Law and Judiciary department the names and the total number of counsels, solicitors, advocates and legal advisors, public prosecutors appointed by the state government for this case.

Darvesh was informed that the files pertaining to the case were burnt on June 21, 2012, when a fire engulfed the state Secretariat and therefore, they cannot be made available.

To his query on total expenses incurred by the state government in the case from 2002 to May 6 this

year, when the judgment was pronounced in the case, Darvesh was told that "the only thing that the government knows is about the appointment of Special public

Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat who was appointed at a fee of Rs 6,000 per hearing."

"The government had promised to the people that all files that destroyed in the fire will be recon-

structed. But, here is a blatant example of the inefficiency of the government. There might be many more such important cases that will reach no conclusion as we do not know the facts of those cases," Darvesh told PTI. On May 6, a sessions court here had convicted Salman Khan for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the 2002 hit-andrun case and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment.

The Bombay High Court had on May 8 granted the actor bail and suspended his sentence pending hearing and final disposal of his appeal against conviction A man was killed and four others were wounded when Khan's Toyota Land Cruiser ran over them while they were asleep on a pavement outside a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002.-PTI

harrowing story about a Jewish prisoner forced to help the Nazis with the running of a death camp.

Directed with astonishing force, it flings you into the middle of horrible things.

The Winning Tongue: France In a festival filled with Englishspeaking movie actors starring in movies by directors whose first language isn't English, the best acting prizes (and the Palme d'Or) went to people speaking French.

The Best Actor was Vincent Lindon from the film The Measure of a Man, a superbly turned story of a factory worker who loses his job and finds himself thrown onto the mercies of the market for labor-he winds up as a security guard. Possessed with one of those great, un-pretty Gallic actor faces and an unshakeable air of manliness, Lindon gives a watchful performance that's rivetingly deep without ever being flashy. As if that weren't enough, Rooney wound up sharing the Best Actress prize with Emmanuelle Bercot, the French star of Mon Roi, a juicy, crazy romantic nightmare in which her character falls in love with a sexy, charismatic man (Vincent Cassel) who turns out to be-you guessed it-sexy, charismatic trouble.

If Lindon's performance is impressive for its restraint, Bercot's is exciting for its absence. She laughs, she cries, she strips, she has a baby, she laughs and cries some more-oh yes, she's also a law-

yer.

More than a Prize Cannes screenings don't get more hushed than during the premiere of Hou Hsiao-hsien's The Assassin, the story of a female assassin (gorgeous Shu Qi) during the Tang Dynasty of the ninth century. While the movie is slow and at moments baffling, it is also one of the most staggeringly exquisite films.

It featured the festival's most beautiful actress among the most beautiful cast wearing the most beautiful costumes in the most beautiful settings shot in the most beautiful light imaginable. So why didn't it win? The short answer is that it's simply too refined-too rarefied-to win over the majority of any group, including a sophisti-

Michel Franco

cated Cannes jury. Still, the jury knew that The Assassin is something astonishing, which is why they gave Hou the Best Director prize. It was the least they could do for a film whose level of artistry outstripped everything else in the competition.

52 India Post

June 5, 2015 www.indiapost.com

Ranjitsinhji's 1933 Rolls-Royce put on sale LONDON: A highlight of H&H Classics' next sale, to be held on 20 June at the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club meeting at Burghley

been considerably lifted by such a generous gift and the distinctive Rolls became a regular sight in the North West. In those more deferent times, it is said policeman on point duty in Manchester's Oxford

House, will be this glamorous 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II bodied in Sedanca De Ville style by Windovers. Records suggest that an Indian prince, Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji who played cricket for England first commissioned the car but died before receiving the car.

The car was taken over by a scion of the Tate (& Lyle) sugar family, Mrs Amy Davies, who purchased it for her daughter, Elsie Partington.

In low spirits following a divorce, Elsie's mood must have

Street regularly stopped traffic and saluted as they waved the Rolls through.

An unusual feature of the car's distinctive lines is the wraparound rear window treatment commonly seen on 'Maharaja cars' used for hunting tigers.

As a keen patron of the arts, Partington used the Rolls to carry many of the stars of the day, including actor and playwright Noël Coward, singer Gracie Fields, actor Douglas Fairbanks

India Post News Service

Junior and singer and composer Ivor Novello. Estimate: £70,000 90,000.

The stylish two-tone sedanca will be joined by a fine selection of other cars, predominantly RollsRoyce and Bentley, including two 1920s Silver Ghost shooting brakes fit for the set of 'Downton Abbey' or 'Gosford Park'.

The Bentley MK V was one of the last cars built by the company before devoting its energies to building aero-engines for the war effort. H&H's Sports Saloon by Park Ward (estimate £120,000 140,000) dates from 1940 and is one of only 11 built, of which just seven are believed to exist today.

The sale will take place on Saturday, 20 June at the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club Annual

``Our strategy remains unchanged,'' Las Vegas Sands Corp.

CEO Sheldon Adelson told analysts last month.

Macau's upcoming casino resorts: GALAXY Hong Kong real estate tycoon Lui Che-woo's Galaxy Entertainment Group is set to cut the ribbon on its $2.8 billion expansion.

The company's massive goldtinted Southeast Asian-inspired complex adds a third hotel tower and new aquatic attractions including a 575-meter adventure river ride, which joins an existing wave pool. Across the street, via

BENGALURU: Indian origin musician Ricky Kej has won Zone Music Reporter (ZMR) Awards in the USA and two South African Music Awards (SAMA) in South Africa for his Grammy-winning work "Winds of Samsara".

Ricky Kej

Concours & Rally, Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Macau's new wave of casino resorts MACAU: Macau is doubling down even as the odds change.

The world's casino capital welcomes the first of a new wave of lavish casino resorts for its upand-coming Cotai Peninsula.

It's a $20 billion bet by casino operators amid an extended losing streak in the tiny Chinese enclave. Gambling revenue growth has been falling for nearly a year as wealthy mainland Chinese highrollers stay home as a result of President Xi Jinping's corruption crackdown.

Macau's casino operators are undaunted. None have backed off their expansion plans which will unfold over the next two years, sticking to a belief that the downturn is temporary and the decline in VIPs will bottom out soon.

They're also optimistic Beijing's support for Macau's long term development from a seedy, vice-ridden backwater into a glitzy Asian destination will draw a growing numbers of middle class families from across the region looking for more than just gambling.

Ricky Kej receives more accolades

an air-conditioned footbridge, is its revamped Broadway Macau hotel and entertainment center. It includes a replica of a traditional street market stocked with hawker food stalls, street performers and a 3,000-seat theatre for live shows.

STUDIO CITY Melco Crown Entertainment embraces Hollywood and Batman with its $3.2 billion Art Deco-style resort. CEO Lawrence Ho, son of longtime Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho, enlisted A-listers Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio for a promo film directed by Martin Scorsese. The Golden Eye ferris wheel straddles the hotel's two wings 130 feet (40 meters) up, making it the highest in Asia. The design was inspired by two asteroids shooting through a Gotham City building, according to a press statement.

There's also a Batman virtual reality ride and a nightclub modeled on those in the Mediterranean club capital of Ibiza. -AP

"It is absolutely humbling and thrilling to see all this recognition and accolades that I am continuing to receive for 'Winds of Samsara' from different parts of the World," Kej told PTI. "This is very encouraging and

fills me with extreme enthusiasm to continue to make music from the heart and I pledge to do so. I am truly grateful to everyone from every country who have listened to me and felt my music," he said.

"Winds of Samsara" was Kej's collaboration with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman.

The 33-year-old musician won 'Album of the year' and 'Best World Album' at the prestigious ZMR Awards held early this month, his media manager, Varsha Kej, said.

ZMR awards are voted by Radio Broadcasters, Radio Jockeys, Radio Programmers and Music Reviewers from all over the world, she said.

He won the coveted 'producer of the year' award for "Winds of Samsara" across all genres at the SAMA held in April, Varsha said.

He also bagged the 'best contemporary instrumental album' honor.

SAMAs is one of the most esteemed music awards across the world and is the South African equivalent of the Grammys, Varsha said.

The artiste is also nominated for the Independent Music Award (USA) that is to be announced shortly.-PTI

Traveling with your dog can be costly LOS ANGELES: Having an 80pound Labradoodle as a travel buddy means B.L. Ochman can quickly separate the hotels that love dogs from those that just put up with them.

A bed-and-breakfast she visited north of New York City wouldn't let her pooch Benny trot around in the main house, among other troubles. Ochman, a Manhattan Internet strategist, has since discovered Audrey's Farmhouse, a B&B in Wallkill, New York, that caters to dogs and doesn't charge pet fees that can top hundreds of dollars. ``Dog-friendly means your dog is welcome,'' she said. ``If the dog is welcome, he shouldn't cost extra money. Of course, I am a dog owner, not an innkeeper.''

Hotels ranging from major chains to small outposts are capitalizing on the wave of travelers

who bring along their dogs, some by charging for perks that pamper pets and others by expanding fees. What started as a basic, one-time pet fee has blossomed into a per-night charge at many places and costs that can total hundreds.

Some properties offer amenities from patches of grass to chew toys, designer bowls and in-room massages _ usually for an additional price _ while others simply levy cleaning fees, whether your dog makes a mess or not. Those hotels often don't offer extras or permission for pooches over a certain weight, locking out larger pets like Ochman's. ``There is a huge difference between pet-tolerant and pet-welcoming,'' said Carol Bryant, a pet industry public relations strategist from Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.-PTI

Philosophy

June 5, 2015

India Post 53

www.indiapost.com

Page Sponsored by Sahanis SAINT KABIR

A

ttach yourself to that Master who will free you from duality, and take you to the Supreme Lord.

Make no mistake, the Supreme Lord did not come as an avatar in Dashrath's clan; He did not harass the king of Lanka; He did not enter the womb of Devaki; Yashoda did not fondle him in her lap.

He did not live on earth to destroy or pacify it; He did not enter the nether world, to deceive Bali.

He did not strike King Bali; He did not strike down and kill Hirnakusa. He did not as an Avatar in the form of a boar slay the Kshatriyas to rid the world of them.

He did not hold aloft the Govardhan hill; He did not roam in the woods in the company of milk-maids. He is not Gandak, Saligram, nor is He a stone.

He did not swim in the river as an avatar in fish and tortoise forms.

He did not die in Dwarvati, nor was he buried in Jaggannath.

Kabir loudly proclaims, be not misled from the path that leads to God. The Lord about whom you form your fancies, but whom you have never seen, is neither of astral nor of material form. He is pure spirit, all love.

The seeker of the Lord Cut off thy head (the ego) from thy mere human body, and hurl it STEVE TAYLOR

I

n 1978, an Australian named Paul Narada Alister was wrongly convicted of a terrorist attack and spent 7 years in prison before being pardoned. In his book Bombs, Bliss and Baba, he describes his shock at finding how terrible life was for his fellow prisoners.

Alone in their cells for several hours a day, the isolation made them aloof and mistrustful, causing depression and suicidal tendencies. It also created a desperate need for distraction, leading to drug abuse, casual sex, and gang activity.

At first, Paul Narada Alister found the silence and solitude difficult to deal with too, but after a while he began to find it a blessing. He used the time to reflect, contemplate and to meditate for long periods, and started to experience a new sense of well-being and aliveness.

He developed what he describes as 'a deep sense of freedom and positivity,' and found that he was able to function much better in his work at the prison and in his relationships with the other prisoners.

For these reasons he feels that he gained lasting benefits from

down like a stone. Rare is the hero with the courage to do this, but that is the rule of the game for going home There are many who wish to enter the battlefield, and many carry arms and put on airs. But few, indeed, stand fast and then fight the good fight, in the presence of the Lord O Kabir, destroy all the five passions, for by killing them thou wilt obtain real peace. All will applaud thee and none will call thee murderer.

O Kabir, he only is a hero who

these five, can never have the inner company of his Master.

The Master Know ye, O seekers, one are both the Lord and perfect Master: All else is outward forms, creations of illusion. Give up the ego, worship the Master with your heart, and meet the Lord. A simple task it is, or so it seems.

Quite blind are those who see the perfect Master as only an earthly being like unto ourselves.

Their fate is to be drowned in hapless sorrow, and to be captured in

The Master is the washerman, his devotee the cloth; the Word is the strong soap that cleans the mind. If the mind and soul are made clean by the Word, the cloth will shine with luster indescribable.

The Master is the potter, and his devotee the clay. He kneads the clay, removing its impurities.

Then shapes the pot, supporting it within, with his own hands, unfailing, strong; beating the clay from outside alone.

Should the Lord and perfect Master both appear together, at whose feet should I then pros-

Supreme Lord was never this or that Avatar O Kabir, he only is a hero who battles bravely against his own mind. Holds down firmly the five perverse senses, and thus removes the source of all his troubles.

Saint Kabir

FROM KABBALAH The cause of all conflicts is human nature: egoism, the desire to fulfill ourselves at the expense of others.

Don't take the burden of the world's problems upon yourself. Don't ignore

battles bravely against his own mind. Holds down firmly the five perverse senses, and thus removes the source of all his troubles.

O Kabir, he only is a hero who holds all of five strong worldly passions within the hollow of his hand. He who cannot command

the net of Kal. The Lord is manifested in the Master. How else, pray can you worship him? Bend low thy stiff neck at his holy feet, become his slave, and not that of the mind, and every moment contemplate his form. Be merged in the eternal Sound and meet the Lord.

trate myself? It would be my Master's feet, of that be sure. For he it was who showed the invisible Lord to me.

Excerpted from Kabir the Great Mystic by Isaac A. Ezekiel.

The 575th birth anniversary of Saint Kabir was observed on June 2.

his years in prison. As he writes, "I no longer avoid solitude or isolation. If anything I look forward to [them] as a time to experience that inner silence which can give me so much blissâ&#x20AC;ŚI find silence is golden when experienced as a way to get in touch with my spiritual self."

British novelist Sara Maitland had a similar experience when she spent six weeks in silence and soli-

she describes as "a connection as though my skin had been blown offâ&#x20AC;ŚI felt absolutely connected to everything." And these experiences were underpinned by a growing sense of well-being: "Moments of intense happiness, followed by a powerful conviction that the moment was somehow a pure gift."

Many of us treat quietness and solitude as enemies, to be

plunge yourself back into activity, you'll soon begin to adjust to solitude and silence. You might soon reach a point where you begin to experience their healing effect.

Your agitated mind will start to calm. Your thoughts will start to slow down, and you'll feel a sense of re-attuning to yourself, as if you're regaining an authentic sense of identity. You might find

them either. As Rabbi Tar'fon (first century) put it: 'The work is not upon you to complete, but neither are you exempt from trying.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Truth undermines the self to which we so desperately cling. The truth is not hidden from us, we are hiding from it.

The higher force doesn't listen to words, but only

Inner silence & solitude gave him so much bliss

responds to what is in our heart.

Love is when you don't

"By the end of the second week I was feeling

pay any attention to your-

everything with an extraordinary degree of in-

self, you take the desires

tensity." And later she began to experience a

of another person and try

strong sense of oneness with her surroundings Steve Taylor

to fulfill them in exactly the way they would like

tude in a remote cottage on the Isle of Skye. The first thing she was aware of was a heightening of perception. As she describes it, "By the end of the second week I was feeling everything with an extraordinary degree of intensity." And later she began to experience a strong sense of oneness with her surroundings, what

avoided at all costs. They often make us feel uneasy, generate feelings of boredom, anxiety and even depression. They seem to expose us to a discord inside our own minds. They oblige us to spend time alone with our own thoughts, whose randomness and negativity disturb us.

If you can resist the urge to

yourself beginning to appreciate beauty again, to stop and stare at landscapes or trees or flowers.

You might feel a sense of connection - to your own self, and to the world as a whole.

Steve Taylor, Ph.D. is a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK. He is the author of Back to Sanity.

Until we correct ourselves, change our nature from egoistic to altruistic, there will be hunger, disease and inequality in the world

sure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

54

Edit Page

India Post

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

India, China need to undertake more dialogues, interactions SIWEI LIU

I

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his first visit to China since assuming office, from 14-16 May. The visit has a great significance for present-day Sino-India relations, and also has a high importance for the geostrategic dynamics of the Asia Pacific region. Both China and India should seize the opportunity to build closer bilateral ties and work together for the stability and prosperity of the Asia Pacific.

Modi's three-day China trip created a positive and friendly atmosphere for Sino-India bilateral relations. Modi received a warm welcome form the Chinese government and people.

It is worth mentioning that Modi had visited China twice before he took office and so he has some previous personal experience of interacting with Chinese people. For example, Modi opened

not only visited the Da Ci'en Temple and the Wild Goose Pagoda - built in commemoration of the Buddhist monk, Xuan Zang, and his efforts to popularize Buddhism in China - but also visited the famous Terracotta Warriors and Daxingshan Temple. In Beijing and Shanghai too, there were many cultural and educational exchange activities in Modi's itinerary.

They included attending the Yoga-Taichi demonstration event; addressing students at Tsinghua University; and participating in the opening ceremony of the Center for Gandhian and Indian Studies at Fudan University.

Doubtlessly, Modi's attendances in these activities were welcomed in China. The Chinese media and the Chinese people were positive in their views of Modi's visit.

Modi's China visit has had fruit-

Perhaps, national interests, competitions and trust deficit between New Delhi and Beijing cannot be resolved overnight; but given that India and China have common interests in various fields, there are possibilities for more cooperation between the two his Sina Weibo, the popular Chinese microblog, saying "Hello China!" ahead of his visit. He successfully used social media to narrow the distance between him and Chinese people.

Modi's first stop in China was Xi'an, a famous historic and cultural city in the country's Shaanxi Province. Xi'an is the incumbent Chinese President Xi Jinping's hometown. There is no denying that Modi's Xi'an trip easily echoes Xi's September 2014 India trip in which the latter traveled to Modi's home state Gujarat before flying to the capital, New Delhi.

Previously, President Xi had never welcomed a foreign leader in Xi'an. The extraordinary arrangement demonstrated that the two leaders want to strengthen their personal relations in the future.

It is worth mentioning that as an ancient Chinese capital, Xi'an has an important link for cultural and economic interactions between China and India. So choosing Xi' an as Modi's first stop in China also demonstrated the two sides purposely emphasize their cultural exchange and economic cooperation.

Modi's cultural diplomacy was indeed impressive. In Xi'an, Modi

ful results. Twenty-four agreements were signed during the visit.

Both sides emphasized their cooperation in various fields, ranging from cultural and educational exchange to trade and investment.

Additionally, Indian and Chinese companies inked 21 agreements worth $22 billion during the IndiaChina Business Forum in Shanghai.

Both sides also agreed to boost increased cooperation between Chinese provinces and Indian state governments and inked agreements towards the establishment of sister-state/province partnership between Karnataka and Sichuan, and sister-city relationships between AurangabadDunhuang, Chennai-Chongqing and Hyderabad-Qingdao.

Predictably, these agreements will help deepening the bilateral and will benefit local communities as well.

Additionally, Modi announced a new electronic visa scheme for Chinese nationals in his speech at Tsinghua University. Obviously, China appreciated Modi's decision, though the e-visa decision had not figured in the aforementioned 24 agreements. If Modi's promise is kept, it will help enhance people-to-people ties.

Admittedly, Modi's visit has begun a new era in bilateral relations, but the fact that the two sides have different interests and trust deficits on some issues could not be ignored. In recent years, the increasing geopolitical competition between the two nations is apparent.

India has concerns over China's growing influence in South Asia and the India Ocean and the Chinese strategic community is concerned about India's closer defense relations with US and Japan.

Even in economic relations, the two nations have to deal with various challenges such as the potential energy competition and trade deficit. In addition, although the two sides have underlined enhancing border defense cooperation during this visit, their differences on border issues are still big.

Perhaps, national interests, competitions and trust deficit between New Delhi and Beijing cannot be resolved overnight; but given that India and China have common interests in various fields, there are possibilities for more cooperation between the two. In fact, many Asian experts and business leaders in both countries are positive in their views of a deeper cooperation between the two countries.

Modi's visit has come at a very critical time, one that coincides with the rise of the two Asian giants - China and India - in a changing Asia-Pacific architecture. The visit has provided a good and positive platform for the two sides to promote the cooperation relations.

Both sides should recognize that pursuing a win-win approach to intensify cooperation is not only beneficial for the two countries, but also can contribute to regional stability, development and prosperity. If possible, the two sides should discuss more practical ways to deepen cooperation and perfect related-regime construction.

For example, given that the two sides are likely to link the Chinese 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative with India's Project Mausam and the Spice Route Project together, they need to undertake more dialogues and interactions both through Track-I and Track-II channels and let the other side know more details about projects.

The writer is Assistant Researcher, Institute of South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, China

India Post Rahul philosophy

T

here is a gulf between public perception and media perception -particularly English media - in the assessment of Modi's one year in office. While all the opinion polls have spoken of overwhelming support for and confidence in Modi, a vocal minority represented in the intelligentsia and the media makes it sound as if the Modi government is dysfunctional and the Prime Minister is unconcerned.

The sudden emergence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi from hibernation to saber-rattling gives no evidence of maturity. He seems to be in the business of re-making his own image, alone, and is not concerned about his party. His exercises of visiting different flash points are turning out to be mere photo ops and do not seem to have enthused his partymen to return to groundwork. But the English media thinks he is here to stand up to Modi.

Modi is being judged by the high expectations he had raised.

There is need to note the various initiatives he has taken and foundations of new policies laid which will take time to fructify. There is also the onerous task of undoing the defeatist mentality of the previous UPA government in which the prime minister was a 'yes man' of 10 Janpath. Even when he proposed something, it was the madam who had the last word. Today when Rahul Gandhi screams about the poor not being taken care of; where was he when his own mother's government was running the country? Why after 10 years of her rule the so-called pro-poor UPA could make no dent on poverty? When he alleges that poverty is continuing, he is giving a judgment on his own government of which he was an extra-constitutional authority.

When he proclaims that the NDA's land acquisition bill is antifarmer, he should remember that under the UPA drafted law, development had come to a standstill because the provisions in the bill were unworkable. Indeed, as pointed out repeatedly by BJP leaders, it was the Congress chief ministers who were pressing the Center to change this anti-development law.

When the English media talks about the land bill, it should ask Rahul Gandhi whether he has read either his own party's bill or the present NDA bill. He is merely intent on scoring propaganda points.

Some of his barbs have hit home and the Prime Minister has found it necessary to respond as follows: "If opponents are accusing us of being pro-corporate, but the corporates are saying we are not doing enough for them, then I take it that our decisions and initiatives are pro-people and in the long-term interests of the nation."

Indian Express columnist Tavleen Singh thinks this was a bad answer. "It is 'pro-people' to strengthen the hands of Indian corporations because they create wealth and jobs," she has stressed.

Rahul Gandhi is merely repeating the philosophy which has failed to deliver in the last 60 or so years. If the people wanted the same philosophy to continue they would have voted the Congress back to power. The mandate of Narendra Modi has been to change all that. Business and profit are no longer dirty words. In fact the youth are being encouraged to take to business. Skill development in rural areas is being given top priority. Would the young people go back to the MGNREGA where they have to just dig and then fill up to earn day's wages? Would they not prefer to acquire a skill and earn their livelihood with dignity and honor?

The Congress has in fact no sympathy for the poor. It has contempt for them. It wants them to continue living on dole and remain poor for ever and be grateful to it. But the people can no longer be fooled. Modi has given them their own bank accounts, health insurance and life insurance facilities and offered them jobs in factories which will come up if they sell their unproductive land.

June 5, 2015

www.indiapost.com

India Post 55

56 India Post

www.indiapost.com

June 5, 2015