English hansindia 24 01 2018

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Daredevils perform on a motorcycle during the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day parade in Kolkata on Tuesday morning

H Simultaneously published from Hyderabad | Warangal | Tirupati | Amaravati | Visakhapatnam | Khammam | Kurnool | Delhi H

WITH EYE ON 2019 POLLS

KCR mulls WELFARE BUDGET

Kentucky school shooting: 1 dead Benton (US): Authorities are reporting one person was killed and many were wounded in a high school shooting in rural Kentucky. Governor Matt Bevin tweeted that it happened at Marshall County High School. A shooting suspect was reported in custody.

The community is about 120 miles northwest of Nashville, Tennessee.

Sensex crosses 36k, Nifty sweeps past 11k Mumbai: Extending gains for the fifth consecutive session, the key Indian equity indices on Tuesday rode the bulls and escalated to record highs with the BSE Sensex closing above the 36,000-mark and the NSE Nifty50 above the 11,000-mark for the first time. S P13

Alaska quake prompts tsunami alert Washington: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale struck the Gulf of Alaska in the US on Tuesday, prompting a tsunami warning along the coastline that urged people in the affected areas to head to higher ground. The earthquake had previously been measured at magnitude 8.2. It hit 300 km southeast of Kodiak at a depth of 10 km at 12.21 am, the US Geological Survey said.

WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018 HYDERABAD | PAGES 32 | `5.00

The 2018-19 budget would be a cent per cent welfare budget. It would be a please-all-andhurt-none-budget.

PATAN AFZAL BABU Hyderabad: Ahead of 2019 elections, the TRS government's fullyear budget for 2018-19, which would be its last in its five-year term, is likely to be more populist in nature. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to have a record outlay of `1.8 lakh cr with focus on welfare schemes.

Even if the elections are held latest by mid-2019, the budget for 2019-20 would not be a fullyear budget. It would only be a vote-on-account one. "The budget for 2018-19 would be a cent per cent welfare budget. It would be a "please all and hurt none budget," a senior o�cial told The Hans India.

Apparently, eyeing all sections of the people in the next elections, the Chief Minister is busy finalizing liberal allocations in the budget for BCs, SCs, STs and minorities. He has been holding a series of meetings with select group of o�cials to for ideas to dish out of more welfare schemes to win to his side the economically backward families among the forward castes.

Top o�cials said that KCR is according top priority to the welfare of all communities by earmarking substantial funds. Allocations for the welfare departments will be at least 30 per cent more than what has been allocated in 2017-18 budget.

Con�nued on P6

SC REJECTS PLEA FOR BAN

‘Padmaavat’ release tomorrow

PM INVOKES ‘VASUDHAIKA KUTUMBAM’ AT WEF

Modi pitches for global solidarity Davos: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took aim at Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policies at the World Economic Forum’s annual gathering in Davos on Tuesday, in a speech beseeching global leaders to abandon selfishness and protectionism and embrace the world’s shared future.

Modi is mostly preaching to the choir in Davos, so his words seemed to be tailored as much for his counterparts in Washington, where Trump’s administration has challenged global agreements and restricted immigrants. On Monday, the US hiked tariffs on solar panels and washing machines, a move immediately criticized by Chinese and South Korean leaders who threatened to retaliate.

The first Indian Prime Minister to speak at Davos since

MODI@DAVOS India will be a $5 trn economy by 2025

I

n his epoch-making Davos speech, Modi put India at the centre of the global narrative, underlining it as the only good news in a gloomy world. “If you want wealth with wellness, peace with prosperity, come to India,” the PM said.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked all states to comply with its order not to stand in the way of the release of controversial film "Padmaavat" as it dismissed last ditch e�orts by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments to block its January 25 release. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said: "People must understand that the Supreme Court has passed an order and it must be complied with." S P10

HIGHLIGHTS 3 GRAVEST THREATS CONFRONTING THE WORLD TODAY

1997, Modi echoed the antiTrump and pro-globalization sentiments of Chinese president Xi Jinping last year, albeit with a bit more flourish and liberal use of quotes from ancient

Indian scripture. “All of us, we are linked together as one family,” Modi said. “Our destiny is a common thread that links all of us.” The world has lost its “feeling of solidarity,” he added.

Highlighting the importance of unity in solving the various global problems, Modi stressed on the age-old mantra of 'Vasudhaika Kutumbam'.

Con�nued on P6

Address of PM Modi at the World Economic Forum is a statesman's analysis of the global challenges and unfolding of India story Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister

PM has a vision of creating a new India by 2022, he is saying that why not create a new World at the same time when we create a new India.

Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister

It was a very enthusiastic speech, PM talked about how Indian ethos can be a global role model in today's conflicting times Dharmendra Pradhan, Union minister

It wasn't speech of a political leader but that of a statesman, a global leader. He gave a message that we are here not only to speak but what we speak is transformed into action Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra CM

PM gave an excellent speech.

It is a historical day for India. PM gave very good message to global community especially on geopolitics, terrorism & environmental issues Chandrababu Naidu, AP CM

Modi spoke as a global statesman speaks not only about India but also globalisation & larger issues of climate change & terrorism. Yes, he spoke about reforms Rajan Mittal, VC & MD of Bharti Enterprises

‘Do not donate over `2K in cash to pol parties’ P6

Jagan paints himself into a corner: Vundavalli

New Delhi: The Income Tax Department on Tuesday cautioned people against indulging in illegal cash transactions, including donating more than Rs 2000 to political parties. In a bid to clean up election funding, the government early this year had notified 'electoral

bonds' that can be bought from specified branches of the SBI and used to donate money to political parties. According to the scheme, no person should make a cash donation of over Rs 2000 to a political party.

The tax department, in advertisements issued in leading

dailies on Tuesday, said a person should not "donate in excess of Rs 2000 in cash to a registered trust/political party." This is the first public advisory that the department or its policy-making body-- the CBDT has issued vis-a-vis political donations.

Now, register marriage via video conference!

The Kerala High Court has given its nod for marriage registration of couples living abroad through video conferencing Kochi: The Kerala High Court has given its nod for marriage registration of couples living abroad through video conferencing.

Hearing a petition filed by Kollam-native Pradeep and wife Beryly, who are currently living in the US, the High Court said the couple can appear before

the marriage registrar through videoconferencing.

According to the petition,

their marriage was solemnised at the St Casimir’s Church at Kadavoor in Kollam on Janury

23, 2000. Pradeep, who was working in the Indian Space Research Organisation, later went to Ireland on o�cial assignment. He took his family with him. The company, in which Pradeep was working, shifted its base to the US in 2006. He, with this family, relocated to the US. The couple said in order to apply for permanent resident status in the US, they need to provide their marriage certificate issued by a competent authority. They filed an application before the Kollam Marriage Registrar through relatives.

KTR meets Naidu, Ambani at WEF OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Telangana IT, Industries and Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday met several business leaders, including Reliance Company Chairman Mukesh Ambani on the first day of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland.

KTR, who is leading a delegation from Telangana to the Forum, attended the opening plenary which was also addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The session was hosted by the Forum Chairman Klaus Schwab.

The Telangana minister also met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and

IT minister N Lokesh at the plenary. KTR interacted with several business leaders from across the globe at the session.

The minister is scheduled to speak at a few sessions during the next three days. KTR will participate in the discussion titled “Leveraging Digital to Deliver Value to Society” on January 25.

On the same day, he will also participate in the Roundtable titled “Promoting Design in India” organised by DIPP. The other participants include Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister of Industry and Commerce and DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek. On January 26, KTR will speak at the session titled “Global Tech, Local Solutions: Artificial Intelligence”.

TELANGANA

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

TRS govt accused of gender bias Hyderabad:Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State unit Mahila Morcha president Akula Vijaya alleged that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) led State government is ne-

glecting women by treating them as second-rate citizens.

Addressing media here on Tuesday, she said the Morcha decided to highlight the State government’s discriminatory policies towards women and will organise ‘Mahila Yuddha

Bheri’ to register its protest against the government.

As part of the move, the Morcha activists and memberswilltourtheentireState and will divulge on how the government had taken the women members of Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) groups for a raid with false promises like providing interest-free loans. State government had failed to deliver on its electoral promise of double bedroom houses but, is using the women members of DWCRA groups

as TRS party workers without fulfilling even a single promise made to them, she said. Vijaya said “Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao only recognises women in his family as women and it is for this reason, there is not a single woman in the State cabinet.” Similarly, she questioned as to why a woman from Andhra Pradesh continues as the Chairman of the State Women’s Commission (SWC). The State government had so far failed to bring changes in the SWC, she added.

CAMPUS SUICIDES

High Court issues notices to Chaitanya, Narayana colleges LEGAL CORRESPONDENT Hyderabad: Taking cognisance of the ongoing suicides of studentsinNarayanaandChaitanyacorporatecolleges,theHigh CourtatHyderabadissuednoticestothedirectorsofNarayana and Chaitanya groups asking them to explain their case about gross irregularities in running the institutions and irresponsible handling of suicides by their students.

The division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice M Ganga Rao issued these noticesonTuesdaywhilehearingthePublicInterestLitigation (PIL) petition converted from a letter written by Dasari EmmanuelofLokSattaAgitationSocietyfromPrakasamdistrict.

The bench also issued notices to super speciality hospitals, NIMS in Hyderabad andSVIMS in Tirupathi,afterarraigning them as respondents and asked them to assist the court on howtopreventthespateofsuicidesinthesecorporatecolleges.

ItalsoissuednoticestotheChiefSecretariesofTelanganaand Andhra Pradesh, their Home Secretaries, EducationSecretaries,InterTODAY mediate Boards of both HEVALAMBI (1939) the States.

The letter written by Ayana: Uttarayana the petitioner alleged that the authorities in Ritu: Shishira Andhra Pradesh were Masa: Magha not bothering about the Paksha: Shukla gross irregularities of Tidhi: Saptami one of these institutions Nakshatra: Revati because its head was a Durmuhurtham: 12:05 pm to MinisterintheStategov12:50 pm ernment.

It was alleged that in Raahukaalam: 12:28 pm to some of the cases these 01:52 pm collegeshavebeenacting Varjyam: 04:23 am to 05:58 am in such a high-handed �������� ��� ���� ����� mannerthattheyarenot ������� ����� ����������� providing access to the NAMAAZ TIMINGS parentsandkinofthedeFajr Zohar Asr Maghrib Isha ceased students to see 5.34 12:28 4:31 6:07 7:22 am pm pm pm pm the dead bodies of their beloved ones who committed suicides in these INDICES campusesandhostelson Sensex: 36,139.98 � 341.97 accountofextremepresNIFTY: 11,083.70 � 117.50 sure etc. The petitioner also sought immediate Gold (10g): � 31,170 � 40 200 closureofthehostelsand Silver (Kg): � 40,000 campuses that have no (Source: NVS) permissions. He also WEATHER wantedcriminalcasesto ����� ������� ��������� be registered against ��������� ����� these colleges regarding ��������� ��� �������� ����� the suicide deaths of ������� ����� (Source: in.weather.com) students.

Thursday

OUR BUREAU

�

2

HMR asked to deploy electric vehicles OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Chief Secretary S P Singh on Tuesday instructed the Metro Rail authorities to make arrangements for the introduction of electric vehicles and improvement of feeder services for the metro train which is operational on the 30-km stretch between Miyapur-Ameerpet-Nagole.

The o�cial held a meeting with Principal Secretary to Roads and Buildings department Sunil Sharma, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) MD N V S Reddy and other o�cials of Telangana State Road Development Corporation.

The Chief Secretary instructed

the o�cials to conduct a quick study to get the feedback from Metro Rail commuters, do stationwise mapping with frequency details and match the frequency of RTC feeder services and metro trains and provide end-to-end connectivity for commuters.

Singh also reviewed the progress of works for phase-I Metro Rail project. He asked the o�cials to complete the works by the end of this year and commission the balance portions of phase-I, i.e., the stretches between Ameerpet and L B Nagar (16 km) of corridor-I; Ameerpet and Hitec city (10 km) of corridor-III; and JBS to MGBS (9 km) of corridor-II in a phased manner

REPUBLIC DAY ZEAL!

starting from June this year. The HMRL o�cials were asked to initiate preparatory activity including conducting surveys for determining the broad contours of Metro phase-II expansion programme and preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), so as to approach Central government for sanction of Metro phase-II. For this, he emphasised on the need for a coordinated action plan duly involving Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), Collectors of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy and Medchal districts and other senior o�cers concerned.

WORKS ON

Rehearsals going on in full swing for Republic Day parade at Parade Grounds in Hyderabad on Tuesday

FAST

TRACK S Electric vehicles in pipeline S Feeder services to be improved S Metro now operational on the 30-km stretch S Officials urged to get feedback from commuters S Frequency of RTC feeder services, metro trains to be matched

S Commuters to get end-to-end connectivity S Works to be completed in phased manner S HMRL asked to initiate preparatory activity S GHMC, HMDA, Collectors, officials to work in tandem

2 held for pick-pocketing Hyderabad: Task Force o�cials on Tuesday arrested two pick-pocketers at Secunderabad Railway station.

According to police, Md Yousuf, a native of Karnataka targeted the victims while they are in sound sleep and stole cell phone near Secunderabad Railway station. The police also arrested the receiver, Md Sajid, a resident of Amberpet who purchased the stolen phones from the accused. The police recovered 10 cell phones worth Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 8,000 cash.

ASP, CI axed for ‘illicit a�air’ OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Inspector of Kalwakurthy, Mallikarjun Reddy, and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of ACB, Sunitha Reddy, were suspended

by Hyderabad range IG M Stephen Ravindra. The decision was taken following preliminary inquiry into the alleged ‘extramarital a�air’ between them, which was exposed by the woman’s NRI husband.

According to official sources, Mallikarjun Reddy’s statements were recorded by the KPHB police on Monday night, as part of preliminary investigation. During the questioning, the CI revealed that he was in

The couple was caught red-handed while committing adultery by the woman police officer’s husband on Sunday night a relationship with Sunitha Reddy for at least four years, as they were both working for ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau). He claimed that both were getting ready for marriage, as Sunitha had already filed for divorce. He also claimed that he visited her residence in Kukatpally to drop her and there was nothing fishy as claimed by her husband, Surender Reddy on that night.

In his statements, Mallikarjun also informed that he had

a talk with Surender over the issue after the entire episode (getting caught red-handed) took place on Sunday night. He also asserted that both of them would come out in the open with the claim of marrying each other, since he was also not happy in the existing wedlock. He stated that he kept aloof from his wife for the same reasons.

Meanwhile, Surender demanded dismissal of Mallikarjun from service, as he had no

Five Octopus cops sustain injuries during mock-drill 2015, police patrolling van constable informed the police station that foul smell was emanating from an Indica car parked at Registration o�ce at Prakashnagar. Immediately a team of police personnel rushed to the spot and found the car without a number plate and a dead body inside it.

During investigation, the police found that one couple, Narsimha and his wife Padma, both rag pickers, were residing under a tree and suspected the man behind the murder. The Begumpet police registered a case of murder and arrested Narsimha on July 2, 2015 and remanded him. As the prosecution proved Narsimha guilty of the crime during the trial, the judge convicted the accused and sentenced him to life imprisonment and charged him with a fine of Rs 1,000. The case was investigated by Inspector G Jagan of Begumpet PS under the guidance of ACP S Ranga Rao and North Division DCP B Sumathi, IPS.

OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: During a mock-drill, five policemen of Octopus (organization to counter terrorist operations) sustained injuries after their speeding car hit a van, during exercise near Adibatla on Tuesday.

According to o�cial sources, the five men were chasing the van supposedly carrying ‘extremists’.

The car which hit 120 km/hr speed lost control and hit the vehicle being chased. They were admitted to a private hospital in L B Nagar. One of the police Laghupathi is serious, while the other Chennakeshava Reddy had undergone surgery. Other three include Suresh, Rahul Bhavani Singh and Shekhar.

Lifer for rag picker for killing wife Hyderabad: A rag picker was sentenced to life for killing his wife by a court on Monday. VI Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Dr Srinivas Rao sentenced rag picker Patthi Narsimha (45) a resident of Prakashnagar in Begumpet to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000. The judge further ruled that if the convict fails to pay fine then he should undergo another simple imprisonment of one month.

According to ACP, Begumpet Division, on June 16,

3

CITY

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

Woman injured in tipper accident dies Hyderabad: S Radha, who was injured in the tipper accident on January 17, succumbed to injuries, died while undergoing treatment in Gandhi Hospital on Tuesday. It may be mentioned here that a tipper lorry rammed into the vehicles at a signal, near Sushma theatre of Vanasthalipuram, during afternoon hours on January 17. As a result, S Mahesh (7), who was travelling along with his family and another person, Naresh driving a Pulsar bike died on the spot and S Radha and her son Manish (4) sustained severe injuries. Radha’s family was returning from Srinadha Puram, Nalgonda to their house at Meerpet. Four other persons travelling in an auto also sustained injuries and have been admitted in private hospital for their treatment.

Habitual offender held Hyderabad: A habitual o�ender, who became a challenge to police by committing attention diversion offences in the limits of Rajendranagar for past two years, was apprehended at Moinbagh in Santhoshnagar. Basing on the CCTV footage Rajendranagar police were able to trace out the o�ender and apprehend on Monday. During interrogation he confessed to the crimes. The police recovered Rs 1 lakh cash and seized two motor cycles, cell phone from his possession.

moral right to continue as a police o�cer. “Even as the Telangana police are receiving laurels at international level, they also have black-sheep like this. The government should terminate him from service and withdraw all the provisions,” he said.

It may be mentioned here that a case has been already registered against Mallikarjun following complaint of the senior policewoman’s husband that both were indulging in ‘illicit relationship’ for some time. On the instructions of DCP Madhapur, a case was also registered against the Inspector for ‘adultery and trespassing’ and a report was also sent to SP Nagarkurnool on Monday.

Inter student commits suicide OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: An Intermediate student committed suicide by hanging from a tree in Shamshabad on Monday and his body was found on Tuesday in the bushes. According to the police, A Sai Kumar, an Inter second year student of Chaitanya College in Shamshabad and resident of Peddatupra village was missing since Monday morning and his body was found hanging from a tree in the bushes.

Civil society organisations to launch ‘Citizens Entitlements Campaign’ Hyderabad: As many as 20 civil society organisations have come together to launch a one-year long ‘Citizens Entitlements Campaign’ that is to be flagged o� on January 26. The campaign aims to enable citizens to avail 56 services that are provided by GHMC, Water Board and Electricity departments.

Speaking on the initiative, Mazhar Hussain of Civil Society Organisations of Hyderabad said, “All organisations would cover 1,000 colonies and localities of the twin cities spread over 150 wards and encourage people to download the apps and make calls to the call centres.” He added many citizens do not know that their complaints especially dealing with

The campaign aims to help citizens avail 56 services by GHMC, HMWSSB & Electricity dept catching rabid dogs, removal of water stagnation, cleaning and repairs of manholes have a timeframe and the respective government department have to do it within the stipulated time. We would spread awareness, he said.

The Citizens Entitlements Campaign would be launched on January 26 on the occasion of Republic Day when groups and organisations across the city would organise flag hoisting functions.

Several programmes would be

launched in 400 locations in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

About 40,000 pamphlets would be distributed and people will be encouraged to download the apps and make calls to call centres.

The modalities for registering grievances and complaints with di�erent departments using mobile phone calls, mobile apps, Facebook, Whatsapp and email would be explained.

In case of failure of these departments to deliver their services even after a complaint is lodged, the campaign provides a mechanism through the mobile number 99595 17766 or email civiccomplaintshyd@gmail.com to escalate unattended requests.

CID uploads link on State police website OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Towards helping the victims of Agri Gold, Abhaya Gold and Akshaya Gold fraud, the Criminal Investigation Department

(CID) of Telangana has uploaded a link on Telangana State police website (www.tspolice.gov.in). According to a press release, on clicking the link there is a provision for entering the aadhaar card number

of the customers or victims of Agri Gold, Abhaya Gold and Akshaya Gold fraud. After entering the Aadhaar number, the victim or customer will be redirected to a webpage wherein they have to fill

TSRTC to ply 4.2K buses for Jatara OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Around 11,000 Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) sta� including, two Executive Directors, ten Regional managers and 150 o�cials will oversee the transport arrangements for Samakka Sarlamma jatara at Medaram in Jayashankar Bhupalapally District.

Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy reviewed the transport arrangements here at Medaram on Tuesday. He said the TSRTC will run 4,200 buses from 23 different places in the State. The Minister said over 1.20 crore pilgrims are expected to attend the biennial tribal conglomeration at Medaram.

Government sanctioned Rs 2.48 crore to TSRTC for transport arrangements. The Minister

Around 11,000 officials will oversee the arrangements The buses will run from 23 different places in the State Over 1.20 cr pilgrims expected to attend Government sanctions `2.48 cr for transport preparations

said the corporation would serve to about 20 lakh passengers and added that during the previous occasion 15 lakh passengers availed the services.

The Minister further said the corporation will run air-conditioned buses to Medaram with advance booking facility. The festival starts from January 31 and will conclude on February 3. However, the corporation will operate buses from January 28 onwards till February 4. The passengers will have to pay 1.5 per cent additional charges for special buses.

The Minister said there would be 36 CCTV cameras, 36 ticket counters, 450 TIMs at Tadwai, Medaram and other booking centres. A makeshift bus stand is arranged in an area of 51 acres of land, temporary arrangements like queue lines, drinking water

facilities would also be provided at the site.

The corporation will operate buses from di�erent regions including 531 from Karimnagar, 375 from Khammam, 304 from Adilabad, 205 from Warangal and nearby areas and 80 from Rangareddy region.

On the request of Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari, the Transport Minister said the corporation will operate mini buses apart from the 4,200 specials. He suggested the people to utilise the RTC buses as they would be stopping close to the shrine.

The o�cials have made arrangements like shelters for people standing in queues which can accommodate 17,000 people at a time. There would be one bus per minute, said the Transport Minister.

Samakka Sarlamma jatara at Medaram starts from January 31 and will conclude on February 3 Corporation would ferry nearly 20 lakh passengers TSRTC to run airconditioned buses with advance booking facility Pilgrims will have to pay 1.5 pc additional fare to avail special buses � There will be 36 CCTV cameras, 36 ticket counters, 450 TIMs � Apart from 4,200 buses, the corporation will operate mini buses also

in their details in the prescribed proforma. This information provided by victims will be useful in the due course of finalization of the case after the final decision of the High Court.

BJP to embark on month-long fight against govt Hyderabad: Bharatiya Janata Party State President K Laxman said that his party had decided to go on a month-long agitation programme against the anti people’s policies of the State government. As part of the programme, the party will organise different programmes at various places in the State.

Accordingly, Backward Caste (BC)SangramaSadassu at Zaheerabad followed by RythuPoru Sabha at Mahabubnagar and BC SangramaSadassu at Nalgonda will be held on Jan 28.A five-day BJP Dhum Dham will be held on Jan 29at Sri ThyagarayaGana Sabha in the city. On Jan 30, Dalit Adalat will be held at 11 am in Sattupalli and BC SangramaSadassu at 4 pm in Wyra.

Following many leaders and activists from di�erent parties and people showing interest in joiningBJP, it was decided that all the new joining will be admitted into the party on Jan 31. The MahilaYudhhaBehri will be held on Feb 2, at RTC Kalyana Mandapam in the city and a Dalit Adalat will be organised at 3 pm in the cantonment area, Secunderabad on Feb 3. Another RythuPoru Sabha will be held at Karimnagar on February 8 and 9, a public meeting will be held in Adilabad, besides admitting new people into the party.

4

TELANGANA Revanth for disqualification of nine TRS MLAs MEDARAM TO BE MADE TOP TOURIST HUB

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

OUR BUREAU

Hyderabad: Congress leader and MLA A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday urged the Chief Election Commissioner of India (ECI) to recommend the disqualification of nine Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs for enjoying the office of profit on the lines of the disqualification of 20

MLAs of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi recently. In a petition to the ECI, Revanth said the Telangana government had appointed six MLAs namely, D Vinay Bhaskar, Jalagam Venkat Rao, V Srinivas Goud, G Kishore Kumar, V Satish Kumar, and K Laxmi as Parliamentary Secretaries in the year 2014. Aggrieved by this, he said that he

had filed a writ in the High Court and it gave an interim order withholding the appointments.

However, in contravention of these orders, the government adopted a new method and appointed three other MLAs E Balakishna, S Satyanarayana, and V Prashant Reddy in different positions with cabinet status and gave them huge salary, perks etc.

OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: With pilgrims thronging at Sammakka Saralamma shrine almost entire year, The State government had decided to develop Medaram as permanent tourist destination by bringing up several infrastructure facilities.

According to the o�cials, the State government had already brought up Haritha tourism hotel with Rs 7.5 crore and tribal museum with Rs 2 crore.

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari said the tourists are coming to Medaram all along the year hence it has been decided to develop Medaram as permanent tourist attraction. He said that the government would bring up amphitheatre, tribal museum, food court, cottages for VIPs etc. The Museum would showcase the story of Sammakka and Sarlamma, he said. He further said that about 10 cottages would be constructed for the VVIPs coming to Medaram.

Apart from this permanent accommodation would be pro-

� Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari says the

government will set up amphitheatre, tribal museum, food court, cottages at Medaram

Medaram comes alive As many as 3,000 workers deployed to maintain hygiene 60 medical teams, medicines and 108 ambulance service for emergency situations As many as 400 CCTV cameras are installed to maintain the traffic flow Government expects over 1.20 crore pilgrims this year

vided for the pilgrims visiting Medaram. Talking on the arrangements in place for the jatara, Srihari said,an entire area of 100 acres had been divided into 40 sectors and each sector would be headed by one o�cial and assisted by o�cials of other departments. He said that importance is given to hygiene as over 3,000 workers have been deployed for clearing the garbage during the festival days.

There would be 60 medical

teams with expert doctors, medicines and 108 ambulances. The district administration had completed all the arrangements. The Minister said that SingareniCompany had decided to provide 10 Lakh water bottles. Similarly, 10 Lakh water bottles would be provided by TSGENCO and five Lakh by TSRTC. The Minister informed that helicopter service is provided from Warangal district. He said the police o�cials would admin-

ister the tra�c with 400 CCTV cameras and also with their sta� on the road and ensure there is no tra�c jam. About 1.20 crore pilgrims are expected to attend the largest tribal conglomeration in the country after KumbhMela in Uttar Pradesh.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao would visit Medaram on February 2. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Governor E S L Narasimhan would also visit Medaram.

PK exhorts fans to get set for a long journey Karimnagar: Gird up your loins, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan told his followers, gearing them up for what he calls a ‘long journey’.

In his opening remark, addressing his followers on Tuesday, he reiterated why he had to start his political campaign from Kondagattu. If Andhra had given me birth, it was Telangana that gave me rebirth, he said, expressing his a�nity and attachment for the region, its people and their dialect. “Jai Telangana slogan inspires me as much as Vande Mataram.

The slogan signifies Telangana people’s struggle and their perseverance,” he said. Elaborating his party’s seven-point principle, he said there was an imperative need for understanding the role of caste in Indian politics, thus breaking the tradition of power being restricted to some upper castes.

“Social justice is not just all about giving political space to all castes but allowing the entire communities flourish on par with that of already developed,” he said. Dwelling at length on his party line, he mentioned the need for secular politics, fight against corruption, protection of culture, nationalism with due respect to regionalism etc. Further, Pawan Kalyan said he would announce his party line and activity before March 14. “Telangana is just about four-yearold, and it needs to be fostered. At the moment, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, whom I like immensely, is adept in dispensing good governance,” Pawan Kalyan said. He said the Jana Sena Party would like to play constructive politics. The party would not only point out the loopholes in the governance but also try to provide solutions, he said, asserting that his party would contest 2019 elections in both AP and Telangana. “I may di�er with the present establishments in AP and Telangana, but it’s not my style of functioning to make an issue out of everything,” the actor-politician said. Referring to the re-

cently held World Telugu Conference, he justified the Telangana government ignoring the AP poets, stating that it was not the act of belittling it, but it could be an e�ort to highlight Telangana dialect that faced decades of ignominy.

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

5

TELANGANA

RUN-UP TO ELECTIONS

Cong ex-mantris go into mute mode OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Though the political climate in the State is heating up, several senior leaders and former Ministers of Congress are yet to break their silence and participate vigorously in the party activities and in the campaign against the government.

Most of the former Ministers have confined themselves to indoors and not visiting Gandhi Bhavan, the State Congress headquarters. This has been raising questions on the coordination between the State leadership and the seniors.

Several senior leaders like P Laxmaiah (former PCC president), former Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha, former Ministers P Sabitha Reddy, P Sudershan Reddy, V Venkateswara Rao, S Chandrasekhar, Sunitha Laxma Reddy, former Speaker K R Suresh Reddy and others are yet to break their silence and to join the activities of the Congress.

The former Ministers have confined themselves to their respective districts and are busy consolidating their position in their constituencies. Their presence in the Congress activities at the State level is quite rare in the past three-and-a-half years. They have par-

Most of them are confining themselves to their home constituencies to consolidate their position there putting the grand old party in an apparent fix

ticipated in programmes being organised by the party in their own districts.

This has put a big burden on the few State leaders in running the activities at the State level and campaign against the government.

A senior leader of the party opined that the former Ministers should come out and take on the government on various issues so that the ruling party was exposed on various fronts.

As the former Ministers are quite aware of the programmes taken up during the Congress regime, they are the right persons to impress upon the people on work done by the previous government. They could also expose the TRS government’s failures with their experience and reach.

A few senior leaders of Congress are worried over the blitzkrieg of the government. The ruling party campaign, in its favour and against the previous government, has become a concern for them. The government was able to manipulate the facts and was able to convince the people that the previous government did nothing, they opined.

The Congress is still unable to drive home the point among the people that it was only reason for the creation of Telangana State, leaving the entire credit to the ruling TRS. Though the previous Congress government planned several irrigation projects and power plants, which have been launched by the present government, it was unable to tell the people about the same.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu lighting a lamp to mark the inauguration of a two-day national seminar on ‘Contemporary Issues and Challenges in Finance, Marketing and Taxation’ even as Deputy Chief Minister Md Mahmood Ali and others look on in Hyderabad on Tuesday

Ramp up tax-GDP ratio: V-P OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said the country needed to significantly ramp up its tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio to give shape to a modern and 21centruy government. This was important for the country to offer basic public goods and to provide social security to the citizens, he said.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a two-day national seminar on ‘Contemporary Issues and Challenges in Finance, Marketing and Taxation’, organised by the Department of Commerce, Keshav Memorial Institute of Commence and Sciences, here on Tuesday.

He termed the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as the biggest ever tax reform since Inde-

pendence, adding, “India has finally become one-country and one market.” It also demonstrated the victory of a bipartisanship in the democratic and federal setup of the country. The GST, in its application, had made compliance easy for business and traders and lead to further improvement of Ease of Doing Business (EDB) in the country.

Naidu pointed out, “India’s tax to GDP ratio was 16.6 per cent in FY2017 when compared with 26.0 per cent in the USA, 20.1 per cent in China, and 34.3 per cent in OECD countries.” This calls for taking up significant efforts to ramp up its tax to GDP ratio, to fuel a modern and 21st-century government. In turn, this would help offer basic public goods and to provide social security to the people, he added.

Giving the development in the aftermath of introduction of the GST, Naidu said direct taxes collected in FY2018 had grown at 18.2 per cent.

This increase in the collection was driven by an increase in compliances with the increase of the number of taxpayers in both the direct and indirect taxes. About 5.9 million tax-payers had registered for GST and 28.2 million people had filed their income-tax returns for the FY2017, he said.

Stressing on the need to keep check on black money, the Vice President said demonetisation, constituting Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money and passing of the Benami Transactions Act, 1988 were some of the strong steps taken to bring more economic activity into the tax net, he said.

Adilabad dist still in grip of cold wave Hyderabad: It seems that there is no respite from the biting cold conditions at many places in Adilabad district for the second day on Tuesday. The lowest minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius was recorded in Adilabad, the same as that prevailed on Monday.

The Met department bulletin said the night temperature in Telangana rose appreciably ranging from 2.1 to 4

degrees Celsius at one or two places during the last 24 hours. They were markedly below normal by 5 degrees Celsius or less. The other night temperatures recorded in the State were: Medak 12, Bhadrachalam, Hakimpet & Khammam 13 each, Hyderabad, Nizamabad & Ramagundam 16 each, Hanamkonda, Mahbubnagar & Nalgonda 17 each.

NEWS

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HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

Jagan paints himself into a corner: Vundavalli OUR BUREAU Rajamahendravaram: Chances of YSRCP going with BJP in the next elections appears to be almost nil, opined for-

mer MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Arun Kumar said that Jagan, who has been extending unconditional support to BJP since 2014, has now put a condition that he would walk with the saffron party if they give special status to Andhra Pradesh now.

Special status is an issue which the Centre has dumped and is a closed issue. They will not give it at any cost and hence the doors

for Jagan to have any alliance with BJP are closed, he said.

Now it is for YSRCP to decide whether they will go it alone or will they move closer to Congress, he said. At the Centre, the fight is going to be between NDA and UPA and either of them will come to power. Since the talk of early elections is in the air, it is time for Jagan to decide whom he will support at the central level.

KCR mulls welfare budget

HELPLINE

Continued from P1 The allocation made in the budget for welfare schemes was about Rs 65,000 crore. The sources said the BCs will get a windfall in the new budget since KCR is trying to warm up to them as they constitute more than 50 per cent of the population.

The state government has already constituted MBC (Most Backward Classes) Corporation for which the government has made an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore in the 2017-18 budget. The outlay for them will be more than Rs 2,000 crore in the new budget. The government is also seriously planning to increase allocations for Kalyana Laxmi and the pension scheme. “KCR is studying the financial implications as he has already proposed to double the amount under Kalyana Laxmi scheme from the present Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh to each beneficiary. The plan to increase pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 is also under active consideration,” a senior o�cial said.

The increase of financial benefits under the self-employment scheme implemented by all welfare departments was also taken into consideration. Under the SC, ST Sub-Plan, the government has earmarked funds proportionate to their population in the total budget outlay. On

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the same lines, the Chief Minister is planning to allocate funds based on the population for all BC communities and minorities for the welfare and development schemes.

Allocations for the sheep distribution, welfare of fishermen through free distribution of fishlings and promotion of aquaculture, empowerment of poor weavers by equipping them with modern technology, promotion of dairy industry, special schemes for women empowerment, employment schemes targeting youth and the promotion of traditional occupations in the villages will be accorded priority in the budget. Creation of educational opportunities and access to medical care free of cost will also be part of the welfare schemes.

The o�cial said that there might some reduction in allocation of funds for development. "The quantum of funds being allocated for developmental and infrastructure schemes in the budget might be less by 10 to 15 per cent. The government will slash allocation for Irrigation, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Health and other infrastructure development programmes to make liberal allocations for the welfare programmes," the official said.

Modi pitches for global solidarity Continued from P1 "India has always believed in values of integration and unity or 'Vasudhaika Kutumbam' which means the entire world is one family. It is relevant to bridge dis-

tances. We have always believed in uniting humanity, not breaking it," he said.

His speech focused on what he considers the world’s top three challenges, two of which stand in direct contrast Trump’s nationalistic world view.

One is climate change, which Modi described as the “greatest threat to the survival and human civilization as we know it.” Failing to address it shows an “alarming glimpse of our own selfishness,” he said. “If we are all children of the earth, why is there today a war between us and the earth?”

Rich countries should do more to help emerging markets pollute less without sacrificing economic growth, he added. “Everyone talks about reducing carbon emissions but there are very few people or countries who back their words with their resources to help developing countries to adopt appropriate technology,” Modi said. He touted India’s pledge to produce 175 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2022 and said 60 gigawatts have been produced in the past three years.

Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Accord last summer, making the US the only country that isn’t pledging to reduce its carbon emissions in the coming years. Trump has stacked his cabinet with climate-change deniers and former coal executives.

The world’s second biggest challenge is terrorism, Modi said, but didn’t dwell on the subject for too long. He identified terrorism, and the radicalization of people in many societies, as the second-biggest threat. Without providing concrete examples, he criticized world powers for, in his eyes, making the problem worse by artificially distinguishing between "bad terrorists" and "good terrorists."

The third is the protectionist turn some countries are taking. “Many societies and countries are becoming more and more focused on themselves,” Modi said. “It feels like the opposite of globalization is happening.” He added, in closing, that “India considers the entire world its family,” and the assembled Davos leaders are “always welcome.”

Modi argued that networked societies in the era of big data, artificial intelligence and robots probably had all the tools to address current challenges, but it needed a lot of political will and coordination to use these tools for the benefit of all. In the final part of his speech in Davos, the Prime Minister touched upon the economic development of India, now the fastest-growing economy of the world. He said his government had enforced a number of reforms that had made investing and manufacturing in India a lot easier for foreign entrepreneurs by opening up "almost all sectors of the economy to foreign direct investment (FDI) and creating a unified tax system.

Modi emphasized that growth needed to be achieved in a sustainable and responsible way.

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HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

It’s her choice VINEETHA SIDDAM SETTY

F

eminism can be broadly construed as a set of vast movements directed at defining, establishing, and defending equal rights and opportunities. The term could mean different things to different people across the world. “Feminism means equal opportunities”, a few say. Others say, “Fighting for women rights is called feminism.” It is such a subjective word that there is no absolute meaning for it.

“It’s about uplifting women, being equal to men so that we don’t get suppressed like we had been facing dowry, discrimination, careers, children”, observes Pritika, a graduate student.

When looked at from the standpoint of history, feminism in India consists of three phases: during Sati movement; post-Independence, women’s rights and entry with equal force in politics. Despite the progress made by India, women in the country still face many issues of discrimination. The

Sample these: ‘You are a girl and still you do that’; ‘since you are a girl…’, ‘just because he’s a boy’. Most people need to change their mindsets and refrain from making such patriarchal statements or fragments thereof Sharma’s wedding. The social media was flooded with trolls and insults for various reasons. The renowned actress was insulted for marrying in a foreign country, pointed at for highlighting sindoor during her re-

“It is di�cult to define feminism in a few lines and I don’t have a personal definition. However, choice feminism is one of the aspects of feminism which came with a certain context in the west. If a woman wants to have an abortion, it’s her choice on her body. If a Muslim woman wants to wear hijab in a western country, it’s her choice to follow her culture. But, in India we are yet to see more concrete expressions of choice feminism.”

-Tejaswini Madabushi, Core member, Hyderabad for Feminism word ‘feminism’ had brought out members lumped as ‘feminists’. This abstract word has given rise to critics, some of whom tag it as a western influence. In such a diverse context, it would be wrong to associate Indian feminism with the western variant, which is marked by radical norms.

Merriam-Webster’s word of the year 2017, feminism, also speaks about women’s safety and universality of abuse. Women in India may be treated as goddesses one moment, but could be harassed in the very next moment. Feminists and lesser activists have conducted many movements, asking for justice. Various petitions and protests have highlighted women’s issues over these years.

Above all, it stands for two things: women’s equality and efforts to create an enabling environment to make them strong. “Feminism is when a woman is not being judged every single minute from the time they leave home to what they wear, who they hang out with, how they choose to sit to how ladylike they are,” exclaims Prerana, a CA student. She continues, “‘You are a girl and still do that’, ‘since you are a girl’, ‘just because he’s a boy’; and these kinds of statements need to change. Involvement of men is more important in feminism.”

The new term expressing this is ‘My choice’. Feminism is not just about equality; it is also about making one’s choices in life.

Many actresses and famous personalities are trolled, humiliated for their appearance, and body-shamed. The recent news that bloomed around in 2017 was Anushka

ception, and, overall, she was negatively targeted for being a culturally-bound woman.

Feminism, a long-term endeavor for multiple perspectives such as equality, freedom, rights, health and safety; making statements about gender policy and development; and dismantling patriarchy can begin a path to bring a developmental change in the mindsets and attitudes of the people in society.

Trisha, a student of St. Francis, says, “The word has so much zeal and energy at-

Woman advocate services under-utilised Says Neeru Mishra, an advocate from Jammu and Kashmir, who recently shifted her base to Vijayawada M V SYAM SUNDAR

A

n educated woman should be treated as an asset to the society and her services should be utilised in full for the development of the society as a whole, says Neeru Mishra, an advocate of Hyderabad High Court of Judicature, who has recently shifted her base to Vijayawada in preparation of base for her future practice in the AP High Court in view of its forthcoming shift to the capital city of Amaravati.

If that educated woman is an advocate she would be more useful for the underprivileged of the society, says Neeru.

Born in Jammu into a family with judicial background, naturally, she was interested in joining the legal profession. Her father was the District and Sessions Judge and the mother, a housewife. She started her career practicing in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

After her marriage with an Indian Services o�cer, she shifted to Hyderabad and started practicing at Hyderabad High Court of Judicature.

Along with her husband she went to Canada. But as is her wont, she found herself an international project ‘United Ways’ on community development and leadership.

During her nearly half decadelong stay at Toronto, she worked with the underprivileged women of Indian subcontinent including Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and others to make them empowered.

Elaborating her work during

“Feminism is when a woman is not being judged every single minute from the time they leave home to what they wear, who they hang out with, how they choose to sit to how ladylike they are - Prerana Pillai The word has so much zeal and energy attached to it.

Feminism lives within one’s nature. It is basically propagating the rights of women as equal to men - Trisha

tached to it. Feminism lives within one’s nature. It is basically propagating the rights of women as equal to men.” The enthusiasm and energy carried by the term ‘feminism’ can become a powerful noun in its implementation.

Neeru Mishra her stay in Toronto, Neeru said that the local administration has divided the city into 36 neighbourhoods and prepared plans for the development of the underprivileged. She worked on various projects to make them employable by training them with necessary skills.

Commenting on the state of women advocates - Sadly, in India one needs the support of a politician or some godfather even to get

standing counsel post instead of considering their experience and talent, she says.

The State bifurcation had also played havoc with the careers of a number of women in various professions, she recalls.

Despite her working for the development of the underprivileged in the foreign countries, her services are not well utilised and her experience in society development is wasted in our country, she

points out.

Referring to the glaring discrimination of women in Jammu and Kashmir, Neeru says that if a Kashmiri woman marries a man outside of the State, her husband or even children would not inherit the status of Kashmir.

However, if a Kashmiri man marries any woman their children would inherit the Kashmiri status.

“This is nothing but gross injustice,” she avers.

Pinkathon comes to Hyderabad again M

odel, actor, Ultraman and Pinkathon founder Milind Soman on Tuesday formally announced the launch of the fourth edition of COLORS Pinkathon in Hyderabad.

COLORS Pinkathon is an initiative that involves multi-category runs to encourage and promote fitness and health among women, while enhancing awareness about breast cancer. It will be held on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at People’s Plaza ground. Online registrations are open at www.pinkathon.in/hyderabad for the VWashPlus3km, 5km & 10km run, while for the 21-km distance, drop a mail on info@pinkathon.in.

The event, supported by United Sisters Foundation, is promoted by Maximus MICE & Media Solutions. Entertainment channel COLORS, committed to encourage progress of women, will partner with the organisers to spread the message of ‘wellbeing of women’ through this initiative.

Mann Kaur, a 101-year-old woman athlete, along with Dr Sai Dayana, oncologist at Apollo

Hospitals, Dinaz Vervatwala, fitness expert, Mamata Vegunta, joint secretary of the Society for Cyberabad Security Council, have already expressed their full support for the noble cause.

Raj Nayak, COO – Viacom18 said, “Initiatives like Pinkathon are a great way to boost the confidence of women and strengthen the belief that women can do wonders! COLORS has always lauded the contribution of women in a big way, be it at workplace or through the content it showcases.”

Inspiring Partners Bajaj Electricals founder Milind Soman said, “We are excited to bring

COLORS Pinkathon to Hyderabad once again for the fourth time. We are confident the city and its people will support us and help make this run a humungous success. Pinkathon is more than a Marathon. It is the seed of change and the beginning of a movement that is carried forward by a growing community of empowered women across India, who share a belief that a healthy family, a healthy nation, and a healthy world begins with empowered women. The first step in empowerment is taking control of your own health, respecting yourself and understanding and celebrating the value you bring to your family and society.”

The fitness icon added, “Fitness is liberating.

If a culture of regular exercise and fitness must take root in India, our women need to become aware about the benefits of fitness... We now organize Pinkathon in eight cities. More than 10,000 women run at each of these events ...

They run in running gear but also in sarees, salwar kameez, hijabs or whatever attire they deem fit and keeps them comfortable.”

GET STYLISH WITH TRENDY COLOUR OF 2018 C

onsidered a complex hue by many, ultra violet holds loads of potential to jazz up any boring look with the utmost panache. Be it with ethnic styles or with the western look, experimenting with this vibrant colour will make the feminine beauty stand out and create a powerful statement amidst the blacks, reds and whites.

The market offers many versatile shades and hues of ultra violet that can easily make their way into the wardrobe and jewellery box, whether in dresses, maxis, ethnic suits, saris or necklaces and jewellery pieces.

Nidhi Yadav, fashion designer and founder of AKS and

Gaurav Bawa, jewellery designer and Founder of Bawa Jewellers, share tips on how to be stylish with trendy colour of 2018

Flared solid trousers

Pleated long skirts

Velvet wonder

Stripy jumpsuits

Ultra violet pleated long skirts paired with a dull golden choli or a black shirt looks uber elegant and is a perfect option to stand out in the crowd.

To add on one can carry a gemstone pendant or silver collar clips of similar shades.

Violet is one colour that looks stunning in velvet. Be it in the weddings or the cocktail parties, velvet suits, lehengas, and dresses look trendy and distinctly royal at the same time. An ultra violet velvet outfit with heavy embellishment will work tremendously. Go for a top-to-bottom violet look and break it with gold accessories and multilayered pearl necklaces or brooches.

Jumpsuits of ultra violet hues striped with black, white, grey or blue will give your outfit a bold look and add that pop which may be missing earlier.

Broad stripes, pinstripes, banker stripes are styles to mention a few.

To accessorise with them, try the long and sleek danglers with a silver oxidized peppy nose pin.

The much hyped 1970s flared solid colour trousers look is again in trend, and this time with even more glamorous allure. A fitted high waist ultra violet trouser with kick flares fastened with a button and zip are perfect when paired with pastel coloured o�-shoulder and crop top. One can wear diamond or silver jewellery for a completely elegant look.

Fringe fever: Fringes are the trend going in all lengths and styles, so whether opting for a fringe overlay or going for the tasselled hems the ultra violet hue as the base will surely add that extra grace to your look in 2018. With ultra violet as the main attraction, silver or platinum pastel coloured thread tassel earrings will complement the look well and will add that alluring charm.

EDIT SELLING THE FAMILY SILVER

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HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

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CANDID COMMENTS

Glorious feat goes unseen I t is almost three days since India retained the Blind Cricket World Cup, when it vanquished Pakistan in a dream championship clash that went the distance. In normal circumstances and given the rarity with which India achieves anything spectacular in team events, such magnificent showing should have sparked a frenzied celebration with all and sundry joining in and making it a nationwide spectacle. But is it happening? Alas, the accomplishment has failed to inspire honourable gentlemen in the corridors of powers. Bar going overboard in showering praise on twitter, precious little has been done for the boys. It is a sad reflection of the times that for all the talk of ringing in a vibrant sports culture, the policymakers adopt a step-motherly attitude when it comes to rewarding achievers from less glamourous sections of society, even when they win global fame. The double-speak stood exposed when Indians came up with several medals in the Paralympic Olympics at Sochi. Come to think of it, their feats were more incredible than what was brought home by PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik and Dipa Karmakar.

It is the same fate that befalls players produced and protected

by Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI). It is rather inhuman that neither the Sports Ministry nor the BCCI and not even a single corporate house has spoken about any rewards to these outstanding players, whose sole source of sustenance comes from Samarthanam Trust. The Trust assists the CABI and physically and mentally challenged, with the support it gets from a few corporate partners. One hopes that the self-proclaiming corporate patrons should earmark some funds towards the promotion of CABI and all talented di�erently-abled sportspersons and artistes, at least as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). There is no dearth of claims from corporate companies that they support the visually-challenged, disabled and underprivileged. No such things happen at the ground-level. One also fails to understand the way the BCCI and the Centre function when it comes to honouring champions.

Even a bronze finish in an international individual event gets a bountiful but there is none to o�er anything of the sort, bar lipservice, to the young lions led by Ajay Kumar Reddy.

It is a strange irony that the Mithali Raj-led girls were accorded a royal treatment for ending up second best whereas here we have a team that consolidated its reign at the very top with a fine showing and they don’t even get peanuts! CABI President G Mahantesh was humility personified when seeking some land and infrastructural support for the players to hone their skills.

Incidentally, Pakistan Blind Cricket Council did well by inviting ICC boss David Richardson, Zaheer Abbas and Syed Kirmani to witness the finals. The di�erence in attitude and approach between the regulars and the visually-challenged cricketers comes from the emotional tribute paid by Ajay Reddy. Many regular cricketers organised ‘fund raising’ exhibition matches (very few players contributed, though) for Kargil martyrs. Reddy touched every soul with his “we dedicate this victory to the Indian Army because they are working hard to ensure that the country’s common people remain safe.”

Prof K Nageshwar

T

he government seems to be all set for initiating the process of privatisation of the prestigious Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). The Central government has dropped indications to this e�ect when the Minister for State in charge of steel told Parliament recently that the Union government has decided to sell 10 per cent stake in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP).

The immediate reason cited for privatisation is the accumulated losses of the steel plant. The plant incurred losses to the tune of Rs 1,421 crore in 2015-16 and Rs 1,236 crore in 2016-17. But, the plant earned gross margins in the months of November and December 2017. This means the government aims at handing over the plant with healthy finances to the private companies.

The first phase of the plant was completed with 3.2 million tonnes capacity and the estimated cost was Rs 8,652 crore. The government invested Rs 4,889 crore only. The second phase of the plant was done with an estimated capacity of 6.3 million tonnes and the estimated cost was Rs 12,300 crore. The management plans to expand the capacity to 7.3 million tonnes with a cost of another Rs 4,000 crore. In fact, the government has not extended any fiscal assistance for the second phase of the plant. The second phase of the plant was executed with internal resources and market borrowings only.

Undervaluing the assets The obnoxious part of the privatisation story is the way the company's net worth is calculated. The steel plant has acquired 22,000 acres by paying a compensation of Rs 12,500 per acre in 1970s. This cost is now taken into

account for arriving at the net worth of the plant for selling the stakes. But, the present cost of the land is Rs 4 to 5 crores per acre.

Such a faulty calculation would ensure a bonanza for the private players at the cost of people's assets built over a period of time.

The SEBI valued the plant net worth as Rs 4,889 crore. Thus, 10 per cent of the stakes in the plant will be given to private players at a paltry amount of Rs 489 crore.

The actual net worth of the Visakhapatnam Steel plant is as high as Rs 2 lakh crore. The attempts to undervalue the assets of the public sector units (PSUs) is the political economy of disinvestment and privatisation in India.

The steel plant has so far paid Rs 36,000 crores as dividend and taxes besides spending as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

Boost to growth The Gross District Domestic Product of Visakhapatnam is the highest in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Similarly, Gajuwaka leads in the per capita income among all the mandals of the state. All this could not have been possible without the Visakhapatnam steel plant remaining in public sector. The steel plant pays Rs 2,400 crore as salaries to its employees every year. This is generating huge demand in the local market, resulting in the overall demand-induced economic growth of the mandal and the district.

Infuse equity The government is writing o� the bad loans of several big corporates, especially those operating in the infrastructural sector.

The loans taken by these big corporate companies are turning out into non-performing assets (NPAs) for the banks or the loans being rescheduled in the name of corporate debt restructuring (CDR). But, if the government extends the same largesse or at least converts the market borrowing taken by the plant into equity, the company would run into profits.

No captive mines TheGovernmentofIndiahasallocated captive iron ore mines for several private steel pants like Tatas, Mittals etc. But, the same

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xfam (Oxford Committee for famine relief ), a rights-based confederation of charitable organisations, has released a shocking report for 2017. It reported that the richest 1 per cent population in India cornered 73 per cent of the wealth generated in the country last year and that there was just 1% rise in the wealth of 50% of population, that is the poorest. Noteworthy is that the situation is worse when compared to the last year’s survey which showed that India's richest 1 per cent held a huge 58 per cent of the country's total wealth. This grim situation is the consequence of just one-year performance of the NDA government at the Centre and the various State governments that implemented neo-liberal agenda which is purely pro-corporate and anti-poor. These statistics alarmingly indicate that an alternative policy direction is the need of the hour. So naturally the onus of responsibility lies with the Prime Minister to hold a meeting of all the CMs in the country and finalize a pro-people policy framework that averts the same economic tragedy in the next year too. If a Chaiwala PM, whose declared motto is 'Sab Ka Saat Sab Kaa Vikas' and whose cherished dream is ‘Achhe din’ for all, is unwilling to take such an initiative, the opposition combine must come forward to do so. The alternative economic policy so evolved must be the basis for the budget for the financial year 2018-19. It would be great and the dawn of the new India, if the Narendra Modi government proposes such a budget.

Otherwise, the opposition parties must do this, while making amendments to the budget. Let the people know which party stands where during such an exercise and the debate. Ultimately in 2019, the people will decide what they need or they get what they deserve.

A Raghunatha Reddy, Kadapa

Warped ideologies bane for CPI(M)

T

he Left today is floundering with no real ideology to speak of. India has moved on and Marxist shibboleths no longer resonate with a young aspirational class. The CPI(M) has not been able to reinvent itself or offer any alternative to the parties in power in the states and Centre.The pragmatic Sitaram Yechury realises that his party has in recent times, with its historic defeat in West Bengal, been sliding into national irrelevance with governments only in Kerala and Tripura. Once sought after as an ally by many political formations, it is today a marginal force. The shortsightedness

Unsung hero of freedom struggle

T

he history of Muthukota Gowdappa, who led the first rebellion against the British rule in Rayalaseema region at Ternekallu village in Kurnool district, has been neglected by historians as well as governments. His fearless struggle in which he attained martyrdom has gone unnoticed, because of the severe drought conditions and backwardness of the Rayalaseema region.

Still there are so many historical places like Giddanna Baavi, Kota Veedhi, Vooru Vakili (village gateway) which stand silently as symbols of glorious proud history. Recently, the villagers installed the statue of Muthukota Gowdappa statue in the village. At least now, the archaeological department should recognise the significance of the Ternekallu Rebellion and its sites related to the rebellion. The valour legacy of Muthukota Gowdappa should be taken forward by the present generation. The government should take all steps to protect and preserve the Ternekallu Rebellion sites. The education department also should include the Ternekallu Muthukota Gowdappa’s life history in the school syllabus.

S J Ravi Prakash, Kurnool.

Pawan Kalyan not a serious politician

I

t is a big disappointment for those who kept great hopes on Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan's maiden speach in Telangana on Monday in Karimnagar district (Pawan Kalyan not to pick on KCR, Naidu, January 23) .

government refuses to allocate a captiveironoreminesforVisakhapatnamSteelPlantownedbyitself.

Surprisingly,thesteelplantandthe iron ore mines are under the same Ministry of Steel and Mines.

Asaresultofnothavingowncaptive iron ore mine, the VSP has to spend at least Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 morepertonneofrawmaterialdepending on the rate of iron ore in the market at a given point of time.

Thesteelplantwithitspresentproduction capacity requires 7.5 million tonnes of iron ore. Thus , even conservative estimates reveal that thispublicownedsteelplanthasto incur an additional expenditure of Rs 1,500 crore per year on procuring raw material from the market as it does not have any captive mines. If the steel plant gets own captive mines, it would automaticallywipeouttheentirelosses.This also reveals that the losses of this plantareinducedbythewronggovernment policies.

TheObulapuramironoremines were handed over to Gali JanardhanaReddyforapittance.Thus,the ironorewaslegallyandillegallyexported,whilethedomesticsteelindustry, especially the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, was deprived of captiveironoremineswhichwould havesubstantiallyreducedthecost of its steel production.

Similarly, the steel plant is also asked to pay higher power tari� duringpeakhours.Forinstance,the powertari�forsteelplantsinIndia is50to100percenthigherascompared to even developed nations.

Besides, the plant faces severe waterscarcityduringsummerseason.

Cheap imports The deregulation of steel industryledtoindiscriminateimportsof steelintotheIndiandomesticmarket. The dumping of cheaper steel from other countries is proving to

thehansreader@gmail.com

of Prakash Karat’s line has been in evidence earlier too. The problem in the CPI(M) is compounded by the fact that the top leadership is not on the same page. The theoretician Karat refusing to come to any accommodation with other political formations which could offer the party a lifeline.

Jayatheertha SA, Hyderabad

PM must act to avert 2008-type crisis

Faulty policies, indiscriminate expansion, denial of captive iron ore mines etc have forced Visakhapatnam Steel Plant – epitome of Telugu pride – to incur losses. Its net worth is being shown as mere Rs 4,889 crore whereas actual value is around Rs 2 lakh crore. Citing accumulated losses, Centre is hell-bent on its privatisation. AP govt can save it by using only its steel for massive constructions in Amaravati and elsewhere in the state

Many expected that Pawan would reveal his party's ideology and criticise ruling party and/or opposition parties but he merely praised the ruling TRS and did not make any comments on other parties.

He indicated that he would take up people's issues to government and play positive politics. He also said his party would contest in places, where it has strength. Then one wonders what prompted Pawan to launch a full-fledged party just to perform the role of a mediator?

Kshirasagara Balaji Rao, Hyderabad

beadeath-knellforIndiandomestic steel industry including that of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

The NITI Aayog member V K SaraswathassaidthatthoughIndia is the third largest steel maker in theworld,aglobalglutandsurgein cheap imports from China, Russia, Korea and Japan has dented the fortunesofdomesticsteelindustry.

This happens at a time when Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is expanding its production capacity.

Fiscal burden Saraswat has further said that steel sector which has long gestation period needs long-term finance which has the capacity to withstandcyclicalvolatilityofprofits unlike funding from banks, external commercial borrowings or capitalmarkets.But,VSPwasasked to depend on market borrowings.

The Steel Plant has to bear a fiscal burden of Rs 600 crore on interest payments and Rs 900 crore depreciation cost. Thus, the losses ofthePlantcitedabovearenotreal but manufactured by the wrong policies of the government. If the governmenthadinfusednecessary equityintotheplantfortheexpansion, the company wouldn't have incurred losses.

Uncompetitive input costs The domestic steel industry is becoming uncompetitive due to higher freight costs, higher credit costs,industrialpowertari�s,high iron ore costs, import duties and cessoncokingcoal,theNITIAayog member explained. For example, freight costs from Jamshedpur to Mumbai can be as high as $50 per tonne in comparison with $34 a tonnefromRotterdamtoMumbai.

The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is forced to face the burden of all these factors that make it uncom-

petitive on which the plant has no control.Then,whyblametheSteel plantforthelosses?Isitnottoprepare a ground for blatant privatisation aimed at ushering huge financialbenefitforprivateplayers?

This is how the crony capitalism works in India.

Faulty marketing The faulty marketing policies also contributed to the fiscal mess of the plant. The consumers have to purchase Visakhapatnam Steel mainly from the dealers. This resultsinhugeprofitsforthedealers at the cost of both the steel plant, the producer and the consumers of steel.

Induce demand The steel consumption in rural areasismarginal.Itisestimatedat 10 kg per capita. The rural steel consumption can be significantly enhanced by encouraging agrobased industries.

The per capita steel consumption of total finished steel stood at 63 kg in India, while for 2016, the world average was at 208 kg.

(Source: World Steel Association, which reports data on a calendar year basis) The level of consumption of steel depends on a number of factors, including stage of development, speed of economic growth etc.

The reconstruction of Andhra Pradesh post-bifurcation, especially the rising of Amaravati, provides an opportunity for encouraging the prestigious Visakhapatnam Steel Plant which wasachievedasanepitomeofTelugu pride. The Government of Andhra Pradesh should resolve to use Visakhapatnam steel only for the massive construction activity it is taking up in Amaravati and elsewhere in the state. Thus, the expansion of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant would turn into a blessing for the plant.

The indiscriminate expansion of the Steel Plant without expanding the market and addressing the factors that make it uncompetitive are the reasons for its fiscal woes. Instead of addressing these factors that cause fiscal strain on the steel plant, the central government seems to be hell-bent on outright privatisation to benefit private players which is nothing but selling the family silver.

taken from Manusmruthi which means where Women are honored, divinity blossoms there, and where women are dishonored, all action no matter how noble remain unfruitful (www.devshoppe.com). When will the society feel a searing shame over such crimes?

Madhavi D, Tirupati

Clear backlog of judicial cases

J

ustice Chelameswar observed that, "only 10 crore people are in direct contact with the judiciary, of the 1.3 billion population, but the decisions made by the Supreme Court, some way or other, touch the lives of this country." It is optimistically hoped that his figure of 10 crores consists of persons connected with the legal profession and litigants as well, God forbid, not alone of litigants only. However, it is nobody's case to welcome more and more litigation, what with the "almost impossible to clear the backlog of cases" Seshagiri Row KARRY, Hyderabad

Shocking spree of rapes worrying

I

t is very shocking to learn that a 22-year-old woman was dragged out of a car and sexually assaulted in front of her husband and brother-in-law in Gurgaon on Sunday night. One wonders why Haryana is not able to curb incidents of crime against women in the past few days. In three of the worst cases, young girls were raped, tortured and killed. Though of late a spree of rapes is going on in Haryana, it is a growing phenomenon across the country. Should rapists be castrated? Should those raping children be hanged to death, as some CMs have been demanding? The Justice J S Verma Committee tasked with reviewing the legal position on rapes should come out with practical pieces of advice. The government for its part needs to sensitise police department and other wings to respond to victims. Instant delivery of justice can to a great extent instill fear among potential o�enders. But what is needed at large is that parents should educate their boys to respect women. "Yatra naryastu pujyante ramante tatra Devata, yatraitaastu na pujyante sarvaastatrafalaah kriyaah is a famous sloka

Why Sena severed ties with BJP

T

he announcement on Tuesday that the Shiv Sena leadership unanimously resolved not to have any truck with the BJP and go it alone in 2019 General Elections and Maharashtra Assembly polls is not surprising in the least. But the reason for severing ties is not a noble one, though. It cut o� the chord with BJP because the latter was not apparently keeping up Hindutva in the state. Sena's objective seems to be emerging a principal opposition by wresting that position from the Congress. It has already opposed the BJP on many an issue, from Metro rail to Maratha agitations to farm crisis. The alliance seemed to be a marriage of convenience, rather than of marriage of minds.

Satyanarayana S, Kadapa

BJP govts must enforce rule of law strictly

I

t would be in the fitness of things to say that the Supreme Court has aptly refused to entertain the plea of BJP-ruled states to stay its earlier order clearing the decks for the nationwide release of 'Padmaavat.' It again reminded in a sort of angry tone that the states have a constitutional obligation to ensure law and order, by not bowing to any mob pressure. With 2018 set to see a number of state elections, the BJP governments are soft on Karni Sena and fringe groups wreaking havoc and threatening even mayhem of artistes involved with the movie. This is highly objectionable and absurd. Fictionalising the past is an artistic licence and there a Censor Board duly set up to look into any gross deviations from the history, which would trigger unrest in the society. As the film is cleared, the matter should have been rested.

The BJP is clearly bent on cashing in on perceived sense of injustice by certain groups. Otherwise, which government will tolerate fring groups announcing a Rs 5-crore bounty on the heads of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Deepika Padukone?

C Koteshwara Rao, Vizianagaram

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HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

PERSPECTIVES

9

Get to the bottom of bank NPAs IYR COLUMN

It is very essential to properly investigate all these scams of mammoth proportion and bring the culprits to book. It is not just a question of arresting the accused but to get to the root of the issue as to where all this money has gone and getting it back into the financial mainstream. That alone restores the credibility of the government and ensure that the Indian economy does not sink further into a vicious cycle of lack of funds for genuine enterprises

Krishna Rao IYR

T

he huge non-performing assets (NPAs) of banks is becoming a cause of major concern for the Indian economy. Indiscriminate lending most of the times out of political pressure and the boards of the banks and other financial institutions becoming mere rubber stamps for carrying out the diktats of political bosses has resulted in a situation where public money has been squandered away on unviable and dubious projects by a set of speculative and unscrupulous entrepreneurs.

After liberalisation the caged tiger( the Indian entrepreneurial ability) which was supposed to have been released out of the shackles of government controls, quotas and restrictions and was supposed to put the Indian economy into a trajectory of growth – claiming our rightful space in the global economy – has in fact turned out to be a tiger uncaged which went on devouring the public funds and public savings, by investing in unviable and speculative projects which are now up for sale at a fraction of the capital investment made on them.

Reasons are not far to seek. Whether it was in the government-controlled quota license permit raj or afterwards what was proclaimed as the great stroke of liberalisation and unshackling of Indian enterprise, the players remained the same with no commitment to industry hard work and ethical business but more interested in seeking speculative short-term profits by manipulating the system.

In the control economies of 60s to 90s, this entrepreneurial class made their money with right political and bureaucratic connections by obtaining a licence, not putting up the plant or preventing the competitor from putting up a plant or by obtaining a licence and selling it for a premium to others. These are the types of activities which economists termed as DUPES meaning directly unproductive activity of obtaining a licence or permit and indulging in business of trading in it and making money out of it.

Hope was that once the liberalisation happens, genuine enterprises would

grow in the country taking the country forward. But what actually happened was the reverse. The same set of manipulative speculative business class who were earlier the beneficiaries of the quota permit raj this time have taken the general public for a ride in terms of coming with public offers with a lot of publicity and getting public subscription to their projects. All those projects started with the big fanfare are languishing today. As if this is not enough, the same set-up of entrepreneurial business class was able to top up their finances by deceiving statecontrolled financial institutions the banks and were able to get huge funding for their projects, which have today turned out to be non-performing assets putting the whole economy into a major financial crisis. The bankers who used to cry foul about the loan melas that were being organised for supporting the economic activity of the less privileged class have succumbed and released huge funds in most of the cases flouting all established norms. At the

root of the problem is the mindset of the Indian entrepreneurial class which is used to speculative return during the quota licence raj and would like to continue with the same type of speculative returns on enterprises even in the liberalised era. The nexus between this entrepreneurial class and the political class and weak regulatory framework under which they operate helps them to get scot-free even after committing such major financial offences, which in any other better regulated country would have resulted in their being brought to book.

These white-collar criminals today are there as part of the ruling network whichever party is in power. It is very essential to properly investigate all these scams of mammoth proportion and bring the culprits to book. It is not just a question of arresting the accused but to get to the root of the issue as to where all this money has gone and getting it back into the financial mainstream. That alone restores the credibility of the government and en-

sure that the Indian economy does not sink further into a vicious cycle of lack of funds for genuine enterprise. If at all there is the mandate given to this government in 2014 by the electorate it is the hope that they would be able to deliver in this direction and put the econ-

omy back on track . Failure to deliver on this front, whatever maybe the achievements of government on other fronts, may not be taken kindly to by the electorate in 2019.

(Writer is former Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh)

MULTILATERALISM V PROTECTIONISM

WEF to see strong riposte to Trump

Dividend tax

NOAH BARKIN

D

U

nder the current regime, Indian companies pay dividend distribution tax (DDT) when they pay dividend and such domestic dividend is exempt in the hands of the recipient shareholders.

The government, in the past, introduced a new section to tax dividends in excess of Rs 10 lakh, in the hands of the recipients, at a flat rate of 10%. It is anticipated that the government may change the current method of dividend taxation and make dividends taxable only in the hands of shareholders. This debate is also strengthened given the high effective tax rates on corporates on account of both Income-tax and DDT, in an environment where large economies are talking about tax reforms and bringing down corporate tax rates, according to moneycontrol.com. A dividend is usually a distribution of the profits of the company to its shareholders. The finance ministry may consider doing away with the dividend distribution tax (DDT) in Budget 2018 to be unveiled on February 1, EY India said. In its pre-Budget expectations, EY said dividend distribution tax has become burdensome for corporates due to various factors such as high rate, litigation on disallowance and hence the return on capital employed has significantly diminished. "Corporate income tax rate reduction does not seem likely in light of the fiscal constraints and subdued GST collection. However, government may rationalise the effective corporate tax rate by abolishing dividend distribution tax and restoring the classical system of taxation of dividends in the hands of shareholders," NDTV cites EY India Partner & National Leader, Business Tax Services, Garima Pande, as saying.

Dividends paid by a domestic company to shareholders are subjected to dividend distribution tax at 15 per cent of the aggregate dividend declared. The effective rate is 20.358 per cent, including surcharge and cess. Effective rate of DDT, however, can be calculated as tax on distributed profits at 15% + surcharge at 12% + education cess at 2% + SHEC (secondary and higher education cess) at 1% of the amount of dividend. Thus, the effective rate of DDT comes out to be 20.358%, explains ipleaders.in. The dividend income is tax-free in the hands of investors. However, if the amount of dividend income exceeds Rs. 10 lakh on a gross basis, an additional tax of 10 per cent (plus surcharge and cess) applies on dividend income.

JAMES MACKENZIE & HAMID SHALIZI Kabul (Reuters): Exploratory meetings in Pakistan between a high-level Taliban delegation and a representative of a prominent Afghan politician have fuelled speculation of a revival of longstalled talks on ending Afghanistan's 16-year war that kills thousands each year.

Similar hopes have repeatedly been dashed since the first direct talks between the Westernbacked Afghan government and the Taliban broke down almost as soon as they began in the Pakistani hill station of Murree, outside Islamabad, in 2015.

But US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley's remarks this week that talks were closer than ever – coming after Monday's uno�cial meeting in Islamabad – have renewed inter-

avos, Switzerland (Reuters): European leaders will be out in force at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to defend multilateralism before US President Donald Trump arrives to deliver his "America First" message.

Politicians, business chiefs, bankers and celebrities will meet in the Swiss Alps under the banner "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World" for the fourday gathering against an unsettling global backdrop.

A decade after the bankruptcy of US investment bank Lehman Brothers helped trigger a global financial crisis, economic growth has returned and stock markets are hitting record highs.

Yet, there is a nagging fear among many in Davos that the brighter economic outlook could turn out to be little more than a mirage if the daunting array of geopolitical threats – from protectionism and climate change to cyberattacks and outright war – gather pace in 2018.

"Not all geopolitical threats are threats to financial markets," Axel Weber, the chairman of Swiss bank UBS and former president of the German Bundesbank told Reuters. "But I agree that there may be a disconnect, which has been going on for some time already and may well continue for some time."

The Global Risks Report published by the WEF last week showed that many see a heightened risk of political and economic confrontations between major powers this year. Trump, the first sitting US president to attend the forum since Bill Clin-

The charge will be led by French President Emmanuel Macron, the new star of European politics. The former investment banker will o�er his own "diagnosis" of globalisation and set out a vision for addressing widening inequalities, global warming and the rise of nationalism, his advisers say ton in 2000, is a source of much of this anxiety after a volatile first year in o�ce in which he has turned American foreign policy on its head.

The forum will open on Tuesday with a speech by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and end on Friday, when Trump is due to address the massive auditorium where Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke last year, o�ering to fill the global leadership void created by an inwardlooking Washington. White House o�cials said over the weekend that a government shutdown in the United States was unlikely to prevent Trump from making the trip, although the budget director Mick Mulvaney said it was now "in flux".

In the days between Modi and Trump, the leaders of Europe's biggest countries, absent from Davos last year and emboldened by their own economic recovery,

will o�er an alternative vision to Trump and Xi, who the Europeans say has failed to deliver on his promise of a year ago to open China up to foreign investment.

Europe's new star The charge will be led by French President Emmanuel Macron, the new star of European politics, who in an audacious move, has invited many of the business leaders who will be in Davos to the Palace of Versailles on Monday to press them to invest in France. When he speaks in Davos on Wednesday, the former investment banker will o�er his own "diagnosis" of globalisation and set out a vision for addressing widening inequalities, global warming and the rise of nationalism, his advisers say.

"I don't think Macron will be able to resist being the counterTrump," said Robin Niblett, director of the Chatham House think tank in London. Macron

will be joined by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, returning to the world stage after months of political limbo at home, and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, back in Davos after a 20-year absence, is also due to speak. The WEF is a marathon of panel discussions, lunches and cocktail parties that delve into subjects as diverse as terrorism, artificial intelligence and wellness.

This year's conference will include several sessions on sexual harassment, a nod to the #MeToo movement that erupted after allegations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

Criticised in past years for not representing women, the WEF appointed seven female co-

There is a nagging fear among many in Davos that the brighter economic outlook could turn out to be little more than a mirage if the daunting array of geopolitical threats – from protectionism and climate change to cyberattacks and outright war – gather pace in 2018. Trump, the first sitting US president to attend the forum since Bill Clinton in 2000, is a source of much of this anxiety after a volatile first year in office in which he has turned American foreign policy on its head

Will Taliban finally come to the table? est in a process that had seemed completely stalled.

A statement from the Russian foreign ministry on Wednesday called for urgent direct talks between the Taliban and the government, adding that Russia, which has maintained contacts with the insurgent movement, could host them. "I think something is cooking," said Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar, a senior adviser to Afghanistan's High Peace Council, which was established to oversee the peace process.

Low-level contacts between the Afghan government, international groups including the UN and groups close to the Taliban have continued even as the insurgency has escalated over the

Obstacles abound for them and Afghan govt as well Many in Afghanistan argue that Pakistan, which has come under heavy pressure from Washington, is simply encouraging hopes of progress in order to buy time.

One senior government o�cial in Kabul, noted that speculation about peace talks regularly surfaces in the winter, while the Taliban regroups ahead of its spring o�ensive. "None of these meetings or talks about talks will help achieve peace," he said. past three years. But progress has always been blocked by the deep mistrust between the government and the Taliban, as well as

uncertainty about the position of neighbours including Pakistan, which Afghanistan has long accused of aiding the insurgents.

‘US policy working’ The UN Security Council is due to hold a debate on Afghanistan's future later on Fri-

chairs this year, including Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Ginni Rometty, the CEO of IBM. Among the other leaders attending are British Prime Minister Theresa May, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu and several African leaders, including Zimbabwe's new president Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Last year, the sole envoy from the Trump camp in the week leading up to his inauguration was Anthony Scaramucci, the New York financier who was sacked after just 10 days as White House communications director.

This year, Trump will be joined by a large US delegation including Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

For the first time in years, Iran will not be represented. WEF officials could not say whether the late cancellation by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif had anything to do with Trump's decision to speak.

day following a visit to Kabul by council members this week, and is expected to call for a stronger regional partnership between Afghanistan and Central Asian neighbours. It is the latest in a series of steps aimed at building agreement among Afghanistan's neighbours.

Under a new strategy announced last year by US President Donald Trump, the United States has stepped up its assistance to Afghan security forces, particularly through air strikes, with the aim of preventing any Taliban military victory and forcing the insurgents to accept peace talks.

"The US policy in Afghanistan is working," Hayley told reporters. "We're closer to talks

with the Taliban and the peace process than we've seen before."

The Taliban itself, which controls or disputes government control over more than a third of the country, says it wants a peaceful solution but says negotiations would depend on international troops leaving Afghanistan.

But, considerable obstacles remain.

The government in Kabul is deeply divided, with increasing hostility between rival ethnic and party groups that will make it di�cult to establish a unified negotiating stance.

The Taliban has its own divisions and the ability of its leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada to command the a�liated Haqqani network, blamed for major attacks on civilian targets in cities such as Kabul, may be tested.

10

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

Historians, scions of royals on Karni Sena panel Jaipur: Shree Rajput Karni Sena, which has been leading protests against 'Padmaavat', on Tuesday named a six-member panel, which includes erstwhile royals and historians, to watch the film ahead of its release even as various outfits demanded an ordinance banning the movie.

The Supreme Court refused to modify its order that had cleared the movie's nationwide release, following which Rajput groups turned to the Centre demanding an ordinance "within 24 hours" in view of "public sentiments".

Rajasthan minister Gulab Chand Kataria, meanwhile, said that after the apex court order, the state government was left with no option, but to maintain law and order.

The controversy-mired Sanjay Leela Bhansali film is set to be released on January 25 for which the state police began making arrangements. Karni Sena chief patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi said that the outfit had named six persons additionally for being empanelled to watch the film before its release as proposed by Bhansali Productions in a letter on January 20: Historians R S Khangarot, B L Gupta, Kapil Kumar, Roshan Sharma and erstwhile Mewar royal family member Vishwaraj Singh and erstwhile Banswara royal family member Jagmal Singh.

Khangarot is the principal of Agrawal College in Jaipur, B L Gupta is a retired professor of the History Department of the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, while Roshan Sharma is a Jaipur-based historian. Kapil Kumar is a Delhibased historian. "We know that the filmmaker is doing nothing but drama in the name of pre-screening.

Supreme Court posers to Aadhaar opponents New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought to know from those who have challenged the constitutional validity of Aadhaar how the unique identification number of a person makes any difference in a networked world when the data was already available with private entities.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra observed that personal data of citizens were with the private entities and asked the petitioners how insertion of Aadhaar number would make any change. "Our personal data is anyway with the private entities. So, does interpolation of Aadhaar number make any difference," the bench asked senior advocate Shyam Divan, who is appearing for some of the petitioners.

The bench, which also comprised Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, told the lawyer that citizens were living in a networked world now. The apex court also observed that biometric information, which was collected during the process of Aadhaar enrollment, was deposited in a central database and citizens were required to only give their 12-digit unique identifier number for identification.

The bench is hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the government's flagship Aadhaar programme and its enabling Act of 2016.

Divan said since private entities were part of the enrolment process for Aadhaar, the data collected by them could be "completely compromised". He said around 49,000 private agencies, involved in the process of enrolment for Aadhaar, were blacklisted last year by the government, which has raised a serious question mark over the sanctity of the data, including biometrics of citizens, collected by them. "The enrolment process is completely compromised.

The enroller is a private entity and data is collected without there being any government official present there. 49,000 of these enrollers have been blacklisted," he said. Divan said an "enormous electronic mesh" is being created where the whole profile of an individual was collected, as he referred to the collection of demographic and biometric data like iris and finger prints of citizens.

DARWIN THEORY ROW

Javadekar tells Singh to refrain from ‘such comments’ New Delhi: Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said he had asked his minister of state Satyapal Singh to refrain from making comments on issues such as Darwin's evolution theory. Singh said in Aurangabad last week that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution was “scientifically wrong” and needs to be changed in school and college curricula, sparking a row with over 2,000 scientists condemning the remarks.

Intervening in the row over the remarks, Javadekar said there are no plans for a national seminar to prove Darwin wrong. “I have discussed the matter with my MoS and I have asked him to refrain from making such comments. We should not dilute science. This is the advice I have given him," Javadekar told PTI. "We are not going to fund any event or don’t have any plan for a national seminar to prove Darwin wrong.

Distinction of ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ Kolkata: Ramakrishna Mission's 'Prabuddha Bharata' has stepped into its 123th year, making it the "longestrunning" monthly English magazine of the country.

"We feel inspired that Prabuddha Bharata has stepped into its 123 years of continuous publication, making it the longest-running English magazine of the country," the Mission quoted Swami Narasimhananda as saying in a release on Tuesday.

Contrary to impressions that readership of serious magazines are on the decline, it has a growing global presence with regular subscribers in 23 countries, the release said. "Over the years, Prabuddha Bharata has inspired and shaped the thinking of many. At one time, Mahatma Gandhi used to eagerly wait for every issue of the Journal. Dr S Radhakrishnan used to read every issue of this Journal with great interest," it said. The magazine has an online version as well.

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

11

OFFICE OF PROFIT

AAP MLAs move HC against disqualification New Delhi: The Delhi High Court will on Wednesday hear fresh petitions filed by 20 AAP MLAs challenging the Centre's notification against their disqualification as legislators for holding o�ce of profit. The fresh petitions, which were filed a day after their earlier pleas had become infructuous on account of President giving his assent to the Election Commission's recommendation to disqualify them, said the decision by the President as well as the Election Commission (EC) were taken in "undue haste".

The MLAs, whose appointment to the post of Parliamentary Secretaries was held as o�ce of profit, contended that the entire episode leading to their disqualification was a clear manifestation of the process in which they were denied the principle of natural justice of being heard.

Their petitions were mentioned on Tuesday before a bench of Justices S Ravindra Bhat and A K Chawla, which listed them for hearing on Wednesday. Advocate Manish Vashisht, appearing for five of the legislators, submitted that "the findings of the EC are contrary to Article 14 (equality before the law) of the Constitution of India, ultra vires, void ab initio and an attack on the basic fabric of democracy."

The move came after the AAP MLAs on Monday withdrew their pleas challenging the Election Commission's recommendation which had received Presidential assent. On January 19, the poll panel had made the recommendation for the disqualification of the 20 legislators, which was given assent by the President.

On January 20, the Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification that the President held that the 20 MLAs stand disqualified under Section 15(1)(a) of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act. The EC had made the recommendation while deciding a plea by advocate Prashant Patel, who had sought disqualification of 21 AAP MLAs for holding the o�ce of parliamentary secretaries, which he had said amounted to o�ce of profit.

The proceedings against Jarnail Singh were dropped after he resigned as the Rajouri Garden MLA to contest the Punjab Assembly polls. The plea by the MLAs sought quashing and setting aside of the January 19 opinion of the EC and the Centre's January 20 notification stating the President had held that the 20 MLAs stand disqualified under the GNCTD Act. The notification came after the EC wrote to the President recommending disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs for holding o�ce of profit while serving as Parliamentary Secretaries between March 13, 2015 and September 8, 2016. The 20 MLAs include Adarsh Shastri (Dwarka), Alka Lamba (Chandni Chowk), Anil Bajpai (Gandhi Nagar), Avtar Singh (Kalkaji), Kailash Gahlot (Najafgarh) -- who is also a minister -- Madan Lal (Kasturba Nagar), Manoj Kumar (Kondli), Naresh Yadav (Mehrauli), Nitin Tyagi (Laxmi Nagar), Praveen Kumar (Jangpura). The others are Rajesh Gupta (Wazirpur), Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri), Sanjeev Jha (Burari), Sarita Singh (Rohtas Nagar), Som Dutt (Sadar Bazar), Sharad Kumar (Narela), Shiv Charan Goel (Moti Nagar), Sukhbir Singh (Mundka), Vijendar Garg (Rajinder Nagar) and Jarnail Singh (Tilak Nagar).

Joti sought to please BJP-led govt: CPI New Delhi: The CPI on Tuesday accused former chief election commissioner A K Joti of disqualifying 20 AAP MLAs on charge of holding o�ce-of-profit "to please" the NDA government at the Centre . "It appears that the Commission and in particular the (then) Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti acted in a manner which makes one conclude that the recommendation was a political one taken to please the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre," a CPI statement said.

The Central Secretariat of CPI on Tuesday strongly condemned what it called the "unilateral and hurried move" of the Election Commission to recommend the disqualification of the 20 AAP MLAs for holding o�ceof-profit. It alleged that the Commission did not "bother to hear the AAP leaders on the issue". The Left party has also alleged that the "decision to disqualify was taken in a hurry on the day of retirement of the CEC who was also seen earlier as pro-BJP government at the Centre". Joti on Monday demitted o�ce after heading the poll body for six months. He has been succeeded by O P Rawat.

AAP attacks Rawat on Day One New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat was targeted by the AAP on his very first day in office on Tuesday with the party terming as "false" his claim that the Delhi MLAs, disqualified on charge of holding office-of-profit, did not seek hearings on the issue.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha said that contrarytoCECRawat'sassertioninanewspaperinterview thattheAAPdidnotrequesttheECtoholdhearingsthough it was served notices on September 28 and November 2 last year, the party did "respond twice". Chadha said the AAP MLAs wrote to the EC on October 16 and November 20.

"The CEC is lying. We wrote, yes, we want to place our side, both in written and oral.

The EC didn't respond. How can you not give us a hearing? "Every judicial and quasi-judicial body has to function as per law but what happened with us is unprecedented, where the cardinal principles of natural justice were violated. Nobody can be condemned unheard," he told PTI. In hisdefence,Rawatsaidthatthe"noticewascomprehensive.

But the AAP did not respond in the context of the notice."

"Since the matter is sub judice, let us not talk about it further,"RawattoldPTI.However,ChadhasaidthattheMLAs, intheirresponse,madeitclearthatapartfromanoralhearing, they would also like to cross examine the petitioners and advance arguments on the merits of the case. Chadha also dubbed as "illegal" Rawat's decision to involve himself in AAP-related cases after having recused himself in April 2017 when he was the election commissioner.

New Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat being greeted by new Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa after he took charge, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Election Commissioner Sunil Arora is also seen in the centre

12 SCAN

Eruption of volcano sparks avalanche Tokyo (AFP): A Japanese soldier was killed on Tuesday after a volcano erupted near a popular Japanese ski resort, sparking an avalanche that left several injured and scores stranded up a mountain, officials said. Footage broadcast on Japanese television showed thick black smoke interspersed with falling rocks rolling down the snow-covered side of the volcano towards a ski slope. "One of the six members of the Self Defence Forces (injured in the incident) has died after being caught up in an avalanche," a defence ministry spokesman said. The falling rocks kicked clouds of snow into the air as they made impact. "Black smoke rose from the top of the mountain and we were told to evacuate inside 30 minutes later," a man who was at the ski resort told public broadcaster NHK. "About 100 people have been evacuated," he said.

Indian held with ‘mad drug’ Dhaka (PTI): An Indian national has been arrested in Bangladesh for possessing contraband pills, police said. Lithon Marak, 33, from Meghalaya was arrested on Monday in Netrokona district on a tipoff, it said. "A total of 182 yaba tablets were found on him," a police officer said.

Marak frequently sneaked into Bangladesh to sell the contraband, Bdnews.com quoted the officer as saying. Yaba or "mad drug" are tablets containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine. Its side effects include long- term decline of cognitive functions.

Arrest in rape & murder case Lahore (PTI): A 23-yearold neighbour has been arrested in the brutal rape and murder case of a minor girl in Kasur city in Pakistan's Punjab province, days after the heinous crime sparked a national outrage. Police sources confirmed suspect Imran Ali, a neighbour of the seven-year-old victim, had confessed to his crime before an investigation team. Ali was known to the girl's family and would also frequent her house, police sources said. They said Ali had been taken into custody over two weeks ago but was let go on the victim family's plea that 'he could not be a culprit'.

Midair collision leaves 4 dead Berlin (AP): German police say a small aircraft has crashed midair with a helicopter northwest of Stuttgart, killing four persons. Police in Karlsruhe told the dpa news agency Tuesday the two aircraft crashed outside of Philippsburg, about 100 kilometres from Stuttgart.

Police couldn't immediately be reached for further details.

WORLD

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

Trump slaps high tariff on Chinese washing machines Washington (PTI): President Donald Trump has slapped high tariffs on import of solar cells and washing machines to protect the American market badly hit by products from countries like China and South Korea. The move is in line with President Trump's "America First" trade policy.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) made the recommendations to the President based on consultations with the interagency Trade Policy Committee (TPC) in response to findings by the independent, bipartisan US International Trade Commission (ITC) that increased imports of washers and solar cells and modules are a substantial cause of serious injury to domestic manufacturers. A spokesman

said the administration would "always defend American workers, farmers, ranchers and businessmen". "These cases were filed by American businesses and thoroughly litigated at the International Trade Commission over a period of several months," said USTR Robert Lighthizer. "The ITC found that US producers had been seriously injured by imports and made several recommendations to the President," he said.

The USTR said injury to US washing machine manufacturers stems from a sharp increase in imports that began in 2012.

The ITC found that imports of large residential washers increased "steadily" from 2012 to 2016, and that domestic producers' financial performance "de-

China denounces US move Beijing (PTI): China has expressed dissatisfaction over a US move to impose steep tariffs on imported solar cells and washing machines, asking America to refrain from "overusing" trade remedies and play a positive role in promoting the world economy. The US approved tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels in line with President Donald Trump's "America First" trade policy, which aims to protect local manufacturers from foreign competition.

"China hopes the US could refrain from overusing trade remedies, abide by multilateral trade rules to play a positive role in promoting the world economy," Wang Hejun, head of the commerce ministry's trade remedy and investigation bureau said. clined precipitously." The relief will include a tariff of 30 per cent in the first year, 25 per cent in the second year, 20 per cent in the third year, and 15 per cent in the fourth year. Additionally, the first 2.5 gigawatts of imported solar cells will be exempt

from the safeguard tariff in each of those four years, USTR said.

The US Trade Representative will engage in discussions among interested parties that could lead to positive resolution of the separate antidumping

and countervailing duty measures currently imposed on Chinese solar products and US polysilicon, it said. According to USTR, the goal of those discussions must be fair and sustainable trade throughout the whole solar energy value chain, which

would benefit US producers, workers, and consumers.

Shares in Whirlpool rose 2.5 per cent on the news, and it immediately announced it would employ 200 more people. Shares in US solar panel manufacturers also went up.

Trump signs funding bill, ends shutdown Washington (PTI): Claiming a "big win", President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a bill to end a three-day government shutdown after striking a deal with Democrats to hold a debate on the future of over 700,000 young undocumented immigrants. Trump signed a bill into law after the House of Representatives voted 266 to 150 to extend federal funding for another three weeks.

Senate Democrats dropped their opposition to the plan after receiving a commitment from the ruling Republicans toward securing the fate of hundreds of thousands of so-called "Dreamers" illegally brought to America as children. The stop-gap funding, passed both the Senate and House by large margins on Monday night.

The spending bill passed the Senate by 81-18. The measure

“Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown. I am pleased that Democrats in Congress have come to their senses and are now willing to fund our great military, border patrol, first responders, and insurance for vulnerable children” Donald Trump, US President funds the government till February 8, before which the Democrats and Republicans need to agree to a long- term solution to the government funding and on issues related to illegal immigration.

Claiming victory in his stando� with Democrats, Trump signed the measure into law and government operations would return to normal from Tuesday. Thousands of federal employees who had

been placed on temporary, unpaid leave since Saturday breathed a sigh of relief. "Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown," Trump tweeted. "I am pleased that Democrats in Congress have come to their senses and are now willing to fund our great military, border patrol, first responders, and insurance for vulnerable children," Trump said in a statement.

Quake rocks Indonesia, Java Jakarta (Reuters): O�ce workers fled high-rise buildings in the Indonesian capital on Tuesday after a strong earthquake shook the city, causing some injuries and damage to at least 130 buildings elsewhere on the densely populated island of Java.

The relatively shallow quake of magnitude 6 struck o� Java, the US Geological Survey said, and authorities ruled out the risk of a tsunami.

Many people ran along the streets of downtown Jakarta, pointing at the buildings above them, witnesses said. Metro TV showed patients being evacuated from a hospital.

The quake struck about 104 km west of the city of Sukabumi, at a depth of 44 km. Jakarta is about 100 km away.

"In Cianjur, six students were seriously injured and two students su�ered light injuries when the (school) roof collapsed," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia's disaster agency, said in a statement, referring to a district of West Java province.

Besides schools, more than 130 houses and a mosque were damaged in the provinces of West Java and Banten, the

People gather outside The City Tower building after an earthquake hit Jakarta on Tuesday agency said. The quake was felt for about 10 to 15 seconds in Jakarta, though many residents thought it lasted far longer.

"I was just sitting down, then I felt the building swaying," said Rudy Togatorop, 35, who works at the Chilean embassy. "The emergency stairs were very narrow. I was worried if something would happen."

Indonesia sits on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes. In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including

Einstein's letter defending murderer pal up for auction Los Angeles (PTI): An autographed letter, in which German physicist Albert Einstein defends the character of a friend accused of murder, is up for auction in the US. Dated April 29, 1917, the letter is addressed to Einstein's close friend and scientific collaborator Michele Besso - the only individual credited in Einstein's paper on the Theory of Special Relativity.

In the letter, Einstein addresses different topics, including General Relativity, quantum physics and his friend Friedrich Adler, who had recently assassinated Austrian Minister-President Karl von Sturgkh. Einstein comes to his friend's defence, describing his personality and wondering how he could help him. Adler's trial for

the assassination of von Sturgkh was within days of Einstein's letter, according to the US-based Nate D Sanders Auctions. "A. proved himself a selfless, calm, hard-working, goodhearted, conscientious man who was highly esteemed by everybody, and that it is my heartfelt desire, therefore, to intercede for him," said Einstein wrote in the letter.

more than 120,000 in Indonesia.

In December, a quake of 6.5 magnitude killed at least three people when it hit Java, at a depth of 92 km, and buildings in Jakarta swayed for several seconds.

The World Bank reckons natural disasters cost Indonesia 0.3 percent of its gross domestic product annually, but a 2015 government report on disaster risk management said a major earthquake, occurring once every 250 years, could cause losses in excess of $30 billion, or 3 percent of GDP.

Astronauts go spacewalking to give new hand to robot arm Cape Canaveral (AP): Spacewalking astronauts gave a hand to the International Space Station's big robot arm on Tuesday. As the federal government geared back up 250 miles below, NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Scott Tingle floated outdoors to install the new mechanical gripper. Because of the lingering e�ects of the government shutdown, the spacewalk got started in the morning without live coverage on NASA TV. An on-air message simply stated: "We regret the inconvenience." Nearly an hour into the spacewalk, however, NASA TV came alive and began broadcasting the event with typical blow-

by-blow commentary. Space station operations were largely una�ected by the three-day shutdown. Considered essential personnel, Mission Control kept watch as usual at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Vande Hei performed a similar spacewalk last October, when he replaced the first of two original hands on the Canadian-built arm. This second new hand "a spare" will go on the opposite end of the 58-foot arm. The bulky bundle of latches "more than 3 feet, or a meter, long and weighing more than 440 pounds, or 200 kilogram" needed to be replaced because of wear and tear.

It's been in orbit, grabbing cargo

capsules and performing other chores, since 2001.

"Make us proud out there," astronaut Joe Acaba told the spacewalkers from inside. "We'll have hot chow for you when you get back." The spacewalk was delayed briefly because of a problem with the display unit on Vande Hei's suit. He powered the suit o�, then back on, and everything worked. It was the first spacewalk for Tingle, who arrived last month, and the third for Vande Hei. Vande Hei will go back out Monday with another astronaut to finish the job.

The space station is home to three Americans, two Russians and one Japanese.

No mediation on J&K unless both parties agree: UN chief United Nations (PTI): UN chief Antonio Guterres has ruled out any mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue unless all parties agree to it and asked India and Pakistan to address their outstanding issues through talks amidst heightened tensions along the border.

The UN Secretary- General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that in principle good offices of the UN chief are always available for mediation, but everyone needs to agree on involving the world body. Asked about escalating tensions between India and Pakistan due to ongoing skirmishes and firing along the border, Dujarric said, "We're obviously aware. We're following this… what's been going on, really for the last 10 days."

Asked why the Secretary-General is not so keen to involve himself in this crisis, Dujarric said, "In principle good offices of Guterres are always available for mediation, but everyone needs to

agree on involving the UN." "As a matter of principle, I'm not talking specifically about this issue, but about any issue where there is conflict between parties, the Secretary-General's good offices are always available," he said. "As in any issue...if there are multiple parties, everyone needs to agree on involving the UN. That is true of any mediation effort," Dujarric said.

"The Secretary-General would encourage both sides to address any outstanding issues through dialogue," he said. The relations between India and Pakistan are strained following series of attacks by Pakistan-based terror groups and incidents of ceasefire violations, causing casualties on both sides.

India is opposed to any third-party intervention in resolving the Kashmir issue while Pakistan has continuously sought mediation to sort out the differences.

‘Good morning’ messages cluttering smartphones in India Washington (IANS): With millions of "good morning" texts, spiced with colourful images and even videos sent and received every morning across India, one in three smartphone user in India runs out of space daily, as compared to one in 10 in the US, the media reported.

According to Google, there has been a 10-fold rise in the number of searches for "Good Morning images" over the past five years.

It is because Indians have a habit of sending millions of 'good morning!' texts along with sundappled flowers, adorable toddlers and birds to friends, family and strangers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

Inexpensive smartphones and data plans have brought an un-

likely group of users online who begin their typical day -- before sunrise and reaches a crescendo before 8 a.m. -- by sending good morning greetings.

"We were trying to deconstruct what is the DNA of a good morning message for months. It's been a lot of hard work to get it right," Josh Woodward, the Google product manager in Mountain View, California, was quoted as telling the Wall Street Journal.

Currently, there are nearly 400 million Internet users in India, along with over 300 million smartphone users and about 650 million mobile phone users.

The company used its giant image database and artificial intelligence tools to train the app to weed out good morning mes-

sages. The key to spotting them was looking for a certain size and type of image file, Woodward said, adding that early versions were picking out photos of chil-

dren wearing T-shirts with words on them. To counter such storage problem, Google in December launched a new app called "Files Go" that will help free up space, find files faster and share files offline on smartphones that come with less internal storage.

"The average 'Files Go' user is saving 1GB of space so they can do more on their phone. It was built for Android Go devices, but we're also making it available on the Google Play Store," the company said, at the launch of the product in New Delhi.

The app has more than 10 million downloads so far, with more users in India than any other country. It has cleared up on average more than 1 gigabyte of data per user, Google said.

WINDOWS

13

BUSINESS

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

TODAY’S QUOTE

PUBLIC INTEREST

MORE DATA

India offers growth opportunities

UK regulator discards Fox takeover of Sky

Jio hikes per day data limit

“

Britain’s competition regulator on Tuesday provisionally rejected the proposed $15.5 bn acquisition by 21st Century Fox of the British satellite broadcaster Sky on the grounds that it was not in the public interest. The CMA had been assessing whether the deal, announced in Dec 2016, would negatively affect media plurality.

Stepping up the tariff war, Reliance Jio has decided to offer 500 MB extra data to its subscribers using 1GB and 1.5GB per day data packs with effect from Jan 26, according to company sources.

We in India offer great opportunities in terms of large infrastructure investment that we need. There is an infrastructure deficit that we have in India. We want India's domestic manufacturing to grow.

BIZ BRIEFS AMI expo in Hyd Hyderabad: Apparel Manufacturers of India, a leading apparel group of manufacturers and traders, is gearing up for its upcoming trade fair in Hyderabad, next month. The 13th edition of the fair is a four-day event which will take place at Hitex Convention Centre from February 6. For the first time, AMI will be conducting a zonal trade fair, which will see participation from retailers, MBOs, manufacturers and chain stores across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

More than 135 brands from Mumbai will be presenting their latest collection here to the retailers and MBOs.

Home loans from ICICI Hyderabad: Private sector ICICI Bank said it disbursed over Rs 6,700 crore in the last four years to first-time home buyers under the affordable housing segment. Under ‘Pratham’ loans, ICICI bank enabled more than 51,000 home buyers from EWS and LIG in the last four years to purchase their first home of upto Rs 30 lakh. Anup Bagchi, ED, ICICI bank said: “We disbursed more than Rs 6,700 crore of ‘Pratham’ home loans in the affordable housing segment. To make our home loans widely accessible, we have expanded our distribution by opening over 100 new loan processing centres in Tier II, Tier III cities.”

NCMS unveils online portal Hyderabad: Warehousing player National Collateral Management Services ltd (NCML) on Tuesday launched their online portal MktYard.com and, also released their ninth edition of ‘India Commodity Year Book 2018.’ NCML’s online portal MktYard.com is a trading platform, and the portal takes care of price discovery, price risk and trade settlement. The portal also assists commodity market participants to buy or sell commodities and create tradable liquid warehouse receipt. The platform also connects clients and their stocks in warehouses and collateral management location through e-market link. The event also witnessed the release of India Commodity Year Book edited by Sanjay Kaul, CEO, NCML.

DCM Shriram's Q3 net up Hyderabad: DCM Shriram has reported a 56 per cent jump in its net profit at Rs 213 crore in the third quarter ending December 2017.

The profit after tax was Rs 137 crore in the OctoberDecember quarter of 201617. Net revenues stood at Rs 1,784 crore in the third quarter of the current fiscal as compared to Rs 1,365 crore a year earlier, it said in a statement. In the chemical vertical, the company said volumes gain was of 34 per cent on account of full utilisation of expanded capacities at Bharuch, supported by firm prices.

Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

Sensex scales 36,000

WEF@DAVOS

When tweeting was done by birds and Amazon was a jungle

Institutions-led bull party on D-St; Nifty tops 11K in 6mths from 10k; Investor wealth rises by over Rs 1 lakh cr Mumbai (PTI): Domestic equities continued euphoric run for the fifth straight day riding a wave of optimism, with the BSE Sensex surging past the 36,000-level and the NSE Nifty breaching 11,000 on Tuesday for the first time ever following IMF’s GDP forecasts for India coupled with positive global cues. The total market capitalisation (m-cap) of BSE-listed companies surged by Rs 108,019.59 crore to Rs 156,56,592 crore.

Both benchmark indices were driven strong gains as FIIs turned net buyers. Mostly metal, banking, IT and infra shares surged on earnings optimism. The major trigger behind the boost in investors optimism was the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) forecast that India’s GDP growth will hit 7.4 per cent in 2018-19 and the country will regain the status of the world’s fastest growing major economy.

Continuing its record-setting run for the fifth straight session, the BSE benchmark Sensex hit a new high of 36,170.83 (intra-day) on the back of widespread gains in metal, PSU, oil and gas and financial counters. Finally, the 30share index settled at 36,139.98, up 341.97 points, or 0.96 per cent.

The gauge had risen 1,026.96 points in the previous four sessions. The Sensex took just five trading sessions (January 17- 23) to reach the historic 36,000-level from 35,000, while the NSE Nifty advanced to 11,000-mark from

Amplify workforce with AI: Infy Bengaluru, (PTI): Infosys President Mohit Joshi on Tuesday said, Industry disruption from Artificial Intelligence (AI) was already on and organisations not using it to amplify their workforce will fall behind or find themselves irrelevant.

"Industry disruption from AI is no longer imminent, it is here. The organisations that embrace AI with a clearly defined strategy and use AI to amplify their workforce rather than replace it will take the lead and those that don't will fall behind or find themselves irrelevant," he said.

Joshi said this in a statement while releasing the company's global research on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Davos, where the world Economic Forum is currently underway.

The research findings says, enterprises are moving beyond the experimentation phase with AI, deploying AI technologies more broadly and realizing benefits across their business.

Davos: Harry Potter was an unheard name, tweeting was done only by birds and Amazon referred to dense forests in 1997, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday to stress upon the changes the world has seen in the past 20 years. Addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, Modi said he is the first Indian Prime Minister to come here since H D Deve Gowda in 1997. The Indian economy has changed significantly since then and so has the rest of the world, he noted.

Speaking mostly in Hindi, Modi thanked WEF and the Swiss government for the reception accorded to him. He also recalled that when Deve Gowda came here in 1997, the theme of the WEF summit was building a networked society. That theme now looks centuries-old as the world today is about big data and so many other new developments, the prime minister said. Modi said very few people in 1997 had heard of Osama bin Laden and even Harry Potter was an unheard name. "Also, chess players did not have any big fear of the computer while Google was not there in cyber space and Amazon of that time was about dense forests. Tweeting was done by birds at that time and not by humans," he said. Modi, however, said at that time also, Davos was ahead of

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10,000 in six months (July 26, 2017 to January 23, 2018).

The Nifty touched a new high (intra-day) of 11,092.90 on Tuesday. It closed the session with a hefty rise of 117.50 points, or 1.07 per cent, at a fresh life high of 11,083.70, bettering its previous record close of 10,966.20 reached in Monday’s trade.

Meanwhile, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1,567.51 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold equities worth Rs 461.87 crore on Monday as per provisional data.

Modi recalls 1997 to stress upon the changes the world has seen in past 20 years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with the top global CEOs at the International Business Council event in Davos on Tuesday its time and was known for WEF. It is ahead of the times today as well with the theme of 'Creating a shared future in a fractured world'. "The world is changing fast today and there are new and serious challenges related to peace and security and various other matters. "We believe in linking people, not bending them or breaking them.

But the challenges the world faces are as numerous as they are daunting. "Mountains of data are getting created and there is a race to control those as the feeling is that the one who gets control of this data would rule the world," he said.

India should focus on women's inclusion: IMF Davos: IMF chief Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday India must continue with reforms especially in the financial services sector and should urgently focus on broad-based and true inclusion of women in its economy.

Addressing a press conference as part of the all women cochairs of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meet, Lagarde said, ‘IMF research has showed that raising women's participation in the workforce to the level of men can boost Indian

AI can boost revenues by 38%

Heritage Foods CFO bags ICAI award

economy by 27 per cent.’

She also expressed concern over the high level of discrimination faced by women in rural India and emphasised that there is an urgent need to address this issue. Lagarde reiterated IMF's forecast of 7.4 per cent growth for India and said it is obviously one of the fastest growing large economies of the world. According to her, future growth would depend on how the country carries forward the reform process.

Lagarde said India must con-

Davos: If businesses invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human-machine collaboration at the same rate as top-notch companies, they could boost revenues by 38 per cent by 2022 and raise employment levels by 10 per cent, a new report said on Tuesday.

Collectively, this would lift profits by $4.8 trillion globally over the same period, said the Accenture Strategy report released here dur-

"To achieve higher rates of growth in the age of AI, companies need to invest more in equipping their people to work with machines in new ways," said Mark Knickrehm, Group Chief Executive, Accenture Strategy.

More than two thirds (69 %) of the 14,000 workers surveyed said it is important to develop skills to work with intelligent machines.

Yet, a disconnect between work-

Rajan was speaking at a session on the power of economic narratives and how policymakers can address the challenges of the 21st century. He said some governments such as Singapore have done something to address the problems arising out of income inequality and the divisions in the society by setting up housing projects where middle class and lower middle-class families can live together. Rajan said he's not sure about the US but some countries are doing things in this area and certainly the governments can play a role here. The Chicago University professor is known for his frank views on various economic and monetary policy matters and is credited with having predicted the global financial crisis of 2007. ers' embracing AI and their employers' e�orts to prepare workers puts potential growth at risk.

While a majority (54 %) of business leaders say that human-machine collaboration is important to their strategic priorities, only three percent noted that their organisation plans to significantly increase its investment in reskilling their workers in the next three years.

Launches India Innovation Hub Accelerator programme on AR/VR space BUSINESS BUREAU

Hyderabad: Dairy firm Heritage Foods on Tuesday said its CFO Prabhakara Naidu won an award at 11th ICAI Awards 2017 presented by Institute of Chartered Account of India.

Union Commerce & Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu presented the award to Naidu under the agriculture and allied services segment. He was honoured for his excellence in CA-CFO. Brahmani Nara, Executive Director, Heritage Foods, said: “We would like to thank ICAI for recognizing our CFOs excellence in his field. It will boost the morale of the management and our employees to strive for greater achievements like these in near future”.

ICAI recognises exemplary achievements of its members every year. These awards are

Hyderabad: T-Hub, an initiative of Telangana government and India's largest incubator for startups, on Tuesday announced its partnership with Facebook for pushing augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) applications in several industry verticals.

As part of this initiative, T-Hub and Facebook jointly have launched India Innovation Hub Accelerator Programme and for this they have already listed 10 startups, which will have to develop Proof of Concept (PoC) on the prioritized solution and submit to Facebook and T-Hub Innovation Hub. Subsequently, qualified startups will be inducted to FbStart programme thus getting access to T-Hub’s network of mentors, investors, service providers and ecosystem.

aimed at honouring the CFOs who have demonstrated excellence in the professional life and are role models for others.

ing the WEF. "For the average S&P500 company, this equates to $7.5 billion of revenues and a $880 million lift to profitability," the report noted. Seventy two percent of the 1,200 senior executives surveyed said intelligent technology will be critical to their organisation's market di�erentiation and 61 per cent noted that the share of roles requiring collaboration with AI will rise in the next three years.

Davos: Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan on Tuesday said the Western world must realise they cannot go a long way without the help of the emerging economies and warned that no one would be able to resolve any problem of a 'fractured world' if things are not set right soon.

Without naming any country, he said the West must realise that their population is ageing and the demand for their products would mostly come from the emerging world.

Speaking at a session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, Rajan said there is a risk that by the time the West goes to the emerging world for their support, they may have to answer quite a few questions about why they did not share the benefits earlier. He warned that the approach of the Western world must change soon for the good, or else there may be a chance that we are not able to solve any of the problems of the 'fractured world'. About issues facing the Western world, he listed technology, ageing population and climate change.

T-Hub teams up with Facebook

BUSINESS BUREAU

Prabhakara Naidu, CFO, Heritage Foods, with ICAI award

tinue with its reforms, especially in financial services sector and the one area that needs special focus is gender equality. "I genuinely hope there will be a focus on inclusion of Indian women in the economy. We have research to show that India's GDP can grow by 27 per cent if the women are brought to the same level of men in terms of economic and workforce participation," she said.

West needs emerging economies: Rajan

Satyajeet Singh (L), Head of Platform Partnerships, India & South Asia, Facebook, and Jay Krishnan, CEO, T-Hub, exchanging MoU for promoting startups in AR/VR technologies at T-hub in Hyd on Tuesday The finalists will be invited to participate in a three-month accelerator program at T-Hub. And the accelator programme will take o� in April.

Jay Krishnan, CEO, T-Hub, and Satyajeet Singh, Head of Platform (India-south Asia) at FB, ex-

changed the documents of agreement on India Innovation Hub Accelerator programme at T-Hub campus on Tuesday.

Jay Krishnan said: “Our intent, as an ecosystem enabler is to partner with pioneers like FB and explore new frontiers that are rele-

vant for India like healthcare, education, etc, with AR/ VR and XR technologies.”

Satyajeet Singh adds: “We have 2K FB development members in Hyd. We understand the challenges start-ups face to get their ideas o� the ground and we are committed to paving the way for the next generation of startup success in the country. Through our program with T-Hub, we want to provide the right support, training and mentorship they need to explore the potential of emerging technologies. With 10 startups, this is just a beginning. Facebook is keen on investing in emerging technologies in India. We hope this will help grow business of startups and other companies in di�erent sectors.”

The Indian AR/VR market, yet nascent, is expected to grow at (CAGR) of 76 per cent over the next five years.

Groom the young to take interest in astronomy: Kasturirangan For India to be “right in the forefront” of astronomy, it is important to draw the interest of the youth. We need a large number of youngsters from the university system, institutions, observational institutes, he stresses SUDIPTO CHOWDHURY Kolkata: Indian students can reach for the skies if an interest in astronomy is instilled in them right from their school days, former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Kasturirangan has said.

He said, India would be one of the leaders in the field of astronomy in the future. "I think this is an extraordinary period of astronomy for India but what is important now is that we need to groom the younger generation to take an interest in astronomy, to bring them into astronomy and do justice to all the investments we are making," Kasturirangan said.

For India to be "right in the forefront" of astronomy, it was important to draw the interest of the youth, he told PTI. Predicting that planetary explorations would further grow in the coming years, the scientist said there was a great scope for youngsters in this field. To generate interest in astronomy among the youth, the government should promote activities right from the schools, in colleges as well as universities and other research areas, he said.

"I think even areas such as planetary explorations will further grow.

And so there is a lot of scope and a lot of excitement in this but the youngsters have to be motivated... right from the schools. We should promote astronomical activities in the universities, research areas, institutions.

We need a large number of young-

To generate interest in astronomy among the youth, the government should promote activities right from the schools, in colleges as well as universities and other research areas

sters from the university system, institutions, observational institutes," he stressed. Asked if India was capable of taking up space expeditions and research works on its own, Kasturirangan said ISRO would need to partner other nations after a certain point.

"I would say up to a point India is capable of taking up space expeditions single-handedly. But I think at a cer-

tain stage India must move towards international collaboration and cooperation.

"Chandrayaan had six instruments from abroad and six from India... I am sure that future Mangalyan and other planetary explorations will have (collaboration). And afterwards I believe we will be a part of an international expedition to planetary exploration,"

Kasturirangan said. He, however, advised the government not to go in for loans to facilitate space research programmes. “We should not take loans because investments are very large and the resources can be very demanding.

And I don’t think there is any reason why we should when the international community also looks to collaboration with India because Indians are easy to collaborate with, are capable and can contribute substantially to major programmes.

We have demonstrated that in the past,” the space scientist said. Underlining India’s strong presence in international space programmes, the Padma Vibhushan awardee of 2000 predicted tremendous opportunities for the country in this field.

He referred to India's participation in the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) project, a proposed astronomical observatory, mentioned the Square Kilometre Array, a large multi radio telescope project and said India was a partner for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) to detect cosmic gravitational waves.

"I think others will come here and they will be partners here of an Indian-inspired thing. And may be tomorrow there will be an astrostat in which others will come and participate. So just look at the things we are doing. So I think there is tremendous opportunity and the international community is very much inclined to do this,” he stated.

IPE to conduct ‘Sanskriti’ on Jan 27 OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Admissions into courses of PGDM, PGDM-BIF, PGDM-RM, PGDM-IB PGDM-HR, and Ex-PGDM for academic year 2018, run by the Institute of Public Enterprises (IPE) are under progress, said Prof R K Mishra, Director. Addressing a press conference at the press club in Somajiguda on Tuesday, he said.

The first round of group discussions and personal interviews for PGDM programmes are going to start from February 2, said the professor. The last date for submitting applications for the first phase of admissions is January 31.

He briefed the unique accomplishments of IPE highlighting the many new grounds it has broken in research, long term education, consulting, publications and networking.

The professor explained that for the IPE is adopting innovative pedagogical tools in classroom teaching with the help of digital support systems. Placements coordinator Dr M Meher Karuna said Placements at IPE are an outcome of its highly proficient academics. Most of the MNCs are looking towards IPE for its talent acquisition.

Students, who dream high, join IPE to acquire the required skills to fulfill their dreams by taking part in various activities of IPE including placements.

IPE is adopting innovative pedagogical tools in classroom teaching with the help of digital support systems There is an inspirational track record of placements at the Institute.

V Anji Raju, coordinator, student affairs said Sanskriti’18 a two –day flagship national event to all the B-School students in India is scheduled to be commenced on January 27 at its campus. More than 5000 students across India including, IIMs, IITs and other leading B-schools will participate.

V Rajanna, Vice-President & Global Head - Technology Business, TCS and Chairman of CII Telangana State to inaugurate the fest. Mohammed Rafatullah, CEO, Dukes Products India Ltd. would be the guest of honour. Dr N K Nanda, Director (Technical), NMDC Ltd. would be the chief guest for the valedictory function.

Dr Shulagna Sarkar, conference convener, said the institute is organising the fifth International conference on Corporate Social Responsibility on February 1 and 2.

The event is organised under the aegis of NLCIL chair on CSR. The meet aims to discuss CSR issues and challenges and also unveils the impact of the Sec 135 of Companies Act, 2013.

Machines with AI will outsmart humans in 25-30 yrs: Yunus

Punjab team hails TSWREIS e�orts The Telangana residential model of education is the best in the country, and the government of Punjab is keen on emulating this model, said Ripu Daman Singh OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: A high profile team from Punjab Social Welfare Department led by Ripu Daman Singh, visited Telangana Social welfare residential school, Gowlidoddi and its IIT Academy.

The team impressed with the different curricular and extra-curricular activities being implemented by the TSWREIS in providing quality education to poor children. The team appreciated the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for his vision for the holistic development of marginalised communities. The Telangana residential model of education

is the best in the country, and the government of Punjab is keen on emulating this model, said Ripu Daman Singh.

The team members also held meeting with Dr RS Praveen Kumar, Secretary, TSWREIS, and P. Karunakar, Director, SCDD. The TSWREIS Secretary and the Director, SCDD, briefed various schemes and programmes being implemented by for the welfare of Scheduled Caste communities.

Speaking to the team members, Dr Kumar said, close to eight lakh poor children will study in residential schools by 2020 under the KG-PG mission, and the government is planning to spend more than 15000 crore in the coming years to give a major push to residential schools.

Dr Kumar thanked the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and the Minister for Scheduled Caste Development Department G. Jagadish Reddy for approving a number of schemes unheard of in the country’s education sector and for helping poor SC children to pursue higher studies, besides providing nutritious diet and laptops under the KG.-PG Mission.

Kolkata: Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus has expressed concern over the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and said machines may outrun humans in terms of e�ciency and usefulness in the next 25-30 years.

AI robots will able to develop on their own without human intervention beyond a point, he told PTI yesterday on the sidelines of Tata Steel Literary Meet 2018. "There should be some global regulatory guidelines on the development and research on this technology, which is primarily driven by greed," Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, said.

AI should be used for social issues like healthcare, flood and drought, Yunus opined. "There is no gatekeeper, no social guidelines… Even when a new medicine is introduced, it has to seek regulatory approvals. Why can't same rules apply for AI?" he asked.

UoH professor bags award OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: Prof. Ramana Murthy Rupakula, senior faculty in the School of Economics at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has received an award for his distinguished contribution in Political Economy.

The World Association of Political

Economy (WAPE) presented the award to the professor at 12th forum held recently at Moscow State University of Law and Finance, Russia.

He was awarded for his articles published in World Review of Political Economy, titled "Class Di�erentiation and Crisis of Agrarian Petty C ommodity Producers in India" (2016).

STATE-LEVEL ENGINEERING COLLEGES SPORTS MEET HELD OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: The VIII Inter-engineering Colleges State-level sports meet was conducted by G.Narayanamma Women’s Institute of Technology & Sciences (GNITS), concluded here on Tuesday.

In the Throw ball GNITS-B Team beat GNITS-A team with 11-15 and 915.BVRIT won the Volley ball competition after beating GNITS engg studnets bring out sports prowess in

them with 2 points. In BasketballVNRVJIET beat GNITS with 2 points for winners spot.

In Table Tennis GNITS - A team beat SNIST with 3-0 points and emerged champions. Table Tennis singles was bagged by SNIST after beating GNITS with 3-0.CBIT won Badminton singles and doubles titles by beating GNITS – A with 11-4 and 11-5. 11-3 and 11-5 respectively.

The two- day event concluded with the valedictoryfunction in which Ar-

MirKhasim Ali along with the winners in Hyderabad on Tuesday

juna Awardee and renowned Table Tennis Player MirKhasim Ali was the chief guest.

Prizes were distributed to the winning teams from various engineering college across the state.

The programme was attended by Malladi Haripriya, Associate Manager in Accenture, G Srividya Reddy, Joint Secretary of GNITS, Dr. KRamesh Reddy, Principal of GNITS, and the Physical Director Dr.MVL Surya Kumari.

Ramana Murthy currently teaches Political Economy and Development and Macroeconomics at the School of Economics. He has been working in the area of agrarian transformation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The professor is an o�cial signatory of Indian Political Economy Association (IPEA).

National seminar on Sanskrit OUR BUREAU Hyderabad: The Department of Languages of Bhavan's Vivekananda College, Sainikpuri is organising a twoday national seminar on the theme`VartamankaaleSamskrut a S a h i t a s y a A a v a s h y a k t a a Ta syaAacharaneeyataa" from Wednesday.

I Y R Krishna Rao, Chairman, Bhartiya VidyaBhavan and J L N Sastry, the Vice Chairman, will grace the occasion.

Dr. K Arvinda Rao, DGP, Andhra Pradesh is the chief guest and Prof. A Ramulu, Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Osmania University will be the guest of honour.

Seminar Chairman & Principal Prof. Y Ashok and seminar convener & HoD of Languages Dr C Kameswari will coordinate the programme.

The uniqueness of the seminar is that all the research papers will be presented in Sanskrit.

Asst. Professors and research scholars from various universities and colleges will present at the seminar.

Valedictory session will be organised on Thursday.

15

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

Rajasthan IITians launch education start-ups Young ex-IITians are returning to take a shot at creating jobs through their tech ventures particularly in the field of education

MODEL PAPERS MATHEMATICS PAPER-I PART – A SECTION – I Answer to all:1. Without performing actual division state whether is terminating or repeating decimal.

2. Why has no zeroes? Explain.

3. Hansa said “Set of Primes and Set of Composites are disjoint”. Is it true? Justify.

4. Find the value of ‘K’ for which the pair of equations and represent parallel lines.

5. Find two consecutive odd positive integers whose product is 143.

6. Check whether – 35 is a term of the A.P 15, 11, 7, - - -7. Taking any two points on the line y = x + 5, find its slope.

SECTION – II Answer to all:-

ARCHANA SHARMA Jaipur: With a view to giving back to their home towns, young ex-IITians are returning to take a shot at creating jobs through their tech ventures in Rajasthan, particularly in the field of education. Many of these tech-savvy youngsters realised that education was in dire need of a major change in the state.

"One day, we discussed that if travel, banking, hotels and food can be on phones, why not education? That was the trigger. We wanted to build a one-point communication between teachers and students," Madhup Bansal, from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D), and co-founder and Managing Director of Myly, told IANS. Gaurav Mundra, the other cofounder and CEO of Myly, realised that his son's school circulars sometimes went missing. "So we brought a centralised app where parents had access to kids' timetable, results, fee deposits and other information via one mobile app," he says. Currently working with 800 academic institutions in India, he said they have operations in Dubai and the Philippines and were planning to be in Malaysia soon.

Rishabh Jain, from IIT, Bombay, and COO of Qriyo, India's managed home tuition app, claimed to be first of its kind, says: "Me and Mudit, CEO of Qriyo, had envisioned to be job creators for around 500 people in our hometowns. So we started operations in Jaipur and Jodhpur. Now, it's heartening to see that we have evaluated over 15,000 tutors who are serving over 5,000 students in six cities of India."

Mudit Jain was at the India division of Finmechanics as Country Head and had worked with the consulting arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers, US. "The idea

6 x 2 = 12

8. Find the number of digits in 2735 if log3 = 0.4771.

9. If 5 times of 5th term of an A.P. is equal to 4 times of 4th term then show that 9th term is zero.

10. The larger of two supplementary angles, exceeds the smaller by 18O. Find the angles.

11. Solve X2-10x+9=10 by the method of completing the square.

12. Find the values of y for which the distance between the points P(2, -3) and Q(10, y) is 10 units.

13. Verify that 1, -1 and -3 are the zeroes of the polynomial and check the relationship between zeroes and the coefficients.

SECTION – III Answer to all with internal choice:14. a) Prove that

4 x 4 = 16

is an irrational number.

(or) b) Solve the following by reducing them to a pair of linear equations. &

Madhup Bansal, co-founder and Managing Director of Myly, Gaurav Mundra, the other co-founder and CEO of Myly

15. a) Find the zeroes of

of Qriyo originated while searching for a yoga teacher. Despite hundreds of providers listed online, I could not find a suitable match." In January 2016, Qriyo was born, o�ering over 400 courses in academics, co-curricular, extra-curricular and fitness activities, Mudit said.

The returnees are all youngsters who wanted to pursue their dreams in distant lands, after finishing the most sought-after degree in the country. But a feeling for their roots and a conducive business atmosphere brought them back home, to use their knowledge about the cyber world for the benefit of their fellow residents.

Nishant Patni, founder and CEO of CultureAlley, had finished his IIT from Bombay, his post-graduate degree from the US and worked with the Boston Consulting Group in Chicago and two start-ups in Delhi and California when he went to China and struggled to learn a new language. "If I am struggling this hard to learn a new language, what might be the case with others, I thought, and came up with 'Hello English', which is now India's No. 1 educational app with over 35 million learners," Patni told IANS. According to him, Hello English was part of Google's Editor's Choice 2017

and the year before, it was named Google's Best Apps of 2016. It now teaches several other languages.

"We got infrastructural support from our hometown, Jaipur, and this city houses good engineering talent and hence we came here," he said, adding that the "real Bharat is outside top cities; the people you encounter here give you a real insight into everything". The company has also got funding from a global venture capital firm.

SRJNA, which brings modern, innovative aids and methodologies into teaching of science, maths and astronomy, is among a few players helping schools to set up "tinkering labs". They create a design studio kind of place where students can learn via Robotics and 3-D tools. "We help in setting up innovation labs where teachers demonstrate to ensure students learn quickly by using real practical tools," says Sharad Bansal, CEO of SRJNA and an IITian from Delhi.

So impressed was NITI Aayog by the approach that it had decided to set up 500 such labs across the country calling them Atal Tinkering Labs under the Atal Innovation Mission, named after the former Prime Minister.

It provides Rs 10 lakh for setting up such a lab in a school and

a similar amount each year for five years, for operational expenses. Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, had said at the time of launching the programme that "it will provide school students the opportunity to work with tools and equipment, fostering inventiveness".

SRJNA got some benefit from a Rajasthan government's incubation scheme. Start-up Oasis has been extending a helping hand to provide start-ups with Rs 25 lakh every year for three years, and a built-up area of 25,000 square feet, to make their ventures operational.

According to Tarun Agrawal, portfolio manager at Start-Up Oasis, there were 15 IITians who had come back to their hometown to set up tech ventures. But not all took the help of the incubator.

Moinee Foundation, which supports "right to quality education", was set up by Arvind Thanvi, its Chief Mentor. Thanvi, an IITian from Kharagpur, left his corporate career with Accenture, Mumbai, where he worked for a decade as account director.

He started smart class intervention with 12 schools in a district, by reviving their existing ICT labs. That has now reached over 1,500 schools in nine districts of three states.

through graph and justify the answers. (or) b) The sum of the reciprocals of Rehman’s ages, (in years) 3 years ago and 5 years from now is Find his present age.

16. a) Find the coordinates of the points of trisection of the line segment joining (4, -1) and (-2, -3). (or) b) If A = {2,3,5,7}, B = {3,4,5,6} and C = {1,2,3,4} then show them in venn diagram and also find A- (B C).

17. a) Find the sum of all three digit numbers that are divisible by ‘7’. (or) b) Find the area of the quadrilateral whose vertices, taken in order are (-4, -2), (-3, -5), (3, -2) and (2, 3).

PART – B Choose the correct answer:-

5 marks

1. H.C.F. of two co-primes is A) 0 B) 1 C) 2 D) 5 2. If then value of x.

A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 3. Distance between the origin and the point (aSin , aCos ) is A) 1 B) a C) D) 4. Which term of the progression 10, 7, 4, - - - - is – 8 A) 7 B) 9 C) 11 D) 13 5. If V = {vowels} then no. of subsets of V. A) 5 B) 10 C) 18 D) 32 6. The discriminant of is A) 2 B) 5 C) 7 D) 24 7. Sum of first three terms of an A.P. is 30 then middle term is A) 10 B) 15 C) 20 D) none 8. The number of solutions for 2x-3y+5 = 0 and 4x – 6y + 10 = 0.

A) 1 B) Infinite C) 2 D) None 9. Centroid divides each median in the ratio of A) 1 : 2 B) 1 : 3 C) 2 : 1 D) 2 : 3 10. If a, b, c are in G.P. then will be in A) A.P B) G.P C) H.P D) None

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Nagarjuna High School, SR Nagar, Hyderabad

NEWS digest

Greenland’s ice sheet shrinking fast London: Researchers have found that the loss of heat that comes up from the interior of the Earth melts the Greenland's ice sheet from below and triggers the sliding of glaciers towards the sea.

Greenland's ice sheet is becoming smaller and smaller. The melting is taking place with an increased strength and at a speed that no models have previously predicted.

As a result, the deep bottom water of the north-eastern Greenland's �ords is also warming up, the research showed.

"North-East Greenland has several hot springs where the water becomes up to 60 degrees warm and, like Iceland, the area has abundant underground geothermal activity," said Soren Rysgaard, Professor at the Aarhus University in Denmark.

In the study, appearing in the journal Scientific Reports, the team focussed on an isolated basin in the �ord with a depth range between 200 and 340 me-

tre and measured how the deep water is heated over a 10-year period.

Based on the data, researchers estimated that the loss of heat from the Earth's interior to the

New AI system can predict corruption London: Scientists have developed a new artificial intelligence system that can predict the likelihood of corruption in a government.

The computer model based on neural networks developed by researchers from the University of Valladolid in Spain predicts provinces in which cases of corruption are more likely to appear, as well as the conditions that favour their appearance.

The system also confirms that the probabilities increase when the same party stays in government more number of years.

The study, published in the journal

Social Indicators Research, does not mention the provinces most prone to corruption so as not to generate controversy. Researchers explained that "a greater propensity or high probability does not imply corruption will actually happen."

The data indicates that real estate tax, exaggerated increase in the price of housing, opening of bank branches and the creation of new companies are some of the variables that seem to induce public corruption, and when they are added together in a region, it should be taken into account to carry out a more rigorous control of the public accounts.

�ord is about 100 MW m-2 (milliWatt per square metre).

This corresponds to a 2 megawatt wind turbine sending electricity to a large heater at the bottom of the �ord all year round.

If the Earth releases heat to a �ord, heat also seeps up to the bottom part of the glaciers. This means that the glaciers melt from below and thus slide more easily over the terrain on which they sit when moving to the sea, the researchers said.

"There is no doubt that the heat from the Earth's interior affects the movement of the ice, and we expect that a similar heat seepage takes place below a major part of the ice cap in the north-eastern corner of Greenland," explained Soren Rysgaard from the varsity.

The findings may help improve the models of ice sheet dynamics, allowing better predictions of the stability of the Greenland ice sheet, its melting and the resulting global water rise.

Bacterial changes early in life cause cystic fibrosis in kids New York: Bacterial changes begin in the first few years of life leading to the formation of cystic fibrosis, which makes children repeatedly prone to bacterial infections and inflammation and shortens their lifespan, says a study. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited life-threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system -- the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestines. Therapies to break up mucus in toddlers could postpone the increase in bacterial burden as well as o�er the best route to a longer life for such patients, the researchers said.

"Lung symptoms in kids with cystic fibrosis are likely due to an increased burden of bacteria. This implies there's an opportunity for early intervention that could dramatically increase the quality of life for these kids," said Matthew Wolfgang, Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina, US. For the study, published in PLoS Pathogens, the team analysed bacterial DNA in samples of lunglining fluid gathered from young children.

While babies with cystic fibrosis who were less than a year old exhibited only a little or no signs of bacteria or inflammation, infants between ages one and two showed significant amounts of bacterial DNA -- which provoke inflammation. In toddlers aged three to five, the samples contained increasing evidence of more

worrisome bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae -- commonly found in older cystic fibrosis patients with more severe lung disease.

As the bacterial burden worsened, molecular signs of inflammation increased and lung X-ray studies of the children revealed mounting signs of structural lung disease. "This tells us lung bacterial infections start much earlier than we had expected in children with cystic fibrosis, and these infections are likely the earliest drivers of structural lung disease," Wolfgang said, adding "therapies aimed at breaking up mucus very early in life might be very beneficial to these kids".

Smartphone use may make teens unhappy: Study Washington: Teenagers who are habitually glued to their smartphones are more likely to be unhappier than their peers, a study has found. Researchers from the University of Georgia in the US, analysed data from a survey of over a million US teens.

The survey asked students questions about how often they spent time on their phones, tablets and computers, as well as questions about their in-the-flesh social interactions and their overall happiness. On average, they found that teens who spent more

time in front of screen devices playing computer games, using social media, texting and video chatting - were less happy than those who invested more time in non-screen activities like sports, reading newspapers and magazines, and face-to-face social interaction.

Researchers believe this screen time is driving unhappiness rather than the other way around. "Although this study can't show causation, several other studies have shown that more social media use leads to

unhappiness, but unhappiness does not lead to more social media use," said Jean M Twenge, professor at San Diego State University in the US. Total screen abstinence does not lead to happiness either, Twenge found.

The happiest teens used digital media a little less than an hour per day. However after a daily hour of screen time, unhappiness rises steadily along with increasing screen time, according to the study published in the journal Emotion.

16

SPORTS Harman to lead T20 team in South Africa

Rafael Nadal getting treatment at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday

Nadal retires hurt, Cilic in semifinals Melbourne: Rafael Nadal`s drive towards a second Australian Open title came to a shuddering injuryinduced halt Wednesday on a day of upsets that saw unseeded Kyle Edmund and Elise Mertens make the semi-finals.

The world number one retired against Marin Cilic after an upper right leg problem began troubling him the fourth set on Rod Laver Arena, with the Spaniard wincing in pain and limping as he struggled to continue.

His 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 2-0 exit set up a last-four clash for the former US Open champion against Britain`s Edmund, who stunned third seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Mertens, who is yet to drop a set, was equally convincing in blasting past world number four Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 to become the first Belgian to make the semis since Kim Clijsters in 2012.

She will play second-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki or veteran Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro for a place in Saturday`s final.

Little separated Nadal and bighitting Cilic until the injury struck, as they traded ferocious groundstrokes in an intense battle.

But the Spaniard, who was beaten in last year`s final by Roger Federer, called the physio at 1-4 in the fourth set and again at the changeover when two sets apiece and the writing was on the wall.

"It was an unbelievable performance from both us," said Croat Cilic, the sixth seed. "It is really unfortunate for Rafa to finish this way."

Nadal`s retirement follows the departure on Monday of Novak Djokovic, with his immediate playing future uncertain after an elbow injury flared. He also appeared to have a hip problem.

There were no such troubles for Edmund against Dimitrov, as he became only the fourth British man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals in the post-1968 Open Era. "It`s an amazing feeling. I`m very happy," said the overwhelmed 23-year-old, ranked 49.

"It was a hard match and I`m really trying to enjoy the moment.

It was my first match on Rod Laver Arena and it`s very special."

He is the only British man in the draw after Andy Murray`s injury withdrawal before the tournament, raising the prospect that it will be him, rather than the Scot, who breaks through to win in Australia. Murray has been a five-time finalist but lost them all.World number 37 Mertens is on a hot streak of form, unbeaten in 10 matches after winning in Hobart this month.

She was too physical for Svitolina as she stormed into the semis, incredibly on her Australian Open debut.

Romania's Halep plays her quarter-final against sixth seed Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.

Wozniacki last made the semi-finals at Melbourne Park in 2011 and she faces a familiar foe late Tuesday in Suarez Navarro, whose two wins in seven career meetings with her were both on clay.

"Obviously hard courts are a little di�erent," said Wozniacki.

New Delhi: Star all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Indian women's team in the five-match T20 rubber against South Africa, starting February 13 at Potchefstroom.

Ahead of the T20I series, the Indian women under Mithali Raj will play South Africa in a three-match ODI series, which starts at Kimberly on Feb 5.

"The All-India women's selection committee has named the T2OI squad for women's tour to South Africa. The Indian women's team will play five T20Is against South Africa women after the completion of the ODI series," the BCCI said in a statement.

While the opening two ODIs will be played on February 5 and 7 at Kimberley, the third ODI will be played on February 10 at Potchefstroom, where the first T20I will also be played on February 13.

The second T20I will be played on February 16 in East London followed by the third game on February 18 in Johannesburg.

The final two T20Is will be played on February 21 at Centurion and February 24 in Cape Town.

T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Anuja Patil, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Nuzhat Parveen (wicket-keeper), Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav.

Harmanpreet Kaur

Pride at stake for India Johannesburg: India will aim to avoid an embarrassing series whitewash and salvage some pride when they meet a confident South Africa in the third and final Test match which starts at the Wanderers Stadium here on Wednesday.

In the first two Test matches, India were outplayed in every department of the game. Skipper Virat Kohli also agreed that their opponents were way better.

But in the upcoming match, India will like to turn the tables and like to finish the series on a positive note.

However, it will not be an easy job for the Indians. With the conditions and pitch favouring the hosts, the visitors may find it tough to survive the full five days.

India could witness an archetypal South African wicket -- hard and dry with plenty of bounce -which often provides lots of seam movement up front.

Spinners could also play an important role on the fourth and fifth days, so the inclusion of a tweaker could be helpful in the second innings.

In the batting department, apart from Kohli, all the other

batsmen have totally failed to step up to the occasion.

Some of them are guilty of playing reckless shots -- which would have worked on a slow pitch -- in the first two Tests and coming into the third game, they will have got a measure of the task ahead.

The Indian team is full of stroke-makers like Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. Their attitude of dominating the bowlers with a flurry of strokes will not work in the third match.

Instead, they must harness the art of controlling the South African pace quartet by curtailing

their habit of going after each and every delivery.

Calls for the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane, known for his quiet approach, instead of fellow Mumbaikar Rohit Sharma have grown over the last few days.

It will not be a surprise if either Lokesh Rahul or Rohit sit out, while Parthiv Patel may find himself in the openers' slot.

In ther bowling department, seamers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya, alongwith lone spinner Ravichandran Ashwin played sensibly but the fielding let them down.

HAMMERS IN PWL SEMIFINALS Vanesa Kaladzinskaya exults after defeating Pooja Gahlot. Haryana Hammers’ Sun Yanan and Roublejit Rangi won the last two bouts against UP Dangal, which helped Hammers seal a semifinal berth in the third Pro Wrestling League (PWL) at Siri Fort Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. In the semifinals, Haryana Hammers clash with UP Dangals while NCR Punjab Royals take on Veer Marathas

On the other hand, South Africa will depend upon Dean Elgar, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis to score the bulk of their runs. Rookie pacers Lungi Ngidi, who was the man of the Match in the last game will be crucial once again along with Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada. Keshav Maharaj will be the lone spinner for the hosts and may play a crucial role in the second innings.

Squads: India: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv Patel, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Lokesh Rahul; South Africa: Faf du Plessis (Captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada. Duanne Olivier, Lungi Ngidi.

HYDERABAD WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018

Indian eves to fly early to SA Mumbai: The Indian Women's team is going to South Africa early, and skipper Mithali Raj, on Tuesday, said it would help the side to get used to the conditions there.

The women's squad will tour South Africa for a three-match ODI series, which starts at Kimberly on February 5, followed by a five-match T20 series beginning on February 13 at Potchefstroom. The team will fly on Wednesday.

Asked whether going early to South Africa will help, Mithali said here, "We had (also) gone early for the World Cup in England (last year) to get acclimatised.

"It helps (because) we try and organise practise games...get used to the bounce, because normally you don't get to see that bounce in subcontinental wickets and the lateral movement which we are probably expecting, because this time we are playing with two new balls," she told reporters.

"This is our first international tournament where we will be playing with two new balls. So it is important, we are going early so that we get used to these conditions," the 35-year-old batswoman added.

Coach Tushar Arothe echoed her views.

"We need to get acclimatised, that is very important, and are playing a couple of practise games before the first ODI. We went to the World Cup 10 days early....which helped us," Arothe said.

Incidentally, Indian men's team, currently on South Africa tour, has come in for criticism after losing the Test series for not having enough practise in those conditions.

Mithali concedes that the coming tour won't be easy.

"I would tell the young girls to start fresh, it is an important tour and it is not going to be easy,

Mithali Raj because we have played South Africa before, we have toured South Africa for the quadrangular series.”

"The South Africa team is a very good side and we have seen in the World Cup, they almost made it to the finals, so it's going to be competitive cricket and it will test each and every player," she said.

The Indian women's team rose to fame after ending as runners-up in the World Cup, but they have not played after that.

However, Mithali said the break helped them focus on fitness.

"See, before the World Cup, we have been busy with the qualifiers and the Quad-triangular series and the preparation for the World Cup, so its been a long season for us.”

"And after the World Cup, it was important for girls to recover, we had few injuries, ideally we as players would have preferred to have a continuation...but when you have injuries in the side, you need to recover and get back your fitness levels," she said.

She also said the girls were in match mode, as they have played enough domestic cricket, and also worked hard on fitness. "...they look agile and fit," she added.

Man United sign Sanchez London: Manchester United signed Chile forward Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in a swap deal with midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan after a protracted transfer saga finally ended on Monday.

The 29-year-old Sanchez, who was out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the season, has joined the Old Tra�ord club after local rivals Manchester City had pulled out of the race.

British media reported that Sanchez, who will wear United's iconic No. 7 shirt, has joined the club on a 41/2-year deal, while Arsenal announced that Armenia captain Mkhitaryan, who turned 29 on Sunday, had signed a long-term contract.

Sanchez said: "I am thrilled to be joining the biggest club in the world.

The chance to play in this historic stadium and to work with Jose Mourinho was something I could not turn down.

“Alexis is one of the best attacking players in the world and he will complete our very young and talented group of attacking players," said Mourinho.

He scored 80 goals in 166 appearances after the London club paid 35 million pounds ($48.83 million) for him in July 2014, and won the FA Cup in 2015 and 2017, scoring in both finals.

Alexis Sanchez

Manav, Archana bag hnours Durgapur: Archana Kamath and Manav Thakkar stole the limelight in the 11Sports 79th Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championships that concluded at the Sidhu Kanu Indoor Stadium here on Tuesday.Archana enjoyed a double while Thakkar won a triple.

Select Results: Junior girls Finals: Archana Kamath (PSPB) Surbhi Patwari (WB) 4-3; Semifinals: Surbhi Patwari bt Nikita Sarkar (NB) 12-10, 12-10, 11-7, 117; Archana Kamath bt Varuni Jaiswal (TS) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9; Junior Boys final: Jeet Chandra (PSPB) bt Manav

Thakkar (PSPB) 11-6, 4-11, 12-10, 11-4, 3-11, 11-9; Doubles final: Manav Thakkar-Chinmaya Somaiya bt SFR Snehit-Mohammad Ali (TS) 11-9, 12-10, 11-6; Youth Girls: Final: Archana Kamath bt Moumita Dutta 11-4, 911, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4; Youth Boys final: 4-0.

Md Ali-SFR Snehit from Telangana State flaunt their junior boys doubles silver medal in the National Junior and Youth National and inter-dist Championships in Durgapur (Right) Varuni Jaiswal with her Junior girls singles bronze. She lost to eventual champion Archana Kamath 1-4 in the semifinals. SnehitAli lost to Manav Thakkar- Sonya Chinmaya 0-3 in the finals.

Rajasthan stun Karnataka Kolkata: Pacer Deepak Chahar took five wickets as Rajasthan pulled o� an upset by beating the more fancied Karnataka by 22 runs in a Group A Super League clash of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament at the Jadavpur University campus ground here on Tuesday.

Chahar bagged career-best figures of 5/15 from four overs to skittle Karnataka out for 138 in 20 overs after Rajasthan posted 160/8 being put in to bat first.

For Karnataka -- who have a famed batting line-up only Aniruddha Joshi (73 not out) and K. Gowtham (13) -- could manage double-digit scores in a disappointing run chase.

With this win, Rajasthan have eight points from two games, while Karnataka remained winless after the same number of matches.

Batting first, Rajasthan's Aditya Garhwal (31) and Ankit Lamba

(58) gave their side a good start.

Lamba also added 67 runs for the second wicket with Salman Khan (20), but Rajasthan didn't find too many contributors after that as Karnataka skipper R.Vinay Kumar (2/29) and Sreenath Aravind (3/25) picked up the wickets to put a lid on their rivals' run flow.

The Rajasthan bowlers showed their intent from the very beginning as Lamba got rid of Karun Nair o� the fifth ball of the opening over.

Chahar then accounted for R.Samarth and the promoted Abhimanyu Mithun o� the fourth and fifth deliveries of his second over.

Chahar, who played a vital role in Rajasthan winning their opener against Jharkhand with an allround e�ort on Monday, was on a hat-trick once again in his third over as he removed C.M. Gautam and Stuart Binny o� the first two

Deepak Chahar deliveries, only to miss out again, but by then, Karnataka were reduced to 24/5 inside Powerplay.

Joshi defied the odds and kept Karnataka in the game with a scorching 45-ball 73 with three sixes and eight fours, but none of the other batsmen rose to the occasion.

In another Group B match at the same venue, Bengal recovered from a disappointing loss on Monday against Uttar Pradesh to snap Delhi's two-game winning run.

Bengal won by three runs riding Kanishk Seth's 3/25.

Chasing 171 for victory, Dhruv Shorey (84 o� 46 balls) racked up his second fifty on the trot hitting seven fours and four sixes but it was still not enough for the visitors.

Brief Scores: Rajasthan 160/8 (Ankit Lamba 58, Aditya Garhwal 31; Sreenath Aravind 3/25, Vinay Kumar 2/29) beat Karnataka 138 (Aniruddha Joshi 73 not out; Deepak Chahar 5/15, Chandrapal Singh 2/31); Bengal 170/6 (Sudip Chatterjee 51, Vivek Singh 32, Manoj Tiwary 25; Pradeep Sangwan 2/27, Kulwant Khejroliya 2/25) beat Delhi 167/8 (Dhruv Shorey 84, Lalit Yadav 45; Kanishk Seth 3/25, Sayan Ghosh 3/24).