Adc 30 dec 2013 by Afternoon Despatch & Courier

Regd. No. MH/MR/South-160/2012-14 RNI Regn. No. 43675/1985 MUMBAI MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013 32 PAGES `3 Website: www.afternoondc.in

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GARDEN GRAB THWARTED By Philip Varghese

ADC, in its report on December 27, 2013 had highlighted wo days after the ADC that the residents of Colaba, reported how more than under the banner of ‘My 3,000 children of five Dream Colaba,’ a citizen’s iniColaba schools would be de- tiative, had written to the prived of their playground in BMC Commissioner Sitaram Colaba’s Back Garden, Yuva Kunte to immediately stop

Name, the Colaba Municipal School, and many residents of Colaba. According to Cynthia D’Mello and Manjeet Kriplani of ‘My Dream Colaba, construction was to begin of a municipal swimming pool, named after Sabina Chandra Shekhar, the late sister of former Mumbai Corporator, Vinod Shekhar, and daughter of Congress MLA Annie Shekhar. “It was a proposal made in 2004 by Vinod Shekhar, then a Colaba Ward 225 corporator. He has already named the ground after his deceased sister - who has had no participation in Mumbai life, nor made any impact Sena chief Aditya Thackeray the construction of a swim- or contribution to the city or has asked the Mumbai Mayor ming pool in the Wellington to Colaba,” she said. Sunil Prabhu to cancel any Garden in Colaba. Also known Yuva Sena chief Aditya approvals given for the con- as the ‘Back Garden,’ the Thackeray on Sunday posted struction of a swimming pool space was being used by stu- a message on his Facebook on the garden site. dents of Campion, St. Annes, profile based on this report, It will be recalled that the St. Josephs, Scholar, Holy saying “Visited the ‘Back Gar-

den’ playground behind Campion school... The ground has been much in discussion in the local area because the congress ex corporator Vinod Shekhar had planned to make a swimming pool at the playground.

Gold: `29,340 Silver: `45,154 US Dollar: `61.92 Temperature: 280C/190C Humidity: 51%

Business&Investment Pg13-20 ADITYA THACKERAY INTERVENES, ASKS MAYOR TO CANCEL ANY APPROVALS GIVEN TO THE SWIMMING POOL AT COLABA BACK GARDEN

The locals and the schools opposed it as the playground is a beautiful ground for sports like football, basketball and ground sports, and the swimming pool would render it unusable. After hearing out the local resi-

dents, reading the newspaper report and speaking to Makrand Narvekar (corporator from neighbouring ward), I spoke to the Mayor of Mumbai and asked him to Continued on pg 6 «

ADC IMPACT

Teachers get New Year gift! ADC report spurs government to act. Education department gives ‘salary’ approval to permanent ‘non-grants’ school teachers

ADC IMPACT

MUMBHAI Vikas Sabnis

By Yatin Ingle

His defection to the AAP is just a rumour! Go nearer, and read the matter on his cap carefully ‘Soniaji’s loyal follower’!!

f 2013 has been a year of protests and strikes for the teaching community, it is ending on a good note as the state government has finally given them a New Year’s gift. It may be recalled that teachers from permanent non-grants schools had been protesting against the government, seeking recognition as government teachers and the corresponding recommended salary grants. The Department of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has now declared that teachers from permanent nongrants institutions and also staffers will be getting their salaries according to their specific entitlements from

the pay commissions. In 2001, the state government had implemented the permanent non-grants commission, under which schools were not to be provided any further amount of grants from its coffers. Due to this, teachers were not entitled to better salaries under the Fifth or Sixth Pay Commissions. ADC had reported in its issue of November 12, that the implementation of the non-grants scheme had even led to non-payment of salaries for thirteen years in some cases. Teachers thus affected had to take up jobs as waiters, gardeners and rickshaw drivers to supplement income or earn a livelihood. Continued on pg 6 «

Fogging Treatment for Mosquito

(Rs. 599/-* onwards for Housing Society)

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2013 REVISITED

BECAUSE A PICTURE SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS There were too many happenings and events that affected the lives of Mumbaikars in some way or another. That said, we let our ace cameramen Vishwanath Salian, Azad Shrivastav and Sushil Kadam bring in what they felt were landmark moments and opportunities of the year.

FAITH KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES: In a show of secular brotherhood and religious harmony, members of the Muslim community come together annually at Worli to set up the idol of Ganpati for the Ganeshotsav festivities.

STRAIGHT FROM THE FIELD: Sachin’s famed fan Sudhir pictured here at the Wankhede Stadium as he joins the celebrations for Sachin’s final test match.

SEEING IS BELIEVING: Children at the Kamla Mehta Blind School in Dadar (East) dressed up to celebrate Ashadhi Ekadashi with pomp and circumstance.

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER: Devotees offer prayers during Pitru Paksha a Hindu tradition during which time prayers are offered as homage to one’s ancestors.

DEATH CANNOT KILL: Activists against superstition remained undeterred by the murder of crusader Dr. Narendra Dabholkar.

ALMS FOR THE SHIP: Political parties scrambled for eyeballs when the state got set to scrap legendary aircraft carrier IMS Vikrant.

NEVER AGAIN: 103 people walked on MARRIAGE OF ASSES: Keeping with their traditions and the belief that such a broken glass pieces at Carter Road, marriage ushers in rainfall, villagers from a drought stricken village came together to Bandra, to protest violence against women. wed a pair of donkeys.

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

IN PICTURES

BALANCING ACT: A little girl walks bravely across an open gutter in Kurla, making her way across by carefully stepping on the rocks below.

MARCH OR DANCE: With a dance like cadence Navy personnel perform a march as part of Navy Day celebrations.

DYNAMIC DVD: That necessity is the mother of all invention is self evident; all you need do is watch these ingenious kids at Dadar who have hooked a car battery to a VCD/DVD player and are enjoying a nice movie.

LEFT IS RIGHT: Third Front protestors were arrested for speaking out against price rise and other social issues at Parel.

JUSTICE FOR ALL: Photojournalists from across the city came together at Azad Maidan to protest the gang rape of the intern journalist inside the Shakti Mills Compound. They carried placards with them condemning the rapists and demanding justice.

DRENCHED: A man sits inside his home, flooded with rainwater, at BDD Chawl on Delisle Road as he watches a news report on the heavy rainfall that besieged the city this year. This picture won the Mumbai Press Club Award.

CLASSIFIEDS

THANKSGIVING

Thank You Lord for Healing my Amma. From Natasha, Siddharth. Please Shower Your Blessings Always on us & my Family. C-28470

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

I have changed my name from Chandrakant Himantlal Khetani to Chandrakant Himantlal Shah as per Affidavit dated: 27th Dec. 2013. C-28481

Thank you St. Jude for the favour granted. O holy St Jude Apostle & Martyr great in virtue & rich in miracles near kinsman of Jesus Christ faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart & humbly beg to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance help me in my present urgent petition in return I promise to make your name known & cause you to be invoked. Say our father three Hail Mary & three glory be's St Jude pray for us & all who invoke your aid AMEN. Sonal Patel C-24798 Thank you Holy Spirit & St Jude's In Granting my Prayers, Please Shower your blessing on Me Forever. (MAG) C-28469

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

I have changed my name from Girija Singh Gillow Singh, to ‘Giriraj Singh Gillo Singh Rathod’ as per Maharashtra Govt. Gazette No. (U-52242) Dated: 12/12/2013. C-28482 I have changed my name from Mukarram Shahid Sayyed, to ‘Mohammad Mukarram Shahid Sayyed’ as per Maharashtra Govt. Gazette No. (U- 53835) Dated: 19/12/2013. C-28483 I have changed my name from Sangeeta Hasrajani, to ‘Simran Raja Chhabria’ as per Affidavit Dated: 30/12/2013. C-28484

CHANGE OF NAME I have changed my name from Jayeshkumar Hasmukhlal Choksi to Jayesh Hasmukhlal Choksi as per Affidavit dated 26th December, 2013. C-28368

Thank you Holy Spirit & St Jude's In Granting my Prayers, Please Shower your blessing on Me Forever. (MAG). C-28471

I have changed my name from Ashok C. Soningra, Ashok Kumar Champalalji Jain to Ashok Champalal Jain. C-28472

PUBLIC NOTICE

I have changed my name from Ajitkumar Ramchandra Pandit to Ajit Ramchandra Pandit as per Affidavit dated 27-12-2013. C-28473 I have changed my name from Chakna Pidiyal Jubeda to Chakna Pidiyal Zubeda as per deed poll Affidavit AZ-709320 dated 28/12/2013. C-28474 I have changed my name from Mujawar Amrinbano Malik to Aamrin Malik Mujawar as per Affidavit dated: 24.12.2013. C-28475 We Mr. Ravindra Chaturvedi & Mrs.Poonam Chaturvedi have changed our minor daughter's name from Rashmi Ravindra Chaturvedi to Rashmika Ravindra Chaturvedi as per Affidavit. C-28476 I Priyanka Manu Gulabani have changed my name to Khushi Pawankumar Bhatia vide Affidavit dated 26.12.2013. C-28477 I Nutan Yeshwant Nadkarni have changed my name to Mrs. Pooja Pankaj Gawankar vide Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28478 I have changed my name from Mahesh Damodar Gagada to Mahesh Damodar Soni as per Affidavit No. K E 458727. C-28479 I have changed my name from Nutanben Rasiklal Morakhia to Nutan Chandrakant Shah as per Affidavit dated: 27th Dec. 2013. C-28480

I have changed my name from Dollar Ramnik Rathod, to ‘Dolly Ajay Vedantam’ as per Maharashtra Govt. Gazette No. (U- 48224) Dated: 21/11/2013. C-28485 I have changed my name from Shaikh Tejammul Hasan, to ‘Shaikh Tajammul Hasan’ as per Affidavit Dated: 28/12/2013. C-28486 I have changed my name from Salim Allahbakash Shaikh, to ‘Shaikh Saleem Allabaksh’ as per Affidavit Dated: 28/12/2013. C-28487 I have changed my name from Jehara, to ‘Jehara Pinara’ as per Affidavit Dated: 28/12/2013. C-28488 I have changed my name from Mohamad Hanif Babubhai Chokiya, to ‘Mr Hanif Babubhai Chokiya’ as per Affidavit Dated: 28/12/2013. C-28489 I have changed my name from Mr Milankumar Vasantbhai Patel, to ‘Mr Milan Vasantbhai Patel’ as per Affidavit Dated: 28/12/2013. C-28490 I have changed my name from Hemaxiben Naginbhai Patel, to ‘Mrs Hemaxi Milan Patel’ as per Affidavit Dated: 28/12/2013. C-28491 I have changed my name from Jyoti Bholanath Pangerkar, to ‘Mrs Harshala Harishchandra Yelonde’ as per Affidavit Dated: 28/12/2013. C-28492 I have changed my name from Zohrabibi Gulam Rasool to Zohrabibi Gulam Rasool Khan as per Affidavit Dt: 30/12/2013. C-28493 I (father) Neeraj Ramavtar Singh Shekhawat have changed my minor son's name from Shubham Neeraj Singh Shekhawat to Devendra Singh Neeraj Singh Shekhawat as per deedpoll Affidavit dated 26th Dec 2013. C-28494

I have changed my name from Jyotibala Vrajlal Mehta to Jyoti Rohit Kamdar as per Affidavit dated 21st Nov 2013. C-28495 I have changed my name from Nidhi Sanjay Gupta to Nidhi Atul Choudhary as per Maha. Govt. Gazette No.(U-49430). C-28496 I have changed my name from “Mohamed Arshad Yusuf Shaikh” to “Arshad Yusuf Shaikh” as per Affidavit dated 26th December, 2013. C-28497 I have changed my name from “Sanjay Bavchandbhai” to “Sanjay Bavchandbhai Kathiriya” as per Affidavit dated 26th December, 2013. C-28498

I Ms. Daxaben Pradyuman Choxshi have changed my name to Mrs. Daxa Virendra Soni as per deedpoll Affidavit dated: 28/12/13. C-28509 I Hari Vasudevan have changed my name to Hari Vasudevan Panicker as per deedpoll Affidavit. C-28510 I Bhavana Jeetendra Kataria have changed my name to Bhavna Jitendra Kataria as per deedpoll Affidavit dated: 28/12/13. C-28511 I Ravi Anand Dhete have changed my name to Abhishwet Anand Dhete as per deedpoll Affidavit. C-28512

I have changed my name from “Bavchandbhai Savjibhai” to “Bavchandbhai Savjibhai Kathiriya” as per Affidavit dated 26th December, 2013. C-28499

I Ashwini Kumar Sadashiv Mane have changed my name to Ashvin Sadashiv Mane as per deedpoll Affidavit. C-28513

I have changed my name from “Bhanuben Bavchandbhai ” to “Bhanuben Bavchandbhai Kathiriya” as per Affidavit dated 26th December, 2013. C-28500

I Hiralal Shriram Sharma have changed my name to Hira Shriram Sharma as per deedpoll Affidavit. C-28514

I have changed my name from “Bhavnaben Bavchandbhai Kathiriya” to “Bhanuben Bavchandbhai Kathiriya” as per Affidavit dated 26th December, 2013. C-28501 I have changed my name from “Asha Narinder Madam” to “Asha Narinder Madan” as per Affidavit dated 28th December, 2013. C-28502 We Mr. Gollapudi Srinivas Vaman & Mrs. Gollapudi Jaya Vaman have changed name of our minor son from Gollapudi Anirudh Sarma to Gollapudi Anirudh as per Affidavit dated 28th December ,2013. C-28503 I have changed my name from “Punit Bipinbhai Pandya” to “ Tejas Beepin Pandyaa ” as per Affidavit dated 28th December, 2013. C-28504 I have changed my name from “Jayprakash Vishwakarma” to Jaiprakash Vishwakarma as per Affidavit dated 23rd December, 2013. C-28505 I Haresh Ramniklal Thakkar have changed my name to Harish Ramniklal Thakkar as per deedpoll Affidavit dated: 28/12/13. C-28506 I Dhirajlal Lalji Dobariya have changed my name to Dhirubhai Laljibhai Dobariya as per deedpoll Affidavit dated: 28/12/13. C-28507 I Geetaben Dhirajlal Dobariya have changed my name to Godavari Dhirubhai Dobariya as per deedpoll Affidavit dated: 26/12/13. C-28508

I Sunita Pavan Surekha have changed my name to Sunita Pavan Sureka as per deedpoll Affidavit. C-28515 I Pavan Vishwanath Surekha @ Pawan Sureka have changed my name to Pavan Sureka as per deedpoll Affidavit. C-28516 I have changed my name from Mohammed Gani Shaikh to Gani Mohammed Shaikh as per Affidavit. C-28517 I have changed my name from Ludy Kisan Patil to Ludas Kisan Patil as per Affidavit. C-28518 I have changed my name from Loudina Kisan Patil to Ludas Kisan Patil as per Affidavit. C-28519 I, Sanjay Jayjayram Kapdi have changed my son's name from Harsh Sanjaybhai to Harsh Sanjay Kapdi as per Affidavit. C-28520 I have changed my name from Sanjaybhai Jayjayrambhai to Sanjay Jayjayram Kapdi as per Affidavit. C-28521 I have changed my name from Hetalben Sanjaybhai to Hetal Sanjay Kapdi as per Affidavit. C-28522 I have changed my name from Sanjaybhai Jayjayrambhai Kapdi to Sanjay Jayjayram Kapdi as per Affidavit. C-28523 I have changed my name from Hetalben Sanjaybhai Kapdi to Hetal Sanjay Kapdi as per Affidavit. C-28524

I have changed my name from Shazia Aftab to Shazia Aftab Humji as per Affidavit Dt. 2812-2013. C-28525 I have changed my name from Aftab Shabuddin to Aftab Shabuddin Humji as per Affidavit Dt. 28-12-2013. C-28526 We, Mr. Aftab Shabuddin Humji & Mrs. Shazia Aftab Humji have changed our son name Mohamed Faraz to Mohamed Faraz Humji, as per Affidavit Dt. 28-12-2013. C-28527 I have changed my name from Mrs. Shavana Riyaz Ahmed Sunasra to Mrs. Shavana Riyaz Ahmed Sunesara as per deed poll Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28528 I have changed my name from Mr. Riyaz Ahmed Abdullah Sunasra to Mr. Riyaz Ahmed Abdullah Sunesara as per deed poll Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28529 I have changed my name from Mr. Kaminali Miyaji Sunesara to Mr. Kamin Miyaji Sunesara as per Maha. Govt. Gt-U49321 dated Nov 28-Dec 4, 2013. C-28530 I have changed my name from Nasim Ahmad Shabbir Ahmad Ansar to Nasim Ahmad Shabbir Ahmad Ansari as per Affidavit. C-28531 I have changed my name from Viekram Poonamchand Shah to Vikram Poonamchand Shah as per Affidavit. C-28532 I have changed my name from Nizam Hussain Yusuf to Nijam Fakir Shaikh as per Affidavit. C-28533 I have changed my name from Parina Pankaj Nagpal to Parina Parimal Joshi as per Affidavit. C-28534 I have changed my name from Mr. Mehraj Shaikh to Mr. Mehrajuddin Shaikh as per Affidavit. C-28535 I have changed my name from Mr. Chamadiya Mohmed Nadeem Usman to Mr. Nadeem Usman Chamadia as per Affidavit. C-28536 I have changed my name from Mr. Chandraprakash Shrimanth Rajeshri to Mr. Chandraprakash Shrimanth Rajshri as per Affidavit. C-28537 I have changed my name from Mr. Mohd Israr Mohabbat Ali to Mr. Mohammed Israr Mohabbat Ali Shah as per Affidavit. C-28538 I have changed my name from Sayed Maheboob Sayed Babar to Babar Mehboob Sayed as per Affidavit. C-28539

contd. on p. 6

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05 CITY RURAL CONNECTIVITY GETS A BOOST Centre allocates Rs.490 crore for rural roads in Maharashtra

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Winds of change SIMHASAN

Prashant Hamine | ADC

OR a party that cloned itself on the Shiv Sena and even borrowed its one time USP, the pro-Marathi rhetoric, fine tuning it to antiNorth Indian stance, the changed direction of the political winds has forced MNS chief Raj Thackeray to mend fences with the community he once despised politically. The new equations in Delhi and the underlying pent up anger of the electorate against corruption, nepotism and inflation, has forced every other party across the political spectrum to make course corrections as there are barely few months left for the Lok Sabha elections, and a few more for the Assembly elections following later. The electoral demographics of Maharashtra have changed drastically. It needs no saying that it is one of the most urbanized states with an equally young voter population. Besides this, it is the most preferred destination when it comes to inter-state migration, which again means a young aspirational workforce. Caste and religious lines do not matter in such equations when the electorate is beset with the same set of problems. The electoral factors of Delhi are very much present in Mumbai and Maharashtra. What all these factors can do to a political party’s electoral fortunes when they form a potently deadly electoral cocktail has just been witnessed in the assembly elections. MNS chief Raj Thackeray tried using the sons-of-thesoil game-plan which was once the USP of the Shiv Sena, but with limited success. PostDelhi assembly election results, he seems to have read the writing on the political wall just like Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. By mending fences with Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan at his own party’s cinema workers’ outfit, he has tried to woo the community albeit much later in the day. But that has sent confusing signals to down-the-line party cadres who would suddenly be required to do course correction. The ideological lines of differences apparently seem to have blurred, leaving the MNS looking more like a distant cousin of the Sena. The splintered political scenario in Maharashtra and the near identical settings to Delhi, are almost perfect grounds for the fledgling Aam

Aadmi Party (AAP) to step in. But there is a difference between Delhi and Maharashtra. In Delhi, it was more of a triangular contest. But here in Maharashtra there are more players in the field, each staking claim to the pie and

the Congress sent him to the state with the onerous task of cleaning up the stables of Adarsh and Irrigation scams, putting the NCP in its place and delivering the state in the 2014 elections. To his credit, the Congress, over the years despite the political storm over the scams, has managed to retain its hold in the local self government bodies. Beyond constantly snipping at his heels, the NCP has not been able to do much except occasionally sounding critical of its own alliance government’s decisions. With dwindling electoral success in civic polls, the NCP too is staring up into the barrel. As for the opposition, the BJP seems to have handed over its electoral fate into the hands of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and gone to sleep in the dream that they will piggyback ride

MNS chief Raj Thackeray with megastar Amitabh Bachchan. to power on the Modi wave. Even as the elections are drawing closer, there is hardly any political activity in the BJP camp, with most of the top leaders engaged in promoting their own selves rather than the party. Somewhat similar situation prevails in the Sena. And as for the MNS, it is even worse. The party solely relies on Raj Thackeray and only wakes up when there are elections round the corner. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi apparently seems to have solved the puzzle for Chavan in terms of THAT was how Chief Minister Adarsh. No longer has he got Prithviraj Chavan was per- to worry about defending his ceived to be until the ghost of own partymen. Not only do the Adarsh Commission of In- the findings of the report efquiry report refused to be sup- fectively put an end to the pressed. Ever since he took challenge from within his own over the reins from Ashok party, it also presents unto Chavan, he has been cau- him a perfect tool to hit back tiously trying to side-step the at the NCP, BJP and Shiv Sena, political minefield laid out be- who find some of their own fore him. He was even labeled leaders embroiled in the Adarsh scam. None of these parties is in a position to derive political mileage out of the issue. To his credit, Chavan has timed the inauguration of some of the big ticket infrastructure projects like Metro and Mono Rail, removing the roadblocks in Jaitapur Nuclear Project and almost clearing the Navi Mumbai airport project. With the opposition in disarray and unable to exploit the situation, the only seCM Prithviraj Chavan rious challenge that Chavan can face is from the AAP and as one of the slowest decision Modi. If again, the multi-cormaking chief ministers the nered fight is reduced to a tristate could have had in its five angular contest like in Delhi, decades of history. Using his the results of 2014 will be inMr. Clean and erudite image, teresting to watch out for.

backed by fiercely loyal vote banks. Moreover, both the Congress and the NCP have a strong base at the local self government level and derive their political power from a well-knit cooperative sector in rural Maharashtra. Even AAP’s Mayank Gandhi admits that their task is cut out for them at least in Maharashtra. Whether the AAP is able to repeat its Delhi performance here will only be known next year.

Adarsh CM

By Prashant Hamine

he Centre has sanctioned Rs 489.59 crores to Maharashtra for improving the rural road network under the Prime Ministers Gram Sadak Yojana – II (PMGSY-II). The Empowered Committee of the government which met over the weekend approved the state government’s proposal for building 829 km length of rural roads during the year. In all 22 districts in the state are set to benefit from the partly Centrallyfunded scheme. Out of the 22 districts in the state, Solapur (126 km) Pune (88 km), Latur (71 km) and Osmanabad (53.35 km) are the largest beneficiaries

of the Central allocation. Among the other districts are – Beed, Parbhani, Latur, Akola, Amravati, Washim, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur. A decision to this effect was communicated by Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan recently. Besides this, at the January 7 meeting of the Empowered Committee, the proposal for 227 roads having a road length of 1,550 km will be taken up for consideration and approval. Initially, the state received little Central assistance under the PMGSY as compared to other states under the plea

that the state road connectivity was much satisfactory. However, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan continued to pursue the need for central funding for rural roads with the Union Ministry for Rural Development. The PMGSY - II scheme has been introduced to enable states to improve upon the already existing rural road connectivity. While the PMGSY is a 100 per cent Centrally funded scheme, the PMGSY-II scheme is on cost sharing basis with the Centre sharing 75 per cent of the cost and the state, 25 per cent. For the special category states the Central funding under PMGSY-II is 90 per cent.

06 CHANGE OF NAME I have changed my name from Chintan Amrutlal Rathod to Chintan Amrut Rathod as per Affidavit. C-28540 I have changed my name from Dharav Sharad Jhaveri to Dharav Sharad Zaveri as per Affidavit. C-28541 I have changed my name from Sharadkumar Ratanchand Zaveri to Sharad Ratanchand Zaveri as per Affidavit. C-28542 I have changed my name from Jayashree Sharad Zaveri to Jayshree Sharad Zaveri as per Affidavit. C-28543 I have changed my name from Shanazbano Kamruddin Seyad to Shanaz Nazim Bhayani as per Affidavit. C-28544 I have changed my name from Louisa Pascoal Rodrigues to Lujan Francis Pereira as per Affidavit. C-28545 I have changed my name from Sureshna Devi to Sureshna Devi Mastram Sharma as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28546 I have changed my name from Mastram to Mastram Phehuram Sharma as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28547 I have changed my name from Abeda Khatoon Rahmatullah to Abeda Shafique Ahmed Ansari as per Affidavit. C-28548

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

CLASSIFIEDS I have changed my name from Noono Jha to Sudhir Shobhakant Jha as per Affidavit. C-28557 I have changed my name from Manohar Laxman Nakhava to Manohar Laxman Nakhawa as per Affidavit. C-28558 I have changed my name from Narendra Kumar to Narendra Kumar Jhawar as per Affidavit. C-28559 I have changed my name from Suryakant Gopiram Dedia to Suryakant Gopiram Dhedia as per Affidavit. C-28560 I have changed my name from Hamid Rafiq Ghazali to Abdul Hamid Rafiq Ghazali as per Affidavit. C-28561 I have changed my name from Estar Kumari Singh to Estar Chandra Harijan as per Affidavit. C-28562 I have changed my name from Amit Kumar Ravikant Nikam to Amit Ravikant Nikam as per Affidavit. C-28563 We, Mohammad Kayoom Khan & Navaisha Khan have changed our daughter's name from Ashna Khatoon Mohammad Kayoom Khan to Ashna Mohammad Kayoom Khan as per Affidavit. C-28564 I have changed my name from Naetsa Hatam Bagasarwala to Nafisa Hatim Bagasrawala as per Affidavit. C-28565

I have changed my name from Suhail Hasan Sayed to Suhel Hussain Sayed as per Affidavit. C-28549

I have changed name from Hatam Bagasarwala to Hatim Abdulhusein Bagasrawala as per Affidavit. C-28566

I have changed my name from Sarvanjan P N. to Sarvatchnan Puthiyavalappil Nalampurath as per Affidavit. C-28550

I have changed my name from Sabiha Yunus Mahesri to Samina Samsuddin Nagdawala as per Affidavit. C-28567

I have changed my name from Diana Zersis Sarkari to Daeena Sarkari as per Maharashtra Gazette No. X-212. C-28551

I have changed my name from Suriya Banoo Mirzasultan Baig to Suraiya Banoo Mirzasultan Baig as per Affidavit. C-28568

I have changed my name from Mahafreen Zersis Sarkari to Mahafreenn Z Sarkari as per Affidavit. C-28552

I have changed my name from Pritam Joseph Barbose to Preetam Joseph Barbose as per Affidavit. C-28569

I have changed my name from Mohd Shoaib Manzoor Ahmed to Shoaib Manzoor Ahmed Idrisi as per Affidavit. C-28553

I have changed my name from Subhash Vishwakarma to Subhashchandra Kalpu Vishwakarma as per Affidavit. C-28570

I have changed my name from Sabiya Yasin Baig to Sabiha Yasin Beig as per Affidavit. C-28554

I have changed my name from Pradeepkumar to Pradeep Vishwanath Dahiya as per Affidavit. C-28571

I have changed my name from Shantibai Tejumal Lund to Shantibai Tejumal Hemrajani as per Affidavit. C-28574 I have changed my name from Arvind Kumar Lalji Yadav to Arvind Lalji Yadav as per Affidavit. C-28575 I have changed my name from Sanjay Kumar Mulchand Pal to Sanjay Mulchand Pal as per Affidavit. C-28576 I have changed my name from Akhila Banu Saeed Ahmed Ansari to Akila Bano Saeed Ahmed Ansari as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28577 I have changed my name from Said Ansari to Saeed Ahmed Ansari as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28578 I have changed my name from Mehboob Abdul Rehman Shaika to Mehboob Abdul Rehman Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28579

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Darshan at Siddhivinayak on Dec 31 By Prashant Hamine

the darshan. Besides this, the renovation and gold-plating of the main ‘kalash’ has been he Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust completed. The temple authorities will has announced certain restrictions on shortly decide on the auspicious day to perdarshan for devotees seeking blessings of the form the ‘Mahakumbhabhishek’. lord at the temple on the night of December Besides this, in the New Year, the temple 31. In a statement issued here yesterday, the authorities have decided to give a fresh coat temple trust authorities will be closing both of sindur to the main idol of Shree Siddhivthe check-posts 40 minutes past midnight. inayak between January 8 and January 12. The ‘shejarti,’ the last aarti of the day will be During this period, devotees will not be able performed at 1 am on January 1, 2014 after to take darshan of the main idol. An alterwhich the temple will remain closed for nate idol (Pratimurti) will be kept for darabout two hours. shan. After completion of the formalities, the The temple will reopen at 3.30 am when devotees will be able to worship and perdevotees will be able to take darshan. It will form Maha Aarti on the main idol from the remain open till the last devotee has taken sanctum santorum from 1 pm on January 13.

Garden Grab thwarted Continued from pg 1 «

cancel any approvals given to the swimming pool. Swimming is a good sport too, but making random pools without any planning and consultations would render the entire open space useless. I have also asked the Mayor to install benches and lights for the kids to play till dark. Nearly seven schools share the playground for their students and many more locals and I won’t allow anyone to snatch their ground from them.”

Reacting to Aditya’s positive response, Cynthia D’Mello said, “We are very happy that after the ADC report, Aditya Thackeray has intervened in this matter and has saved this garden. Finally our pleas have not gone unheard.” Corporator Makrand Narvekar said, “This is a very positive decision by Aditya Thackeray and the school children have got their ground back. He has spoken to the Mayor and has asked him to cancel all approvals to the swimming pool. Now, we will take this matter back to the commissioner for further procedures of canceling approvals.”

I have changed my name from Mohammed Haroon to Mohammed Haroon Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28580 We Mr. Mehboob Abdul Rehman Shaikh & Mrs. Shabina Khanam Mehboob Shaikh have changed our minor son name Mohammed Mauzzam Mehboob Shaikh to Mohammed Muazzam Mehboob Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28581 I have changed my name from Amina Mohammed Haroon Shaika to Amina Mohammed Haroon Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28582 I have changed my name from Shabina Mehboob Shaikh to Shabina Khanam Mehboob Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28583 I have changed my name from Zubeda Khatoon Abrar Husain to Zubeda Abrar Husain Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28584 I have changed my name from Zubeda to Zubeda Abrar Hussein Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28585 I have changed my name from Firdos Abrar Hussein to Firdos Abrar Hussein Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28586

We Mr .Yasin Beig and Mrs. Sabiha Yasin Beig have changed our child’s name from Zaheer Yasin Baig to Zaheer Yasin Beig as per Affidavit. C-28555

I have changed my name from Harishchand Mohandas Motwani to Harish Mohandas Motwani as per Affidavit. C-28572

I have changed my name from Mohammed Ashiq Mohammed Yunus to Mohammed Arif Mohammed Yunus Khan as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28587

I have changed my name from Sandeep Sumatilal Lunavat to Sandip Sumatilal Lunavat as per Affidavit. C-28556

I have changed my name from Ashok Tejumal Lund to Ashok Tejumal Hemrajani as per Affidavit. C-28573

I have changed my name from Mohammed Dawood Khwajamiya to Dawood Khwajamiya Shaikh as per Affidavit dated 28/12/2013. C-28588

E-TENDER NOTICE

Wax sealed tenders are invited by Asst. Commissioner K/E Ward for the following: 1. Providing and fixing propping to V.N. Shirodkar Maternity home and Staff Quarters, Subhash Road, Vile Parle (E). Tender forms for the tender and details regarding E.D. items, description etc. are available with Head Clerk Expenditure K/E ward on any working day from 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. except 2nd and 4th Saturday from 30-12-2013 to 6-01-2014. E.M.D. for tender is Rs. 22,200/-. M.C.G.M. standing deposit holders should also pay the fresh E.M.D. for the above tenders. Due date of tender is 6-01-2014 upto 1.00 p.m. Tenders will be opened on 7-012014 at 3.00 p.m. Bidders may attend the same, if desired. The same add will be published on MCGM’s website on www.mcgm.gov.in. Sd/Assistant Commissioner K/E Ward PRO/1266/ADV/2013 Fever? Act now, see your doctor for correct & complete treatment

PUSHPAKDHARA CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING SOCITY LTD. Add.Old (Sulakshana Apartment), Behind Swami Samarth Mandir, Khadakpada, Kalyan (West), Thane-421301.

DEEMED CONVEYANCE PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the above Society has applied to this office for declaration of Deemed Conveyance of the following properties. The next hearing is kept on 21/01/2014 at 2.30 p.m. Those who have interest in the said property may submit their say at the time of hearing at the venue mentioned below. Failure to submit any say it shall be presumed that nobody has any objection and further action will be taken. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY: Mauje: Chikanghar. Survey No. Hissa No. Plot No. Area(Sq.Mtr) 111 1(part) — 782.90 Place: Vardhavat Mansion, (Nitin Kale) 1st Floor, Shivaji Path, Competent Authority & Thane (W). District Dy. Registrar, Date: 27/12/2013 Co-op. Societies Thane.

philip.varghese@afternoondc.in

Teachers get New Year gift! Continued from pg 1 « As the government continued to dither, thousands of teachers from permanent non-grants schools went on an agitation, and threatened to boycott the SSC and HSC Board exams scheduled in February 2014. According to the Director of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Sarjerao Jadhav, the teachers from permanent nongrants and non-grants schools will be getting their salaries according to the pay commissions soon. The ADC spoke to Anil Bornare, president Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad, who said “Finally it will be a new year celebration for us! Due to this approval, thousands of teachers will be getting the benefit of hiked salaries and finally they can get financially stable!”

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Janmabhoomi Bhavan, 3rd Floor, Janmabhoomi Marg, For t, Mumbai 400 001 TEL: 40768999 FAX: 40768916 DESPATCH & COURIER

Raghuveer’s police custody extended

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

By Khushboo Panjabi

Sumesh Rajan

aghuveer Singh (23), son of deceased actress Sandhya Singh, had surrendered himself before the city crime branch VI on December17 regarding his mother’s murder and was then produced before the Belapur court on December 18. The court after hearing all the evidences which were not clear had ordered to keep him under police custody till December 27 and the court extended the remand upto December 30 on Friday as Raghuveer’s father Jayprakash had no comments and was clueless about the murder. Jayprakash Singh, however, maintained that neither Raghuveer nor his friends Raghuveer Singh being taken back into custody by the police.

Veena Malik’s live-in partner files complaint against her By Zuber Ansari

36-year-old businessman has allegedly filed a noncognizable (NC) complaint against Pakistani model and Bollywood actress Veena Malik in the Aarey Police station for allegedly threatening him over a phone call by asking him to stay away from her husband and her private life. Businessman Prashant Pratap Singh, on Saturday evening filed a complaint against the model after he received a call from her from a Dubai-based number. In his complaint, he alleged that Veena Malik has threatened him by saying that she may file a molestation or rape complaint against him if he interferes in her private life. In February 2012 when Malik came to Mumbai, Singh had met her at one of her shoots and helped her around in the city. They later become close friends and Malik also stayed with Singh in a flat in Garden View Building in Aarey. The both fell in love and were to get married. In his complaint, Singh mentioned that he bore the expenses of Malik at all her shoots but she later married someone in Dubai. Singh said, “I came to know that on December 25, Veena got married to someone in Dubai. When I rang her up to confirm this, she threatened me. On Saturday, she also rang up my mother and began to threaten her”. “I helped Veena when she landed in Mumbai. I had assured her that I had given a divorce to my first wife and after completing the formalities I had promised to marry her, but she suddenly married someone else,” said Singh added. Senior Police Inspector (SPI) Uttar Morefrom Aarey Police station.

were involved in the mysterious murder. He said, “My son was arrested on the basis of suspicion and I see no proper evidences against him which clarify that he is the murderer”. The Apex Court had rejected Raghuveer’s plea for anticipatory bail on December 8. Coincidentally, the date of his arrest was the same as the date the FIR was filed last year, after Sandhya went missing on December 13, 2012.When the police interrogated Raghuveer, he stated that his mother had left home to go to the bank and never returned, whereas the maids at home were told by Raghuveer that Sandhya was visiting her brother in Juhu. khushboo.panjabi@afternoondc.in

Raghuveer sings

Mumbai's crime branch, probing the mysterious disappearance and murder of Sandhya Singh, is now certain to get some fresh leads in the case, now that the main suspect, Raghuveer Singh, has started talking. Talking to the ADC, Shripad Kale, senior inspector of Unit VI, which is probing the case said, "The accused has started speaking with the police and is answering all the questions asked to him. Considering this, there's a

ray of hope for the police to get leads from the yet unanswered questions." In past, the accused was completely non-cooperative with the police and to avoid the interrogation had tried his level best to get court's sanction on many conditions. However, Raghuveer's conditions to get interrogated in certain manner were all rejected by the court, finally clearing the hurdles for the investigators to interrogate the accused.

— Neel Shah

EMPOWERING VICTIMS

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Cancer treatment dropout rate among children reduces

Criminologist sets up website to help rape and molestation victims, especially minor girls, through online counselling

By A Staff Reporter By Zuber Ansari

around 400 kids from schools, colleges and ‘ChilUK-qualified criminoldren’s Aid Society’ have been ogist has taken the inibenefited with victim protectiative of launching an tion sessions. e-victim support centre, Dhall aims to benefit at www.indianvictim.com, to least 90,000 kids by end of increase his ability to come to 2014 and aid at least 5,00,000 the rescue victims in schools, by hiring criminologists at colleges, corporate clubs, pothe national and internalice stations, jails and many tional levels. In view of the inother locations of Mumbai, crease in crimes against the through education and coungirl child, the next session selling. scheduled by Dhall is based Being one of the only crime on protection of girl children experts in India to commerat the ‘Children’s Aid Society cialize the anti-crime busi– Mumbai’. ness, Snehil S Dhall Helping victims: Snehil Dhall According to Dhall, those established Crimeophobia currently involved in crimes Limited in England and about how to cope with their like chain snatching, mobile Wales, with proprietorship in trauma, completely free of theft and bag-lifting, are India. The British-Indian cost to all Indians and even mostly school dropouts or company has recently foreign nationals, worldwide. under-age accused. Shocklaunched the website after Dhall is a young criminol- ingly, minor girls are soft tarobserving that victims some- ogy graduate who turned so- gets for everyone in cases of times get manipulated or ig- cial entrepreneur in the year rape and molestation. With nored by the local police. 2010, establishing offices at this support center, I will also The website focuses on London and Mumbai, with guide criminals in how to protecting and educating vic- the support of more than 16 change their tracks, and lead tims about their rights and professionals. Till date, a proper life.

recent study by Tata Memorial Centre at Parel revealed that rates of refusal for treatment and abandonment of treatment among children suffering from cancer have come down over the past three years. In 2010, 118 children out of 1131 (10.4 per cent) dropped out of treatment, in 2011 out of 1222 children, 64 drooped out (five percent) and in 2012 there were 73 dropouts out of 1291 children suffering from cancer. The study was conducted by studying the treatment patterns noticed in the paediatric cancer cases registered with the hospital over a period of two years. The 1241 cases in the age group of one to nineteen which were a part of the study, came from various states but majority (45 per cent) were from Maharashtra.

While the study found out that the dropout rate and rate of abandonment of treatment was falling, it also found out reasons for why treatment was left midway. The main reasons were financial constraints, lack of accommodation and deep rooted beliefs and to some extent gender bias. “When the study revealed that financial constraints and lack of accommodation were some of the major reasons for families making their children opt out of treatment, we decided to address this issue in the best possible way. We started providing them with financial support and accommodation facilities and that is why the drop out rates have come down. But we, as an institution can’t do much about certain deep rooted social beliefs like cancer not being curable or about families not

giving preference when it comes to a girl child. We do talk and counsel the families about cancers in children being highly curable but some of them don’t get convinced”, said Dr. S. D Banavali, head, Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial hospital. Dr. Girish Chinnaswamy, Associate Professor, Paediatric Oncology said, “The drop out is seen mainly during the first ten days of treatment. When the family doesn’t see much improvement, they end up discontinuing the treatment and start looking out for alternate therapies. They fall for advertisements that claim to cure cancer in a matter of days that too without any side effects. This has to stop. Once the family gets through the initial phase of treatment, they are likely to continue with the treatment”.

Vishwanath Salian | ADC

Last rites of Farooq Sheikh to be performed today By A Staff Reporter

And after that last rites will be performed," Sheikh's close he last rites of noted actor friend, actor Satish Shah told Farooq Sheikh will be PTI. performed here on Monday, Sheikh began his career in after his body is brought back Bollywood with the film from Dubai where he passed 'Garam Hava' and went on to away on Saturday morning. act in memorable films like "His body will be brought 'Umrao Jaan', 'Chashme Budhere after completing the fordoor' and 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi'. malities in Dubai, by Monday The 65-year-old Bollywood afternoon, approximately at 4 the body will be kept for peo- actor suffered a heart attack pm. Then from 5 pm to 7 pm ple to pay their last respects. in Dubai on Friday night.

Azad Shrivastav | ADC

A day prior to the onset of the New Year, the YMCA (near) Regal Cinema put up a large star, welcoming 2014.

Strict vigil outside Big B’s houses fearing SP, BSP protest By A Staff Reporter

said, adding that, "as the SP and BSP are upset with the nticipating protests by patch-up between Thackeray workers of Samajwadi and Amitabh, their workers Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj may resort to any activity disParty (BSP) following the turbing law and order. Hence truce between Maharashtra we are alert and deployed our Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief personnel outside the bungaRaj Thackeray and actor lows." Amitabh Bachchan, police Burying their five-year-old have provided additional se- hatchet, Bachchan shared curity at latter's bungalows in dais with Thackeray at the Juhu. seventh anniversary of "As a precautionary meas- MNS's movie industry wing ure, we have deployed our `Maharashtra Navnirman men at Jalsa, Prateeksha, Chitrapat Karmachari Sena' Janak - three bungalows of at the Shanmukhanand Hall Bachchan," a police officer last week. told PTI. Raj Thackeray had earlier Patrolling in the area has targeted Bachchan for bebeen stepped up, the officer coming the brand ambassa-

FOR A CAUSE: Children, parents, doctors, nurses, social workers and volunteers indulged in fun, frolic, dances, music and drama along with actor Shreyas Talpade at the Tata Memorial Hospital on Sunday as a part of ‘Hope 2013 – Ustav’.

dor of Uttar Pradesh. Wife Jaya Bachchan too incurred MNS's wrath when she said that being from Uttar Pradesh, she would prefer to speak in Hindi rather than in Marathi. Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi had said that Amitabh Bachchan's appearance at the MNS function was an ‘insult’ to the north Indians. The actor should clarify whether Raj Thackeray had accepted only Amitabh, or all the people from north India, he said. According to police sources BSP had indicated the authorities that it would stage a demonstration outside the actor's bungalow.

Rahul Gandhi demands The Aam Aadmis of Vasai H debate over Adarsh judicial commission report

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

By Edrich Miranda

undred and fifty activists from different political parties, yesterday, came under one umbrella to form a unit of the Aam Aadmi Party at Vasai West. At this first meeting, it was resolved that these hundred and fifty members would fan out into the interiors of Vasai, and reach out to every village, canvassing for membership. It was also resolved that during the course of canvassing for members, those citizens who have legal problems, would be given free legal aid and advice, as five core members of the newly formed committee are advocates. A fairly large number of people were already in favor of the

By Suyash Padate

he Rahul Gandhi camp is in no mood to relent as it has once again cornered Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan over the Adarsh Commission report. Congress vice president’s close aid and Union Minister of state for communications Milind Deora yesterday further put Chavan in an embarrassing situation by demanding a thorough debate in the legislature on the judicial commission. The South Mumbai MP, Milind Deora, who is emerging as a new power centre in the Congress, gave a piece of advice to the Chavan-led government in the state that it should take the opposition on board and take the future course of action. He pointed out that this has become necessary as members of all political parties are involved in the Adarsh scam. He further stated that a stern action should be taken against those who are convicted in the scam. “Truth should come out”, Deora pointed out. This is the second time after he tweeted on December 25 that “If the Adarsh report raises questions we should investigate (agnostic of party or bureaucracy), answer them and not be hush.” Deora’s views were

New officebearers of the AAP at a meeting at Vasai (West), yesterday. AAP since the past two years, but they were not organized, said advocate Noel Dabre. Most of the activists, including those on the dais, wore Gandhi caps, with Aam Aadmi Party prominently

written across, and swore to propagate the message of anti corruption to the masses, and bring a change to any government that does not support the anti corruption movement. Azad Shrivastav | ADC

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. endorsed by none other than Rahul Gandhi who on December 27 in the presence of Chavan distanced himself from the state government’s decision to reject the 670 page judicial commission’s report on the scam.A day after this, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said that the issue will be resolved. Moreover, Deora’s demand for a legislative debate comes close on the heels of a demand made by the BJP’s leader of opposition in the Assembly Eknath Khadse for a special session of the legislature to decide the fate of Adarsh scam report.On the other hand, Shiv Sena group leader in the Assembly Shubhash Desai said that Rahul should direct Prithviraj Chavan to PTI

clear the prosecution of his predecessor Ashok Chavan by the CBI. “Besides, Rahul should also ask Chavan to lodge an FIR against politicians and bureaucrats named in the judicial commission’s report. The state government should launch a CID inquiry into the benami transactions by which flats are occupied in Adarsh society”, he added.It may be recalled that in April last year Milind in his tweet had blamed the Chavan led government for slow decision making in the state and delays in key projects in Mumbai. “Mumbai’s Aquarium and Zoo revamp are delayed. There is no progress on Girni Kamgar issue and Sewri-Nhava Sea Link. Severe decision deficit in the state”, he had stated.

UNITED WE STAND... (From left): Cawas Billimoria, and session chairperson Adille Sumariwala, Nari Contractor and Mickey Mehta during the ‘Sports in the Parsi Context or The Lack Thereof’ session at the 10th World Zoroastrian Congress at NSCI, in Worli, on Sunday.

Minister apologises Narrow escape for ‘milk bath’ for passengers as after ink attack bus catches fire

By A Staff Reporter

Kolhapur the next day to attend a meeting of the party aharashtra Labour Min- workers, his followers asked ister and NCP leader him to sit on a chair and Hasan Mushrif has apolo- poured milk on him to 'pugised for the action of his rify' him. supporters giving him a 'milk "I apologise for what my bath' to 'purify' him after a followers have done. I was party worker poured ink on not aware and did not realise him. what they are doing. OtherAn NCP worker walked to wise, I would have stopped the stage where Mushrif was them. I was baffled both the sitting and poured black ink times, when they poured on him, at a public function milk on me and when the at Buldhana on Thursday. party worker poured ink on NCP workers caught the me," Mushrif told PTI. man, identified as Namdeo The supporters had also Dongardive, and handed him poured milk on Mushrif's over to the police. photo and burnt an effigy of When Mushrif reached Dongardive.

NCP leader Hasan Mushrif being given a 'milk bath' by his supporters to 'purify' him after a party worker poured ink on him, in Kolhapur on Friday.

By A Staff Reporter

One of the passengers alerted the bus driver, ver 40 passengers of a Dileep Pardeshi, saying bus had a miraculous that he could smell someescape when it caught fire thing burning. while on way to Kalyan city The driver immediately in the district, official stopped the bus at a road sources said. side near the Sanai Mangal The packed bus of Karyalaya in Bail Bazar and Kalyan Dombivili Munici- evacuated it quickly. pal Transport, heading It was later found that a from Malangh Gadh to short-circuit in the battery Kalyan caught fire at resulted in the fire, which around 9 p.m. on Saturday, reduced the bus to ashes district authorities told within minutes, sources PTI. added.

Burning will boomerang

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Ponder awhile... “No man is good enough to govern another man without the other’s consent.” — Abraham Lincoln

A government by the people, for the people A

RVIND KEJRIWAL’S success in Delhi shows that we can now expect an end to flawed democracy which India has been having ever since Independence. It can be said that at last we really can have a government by the people for the people. This is a major development in the democratic setup in our country. A beginning has been made and soon it is possible that we can have a scenario like the one that we witnessed in Delhi – across the country. There is little doubt that the Congress, the BJP and other parties do not care about the problems of people. They fool the people at election time, promise the world to them and once the elections are over the common man who has cast his vote is forgotten. After the capturing of power, the politicians seize the opportunity to make money. And for the people, there are umpteen number of yojanas named after deceased leaders. These attempts at providing welfare monsoons is nothing but bogus. And when in power, the politicians dip into the taxpayers’ money and resort to scams. All investigative agencies are misused and cover-up operations undertaken. All the while the politicians talk about ‘rendering service to the people’ and take them for a ride. The Parliament system is good, but wrong persons get elected to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Criminals who are charged with murder, extortion and rape are today sitting in Parliament and in state assemblies. It is clear that our democracy is being misused by shrewd and corrupt politicians. The successful Delhi exercise is likely to be tried out in our country sooner or later. The AAP has announced that it would conduct the democratic experiment in Gujarat and other states. There is no time now for an AAP experiment in the 2014 poll itself. On the very first day after assuming office, the new chief minister has shown that there will be a government by the people. Some corrupt officials have already been transferred and the restrictions about entry into the secretariat have shown it will be a people’s government and not the government of corrupt ministers and bureaucrat.

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KAMAL MORARKA Chairman of the Board of Directors Afternoon Despatch & Courier office is located at: Janmabhoomi Bhavan, 3rd Floor, Janmabhoomi Marg, Fort, Mumbai-400 001. Phone: 40768999. Fax: 40768916. E-mail: afternoonnews@gmail.com Printed by Shashikant Jadhav for Courier Publications Pvt. Ltd., at Journal Press, Free Press House, Free Press Journal Marg, 215, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021 and published by him from Janmabhoomi Bhavan, 3rd Floor, Janmabhoomi Marg, Fort, Mumbai-400 001. Registered Office at: 98 Mittal Chambers, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400 021. Vol. XXIX No. 235

HE Congress could not be entering the New Year on a worse note. With the most spectacular rejection in the Assembly elections – in some respects worse than the drubbing it received in the postEmergency polls - and little hope of recovery in the few months before the Big One, only the purblind would wager on the party retaining power after May 2014. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if some people were already writing obituaries of the oldest political firm in the country, especially given the disarray at its top. Despite an effort to create an impression of hyper-activity, the Congress heir apparent has failed to impress. Rahul Gandhi went to the annual FICCI meet and delivered setpiece homilies, taking care to say what the business suits wanted to hear. Indeed, in his anxiety to please his audience, he even promised a drastic overhaul of the stringent labour laws which are a millstone around the neck of every employer, benevolent or otherwise. If there was not much notice taken of his public commitment to update the labour laws, it may be because neither the pink papers nor the captains of commerce and industry trusted what they heard. After all, successive governments have talked of legislating an exit policy, thus allowing for a measure of flexibility in the employment market, but none has been able to do so. They have all retreated, fearing a backlash from the entrenched trade unions and their patrons in Parliament. Indeed, Gurudas Dasgupta and other voices in the trade union movement failing to tick off the Gandhi scion for promising a flexible employment policy can either mean that they don’t take him seriously or else they are convinced that it is just not possible in the current political environment. Therefore, do not blame the corporate bosses for not jumping with joy when the Congress’s prince charming promised the one reform that they have waited for long to happen and which they, along with leading economists, believe is essential to boost both growth and higher employment. Nonetheless, post-defeat, Rahul Gandhi seemed to be at pains to shed his customary diffidence in order to present himself as a confident young leader who knows what he is talking about. In fact, as an earnest gesture of his desire to mend fences with the business community, Gandhi offered the ministerial head of Jayanthi Natarajan. She had aped the ways of the previous Environment Ministers from her own State, Tamil Nadu; but the case of Jairam Ramesh was on a different footing. He was interested in making the best use of forest lodges while behaving like a green tyrant and nixing all major infrastructural projects. To get back to the FICCI meeting, those present conceded that Gandhi was okay when it came to reading out his prepared/rehearsed script. He said all the right things, pressed all the right buttons. But soon when the question-answer session followed, he flunked the test. As businessmen, who no longer tremble in the presence of high and mighty politicians thanks to the end of the Congress monopoly on the levers of power, asked about specific policy measures such as land acquisition, education, etc., the soon-tobe-anointed prime ministerial candidate of the GOP faltered. He offered long-winded and rambling answers and was unable to convince anyone. In short, Rahul Gandhi the politician is still a work in progress. But because the Lok Sabha elections are only a few months away, the Congress per force feels obliged to try and trip its main challenger Narendra Modi. Even the timing of the Central inquiry into the alleged tapping of the phones of a private individual was all wrong. On a day when the main interest centered around the order of the Ahmedabad court rejecting the plea for reopening the SIT

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report which had given Modi the clean chit in the riots case, the appointment of a judicial commission to probe Modi in the phone-tapping case evoked derision. For, only the ignoramuses will feign surprise at unauthorized phone-tapping. It was routine in the Indira Gandhi days. Phones of some of her own ministers, and of course, of the Opposition leaders were tapped regularly and their movements closely monitored. Why, no less than Giani Zail Singh, the President of India, was certain in his belief that his phones were tapped, his official and living quarters in the sprawling Rashtrapathi Bhawan bugged, and his visitors closely watched. A number of people are still around who would testify that, upon meeting with the Giani in Rashtrapati Bhawan, he would insist on taking you out in the lawns so that

INSIDE STORY

was set on fire by miscreants at the Godhra station. And to put a stamp of judicial authority on his fond theory, he set up a commission of inquiry under retired Supreme Court Judge U.C. Banerjee. The good judge, unsurprisingly, came to the same conclusion. The fire was accidentally caused by a kerosene stove being used for cooking, he said. Of course, it was a laughable conclusion, especially when a number of people arrested for causing the fire had been convicted after an open trial. The Banerjee Commission to nail Modi was set up by the UPA soon after it had first come into power. Its findings were dismissed out hand. And did not prevent Modi from winning the Gujarat poll twice in a row after its report. The new commission of inquiry is being set up with the same objective by the UPA-II in its dying months. And the outcome is unlikely to be any different. Remember, the Banerjee Commission report had come when the UPA was still riding high. Now that it is down in the dumps, it can have no hope of nailing the charge of wrong-doing against its principal challenger, commission or no commission. Instead, a serious attempt to put one’s own house in order might yield some relief to the UPA. Engaging full-time in devising evil stratagems to trip Modi might, in fact, boomerang on it.

Virendra Kapoor one could talk freely without the fear of the bugs planted by the IB. Even when you grant that the Congress is desperate to try and somehow throw mud at Modi, a judicial commission to prove the phone-tapping by the Gujarat Government seems highly excessive. Even as a weapon of vendetta it is rather over-the-top. Ordinary people might turn around to say that those who abuse power to make countless millions in bribes and stash most of it abroad with their families or in Swiss banks cannot be serious protesting the misuse, at worst, of the State power to keep an eye on a vulnerable woman. Unfortunately, the Congress leadership refuses to learn any lessons from its own bitter experience. Lalu Yadav as Railway Minister in UPA-I was keen to burnish his secular credentials. He denied that the compartment carrying Ram Bhaktas back from Ayodhya

Confucius says....

Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself. It’s the essence of real compassion. Compassion means seeing another person 100 per cent equal to yourself. In fact it is seeing yourself in every other person. And therefore you cannot harm anyone without also harming yourself. It doesn’t mean to lose individuality or self-worth, on the contrary – but the other person earns the same gift.

MATTER & SPIRIT

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance. Ignorance is a willful neglect or refusal to acquire knowledge. It is to not widen one’s own perspective in order to see a broader truth. An example it would be to have racist thoughts and not realizing that all men are equal. The ultimate truth therefore is where there is absolutely no ignorance, meaning where the perspective or consciousness has become one with all that there is. In Buddhism ignorance is seen as the primary cause of suffering. Liberation is Enlightenment. “Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and a star.”

In defiance of the SC order

OK SABHA Speaker Meira Kumar used the legal equivalent of a sleight of hand to grab the sprawling bungalow at 6 Krishna Menon Marg which would go for about Rs.500 crore even in the currently depressed real estate market. Since the Supreme Court had specifically barred Kumar from usurping the said bungalow in the name of a memorial to her late father Babu Jagjvan Ram, who had lived in it as a minister and, later, as a deputy prime minister, she simply changed the letterhead. Instead of a memorial she now called it a foundation and thus got round the letter of the SC order. The deceit is so clear that it is a surprise that the activists who had challenged her occupation of 6 Krishna Menon Marg in the garb of a memorial have not challenged it. She has usurped the same bungalow in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, though this time it is in the name of a foundation. Further, instead of herself staying in the said bungalow, Kumar has occupied an equally large and centrally-located bungalow at 20 Akbar Road, in her capacity as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Again, she has prevailed on the UPA Government to write off the arrears of rent for the illegal possession of the Krishna Menon Marg bungalow for the period prior to its conversion into a foundation. The amount written off is Rs.1.98 crore. Given that she has inherited an enormous amount of wealth in gems and jewellery, prime real estate, etc., paying Rs.2 crore should be no problem for her. But then, politicians are prone to treat government property as their own, to be used for personal aggrandizement. Will Arvind Kejriwal look at this broad daylight heist of public funds?

Heard in the BJP Office

AST Thursday, when Modi won reprieve in an Ahmedabad court and the Central government commissioned an inquiry commission report against him, BJP leaders were in an agitated mood. One of them angrily reacted, saying that the party “should not be surprised if in the next few days we hear from the ruling party that Modi was involved in the Bofors scam, taking a cut from the Italian middleman Ottavio Quattorocchhi, and depositing the money with his friends and family members abroad.” You get the drift, don’t you?

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

IT’S worth noting that AAP’s ministry is very much unique and in fact, worth following by the central and all the state governments in the interest of people. In CM Arvind Kejriwal’s team there is an architect, a journalist, a computer engineer and a businessman as ministers. Let the Delhi voters hope for the best and corruption-free administration for the next five years, unless Congress topples the government as per its old dirty, anti-people practice. Last, but not the least. I wish all the valued readers of this daily corruption and food inflation free New Year of 2014, at least.

and the Congress by a businessman in the hotel room for forming the Delhi government to keep the BJP away is nothing but jealousy and a sign of frustration for not being able to master the majority to form a BJP government in Delhi. I strongly feel that such type of statement by Gadkari is an insult to the people’s mandate who have given their full support to AAP to rule the capital of the country which has become a mess in all sectors under the Congress rule. The urgent need of the hour is that with the 2014 general elections just a few months away, the BJP leadership must stop criticising other — Hansraj Bhat political parties and concentrate on the main issues or agenda of price rise, corruption and law and KEJRIWAL has sworn in as Delhi order for the benefit of the people CM and it is not the end of and the country. — Bhagwan Thadani people’s victory but beginning of a democratic irony. Certainly Delhi voters have AFTER the promise to supply 700 proved that they don’t care about litres of water daily to the Delhi dynasty or brand politics but citizens, the AAP has announced listened to the people’s voice that it will bring down the power through Anna Hazare, Kejriwal and the team who fought a daring tariffs in Delhi by 50 per cent. The battle against established corrupt power department is a lossmaking body, its only earning ruling. But with the result it is being the dividends from the obvious that majority of Delhites power distributing companies heard the clarion call from the (discoms), which is about Rs.20 ‘people’s movement’ that Anna has started as an option to be free crore a year. However, the discoms which are supposed to from share their profits with the the clusters of corrupt governess and dreaming of a good government, do not do so. Every tomorrow eliminating corruption year, these companies have been showing loss, as a result of which from the root! Kejriwal, leading the government does not get any the team from the front as CM is revenue from the discoms. ok as long as he has the fire in his Instead, the subsidy that the belly burning against corruption government provides to the and not acceding to obligations (Congress) to stay in power. Delhi consumers consuming less than 200 units of power also goes from throne is not a flower bed, the exchequer. With the AAP Kejriwal knows well, and the guts announcing cut in power tariffs by he has showed to take the throne 50 per cent, the burden on the despite having no majority while government is going to increase. the BJP being emerged as the To make for the power largest party is significant. — Unny Perumanam department’s loss, Kejriwal has decided to increase excise duty on liquor, VAT and luxury tax. The THE statement made by Bharatiya Delhi government currently earns Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitin about Rs.325 crore from luxury Gadkari that a deal was struck tax, Rs.3,000 crore from excise and between Aam Admi Party (AAP) about Rs.67 crore from

The third front PM THOUGH the elusive third (or Federal?) front is yet to be born, the fight for its future leadership seems to have already started. In the north, the supporters of MSY have decorated the UP capital with the photographs of their leader with a one-line slogan ‘Netaji for Prime Ministership’. Not to be left behind, the southern State of TN is seeing a sudden surge of campaign to make AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha the first PM from south. The two leaders seem to have presumed that the third front would be in a position to collectively cross the half-way mark in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Even if they succeed in reaching the magical figure, there would be at least five strong contenders for the top job. They are: Nitish Kumar, Lalu (through his proxy), Didi, and Navin Patnaik; the last may emerge as the compromise candidate. Also, there is the Maratha strongman waiting Readers are requested to e-mail letters to the editor and add their neighbourhood as well. Please mail letters to afternoonletters@gmail.com

LETTERS

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Hail AAP!

Kejriwal’s swearing in as the Chief Minister of Delhi has raised hopes among the masses for a corruption-free governance of the city-state. entertainment tax. However, to cut power tariffs, the government will now have to increase these taxes. —Jayant C.K. Maniam

THE mango man (aam aadmi) is Delhi’s CM. Congratulations to Arvind Kejriwal for becoming the youngest Chief Minister of the capital city of India. A nononsense politician and a man with the largest fan following in our country today, Arvind Kejriwal is honest to the core and he and his coterie has left successful careers in various fields to cleanse Indian politics from the murk and dirt to create a revolution to eradicate corruption from our political system which has stalled our country’s growth over the years. The anti-corruption wave fuelled by Arvind and his guru Anna Hazare is here to stay and this is a warning signal to corrupt politicians to clean up their act or be prepared to be imprisoned as the voice of the people which was

AAP from outside without the party soliciting it. But the new ‘King’ from Haryana did not acknowledge the same in his ‘coronation’ speech even in passing and made it appear as though the AAP has come thus far all by itself. This is nothing but a glaring insult to the party’s benefactor, the Congress, born — S.N. Kabra out of the ‘arrogance of power’ which this party is supposed to break. When the reality of AS India’s general elections are governance dawns on Kejriwal, he less than six months away, a lot of will surely realise that nothing can political dynamics are fast be passed in the assembly without shaping up. Congress high the Congress approving it, and command run by the mother-son that the BJP will be breathing duo, Sonia and Rahul are down its neck all the time, his adopting a use and throw option praise for Dr. Harshvardhan and so they are coming hard and notwithstandng. The eight fast on all the crooks who have Congress legislators should have gobbled away the nation! been seated on the dais. — Dr.V. Subramanyan In the formation of the Delhi government, they are likely to have an alliance with the AAP BJP’s apparent win could have where they would look like clean and above petty middle and lower been mainly due to Congress defeat. On its own BJP neither could level corruption and expose how get a simple majority of 271 seat in Commonwealth Games’ money the Lok Sabha, nor it had any was being distributed away. chance with its possible coalition Also, in Maharashtra, they are partners, mainly from regional pardoing the same with the Adarsh scam. In Andhra Pradesh, they are ties coming to BJP’s aid, as all were scared of Muslim backlash to going for bifurcation and are Modi’s 2002 Gujarat genocidal willing to dump Congress communal riots in which Muslims supporters. Congress wants to go were targeted. The more relevant into elections with a fresh and public issue is now corruption and new image. on that count, both Congress and So, either all congress BJP are sailing in the same boat. In politicians gang up and wipeout the best interest of Indian republic Rahul like the way they did with at this juncture, both these parties Rajiv Gandhi or float a new are so rooted, and too institutionpolitical entity. Most likely ally, in corruption, that people Congress old guards have their have more or less already rejected days numbered in the Congress them and pinned their hope on Keparty run by family. — Madhu Rayala jriwal’s determination to rid the governance of all corruption. Be fore Delhi Assembly election, KejriTHE activist from Hisar has been wal was untested. However, after able to ascend the throne in the people from all sections flocking to city-state of Delhi within sixteen him for his brand of idealism, months of breaking away from rather than the ideology driven BJP Anna Hazare and floating a new and Congress, there is strong pospolitical outfit which is something sibility that Kejriwal could sweep he would not have dreamt even in the Lok Sabha polls and even chalk the wildest of his dreams. This up a simple majority. In that case, was made possible only by the people need not lament the demise intriguing decision of the of both Congress and BJP. — Ghulam Muhammed Congress to extend support to the

till now silent has awoken all of a sudden which is a good thing for any democracy. Our country needs several Kejriwals and that should not be difficult as you don’t need much skills to be honest and educated people should join the new wave of honest politics which has gained ground over the last few months.

to a barbeque! As this has come out same dais and buried the hatchets. into the open, there is a clamor to Finally all is well. Needless to say stop them from embarking on this that no one is interested in who wasteful trip, more so as the politi- took the step first, but it was the cians belong to a department that is correct step towards the right direcsupposed to find ways and means tion. This wise move by MNS leader — Arun Malankar to reduce expenses. could be in the interest of the next Meanwhile, another group of election or could be the AAP effect. politicians from the same state is al- We hope and expect that on the ready enjoying themselves in Aus- same path, both cousins shall come FOR the past two days, we have tralia and New Zealand. together in the interest of Maha— Jamshed Irani rashtra. Good step Raj! been hearing about the politicians — Bhavesh Jani, Nalasopara of Karnataka and the manner in which they are using up the tax payer’s money whereas drought persists in the state and there have IT was surprise news and a welbeen suicides, our politicians are come move that Raj Thackeray and ‘PARDONING’ WWII code-breaker Amitabh Bacchan had shared the Alan Turing for a 1952 criminal conmaking merry. As part of the perquisites that go with the ‘job’, each politician is permitted to visit LETTER OF foreign countries twice in THE DAY a span of five years, the tenure of the appointment. So, a group of some politicians (strange bedfellows these chaps from Congress, BJP and other parties all together) had planned to visit on a ‘study tour’ to Brazil and, as part of their study programme, they were to see monkeys, forests and indulge in samba dancing. In the return journey, they would come via Dubai The MNS chief and Bacchan had a sour relation for a long time over the north Indians where they would treat themselves issue, but now seem to have buried the hatchet. in the wings to dump the UPA band-wagon and throw his hat in the ring at the last moment. For the general public, it would then be a circus show worth watching from the side-lines.

‘Study tours’

All is well

Imperialists all the way

viction for homosexuality is simply not the way to rehabilitate the memory of an innocent man made to suffer undeserved indignities. An innocent man does not need to be and cannot be - pardoned. Instead, the Queen needs to express regret for the mindless enforcement of an unjust and abhorrent law that prevailed in a country under her rule. — Phiroze B. Javeri, Mumbai

A damp squib RAHUL Gandhi's recent press conference was a damp squib and a non-event and was like Mallika Sherawat and Marilyn Monroe turning up fully clad for a photo shoot leaving everything to imagination. The presence of five chief ministers of Congress-ruled states was incongruous as they were just mum, and did not contribute to the meeting. I wonder why they were asked to join the party. Also, Rahul spoke for just a few minutes after arriving late for the meeting, and wrapped up the proceedings giving no chance to the hapless reporters for any queries. I hope Rahul does not waste the time of the fourth estate and the people in future. — Hemant Hemmady

Afternoon Despatch & Courier www.afternoondc.in

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Reading a book may change your brain

Transportation I II III

The plateau region has a well developed network of roads and railways. There are a number of highways which connect all the major cities of the region. There are many national and international airports which connect various industrial and commercial centers of the country. Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Nagpur are the important international airports of the region.

6 Tourism I The Deccan plateau has many tourist places of natural, cultural, historical and religious importance. II Udagamandalam (Ooty) of Tamilnadu and Mahabaleshwar of Maharashtra are famous for the gardens. III Aurangabad, Bihar, Bijapur, Mysore, Pune etc are historical places. IV Ajanta and Ellora caves of Aurangabad are world famous. 3) Write in detail about the climate of peninsular plateau. Ans.I Peninsular plateau region has large variations in climate due to its vast size. II Most part of the plateau enjoys tropical wet and dry climate, except a semi arid climate to the east of the western ghat. Winter and early summer are dry with temperature above 18OC. Summer is very hot and the temperature in the interior areas can rise above 450C. III June to September is the rainy season and the annual rainfall is between 750 mm and 1500 mm. Only central eastern Tamil Nadu receives rainfall during winter, due to the North east monsoon. IV A long stretch of land to the east of the western ghats and the Cardamom Hills experiences Tropical semiarid climate. It includes Karnataka, interior and western Tamil Nadu, western Andhra Pradesh and Central Maharashtra. This region lies in rain shadow zone and hence rainfall is very unreliable about 400 to 750 mm. So it is a famine prone zone. V March to May are hot and dry months with mean temperature about 32OC. 4) Geographical Reasons 1) The Deccan is a home of many languages Ans 1 The Bhil and Gond people living in the hills along the northern and the northeastern edge of the plateau and speak various languages. II Marathi is the main language of the Northern Western Deccan in the state of Maharashtra. Telugu of Telangana, kannada of Kerala. III The city of Hyderabad is an important centre of Urdu language in the Deccan. Hence Deccan is home of many languages. 2) The Deccan plateau is an industrial well developed region. Ans 1 Agriculture is the main occupation in this region so many cash crops like cotton, sugar cane etc. give rise to agro-based industries. Moreover plateau is richly endowed with various minerals of industrial importance like manganese, coal, iron etc. So mineral based industries are well developed here. II The Maharashtra plateau has many industries like cotton, textile, sugar, automobiles, electronics, food processing etc. III Karnataka plateau has industries like machine tools, aircraft, electronics, telecommunication equipment etc. Bangaluru and Pune have become popular hubs of the IT industry. IV Along with the available resources, other infrastructural facilities like water, electricity, transportation etc. are well developed in this region and makes the Deccan Plateau an industrially well developed region 3 Tourism is well developed in Deccan Plateau. (Ref. Page 66 Tourism) for Reason and Short Notes 5. Natural disasters in the Deccan Plateau. Ans. 1) The Western part of the plateau is an earthquake prone region. A severe earthquake of 7.4 magnitude on the Richter Scale struck Latur and Osmanabad districts in Maharashtra in the year 1993. It demolished 52 villages, killed many people and destroyed their properties. 2) The Koyna Dam region is prone to earthquakes. In the year 1967 there was an earthquake of 6.5 magniture. It damaged houses in Koyanagar, but it did not cause any major damage to the Koyna Dam. Since then there have been several earthquakes of smaller magnitudes. 3) Irrigation in Central Karnataka Plateau.

Shobha Wagle Geography lecturer GEOGRAPHY - 8 Ans. 1) In the Central Karnataka Plateau tanks, means ‘Kere’ in Kannada are the main sources of traditional irrigation. 2) They are fed by channels branching off from streams in valleys. 3) The tanks are built in a series, usually a few kilometres apart. Due to this, the outflow of an up stream tank supplies water to the next tank downstream. 4) By this arrangement it ensures no wastage through overflow and the seepage of a tank higher up in the series would be collected in the next lower one.

ASHINGTON: Scientists have found that reading a novel may change your brain — for days after going through the book, a new study suggests. Researchers at the Emory University have detected what may be biological traces related to this feeling: Actual changes in the brain that linger, at least for a few days, after reading a novel. According to a PTI report, the study focused on the lingering neural effects of reading a narrative. Twentyone undergraduate students participated in the experiment, which was conducted over 19 consecutive days. All of the study subjects read the same novel, 'Pompeii' — a 2003 thriller by Robert Harris that is based on the real-life eruption of Mount Vesuvius in ancient Italy. For the first five days, the participants came in each morning for a base-line fMRI scan of their brains in a resting state. Then they were given nine sections of the novel, about 30 pages each, over a nine-day period. They were asked to read the assigned section in the evening, and come in the following morning. After taking a quiz to ensure they had finished the assigned reading, the participants underwent an fMRI scan of their brain in a non-reading, resting state. After completing all nine sections of the novel, the

4. Soils on Deccan Plateau Ans. i) Black soil is well developed in the Deccan Plateau region of Maharashtra. These soils are especially suitable for cotton and sugar cane. ii) Red soils are found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka plateau and Andhra Plateau. iii) Laterite soils are generally found in Western ghats and the area along the edge of the plateau in the East, covering small part of Tamil Nadu. 5. Natural Vegetation and Animals Ans. i) The Deccan Plateau have rich variety of forest due to varied topography and the physical features. ii) The forest types are 1) Tropical evergreen 2) Tropical moist deciduous 3) Tropical dry deciduous and 4) Thorny scrub forest etc. are found in this region. iii) Tropical forests are dense, but limited. iv) Teak, sal, sheesham, sandalwood, khair, hardu and arjun are some of the trees found here. Sandalwood has a very high commercial value. v) The forests are being depleted due to increase in population, agriculture and mining. Animals i) The forests are home to a variety of grazing animals. the four-horned antelope and blackbuck to the gaur and wild buffalo are found here. ii) The other important animals are the tigers, dhole, sloth, bear and other carnivorous animals. Some of the larger species mentioned here are rare. iii) The Indian giant squirrel is endangered. iv) The 300 species of birds include the globally threatened Jerdon’s Courser. 6. 1)

Mark and name the following on the outline map of India with suitable index: Andhra-Telangana Plateau 2) R. Mahanadi 3) river Krishna 4) Ajanta Range 5) Balaghat Range 6) R. Wardha, 7) Shevroy Hills 8) R. Godavari

On Wednesday: Hindi

participants returned for five more mornings to undergo additional scans in a resting state. The results showed heightened connectivity in the left temporal cortex, an area of the brain associated with receptivity for language, on the mornings following the reading assignments. "Even though the participants were not actually reading the novel while they were in the scanner, they retained this heightened connectivity," said neuroscientist Gregory Berns, lead author of the study. "We call that a 'shadow activity,' almost like a muscle memory," said Berns. Heightened connectivity was also seen in the central sulcus of the brain, the primary sensory motor region of the brain. Neurons of this region have been associated with making representations of sensation for the body. "The neural changes that we found associated with physical sensation and movement systems suggest that reading a novel can transport you into the body of the protagonist," Berns said. The neural changes were not just immediate reactions, Berns said, since they persisted the morning after the readings, and for the five days after the participants completed the novel. The study was published by the journal ‘Brain Connectivity’.

STOCK MARKETS ECONOMY

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thought leaders focus on the issues of the coming year

REAL ESTATE BULLION CURRENCY BANKING

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Sensex crossed the level of 21,200 after a gap of almost six years. Will it rise further in 2014?

Mere Hope Of Improvement Will Drive The Market ARUN KEJRIWAL Founder, KRIS

he year 2014 would be beginning with the benchmark indices like the Sensex and Nifty virtually at their lifetime highs. Any further gains in the year 2014 would be adding to the strength that these indices showed last year. General elections and expectations of a new government would drive the market for the first five months. If December state election results are any indication there seems a mood to change the government at the centre. Post elections and assuming that we have a stable government; it would be fair to expect that though actual growth in the economy may take a few quarters to reflect, the mere hope of improvement will drive the market. In case we have no decisive government and things are a complete mess, markets will decline quite sharply and are likely to lose anything from 25-30% of the levels prevailing in April-May 2014. One hopes and prays that such a situation does not happen. The last year saw IT and technolo-

gy followed by healthcare delivering excellent returns for investors. These sectors will do well in the coming year also. Key drivers for them would be the improvements in the US economy and increased spend on IT. The Obama healthcare spends and higher number of â&#x20AC;&#x153;ANDAâ&#x20AC;? filings and approvals of drugs by Indian companies will help in their better performance. The year 2014 is certainly going to see a renewed focus on creating infrastructure. One recalls the work done by the NDA government on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Golden Quadrilateralâ&#x20AC;? project which linked the length and breadth of the country. I believe many more such projects to improve roads, bridges, railways and ports would be undertaken so that the basic infrastructure of the country improves. This provides employment, improves logistics and reduces the mismatch of prices between the farm and the fork. This would directly or indirectly bring down food inflation which has hit India badly in the last couple of years. Monsoon has been good in the last year and it has recharged the ground water. The Rabi crop to be harvested in March April 14 will be a bumper crop which will rejuvenate the rural economy. Two-wheelers and agriculture related equipment will do exceedingly well in the year ahead. The capital goods demand will take time to revive but stalled and delayed orders are likely to be revived during

the year. Though the sector will be a laggard in the first half of the year it will pick up in the second half. One of the worst performing sectors of 2013 was the Realty space and there seems hope in that sector in this year. Companies which have either a development model or are actually executing large projects as the companies based in Southern India particularly based in Bangalore would do well. There would be a better performance from the midcap and small cap space as a whole and there is value based buying happening in this I would recommend Cairn India, SesaSterlite, NTPC and NMDC as my top large cap picks where there is plenty of value available space. It is difficult to give names of companies here but one needs to look at the performing companies and pick and choose the same. In conclusion I would recommend Cairn India, SesaSterlite, NTPC and NMDC as my top large cap picks where there is plenty of value available. SEBI Disclaimer: I have investments in the above mentioned 4 stocks.

Volatility Likely To Persist KAVITA CHACKO

Economist, CARE Ratings

2014 could be an eventful year for the Indian stock markets with the potential political changes in the offing likely to set the tone for the markets in the coming future. In addition to that key changes in the global market conditions viz. the cuts in the US economic stimulus too would have a bearing on the domestic markets. Market volatility which characterized the Indian stock markets in 2013 is likely to persist in 2014 as well. Foreign investors would continue to be the drivers of the markets and investor interest would continue to be in the large stock and sectors that saw foreign investments in 2013. Domestic investors are likely to stick to maintaining a low profile in these markets, at least till the general election outcomes. The markets, in the run up to the general election would be governed by both domestic and external factors. Although domestic economic parameters remain weak, there is a noticeable improvement in various segments giving rise to the belief that the worst may be behind us. The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GDP is likely to improve further in the remaining 2 quarters of the fiscal and Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current account has recorded encouraging narrowing along with the Rupee showing signs of stabilization. On the external front, the Fed announcement of a $10 bn cut in its monthly monetary stimulus programme starting Januaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;14, earlier than the hoped for

Marchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;14 timeline, is likely to result in an outflow of funds from the country. The Fed is likely to reduce its stimulus programme through the year. If the Fed is to announce a $10 bn reduction in stimulus at each of its meetings, it could end its whole massive and historical $85 bn monthly bond buying by Octoberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;14. The Fed tapering would no doubt see an influx of funds into the US markets and an outflow from emerging markets such as India. However, given that there has been no precedent of such tapering of easy money; there is no telling of what could be the outcome of this for the Indian equity markets. Moreover, India is believed to be better prepared to handle such outflows given the improvements in its balance of payment situation and positive outcome of the various policy measures to increase capital inflows into the country. Also, investor interest in India is likely to be sustained. The strong FII inflows into the equity markets over the years even during stressed times, is indicative of the potential the country holds for foreign investors. Markets could be in for some action, post the general elections of Mayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;14. Going by the record market reaction following the results of the state election wherein the opposition parties emerged victorious, a similar or decisive outcome for the general election could be positive for the Indian stock markets. Eventually it will be the domestic economic fundamental that would guide the markets. Worries on this account such high inflation, subdued industrial output, currency depreciation would continue to deter investors. The RBI as well as the government will have to work proactively and in conjunction to tackle these and build investor confidence.

2014 End Sensex Target Is 24,800 VARUN GOEL

Head PMS, Karvy Stock Broking

he past year turned out to be quite constructive for Indian equity. Markets made fresh life time highs on the back of improving domestic macros, supportive global equity and expected governance improvement in India after next general elections. The Sensex crossed the level of 21,200 after a gap of almost six years. FII reaffirmed their commitment towards Indian equities with more than 20 billion dollars invested in 2013. Indian equity markets have tended to

move up going into the general elections. The average return in the six month period going into the general elections has been 17.6% in the post liberalization era. We expect this time to be no different. We see 2014 bringing a new bull cycle into existence. A good monsoon, strong export sector, continued recovery in US and a stable Euro area are significant positives for equity markets. With domestic macro-economic data also on the mend, we are aggressive buyers of Indian equity. We have a 2014 end Sensex target of 24,800. We see 2014 bringing a new bull cycle into existence. A good monsoon, strong export sector, continued recovery in US and a stable Euro area are significant positives for equity markets.

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STOCK MARKET

India’s thought leaders focus on the issues of the coming year

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Bulls Will Enter The Year With An Edge And Optimism Focus Would Be On General AMAR Elections And The US QE Tapering KORADIA ARUN GOPALAN

VP, Research & Investments, Systematix Shares

believe the most important events determining the course of the Indian equity markets in 2014 would be of course be the General Elections and the US QE tapering. But there are a number of other factors too that would determine the course of the markets in the coming year. The US Tapering exercise will strengthen the USD vis-à-vis the INR, so we expect some weakness in the Rupee despite a better CAD scenario. We do not foresee a major negative impact of the US taper, as we believe the US$ 10 billion cut in the Fed’s monthly bond buying programme would not affect EM flows significantly. Also any crunch in liquidity would get somewhat offset by the easing measures undertaken by the Bank of Japan. Globally, we will continue to witness a steady return to growth in both the US and in the Eurozone economies. For the first time since 2008, we will see the developed markets show increased growth. In Emerging Markets, contrary to the move towards “de-coupled” economies after the Financial Crisis, next year we will witness a shift in focus towards the “re-coupled” economies. Though there is weakness in the domestic economy, the hopes of a change of guard and the election of reformist Government at the centre

has already spurred a rally, which we expect will continue into 2014. The markets want a stable government at the centre, no matter which party is elected. If the State elections held a few weeks ago are anything to go by, there is the obvious indication of a desire of the people to vote in reforms. Historically, the Indian markets have always given a pre-election rally. As far as the RBI and its interest rate policy is concerned, we believe that there may well be a rate hike in the January policy, with further room for one more hike. We do not see the RBI move towards cutting rates before Q2FY2015. So we might see the revival of the Capex cycle post the elections, once the rate cuts begin to kick in. From the election perspective one can look at PSUs and Oil & Gas stocks, which invariably tend to run-up before elections.

So where do we believe investors should be looking to invest their money in 2014? We are bullish on: (a) Sectors and companies that are Rupee sensitive – such as Information Technology and Pharma. Those companies with strong Dollar revenues would deliver the best returns to the investors, who would do well to invest in a mix of mid-cap and large cap Pharma and IT stocks. (b) We are in favour of some undervalued cyclical stocks such as Infrastructure stocks and PSU Banks. (c) From the election perspective one can look at PSUs and Oil & Gas stocks, which invariably tend to run-up before elections.

CMT, Sr. Technical Analyst, Tathastu Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd.

ith a sole focus on prices, one thing different about 2014 will be that we will start the year at a price point close to or above 6200-6250 levels which has not yet happened in the history of the Indian equity markets. Now, a sustained move above our multiple hurdle zone of 63506360 will confirm a strong uptrend on the price charts. The most important Sr. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Co. Name Adani Ports Cairn India Crompton Greaves Escorts Essel Propack M&M Punjab Natl.Bank Sesa Sterlite Torrent Pharma. Wipro

domestic trigger which most investors are watching out for is the general elections and formation of a stable government. A smoother political scenario will be the catalyst for the impending up move for which can take the markets close to 6850-7000 levels. On the downside levels of 58505950 should act as a floor for the intermediate corrections. We suspect the markets will continue to remain choppy and volatile irrespective of the prevailing trend. The most important reason behind this is the absence of domestic retail and HNI investors. The markets are now a battle ground where the specialists and professionals are fighting against each other making the short term movements and trends quite erratic. We presume this is the new normal.

More than being a secular bull or bear markets, the game is now about identifying stocks and sectors which will hold ground and outperform the indices on a relative basis and thus generate alpha for the portfolio. If one observes the sector specific action in the C.Y 2013, it is evident that the smart money has consistently indulged into sector rotation, time and again. Speaking of our view sectors, we see money flowing out of defensives like FMCG and Pharmaceuticals while we expect a big surge in sectors like Energy and Infrastructure which will be our top bets. The only thing very evident from all the observations and analysis is that the bulls will enter the year with an edge and optimism!

Sector CMP (Rs.) (26th Dec 2013) Infrastructure Developers & Operators 160.05 Crude Oil & Natural Gas 320.10 Capital Goods - Electrical Equipment 131.90 Automobile 139.70 Packaging 52.55 Automobile 959.10 Banks 629.85 Mining & Mineral products 199.30 Pharmaceuticals 478.00 IT - Software 547.65

Target (Rs) 219 421 202 179 68 1202 798 264 655 705

Upside Potential 37% 32% 53% 28% 30% 25% 27% 33% 37% 29%

Contributed by Jagannadham Thunuguntla, SMC Global Securities Ltd.

2014 Could Very Well Turn Out Be A Watershed Year

he year of 2014 in its entirety would be under the dual influence of the Lok Sabha polls and the longevity (or rather the lack of it) of Quantitative Easing (QE3 as it’s more popularly addressed). A stable economic scenario would insulate India somewhat to the tapering of QE3 which could begin anytime in March 2014 or soon after while an able government would be the anvil of such a counterbalancing act.

HEMEN KAPADIA

CEO, Chart Pundit.

Midcaps and small caps could stage a comeback and prove to be

multi-baggers while Banks (basically private sector) and Capital Goods could the favoured investment sectors while a weaker currency could put the spotlight back on defensives like IT & Pharma. 2014 could very well turn out be a watershed year in the history of the Indian stock markets while NaMo could usher in a 4-5 year overdue bull market, the time seems ripe for India to reclaim its lost financial glory.

Foreign Investors Believe BJP Coming To Power Could Be A Game Changer Markets To Benefit From Imminent Economic Revival K. V. SANIL KUMAR

Vice President, Sales, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services Ltd.

fter having swayed up and down during the year, we have seen Nifty ending up a net gainer of around 7% till now this year. This has been largely on account of the immense FII inflow that we saw this year which has crossed much above the 1 lakh crore mark to touch a record high this year. For a month or two we have seen FIIs pulling out money from our markets on fears that the Federal Reserve may start their stimulus tapering and high CAD of the country. But having taken crucial steps to bring down CAD, FII are somewhat convinced about the prospects of the market in the coming year. The biggest event in 2014 is, without doubt, the General Election and most of the foreign investors believe

BJP coming to power could be a game changer for the markets and are buckling up for the same. This is evident from the kind of participation that the FII have shown in the recent past in our market at every dips. Many expect greater reform momentum, combined with a removal of many uncertainties which could propel the economy forward and improve its diminishing growth potential in 2014. So it is going to be really interesting and good time ahead for the markets as the run up to the election would see more gains made in the markets. One another major event or a fear rather would be the US tapering of bond purchases which could diminish the shine a bit in the coming year. Among sectors, most preferred would be that which will benefit from an economic revival like auto, private banks and oil, which could gain from reforms of new government. Cyclical sectors like infrastructure and PSU banks would also come into lime light in 2014. The banking and financial sector may outperform in the coming year, as net NPAs may have reached the tipping point. Metal sector is also expected to show recovery as econom-

ic recovery will lead to rise in demand for metal. Also new banking licenses which are expected to be issued by January 2014 will be a green for the banking space as a whole. For 2014, the focus would be on infrastructural spending and the whole of the markets is expected to remain volatile as it was this year. For the new government, there would be a great deal of work to be done with regard to Inflation, industrial growth, current account deficit etc. Looking at the upside limit for Nifty, technically levels like 6700 and 7000 are likely to be achieved while on the downside, 5600 could be a bottom level. The single biggest risk for the markets in 2014 would be a hung Parliament. If that happens then, we are in for a prolonged period of slow growth and poor market sentiment. Looking at the upside limit for Nifty, technically levels like 6700 and 7000 are likely to be achieved while on the downside, 5600 could be a bottom level.

LALIT THAKKAR MDInstitution, Angel Broking

he continued global liquidity flows and improvement in domestic macro factors have aided equity markets to scale new highs in 2013. On the external front, I feel confident that we’re in much better shape now with self-correcting mechanisms playing out and resulting in a positive impetus to exports. The expectation of a turnaround in the presently subdued investment activity in the economy is being fuelled by anticipation of a strong, reform-led government at the centre. In my view, given the aspiration of growth amongst our demographics, any new government that comes to power would have to take up further structural reforms and also kickstart big-ticket investments to boost

business confidence thereby enhancing growth and job opportunities in the economy. In light of these positive developments and attributing a 15 times multiple to our Sensex EPS, we arrive at a Sensex target of 23,000 in the coming 12 months. Beyond this, I believe that markets are likely to at least give returns in line with the expected 13-15% earnings growth. Presently, the market rally is largely being driven by the front-liners in export-oriented and defensive space. I continue to maintain a positive stance on the outlook for export-oriented sectors like IT and pharmaceuticals. I’m also overweight on select metal stocks, considering recent capacity additions/ under-utilized capacity getting employed for exports and import substitution in the sector owing to the rupee depreciation. In addition considering the shaping up of positive cyclical factors, I also selectively prefer large private banks, as these continue to remain structurally strong and I believe that they are likely to benefit from an imminent economic revival.

Will Gold And Silver Shine Again? BULLION

India’s thought leaders focus on the issues of the coming year

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Gold as a commodity underwent a low tide after witnessing more than a decade long winning streak. Perception of investors changed towards gold from a safe-haven investment to a risky asset and the continuing threat of tapering by the Fed pushed gold prices to a low as $1179/oz in June’13. During the same period, Spot Silver prices fell to a low of around $18.18/oz. So can a recovery be expected?

Monetary Policy To Impact Precious Metals NAVEEN MATHUR

Associate Director, Commodities & Currencies, Angel Commodity Broking

ince stimulus spending in the US accounted for majority of the gains seen in case of gold, what we are seeing now in the commodity’s price trend is the effect of expected withdrawal of the same. The year 2013 has seen structural changes in gold from the fundamental perspective. With the Indian markets witnessing a slow demand growth period even during the traditional festive season, it shows that the change in fundamentals has actually happened globally. Over the past few years, weakness in the Dollar Index supported sharp gains in gold prices and hence we are now seeing gold prices correct as a

JYOTI WADHWANI Associate Economist, CARE Ratings

old prices started surging globally as soon as the US Federal Reserve resorted to quantitative easing in the aftermath of the 2008 global recession. Since, then injection of liquidity into the market by purchasing $85 billion worth of government bonds and financial assets every month kept interest rates at a low level. Thus, the bond purchases supported gold prices by weakening the dollar, which trades inversely with the yellow metal. Consequently, investments in gold have soared globally. The price of gold rose more than 60%

result of the fear of the pullback in stimulus spending. From an average of 87.15 in the year 2005, the DX witnessed a decline to average levels of 86.40 in 2006 and the further down to 80.79 in 2007. During these three years, gold prices in dollar terms had jumped from just an annual average of $445/oz in 2005, to $604/oz in 2006 and further up to $697/oz in 2007, showing a negative correlation of 0.8 between the Dollar Index and gold prices and an increase of a whopping 70 % in average gold prices (annual) during the same period. Average Spot Gold prices between 2007-2011 have seen a rise of around 160 % and during the same period, the Dollar Index remained below the crucial 80-mark; thus continuing to support upside in gold prices in dollar terms. This year too, while the DX has strengthened about 0.4 % year-to-date and although it tested a high of 84.95 on the 9th July’13, the currency has weakened considerably since and is currently trading around 80.05 levels as the

delay in tapering of the quantitative easing program has again added pressure on the DX. Despite this, gold prices haven’t recovered significantly during the second-half of the year as falling ETF holdings of the SPDR Gold Trust indicate deteriorating sentiments towards the precious metals pack. Gold as a commodity underwent a low tide after witnessing more than a decade long winning streak. Perception of investors changed towards gold from a safe-haven investment to a risky asset and the continuing threat of tapering by the Fed pushed gold prices to a low as $1179/oz in June’13. During the same period, Spot Silver prices fell to a low of around $18.18/oz. Consumption trends also showed a bearish period for gold as demand fell 21 % during the third-quarter of 2013. In the traditional Indian festival season of Diwali too consumers refrained from making major purchases due to risks over developments on the global economic front. Elevated price levels of gold and a supply shortage in the

Indian markets also deterred investors from buying gold. India is set to lose its position of the world’s top consumer of gold to China, the country which has seen an aggressive increase in demand for the yellow metal. Year-todate, (till 17th Dec’13), gold prices in dollar terms have slipped 26 %, but prices on the domestic futures market have slipped only around 5.5 % as weakness in the Rupee during the year has supported commodity prices in India, thus preventing major losses despite sharp correction in dollar terms. In 2013 (till 17th Dec’13), the Rupee has depreciated around 13 % and commodity prices in India have risen on account of this factor. For the coming year we expect the low tide in precious metals to continue on account of changing demandside fundamentals. In 2014, gold and silver are expected to see muted growth on the demand front as expectations of improvement on the global economic front will lead to further deterioration in demand for gold from the safe-haven perspective

Bullish Factors To Prevent Further Decline

since 2008. However, the speculation that U.S Federal Reserve would scale back its stimulus package towards the end of 2013 caused the gold prices to tumble sharply during the year. Why gold investors fear U.S scaling back its stimulus package? Tapering of $85 billion a month bond purchasing programme by Federal Reserve is likely to cause yields to rise. When yields go higher commodity market generally suffers. Hence, this would make the noninterest bearing asset like gold less attractive and would lead to a quick disinvestment from the precious metal. What can be expected next year? As U.S macroeconomic conditions show signs of improving in terms of falling unemployment rates and rising GDP growth, the Federal Reserve in its recent FOMC meeting on 18th

December 2013 announced that it would begin to gradually taper its quantitative easing program from January 2014 onwards. However, the macro–economic indicators although indicate improvement in economic conditions they are still not as strong as they are expected to be. Hence, the Federal Reserve has opted for a modest tapering of the stimulus package by $10billion a month. In addition to this, the committee also stated that it would retain the target interest rates to a near-zero level even if unemployment rate dips below the 6.5% level. Hence, the lower interest rates could continue to support the prices of gold. Besides, there are various other bullish factors that are set to prevent gold prices from further decline next year. One of these is that that gold has formed a solid base at around

$1,200/oz and this coincides with the approximate global average cost of production. This was evident from the fact that as gold slipped below the $1,200 mark in April’13 it bounced very quickly. Also, the possible breakdown in negotiations over the U.S debt ceiling is likely to raise the possibility of a price rise next year. There is also a possibility of a renewal of the budget crisis in the U.S. that could lead to safe haven buying. Considering the above possibilities, the international gold prices are not expected to decline further but remain range bound between $1,200/oz to $1,400/oz. On the domestic front; the demand is expected to remain stable as the Indian government has introduced a series of measures to curb gold imports, due to their contribution to the country’s trade deficit.

DESPAT CH & COURIER

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Buy Gold On Dips

y now everyone would believe that 2013 has been one of the worst years for gold. This year, gold has dropped 25 %, heading for the first annual drop since 2000. Some investors lost faith in the metal as a store of value amid a rally in U.S. equities to a record and muted inflation. But that doesn’t mean one should stop buying gold or other precious metals. If we take a look at gold’s performance over the past decades we see that gold has given highest returns compared to any other asset in its class. I would advise investors, to have patience and just follow one mantra “Buy on Dips” It’s quite difficult to predict gold prices. A trade range can though be noted down. There are a lot of factors that are involved in the making and breaking of gold prices. These factors influence the price of gold and gold is directly or indirectly dependent on them. What we assume that in case there is another eruption of a financial crisis or any new geo political crisis, then gold prices may break new highs and continue to rose strongly as a result of the supposed function of gold as a safe haven. Following will be the key factors that will be responsible for the movement of gold prices in 2014. US Debt ceiling, QE tapering, Demand for gold from China, Union Budget 2014 (for the domestic market), Mining companies, Interest rates, US economic data Gold is still at the mercy of the dollar. What this means is, it is as volatile as it is with the Fed’s backand-forth on the possible taper, gold will continue to play off what the dollar does into 2014. The average base price for gold in 2014 is expected to be 1375$ an ounce. In the domestic market gold is expected to move in a range of Rs.25, 000 - Rs.33, 000 per 10 gram and the average base price for the same is expected to be around Rs.28, 000. The average base price for Silver is expected to be around $25.00. The average base price for silver is the domestic market would be somewhere around Rs.45,000 per kg and the trade range for silver is expected to be Rs.37,000- Rs.55,000 per kg.

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Economy Expected To Improve Positively 16

ECONOMY

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

India’s thought leaders focus on the issues of the coming year

India is gradually recovering lost ground and an improvement is expected across all major macro-economic indicators in fiscal 2015. That’s the consensus view amongst a host of experts, although their optimism comes with a caveat: The government has to take strong structural measures to revive growth in Infra, Power and Mining… MURTHY NAGARAJAN Head, Fixed Income, Quantum AMC.

GDP Could Grow At 6.5 To 7% Over Next Many Years R

BI governor has stated it is difficult to take decisions in a situation of high inflation and low growth. He also stated, no single data point will form the basis for taking a decision on repo rates. The head line data point on CPI at 11.24% for the month of November is high, but the major contributors to this inflation is food inflation, vegetable inflation which has a weightage of 5.67% levels have shown an increase of 61% levels on a year on year basis. The cereals inflation is also running close to 12% levels on a year on year basis. Based on our analysis, we feel the CPI inflation may come down as vegetable prices have fallen in the month of December, but the core CPI inflation which excludes food and fuel is still at 7.97% levels. This should prompt, RBI to raise rates even though GDP growth outlook continues to remain weak. Index of Industrial production for the month of April to October is zero and the GDP growth is 4.6% for the first half of the year (4.4% in the quarter AprilJune, 4.8% in the quarter July – September 2013). The growth in GDP is due to increase in electricity generation and increase in agriculture output. CPI Inflation from hereon should show a downward trend, as food inflation should come down due to bumper harvest. We expect CPI inflation to come down to 8.5 – 9% and WPI inflation to come to around 7.00- 7.5% by March 2014. However, as RBI wants to keep real rates higher, it would hike rates by a final 25 basis points and bring the funding rates to 8% levels. We expect this rate hike should hold for some time as GDP growth of 5% levels is below the potential growth rate of 6.5% levels. As the currency has stabilized at a higher level, we expect export growth to pick up in the coming months. Accordingly, I expect that India may continue to record GDP growth of 6.5 to 7% over next many years.

SIDDHARTH RAJPUROHIT AVP Research, Tathastu Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd.

Expect GDP Growth In FY14 At 4.9% And 6% In FY15 Distinct Signs Of Improvement Visible

he economy is expected to perform significantly better in calendar year 2014 as opposed to 2013. Although far below the earlier projected growth rate (8-10%) for an emerging economy, India now appears to be recovering slowly from a rather difficult position it reached earlier in 2013. GDP growth rate witnessed continuous dips during a larger part of calendar year 2013. This was complimented with rising inflation for most part of the year as well. Further, with the exchange rate dependent on the Fed’s decision as regards tapering its quantitative easing program, depleting FIIs and widening current account deficit led to grave economic threats for the country. However, India is gradually recovering some lost ground and an improvement is expected across all major macro-economic indicators in fiscal 2015. The downward trend in the GDP growth rate reached a minimum of 4.4% in Q1 FY13. However, the growth rate was at 4.8% in Q2 FY14 owing to rise in agriculture, industries, electricity and financial sectors. More particularly, a The economy is expected to improve positively with a continued rise in GDP growth rate, expansion in infrastructure development, improvement in trade conditions and a gradual reduction in inflation.

GARIMA MEHTA

Associate Economist, CARE Ratings.

good monsoon resulting in a good kharif harvest has facilitated growth in agriculture. The production of coarse cereals, pulses and oilseeds are expected to grow positively in early 2014 as per the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation estimates. Overall, agriculture is likely to continue its growth in calendar year 2014. Another key factor to promote growth in 2014 will be the sectors of infrastructure and industries given the clearances passed by the government recently for several infrastructure projects. Industrial production is also witnessing improvement after a continuous downfall. Further, the Government is taking conscious steps to improve the growth rate of the economy. Its various policies will have a gradual positive impact on different sectors. Driven by these factors, the expected GDP growth rate in FY14 is 4.9% while that in FY15 is 6%. On the inflation front, the figures for WPI and CPI inflation were declining until August 2013. However, since then

Going To Be Far More Interesting RAGHVENDRA NATH MD Ladderup Wealth Management

he most talked about subject after Narendra Modi in 2013 has been the state of Economy. While the brand Modi ascended consistently through 2013 and perhaps may continue to grow strong in 2014, the brand India saw one of its most volatile years in recent times. The fiscal deficit worsened in the last year and though the honorable finance minister has promised to keep it at 4.8% of the GDP, it would require a lot of brilliant minds and copious amount of window dressing to achieve the target. The Indian Rupee touched a historical low of Rs.68.75 to a US Dollar. The depreciation in INR has been one of the steepest in the history. While US Dollar appreciated against all emerging market currencies, it did the most against INR on the back of nervous-

ness created by a weak economic situation and a large current account deficit. RBI is in a catch 22 situation where it is undecided on what to tackle first. If it tackles growth then the inflation goes up. And if it focuses on inflation, growth recovery gets prolonged. Raghuram Rajan without doubt would be the most watched man in 2014 by the capital market participants. Gold lost its sheen in the international market with an annual loss of around 27.47%. The prices in India were not impacted that much, as INR depreciated and the rise in import duty has cushioned the price fall. Fortunately there is some amount of moderation in people’s view on gold prices thereby resulting in sharp reduction in Gold imports. On the positive side, Stock markets have done relatively well in 2013 and looks like the markets could do even better in the next 3 years. Because of high interest rates, fixed income investments like fixed deposit and Tax free bonds did very well. RBI finally launched the much needed inflation indexed bonds that would provide real returns to retail investors. 2014 is definitely going to be far more interesting.

despite repeated repo rate hikes by the RBI, inflation has been rising continuously with WPI inflation reaching 7.5% and CPI inflation figure witnessing a record high of 11.24% in November 2013. More specifically, it is inflation in vegetable and fruit prices attributed to seasonal factors, which accounted for the high figures. However, the RBI has kept the repo rate unchanged owing to uncertainty surrounding the near future of inflation estimate and a long lag until the next policy. RBI will eventually ease the policy to promote growth once inflation is within normal corridor with projected WPI inflation at 6% and CPI inflation at 8% in FY15. However, it is only reasonable to expect some volatility in inflation as and when the Fed decides to taper off its easing program. This will then translate into a corresponding policy action by the RBI. The current government’s resolve to control the deficit is another positive sign for the economy. Upcoming elections and subsequently a fresh government with new policies and resolves will better the prospects of the economy with increased production and growth. Improvement in trade conditions are also likely to continue with the expected CAD at 3.25% of the GDP by the end of FY14. Hence, overall, the economy is expected to improve positively with a continued rise in GDP growth rate, expansion in infrastructure development, improvement in trade conditions and a gradual reduction in inflation going into calendar year 2014.

ARVIND PRADHAN

Director General, Indian Merchants’ Chamber

he projections, as brought out in several studies predict a real GDP growth of around 5.6% in 2013- 14. This shows a prospective position which appears encouraging and also compares with the Government’s expectation of 5% to 5.5% growth, which has also been accepted by the RBI. As against these, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just come out with a projection of 4.25%, which is low and appears rather pessimistic. India’s export demand has started looking up. Exports during AprilSeptember 2013 have shown a positive growth of 5.14% at US$ 152,105 million as against a negative growth of 6.2% in the corresponding period a year ago. The growth in September 2013 has been the highest in the first six months of the current financial year. There has also been some revival of portfolio flows and flows based on NRI deposits because the RBI has pro-

vided swap arrangements for them. The rupee’s exchange rate situation also seems to have stabilized. Secondly, RBI has reduced the effective interest rates for the bankers which may eventually result in some moderation in interest costs to the borrowers and incentivize investment activity in the economy. The agricultural sector has received timely and sufficient rainfall almost throughout the country. The sector is projected to grow at 4.0% in 2013-14, that is, much higher than the last year growth of 1.9%. Finally, the growth in private sector sales, profitability, and investment has bottomed out in 2012-13 and now signs of a rebound are seen. Revival of stalled projects, improved demand from the rural areas and the construction industry and improvement in exports are expected to give an impetus to corporate output and investment activities. Overall, it appears that though the Indian economy has suffered an allround slowdown, the time has come when one can see distinct signs of improvement. Further, given the possibility of a strong government at the Centre after the elections, and an increasingly aware electorate that demands accountability the Indian economy will grow and is likely to achieve the 12th Five-Year Plan target of 8.0% average growth.

Growth Likely To Remain Moderate BHUPALI GURSALE Economist, Angel Broking

he momentum of economic growth has decelerated considerably as against a 5-year average of about 9% in the 2006-11 period, due to both cyclical as well as domestic structural impediments. Headline real GDP growth has continued to stay put at the 4%-handle since four consecutive quarters. The economy is still reeling from weak private consumption demand, slowdown in investment activity and significant cutbacks on government spending owing to fiscal deficit considerations. Owing to these factors we believe that growth is likely to remain moderate and come in at a sub-5% level during FY2014 as a whole. But over the past couple of months, some positive factors have shaped up - namely strong export performance,

REAL ESTATE

India’s thought leaders focus on the issues of the coming year

moderation in our current account deficit and an anticipated pick-up in agricultural production. The boost to exports from sharp rupee depreciation as well as revival of demand from advanced economies has aided the economy in more ways than one. It has resulted in real GDP growth coming in higher at 4.8% in 2QFY2014 as compared to 4.4% in the previous quarter coupled with support from agricultural sector. In addition, led by the robust growth in exports and import compression owing to curbs on gold, the CAD for 2QFY2014 moderated sharply to 1.2% of GDP as compared to 4.9% of GDP in 1QFY2014. The risks to financing of the CAD have sharply subsided with timely policy measures taken by the RBI and government to attract capital inflows through hiking investment limits for FIIs and FDI, incentivizing debt, NRI and banking capital inflows. We believe that the improvement in the CAD itself along with materially reduced risks to its financing are likely to render the external sector much more resilient to Fed’s eventual tapering of QE3 over the coming few months. Meanwhile, the major concern ema-

nating from high inflation mainly on account of food inflation is also likely to ease going forward owing to better agricultural production. To a large extent, elevated headline inflation has restricted policy action from the RBI and government to support growth. In fact government-led stimulus during the crisis period has contributed to widened deficits and spurred inflation in the economy. On the fiscal deficit front, the government has committed to reining in the deficit at 4.8% of GDP during FY2014 and its track record on the same for the previous year strengthens its credibility. We believe that policies aimed at clearing supply-side bottlenecks and encouraging private investment are the need of the hour as they are likely to boost potential growth without accelerating inflation to a large extent. Going into FY2015, we do believe that an economic recovery is imminent as global growth recovers and external demand improves having a positive impact on non agricultural growth, domestic macroeconomic imbalances are being addressed by policymakers and greater policy certainty post the general elections provides an impetus to investment growth.

New Beginning? he year 2014 starts with the same overhang as 2013, but the amplitude has been significantly lowered. Also to change the mood of the nation which has shown rage against the current government it has already started measures to bring economy back on track. One of the grave issues that India was facing, that it may end up with a Balance of Payment deficit has been significantly abated with curb on gold imports. Also with slight uptick in exports, the CAD is now expected to be sub 3%. This would act as a support against further depreciation of currency if the US Fed starts its QE tapering. The biggest challenge for India would be a clear verdict to any of the National party in the May 2014 General Election. Although India holds huge potential the policy logjam has almost killed the growth. To resolve the current mess in India, the government has to take strong structural measures to revive the growth in Infra, Power and Mining. The clear and transparent implication of land acquisition bill remains a key concern. CERC has allowed Tata Power and Adani Power to pass on the higher imported coal prices to consumers as they were witnessing huge losses. However it is still on papers as all the stakeholders have not approved the hike. Justice MB Shah has submitted his final report on illegal iron ore mining in India which will be tabled in the parliament. Post acceptance and application of the suggestion we may see the current ban on mining be lifted. This would not only be a sigh of relief for the miners but also the steel industry would be a beneficiary. However, the coal allocation scam and the significant fall in KG D6 output stares at the face of India, which are already having its dire implications on Indian economy. Resolution of these issues in a fair and transparent manner is very important for reviving the investment cycle in mining and Oil & Gas exploration sector. With estimated one trillion US Dollars of investment in Infrastructure over the next five years and backed by a huge consumption potential, the nation holds great strength to gradually clock in 7% to 8% GDP growth rate, only if all the road blocks are been cleared. However we believe that India GDP growth has bottomed out and would post a gradual upward trajectory and expect it to be in the range of 5.5% to 6.0% for 2014.

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Home Buyers Should Consider First Half Of 2014 For Investing O n the whole, India’s real estate market is expected to remain subdued over the remainder of 2013. Recent indications of a revival in the global and domestic economy, however, should contribute towards better performance and improved economic prospects by mid-2014. Key trends expected to govern realty investments going forward will include funds with smaller ticket sizes; third party exits; and the entry of new investment instruments, such as REITs. Major global private equity (PE) players are expected to continue to show interest in IT parks, IT SEZs, mixed-use and residential projects. Domestic and international PE firms are also expected to continue collaborating with reputed developers to build large asset portfolios, while diversifying their presence based on geography and asset type. Given the prevailing economic sentiment and subdued demand levels, it is likely that the trend of an occupier-dominated market will continue well into 2014. An emerging trend in India’s realty sector has seen various off-shore funds and key institutional players turning to investments in core commercial assets. Although the residential segment will continue to attract interest as before, this emergent opportunity—perhaps indicative of a maturing market—will see major global as well as domestic investment firms being attracted to large office space portfolios. In line with ongoing macro-economic conditions, home buyer sentiments will continue to remain cautious well into 2014. Already burdened with piled up inventory from earlier quarters, developers in the housing segment may con-

ANSHUMAN MAGAZINE CMD, CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd.

tinue to focus on clearing off unsold units, and alternative funding sources, rather than launching fresh projects in the short to medium term. This demand/supply mismatch is also likely to pressurise price points in select micro-markets. Prominent development firms with projects in good locations, however, will continue to attract interest; and hence hold on to their pricing structures in all likelihood. Home buyers may consider the first half of 2014 for investing in good housing properties, should the present market sentiments and soft valuation trend continue till H1 2014. In case the current trend of an end-user market persists into early-2014, price points in the premium/luxury as well as highend/mid-end segments are likely to remain stable. Demand in the retail real estate space, meanwhile, is expected to remain steady. The rate of new store openings is expected to increase over the course of the year with a number of major fashion groups planning market entry and/or expansion in the coming months. On the legislative side, while clarity has been provided on sourcing and city spread, there is still confusion over FDI regulations concerning limitations on minimum investments and cre-

ation of back-end retail infrastructure. It is expected that the government will continue to resolve the concerns of overseas retail groups willing to invest in India. There are vast growth opportunities for our realty sector yet, especially where urbanization and related largescale infrastructure is concerned. According to CBRE’s research report on Assessing the Economic Impact of the Real Estate Sector, the sector’s longterm prospects appear positive, with a potential increase in completed space from 3.6 billion sq.ft in 2013 to about 8.2 billion sq.ft by 2025. This will generate significant employment opportunities, with annual employment expected to increase from 7.6 million in 2013 to almost 17 million in 2025. Consequently, the contribution of the real estate sector to the economy is also expected to more than double from 6.3% in 2013 to almost 13% in 2025. This projected expansion, however, is subject to an effective utilization of the potential opportunities for growth and implementation of relevant policy measures to resolve bottlenecks. Reforms are specifically required in areas, such as slow project approval processes, supply logjams, opening up key sectors to FDI, and infrastructure creation through PPP projects. Reforms are specifically required in areas, such as slow project approval processes, supply logjams, opening up key sectors to FDI, and infrastructure creation through PPP projects

Metro To Boost Demand In Peripheral Areas MUKESH CHATTANI

Sector Specialist, Real Estate, CARE Ratings

ue to high real estate prices and limited availability of land in prime real estate markets, the peripheral residential real estate markets are likely to see quick recovery on account of increasing urbanization. Moreover, the areas with infrastructure initiatives are also likely to perform well. For instance, the development of metro rail network and mono rail across couple of micro markets of Mumbai has boosted real estate demand in peripheral areas. Similar infrastructure projects across India at various stages, which will improve connectivity and convenience, are likely to boost real estate demand in peripheral areas. In short to medium term, another trend that is likely to gain foothold is preference for developers with track record with maintaining the deliverables

schedule in view of recent delays in project schedule of majority of the projects. Thus, location along with developer background will be key factors related to decision concerning investment in residential projects in short to medium term. Within the commercial segment the overall outlook still remains cautious. The pick-up in absorption levels is likely to remain subdued and rentals will remain under pressure. On the other hand the small and medium office space demand is likely to remain stable. Retail real estate sector may not see much traction in immediate future due to the ongoing slowdown in the Indian economy and evolving phase of Indian retail sector. Nevertheless, with gradual clarity on issues surrounding permission of FDI in multi brand retail, the retail real estate developers are also likely to benefit from demand from international retailers. Besides, introDemand in general is likely to start gradually picking up from CY2014 onwards primarily for developers with aggressive pricing and marketing strategies

duction of REITS is likely to have a longterm positive impact on the lease-generating commercial real estate. On the other hand, with implementation of new Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement bill may impact the profitability of large real estate projects. Due to rapid urbanization, increasing income levels, favourable demographics and increasing trend of nuclear families in India the real estate sector has seen healthy growth in the last couple of years with few cyclical dips in recent years. Furthermore, various macroeconomic indicators have shown signs of improvement, current account deficit has narrowed, exchange rate has improved and appears to be stabilized and GDP for Q2FY14 has improved as compared to Q1FY14. With the signs of improvement in the overall macroeconomic environment, the growth in real estate sector in India is also likely to follow similar trend. Moreover, with the improving approval rate along with various policy initiatives to improve transparency, the demand for the real estate sector in general is likely to start gradually picking up from CY2014 onwards primarily for developers with aggressive pricing and marketing strategies.

Banking Faces A Multitude Of Challenges BANKING

India’s thought leaders focus on the issues of the coming year

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

As the savings rates decline and indebtedness rises in Indian households, the banking sector in the country is seen more vulnerable to the vagaries of economic cycles. But the RBI is seized of the situation and policy changes that are contemplated in the medium term are hopefully expected to reinforce the dynamism of the entire financial system VIKRAM DHAWAN

Lag Effect Of Slowdown And High Interest Rates Weighing On Banks REVATI KASTURE

CGM & Head, CARE Research & Grading Services

ross NPAs of banking industry have reached levels last seen eight years ago. Top 10 PSU banks in terms of gross NPA ratio, accounting for 57% of the total PSU banks gross advances, have exhibited the gross NPA ratios above the 4% psychological barrier as on September 2013. Industry sources and press reports indicate that restructuring through bilateral and CDR route is at an all time high, and more cases are in the pipeline. With the economy largely remaining subdued and amid expectations of persisting slowdown in FY14e, CARE Research believes that the gross NPA ratio of the industry is likely to be > 4%

by FY14e (primarily driven by expectations of PSU banks gross NPA ratio touching 5% by FY14e), demonstrating the lag effect of the slowdown and high interest rates weighing on Indian banks. Amid low loan growth scenario, the profitability of banking industry is expected to witness pressure on account of 1) contraction in margin (NIM) on account of funds sourced at elevated interest rates and higher interest income reversal on growing restructuring, 2) continued asset quality issues leading to higher provisioning requirement, 3) rising operating costs, and 4) weak fee/trading income. CARE Research foresees an elongated period of stress in the Indian banking system unless some regulatory support is provided, and there is measurable and sustainable recovery in the general economic environment. Further we expect the trend of divergence in performance parameters of the two groups of banks to continue in FY14e.

Director, Equentis Capital

s witnessed in certain Western economies in recent years, deteriorating asset quality of banking and financial institutions has the potential to push any economy into a financial crisis and the same holds true for Indian banking sector and its economy in 2014. As per RBI data, the Indian Banks have around 35-40% exposure to cement, construction and infrastructure segment. These sectors are quite vulnerable to Economic Slowdown, High Nominal Interest Rates and Policy Paralysis and unfortunately all of these three evils are pretty much present in India right now and are likely to persist at least in the medium term. The recent financial meltdown in the Western Economies has taught us that it takes as little as 5% of borrowers to default to bring the financial system of a country to its knees. Apart from economic slowdown, the weakness in the asset quality is also attributed to the high nominal interest

Still In The Woods rates and policy paralysis. Conventionally, the Indian consumers and investors have been extremely conservative and had avoided excess leverage in the past. However all that is rapidly changing due to rise in purchasing power and changing demography in favour of a younger population. As the savings rates decline and indebtedness rises in Indian households, the banking sector in the country is seen more vulnerable to the vagaries of economic cycles. The decline in household savings rate coupled with rising household indebtedness is an effect of higher inflation as rising prices of hard assets disincentives savings and entices leveraged bets on assets like Real Estate and Gold albeit for the short to medium term only. To put more pain to the agony, news on the employment front has not been encouraging though there is lack of credible data to substantiate it. But the available employment data alludes to high joblessness and weak job creation in a slowing economy. As a result, Indian Banks that have been considering retail lending as a safe haven, may see a substantial part of auto, home and personal loans go

sour in 2014. The Indian Banking sector boasts of equivalent of over $ 1.0 trillion in advances and is an all-important engine of growth for the Indian Economy. The sector generates income equivalent of around $150 billion annually and employs over 1 million people making it a significant wealth and job creator in our country’s economy. But the equity valuation of the public sector banks, in particular are ridiculously low as many of them continue to languish at fraction of their book values for the fear of hidden NPAs leading to more than expected writing them off by way of non-performing assets. The private banks story is no different as they too are vulnerable to deterioration of asset quality in the retail space and there may be some more downside from here. We would advise investors to stick to those banks backed by sound management with proven track records and relatively modest portfolio of home, auto and personal loans along with limited exposure to cement, construction and infrastructure. We would rate the Banking Sector as a whole as Underperformer for 2014.

Asset Quality Pressures Are Likely To Continue NPAs Causing Concern VAIBHAV AGARWAL

VP, Research, Banking, Angel Broking

sset quality stress has remained at elevated levels for Indian Banks over the last few years, and has severely affected the sector’s performance and outlook. Slippages for the banking industry have continued to trend northwards for the last couple of years. Even in 2QFY2014, Indian bank’s fresh NPL formation remained high at 3.1%, although was slightly better on a qoq/yoy basis (3.7% in 1QFY2014 and 3.4% in 2QFY2013). Asset quality pressures are likely to continue at elevated levels going ahead until the macro environment improves (though pace of deterioration could moderate further here on - given the seasonally better historical trends in second half of the fiscal and aided by sale to ARCs in case of few of our coverage banks). Apart from asset quality, MTM losses on AFS book are likely to

grab the limelight in coming quarter. Given the current state of yields, the un-provided MTM losses as of 2QFY2014, are likely to require meaningful provisioning for PSU banks (no provisioning for new Pvt. Banks on this count - as they have already provided fully) in the coming quarter. Within our coverage banks, un-provided MTM losses as a proportion of operating profits for second half of the fiscal are relatively high for Dena Bank at around 31% followed by Indian Overseas Bank at 29%, Vijaya and Canara Bank at 24% and Corporation Bank at 19%. Credit growth, after witnessing sudden acceleration in last quarter to 17.7% yoy aided by shift from Commercial paper borrowings to loans, has now again moderated to 14.2% yoy as of November 29, 2013. Aided by strong accretion in FCNR (B) deposits under the RBI’s concessional swap scheme, deposits for the banking system grew at 16.1% yoy (influx of FCNR (B) deposits aided deposit growth by around 100bp). In the coming quarter, healthy capital adequacy for most of the private names positions them to register above system-average loan growth, and is expected to lead to a

NII growth slightly higher than their loan growth supported by healthy deposit growth. Higher deposits growth would also lend some support to the NII growth of PSU banks, which would have come in rather subdued on back of moderate advances growth for these names. As far as our outlook on the Indian Banks is concerned, from a structural perspective, we remain cautious on PSU banks as a segment, given the challenges they face in terms of a) low capital adequacy and core profitability (for many of them; which increases the risk of book dilutive capital raising), and b) higher competitive intensity Asset quality pressures are likely to continue at elevated levels going ahead until the macro environment improves (though pace of deterioration could moderate further here on (not only loss of deposits and credit market share, but also of profitability - as current credit cycle evidently highlights adverse asset selection on part of PSUs and superior selection by Pvt. banks).

DR. DHANANJAY SAMANT

Director and Chief Economist, IMC

anks will have to face a multitude of challenges while conforming to the emerging regulatory and supervisory framework and in meeting the divergent needs of the economy. In the near term, banks need to focus on improving their asset quality. NPA ratios being what they are, the banking sector could face additional stress considering factors like the volatile forex market, slowdown in investment activities, uncertain global commodity prices, consumption demand and interest rate movements. There has been a sharp increase in the amount of debt restructured under the corporate debt restructuring mechanism. This has implications for the banks’ already stressed asset quality in the years ahead. However, we have a Central Bank that is seized of the sit-

uation and policy changes that are contemplated in the medium term will help further reinforce the dynamism of the entire financial system. As far as inclusive growth goes, it is recognized that access to finance is still hard for the poor, for rural, small and medium industries and also for the small and marginal traders. Banks need to play a much larger role in a faster, broad-based and inclusive growth leading to a rapid fall in poverty. An assessment of the progress made in financial inclusion since the introduction of Board-approved Financial Inclusion Plans reveals that while there has been considerable progress in the number of accounts opened, the actual number of transactions per account or per business correspondent (BC) continues to be extremely low. The low transaction levels indicate inadequacies on both the demand and supply sides. In this context, financial literacy efforts are expected to enhance access to the financial system by increasing levels of awareness in the aam aadmi. However, much progress in financial inclusion seems unlikely in the coming year.

India’s thought leaders focus on the issues of the coming year

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

« TOP VIEW We have a huge dependence on imports of electronic goods. That has to be urgently addressed and India has to start making its own chips. ...the consortium both led by the US companies have been sanctioned, which involved subsidies which the government of India will give for chip fabrication to about Rs 27,000 crore.

—Commerce & Industry Minister Anand Sharma

« STRAIGHT TALK

ROOP KARNANI

is a Senior Journalist, Author and Industry Analyst

Markets Positively Trended NSE India : CNX Nifty — Daily Market Report for: Monday (December 30, 2013) By Dominic Rebello

REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS DAY:

The Nifty rose moderately on Friday (December 27, 2013) a net 34.90 points (0.56%) and closed at the 6313 point level. The market opened up with a gap at the 6292 points level. It then declined by a few points and registered the day’s low at the 6289 points level at 9.16 a.m. The index then rose and turned into a range bound movement until 1.30 p.m. It then rose sharply and registered the day’s high at the 6324 points level at 1.39 p.m. The index then turned into a range bound movement until closing at the day. The Nifty remained above its previous close throughout the session, moved in a range of 36 points and closed above the psychologically important 6300 points level. Sentiment was bullish and amongst the 50 Nifty stocks 31 were gainers, while 19 were losers. All the sectoral indices barring oil & gas and auto closed in the green. Substantial buying was seen in IT and technology stocks. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: Volume: Volume (Qty shares) decreased 32.35%. This change is substantial and indicates a less than full participation by investors. Market Breadth: Overall Market Breadth on the NSE was positive. Amongst all the traded stocks, 786 were gainers, 629 were losers and 57 remained unchanged. Slow Stochastic Indicator: The Slow Stochastic Oscillator has risen in the neutral zone. The Slow K line in the Stochastic Oscillator is above the slow D line (positive if it continues).

RSI Indicator: The RSI is above the 40 level and is now rising (positive if it continues). MACD Indicator: The MACD is above zero and is rising (positive if it continues). It is above its 9-day Average (positive).

All the four averages are positively trended. Positive.

Overall Market Strength/Weakness: The indicators and oscillators discussed here are indicating a strong market with a positive bias.

Support Levels: For short-term traders the immediate main support is at the 5958 points level. The next support is at the 5877 points level.

Resistance Levels: The immediate main resistance is at the 6372 points level. The next resistance is at the 6424 points level.

Pivot Point Analysis: For intra-day traders the support and resistance levels are calculated according to the pivot point theory and are: Pivot point = 6309 (This is the level where the trend is likely to change during intra-day). Support (1) = 6294. Support (2) = 6274. Resistance (1) = 6329. Resistance (2) = 6345. OUTLOOK FOR TODAY: On Japanese candlestick patterns the index after having formed a doji pattern (indicating indecisiveness amongst investors) has formed a white body candle. This is positive and indicates that the bias has shifted towards the buy side of the market. Further, the index is above its 5, 15, 25 and 200 days moving averages and all the four averages are rising and also positively trended. Moreover, the velocity parameters too indicate strength. All these indicate a positive bias and the possibility of a further up move unfolding. Investors are advised to hold long positions but with a strict stop loss at the 15-day average at the 6251 point’s level.

Work with strict stop losses on all positions

ADX Indicator & DI Lines: The +DI line is above the – DI line and both lines are diverging (positive if it continues). The ADX is rising while the Market Index is rising, which indicates that the present up trend is increasing in strength.

MOVING AVERAGES (TREND INDICATORS) The index: Is above its 5-day average (at 6283) Positive. Is above its 15-day average (at 6251) Positive. Is above its 25-day average (at 6203) Positive. Is above its 200-day average (at 5905) Positive.

Disclaimer: Investment recommendations made in ‘ADC’ are for information purposes only and derived from sources that are deemed to be reliable but their accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. ‘ADC’ or the analyst/writer does not accept any liability for the use of this column for the buying or selling of securities. Readers of this newspaper who buy or sell securities based on the information in this newspaper are solely responsible for their actions. ‘ADC’ and/or its affiliates and/or employees and/or the author, his company or his acquaintances may have interests/ positions, financial or otherwise in the securities mentioned in this newspaper.

Looking Ahead To 2014

t may not be euphoria yet, but signs are that 2014 will definitely be better than the year gone by. The Nifty, which is currently close to 6300 and Sensex at around 21,000, should see levels of 23,000 and 7,000 in the next 4 months or so. The immediate event to watch out for will be the actual kickoff of QE3 taper and followed by the earnings season, which kicks off in real earnest when the IT bellwether Infosys announces its Q3 earnings around the 10th or 11th of January. QE3 taper may turn out to be a non-event for Indian markets, now that the Rupee is stable and the CAP well under control. Earnings are expected to grow a 15 to 17% this quarter, which should take the markets higher. In January we also have the RBI policy review. I personally don’t think that Dr. Raghuram Rajan will hike interest rates, even this time around. A status quo may help lift sentiments. Overall, January 2014 looks good. This will be followed by the Vote-on-account in February and the Railway Budget. After that we then come to the April earnings season, which again should see earnings grow at around 15 to 17% in the normal course. Then it will be a run-up to the big event of the year – the May 2014 elections. Expect markets to be volatile after April, through May and June, till such time as a government takes charge. Give it some time to settle and only in Q3 will it be clear what policy direction the new government takes. Economists and political pundits are united in the view that whichever government comes at the centre, it is certain to have development right on the top of its agenda. This bodes well for markets. The new government will try to remove bottlenecks and push infrastructure development as one of its priorities. Tackling inflation will be another priority and this might help RBI lower rates aggressively. A clear reversal of rate cycle may be seen only in the second half of FY14-15, which in turn will boost both growth and market sentiment. Global cues are also positive as we begin 2014. US is expected to notch up a GDP growth of 3% or thereabouts. Europe should come out of stagnation and inch its way higher. China too has targeted a GDP growth in excess of 7.5%. India, experts believe should be growing iys GDP anywhere between 5 and 5.5%. FIIs are bullish about India as we go into the New Year. They believe that just like in the US, the stock market in India too will go up first, before the real economy also starts growing. If we look back 2 to 3 months, the rally was limited to IT and pharma stocks, that too in select 6 to 8 large caps. Today, we have a lot more participation from the market and other sectors, such as metals, capital goods, real estate, power and telecom stocks have begun to move upwards, some of them quite meaningfully. The Rupee in the meantime is expected to appreciate to around Rs. 60 to the dollar by March-end, but will close the calendar year slightly weaker than where it is today.

« BROKERAGE RECOMMENDATIONS KOTAK SEC CALLS A ‘BUY’ ON SUN TV NETWORK CMP: Rs. 376

Target Rs. 430

CMP: Rs. 161

Target Rs. 198

CMP: Rs. 273

Target Rs. 334

HDFC SEC CALLS A ‘BUY’ ON CENTURY ENKA MICROSEC CALLS A ‘BUY’ ON HATHWAY CABLE

Many Factors Influencing Rupee 20

CURRENCY

India’s thought leaders focus on the issues of the coming year

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Surveys indicate that business confidence is not strengthening, and that will reflect in the strength of the rupee. Indian exporters continue to face administrative impediments that lead to an increase in their transaction costs and thus, reduce their global competitiveness. All this does not augur too well for the rupee. SHAILESH VAIDYA President, Indian Merchants’ Chamber

Short Term Uncertainties Remain

oing forward, the rupee may strengthen marginally, but a fair amount still depends on how our agricultural sector performs. The current WTO agreement in Bali does offer hope to our agricultural sector and incentivizes its performance not the least by cutting red tape in customs procedures globally. There is thus a clear opportunity for boosting agricultural exports and remittances, as well as for foreign investors to enter at an attractive entry level. The fiscal deficit is also on track to achieve targeted numbers and there is a clear articulation of intent as well as action to contain CAD. We should derive comfort from the fact that we are still a growing economy in a relatively stagnant world and if we can make internal sentiment turn positive, more than half the battle is won. That will spur consumption and investment within the country, address GDP growth concerns and restore fiscal balance. All this will reflect clearly in a strong and stable currency. Many short term uncertainties remain a destabilizing factor for the rupee. For example, international market uncertainties remain associated with how (if at all) economic recovery occurs in the Euro area. Domestic uncertainties stem from how the government handles the protracted slowdown, falling corporate earnings, and the risks of political uncertainties associated with the looming national elections. Surveys also indicate that business confidence is not strengthening, and that will reflect in the strength of the rupee. Indian exporters continue to face administrative impediments that lead to an increase in their transaction costs and thus, reduce their global competitiveness. All this does not augur too well for the rupee.

Rupee To Remain Volatile

he Rupee is not yet totally out of woods as the year 2014 has in store a set of challenges for the Indian currency market including the major event of general elections. RBI has kept it monetary policy hawkish for the last 3 years in an attempt to control persistent elevated inflation. However, despite the tight monetary policy, RBI has had little success in controlling inflation so far. The tight monetary policy is likely to continue in early 2014 as well, which will be negative for economic growth and also for the Rupee. RBI may turn its focus on growth by lowering interest rates if it manages to control inflation in 2014 which could improve domestic economic activity and induce greater overseas investments leading to stronger Rupee. Concerns over Twin Deficits of Fiscal deficit and CAD have eased lately as steps taken by the Govt. have shown positive results. Uptrend in exports amid lower Gold imports has led to lower trade deficits in the latter half of 2013. CAD is expected to fall below $50 billion in FY 2013-14 from $88 billion in previous year. However, substantial risks remain. A rally in Crude oil prices or a spurt in Gold imports in 2014 can worsen the fragile recovery. India currently has the lowest investment grade rating from the three rating agencies – S&P, Moody’s and Fitch. Deteriorating economic condition leading to a downgrade to junk status may lead to flight of Capital from India resulting in sharp Rupee

SURESH NAIR

Director, ADMISI Forex India Pvt. Ltd.

weakness. Recovery in the US economy and the likely tapering of US monetary stimulus program in early 2014 will likely maintain Dollar firmness in early 2014. However, a continuation of loose monetary policies by the Fed may keep the inflows to emerging markets helping the Rupee. The elephant in the room as far as Indian Capital and currency markets are concerned is the outcome of 2014 General Elections. Formation of a stable, growth oriented Government. at the centre can greatly enhance the attractiveness of India as an investment destination and can be a major supportive force for the Rupee. However, an unstable coalition Govt. can lead to downgrade by rating agencies potentially triggering a significant fall in Rupee. Rupee may face selling pressure early in year 2014 on strong Dollar and fragile domestic recovery. Resistance for USDINR is at 69, its all time high level achieved in 2013. Supports are seen at 56 levels.

Expect The Rupee To Stay Below 60 RAGHU KUMAR

Co- founder, RKSV

n 2014, the RBI’s focus will be to ensure that a repeat of 2013 does not happen; that is, the Rupee should not be volatile and instead should stay range bound and consistent. This is important for the economy due it being an election year. The markets need to have the surety of knowing that the Rupee can be depended upon to stay within a comfortable range so that import/export companies can continue to do business without currency fluctuation worries.

By early 2014, the Rupee should appreciate to around 60 due to the forthcoming repo rate hikes by the RBI due to rising inflation levels. The reason being, when interest rates are increased, it causes greater demand for the Rupee versus other currencies; hence, the Rupee appreciates. FII’s will increase their deployment of funds into India for investment purposes. If inflation levels are able to be brought down to a comfortable level- say, below 5% (WPI Inflation), then the RBI will probably keep the headline interest rate steady and we can expect the Rupee to stay below 60. The Rupee’s forecast is also highly dependent upon factors outside India’s control. All in all, in 2014, the Rupee should stay rangebound between 55-60 and the markets can expect intervention by the RBI to ensure that it stays that way.

Destined For A Bumpy Ride

upee seems to be destined for a bumpy ride ahead in 2014 and in all eventuality trade above 60 levels for the better part of 2014 and at some instances may even hover above its all-time high. There are three major events which are going to determine the movement of Indian Rupee in following 12 months, in the absence of positive economic reforms in the country to boost dollar supply. These primary events are Fed’s action on the Stimulus program, Repayment of India’s Forex debts which matures in March 2014 and Outcome of the General Election in 2014 apart from RBI’s policy measures to contain inflation and boost money supply in the economy. The Fed has started its tapering process by reducing the bond purchase program by 10 billion USD from 85 billion USD every month to 75 billion USD from January 2014. However, markets are anticipating further trimming of the bond purchase program which is going to be of more concern to Indian Rupee. The second important factor, which is going to impact the Indian Rupee is the repayment of Forex debts, which currently stands at a staggering 172 billion USD, which has to be repaid by 31st March 2014. Since repayment of Forex Major financial reforms, which are unlikely to happen before Q3 2014, it might not be surprising if we see some new high in USD INR pair above 70 levels in 2014

PRAMIT BRAHMBHAT CEO, Alpari Financial Services (India)

debts has to be made in Dollars, there is going to be huge rush for Dollar demand by corporates who have Forex debts to be repaid. Outcome of the Lok Sabha election results will also be another key event . Rupee is also susceptible to lot of other risks like low growth, high inflation, lack of financial reforms etc., which will push RBI to keep interest rates high. However in the long run, high interest rates will cool off inflation, which will be a boon for Indian Rupee. Moreover, with Finance ministry discussing with few like-minded countries for Rupee swap arrangements to boost trade, if materialised 2014, might give some respite to Rupee from violent trading sessions which it is going to witness in 2014. 65 is definitely imminent a quarter from now, but it will be key to see how much ammunition RBI deploys from its bolstered reserve to support Rupee to keep it at a comfortable level to give some boost to Foreign Investors and companies to come and invest money in India. But without any major financial reforms, which are unlikely to happen before Q3 2014, it might not be surprising if we see some new high in USD INR pair above 70 levels in 2014.

Rupee Could Weaken REENA ROHIT

Chief Manager, Non Agri Commodities & Currencies, Angel Commodity Broking

On the domestic currency front – we have seen that the Rupee has largely stabilized from levels above 68 to below 62-mark currently. Surely, the new RBI Governor has shown a fasttrack approach towards correcting sharp depreciation in the Rupee, with various measures and actions directed towards the same. India is now not only reaping the benefits of a stable Rupee but is also seeing the positive impact of aggressive actions by the government and the central bank in terms of a lower CAD, which was the key concern from the Indian economic

point of view. The Rupee was driven to an all-time low of 68.93 during Aug’13 but for the coming year, markets are likely to witness a stable currency as prudent and continuous measures targeted towards controlling weakness in the currency will be helpful. Trend in the currency will be dependent on different factors that will play a role during different time periods… From a three months perspective, we feel that the following factor will impact the currency – (1) FII inflows, (2) developments on the political front, (3) economic growth, (4) dollar demand, (5) impact on markets post the joining of Janet Yellen as Federal Reserve Chairwoman in Jan’14 and (6) measures by the RBI targeted towards curbing Rupee depreciation. All in all, the next three months look positive for the Rupee and we expect the currency to appreciate. Over a year’s time horizon as a whole we expect the Rupee to weaken.

Afternoon Despatch & Courier www.afternoondc.in

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Robin Shukla | ADC

robin.shukla@afternoondc.in

WRITING IS REWARDING! BOOK REVIEWS

This week we bring you the best in Indian writing, eight books that won the Crossword Book Awards 2013 in the Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children, Translation, and Popular categories. The first three categories had two authors tied for the awards, resulting in joint declarations. INDIAN FICTION

When the pills don’t work

From behind the mists of the North East

M and the big Hoom by Jerry Pinto is a compassionate book about a son coming to grips with his mother’s mental illness, even as he watches the rest of the world, including his family, deal with it in their own way. There is very endearing insight into the Catholic mindset, most interestingly from the mother Em’s perspective which, thanks to her bipolar disorder, swings from amiable to downright nasty. It is moving to see family members take it all in their stride, overlooking without neglecting. The writer may not have realized, but his book provides inputs of how to best tackle life when all is not normal. Those therefore confronted with such situation personally may know what to expect from their own family member or friend who is similarly afflicted.

oats on Land by Janice Pariat is an intriguing collection of short stories, which, while they delve into the ancient lore of the mysterious north eastern part of the country, recount its recent history, from the days of the British Raj and the subsequent World Wars, the advent of Christianity through its missionaries. There are very vivid descriptions of the terrains of Assam, Cherrapunji and Shillong, along with their peoples. There are scary recountings of Khasi youth chasing Suleiman, an outsider, of unrest in the hills, and the questionable role of the CRPF on the slopes, the patter of running feet in the darkness and the sound of stones pelted on roofs. Amidst the harshness, there is the charm and beauty of a land and its beliefs, myths and legends. The author has an excellent way with her prose, that is almost poetic. Boats on Land by Janice Pariat Random House India Rs.299

EM and the big Hoom by Jerry Pinto Aleph Book Company Rs.295

INDIAN NON-FICTION

The pillars are ancient and strong

To understand where we are today, and why

ighteous Republic (The Political Foundations of Modern India) by Ananya Vajpeyi looks at five founding figures in the history of India’s freedom struggle, and how each of them turned to classical texts in order to fashion an original sense of nationhood. The book offers the revered company of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore, Jawaharlal Nehru, and B.R. Ambedkar.There is therefore wisdom they gleaned from the sages and thinkers of ancient times, like the Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist literature, the edicts of Emperor Ashoka, Sanskrit poetry, the artistic and architectural achievements of the Mughal Empire. They were able to ensure that what emerged was a great modern India, a republic that would embody India’s struggle for sovereignty as well as its quest for the self. Righteous Republic by Ananya Vajpeyi Harvard University Press Rs.995

rom the Ruins of Empire (The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia) by Pankaj Mishra is a very intellectual look at Asian history in the 19th century with some brief biographies of people who who resented British dominance of this region, as they responded to the encroachment of the West, physical and intellectual, on their societies and cultures. These were Asians who understood their history and abhorred the white barbarians. Two thinkers are written at length about in this interesting book; Jamal al Din al-Afghani (1838-1897), a Persian-born Shia Muslim who often tried to pass self off as a Sunni from Afghanistan, and Liang Qichao (1873-1929), one of China’s foremost modern intellectuals who was present as his China crashed and re-emerged as a power to contend with. A must read. From the Ruins of Empire by Pankaj Mishra Penguin Books India Rs.499

CHILDREN’S

Beautiful run of the imagination

When books influence young minds

isha Wozzariter by Payal Kapadia is an amusing story of a 10-year-old wanting to become a writer. She is already a voracious reader and is with her books all the time. The fun is she is always improvising on what she has read with the thought that she can do a better job of it. In her vivid imagination she meets Bookworm and they embark on the Thought Express to the Market Place of ideas. The tale has a Grand idea auction, a Superhero salon and Bargain Bazar, that stimulates the mind of the reader. The illustrations by Roger Dahl are another wonderful bonus in this very interesting, which we suspect, may have quite a few satisfied adult readers. Both the books that have won the Children’s category are about kids who are carzy about books and about reading.

ook Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami is a touching little story about a nine-year-old girl, Yasmin, and her bonding with a retired teacher who she refers to as Book Uncle. The gentleman has found a unique way to transform his retirement into a fruitful phase of life with a barrow full of books. This is a lending library that is absolutely free of cost for everyone. Yasmin had decided to read one book a day, and thanks to Book Uncle, has read more than four hundred of them in about a year’s time. But, as with every good and selfless endeavour, disaster strikes in the form of city authorities, who are seeking a fairly large sum as licence fee, something Book Uncle cannot afford. Yasmin takes up the challenge to get this tragedy or travesty reversed. Very highly recommended for all age categories. Book Uncle and Me by Uma Krishnaswami Scholastic India Rs.150

Wisha Wozzariter by Payal Kapadia Puffin (Penguin Books India) Rs.150

INDIAN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION

There is the body to think of along with the mind

Life in Words (Memoirs) by Ismat Chughtai (1911-1991), translated from Urdu by M. Asaduddin almost reads like a book of fiction, ever more so because it is a true-life account of a fascinating woman who was far ahead of her time. It reveals the mind and (susceptible) heart of a feisty young girl, who stood up against the feudalistic thought process and the culture of the subcontinent, undivided as it then was, and life in an upper-class Muslim family of ten or eleven children, and a mingling of relatives and friends.Ismat scorned the purdah system and the segregation of women, and stubbornly began to write stories that stoked anger and outrage, and even provoked a summons from a Lahore court. She was one of the leading lights in the Progressive Writers’ Movement. This is an account of her life as she experienced it in various cities – Jodhpur, Agra, Bareilly, Lucknow, Mumbai. A Life in Words (Memoirs) by Ismat Chughtai Penguin Books Rs.399

POPULAR AWARD

Buying or selling the country short

he Bankster by Ravi Subramanian is yet another potboiler from an author who has stuck to a particular genre of writing – financial thrillers. So there is banking, and all that can go wrong when crooks use the loopholes in the system to further their sinister plans. Two different situations run parallel and also interweave in this tale, a movement against a nuclear power plant in Devkikulam in Kerala spinning out of control, and a fraud being perpetrated via the multinational Greater Boston Global Bank, located at Bandra! Shady diamond deals in Europe and Africa see us trudging dangerously in Angola at one time, and Kerala at another. Suffice it to say, the nation itself is at risk. Come in, Karan Panjabi, ex-bank officer, and now the story’s super-sleuth, who discovers that he is dealing with no ordinary fraud. Several twists and turns make for an interesting read. The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian Rupa Publications Rs.250

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

TV GUIDE

www.afternoondc.in

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

A series of articles designed to hand hold SSC students as they revise towards the Boards 2014

WE BOUGHT A ZOO

TODAY’S BEST VIEWING

A memoir by Benjamin Mee, tells the true account of how the author and his family used their life savings to buy a dilapidated zoo, replete with 200 exotic animals facing destruction, in the English countryside. Mee, along with his children, had to balance caring for his wife, who was dying of brain cancer, with dealing with escaped tigers, raising endangered animals, working with an eclectic skeleton crew and readying the zoo for a reopening. Starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Star M ovi es, 9 p.m.

SOAPS & SERIALS

KHELTI HAI ZINDAGI AANKH MICHOLI

Shruti comes back home from the hospital devastated to understand that she is HIV positive. No sooner Prabha comes to know about her being affected as well. Will Prabha be able to accept her and let Shruti live under the same roof? Zee TV, 10 p.m.

DIYA AUR BAATI HUM

Sandhya enters the police academy. We introduce all the characters and inspector Singh is introduced as the tough taskmaster trainer. Bhabho is uncomfortable with the surroundings but finally finds a solution of keeping Sandhya close to her post the training. Star Plus, 9 p.m.

WILD RECON

When other children were out playing soccer, nine-year-old Donald Schultz was busy catching and handling the deadliest snakes on the planet. Join Donald Schultz in WILD RECON, who travels the globe, tracking down dangerous creatures, all in the name of science. Animal Planet, 9 p.m.

ULTIMATE DISCOVERY

Tune in every night at 9PM to watch the latest, biggest and most entertaining programming on Discovery Channel. Every night, you will watch an unmatched range of programming from across genres – nature, adventure, survival, technology, wild and more. One hour journey into the less known and least explored. Real World Real Entertainment. Discovery, 9 p.m.

COMBAT COUNTDOWN

COMBAT COUNTDOWN showcases the biggest and best war machines on battlefields around the globe, tune in as the show gets bigger and better as it travels the world to see the elite technology from the land, sea and air - and meets the brave soldiers who operate them every day. Discovery Science, 10 p.m.

BOSTON LEGAL

While out with Tara, Alan is assaulted leading to him causing a barroom brawl and, as a result, becomes arrested for conspiracy to commit assault & battery; Shirley and Denny represent a

COWBOYS & ALIENS

Khelti Hai Zindagi Aankh Micholi, Zee TV, 10 p.m.

man whose steakhouse is being put out of business because the Selectmen of a small town have banned red meat in the town due to fear of mad-cow disease. Star World, 9 p.m.

DO DIL EK JAAN

Satya kills Raghu and hangs him on the pillar in the middle of the chawl. What will Satya do next? Li fe Ok , 9 p.m .

BEINTEHAA

In tonight’s episode we introduce Osman, the owner of a chain of five star hotels and his wife Suraiya. Osman though a big shot is still rooted to his native city Bhopal while his wife Suraiya strives to ensure that he stays away from Bhopal. Zain (Harshad Arora), Osman’s younger son who was studying in London has failed his exams. Osman asks him to come back. Further, Aaliya (Preetika Rao), Osman’s niece is meanwhile shown praying for the well being of her maamu, Osman. On one side Zain is enjoying his farewell party in London while on the other side Aaliya is praying in the Dargah hoping that someday she will meet the love of her life… will they ever meet? Col or s, 9 p.m.

MOVIES OF THE DAY

The Old West.. where a lone cowboy leads an uprising against a terror from beyond our world. 1873. Arizona Territory. A stranger with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford). It’s a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. HBO, 11.25 p.m .

HUM TUMHARE HAIN SANAM

Radha and Suraj have been friends since childhood. Gopal has been in love with Radha ever since they spent a few years together as kids. Years later, Gopal’s guardian proposes to Radha a marriage with Gopal, and she accepts. She finds a loving husband in Gopal, and also grows to love him. But Gopal thinks that Radha is spending too much time with Suraj, and starts to suspect them, so much so that he asks Radha to leave the house. After Radha leaves the house, she receives a divorce notice from Gopal, which tears her heart apart. When Suraj and her brother, Prashant, find out about the divorce notice, they offer to go and talk to Gopal, but Radha does not permit this. Suraj then telephones Gopal and asks to meet him alone, Gopal agrees to meet

P.M. 2.00 2.30 3.00 4.00 4.30 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 8.30 9.00 10.00 11.00

Crazy Ones Welcome to The Family Castle Last Man Standing Two and A Half Men Boston Legal Castle Koffee with Karan Last Man Standing Two And A Half Men Boston Legal Almost Human Castle

ZEE CAFÉ

P.M. 2.00 Switched At Birth 3.00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 4.00 Just For Laughs 6.00 Switched At Birth 7.00 The Ellen Degeneres Show 8.00 The Big Bang Theory 8.30 Happy Ending 9.00 Lost 10.00 Switched At Birth 11.00 Poirot

BIG CBS LOVE

P.M. 2.00 Britain’s Next Top Model 3.00 NCIS 4.00 Maximum Exposure 5.00 The X Factor 6.00 90210 7.00 Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals 7.30 Maximum Exposure 8.00 Jamie’ 30 Minute Meals 8.30 Rules of Engagement 9.00 90210 10.00 Britain’s Next Top Model 11.00 NCIS P.M. 2.00 Maharana Pratap 2.30 Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 3.00 Boogi Woogie Kids C’ship 4.00 Robot: Film 8.00 Main Na Boolungi 8.30 Ek Nayi Pehchaan 9.00 Desh Ki Beti Nandini

Cowboys and Aliens, HBO, 11.25 p.m.

him, and carries a loaded gun to this meeting. Fil my, 9 p.m .

EK THA TIGER

EkTha Tiger is a romantic thriller which tells the story of a Trinity College scientist suspected of selling missile technology secrets to Pakistan. The Indian government sends a secret agent, codenamed Tiger (Salman Khan), to find out about the professor’s activities. Tiger falls in love with the professor’s caretaker Zoya (Katrina Kaif) who is studying at a fictional dance academy located at TCD, and together they embark on a roller-coaster journey that takes them from Dublin to Istanbul then to Kazakhstan and Chile. Max, 9 p.m.

THE TUXEDO

Jimmy Tong is just a lowly chauffeur for millionaire Clark Devlin, until Devlin has an accident that puts him in the hospital. Tong is sent back to fetch some things for Devlin and unknowingly tries on Devlin’s tuxedo and finds that it gives extraordinary powers to anyone that dons the suit. This discovery thrusts Tong into world of international intrigue and espionage and pairs him with an inexperienced partner. Pix, 9 p.m.

LISTING

9.30 Kehta Hai Dil Jee Le Zara 10.00 Maharana Pratap 10.30 Bade Achhe Lagte Hai 11.00 Main Na Boolungi

ZEE TV

P.M. 2.00 Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se 2.30 Doli Armaano Ki 3.00 Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 3.30 Pavitra Rishta 4.00 Qubool Hai 4.30 El Mutthi Aasmaan 6.00 Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se 6.30 Pavitra Rishta 7.00 Ek Mutthi Aasmaan 7.30 Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke 8.00 Jodha Akbar

6.30 Aakhir and Niyati 7.00 Aakhir Bahu Bhi Toh Beti 7.30 Firangi Bahu 8.00 Haunted Nights: Kaun Hai Who? 8.30 Jai Jai Jai Bajarangbali 9.00 Aakhir Bahu Bhi Toh Beti… 9.30 Rishton Ke Bhawar Mein Uljhi Niyati 10.00 Firangi Bahu 10.30 Jai Jai Jai Bajarangbali. 11.00 Aakhir Bahu Bhi toh Beti Hee

SAB TV

P.M. 2.00 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah.. 2.30 FIR 3.00 Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah…

P.M. 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 5.30 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00

DISCOVERY

Body Bizarre Man vs Wild Wild India Food Factory American Digger My Shocking Story Deadliest Catch Discovery Best Ultimate Discovery Gold Rush Discovery Best

SCIENCE

P.M. 2.00 How The Earth Works 3.00 Against The Elements 4.00 Through The Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 4.50 Dark Matters 5.40 How It’s Made 6.00 Best of Discovery Science 7.00 Antariksh

Beintehaa, Colors, 9 p.m.

Jai Jai Jai Bajarangbali, Sahara One, 8.30 p.m.

8.30 Do dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se 9.00 Pavitra Rishta. 9.30 Qubool Hai 10.00 Khelti Hai Zindagi Aankh Micholi 10.30 Doli Armaano Ki 11.00 Jodha Akbar

7.00 8.00 8.30 9.00 9.30 10.00 10.30 11.00

P.M. 2.00 Best of Savdhaaan India 7.30 Gustakh Dil 8.00 Devo Ke Dev Mahadev 8.30 Ek Boond Ishq 9.00 Do Dil… Ek Jaan 9.30 Tumhari Paakhi 10.00 Kaisa Yeh Ishq Hai-Ajab Sa Risk Hai 10.30 Savdhaan India

P.M. 2.30 Eka Lagnachi Tisari Goshta 3.00 Honar Suun Me Hya Gharachi 3.30 Juluni Yeti Reshimgathi 4.00 Fu Bai Fu 5.00 Tu Thithe Mee 5.30 Honar Suun Me Hya Gharachi 6.00 Eka Lagnachi Tisari Goshat 6.30 Home Minister 7.00 Tu Tithe Mee 7.30 Radha Hi Bawri 8.00 Honar Suun Me Hya Gharachi 8.30 Juluni Yeti Reshimgathi 9.00 Eka Lagnachi Tisari Goshta 9.30 Fu Bai Fu 10.30 Juluni Yeti Reshimgathi 11.00 Honnar Suun Me Hya Gharachi

LIFE OK

P.M. 2.00 2.30 3.00 3.30 4.00 4.30 7.00

7.30 8.00 8.30 9.00 9.30 10.00 10.30 11.00

COLORS

Sasural Simar Ka Balika Vadhu Madhubala Sanskaar Dharohar Apnon Ki Bani Iahq da Kalma Comedy Nights with Kapil Sanskaar: Dharohar Apnon Ki Sasural Simar Ka Balika Vadhu Madhubala Beintehaa Rangrasiya Uttaran Bani – Ishq da Kalma Balika Vadhu

SAHARA ONE

P.M 2.00 Aakhir and Niyati 3.00 Karmayogi: Film. Jeetendra 6.00 Jai Jai Jai Bajarangbali

Sab Khelo Sab Jeeto Baal Veer Taarak Mehta… Chidiya Ghar Jeanie Aur Juju Lapataganj-Ek Baar Phir FIR Taarak Mehta

ZEE MARATHI

ANIMAL PLANET

P.M. 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00

8.00 9.00 10.00

11.00

The Wild Wild Best Gaj Raaj Big Cat Diary Wild Tales AP Safari Untamed and Uncut Wildest Africa Wild Recon Animal Planet’s A to Z River Monsters

DOORDARSHAN

DDI (Main Channel)

P.M. 2.30 News in Marathi 3.00 Katha Sarita 3.30 Daivacha Ha Khel Nirala 4.00 Mazi Maye 4.10 Bheti Lagi Jiva 4.35 Sansar Maza Wegala 5.00 News in Marathi 5.05 Atmabhan 5.30 Suraksha 6.00 Krishi Varta 6.30 AMAM 7.00 News in Marathi. 7.15 Bharat Ek Khoj 8.00 News 8.15 Samachar 8.30 Pavitra Bandhan

MOVIE CHANNELS

STARMOVIES

P.M 2.46 The Scorpion King 4.33 Tangled 6.50 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor 9.00 We Bought A Zoo 11.31 Bruce Almighty A.M. 8.33 Bolt 10.45 Kung Fu Hustle P.M. 1.00 3.45 5.40 8.00 10.05 11.25 A.M. 8.10 9.35 11.30 P.M 1.00 3.15 5.30 8.30 10.30 A.M. 10.05

STAR WORLD

SONY TV

THE FRIGHTENERS

After a car accident in which his wife, Debra, was killed and he was injured, Frank Bannister develops psychic abilities allowing him to see, hear, and communicate with ghosts. After losing his wife, he then gave up his job as an architect, letting his unfinished “dream house” sit incomplete for years, and put these skills to use by befriending a few ghosts and getting them to haunt houses in the area to drum up work for his ghostbusting business; Then Frank proceeds to “exorcise” the houses for a fee. But when he discovers that an entity resembling the Grim Reaper is killing people, marking numbers on their forehead beforehand, Frank tries to help the people whom the Reaper is after! Zee Studio, 10.30 p.m.

STAR PLUS

P.M. 2.00 Ek Nanad Ki Khushiyon Ki Chaabi..Meri Bhabhi 2.30 Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon.. 3.00 Pyar Ka Dard Hai Meetha Meetha 3.30 Diya Aur Bati Hum 4.00 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 4.30 Saraswatichandra 5.00 Ek Veer Ki Ardaas-Veera 5.30 Ye Hai Mohabbatein 6.00 Iss Pyar Ko Kya Naam Doon-Ek Baar Phir 6.30 Ek Ghar Banaunga 7.00 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 7.30 Saraswati Chandra 8.00 Ek Nanad Ki Khushiyon Ki Chaabi..Meri Bhabhi 8.30 Mahabharat 9.00 Diya Aur Bati Hum 9.30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hain 10.00 Pyar Ka Dard Hai…. 10.30 Ek Veer Ki Ardaas – Veera 11.00 Ye Hai Mohabbatein

9.00 Sanyasi 9.30 Saraswatichandra 10.00 Bhart Ki Shaan-RumJhum 11.00 Best of Indian Cinema News in Hindi. News. Sports News Repoter’s Diary Samachar. The News. Samachar. Rajyon Se Samachar. Metro Scan Business Wrap Samachar News

HISTORY

P.M. 2.00 Shipping Wars 2.30 Masters of Magic 3.30 History of the World In Two Hours 5.30 Duck Dynasty 6.00 Shipping Wars 6.30 Pawn Stars 7.00 American Pickers 8.00 Masters of Magic 9.00 Your Bleeped Up Brain 10.00 Pawn Stars 10.30 Duck Dynasty 11.00 The Universe

NAT GEOGRAPHIC

P.M. 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00

6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00

Breakout Mega Factories Stuntmen of Bollywood Ultimate Animal Countdown Dangerous Encounters The Indestructibles Caught in the Act Secrets of the Taj Mahal Breakout Ultimate Animal Countdown

STAR SPORTS1

P.M. 2.08 KFC Big Bash T20 League 13/14 5.30 Masterclass : Sourav Ganguly 6.00 Ashes – 4th Test – Match Hlts 7.00 The Ashes Show 8.00 Maserclass 8.30 Believe 2013 9.00 Ashes -4th Test – Day 5 hlts 10.00 The Ashes Show 11.00 Ashes – the Test – Day 5 hlts

STAR SPORT4

P.M. 2.00 Premier League Sunday Review 3.00 Liga Bbva 13/14 5.00 Tennis: Aircel Chennai Open 13/14

DDII (Metro Channel)

P.M. 2.00 2.30 3.00 3.30 4.00 4.30 5.00 5.30 6.05 6.30 7.00 7.30

8.00 How It’s Made 9.00 Strangest Weather On Earth 9.30 Mean Machines 10.00 Combat Countdown 11.00 Best of Discovery Science

Best of Indian Cinema, DDI, 11 p.m.

8.00 8.15 8.30 10.00 10.30 11.05

Samachar News in Hindi. News Night Charcha Main Raat Saddhe Dus Khel Samachar

TEN CRICKET

P.M. 1.30 India Tour of SA 2nd Test Day 5 live 8.30 Straight Drive 9.30 India Tour of SA 13 h/ls 10.30 Talking Cricket: Anil Kumble 11.00 The Inside Story

P.M. 1.18 3.50 5.45 7.24 9.00 11.10 A.M. 7.00 9.26 P.M. 2.10 5.15 8.00 10.40 A.M. 7.50 10.35

HBO

Batman Begins Green Lantern We Were Soldiers Kill Bill Vol 2 Mega Spider Cowboys and Aliens

Attack The Block Green Lantern Dungeons and Dragons : The Book of Vile Darkness

ZEE STUDIO

Whip It! The Last House On the Left Ray Shrink The Frighterners Back To The Future Part III

PIX

Happy Bday Oggy! Adventure Time Ben 10 Omniverse Oggy and the Cockroaches Bye Bye 2013 Tom and Jerry Blast Off to Mars 9.00 Ben 10 Ultimate Alien 10.00 Johnny Test 11.00 Adventure Time A.M. 8.00 Ben 10 Destroy All Aliens 9.30 Ben 10 Ultimate Alien 10.00 Tom and Jerry Tales 11.00 Oggy and the Cockroaches

POGO

P.M. 2.30 Return of Hanuman 5.00 Arnab Aur Jadui Locket 6.30 Krishna And Balram : Kalvakara The Dark Enemy 8.00 Krishna Kansa Vadh 9.30 Chhota Bheem

Quick 2012

STAR GOLD

Golmaal: Fun Unlimited Banarasi Babu Babangg The Return of Zid

The Tuxedo, Pix, 9 p.m.

Kismat Main Hoon Na

MAX

ZEE CINEMA

P.M. 12.00 Masterji: Rajesh Khanna 3.00 Arya Ki Prem Pratighya: Allu Arjun 6.15 Aag Ka Gola: Goutami 9.00 Salaakhen: Sunny Deol A.M. 11.45 Return of Chandramukhi

CVO

P.M. 2.00 Guddu: Shahrukh Khan 5.30 Insaaf Apne Lahoo Se: Sanjay Dutt 9.00 Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya: Fardeen Khan A.M. 9.30 Gunehgar Kaun: Raj Babbar

FILMY

P.M. 12.00 Dharam Adhikari: Dilip Kumar, Sridevi 3.00 Awaargi: Anil Kapoor 6.00 Vishwanath: Shatrughan Sinha 9.00 Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam: Shah Rukh Khan A.M. 9.00 Pyaar Mein Twist: Rishi Kapoor

All programmes on this page are as per the official schedules of the various channels. Afternoon is not responsible for any last minute changes.

CARTOON NETWORK

P.M. 1.30 4.30 5.00 5.30 7.30 8.00

Slumdog Millionaire Premium Rush Walking Tall Wild Things: Foursome The Tuxedo The Mechanic

P.M. 1.00 Don No 1: Nagarjuna 5.30 Kyo Ki Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta: Govinda 9.00 Ek Tha Tiger: Salman Khan A.M. 7.00 Satte Pe Satta: Shakti Kapoor 10.30 Main Hoon Vinashak: Arun

P.M. 12.00 3.00 6.00 9.00 A.M, 8.00

ZEE TALKIES

P.M. 2.00 Kutumb: Jitendra Joshi 4.30 Pak Pak Pakak: Nana Patekar 7.00 Nishahi Dava Angatha: Ashok Saraf 9.30 Dhoomdhadaka: Mahesh Kothare

B4U

Mela: Aamir Khan Sunny: Sunny Deol Lashkar: Dev Anand Mr Badmash: Uday Kiran Insaniyat: Sunny Deol

Ek Tha Tiger, Max, 9 p.m.

10.30 11.00 A.M. 8.00 8.30 9.00 10.00 P.M. 2.00 3.30 4.00 4.30 5.00 6.30 7.00 8.00 10.00 A.M. 8.00 8.30 9.00 10.00 P.M. 1.30 4.30 5.00 5.30

6.30 7.00 8.00 8.30 9.30 A.M. 8.00 8.30 9.00 10.00 11.00

Sunaina MAD

Thomas and Friends Mr Bean Chhota Bheem Chhota Bheem Marathon

DISNEY CHANNEL Doraemon Phineas and Ferb Gravity Falls Art Attack Doraemon Gravity Falls Doraemon Finding Nemo Doraemon Doraemon Tale Spin Doraemon Toy Story

DISNEY XD

Kiteretsu Tron Uprising Avengers Assemble Iron Man Armored Adventures American Dragon Jake Long Phineas and Ferb Ultimate Hulk Big Bad Beetleborgs Space Goofs Rekkit Rabbit Kiteretsu Super Robot Kick Buttowski

Afternoon Despatch & Courier www.afternoondc.in

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

SANAYA IRANI PLAYS VILLAGE BELLE

Gauhar Khan wins Bigg Boss 7

Sanaya Irani was first noticed in the show ‘Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon’. She also appeared in a minor role in the Bollywood film Fanaa (film). Sanaya has played various lead roles in television shows like ‘Miley Jab Hum Tum’ and ‘Chhanchhan’ and participated in multiple reality shows. She will soon be seen in Colors TV's new project ‘Rangrasiya’. We spoke to the beautiful Parsi girl about her new show in the scorching desert gave me blisters on the soles of my feet, but that did not deter me in any way. The excitement to do something different enabled me to move on. I am thoroughly enjoying every moment while shooting for ‘Rangrasiya’ and I hope that my fans will take delight as I reprise the role of Paro.

By Sandeep Hattangadi

What is different about ‘Rangrasiya’? Hatred…Betrayal...Deceit...Destr uction… These are words that we seldom associate with the warm feeling of love. With the launch of ‘Rangrasiya’, COLORS, for the first-time, redefines hate while exploring the mystique of love. Theatrically shot in the harsh rugged desert terrains along the boundaries of Rajasthan, ‘Rangrasiya’ breaks away from the cult of conventional soaps, and sets out to negate all known perceptions of love. Produced by the makers of the blockbuster love story ‘Madhubala…Ek Ishq Ek Junoon’, Nautanki Films is all set to unveil yet another great saga with ‘Rangrasiya’ that premieres on December 30 from every Monday to Friday at 9.30 pm.

What is the story of the show? ‘Rangrasiya’ is an edgy love story ignited by intense hatred and fuelled by circumstances that bring a simple village girl, Paro (Sanaya Irani) and army officer, Rudra (Ashish Sharma) together. For Rudra, love is need-based, beauty is deceit, and work is duty and for Paro, love is hope, beauty is extreme and duty is vengeance. The show has been shot extensively across arid terrains

Where is this story set? The story is set in Birpur, a small village that witnesses a grand wedding celebration between borders once every year. One such wedding is that of Paro that is gate-crashed by the BSD, led by Rudra to investigate the illegal smuggling of arms and ammunition. However, as fate would have it, this incident shatters Paro’s life leading to an unexpected turn of events.

and Rann of Jaisalmer and dunes of Jodhpur. Why did you take up this show?

I took up ‘Rangrasiya’ as a challenge because I was eager to experiment with my character as Paro; and it wasn’t really easy portraying her. Walking barefoot

What are the other credits of the show? ‘Rangrasiya’ boasts of a strong and dynamic ensemble cast which comprises noted actors like Sadiya Siddiqui, Tarun Khanna, Ananya Khare and Neha Narang who will be seen supporting the lead pair of Sanaya Irani and Ashish Sharma on the show. ‘Rangrasiya’ is directed by ace director Siddharth Sen Gupta of Balika Vadhu fame.

2013: Bollywood stars made small screen glitter T

HE craving for visibility and reach, made several Bollywood stars flock to the small screen, and try their hands in not just hosting or judging shows but also starring in TV series this year. On one hand Salman Khan returned as the host of controversial reality show Bigg Boss and megastar Amitabh Bachchan made a comeback to the hot seat with the seventh season of Kaun Banega Crorepati, actor Anil Kapoor also made a successful television debut with fiction thriller series 24. The seventh edition of Bigg Boss was arguably one of the most popular shows on the small screen. The show about contestants from different walks of life holed up in a house was a hit with the audience. Bigg Boss also made history of sorts when a contestant, Armaan Kohli, was arrested from the house. Anil Kapoor's 24, an Indian television drama series based on the American series of the same name, grabbed eyeballs right from its first episode. The successful run of the first season of the series

has prompted Anil to come up with the second part. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan's gaming show Kaun Banega Crorepati, for the first time saw a female crorepati in the young Firoz Fatma from Uttar Pradesh.

Veteran actress Poonam Dhillon made her comeback to the small screen with Ek Nayi Pehchaan. Known for her elegance, she is portraying the role of a Gujarati mother-in-law in the daily soap. The story is about how she builds up her self-respect through the daily household chores. Stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma's debut show Comedy Nights with Kapil witnessed the participation of almost whole of Bollywood. Besides the celebrity angle, the show hit headlines when a massive fire broke out on its set and popular character Gutthi, played by Sunil Grover, quit the show out of the blue. Dancing reality shows also saw the descent of big screen stars to the small screen. Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit, filmmaker Karan Johar and choreographer-turned-director Remo D'Souza returned as the judges of celebrity dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Ja. Johar also made a comeback as the host of the fourth season of popular chat show Koffee with Karan.

ODEL-tur ned-actress Gauhar Khan won the seventh season of reality show 'Bigg Boss', defeating co-contestant Tanishaa Mukherjee. Gauhar, who won Rs.50 lakh in cash and a trophy, stayed in the house for 104 days. "I thank my family for their support. I am big fan of the show. I did not expect to come so far... till the finale", said Gauhar, who had won critical acclaim for her role in the film 'Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year' (2009). During her stint on the show, Gauhar's romance with fellow contestant Kushal Tandon caught everyone's attention and the two openly declared their love for each other. Last season, television actress Urvashi Dholakia had won the show. In the past, small screen actresses Juhi Parmar and Shweta Tiwari have come out as winners in the show. Tanishaa made headlines

for her closeness to ex-inmate Armaan Kohli. "I did not expect to get so much love. It was an unbelievable experience. I took a risk and it paid off. I made good relations on the show", Tanishaa said. "I am happy to see my mother here. I love you a lot and missed you", she said. Tanishaa's mother, Tanuja, who was also present for the finale, appeared emotional. "I am proud of her. For me, she has won the show, even if she doesn't win. I used to see the show every day. As I couldn't contact her, seeing the show was the only medium. Whenever she cried on the show, I also cried", said the yesteryear actress. Besides Gauhar and Tanishaa, other contestants left in the house for the finale were Sangram Singh and Ajaz Khan. Sangram came out of the house first and was followed by Ajaz, leaving Gauhar and Tanishaa for the final reckoning.

TV TATTLE Gourmet delight

TLC presents line-up, ‘Flavours Of Asia. Amongst the famous chefs bringing their unique flavours to the show are Luke Nguyen, Gok Wan, Kylie Kwong and Bobby Chinn. Adding a touch of their style in everything they prepare, these chefs are on a spree to re-invent and present some of the most delicious food from Asia. Adding excitement in the month of January, ‘Flavours Of Asia’ will air from Monday to Friday at 8 pm on TLC. Rahul Johri, Senior VP and General Manager – South Asia and Head of Revenue, Pan-Regional Ad Sales and Southeast Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said, “TLC is the preferred destination to savour the flavours of the world through its delectable food programmes”.

Ghazals unlimited

A grand programme by eminent ghazal singer Bhimrao Panchale is scheduled on TV 9 Channel for December 30 and 31 in two Parts: on Monday at 9.30 am to 10 am and in the afternoon from 3.15 to 3.45 pm. It will also be relayed at 8.30 am on New Year’s Eve. Bhimrao Panchale will be accompanied by many master ghazal singers in the first of its kind programme on the news channel TV 9.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Illegal hawking persists, despite law M

Picture for representational purposes only

Local authorities’ hesitance apart, local politicians ‘back’ illegal hawkers, writes Gajanan Khergamker umbai is known for many things but the one thing no one can get enough of about the Maximum City is…its street food. But, a South Mumbai-based activist has finally had enough of the city’s ‘street food’ and specifically, street food being sold at illegal stalls. Activist Sanjay Gaurav, has reportedly filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte and others for not taking permanent action against a vada-pav vendor in Fort. It has been reported that the Brihanmubai Muncipal Corporation and the police has collectively taken action against the said vendor a total of 34 times – to no avail. It was in 2011 when Gaurav had filed an RTI application inquiring about the legality of the stall in question. The reply from the civic body revealed that the owner of the stall did not have a licence in his name. Since then, Gaurav has been complaining against the stall’s owner to the BMC and the local police to get the stall removed. The civic body has, on the basis of his complaint, fined the stall owner 22 times so far. But, the fining had no lasting effect as the stall continues to persist at the same venue operating as usual. Gaurav also brought up the matter on a public forum during the collector’s and civic commissioner’s Lokshahi Din – a day on which public authorities redress citizens’ grievances. The BMC and the police were then apparently directed by the collector and the commissioner to declare the accused hawker as a habitual offender. Since then, the Azad Maidan police too has charged the owner of The BMC has set up a town vending committee to regulate the hawkers in the city, following the Supreme Court’s order. the stall 12 times under the provisions of the law. But, it still did not legedly illegal stall located in front Commissioner Subodh Kumar. In 2011, to get the BMC governed have the desired effect and the busi- of the Mumbai University and apA few months ago, a Bandra- by Shiv Sena – BJP nexus, to act, ness yet persists at the stall. The al- parently the MU administration too based senior citizen, was allegedly Narayan Rane’s son Nitish Rane has complained against the stall trashed by illegal stall owners. Re- launched a campaign through his owner to the authorities which portedly, the senior citizen had shot NGO Swabhimaan Sanghathana stands within 100 meters of the uni- of a letter to the BMC asking the against the ‘illegal’ Shiv vada pav versity premises, which is against civic body to get rid of the illegal stalls. He started his own Chattrapthe Supreme Court order. hawkers near Mount Mary Fair and ati Vada Pav Stalls under the same The authorities’ reluctance to was allegedly trashed the hawkers proposed polices. Now, the BMC, deal with the encroachment prob- whose make-shift stalls were re- that had turned a blind eye towards lem in the city is something that al- moved from the area by the civic the Shiv vada pav stalls for all these most every resident in the city is body. A few men even roughed up years, couldn’t act against these already aware of. Local authorities’ the senior citizen after the civic vada pav stalls while ignoring the hesitance apart, even local politi- body removed the encroachment stalls initiated by Shiv Sena. cians are known to ‘back’ illegal from the place and the hawkers susSo, forced to act, the BMC had to hawkers. There have been instances pected that he was the reason their act against both Shiv vada pav and when politicians have intervened in stalls were removed from the area. Chattrapati vada pav stalls, at that such matters and stopped the muA week earlier, an elderly couple time. But, even today, the Shiv vada HAWKERS PROTEST BMC nicipal authorities from doing its was allegedly attacked by some ille- pav has not been legalised and the job. In 2012, A Right to Information gal hawkers at the Bandra prome- Shiv Sena is still ‘trying’ design a http://youtu.be/S3x52r1ezLU query revealed that Congress MP nade. Reportedly, the couple were way to get legal space for Shiv vada Gurudas Kamat had shot off a letter assaulted when they objected to a pav scheme under the Central GovPROTEST AGAINST HAWKERS to the civic body, asking it to stop its hawker selling his wares on a desig- ernment’s hawkers’ policy. Till the eviction drive against vendors in the nated no-hawking zone. time the Scheme gets legal sanchttp://youtu.be/aNL6WcZs0Pk city’s western suburb, Andheri (W). In 2008, Shiv Sena has initiated tion, many such stalls continue to In the letter, Kamat had report- Shiv Vada Pav Stalls to make vada operate illegally in the city. SC RELIEF TO HAWKERS edly asked the Brihanmumbai Mu- pav a ‘global phenomenon.’ And, Hopefully, things will change, nicipal Corporation to implement while in power, it also tweaked the soon and for the better. The BMC http://youtu.be/ISu-RbVpSSI the hawker policy uniformly all over policies to accommodate these has set up a town vending commitMumbai instead of targeting ven- stalls. Till the time the amended po- tee to regulate the hawkers in the 'DARBAR' FOR PEDESTRIANS dors only in Andheri (W), which lices awaited the approval of the city following the Supreme Court’s was a part of his constituency at the nodal authority, these stalls contin- order in September. The apex court http://youtu.be/J6-oUvjFuHY time. The letter written in 2011 was ued to operate under the newly- had directed all the states to form addressed to the-then Municipal proposed policy. town vending committees to survey Picture for representational purposes only

Hawkers turn into menace

the existing hawkers and to approve licences and restrict from initiating action till the law’s enactment. This committee is expected to identify hawking zones, demarcate hawking and non-hawking zones and approve licences for hawkers. The committee comprising 35 members has been set up under the chairmanship of municipal commissioner and the members include the civic officials, police officials, hawkers’ union representatives, citizens groups and architects. Deputy municipal commissioner for removal of encroachment Anand Wagralkar reportedly said the civic body is also in the process of setting up wardwise vending committees. “It will be completed soon and a meeting will be convened next month,” he said to a section of media. The Central Government’s Street Vendors (protection of livelihood and regulation of street vending) Bill, 2012, which is aimed at regulating hawkers in public areas and protect their rights, is pending before Parliament for approval. The policy proposes to permit licences to 2.5 per cent of the city’s total population. With inputs from Prerna Pandey

Readers keen on seeking help on drafting RTI applications may write in to rti@draftcraft.in or call Gajanan Khergamker on 022-22841593 for any assistance on RTI or to have their findings / issue featured on this page

Anna, the new apostle of change! Afternoon Despatch & Courier www.afternoondc.in

MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

NOTES FROM NEW DELHI

Mahatma Gandhi changed the country through his insistent appeal for truth. Nelson Mandela gave preference to humanity and suggested the path of harmony. Moving forward as a link in the same chain, Anna Hazare is getting established during this period in the country as a torchbearer of change

By Neeraj Singh

mosphere was there in the counin number) MLAs with a criminal try. Therefore, the assembly elecbackground had reached the asEFORE the recent assembly tions to the five states were a test sembly. This time it has decreased elections in five states, there of what Anna Hazare has been to 36 per cent (25 in number). was much discussion propounding but more than that amongst intellectuals that these they were a test for the people – elections would be important be- whether the people actually want cause awareness levels in the change or want to continue with country were increasing. The elec- the same political ways. And the So it may be considered that the tion results came and it was not results made it clear that the peocountry is not only consolidating the politicians and leaders but the ple want change, all they need is on a political scale, but is also public won. It is a victory of the all the right leadership and someone writing new postscripts. In the round pressure created by this to show them the right path. past two years, the entire country public that compelled the governhas been fighting for the Jan Lokment to bring up and discuss pubpal and it is as a result of increaslic welfare issues like the Jan ing political awareness that the Lokpal. More than this, the biggest In almost all the states, most of the MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Anna Hazare government is taking the matter victory of the public has been in sitting legislator-ministers were defeated in the elections, when 8 seats from 17 seats. Both these seriously now. The significance of giving ‘power to the people’. If one observes carefully this the people ‘rejected’ their lethargy. parties are based on the same this change increases when it is change happened when two years For the first time, in Delhi 55 out casteism and that is also where realised that in the entire country back Anna Hazare lit the Jan Lok- of 70 MLAs and in Chhattisgarh 49 they are searching for their future. on the path of change, during the pal torch at Jantar Mantar and the out of 90 MLAs suffered defeat. In If we leave aside casteism and movement – from its beginning till Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. The Chhattisgarh, out of its 50 MLAs, move towards regionalism, there now – not a stone was thrown, the country took a sideways turn and the BJP had given a second too the voters showed a mirror to glasses of bus windows and doors once again one-liners and slogans chance to 37 MLAs, of whom 21 the parties fighting the elections were not shattered, curfew did not have to be imposed, nobody died. like ‘vacate the throne, the people were defeated in the election. The on that basis. are coming’ were increasingly on Congress, out of its 38 MLAs had While campaigning for his party Because this change does not repeverybody’s tongue. It was in the given a second chance to 34, and in Delhi, the chief minister of resent the culture of resistance. It same period that Anna had said “I 27 of them were defeated in the Bihar, Nitish Kumar, was asking is essentially a fight to achieve am only a medium, you have to election. In Rajasthan, 22 minis- for votes for his party, the JDU, by basic demands and these basic fight the real fight. The youth of ters of the Gehlot government lost exhorting Delhi’s Bihari popula- needs are enunciated in and part the country are commendable, and they should carry forward the baton of change and become agents of change.” In the past two years, at a social level, we have heard several times the voice of the public which was trying with all its might to bring the system back on the right path. Whatever section or segment it was, when it felt that changing the system is necessary, it raised its voice and people came together. The milling crowds that gathered at India Gate intent on getting justice for Damini and the students who ‘gheraod’ Parliament to protest against the increasingly dominant use of English in the UPSC were in fact moving forward and placing their demands on the ‘Shantipath’ (peaceful path) sug- Aam Aadmi Party’s founder members cheer the crowd at the swearing-in ceremony of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday. gested by Anna. Such instances elections. In Madhya Pradesh, 10 tion to remember the soil of Bihar of our Constitution. Therefore, the began from all over the country. Meanwhile in October 2011, by- ministers of Shivraj Chauhan’s and the pride of Bihar. But when country is asking for what it its elections were held in Hissar in government were defeated in the the results came, out of 27 JDU right. It is the Constitutional path Haryana. Anna appealed to the election. In Delhi, Congress leader candidates, 26 lost their deposits. that Anna Hazare has always adpeople of Hissar that since Con- Chaudhary Prem Singh had been Anna has said from almost vocated and demanded should be gress did not want to give power in continuously winning from 1958 every platform and at every fora followed for attaining goals and your hands through the Jan Lok- onwards, but he too was swept that if there is to be cleanliness the major triumphs of this idea pal, you should defeat it. The Con- away by the wave of change. Actu- and transparency in political par- prove that his demands are hungress lost the elections. By going ally, this is not just ant-incum- ties, and they want to reclaim dred per cent just. In the current fight, the entire with Anna, the people had given bency. It is resentment against their lost lustre in politics, they forewarning that the country was those candidates who were will have to oust people with crim- country is looking at Anna Hazare as the hero, and therefore Anna returning to the same period of searching for political ground only inal tendencies. political awareness that had been with the support of promises. The This time around, the good himself believes that ‘I am fighting sampled in the 70s. Anna’s appeal people rejected them. thing in the assembly elections in the second war of independence This wave of change also broke Madhya Pradesh is that there are and if martyrdom is required in is to bring practical change in the system, to enhance people's par- the circle of castesim and region- 67 per cent candidates who are this fight, I will be the first martyr.’ ticipation and to end Constitu- alism in politics. However, even educated. Not only in Madhya This whole context will have to be tional violation by political par- though elections were held in Pradesh, this figure of educated understood in the difference of ties, to end casteism, regionalism those states where the BJP and the MLAs is also highest in the States the period in the country. Mahatma Gandhi, changed the and family domination in politics. Congress were the main parties, of Rajasthan, Delhi and ChhattisAnna has persisted with issues the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the garh where assembly elections country through his insistent aplike ‘Right to Reject’, ‘Right to Re- Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) made were held. In Madhya Pradesh out peal for truth. Nelson Mandela call’, ‘None of the Above’ options every effort to make it a triangular of a total 120 candidates of three gave preference to humanity and and kept demanding that more contest. In Madhya Pradesh, parties – the BJP, Congress and the suggested the path of harmony. strength should be given to gram Delhi, Rajasthan and Chhattis- BSP, there were 77 candidates Moving forward as a link in the panchayats. For quite some time, garh, the SP could not even open against whom serious criminal same chain, Anna is getting estabAnna has been touring the coun- its account. The last time, the SP cases had been registered and all lished during this period in the country as a torchbearer of try on a Jantantra Yatra, taking his had got one seat each in Madhya were defeated in the election. messages amongst the people. Pradesh and Rajasthan. In Delhi In Delhi, there has been a re- change. To strengthen society, let Since the start of the yatra, the re- and in Chhattisgarh too, none of duction of 7 per cent in candi- us provide more strength and supcent assembly elections were the its candidates could win. dates with a criminal background. port to this new messenger of The BSP tally too came down to In the last elections 43 per cent (29 peace. first occasion when an election at-

Second War of Independence

Wave of change

DILLI KA BABU Perils of criticism

FORMER Supreme Court Justice A.K. Ganguly’s troubles may have come as a boon to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party. As chief of the State Human Rights Commission, Justice Ganguly, was a A.K. Ganguly powerful critic of the state administration and, therefore, eyed with distrust in the Mamata camp. Obviously there is pressure on Ganguly to resign following emergence of allegations of sexual harassment against him, even if ostensibly the Trinamool Congress is studiously avoiding any comment. It’s a different story in the case of the Siliguri police commissioner K. Jayaraman who made waves by arresting IAS officer and Malda district magistrate, Godala Kiran Kumar, in a case of misappropriation. For his efforts, the cop incurred the wrath of Mamata for ‘exceeding his brief’ and was shunted out within hours. Last heard, the ‘victimised’ cop was insisting that he had done the right thing. But Mamata and her partymen obviously disagree!

A hot contest

HECTIC lobbying is underway at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for the position of Special Secretary for Internal Security. Sources say that many senior IAS and IPS officers are vying for the coveted post, which fell vacant last month when S. Jayaraman, a 1977-batch IPS officer, retired from service. The reason for the current scramble among the hopefuls is that the official in this position plays a crucial coordinating role with the various intelligence and investigative agencies such as Intelligence Bureau (IB), Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) etc. Many consider it the second-most important position in the country’s intelligence and security setup. The current buzz is that Jayanta Narayan Choudhury, a sterling 1978 batch IPS officer from Assam, is among the leading contenders. Sources say that the government hopes to name Jayaraman’s successor sooner than later. Keep watching this space for updates.

Playing it safe

ONE fallout of the ongoing Telangana imbroglio is that the bureaucracy in Andhra Pradesh has gone into a go-slow mode, evidently unsure about what will happen to the state and how long Chief Minister Kiran Kiran Kumar Reddy will last on his Reddy ‘gaddi’. The prevailing mood is to hunker down and wait until the scene clears. Sources say that many important files cleared by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) are being returned back by babus rather than being auctioned. Apparently, matters worsened so much that Chief Secretary Prasanna Kumar Mohanty, recently shot off an urgent note to all special chief secretaries, principal secretaries and other senior officials to implement the orders emanating from the CMO. But sources say that despite Mohanty’s admonishment, babus are wary of taking any decision that could come back to haunt them months or even years later. — Dilip Cherian

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

COFFEEBREAK

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 681

ENIGMA CODE 681

ACROSS: 1 A company offer of a certain kind (4,8) 8 A girl taking ten in Italy (7) 9 One paying a premium ? (7) 11 Avoiding a thorough wetting (7) 12 Routine operation as a foetus (2,5) 13 The French son moves for the holidays (5) 14 Curiously, Maine's not an American state (9) 16 It's object is to encourage capital growth (4,5) 19 Don't quite use gun to scare someone away (5) 21 Having pulled over and stopped (5,2) 23 Might 'e drag this for improvement? (7) 24 Assumed to have got the ideas (7) 25 New look for a composer (7) 26 They don't meet for physical exercise (8,4)

DOWN: 1 Fee I can manage for the girl I'm going to marry (7) 2 They're at home in the country (7) 3 A handler of agricultural shares (9) 4 Pygmy antelope or Nile wader without a tail (5) 5 Being dim, it's difficult to understand (7) 6 Approve welcome in a ring (5,2) 7 Gave spit cash ? (4,2,3,3) 10 Attic drama (4,2,3,3) 15 Do such animals only live from day to day (9) 17 A road is under construction for Miss Duncan (7)

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Each colour in our code represents a letter. When you have cracked the code you will be able to make up seven words. The clue to first word is given to help you get started.

Y Y

The Clue: Sufferer

Y Y Y

SOLUTION TO FRIDAY’S ENIGMA CODE IMPALE, APPALL, APPEAL, EMPALE, IMPALA, PAELLA, PIMPLE

Y Y

MATH PYRAMID 681 18 Nathan returned Indian city figurine (7) 19 A Spanish guitarist goes out with one in Virginia (7)

20 Necromancers raise Cherbourg Salt and Dauphin at Ocean (7) 22 Bit of a bloomer breaking a plate (5)

SOLUTION TO FRIDAY’S CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 On the go, 8 Star part, 9 Ager, 10 Double-dealer, 12 Rulers, 13 Nautical, 14 Half the battle, 18 Opened up, 20 Tip off, 21 Sarsaparilla, 23 Nick, 24 Guernsey, 25 Densest. DOWN: 2 No grouch, 3 Hard feelings, 4 Get upset, 5 Landau, 6 Gael, 7 Sterile, 8 Splinter party, 11 Aristophanes, 15 Antelope, 16 Enforces, 17 Corsage, 19 Depose, 22 Roes.

QUICK CROSS 681

ACROSS: 1 Summons (5) 6 Of a region (5) 7 African river (5) 8 _ ___ boy: only a youngster (1,4) 9 Manuscript encs. (5)

The goal of Math Pyramid is to fill the given pyramid with numbers such that the following three rules are satisfied. 1. A cell value must be sum or difference of the two cells below 2. A row cannot have duplicate numbers 3. A number cannot be less than 1 or more than the grid size

FRIDAY’S SOLUTION

DOWN: 1 Nocturnal rodents (5) 2 Bouquet (5) 3 Character parts? (5) 4 Tidal bore (5) 5 Blackthorns (5)

MATHDOKU 681

HIDATO 681

The goal of Hidato is to fill the grid with consecutive numbers that connect horizontally, vertically, or diagonally from first to the last number in the grid. The first and last numbers of a puzzle and a some other numbers are already filled in. FRIDAY’S SOLUTION

Place numbers into the puzzle cells in such a way that each row and column contains each of the digits from 1 up to the size of the puzzle (4,5 or 6). Like a Sudoku puzzle, no number is repeated in any row or column. Each bold-outlined group of cells contains a hint consisting of a number and one of the mathematical symbols + x - /. The number is the result of applying the mathematical operation represented by the symbol to the digits contained within the domain. The solution to each puzzle is arrived at logically and is unique. FRIDAY’S SOLUTION

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

TIGER BUD BLAKE

COFFEEBREAK TODAY’S FORECAST

JAGJIT UPPAL

WIZARD OF ID PARKER & HART

B.C. JOHNNY HART

BEAU PEEP THE ADVENTURES OF LEGIONNAIRE BEAU PEEP

FRED BASSET ALEX GRAHAM

PHANTOM LEE FALK

MODESTY BLAISE PETER O’DONNELL

MOON : Scorpio TITHI : 13th Margshirsh Krishnapaksha NAKSHATRA : Anuradha RASHI : Vrischik (Scorpio) N.Y. LUCKY COLOUR : Brick Red LUCKY NUMBER : 8

BIRTHDAY FORECAST: You will be able to achieve a lot more through your routine work or business. Senior executives will be given more managerial powers. A legacy or financial gain through a parent is indicated. Those in the performing arts may be invited abroad on a tour. The married will plan a brief vacation in the company of their mate and family. BABIES BORN TODAY: Good looking, magnetic eyes and attractive hands. Will be poised, elegant. enthusiastic, independent hard working and dynamic. Will be creative, artistic and resourceful. Fortunate could have a career in media communication, design or finance. ARIES (March 21 - April 20): Investment in long-term deals is favorable. Don’t look for immediate benefits. Your detractors may try to create problems for you, which you will successfully overcome. However, you will have to watch out for situations that will try your patience. Keep a check on your health.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 20): You must be quick to take the initiative to clinch a deal even with some compromises. Financial gains are indicated for you today. News of a promotion or transfer to an important office is likely. This is seen as good for you especially to widen your horizons.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You have a natural talent for getting to the heart of the problem without wasting time on minor side issues. This quality will be evident and appreciated in a meeting today. A relationship that is important to you can get more exciting if you make the effort.

CANCER (June 21 - July 21): Explore new regions previously not visited for work development. Travel will be favorable and open up new avenues for you. Personal life runs smoothly, though you will miss moments of leisure and romance in the company of your beloved.

LEO (July 22 - August 21): Take advantage of the present good phase. Your work will require you to move amongst influential people and make important contacts. Some of you will receive offers for a job, but it will in your interest to work on contract or on the basis of assignment. This way you will make more money. The married will also be able to resolve their differences and find love all over again. Some of you may get a marriage proposal that is worth considering.

VIRGO (August 22 - September 21): Any new work started now has the potential to grow into a large enterprise bringing in gains. Those who are appearing for competitive exams will emerge successful. Personal life runs smoothly, though some of your colleagues and close associates make have complaints about you being too serious. For the single there is a chance that you will meet someone interesting during the course of work or through a colleague.

LIBRA (September 22 - October 22): This is a good time to establish contact with old friends and business associates. If you have been facing any problems in your personal life, find time to get family members together and sort out the differences that have been the cause of unpleasantness at home. Taking some time off in the evening with friends could be a good way of taking your mind off domestic hassles. Things will sort themselves out soon.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21): You will be in demand in your work and profession Try to maintain cordial relations with all, for you never know when you may need them. Where money is concerned be practical and check bona fide of persons you may have to deal with. You will fulfill responsibilities to loved ones but will need time and space for yourself. Your mate will make sure you get the time.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 December 20): Things may not work out quite the way you had planned. This could upset you, no doubt, but you shouldn’t make a prestige issue of it. Do not castigate yourself over a situation you had no control over. Nobody misunderstand your intentions. A close friend may have some sound advice that will help if you follow it properly. Don’t feel bad if you appear ignorant about wealth management.

CAPRICORN (December 21 - January 19): Favorable trends are indicated at work. Writing assignments, giving lecture or participating in an important meeting will keep you busy. Travel for work is likely. It will give you an opportunity to expand your horizons and form new relationships.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18): Avoid new investments. There will be certain developments which may necessitate revision in your plans. Put ego aside in matters of job and career, especially when moving closer to fulfilling your dreams. Students desirous of pursuing higher studies will have work harder to make the grade.

PISCES (February 19 - March 20): At work you have to be bit careful and avoid involvement in any power game by joining one group or another. Keep a low profile and stick to regular work. A minor tiff can get blown out of proportion and create a problem at home. Your mate will make an effort to resolve the situation.

COFFEEBREAK

QUICK CROSSWORD 4854 ACROSS: 1 While the world ___ : in the dead of the night, in a way? (5) 6 City in Gujarat famous for its Patola silk saris (5) 9 Despite, nonetheless or notwithstanding (7) 10 Go by two-wheeled vehicle (5) 11 ___ and save : behave in a miserly way? (5) 12 Goods for sale (5) 13 Resentment, indignation (7) 15 Joule fraction (3) 17 One article on a shopping list, for example (4) 18 Complain (6) 19 Option lists (5) 20 South American river (6) 22 Congo river (4) 24 Bengali surname or boy's name (3) 25 A person who has done something wrong (7) 26 Made __ __ : employed? (3,2) 27 Bird excrement used as fertiliser (5) 28 Cyrus ___ : Secretary of State with President Carter from 1977 to 1980? (5) 29 A marine mammal (7) 30 Criminal (5) 31 Ovid's 1,554 (5) DOWN: 2 Arrangement, plan or outline (6) 3 Mucus (6) 4 ___ the line : conform, especially under pressure? (3) 5 Commenced, started (5) 6 Former Units of Spanish money (7) 7 Boats like Noah's (4) 8 Esteem or venerate (6) 12 Anglo-Saxon god (5) 13 Currency of Algeria (5) 14 Rot, decompose (5) 15 A dying coal (5) 16 Hail, accost or salute (5)

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

SUDOKU 2040 Sudoku is a number placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid such several given numbers.To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every digit from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes.

SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

Difficulty Level

CRYPTOQUIP

Today’s clue: Y equals O

The Cryptoquip is a substitution cipher in which one letter stands for another.

18 All-rounder Pathan (5) 19 A periodic wind (7) 21 An interchangeable, plug-in hardware unit (6) 22 Elevated land (6)

23 Chinese fruit (6) 25 Successful actions (5) 26 ___ the damage : reverse the harm done, in a way? (4) 28 Vigour, energy (3)

SOLUTION TO SATURDAY’S QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 3 Abash, 8 Infra, 10 Penny, 11 Cro, 12 Chore, 13 Wrought, 15 Aloof, 18 Goa, 19 Mysore, 21 Rhombus, 22 Lait, 23 Rede, 24 Parades, 26 Rueful, 29 Tip, 31 Annal, 32 Legumes, 34 Blows, 35 Lob, 36 Sidle, 37 Esbat, 38 Edwin. DOWN: 1 Encre, 2 Drought, 4 Baht, 5 Sprays, 6 Heels, 7 In for, 9 Fro, 12 Chambal, 14 Goo, 16 Oozes, 17 Fever, 19 Mutates, 20 Clara, 21 Risen, 23 Repulse, 24 Pulled, 25 Dig, 27 Until, 28 Fable, 30 Debar, 32 Lwei, 33 Mob.

IRREGULAR SUDOKU 1859 To solve an Irregular Sudoku puzzle, every digit must appear once in: Each of the vertical columns Each of the horizontal rows Each of the regions

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

M K A O J M K A

F M P M W Y U M F

J I M Y L T

B X Y S J

O U B E M ,

K J

B X Y S J

J K N M

H B O

B B A F

J Y Y .

SATURDAY’S SOLUTION: The best way to become acquainted with a subject is to write a book about it

Afternoon WORD MINE

R I

How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in today’s puzzle? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the letter at the top of the pyramid. There should be at least one nine letter word. Plurals, foreign words and proper names are not allowed. Today’s ratings: 35 average; 38 good; 42 outstanding. SATURDAY’S SOLUTION: coin, come, coming, cone, echo, echoing, gone, HEGEMONIC, hoeing, home, homing, hone, icon, income, omen, once.

HEATHCLIFF

Saturday’s

SPORTS

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

TONS UP KALLIS By Chetan Narula

URBAN: Jacques Kallis made his swansong match a memorable one by hitting his 45th Test hundred as India faced a daunting task of batting out the entire fifth day to save the series-deciding second cricket Test against South Africa, here. Kallis ensured that he left the Test arena in a blaze of glory with a fluent 115 as the home team posted a mammoth 500 in their first innings to take a sizeable 166-run lead. India lost both the openers Murali Vijay (6) and Shikhar Dhawan (19) before reaching 68 for two on yet another rain-marred day, still needing 98 runs to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat. Cheteshwar Pujara (32) and Virat Kohli (11) will resume India's battle today. Pujara and Dhawan had batted with caution after paceman Vernon Philander had Vijay caught in the slips. But Faf du Plessis took a spectacular one-handed catch to send back Dhawan, who played uppishly in the mid-wicket region and failed to clear the fielder. It was yet another waste of a watchful start by Dhawan, who ended this Test series with scores of 13,15, 29 and 19. With one day left in the match, the visitors have to bat out the final day to share the honours in the twomatch series. The first Test in Johannesburg had ended in a thrilling draw. South Africa on the other hand need to take eight wickets on a tricky fifth day track at the Kingsmead to give Kallis a perfect gift in his farewell match. Beginning at the overnight score of 299 for five, Kallis scored 115 off 316 balls with 13 boundaries while lowerorder batsman Robin Peterson played a 61-run cameo before their innings folded for exactly 500. Leftarm spinner Ravidra Jadeja was the pick of the bowler for India with six wickets for 138 runs while paceman Zaheer Khan took two wickets at the expense of 97 runs. South African pacemen Dale Steyn (0-5) and Morne Morkel (0-11) bowled well with the new ball, getting more pace, bounce and movement than the Indian attack earlier on, yet could not get anymore breakthroughs. Dhawan was more watchful than usual, carefully leaving

deliveries he did not need to play at. Pujara was his resilient self, playing for time. The two batsmen silently put on 45 runs for the second wicket, successfully negotiating the initial pace barrage. After Dhawan's dismissal, Kohli joined Pujara in the middle and India’s two best batsmen on display avoided further damage, putting on 15 runs off 49 balls. Earlier in a raininterrupted first two sessions of the day, South Africa finished at 500 all out. Shortly after resumption of play post-tea, Faff du Plessis (43) was runout by a direct throw from Rohit Sharma. Morne Morkel (0) was caught and bowled by Jadeja, who garnered his best bowling figures in a Test innings.

LBW. He was on 31 runs at that time and went on to cause mayhem afterwards. The new ball also meant that Jadeja’s marathon spell came to an end during which he returned figures of 25-8-53-2. Peterson brought up his third Test half-century in the 152nd over, and their 100-run partnership in the very next, as 77 runs came in less than one hour of play after the lunch break. He even hit Rohit Sharma for a switchhit six, the match’s first after nearly four hours of play. He fell three balls later, out caught trying to hit Zaheer off the park, even as rain came down to cause another disruption. This was after Kallis brought up his 45th Test hundred in the pre-lunch session. He went past

JACQUES KALLIS CAREER STATS

Batting Mat Inns 279 165

NO 40

Runs 13174

HS 224

Ave 55.12

100 44

Bowling Mat Wkts 292 165

BBI 6/54

BBM 9/92

Ave 32.53

4w 7

5w 5

He took 6-138, beating his previous best of 5-58 agaainst Australia at Delhi earlier in 2013. Zaheer Khan (297) picked up a wicket on either side of lunch. Mohammad Shami (1-104) was taken for runs after the second new ball, as was Ishant Sharma (0114). Rohit (0-29) was the only other bowler tried. Before the tea-break, Robin Peterson smacked a quick-fire fifty to help build the lead with du Plessis, putting up 110 runs at 6.11 runs per over. Starting at 395/7 after play was again delayed by fifteen minutes post lunch, Peterson and du Plessis looked for runs as against the approach seen early in the day. The first over after the break bowled by Zaheer was taken for two boundaries and the batsmen attacked Jadeja as well. India delayed taking the new ball still, keen to play for time and force a draw. But five overs later, in the 147th, the two umpires decided to change the ball. The effects were there to see as the 50-run partnership came up in the same over, bowled by Shami, even as Peterson should have been given

50 58

Rahul Dravid’s tally of 13,288 runs in 164 matches by one run, to end up as the third-highest run-getter in Test cricket history. Kallis started the day slowly, and had a nervy moment against Jadeja in the 130th over, nearly playing the ball on to his stumps, before flicking to square leg for a single and bringing up his century. He scored 100 runs off 273 balls, batting for 334 minutes and hitting 13 fours. In the next two overs, he brought up his 50run partnership with Dale Steyn (44) for the sixth wicket, as his good friend played the night-watchman duty properly. It was in the 133rd over, against Zaheer, that Kallis went past Dravid as he played a deliberate late cut past slip. Perhaps that was his big target, for in the very next over, he went for an uncharacteristic big shot against Jadeja and holed out. BRIEF SCORES: India 334 & 68/2 36.0 overs [Cheteshwar Pujara batting 32, Virat Kohli batting 11, Robin Peterson 1/23] trail South Africa 500 all in 155.2 overs [Jacques Kallis 115, AB de Villers 74, Robin Peterson 61] by 98 runs.

Kallis goes past Dravid, becomes third highest Test run-getter DURBAN: South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis surpassed Rahul Dravid as the third highest run-getter in Test cricket after a 115-run knock against India in his farewell match here. Kallis, who would be retiring from Tests at the end of the ongoing second and final game against India, now has 13,289 runs in the longest format. That tally is one run more than Dravid, who retired last year after playing 164 Tests. Kallis, who is playing in his 166th Test, is now third behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) and Ricky Ponting (13,378) in the alltime list. The South African, considered the best all-rounder in modern cricket, struck a fluent 115-run knock today, which came off 316 balls and included nine fours, in his final Test.

"Hail King Kallis!Even his worst critic wudn't begrudge JK farewell ton-truly fantastic feat V normally relate 2 dreams!!" tweeted former Indian captain Bishan Singh Bedi, paying tribute to the 38-year-old. "Handsome is that handsome does!Is thr any1 more handsome than Kallis in his final test?No 1 took so much workload as JK in last 3/4 decades!" he added. Besides the mountain of runs he sits on, Kallis also has 292 wickets in Tests at an impressive average of 32.53, besides having 200 catches to his credit. "100 for #Kallis in his last test. One of the greats," wrote New Zealand captain Ross Taylor. "LEGEND ... #Kallis #GreatestEverAllrounder. #SAvInd," tweeted former England captain Michael Vaughan.

29 South Africa's Jacques Kallis celebrates his century on the fourth day of the test match against India at Kingsmead stadium in Durban.

INDIA LOOK TO SOMDEV, YUKI AS CHENNAI OPEN BEGINS TODAY

SPORTS

Somdev Devvarman during a practice session for ATP Chennai Open 2014 at SDAT Tennis Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

HENNAI: Somdev Devvarman would be India's while Yuki Bhambri is expected to carry his good from into the new season which is full of new challenges for the Indian players as ATP Aircel Chennai Open begins here today. India have three players in the singles main draw, which has world number eight and 2011 champion Stanislas Wawrinka as the top seed apart from 2008 champion and Russian second seed Mikhail Youzhny. Wawrinka is coming into the season-opener on the back of his best career season and the Swiss will be the player to watch. His stunning show in late 2013 season, when he stretched world number one Novak Djokovic in the US Open semifinals and also presented a stiff challenge to other top players, makes him a favourite in this tournament. Wawrinka is two wins away from 300 in his career (298-198). Three other Swiss players have reached the 300-wins plateau in their career, Roger Federer (923), Marc Rosset (433) and Jakob Hlasek (432). From Indian point of view, the local fans would hope that Somdev, who reached the final in 2009, does well. He had a terrific 2013 season and in his quest to break into top-50, he would eye a

By Anant Bhagwat

Afternoon Despatch & Courier

strong start to the season. The job is not easy but he got a good draw as he will have a qualfier as his opening rival. The slow courts are of Somdev's liking as he likes to play from the baseline. Wild card Yuki will open his campaign against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain while second wild card Jeevan Nedunchezhian's opener is against Jiri Vessely of Czech Republic.

Assam lifter sets three junior national records

GUWAHATI: Md. Jameer Hussain of Assam shattered three national junior records en route to sweeping the three gold on offer in the men's 94kg category on the concluding day of the 50th Men & 26th Women Junior National Weightlifting Championships. Hussain lifted 140kg in snatch, 178kg in clean and jerk for a total of 318kg to bag all the three gold. The earlier records in snatch (138kg)and total lift (310kg) stood in the name of Parveen while Hussain himself held the earlier record of 175kg in clean and jerk. In junior men's +105kg category, Vinay Chauhan of Haryana won all the three gold in snatch (137kg), clean and jerk (150kg) and total lift (287kg).

Zia Again

hat man Zia was at it again. In an international tournament

BRIDGE

recently he executed a perfect coup to extricate his side from a difficult situation. But in this he was helped by another former world champion.

S- K 4 2 H- A 9 7 5 D- 7 2 C- A J 6 2

S-10 9 6 H- 10 6 D- J 9 8 C- K 10 9 8 4 S- A 5 H- K Q 5 4 D- A K Q 6 C- Q 7 5

It is crucial that Yuki makes full use of this opportunity as a good performance here would earn him good number of points which will help him improve his ranking. The top four seeds in the tournament, Wawinka, Youzhny, third seed Italian Fabio Fognini and fourth seed Frenchman Benoit Paire have been granted byes into the second round. Withdrawal of defending champion Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia has taken some of the sheen away from India's only ATP event. India's best chances would be in the doubles, which features a lot of home players, including veteran Leander Paes. Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi, with whom he has re-joined forces are the top seeds. They are drawn to take on the defending champions Benoit Paire and Stanislas Wawrinka in their first round match. Paes has paired with Italian Fognini and are the second seeds. Apart from Paes and Bopanna, the doubles field has five more Indians. Ramkumar Ramanathan and N Sriram Balaji have been given a wild card entry and so has Saketh Myneni, who has paired with Russian Karen Kachchakov. Divij Sharan is partnering Yen-Hsun Lu of Chines Taipei while Purav Raja has teamed up with Israel's Dudi Sela.

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Pitch in spotlight as curator accuses Gambhir of interference N

EW DELHI: Delhi team management's lack of communication with the establishment again came into the fore when Feroze Shah Kotla curator Venkat Sundaram accused skipper Gautam Gambhir of "interfering into his job" ahead of their Ranji Trophy final group league encounter against Karnataka today. Having played three of their home matches on a seaming Roshanara track, Delhi team had been forced to play their final game at the Kotla -- a ground which is not to their liking as they feel the wicket does not produce results. Gambhir and Co. had relented because Roshanara, being a private club, will not be available from December 30 due to its own 'New Year Bash' on the ground. With 19 points from seven matches, Delhi are aiming for seven points for which Gambhir apparently wanted a rank-turner which will produce results against Karnataka who are already through to the knock-out stage with 32 points. On the eve of the match, BCCI's chief curator Daljit Singh, Sundaram and DDCA vicepresident Chetan Chauhan were seen to be having a discussion at the centre strip at the Kotla. "We are doing some corrections as per chief curator's insistence. The loose grass is being removed and we are using light roller with some sprinkling of water. We will be going with two spinners,"

Chauhan, who is also chairman of selectors, said. Former Delhi opener Sundaram has had his differences with the Delhi team over the past years but things have now turned from bad to worse with his differences with Gambhir coming out in the open. "If you have to fiddle with pitches so much then you are not fit for playing Test cricket," fumed Sundaram, referring to Gambhir's repeated insistence on getting the grass shaved off to make it a turner," Sundaram said. "I had got three pitches ready with one on which we had grown grass. They (Delhi team management) got the grass shaved off and now they are not playing on that track. Instead, they have chosen the centre wicket. We have made it match ready," Sundaram added. Sundaram's frustrations have increased as he said that he has not received any salary from the DDCA since September 2011. Asked if he has spoken to Chauhan in this regard, Sundaram said, "He is also helpless as the cricketers are pressurizing him too much for the pitch of their choice". A senior member of the Delhi team management spoke about not getting a pitch of their choice. "We have learnt all our cricket playing at the Kotla but why do you think that we need to go to Roshanara these days. Doesn't it speak about the incompetence of the curator?" the senior member questioned. Asked about the track, he said, "It's a result-oriented one". Left-arm spin duo of Manan Sharma and Varun Sood are supposed to play alongside pacers Ashish Nehra, Sumit Narwal.

Jharkhand batsman Saurabh Tiwary during a practice session for Ranji Trophy in Dhanbad on Sunday.

Defending champion Shiva settles for silver in Luge Asia Cup N S- Q J 8 7 3 H- 8 3 2 D- 10 5 4 3 C- 3

EW DELHI: India's Shiva Keshavan failed to retain his title in the 16th Luge Asia Cup as he settled for the silver in Nagano, Japan. Keshavan, who won the title in 2011 and 2012 editions, clocked a total time of 1:39:750 seconds for two heats in the Winter Olympics event. The Indian, who has qualified for the February 7-23 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, clocked the best start time and was leading in both runs until the mid section of the track, the fourth intermediate time. However, he lost the leading position in the last two splits to

Japan's Hidenari Kanayama who won gold with a total time of 1:38:675 seconds. Keshavan, however, retained his Asian speed record of 134.3 kmph which he had clocked in the 2011 edition held in the same Japanese city. He said the race gave him the idea on which areas he needs to make improvements ahead of the Winter Olympics. "This race made us identify our strengths and areas that need improvement. Good news is we have a clear understanding of what we need to do to win an Olympic medal. So we can work to-

wards that goal. The challenge is achieving it without a full-time coach or a full year budget for training," he said. Keshavan said during the twoweek training stint in Nagano, he had been fine-tuning his equipment by making minor to major changes everyday and testing them. He said he had struggled with the equipment setup all week and the runs during training were not up to the mark as he had to deal with handling difficulties to manoeuvre the sled without fishtailing in the faster corners.

POMS DUMPED DOWN UNDER

SPORTS

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MUMBAI | MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013

Heroics from Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Johnson and Chris Rogers get Aussies from the back to put the English in the dumps, Whitewash on the horizon for England looks imminent

ELBOURNE: Australia cruised to an eightwicket win over demoralised England with more than a day to spare today to claim a 4-0 series lead and stand on the cusp of an Ashes whitewash. Led by a century from opener Chris Rogers and a 136-run stand with Shane Watson, the Australians had few problems getting the required 201 runs before tea on the fourth day to seal England's fate at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. England contributed to their own demise with two confidence-sapping dropped catches by skipper Alastair Cook early in the day to take all the steam out of the dispirited tourists. The two fielding blunders from the team leader were psychological body blows for England and evidence of batsman Kevin Pietersen's comments on Saturday in a television interview that the tourists were "mentally fragile". England now face the monumental challenge of fighting off an Australian clean sweep of the series in the fifth and final Test, starting in Sydney on Friday. "I think it's a very special win. A lot of people thought we would come here complacent and not have the same willpower to continue to play the same way as in the first three Tests," Australian captain Michael Clarke told reporters. "For the first time in this series we found ourselves behind in the game and over the last couple of days we've been able to turn that around and win convincingly today, so I think the boys deserve a lot of credit." Playing on his home ground, veteran left-hander Rogers claimed his second Test century after scoring 110 against England in the last series earlier this year

for England, who were well on top and led the home side by 116 with 10 wickets in hand after lunch on Saturday's third day. Man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson and spinner Nathan Lyon staged a dramatic turnaround, with England bowled out for 179, leaving Australia with what became a comfortable task of scoring 231 in more than two days for victory. It was Australia's fourth consecutive win over England and comes four months after they lost the last series 3-0 in England. "The bottom line is we haven't been good enough," Cook said. "The part of this game that makes it even more frustrating is that we got ourselves into a good place to put some pressure on Australia: 100 ahead and no wickets down in the second innings. I suppose that might be where we are as a side. We created three chances in that first half-an-hour and we didn't take them." English heads dropped when Cook got his right hand to a snick from Rogers on 19 through slips after wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow failed to respond, and then grassed a straightforward two-handed chance from David Warner (22) off Stuart Broad. Warner scored only three more runs before he was caught behind off Ben Stokes and Australia's first wicket came down at 64. Symbolic of England's malaise, Cook Shane Watson, left, congratulates Chris Rogers on making 100 runs against did not bring on his specialist England during their Ashes test match on Sundayat the Melbourne Cricket Ground . spinner Monty Panesar until 90 minutes into the fourth day and at Durham. Rogers, 36, was out Michael Clarke not out six with he had little effect on stemming caught behind for 116 off 155 Australia 231 for two. It was the the Australian run flow until he fiballs cutting best fourth innings run chase in nally removed Rogers. Monty Panesar, with his team 51 years at the Melbourne Cricket some 31 runs short of victory. Ground since England's 237 for BRIEF SCORES: England 255 & 179 Rogers ran Mitchell Johnson close three in 1962-63. While England lost to Australia 204 & 231 for two in for man-of-the-match honours. have been on the end of heavy 51.5 overs [Chris Rogers 116, Shane At the end, Watson was un- defeats this Test series, Sunday Watson 83 not out, Monty Panesar beaten on 83 with skipper was a particularly dispiriting loss 1/41] by eight wickets.

Schumacher in hospital after ski accident

Our community hasn’t taken to sports: Nari By A Sports Reporter

Azad Shrivastav | ADC

LYON: Formula One legend Michael Schumacher is receiving treatment in hospital for head injuries after a ski accident at Meribel, officials at the French ski resort reported. The seven time German world champion, who reportedly owns property at the resort, was skiing off-piste with other skiers when he sustained a knock to the head in a fall. The 44-year-old was hospitalised at the nearby town of Moutiers, officials said, before being taken to hospital in Grenoble. The extent of his injuries was unclear but according to Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte, director of the Meribel resort, he was not seriously injured. Gernignon-Lecomte told Radio Monte Carlo Sport: "He was shocked, a little shaken but conscious. It may be a head injury but it is not very serious." He added: "He was wearing a helmet and banged (his head) against a rock."

UMBAI: One of the youngest Indian skipper of his times, Nariman ‘Nari’ Contractor said he was disheartened at the way the Parsi community has taken its eye off cricket and found no representation in the mainstream team or the Ranji Trophy and even in the school cricket. Contractor speaking at a session of the World Zoroastrian Congress at the National Sports Club of India said that it was unfortunate that the boys of his community have not taken to sports mentioning that despite efforts of the community, the response has been bleak. “Cricket and Parsi cricket is something what I would not like to talk about. In 1962, when we toured West Indies, we had four Parsi

Arjuna Awardee Adille Sumariwalla along iwth former Indian cricket skipper Nari Contractor during an event on Sunday. cricketers – Polly Umrigar, Rusi Surti, Farookh Engineer and my-

self in the team when our population was 96000. Suppose the population was two lakhs, our entire team would be full of Parsis. Now we have no Parsi cricketer in test, Ranji and even in school cricket,” said Contractor. Trying to pump in some fluid back in to the Parsi stream, their community launched academies at several places in the city but with low response. “We are in the lowest division of the Kanga League. We tried to look in to it. Last year, we started some academies in Malcom Baug and Rustom Baug thinking that it would save commuting time for the children. But the initial days, the boys came in numbers and them it dwindled. We took the cricket to the ‘baugs’ but the response was so poor. Boys of our community haven’t taken up sports and that is unfortunate,” he said.

IN BRIEF Three world titles for India at Al-Ain MUMBAI: India won three gold, two silver and three bronze medals in the World Youth Chess Championships that concluded at AlAin in the United Arab Emirates on December 28. India dominated the Open Under-16 section by bagging both gold and silver. Karthikeyan Murali of Chennai and Girish Koushik of Mysore tied for the first place with 9/11 to win the gold and silver medals. The youngster who dominated the contest with an 11/11 sweep was R Praggnanandhaa of Chennai who won the open under-eight section with a round to spare. Both Karthikeyan Murali and Praggnanandhaa are from the Bloom Chess Academy in north Chennai which is run by Velayudham. Saina Salonika of Odisha won the girls under-10 section with an undefeated 9/11 run. K.S. Raghunandan of Bangalore posted a final round win to pick up the silver medal in the Open Under-12 section. Vaibhav Suri (Delhi, Open U-18), C Lakshmi (Chennai, Girls U-10), Bhagyashree Patil (Mah, Girls U-8) won the bronze medals in their respective sections.

Lad injured, replaced by Manish Rao

MUMBAI: Champions Mumbai's hopes of taking full points from their last Ranji Trophy Group A game against Gujarat starting at Valsad today, suffered a slight dent with the injury sustained by young batsman Siddesh Lad. "Siddesh Lad has been injured and is being replaced by Manish Rao," informed Mumbai Cricket Association's joint secretary Nitin Dalal. Lad was their best batsman in the previous lost game against Karnataka. Rao, who was in the squad for the previous game, had been dropped for the do-or-die match against Gujarat to include left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah. The 40-time Ranji champions' qualifying hopes for the knock out rounds are hanging by a slender thread following their historic first-ever loss to Karnataka (by 160 runs) at Bangalore. Mumbai are standing third in the table behind leaders Karnataka (32) and second placed Gujarat (26) with 23 points, the same as fourth-placed Punjab, and need to win the game against Gujarat to ensure their entry into the quarter finals.

Akmal, a few others set to miss PCB central contracts

KARACHI: Some senior Pakistan players such as Kamran Akmal may not be given central contracts for the year 2014 as the Cricket Board and national selectors have decided to reward in-form younger players. A official of the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that the selectors had been told to prepare a preliminary list of 20 to 25 players to be considered for the new central contracts. "Once the selectors submit the list it will be debated upon by the interim management committee of the board and finally approved by the acting Chairman o the board," the official said.

Prabhakara qualifies for Louis Philippe Cup

BANGALORE: BK Prabhakara earned a spot to represent Puravankara Bangalore team of Louis Philippe Cup after shooting a round of 44 stableford points here. Priya Alex returned with 39 nett points to finish the day as runner up, but missed the bus to represent a Bangalore team for India's biggest city-based team golf championship. Prabhakara will be joined by two other amateurs, Saif Mekhri who won from Eagleton Golf Resort and David D'souza who sealed his berth from KGA last month. The trio will form the Puravankara Bangalore amateur team and fight for the Inter-City Pro Am title at Louis Philippe Cup 2014.

Afternoon Despatch & Courier MUMBAI

| MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013