The City Standard February 4th, 2019- 4th issue

PRAYAGRAJ

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PM visits Kumbh, Will Priyanka prove to be Mauritius wishes stronger ties with India game changer for Congress STAFF REPORTER

alliance. It wants to project that the party would utilise the experience of the old horses and make the young PRAYAGRAJ horses gallop in the field. Since 1990, A vast section of Congressmen is over the Congress had been urging her to the moon that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s entry into active politics is an ultimate Brahmastra and would prove to be a game changer for the Congress party.

One has to admit that Priyanka in terms of charisma has mass appeal though it is different and debateable issue as to what extent she can convert her charisma into votes. So far, she has been a backstage actor and strategist.

But with Sonia Gandhi having entered the phase of Nirvana and keeping in view her health conditions and the electoral battle this time becoming murkier by the day, Priyanka’s entry would certainly infuse some oxygen into the Congress which has just started regaining its lost ground. It is also a fact that Priyanka steals a march over enter active politics, but she had Rahul in terms of oratory skills.

She has perfected the art much better restrained herself to campaign and than Sonia Gandhi and Rahul and in played the role of backroom strategist. terms of mannerism she resembles Of course, this has also invited comIndira Gandhi more. It is also said that ments that at a time when Rahul like her grandmother, she is firm in her Gandhi who had kept former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on tenteropinion and a taskmaster.

The Congress hopes that with the hooks while dousing the prime ministeglossy image of Modi disappearing, rial ambitions of veterans like Pranab the charisma of Priyanka in Uttar Mukherjee and was being groomed as Pradesh would help the grand old party the next prime ministerial candidate, to meet the challenge of the SP-BSP introducing Priyanka on the political

scenario would affect the brand image of Rahul.

The BJP, which too, is not in a situation where it can claim that it would be a cakewalk for it in the elections, is try-

ing to put up a brave face saying that the Congress had no option but to bring her into active politics since no party in any State was willing for political alliance. In UP, the SP-BJP refused to give any space for the Congress. In Andhra Pradesh too, it is now official that there would be no alliance between the TDP and the Congress.

But then what the ruling party perhaps is trying to gloss over is that not having alliances in the States is itself a strategy

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Kolkata rally: Hamlet sans the Prince of Denmark KOLKATA Mamata Banerjee’s mega rally in Kolkata had one notable absentee. Although many in the Who’s Who of Opposition stalwarts graced the occasion, Rahul Gandhi was conspicuous by his absence.

While some like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who overcame his party’s deep animus against the Congress in Rahul’s company during the recent Assembly elections, was present along with the DMK’s M K Stalin, who had recently proposed the Congress president’s name for the Prime Minister’s post if and when the Opposition Mahagathbandhan won the general election, his hero was nowhere to be seen.

His place was taken by the Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge.

But the void was palpable. It was like staging ’Hamlet’ without the Prince of Denmark.

True, Mayawati was also absent with her confidant, Satish Mishra, representing her. But she has recently been following a temperamental line of her own, abruptly breaking off ties with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and seemingly dictating the terms for her alliance with the Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav in UP. She can hardly be regarded, therefore, as someone who is amenable in the matter of winning friends and influencing people. Moreover, given her background of alliances with the Bharatiya Janata Party

(BJP), there is always the fear that if she does not have her own way, she may cross over to the other side.

She may be a little more reliable at present than, say, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is acquiring the reputation

of being a fence-sitter par excellence. But her absence as well as that of Patnaik will lend substance to the BJP’s charge about the gathbandhans being no more than a messy khichdi or a motley combine.

It is possible that Rahul’s presence would have been an adequate riposte to the BJP’s jibe if only because, first, he has become a far more effective and aggressive speaker than in the past, who would have undoubtedly been a major attraction at the show.

And, secondly, because the Congress still carries the aura of a national party unlike any of the other participants even if, for all practical purposes, the 134-year-old patriarch of Indian

politics has become something of a regional outfit at present.

However, it is because the Congress has succeeded in picking itself up from the floor after its 2014 drubbing that the party has become the primary target of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism at virtually all his rallies while the BJP is no longer insisting on ushering in a Congress-mukt (free) India.

It is also possible that since the much-criticised Nehru-Gandhi dynasty was at the Congress’ helm during its heyday, Rahul’s presence would have recalled some of the memories of those days, at least for the ordinary people if not the chatterati.

Arguably, the Left parties might have decided to attend the rally if Rahul and Sonia Gandhi were present. The two dynasts would have also lent a lustre to the show and mostly been at the centre of television cameras.

It is not impossible that Mamata Banerjee’s objective in staging the rally was more to project herself than to act as a catalyst for forming a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties.

Her claim that the regional parties would be the BJP’s main opponent in the forthcoming general election was possibly a metaphor for her own ambitions about which her acolytes have been more vocal than the West Bengal Chief Minister herself.

But it is precisely this kind of a self-serving agenda which will play into the BJP’s hands and raise the spectre of opportunism being the guiding force of the national Opposition.

of the 23 parties which vow to oust the saffron party from power. Show your strength in your respective States and let us pool our seats after the election and select a leader who can lead the country is the strategy.

It would of course be na ve to think that the BJP does not know or understand this. All the moves it now proposes to take up, whether it be more sops in the vote on account budget to be introduced soon or the 10 EBC reservation which was passed in a hurry in Parliament are all aimed at dashing the dreams of the Opposition.

That is why the Gathbandhan is contemplating to announce 52 percent reservation for OBCs. It feels that this can neutralise the impact of the goodwill Modi might have won by bringing in the 10 percent reservation for EBCs. What is most interesting is that even Shiv Sena has welcomed the entry of Priyanka into active politics. The Sena MP in Lok Sabha Arvind Sawant said, "Everyone has a right to enter into politics and active politics. She has come, we welcome her, wish her the best. We don’t know why they have brought her and what’s going to happen."

Congress says, "We’re fired up & ready to go!" Let’s see how things shape up.

For the public, she has the imperial mien of Indira Gandhi coupled with her father Rajiv’s ease. This is in sharp contrast to her brother, who still seems uncomfortable with public life.

to Prayagraj after Varanasi was a unique spiritual experience for him, his wife and the delegation.

At Bade Hanuman Temple, he and his wife performed aarti in the presence of Mahant Narendra Giri, president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP).

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth visited Kumbh Mela and took a dip in the Ganga on Thursday and wished for stronger ties with India.

Accompanied by his wife Kobita Jugnauth, Jugnauth led a 25-member delegation from Mauritius visited Sangam, the Bade Hanuman temple and Kumbh’s newly developed integrated command and control centre in Prayagraj.

They also paid obeisance to the sacred Akshayvat, the immortal banyan tree located inside the Akbar Fort. They offered prayers at the Sangam nose and took a dip in the holy waters.

Urban Development Minister, Suresh Khanna, Commissioner, Dr. Ashish Goyal, ADG zone, SN Sabat, district magistrate, Suhas LY, SSP, Nitin Tiwari, Mela Adhikari, Vijay Kiran Anand, DIG/SSP Kumbh, KP Singh and other senior officials accompanied him during the trip.

From an outcast to demi-god Transgender leader an icon at Kumbh RAJEEV RANJAN MISHRA PRAYAGRAJ Dr. Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, who loves to be called as "Maa" has become icon at the Kumbh Mela, at Prayagraj.

Thronged by visitors in hordes daily at her tent inside the Akhara camp at Sector 14 on the sandy banks of TriveniSangam, she blesses one and all who get mesmerized by the very charm of her personality.

Her religious movement, called the Kinnar Akhada, became the first transgender group to take holy dip at Triveni-Sangam on the Makar Sankranti, the first of the five main bathing days of the over month long festival.

Talking to ’The City Standard’ Tripathi said "After centuries down the line, it was when the community finally got its due," adding that the wait was no doubt longer but it has finally come. She also expressed her gratitude towards Mahant Hari Giri, the secretary of the Akhara Parishd, with whose support Kinnar Akhada became a part of the Juna Akhara, having a

full separate identity within the Akhara.

Tripathi further says that whatever time she gets, she spends with her Lord so that He guides her in serving the mankind, adding that she had nothing to lose and that she has neither a family nor children hence she spends most of the time with the people who need her and whatever time is left she spends it with the Almighty.

On being asked whether she has any plans of coming into politics, Tripathi quipped, "the day when Indians will stop selling their votes, thereafter she will think of joining politics," adding her life is an open book and there is no blemish on it and that she wants to keep it like this only because the day if anyone pointed a even a finger towards her, then the utility of ’chola’ (pointing to her dress) will end.

When asked whether her misson is complete and that she is satisfied

with what she has achieved, the Mhamandaleshwar said that whatever she has done is for herself and her self respect and that if from this if her community gets benefited, what is the harm, adding that she is neither a social reformer nor a torch bearer. When asked as to what her future plans are she said "Change is the law of Nature and time has come for the society to change," adding that today in this male dominated society, people have become ’Chitragupt’ and they want to judge every one according to their likings which in turn leads to degradation.

Her wish is to bring equality in this society, where everyone gets due share.

Quoting from a ’Chaupai’ from the "Ramcharit Manas" of Goswami Tulsidas, Tripathi says that the place of

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STAFF REPORTER

Kumbh for visitors and devotees.

The Mauritius Prime Minister PRAYAGRAJ took a holy dip at Sangam at Prime Minister of Mauritius, Prayagraj Kumbh along with Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and his family and offered his his better half Kovita Jugnauth arrived at Prayagraj by boarding a special flight from Varanasi. Prime Minister of Mauritius arrived at Bamrauli airport, where he was accorded a rousing reception by Union Minister, General VK Singh, Urban Development Minister, Suresh Khanna, Tourism & Women Welfare Minister, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi. They were felicitated by ministers with angwastram (stole) and introduced to dignitaries, adminis- worship to Lord Hanuman. trative staff and top officials. After visiting Kumbh’s newly Mauritius PM meticulously developed Integrated observed the Kumbh Command Control Centre he Integrated Command & returned to New Delhi. He Control Centre at the office of visited the Kumbh after Prayagraj Mela Authority. attending the 15th Pravasi Commissioner, Dr. Ashish Bharatiya Divas at Varanasi.

Goyal & ADG zone, SN Sabat He also interacted with mediagave detailed information persons and expressed gratiabout control process, which tude towards Prime Minister is being carried out in a sys- Narendra Modi. He thanked tematic & organised way for the Indian government and ensuring vigilance in every Prime Minister Narendra step of the way. Prime Modi for inviting him as a Minister of Mauritius, Pravind chief guest of the 15th edition Kumar Jugnauth applauded of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas the arrangements, utilization in Varanasi. of cutting edge technology, Jugnauth appreciated the security apparatus for ensur- arrangements made for the ing safe and memorable Kumbh mela and said coming

Kinnars in Indian culture dates back to the Ramayana. As per the epic, Ram is exiled from the holy city of Ayodhya, with the entire kingdom following him into the forest. He orders them to turn back, but returning after 14 years, finds the Kinnars waiting for him in the same spot. Impressed by their devotion, he grants them the power to invoke blessings and curses on people.

It is worth mentioning that for centuries, though their lives were far from easy and many people now cheer Tripathi for reclaiming the lost place in Hinduism for India’s ’third gender’, known as the hijras, worshipped as demi-gods for thousands of years, but ridiculed and side-lined during British colonial rule.

A law passed in 1871 classed the hijras as ’criminals’. Little changed after Independence and hijras were pariahs, living in tribes, begging or soliciting for sustenance and harassed by police. It was only in 2014 that the Supreme Court officially recognised transgender people as a third gender.Tripathi is one of the best known and she continues to carry forward her mission, unmoved by the obstructions and hasles coming in her march.

RAJEEV RANJAN MISHRA

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PRAYAGRAJ After the conclusion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Varanasi, the emigrants took a trip to the ongoing largest human congregation ’Kumbh Mela’ in Prayagraj on Thursday. Pravasi Bharatiya delegates were swept off the floor after coming across the unique arrangements by the authorities for their visit. The exceptional grandeur and ambience of Kumbh caught them off guard and they were all praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for going an extra mile in ensuring a pleasurable and memorable journey for PBD delegates in every step of the way. "Arrangements made by the government are fantastic", they claimed and said, "Social and religious harmony and spirit of tolerance are laudable."

"I experiencing peace, bliss and happiness at Kumbh," said a PBD delegate from Washington, America. His counterpart from South Africa said, "Ghats are very attractive, beautiful, mesmerising and clean. Lighting arrangements are also attractive." He also lauded

transport, lodging and other arrangements.

"India’s unity in diversity is unique.

Special occasion of Kumbh and worship practices always attract us. We have keen interest in concepts of Dhyan, Atma and Parmatma," opined another delegate and gave ’very good’ remark for arrangements at Prayagraj Kumbh.

They were given a warm welcome at Tent City at Kumbh. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas guests have been given accommodation for stay at four tent cities namely Indraprastha, Vedika, Kumbham and Agaman in sector 20 at Prayagraj Kumbh. Elaborate security arrangements were in place. They visited Sanskriti Gram and Kala gram to observe the Indian arts and crafts. They also visited Sangam, Akshaya Vat, Saraswati Koop and Bade Hanuman Temple. Visiting PBD guests expressed happiness at the arrangements including security arrangements. They have also appreciated the government’s decision to club the PBD with Kumbh and Republic Day ceremonies.

During interaction with mediapersons, Dr. Krishna Kumar from New York, Rashmi Sharma of Singapore, Sudhir Gupta of Germany, Ravi Kumar

Narayan of Qatar, Suryanand Mitwa and Devant Ques of Mauritius, Acharya Pravin Kumar of United Kingdom, Pravin Kumar Khanna of New Zeeland

Minister of State External Affairs Minister General VK Singh on Thursday turned a tourist guide for the emigrants and held the mike while guid-

and others praised the security arrangements and the efforts by government to preserve traditional, spiritual and cultural legacy and ethos of India. They concluded their visit by exclaiming that they are experiencing heaven on earth after visiting Kumbh.

ing and briefing them about the importance of ’Kumbh’.

PBD Convention tweeted, "It’s over to @PrayagrajKumbh! After the successful conclusion of #PBD2019, the Pravasis travel to take dip in the Ganges at the #KumbhMela, which has been

inscribed on the list of ’Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ by @UNESCO in 2017".

"It’s a unique spiritual experience for me", exclaimed an overjoyed Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth who visited Kumbh mela, along with Pravasi Bharatiya delegation on Thursday. He thanked the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting him as the chief guest of the 15th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Varanasi.

Accompanied by his wife Kovita Jugnauth, PM Jugnauth took achman (intake of sip of water before puja) at Sangam. He performed puja as per Tamil culture and prayed to Ganga Maiya for stronger ties between Mauritius and India.

While addressing the media at the Sangam venue, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this unique and memorable get-together. The Mauritian Prime Minister was on a daylong visit to Prayagraj. This visit will convey the message of Divya Kumbh and Bhavya Kumbh to the Indians living abroad.

The delegation after attending Pravasi Bharatiya Divas sammelan at Varanasi,

came to Kumbh to have a glimpse of the glory and grandeur of the divine Kumbh. The honoured guests said they were very happy to visit their homeland. One of the guests said that although they are residing abroad yet their roots are in India. They lauded the arrangements made by government and administration and said for the first time they have seen amazing views of the Kumbh. They felt blessed to be part of the grand and divine Kumbh. All the NRIs were overwhelmed by the VIP treatment which they have received and added: "We will miss India, its festivals and the enormous hospitality extended by the hosts."

On Thursday, morning the delegation reached the Kumbh region by bus and they were the first group to arrive in the Mela. They were welcomed by General V.K Singh, Foreign Minister of State, Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh, Rita Bahuguna Cabinet Minister UP, Commissioner Dr. Ashish Goyel. They were presented a rose and shawl accompanied by the chanting of mantras. The artistes were dressed up in traditional attire of all the states and presented songs and cultural programmes in honour of the visiting guests.

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PBD delegates applauded unique grandeur & ambience of Kumbh

MY CITY

The City Standard

Random Thoughts : RAMBLER WHILE GOING TO RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN IN ‘BUGGEY”

What Rajan Babu must have thought on 26th Jan 1950 Free India has crossed another land-

mark. Two days ago the nation once again took pride in celebrating yet another Republic Day. We are among the very few nations in the east which have been able to preserve their democratic heritage. We have been religiously and faithfully safeguarding our precious Constitution ever since it came into force on January 26, 1950.This is no mean an achievement if we glance at the plight of our neighbouring countries which have been passing through one phase of uncertainty into another, changing or overthrowing their constitutions to suit the whims and fancies of the usurpers Times might have changed, our values and priorities might have undergone transformation but this is because steady progress, step by step, has ushered in changes that come when a nation passes from one era

the motherland which had immensely pained the Mahatma, the fasts unto death that the Father of the Nation undertook to uphold the secular character of the nation – and then his assassination that shook the world.

Rajan Babu must have thought of all these things and many more while the horses were slowly pulling his carriage and tapping through the streets echoing with the shouts of cheering crowds. Those cheers must have brought him to the present. He must have then pondered: ‘Today we step into a new world, our very own world, breaking the last links with the British crown. What do the people expect of us ? What will be the India of tomorrow ? Will it be freed from the clutches of poverty ? Will it be freed from the shackles of untouchability ? Will it be rescued from the deadly embrace of illiteracy, casteism and

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

Exhibition & cultural prog

by Info Dept adding charm to grandeur of Kumbh STAFF REPOTER PRAYAGRAJ The grand exhibition set up by Uttar Pradesh Information & Public Relation Department is a rage among visitors and located between Ganga Manch and International Media Centre in sector 1. Apart from information department, there are stalls of 20 other departments that are spreading the message on welfare schemes and development works initiated by the government. Welfare schemes and achievements of the government are exhibited prominently right from the entrance gate. Information Department is also holding photo exhibition, where life journey of father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and Bharat Ratna, late AtalBihari Vajpayee are exhibited in tiles in an attractive way and continuously arousing the curiosity of visitors to the hilt.

Ministry of Environment & Water Resources is displaying an exhibition on climate change and aims to educate people on how to ensure ecosystem balance.

Statues carved on the topic of 'Earth Fever' are the cynosure of every eye and visitors indulge in taking selfies at these points. Moreover, livelihood mission, skill development department, transport department, UP NEDA, MandiParishad, Child development & Woman Welfare, Horticulture, industrial development & business education and other departments have set up their stalls.

Thousands of people are getting benefitted everyday.

Information about Aadhar Card and voter ID cards can be obtained through the stalls of concerned departments.

Exercise cum flour mill cycle by Sagar Tools & Machinery Noida has set tongues wagging and attracting every head that comes across it. The one-of-its-kind cycle has been put on display in the exhibition set up by Horticulture & Food Processing Department. The cycle enables users to cycle and perform flour processing simultaneously. The exhibition set up by Prison Department is selling products made by jail inmates.

Livelihood Rural Express has set up an exhibition which displays products of different self-help groups.

Visitors & buyers are thronging the exhibition in large numbers at cheap and economical rates. Variety is the spice of life and buyers have plethora of options to zero in on best products on display.

Indian Army’s many first in this R-Day Parade

ADITYA SINGH PRAYAGRAJ In this 70th Republic Day there will be many first- display in this parade on 26th January.

From newly acquired weapons to women contingents and lady officers marching the parade.

This year, Army will be showcasing its two newly acquired artillery guns, the M 777 and K 9 Vajra. The M777 is the Ultra lightweight Field Howitzer (UFH) acquired from America, with the firing range of 30 kms, the gun is extremely light and easy to transport. It has proved its mettle in Afghanistan war, Iraq War, Syrian war etc. Another gun Army will be showcasing is K 9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzer, a heavy gun, a South Korean gun, built by L&T in India.

Besides the guns, DRDO will also be showcasing its two new equipments for the first time, Akash, a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defence system, and Arjun Armoured Recovery and Repair

Vehicle based of MBT Arjun platform.

Another Army equipment "Surface Mine Cleaning System" will be shown for the first time.

Indian Airforce will flypast over Rajpath with its An-32 transport aircraft flying on bio fuel for the first time. The four veterans of Indian National Army will participate in the Parade for the first time.

Besides equipments, the parade will be showcasing the women power as well. For the first time, whole women contingent of Assam Rifles, India's oldest paramilitary force will be led by Maj Khushboo Kanwar.

In another display a contingent of Army Service Corps (ASC) comprising of 144 men will lead by women officer Lt. Bhavana Kasturi for the first time.

In another first, Capt Shikha Surabhi, she will perform a stunt by standing on a moving motorcycle, as a part of Army dare devils motorcycle team, comprising of 33 men riding on nine bikes formation. She will salute R- Day chief guest South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Guiding people through yoga and meditation : Pilot Baba OUR CORRESPONDENT PRAYAGRAJ

into another and then into another and so on. But the basic structure of our constitution, our determination, our patriotism remain the same. We want to carry forward India to higher and still higher heights of glory. And this would not have been possible had not our preceding generations striven hard and made enormous sacrifices so that we of the next generation may reap the fruits of their endeavours.

We have to live up to their expectations and justify the trust they reposed in us by denying themselves of the bare necessities of life so that we of the coming generations may not undergo the sufferings they had borne for the unborn generations.

On Jabuary 26, 1950, when India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad left his abode for the parade in his slow-moving horse-driven carriage, the world was a slow-moving place. While stepping into the Victoria or the Buggey as that multiple-horse-driven carriage was known, Dr Prasad must have covered the distance by recalling the hectic days of India’s freedom struggle. He might have thought of the 1857 War of Independence fought under the leadership of the deposed Moghul Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. Images of several leaders who took part in that great fight must have flitted across his mental eye. Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, Mangal Pandey, Tantia Tope, Nana Sa’ib, Maulvi Liaquat Ali of Allahabad and so many others who laid down their lives so that we may breathe in free India. He must have thought of Hume, the founder of the Congress Party, of Swami Vivekanand, Annie Besent, Lokmanya Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ravindra Nath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, He must have thought of the days of General Dyer who fired at a holiday crowd on Baisakhi day in Jallianwala Bagh, killing hundreds of men, women and children. He must have thought of the humiliation inflicted by the British when they made people crawl on their bellies in Amritsar and there was ‘No vakil, no appeal, no daleel’ to rescue them. And then Rajan Babu’s heart must have been moved when the thought of the Mahatma might have crossed his mind, the thought of the division of

superstition? Will it ensure liberty, equality and fraternity for each and every citizen of India ? Will justice reach every doorstep ? Will Press be free, bold, objective and without any fetters and conditions, seen or unseen, by the powers that be? He must have thought about education and health of the famished people undergoing a drastic change for the better ? Will we evolve into a truly democratic state wedded to the ideals of human freedom, ensuring for the citizens the right to live in peace without the fear of exploitation, subjugation and torture and without being haunted by the fear of casteism and communalism? Will India indeed bring about a revolution in the agrarian sector ? Will we be able to usher in the India of Mahatma Gandhi’s dreams ? These questions might have struck Rajan Babu before he reached the hallowed spot to take the salute.

But it has been left to us to answer those questions.

Have we lived up to the expectations of the freedom fighters and transformed our pre-independence pledges into reality ? We have to analyse where we succeeded and where we went wrong. In fact both the positive and the negative sides marched forward hand in hand, sometimes the race tilting in favour of the former and sometimes in favour of the latter. But we must not forget that since we cannot live in isolation in a world undergoing transformation at a brisk pace, we have been influenced by international events, global pressures and constraints imposed by the prevailing circumstances in any given era.

But the best thing is that we have continued to march forward, the hurdles not- withstanding. And, God willing, we will continue to do so irrespective of the threratening postures of the neighboring countries. All that we can say is –to quote the Urdu couplet which Mamata Banerjee recited at the Kolkota rally the other day and which used to be the introductory verse eloquently recited after the start of every film of Producer-director Mehboob, the creator of that classic, ‘Mother India’—

‘Muddai lakh bura chahe to kya hota hai, Vohi hota haia jo manzoore-khuda hota hai’

India one of the oldest cultures of the world holds in its bossom the wisdom of spiritual science and awareness of Human Life. Many saints and sages over the years came forward and offered their services in various forms to uplift the mankind.

Mahayogi Pilot Baba ( Kapil Adwait) is one such renowned name world over and known for his expertise over science of Samadhi. A fighter pilot transformed into a Spiritual Master itself is a testimony to his achievements. His main purpose being world peace through Science of Samadhi and meditation, through thought power. Radiation of thoughts through mantra by which one can change the chemistry of the body.

Hailing from Sasaram , Bihar, Mahayogi Pilot Babaji's work domain became the whole world. Through his severe penance in Pindari

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Glacier and other places he explored himself. His oneness with Universe , oneness with nature the ultimate Divine.

Blessed by his Guru revered Hari Babaji and other masters in his lineage, Wg. Cdr. Kapil Singh, left Indian Airforce, though having fought 1965, 1971 ,NEFA wars and earning laurels too. Having served the country , the destiny chose him to be a more great warrior and crusader by serving the humanity through the sacred science of Samadhi.

Since 1980 Mahayogi Pilot Baba has been guiding people all over the world, through yoga and meditation for peace and transformation of energy. Transformation of Body and mind. How people can transform through the power of will. It is indeed a blessing that this Divine saint is part of this holy congregation at Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. Saints have their own way of imparting the blessings, need not be in words.

They work in silence and make things happen. So a rare moment to seek their blessings on this Divine event.

KinnarAkhara to build ashram in Alld PRAYAGRAJ KinnarAkhara had announced that it will set up an ashram in the city, according to a statement issued here by the Ministry of Culture. The group, which had attended the Ujjain Kumbh in 2016, have been taking part in the holy baths at the KumbhMela this year along with the other akharas. "Transgenders were badly exploited in the society and even their parents were forced to live a disgraceful life. Transgenders have been part of SanatanDharm and they have been given respectful status in religious epics and books of Hindu mythology. The Akhara has provided a forum to transgenders to pursue a dignified life with religious rituals. We will build an ashram at Prayagraj," Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Lakshmi Narayanan Tripathi, the chief of the KinnarAkahara has been quoted as saying in the statement. He said the JunaAkhara, a traditional and powerful akhara, has given the recognition to KinnarAkhara and has allowed it to be a part of the ShahiSnan. Tripathi expressed gratitude towards the chiefs of JunaAkhara.

Yogmata Keiko Aikawa- Saint form the land of the 'Rising Sun' OUR CORRESPONDENT PRAYAGRAJ Prayagraj: The spiritual wisdom and knowledge of India has been attracting people all over the world from time immemorial. History has such enormous examples when foreigners came to India in quest of such knowledge. Yogmata Keiko Aikawa, the Spiritual Master, who is and has been guiding people world over through her knowledge and wisdom of meditation, Yoga even Samadhi, hails from the sun rising country, none other than Japan. Guru sister of Mahayogi Pilot Baba, she was initiated in India by Himalayan Master Hari Babaji.

Women have contributed lot to the world.

Almost in every field. However the very first vital role of a female which comes to our mind is in the form of MOTHER. Who inculcates every value, every wisdom in its child. Yogmata Keiko Aikawa or 'Yogmata' as she is known in India and world over by her disciples is such Universal Mother, who has been sharing her love to millions through Yoga, meditation. Her spiritual practices which have been intense in India have guided women all over world with the science of Prakriti and Purusha. With science of Samadhi.

This earth is combination of both, Prakriti and Purusha, the male and the female energy. So as Prakriti how much a female is empowered to create, to maintain balance in the universal working. To create peace and harmony is what she guides. It is not essential for a female to live and move on as a male entity. Not be exploited and not exploit either.

Women being bestowed with the energy of love and compassion, or creation and balancing power, Yogmata has been experimenting and sharing this wisdom with the world over.

She has taken Samadhi ( bhommigat Samadhi - underground Samadhi) in various Kumbh Mela.

When Kumbh Mela occured in Prayagraj in year 2007 , she took boomigat samadhi. She was invited by United Nations in year 2017 and 2018 to speak and share her experiences of this sacred science at International Portal. It is indeed a special moment that she is again part of this Divine event KUMBH MELA - 2019 at Prayagraj. Here to receive the ever flowing Divine grace and again impart it world over.

MY CITY

The City Standard

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

3

POLITICS & RELIGION AT PLAY

Political organizations propagating ideology via Kumbh CHIEF REPORTER PRAYAGRAJ Apart from being the largest spiritual gathering in the world, the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, given the footfall and media attention it attracts from across the world, is also a grand platform for political discourse. While outfits promoting Hindutva politics have had a regular presence at the Kumbh Mela, other parties, like the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, have also pitched their camps at the site to spread their politics among the pilgrim crowds.

A cut-out poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, put up barely 50 metres from the Sangam ghat, is a popular selfie point for visitors. According to reports, the Yogi Adityanath government has planned a cabinet meeting at the mela district on 29 January, where all Uttar Pradesh ministers will discuss the religious and cultural issues of the state.

If the Mahakumbh 2013 witnessed Hindutva outfits drawing a consensus on the then Gujarat chief minister, Narendra Modi, as the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on their agenda this time is to push the long-standing political disputes tied to religious sentiments towards a conclusion.

Dedicated to dharma, no time for chai: Among the busiest political camps at the Ardh Kumbh Mela 2019 is that of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), located at Sector 6 of the mela district, with a frequent crowd of seers and office bearers. Saffron-clad VHP workers occupying mattresses laid out in tents can be seen engaged in preparations for visits of prominent office-bearers from across the country, who come to propagate the outfit's mission.

VHP groundworkers never doubt their mission. "Yahan hum

dharma prachar ke liye hain.

Hamare paas baakiyon ki tarah chai peete hue dhoop sekne ka samay nahi hai (We are here for religious campaigning. We don't have the time to sip on hot tea while soaking in the winter sun like others)," said a VHP activist from the nearby Pratapgarh district.

Sabarimala, Ayodhya at Prayagraj: On the occasion of Paush Purnima on 21 January, Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat visited the Ardh Kumbh and held discussions with VHP office-bearers, apart from meeting heads of various akharas and ashrams. The chief ministers from the two BJP-ruled states also expressed their opinions on the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. While Rawat said the temple should be constructed as per the wishes of seers, Khattar called it a "social problem" that should not be politicised. He said the dispute could be resolved either through mutual understanding among all stakeholders, or through a Supreme Court ruling. Chief ministers from other BJP-ruled states are also expected to visit the Kumbh Mela.

Moreover, preparations are on for a two-day Dharma Sansad (religious parliament) of seers and leaders starting from 31 January, which will have chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagwat, among other dignitaries, in attendance.

VHP workers organised a meeting of the pranyasi mandal (trustees) on 17 January, where the agenda for the Dharma Sansad was finalised. Prominent among this agenda is the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which hasn't seen much headway in the past four and a half years of the BJP government, despite the VHP organising a Dharma Sansad in Ayodhya on 25 November last

year.

Expansion of the organisation and construction of the Ram Temple at Ram Janmabhoomi have been put down to be the main points of discussion at the Dharma Sansad, according to VHP general secretary Milind Parande. "We will discuss the out-

the Sabarimala movement and look for ways to tackle conspiracies against the Hindu community," Parande said, adding that talks will be held on extending the activities of the VHP in Europe and Latin American countries.

Nonchalance at Socialists' camp: The Samajwadis intend to

Janeshwar Mishra is circulated at the camp, party workers can be seen engaged in discussions on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

SP spokesperson Dan Bahadur Singh said their purpose is to make pilgrims arriving at the camp aware of Socialist thinking

Expansion of the organisation and construction of the Ram Temple at Ram Janmabhoomi have been put down to be the main points of discussion at the Dharma Sansad

Ram temple model on display at VHP Shivir. come of the two-month-long awareness programme on the temple and frame a strategy in this regard."

Another critical religious issue that the VHP cadre at Ardh Kumbh are eager to politicise is the Sabarimala conundrum.

"We cannot keep ourselves aloof from the happenings in Kerala. So we will also delve into

mobilise the intellectual class of the city through a 'Samajwadi Chintan Shivir' at Tulsi Marg in the mela area. Their comparatively smaller camp sports a banner displaying photographs of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. While literature on the ideas of party idols Ram Manohar Lohia and

"as propagated by Ram Manohar Lohia". They plan to host discussions on the thoughts and ideals of Lohia by inviting intellectuals, academicians, senior citizens and youngsters to the 49-day fair.

The tradition of a Samajwadi camp at the Kumbh Mela was initiated by late SP leader Janeshwar Mishra, also known as 'Chhote Lohia'.

However, SP workers have yet to connect with the pilgrims visiting the fair. Their camp is more of a hang-out for veteran Socialist thinkers who had been associated with Raj Narain, Jayaprakash Narayan and Janeshwar Mishra, as they reminisce their days of yore.

"JP Narayan gave me the title of 'Neti'. The present generation knows me by this name," Narayan Kunj Bihari Agnihotri, an aged Socialist thinker from Pratapgarh, said as he chatted at the SP camp with octogenarian Ratan Lal Pushpjivi and septuagenarian Anant Bahadur, both Socialist veterans from Madhya Pradesh.

An equally desolated camp is that of the Congress Sewa Dal, an affiliate of the Congress party, at Sector 15 of the mela district. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, Sewa Dal members had offered tea to all visitors, which drew some attention. Pilgrims, or others at the Kumbh Mela who are just curious, often peep into the tents and clear their doubts with the workers.

"Yeh toh door door se kisi party ka tent nahi lagta hai. Nehru ke ghar mein inka ye haal hai (This does not look like a political party's camp even from a distance. This is the state of affairs of the party in Nehru's hometown," said Pankaj Singh, a 40year-old pilgrim from Patna.

Mukti Koli, a farmer from the trans-Yamuna area of Koraon at Prayagraj, who was helped by Sewa Dal workers, comments on their lacklustre camp: "I think the Congress either doesn't have funds, or it just does not utilise them at the right place."

Uttar Pradesh Congress committee spokesperson Kishore Varshney claimed the Congress Sewa Dal has been setting up camps at the Kumbh Mela since before Independence to help and guide pilgrims. "On the first day,

Beautification of Prayagraj: City junctions & streets get new look Kumbh Mela, the painting has transformed the entire look of the city, even Kumbh Mela is over, and the city will continue to look bright.

The theme of street painting is based Gods and Sadhus, while the theme of art pieces is diverse. Not only this, the newly built junctions has also solved the problem of traffic to some extent, and also keeps the commuter's stress level down due to its beautiful sculptures mounted over it. There are

ADITYA SINGH PRAYAGRAJ The streets of Prayagraj have become a canvas for artists many Indian personalities, Gods and Goddesses are being painted across the city. Attractive ArtPieces are erected over the new "chaurahas" and "tiraharas" (Junctions) of the city, making it beautiful. The initiative is being supported by the "Prayagraj Mela Pradhikaran" of the Uttar Pradesh Government, to beautify the city

before the onset of Kumbh 2019; many junctions were reconstructed and modified. Most of the new junctions built are mounted with new art pieces.

The painting and art pieces have become very popular among visitors and locals, from railway station to the route to the main venue of the

Yogi to hold cabinet meeting at Kumbh, ministers to also take holy dip at Sangam PRAYAGRAJ

Cabinet meeting, the ministers are also expected to The banks of Sangam take a dip in the holy at Prayagraj has more to Ganga. offer to devotees than just The meeting will be a holy dip in the held in a makeshift 'Swiss ongoingKumbhMela as tent' on the grounds where Chief Minister Yogi the Kumbh is being organised. Earlier, Allahabad had hosted a cabinet meeting.

That the meeting would be held at Kumbh was confirmed by Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, which is being done in order to bring the mega event to the notice of people all over the world, the report said.

Thousands of devotees took the holy dip Adityanath plans to hold on Monday on the event of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet 'PaushPoornima'. meeting for the first time in Kumbh, regarded as the city where the Ganga, the world's largest religious Yamuna and Saraswati gatherings, where crores of rivers' confluence. people come to take a dip According to a report, at the holy confluence of the meeting could be held Ganga and Yamuna to on either January 29 or 'wash off their sins', was February 4, when the 53included in the list of day KumbhMela culmi'Intangible Cultural nates on Mahashivratri.

Heritage of Humanity' by Interestingly, after the UNESCO in 2017.

our workers helped show the path to pilgrims. We also re-united several aged by taking them to the lost and found camp," Varshney said, also claiming that 3,000 workers had been roped in on the orders of party president Rahul Gandhi. Contrary to the BJP, no top rung Congress leaders have visited the Sewa Dal camp yet.

BSP away from Manuwadi politics: A banner with images of the BJP's national and the regional stars, Modi and Adityanath, on either side welcomes visitors at the party's camp at Sector 6, close to the VHP camp. On the first day of the Kumbh Mela, the BJP camp was a busy one, with Union ministers Smriti Irani, Uma Bharti and Sadhvi Niranjana visiting the fair. The activity here mostly involves party workers and leaders, while pilgrims and tourists only interact to seek directions.

Only one party with a strong presence in the state has stayed away from the mela district - the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). This is because it believes that such an event should not be allowed to serve as a platform to promote politics.

RK Gautam, BSP zonal president for Allahabad-Varanasi, explains why: "We are against Manuwadi thinking, so we never set up camps at such religious places to avoid confrontation. The BSP, too, wants the fair to be completed successfully, but the way the BJP is trying to hijack it by mixing religion with politics is a matter of concern."

The central and state governments have together pumped in Rs 4,236 crore to organise the Ardh Kumbh 2019, more than double the budget allocated for Mahakumbh 2013. While the impact of the massive spending is evident in the beautification and infrastructure development across Prayagraj, the mela website this time looks more like a promotional page for the saffron leadership.

Products designed by master artisans on display at handicraft exhibition STAFF REPORTER PRAYAGRAJ

many pillars in this project to highlight the cultural diversity and heritage of Uttar Pradesh and Prayagraj, religious, spiritual and scientific connotation of the Kumbh.

Some of the most pop-

ular portrait and sculptures are, painted "Samudhra Manthan" at Civil Lines flyover, an art-piece of an astronaut made up of recycled vehicle parts at one of the crossing near Civil Lines. Portraits of Lord Shiva, Harivansh Rai Bachan, and of Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the wall with few lines from one of his poems, a retired aircraft of the Air Force, HPT 32 mounted in a takeoff attitude on a crossing near Kutchery Road, and three concentric cylinders painted in tricolour on a crossing near Hira Halwai sweets.

KumbhMela co-ordinator, NP Singh informed that Development Commissioner (Handicraft), Textile Ministry, Government of India organised 'Rashtriya Shilp Mela' (National Craft Fair) in sector 6, BharadwajMarg (adjacent to Chota Bagadha), in which, sales & exhibition of unique handicraft products from different states is continuing unabated. Shilp Mela kicked off on January 19 and culminates on February 2. It remains open for visitors from 11.00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visitors can avail free bus facility from Balson Crossing to Shilp Mela ground.

Mela co-ordinator informed that Madhubani Painting, products made from stick & bamboo of Assam, art metal ware product of Rajasthan, silver piggery product of Orissa, stick & bamboo product of Tripura, hand printed textile of Kerala, traditional stole of AlmoraUttarakhand, patch work of Manipur, conch shell of Tamil Nadu, paintings of Maharashtra, embroidery, stole &kochhi goods of Jammu & Kashmir, incense stick product, leather craft product of HaridwarUttarakhand, carpet of Badohi, textile hand printing products of Ghaziabad are highly popular among visitors. Products designed by artisans who have several years of experience under their belt are a rage among visitors.

At peace in the madding crowd: Taking a holy dip at Kumbh CHIEF REPORTER

elements of the great Indian circus that evoke curiosity among the visiPRAYAGRAJ tors. Jaadugars displaying their myriad tricks, astrologers predicting It is the largest spiritual, cultur- the future to a gathering and medial and religious congregation of its cine sellers attracting customers by kind and attracts crores of devotees from India and abroad at the Sangam - the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and the mythical Saraswati. The historic city of Praygaraj, which was recently renamed from Allahabad, is witnessing the coming together of saints, seers and devotees in numbers that can blind the human eye.

Everywhere in the city, from its by-lanes to the bathing ghats, all one can see is devout believers headed in one direction. Upon arriving in the city, the first sights are those of folks arriving from the rural regions of the country. Their sheer belief in the faith they practise resonates from their eyes like vapour arising from a snow-clad mountain in the morning sky, lulling the environment of the city in a spiritual mood.

As you walk down the road that leads to the Sangam, you will encounter thousands of people, wearing different costumes, talking enthusiastically speaking into their in different languages and chanting microphones, are the sights that prayers as they walk. The city has keep one company in the long walk itself been decorated to welcome to the river bank. the visitors.

As the river makes its appearPaintings, depicting scenes ance in the distant horizon, numerfrom ancient Indian scriptures, ous sadhus and mystics, in their adorn the walls along the roads and myriad avatars, are seen in their the underpasses. And then there are respective tents. They have all gath-

ered at the banks of the river and these holy men display their unusual practices in full glory.

Seated at one of the tents near the pontoon bridges that lead the visitors to Sangam, for example, is a

ie stick attached to a smartphone.

His appearance, in his own words, signifies the meeting of mythology and technology.

Along the way to the Sangam, several temples make their appear-

holy man showing off his nearly three-metre long moustache, which he claims to have grown over a decade. Dozens of devotees throng his tent. Some seek photographs and selfies.

Barely a few steps away from him is "Selfie Baba", clad in a spiritual attire and equipped with a self-

ances, with a distinct 'bhajan' playing in each of them. The visitors are offered 'prasad' at several of them, before they finally reach the destination.

The very sight of Sangam is refreshing; its water clean, for a change, and despite the huge crowd, it somehow seems to accommodate

all. For safety, personnel have been deployed on the bathing ghats and ropes demarcting the bathing areas can be seen. The water level in most permissible areas is mild and there is a rope for visitors to hold on to while they take the holy dip.

It's a sight worth seeing - and an experience worth living. All tensions that inflict the human mind seem to lose their relevance the moment one goes full-body-down under the holy water, which, according to the legends, opens the doors to heaven. The icy-cold water sends jitters through the nerves but its impact is felt only for a few seconds. By the time one rises out, both the sensation of the chilly winter and the cold water is gone.

Opening one's eyes after the holy dip introduces one to a world slightly different than the one before. The picture is more clear, the sounds more vibrant, and the mind so peaceful: call it the impact of the churlish chidings of the winter's wind or a divine force at play but there is surely something extraordinary that the devout undergo after the holy dip.

The chants of "HarHarMahadev" and "HarHarGange" resonate in the air as one steps out and offers a prayer to the Sun god.

It is worth noting that the holy dip is symbolical of a new beginning: the devotees seek forgiveness for their errors and make a fresh start after it.

CITIFIED

The City Standard

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

GM/NCR & Employees Union hold PNM meeting

Chaudhry lauds staff for completing Kumbh Mela works within target time STAFF REPORTER PRAYAGRAJ PRAYAGRAJ: Today the first day of the two-day meeting of the Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM) between GM/NCR and Union (NCRES) was held in NCR/HQ in Subedarganj, Allahabad. The meeting began with a formal welcome of all present by the Principal Chief Personnel Officer, NishaTewari. She said that PNM forum is an excellent opportunity by which the problems and issues of staff can be collectively solved.

She thanked NCRES for the positive role played by the union in solving employee issues in partnership with the administration.

She also informed that the 'Nirakaran' mechanism established at the Zonal and Divisional level was working efficiently to resolve the grievances and problems of railway staff, with 5930 grievances out of the 6270 received since their establishment standing successfully resolved. She thanked the NCRES for always providing constructive and positive support to the administration in its efforts to create a zerogrievance environment in the zone.

After the welcome, GM/NCR, Rajiv Chaudhry addressed the PNM. Welcoming the Zonal President, Zonal General Secretary and Office bearers of NCRES to the meeting, he said that due to the hard work and dedication of the staff, works of permanent nature costing 440 Crore pertaining to the KumbhMela were completed within target time,

which are serving the KumbhMela Passengers now and, which will continue to serve the passengers coming to Prayagraj in future also.

He praised the employees of NCR, in particular those of the RPF, for the discipline and dedication exhibited by them in the management of the KumbhMela 2019. He went on to say that in the past year NCR has made notable progress in all fields, the credit of which goes to the hard work and commitment of railway employees and that NCR railway administration has always received cooperation from NCRES. Praising the same he expressed the hope that such cooperation would be continued in future also. Talking about the achievements of NCR in the past one year, GM NCR informed the PNM that compared to previous Financial Year, in this Financial Year (upto December 2018) there has been an improvement of 11.4% in loading. In order to check the menace of ticketless travelling, special drives were launched, as a result of which, from April to November 2018, 15.14 lakh irregular/ticketless passengers were apprehended and a penalty of Rs 76.83 Crore was realized from them, which is 6.84% more than the corresponding period of the last Financial Year.

He also informed that 147 Automatic Ticket Vending Machines have been installed at various important stations of the NCR, in order to enable

passengers to purchase unreserved tickets without having to stand in queues. Speaking on the cleanliness aspect, he said that 'Swachhta' has been taken up in a mission mode in NCR, and, as a result, till December 2018, 1121 Coaches have been equipped with Biotoilets along with a visible and appreciable

improvement in the level of cleanliness at the stations of NCR. Speaking about important measures taken for staff welfare GM/NCR mentioned efficient functioning of 'Nirakarn' (staff grievance redressal centres) in the zonal headquarters and divisions, 'Project Saksham' for imparting training and skill improvement of railway staff (in which out of 66845 employees of NCR, 65296 have been trained), 100% Digitization of the service records of employees of NCR ,promotion of 8776 eligible railway staff from April 2017 to December 2018, successful disposal of 569 cases

Project 'Nannhi Kali'

'Education plays key role in empowering women' STAFF REPORTER PRAYAGRAJ Project 'Nannhi Kali' kicked off in 1996 by KC Mahindra Education Trust (KCMET) with the aim of providing primary education to girls.

President of Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Anand Mahindra laid foundation of the project 'Nannhi Kali' with the belief that educated women will not only contribute in strengthening economy but also paves way for the emancipation of social evils like dowry system and child marriage prevailing in the society.

Under project 'Nannhi Kali', girlsupto class from 1 to 10 belonging to economically backward section will be motivated to get educated.

Educational Help Centre has been established in government schools, where girls are imparted tuitions on different subjects, mainly English & Mathematics for duration of two hours after school gets over.

Apart from educational assistance, girls are being provided kit, which including school bag, shoes, stationary and items related to sanitary & hygiene

adopted by women.

The team of 'Nannhi Kali' is constantly spreading awareness among parents and every section of the society to ensure gender equality and girl's education.

Nita Singh, wife of Health Minister, SifddharthaNath Singh claimed that the aim of 'Nannhi Kali' project is to impart good education from the very beginning to girls from class 1 to 10. The project is being implemented in 17 states across the nation.

"Our aim is to ensure that those girls who have dropped out of school due to financial constraints and other factors do not remain devoid of education. Qualitative education to girls is the nerve centre of all our actions and the constant endeavour of team at 'Nannhi Kali' is to spread awareness among parents and every section of society about the essence of education. Imparting education to girls is need of the hour and our team is burning the midnight oil to bring more and more economically backward girls in our fold. Our first step is to take girl's mother into confidence and motivate girl child to study hard for a better future," said Nita Singh.

of compassionate appointment of wards/dependents of railway employees who had passed away etc. Informing about the 'All India Pension Adalat' held on 18th September in which 274 cases related to pension were successfully disposed of, he said that it is the good fortune of NCR that it has a capable and responsible workforce and we are committed to looking after their welfare.

The address of the GM was welcomed with a round of applause by the office bearers of the union.

Speaking after the address of the GM, Central President of NCRES thanked GM/NCR for the improvements made in the medical facilities available to the staff of NCR. He suggested that pathology facilities for staff at Tundla should be allowed at Agra through contract with specialty pathology labs in Agra.

Concluding his address, President NCRES thanked GM/NCR and all present for organizing the first PNM of the Financial Year well in time and in a very constructive atmosphere.

Speaking after the President, General Secretary NCRES, R.P.Singh acknowledged that there had been substantial improvement in the overall health of the Zone in the last one year. He thanked GM/NCR for acknowledging

the role of railway staff in the achievements of NCR especially in the management of the KumbhMela 2019 and said that NCRES would be continuously striving to put its best foot forward in all the spheres of activity of the zone, especially the management of the KumbhMela.

Speaking on the upkeep of railway colonies, he suggested that separate 'Zonal Contracts' should be put in place for better and more effective maintenance of Railway Colonies housing railway staff.

He also suggested that the process of procurement of medicines in Railway Hospitals through Local Purchase should be made more streamlined to ensure that the LP medicines are made available to the patients within 24 hours.

Apart from the above, discussion was done on the provision of more doctors at Mathura station of Agra Division, better upkeep and repairing of roads and boundary walls in railway colonies of Kanpur, Filling up of vacant posts in Jhansi workshop, better provision of drinking water at stations situated at arid and dry areas of NCR, Improving the maintenance of pit-lines etc.

The officials of the NCRES voiced the grievances and concerns of the Railway Employees and urged the administration to work on them. The vote of thanks was given by Chairman Railway Recruitment Cell, VivekPrakash. The meeting proceeded and concluded in a cordial and cooperative atmosphere. The meeting will continue on 24th January also.

4

intra legem Playing ground in school campus necessary condition for affiliation of school, says HC

RAJESH KUMAR PANDEY PRAYAGRA The Allahabad High Court has ruled that existence of a playing ground in the school campus is necessary and essential condition for affiliation of a school.

The court further said that playground and school building should be part of one compact and contiguous land area . In case the playground is on a separate land the students have to pass through road, residential area etc. and then the purpose of a playground would be defeated. Dismissing a writ petition filed by Apple Gorve School of Saharanpur, Justice Ajay Bhanot said that existence of playground is pre requisite for grant of affiliation to a school.

The petitioner scool had movede the court challenging order of CBSE Board dated November 1,2018 by which the Board

had withdrawan provisional affiliation granted to the school by saying that school had violated affiliation bye laws relating to infrastructure.

The petitioner school had moved to the court by saying that the school has a playground but same is on separate land. The school authority had moved application for construction of a foot over bridge over public road but same was rejected. It was further pleaded that some schools affiliated by CBSE Board have playground on separate plot of school building but their affiliation has not been withdrawan. The court did not accept the plea by saying that there cannot be parity in illegality.

The court dismissed the petition by saying that requirement of compact piece of land is mandatory and the petitioner school has not satisfied the mandatory pre requisite for affiliation provided in bye laws.

Chayan Sharma secures 99.06 % in JEE PRAYAGRAJ

Chayan Sharma passed the ICSE examination from St. Joseph's College, Prayagraj. At present he is in KOTA (Rajasthan) preparing for JEE Advance. In the JEE Main exam. the result of which declared today, he secured 99.06 percentile marks.

Air ambulance arrangement at KumbhMela (Sangam Lower Road), sector 14 (SurdasMarg Crossing &MuktiMarg), sector 16 (Sangam Lower Road), sector 19 (Sankatmochan Road near PRAYAGRAJ Vallabhacharya Bridge) and sector 20 (near NRI Exceptional medical facilities and unique arrange- Tent City gate). Additionally, there are 25 first aid ments for disaster management are in place for Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. Air ambulance has been arranged to deal with any contingency. Air ambulance is available at Bamrauli airport and to ferry patients ambulances are deployed with medical equipment, doctors and para-medical staff at Additional Director office, Medical Department near Central Hospital in mela area.

Special arrangements for disaster management have been carried out by Health Department. Dr. Rishi Sahai (mobile number: 8882101012) has been appointed as nodal officer. Quick Medial Response teams have been set up in 36 circles of mela area.

Additional Director, Medical & Health, Dr. AK Paliwal said, "100-bedded Central Hospital is located in BaghambariGaddi sector 2. X-ray, ultrasound, posts and 18 outer health posts have also been set up. pathology, ICU facility are available and experts off Furthermore, 50-bedded hospital in Gotwa-Bani, 30every department are deployed there. Moreover, 20- bedded hospital in Daraganj, 10-bedded hospital in bedded hospitals have been set up at sector 1 Arail&Sahson respectively have been developed to (TalaabNawalRai Road), sector 4 (Sangam Upper cater the health & medical requirements of devotees Road), sector 6 (Nagwasuki Crossing &Kailashpuri and visitors.

Road), sector 7 (Bajrangdas Road Crossing & Ganga In the eventuality of any calamity, if the need arise Mahadev Road), sector 10 (Tulsi Road), sector 12 then co-ordination with hospitals of neighbouring OUR CORRESPONDENT

districts like Kaushambi, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh&Mirzapur can be established. Every sector hospital, FAP & members of Quick Medial Response teams have been issued necessary directives & guidelines about emergency & disaster management. To meet the demand & supply of blood, arrangement has been ensured by IMA Blood Bank to fulfil the requirement without having the need to exchange blood.

Nodal officer, Dr. Rishi Sahai informed that 80 BSL & 6 ALS ambulances have been deployed. "Every ambulance has been accorded a specific number.

Location of their deployment has been displayed in the front. Drivers have been given detailed information about the lanes &bylanes of mela area and ensured that they are well versed with the route from parking area to Central Hospital and location of prominent government & private hospitals. We have already carried out the rehearsal & training has been imparted to drivers. Availability of maps & wireless sets has been ensured in every ambulance. These ambulances are available at every circle hospital, sensitive FAP, all pontoon bridges and other prominent locations 24x7," he said.

Additional Director, Medical & Health, Dr. AK Paliwal informed that two special motorised river ambulances, two manual boats and river ambulance has been deputed along with trained staff.

Those who keep the Kumbh clean CHIEF REPORTER PRAYAGRAJ For three straight days, Ghuriya (50) chewed tobacco, spitting out the red goop only before meals.

Young men teased her, Ghuriya's 10-year-old son imitated her for some laughs, but her husband HeeraLal understood why her mouth was always full; it was to mask the smell.

"Zindagimeinpehlibaaraisakaa mkarraheinhain. Pet ne aisamajboorkiyahai (For the first time, we are doing such work. Such is our desperation)," says Ghuriya, minutes after returning to her tent, having finished her eight-hour shift of cleaning nine hundred toilets at the ArdhKumbhMela, redesignated KumbhMela 2019 by the Uttar Pradesh government.

The Mela began on January 15, and will go on till March 4. "We are expecting a footfall of 12 crore. The number soars massively on ShahiSnaan days. On January 15, the day of the first royal bath, around 1.36 crore people took a dip in the Triveni-Sangam," says Vijay KiranAnand, District Magistrate of the KumbhMela. That day and the next, the health department says, approximately 200 mt of waste was sent to to the Baswar waste treatment plant in Prayagraj. So far this month till January 18, the plant has received around 1,000 mt of solid waste from the 20 sectors of Kumbh.

An IAS officer, Anand has held charge of the Kumbh Mela for more than a year now.

Anand says they have employed a total of 20,000 sanitation workers - half hired by the Health Department and the rest through

outsourced vendors. They include the 'SwachhtaDoot' keeping clean the 3,200 hectares, divided into 20 sectors, over which the KumbhMela is spread, and the cleaners for its 1.2 lakh toilets, such as Ghuriya.

With the Yogi Adityanath government making the Kumbh Mela a prestige project, and tagging it as Swachh Kumbh to fit in with the Centre's Swachhta campaign, Rs 234 crore of the total budget of Rs 4,200 crore has been allocated for sanitation - which includes renting and setting up the portable toilets, buying equipment and disinfectants, paying wages, and providing dustbins and brooms.

At dusk, from the New Yamuna Bridge, one can see the TriveniSangam, swathed in saffron on all sides from its vast 'tent cities' housing akhadas, devotees, VVIP visitors, and foreign tourists. Some of these are "luxury tents", put up for the first time, with rates as high as Rs 38,000 a night. Hidden behind these temporary cities, in every sector, are colonies of sanitation workers - spread over uneven land and containing cloth tents covered with used plastic sheets, with paddy spread inside serving as beds. A few have a single bulb inside. Wood, coal and chulhas have been provided for cooking and to keep warm.

The workers - from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand - have brought along own utensils and blankets.

It's here, in Sector 19, that Ghuriya begins her day, in the coldest hour of the night. At 4 am, she heads to one of the 900 toilets in the sector to relieve herself, before returning to prepare a quick meal of aloo-sabzi for her family of five, with vegetables bought from the vendors around, and rice, flour and

kerosene got from one of the 160 ration shops set up across the Kumbh by the state government.

At 6 am sharp begins her shift.

She dons a blue cap and a thin, sleeveless neon green jacket given by the Health Department - both

there. At least 50-plus people from SabziMandi known to Ghuriya are employed with her at the Mela. Via a neighbour, Ghuriya's family got in touch with Sector 19 'site in-charge' AnkurSehrawat, a private vendor.

However, Ghuriya claims, "No

Paliwal, who heads the Kumbh Health Department, which is responsible for the Mela sanitation.

The preparation began with MaghMela 2018 held in Prayagraj.

It's an annual event attracting close to 80 lakh devotees to the Triveni-

imprinted with SwachhKumbh 2019 - over two torn sweaters, before heading out.

It was in early December that a neighbour in SabziMandi area told Ghuriya she could get a job at the Mela, earning more than she made selling bamboo baskets. She was told that for three months, her family of five would get a place to stay, food, healthcare, and even an anganwadi for her children, besides Rs 350 a day. Her husband and two sons do the same work. While she has visited the Mela several times, this is the first time she is working

one told me I had to clean toilets.

The thekedar said my husband and I would pick up the flowers devotees put in the river‌ I cried the first few days. I have never done this before."

As far as the eye can see at Kumbh, there are tall and narrow blue-and-pink toilets and green urinals - at parking lots, inside tent cities, on the roads, at the bank of the Triveni-Sangam. From 35,000 toilets at the last Kumbh held in then-Allahabad in 2013, to 1.2 lakh toilets now, the difference is telling.

"It's all maths," says Dr A K

Sangam over a month. At least 5,000 toilets were installed for the event last January.

"It's here that we counted the number of users who can comfortably use one toilet. That was around 100. Peak footfall at the KumbhMela on days such as ShahiSnaan and MauniAmavasya is three crore. To manage that we need 1.2 lakh toilets so that there is no open defecation," says Paliwal.

At the 2013 Kumbh, of the 35,000 toilets, only 5,000 were meant for public and the rest were situated inside akhadas and tent

enclosures, he adds. "There was even a space officially marked for open defecation. Can you imagine that today?"

The toilet complexes for men and women are separate, and each complex comprises 10 toilets, with one Western commode for the old and disabled. "Forty per cent of the toilets are for women. We looked for user-friendly toilets, and also structures easier to clean," says SaloniGoel, Environment and Kumbh Sanitation Consultant. A member of a Union Environment Ministry expert committee and the Central Pollution Control Board, she has been appointed by the state government.

Of the 1.2 lakh toilets, 62,500 community toilets are planned for bus stops, parking lots and the roads, 20,000 of them urinals; while 40,000 'institutional' ones are to be put inside akhadas and tent cities.

"We have set up 50,000 of the 62,500 community toilets, 25,000 of the 40,000 institutional toilets, and all 20,000 urinals. The rest will be put closer to the next big day, which is February 4," says Paliwal.

The toilets at the banks of the Triveni-Sangam have septic tanks attached, so that the waste doesn't get discharged in the river. Suction vehicles are stationed near the complexes a night before the peak days.

"The tanks have a capacity of 10,000 litres each, though our calculations have shown each complex releases 6,000 litres waste daily," says Paliwal.

Approximately 1,500 swachhgrihis have been deployed only to check open defecation. "They tell visitors about the advantages of using toilets, and also ensure that the toilets in their area are clean," says Goel, adding that they are

meant to give regular feedbacks over electronic devices.

In Sector 19, under the shade of a tree, at least 10 swachhgrihis stand with their 'Circle Coordinator', 24year-old Sandeep Kumar, mapping their next route. Kumar, an M.Com student at Allahabad University, is getting Rs 500 a day for this work.

Kumar, who says they work in three shifts, says not all chinks have been worked out. "The device (to give feedback) has not been handed over yet; the app is not functioning properly. So for now, we have WhatsApp groups where we give shift-wise feedback, and also upload photos of dirty toilets."

No kind of work intimidates him, says Dulichand (28). On the day of the ShahiSnaan though, the street sweeper from UP's Banda district woke up anxious. "I got the afternoon shift on a day there were crores of people. I kept sweeping for hours - flowers, plastic bags, excreta, wet underwear, paper, jhoothan (leftovers), broken toys, torn clothes. You name it, I picked it," he says. The area he had to sweep had been demarcated with a chalk, as it is done on all big days.

After sweeping the area for eight hours, Dulichand put the waste in steel dustbins. From there, the tipper vehicle, which does rounds thrice a day, picked up the garbage, and took it to the compactors, which in turn sent the waste to a treatment plant in Baswar, 10 km away.

Says Paliwal, "The length of internal roads within Kumbh is 300 km, so we aimed at a dustbin every 50 metres. At the ghats and Sangam, we put bins every 25 metres. In all, there are 20,000 dustbins." The bins and 35 lakh garbage bags to line them alone cost approximately Rs 5.2 crore.

POINT BLANK

The City Standard

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

Mamata's rally may usher a turning point in Indian politics MUMBAI Mamata Banerjee may have fought all through her youth against late CPM veteran and former chief minister of Bengal Jyoti Basu but she seems to have learned a political trick or two from him. Her United India opposition rally at Kolkata's historic Brigade Parade Ground was borrowed straight from a similar event organised

by Basu thirty years ago, in 1989, at the same venue.

Mamata's target is Narendra Modi. Basu's target was Rajiv Gandhi. Mamata brought together opposition leaders of all hues and shades including sworn rivals Congress and AAP on one platform. Basu stunned political circles by inviting BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to share the dais with him against Rajiv.

Basu's rally sounded the death knell for the Rajiv Gandhi government, already sinking under the weight of the Bofors corruption scandal. Mamata translated metaphor into reality by producing a bell which she rang repeatedly in the hope that she had sounded the death knell for the Modi government.

Rajiv lost the 1989 election to a united opposition fight against him which saw the Left, BJP and V P Singh's Janata Dal join hands to ensure a one-to-one contest against the Congress in most constituencies. The election saw the birth of the first coalition government, the National Front government. The constituents were mostly regional parties with the Janata Dal posing as a wannabe national party and the government was propped up from the outside by the BJP and the Left. As it turned out, the government fell in 11 months as the Janata Dal split into two. Another short-lived government came into being, led by Chandra Shekhar, supported from the outside by the Congress. This one collapsed in about six months.

Will history repeat itself? Thirty years later, regional satraps are again in the driver's seat, leading the fight against the Modi government.

Mamata hopes that her Brigade Ground rally

will lead to a repeat of what Basu set rolling in 1989.

Then what? Will the same political drama of short-lived coalition governments unfold again?

That's what the BJP is hoping. But opposition leaders are confident that they have learned from past mistakes. The events of 1989 were a

who is an avowed socialist, has praised the RSS publicly. He has always hid behind the fig leaf of Vajpayee's moderate face to justify his longterm alliance with the BJP since 1996. But he appears to have changed his line to extol the RSS. Many in his party are uncomfortable with

tragedy. Hopefully, 2019 will not prove to be a farce.

Flip-flop CM Nitish Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has set tongues wagging with another of his famous flip-flops. Just months after initiating talks with the Congress-RJD for a pre-poll alliance in 2019, he is back on the other side of the political fence heaping praises on the RSS. In a recent interview to a leading Hindi channel, Kumar lauded the Sangh for the consistency of its work, its commitment and its tremendous growth over the years.

Now, this is perhaps the first time that Kumar,

these public accolades for the RSS and the work it is doing. Most of his workers are socialist by creed and while they have managed to work out a comfort level with the BJP, they remain opposed to the RSS ideology. Although Kumar also claimed that he does not subscribe to RSS beliefs, his praise for the organisation has upset his followers. They feel that Kumar is looking at his own self interest, not that of the party.

Their interpretation of his sudden love for the RSS is that he is trying to pitch for a larger role for himself in the NDA. They say he believes that the route to greater glory for himself in the NDA is through the BJP's mentor and unofficial

Rich-poor gap on the rise As the 4-day World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, the yearly conclave of the brightest business and political minds from across the world, got underway at Davos in the

For instance, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has a fortune of $112 billion.

That equals to nearly Rs 8 lakh crore, which is more than two times of the combined annual budgets of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Rs 3.65 lakh cr

Swiss Alps, UK-based Oxfam showed us the other side of coin: poor.

A confederation of 20 independent charitable organisations which work for the elimination of poverty, Oxfam International releases its annual study 'Public Good or Private Wealth' ahead of Davos conclave every year. It has done so this time too. Sadly, its latest study revealed the disturbing reality of growing gap between the world's rich and poor at faster rate than we had seen in the past.

In 2016, 61 billionaires owned as much wealth as 50 per cent of world's population. The number of billionaires owning that much wealth fell to 43 in 2017.

Further, the number fell by almost half to 21 in 2018.

That means just 21 richest persons in world are so ultra rich now that their cumulative wealth is equal to what half of the world's population - 3.8 billion people - own.

in FY19).

Besides, a new billionaire was created every second day between 2017 and 2018. Interestingly, financial crises have not created any hurdles for billionaires.

The study showed that the number of billionaires doubled in last one decade i.e. since 2008 financial crisis.

That's the stark reality of wealth concentration across the world now. But if we think India is any better, we are dead wrong. The top 1 per cent of India's richest people, which holds 51 per cent of the total national wealth, saw its wealth grow by a whopping 39 per cent while the country's billionaires added Rs 2,200 crore a day to their wealth pile in 2018. Compare that with what the poor could manage in the same period. The wealth of the bottom half of the population inched up by meagre one per cent. In India too, rich are getting richer whereas poor are getting poorer.

NEW DELHI

Will BJP's Look East strategy work!

NEW DELHI The significance that North India had in the BJP's 2014 general election strategy, probably it will be what East India will be in the 2019 general election. And while Varanasi was the epicentre of 2014 general election, it may be Puri or Kolkata in 2019.

North India, to be precise the Hindi heartland, will continue to be the region which the BJP would look at to get the highest number of its candidates elected from. But as it almost reached the highest possible in the State in 2014, even in the most favourable political circumstances it would be difficult for it to repeat this performance.

In 2014, the political scenario was favourable for the BJP and the NDA. There was a strong sentiment against the Congress throughout the country; there was no third front or any kind of understanding between the regional parties even at the State level. In such a scenario, the BJPled NDA could convincingly present itself as the alternative to the Congress and the UPA. Further, as the BJP had a strong base in North India, it could leverage this political opportunity here.

In 2019, the BJP doesn't have a similar advantage, and whatever anti-incumbency exists is aimed at it alone. The Congress, after losing several elections since 2014, has made an excellent comeback in the last one year.

This is evident in its recent wins in the three important Hindi heartland States.

The third front, which has been discussed for long, may finally take form now. So, there is likelihood of three political fronts in the 2019 election. However, there seems to be an understanding being developed among the Opposition parties across the two fronts to ensure a one-on-one contest with NDA wherever possible. And it will definitely impact BJP's 2019 prospects to some extent, more so in the North India.

The danger facing Antarctica CHENNAI In the longest ever assessment of Antarctica's ice mass, scientists are reporting a rapid increase in melting - a six-fold increase in yearly Antarctic ice mass loss between 1979 and 2017.

The East Antarctic ice sheet which was so far stable, has begun melting too. The speed of melting is expected to lead to disastrous sea level rise in the years to come. If you want to know how much ice is exactly now melting away here it is: 252 billion tons of ice per year is disappearing in areas once considered stable.

Scientists do believe that as the Antarctic ice sheet continues to melt away, we can expect multi-metre sea level rise from Antarctica in the coming centuries. This means that many coastal cities would be flooded displacing millions of people around the world. The present data has come from high-resolution aerial photographs taken by NASA planes, along with satellite radar from multiple space agencies.

The ice-shedding till 1990 was around 40 billion tonnes on an average per year. The focus of late has been the Wilkes land sector of East Antarctica because this region is probably more sensitive to climate than has traditionally been assumed, and that is important to know, because it holds even more ice than West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula put together.

The total amount of ice in the Antarctica, if it melts completely, would be enough to raise the sea levels by 57 metres. The East Antarctica ice sheet contains roughly half of Earth's freshwater. Warming ocean water will only speed up ice

boss. Just like BJP leaders need the blessings of the RSS to get ahead, Kumar realizes that without the Sangh's support, he will remain just another Bihari babu instead of someone who influences the course of the NDA's politics.

The irony is that just a few months ago, he and the Congress were negotiating for a homecoming for Kumar to the Bihar gathbandhan. In fact, according to sources in both parties, there was even a suggestion that JD(U) merge itself into the Congress in return for a top leadership post for Kumar. The deal never materialised and now it looks as if Kumar has decided that his future lies with the RSS, BJP and NDA. BJP, Congress pushed to corner as allies demand their share Both the BJP and the Congress are being given a hard time by their allies. If Shiv Sena and Apna Dal are squeezing the BJP to give them more space in the NDA (read more seats to contest in 2019), the JMM is playing hard to get with the Congress to finalise a pre-poll pacct in Jharkhand.

The Congress has already tied up with Babulal Marandi's JVM, which has agreed to contest two of Jharkhand's 14 seats. JMM is demanding at least four. There is another local tribal party that is also negotiating for a seat or two in this mahagathbandhan.

The Congress is in a tricky position. After the resounding snub from Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav in UP, the Congress party's negotiating strength has weakened. The two UP behemoths have left just two of the state's 80 seats for the Gandhi family and declared emphatically that there is no place for the Congress in the BSP-SP gathbandhan.

The snub from UP has definitely hit the party's morale. This is what JMM is hoping to take advantage of and the Congress is trying hard to fight. After all, if JMM gets the better of it in Jharkhand, then the message would go out to other allies like DMK and NCP that the Congress is ready to crawl in front of regional satraps.

loss in the future and as per present calculations sea levels will continue to raise for centuries even if man stops all destructive activity.

That is the damage we have wrought upon ourselves. This is global warming. 'Trump does not understand it anyway but the rest of the world knows. Human activity is acting as a force of nature, propelling what has been a very stable sea level during all of modern human civilisation back into overdrive.

This melting is not just confined to Antarctica.

Mount Kilimanjaro ice sheet has melted more than 80 per cent since 1912.

Central and Eastern Himalayan glaciers could virtually disappear by 2035.

How many years that is? Just 15 years or so? What happens to the countries dependent on Himalayas for their rivers?

More so with someone like China diverting what else is left?

Reports suggest that Spring freshwater ice breakup in the Northern Hemisphere now occurs nine days earlier than it did 150 years ago and autumn freeze-up ten days later. From the Arctic to Peru, from Switzerland to the equatorial glaciers of Man Jaya in Indonesia, massive ice fields, monstrous glaciers, and sea ice are disappearing fast.

Both science and tourism have the potential to damage the very qualities that draw them to Antarctica. Another study is going on alongside on the solid Earth response to the ice melting processes in Antarctica. It is said it does not keep quiet and raises its bedrock. That is the only way Antarctica could be saved. Man is the dangerous most animal in nature. Let us know that.

In western India as well, the BJP touched the ceiling in 2014, and with a fragile partner in Maharashtra and the Congress being in better shape in Gujarat than it has been in the last 20 years, the best it can expect in this region is to reach closer to its 2014 numbers.

In the south, apart from Karnataka, the BJP has increased its footprint to a little extent only in Kerala and it can expect to win one or two seats here. In

Narendra Modi government has started many big-ticket projects for the development of this region and a few of these have been completed on a priority basis. The BJP must be looking to reap the benefits of its hard work in the region and win the majority of seats here with its alliance partners in 2019.

Eastern India, which includes Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand, constitutes 117 Parliamentary seats. In 2014, the NDA had won 46 seats here, and

Karnataka, unlike in 2014, the BJP will have to face a united Congress and Janata Dal-Secular alliance, and in this scenario, the BJP might be aiming to just retain its 2014 numbers.

In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, it is still not considered a political force. So, the only regions where it can look to add numbers and compensate for likely losses in northern and western India is the northeast and eastern India. Till a few years back, northeast India, except Tripura, was a strong bastion of the Congress and Tripura was a stronghold of the Communists. In the last four years, the BJP has done a tremendous job there. It has strengthened itself at the ground and has uprooted the Congress and the Communists.

The northeast always had a feeling of being ignored at the national level. Now, probably for the first time in several decades, there is a sense of being valued by the government in Delhi. The

the BJP's number was 37, but the majority of these wins were from Bihar and Jharkhand. Out of 63 seats in West Bengal and Odisha, BJP/NDA had won just three seats. The Congress party has not been able to revive itself in this region and is considered only a marginal force. The regional parties are strong and there will be a direct contest between the BJP/NDA and the regional parties.

In Bihar, in 2014, the BJP had won 22 seats, and the NDA tally was 31. It was a triangular contest which had benefited the NDA. With major realignments since then, 2019 will be a direct contest between the UPA and the NDA, and NDA must be aiming to at least retain its numbers.

In Jharkhand, out of 14 seats, BJP had won 12 with two going to JMM. The current BJP government in the State is the only one set to complete its term and has no corruption charges. The BJP must be looking to retain its position here as well.

Now let's look at Odisha, which is strategically very important for the BJP's 2019 plans. It has been a stronghold of Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD), who has been ruling the State for last 19 years.

In 2014, the BJD had won 20 out of 21 seats and one seat had gone to BJP. The 2019 elections will be the first in the last 19 years when the BJD will be facing antiincumbency. Many people in the State feel that the BJD being in power for such a long time is deeply entrenched in the system, resulting in favouritism and corruption at every level.

There is resentment in the BJD more than ever. Some senior leaders have left the party. The Congress, which had once ruled the State for a long time, has become a distant third player. So, there is an opportunity for the BJP, which has worked hard in last few years and has established itself as the main Opposition party in the State.

There is lot of talk in the media about Narendra Modi contesting the 2019 general election from Puri, a city which is considered of Odisha's religious capital. The historic Lord Jagannath temple in Puri is the centre of devotion for millions of Hindus not only in Odisha but in the adjoining States as well.

Narendra Modi contesting from Puri may create enthusiasm in the party in Odisha and adjoining states - quite equal to what he had been able to generate in Uttar Pradesh and north India in 2014.

The BJP must be looking forward to taking advantage of the antiincumbency against the BJD government and the popularity of Narendra Modi to win seats in the State. West Bengal, which sends 42 MPs to Parliament, is another State in eastern India which the BJP must be looking at for bigger gains in 2019. The BJP has been very aggressive here in recent years and has left behind the Congress and the CP-M to establish itself as the main Opposition party in the State.

5

Human trafficking takes on horrific dimensions Trafficking victims from South Asian countries including India are detected in many parts of Europe, according to a new UN report that said human trafficking has taken "horrific dimensions" with children accounting for a third of those being trafficked.

The 'Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2018' from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) draws on information from 142 countries, examining trafficking trends and patterns. The report said human trafficking is taking on "horrific dimensions", with sexual exploitation of victims the main driver. Children now account for 30 per cent of those being trafficked, and far more girls are detected than boys.

Victims from South Asia

had collected data, the global trend has shown a steady increase since 2010. Asia and the Americas are the regions which have seen the largest increase in the numbers of victims detected, which may be explained by improved methods of detecting, recording and reporting data on trafficking - or a real increase in the number of victims.

Most victims of trafficking detected outside their region of origin are from East Asia, followed by subSaharan Africa: whilst there has been an increase in the number of convictions for trafficking in these regions, the study concluding that large areas of impunity still exist in many Asian and African countries, and conviction rates for trafficking remain very low.

Trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most

(and South-West Asia) are also detected in many parts of Western and Southern Europe. They account for about 5 per cent of the total detected victims in this subregion. "Victims are trafficked from most South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, and to a limited extent also from Nepal and Sri Lanka. Victims from Afghanistan have been detected in the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom," it said.

The report further said that as an origin area for trafficking to the rest of the world, victims from South Asia have been detected in more than 40 countries around the world. The main destinations appear to be the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the Middle East. To a lesser extent, victims from South Asia have been detected in Western and Southern Europe and in North America. Victims from South Asia - Bangladesh and India - have also been detected in South-East Asia.

Based on the limited information available for Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan, female victims in this sub-region account for 59 per cent of the total detected victims.

UNODC Executive Director said Yury Fedotov said that "human trafficking has taken on horrific dimensions as armed groups and terrorists use it to spread fear and gain victims to offer as incentives to recruit new fighters," citing child soldiers, forced labour and sexual slavery as examples.

While the average numbers of reported victims had fluctuated during the earlier years for which UNODC

prevalent form in European countries, whilst in subSaharan Africa and the Middle East, forced labour is the main factor driving the illicit trade.

Women and girls make up most trafficking victims worldwide: almost threequarters of them are trafficked for sexual exploitation, and 35 per cent (women and girls) are trafficked for forced labour.

The main focus of the report is on the impact of armed conflict on trafficking. In conflict zones, where the rule of law is weak, and civilians have little protection from crime, armed groups and criminals may take the opportunity to traffic them.

One example given in the study is the phenomenon of girls and young women in refugee camps in the Middle East being "married off" without their consent and subjected to sexual exploitation in neighbouring countries. Addressing human trafficking is a key part of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda, requiring Member States to monitor progress in tackling the problem, and report the number of victims by sex, age and form of exploitation. However, significant gaps in knowledge remain, with many countries in subSaharan Africa, South Asia and some parts of East Asia still lacking sufficient capacity to record and share data on trafficking in persons. "This report shows that we need to step up technical assistance and strengthen cooperation, to support all countries to protect victims and bring criminals to justice, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," Fedotov said.

UNITED NATIONS

Diplomatic setbacks for China in Asia China has suffered two major diplomatic setbacks in Asia within the span of one month. The first was its failure to get its protĂŠgĂŠ Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The second was the defeat of its friend Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election of Maldives at the hands of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, a close friend of India.

In the presidential election in Maldives held on September 23, Yameen, who had turned the island nation into a vast prison house by arresting all opposition leaders and members of the higher judiciary and suppressing all dissent, failed to be re-elected, despite rigging. Solih won hands down, securing 58.3 per cent of total votes polled.

Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena dismissed his Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on October 26 and appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa, the man he had defeated in the 2015 presidential election, in his place. The development came as a denouement of a rumour spread by unknown persons that India's external intelligence agency RAW had hatched a plan for assassinating Sirisena. Who planted and spread the rumour is not known but the intention was clear: sow distrust and discord between India and Sri Lanka. The arbitrary dismissal of Wickremesinghe plunged the island nation into a crisis, with both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe claiming to be the prime minister. Ultimately, the crisis was resolved when the Sri Lankan Supreme Court held Sirisena's decision to be unconstitutional and re-appointed Wickremesinghe as president. When the House met, supporters of both 'prime

ministers' clashed. Chilly powder was freely used, but Wickremesinghe won the trust vote. Unable to stomach his failure to install Rajapaksa, Sirisena dissolved parliament on December 9. Fresh elections are to be held on January 5 next year. The outcome of the result will show

leeway to withstand Chinese pressure.

In the case of Maldives, India has actually come to its rescue. Maldives' total debt to China is around $3 billion.

This is a far bigger loan than Sri Lanka's by a country which is just a speck compared to Sri Lanka (65,610 sq. kms.

whether the new government will pursue an independent foreign policy or be amenable to China's pressure tactics.

Meanwhile, the question that arises is: why Sirisena, who started his innings as president as a friend of India, turned so much against India that he wanted to cut out New Delhi from the projects India was implementing in Sri Lanka, some as joint ventures with Japan? The apparent reason is that today Sri Lanka finds itself in a debt trap. Its huge debt to China (estimated at $1.5 billion) is just unrepayable. China is using this to armtwist Colombo in toeing an anti-India line. Unless some friendly countries come to the rescue of Colombo by enabling it to repay at least a part of the Chinese debt, Sri Lanka will have little

against 298 sq.kms.). President Solih visited New Delhi in the middle of this month. India announced a financial assistance of $1.4 billion to the island nation, knowing fully well that it will be used to repay a part of the Chinese loan.

India and Maldives also agreed to cooperate closely in maritime security in the Indian Ocean. They will also undertake coordinated patrolling and aerial surveillance. The strategic significance of this will not be lost on China.

There has been some unfair criticism in some quarters of India's decision to extend financial assistance to Maldives.

The question raised is why should Indian tax-payers' money be paid to China through Maldives? In the larger context of India's strategic need to con-

tain China and wean away its smaller neighbours from the influence of Beijing, this is a small price to pay.

Depending on which government is voted to power in Sri Lanka next month, India may have to help Colombo in loosening China's vice-like grip on the country. This will be necessary in India's own interest.

President Trump's decision to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan also creates a piquant situation for India.

Pakistan's interference in Afghanistan will grow and through Pakistan China will try to get an entry into that country, which is the gateway to the Central Asian countries that were once constituent republics of the former Soviet Union.

These countries are rich in mineral resources.

India will also have to give more attention to Nepal for mending its fences with Kathmandu. Nepal has been drifting away from India and getting closer to Beijing. The drift away from India has to be reversed. This is especially necessary in view of the continuous Chinese military build-up in Tibet, close to the international border in the high Himalayas.

India will have to play a more aggressive diplomacy vis-Ă -vis China in its immediate neighbourhood, keeping in mind that the Chinese challenge to India is not only military but also economic.

China is reportedly building facilities in Pakistan for making submarines and other military hardware. This adds a new dimension to India's security scenario.

Winning new friends and deepening ties with old friends has become imperative for India. As the saying goes, to be forewarned is to be fore-armed.

CMYK

The City Standard

CENTRE SPREAD

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

6

IN CONSONANCE -

Sea of humanity converges at Sangam Nose on Paush Purnima.

A sculptor’s imagination of Samudra Manthan displayed at the crossing near LIC Colony.

Enjoying selfiy shot at Sangam Nose.

Many roads in Kumbh Mela area were full of mud and slush after intermitent rains.

Offering Gangajal to Surya Devta.

CMYK

Forigners taking holy dip at Sangam.

Devotees at Triveni Sangam taking holy dip on Paush Purnima.

Photos by Santosh Chatterjee

CENTRE SPREAD

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

7

CMYK

The City Standard

FAITH AND BELIEF

Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and his better half Kovita Jugnauth being welcomed

by UP minister Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi on their arrival at Prayagraj.

Intermitent rains have turned many roads in Kumbh Mela area full of mud and slush.

Aghoris performing special rituals at their camp in Mela area.

Shnakracharya Swami Swaroopanand Sarswati enterring in the Kumbh Mela area.

Pilgrims entering Kumbh Mela area.

Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and his wife Kovita Jugnauth performing Pooja at Bade Hanuman Ji Temple.

Artists from Meghalaya performing tribal dance.

CMYK

A kinnar sadhu taking part in a ritual.

SPECTRAUM

The City Standard

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

Social media as an instrument of combat New Delhi The age of information that set in with the success of IT revolution some three decades ago pushed the world economy and cross-border human interactions up in a transformational manner and established globalisation as a new reality.

It has facilitated a phenomenal rise of businesses in terms of both products and services and created many positive socio-political trends. There is a new level of global competitiveness in business that is good for customers and a new kind of power of communication in the hands of citizens that forced transparency of governance, making it difficult for dictators to politically survive for long.

It is the destructive side of the use of cyber space, however, that is beginning to show up more and more - at the level of individuals, organisations and nations - and clearly converting even the social media into a weapon of perception management, political combat and proxy wars.

In India, the Twitter campaign that was designed to show that the Modi regime had created an atmosphere of intolerance towards the minorities, the orchestrated criticism of the government for creating a 'surveillance state' following an order of the MHA authorising the Intelligence agencies to scan any computer resource for reasons connected to national security and the escalation of the Pakistani ISI's proxy war against India through the clandestine use of social media for radicalising Muslim youth in Kashmir and elsewhere, illustrate this point.

It is a welcome feature of the new age we live in that leaders of the government and those in the Opposition take to social media for reaching out to the people to explain their stand on issues of the day. US President Donald Trump uses Twitter to an amazing degree for announcing his foreign and

domestic policies and issuing rejoinders to his critics. This is also now a part of electoral politics that depends heavily on perception management.

In India, political propaganda is being made on social media even in disregard of the prohibitory provisions of the IT Act - now under adjudication - that punished calls for violence, inflammatory pronouncements having the potential of creating communal disharmony and statements insulting the national flag.

Though the dividing line between what is gross and abusive on the one hand and suave and convincing on the other, has thinned out as far as the political discourse is concerned, use of the power of social media has now become a significant factor in India's electoral battles resort to 'fake news' notwithstanding.

The concept of influencing the will or behaviour of adversaries is not new and is now being practised with full vigour across the world because it is a low-cost option also for targeting masses or voters in an election.

Citizens are now increasingly impacted to shape the outcome of elections and to pressure their governments to change policies.

Social media is a means of raising the people's voice, which is fine, but more often than not, it is now used as a tool for motivated campaigns of vested interests within or outside of the country. The Indian government has been compelled, in recent times, to

have close scrutiny of the NGOs suspected of precisely doing this and examine their funding and links to safeguard national security and integrity.

In technical terms, the aggregated data, when processed through advanced algorithms can reveal signif-

icant material for perception management. 'Influence operations' exploit emotional vulnerabilities. Political parties, and even external forces, use social media platforms for circulation of misinformation and even fake videos to create apprehensions, manipulate perceptions and mould public opinion.

Parties are now going beyond the old practice of 'bribing' voters to use technology of data firms and services on hire for targeting communities on social media so as to tilt voting behaviour in their favour. They use analysis to decide what the focal points of their campaign should be.

Cyber-enabled operations are now an integral part of information warfare. A planned effort to use technologies and devices is made not only to

steal the target's data for monetisation, which is a part of competitive business today, but also for pursuing hostile missions such as degrading the target's systems to deny the advantage of information to the latter and planting manipulated information to elicit a particular response on selected issues.

There are increasing incidents of data breaches in India. Some three million records were stolen, lost or exposed in the country in 2017 a whopping increase over what happened in 2016 while in 2018 millions of records were believed to have been compromised in the Aadhaar breach alone. There are large leakages of data from MNCs. Cambridge Analytica was suspected of having harnessed data of millions of Facebook users, of which Indians were a significant segment. The firm reportedly leveraged them for political campaigns.

Its parent company reportedly had links with British Intelligence agencies. Similarly, Microsoft is said to have routinely shared the financial details of Indian bank customers with Intelligence agencies in the US - the Reserve Bank of India had reportedly flagged this breach.

Information warfare has moved towards its combat version - cyber warfare - which, in turn, is fast getting integrated with general warfare. Cyber operations are now set to play a decisive role in a military combat. The US

has elevated its Cyber Command to the status of what is called the Unified Combatant Command.

China has created a Strategic Support Force to provide necessary support to the Chinese Armed Forces during war and protecting Chinese interests in cyber space during nonwar periods. Russia has special forces for information warfare. Artificial Intelligence-based cyber weapons are being developed by major powers with the result that Information warfare is becoming intelligence warfare, adding to its surprise element.

In India, strong laws protect the Right to Privacy in the use of social media. The public does not realise, however, that entering cyber space is like being on a public thoroughfare or in a public park where you are completely visible and have no right to demand that people did not see what you were indulging in.

On social media, you should not do what you are not supposed to do there would be a legal deterrent in place. The government is also tightening the law for service providers to deter them from passing on personal data for commercialisation. In the Indian context CERT-IN has reported a very large increase in cyberattacks in recent months - more than half of which originated from China and Pakistan.

India's security set-up is seized of the threat posed to our national security by Islamic radicals who are being indoctrinated on social media and the sleeper cells of terrorists who are being funded and logistically supported by their masterminds from across our borders through layered communications on line.

In short, social media is as much a tool of progress for the law abiding as it is a weapon of proxy war for our adversaries. Preparing for warfare outside of the battlefield is the new challenge for the nation..

8

You don't have to be very rich to feel the abundance SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR What are you struggling for?

Is it Money? You are struggling for money, then don't sit and day dream, do hard work. If one business does not work, choose another business and do it.

Don't sit and day dream and only think about miracles to happen.

Miracles do happen, but if you crave for miracles then they will take a back seat. Nature wants you to be dynamic.There are people who have asked me, 'Guruji, please give me some numbers for my lottery ticket. I just want to win a lottery so that I don't have to do anything.

Just do sadhana all the time and some seva(service).' No way!

First of all, decide what it is that you want from life. You know money is something that you will always find people short of. Always!You can see for example, the richest country, the only super power on this planet is USA and it is under heavy debt; trillions of dollars of debt. You take big companies; many of them are in debt. The richer a person gets, the more expenses he has. At the same time, there are poor people who are contributing towards charity, poor people who take time to do service, which is amazing.

They feel so much abundance.

I came down from the steps on the last day and a small boy came running to me with tears in his eyes and gave me an envelope. I took the envelope and it had Rs. 5000 in it. I looked at that boy and I asked, 'What do you do?' He said he is a laborer. The money in the envelope that he had given me had two months of his earnings, and he said, 'Please take this.I can't tell you how much my life has transformed. Please accept this.' I took just Rs.100 from that envelope and returned back Rs. 4900. I told him, you know this Rs.100 is so precious for me, this is enough. I will take this. Two months of his salary; someone who is a laborer who does manual work, he comes and offers this. Such a big heart!

In fact many rich people don't feel abundance at all, they feel lack. They are not generous. But poor people are very generous. Don't imagine a situation where you will become super rich one day and then you will start doing some seva(service), no, nothing like that. You can feel abundance at any point of time.

Why all this suffering! Does meditation Stop worrying, control heal back pain? your own thoughts OSHO

The question is significant. But it can be answered only if you are ready to rise a little higher than the ordinary logic of life, if you are ready to raise your eyes towards some higher mathematics.

Lower mathematics has one kind of rules; higher mathematics is just the opposite of it.

Pythagoras says there are two laws: that of necessity and that of power. Lower mathematics consists of necessity; higher mathematics consists of power.

And their workings are different, utterly different although they are part of a bigger whole, the primordial law, Logos, Tao, Dharma.

In lower mathematics the part is never equal to the whole.

Obviously - how can the part be equal to the whole? But in the higher mathematics the part is equal to the whole. For example: in lower mathematics a dewdrop cannot be the ocean; it is so small and the ocean is so vast. But the difference is only of quantity. Lower mathematics takes account only of quantity; higher mathematics thinks of quality. Then the dewdrop is exactly the ocean.

It contains all the oceans. If you can understand a single dewdrop, you have understood all the oceans of all the planets and all the stars and all the earths.

Suffering is your interpretation. You have become too much identified with it - that is your decision. You can disidentify and the suffering disappears. Your suffering is like a nightmare; in the dream you think a great rock has fallen on your chest, it is crushing you to death. Out of fear you awaken...and all that you find is nothing - your own hands resting on your chest. But the weight of your hands triggered imagination in you; it became a rock and you started feeling very frightened. And because of the fear you are

awakened...and now you laugh. Ask the awakened ones, and they say there is no suffering in the world - people are fast asleep and dreaming all kinds of sufferings.

And I know your difficulty: if you have a physical problem, if you are blind or if you are crippled how can you believe that this is only a dream? But have you not watched? Every night you dream, and every morning you know that it was a dream and all nonsense - and again you will dream, and in dream again you will believe that this is truth.

How many dreams have you dreamed in your life?

It looks very difficult to trust that all that you are suffering is just a dream created by yourself. But it is so - because all those who have become awakened say so; not a single awakened person has said otherwise.

And in lucid moments of awareness you will also feel the same.

Your problem cannot be solved only by an intellectual discussion; your problem can be only dissolved, not solved. Your problem can only be dissolved by becoming more aware.

Try to understand...then the dialectics will be seen everywhere. Illness and health can only be both together. Beauty and ugliness, success and failure, pain and pleasure, suffering and blissfulness - they are all part of nature. Once you have understood it, a transcendence happens.

This is what Pythagoras says: The law of necessity and the law of power. The law of necessity pulls you downwards into mechanicalness; the law of power pulls you upwards into the world of freedom. I call these two laws the law of gravitation and the law of grace. One pulls you downward, one pulls you up.

This is how it moves, the pendulum of life: right and left, left and right. This is how life progresses. It is perfectly as it should be.

Can meditation and yoga banish back pain? This belief might be just as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy - a common technique involving relaxation and educa-

Another 113 adults continued their usual care, which often involved ibuprofen and other pain meds. By the end of the eight-week course, the researchers found that 47 per cent of

tion. In fact, both could be more effective than popping an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Researchers at the Group Health Research Institute compared the two approaches in 229 adults between ages 20 and 70 with long-term low back pain. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

In the study, researchers assigned half of the volunteers to receive eight, weekly sessions of mindfulnessbased stress reduction, involving meditation and yoga, and the other half to receive eight sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy, which focused on helping people change the way they think about pain.

people in the mindfulness group said their back pain was less disabling. A similar number of people, 52 per cent, in the cognitive behavioural therapy group reported less disabling pain. Both groups fared better than the group that did not change treatment, of whom only 35 per cent had experienced improvements.

"Our results confirm what has already been found for (cognitive behavioural therapy), and we went beyond that to show this other mindfulness approach was equally effective for chronic back pain," Daniel C Cherkin, lead author of the study said. Cognitive behavioural therapy is also recommended for patients with severe back and joint pains.

SISTER SHIVANI Worrying is creating a complete script of the outcome of a situation before it has happened and then using the story to scare ourselves. By worrying we are reducing our inner strength which we require to face the challenge. Every time you find yourself worrying, stop and tell yourself "This story might never happen". When the cycle of negative thoughts slows down, gradually change the quality.

Be aware of these patterns of thinking which drain our energy criticising, worrying, controlling and obsessive thinking.

Awareness means observing, checking and then gently changing.

Controlling people and situations creates a series of negative thoughts.

Controlling means we are not happy with things as they are, we want them to change, this creates an internal struggle. With awareness, start accepting people and situations.

Acceptance means no disturbance internally and then giving them our suggestion, direction or instruction. Focus should be on controlling our own thinking before trying to bring about a change outside.

Let us take simple scenes of our life to check how we react. Suppose your child has not reached home and his phone is not reachable.

Are thoughts of worry and anxiety natural? You have worked very hard on an assignment and you get criticism in return. Are thoughts of hurt natural? You expect someone to behave in a particular way and they do not seem to understand.

Are thoughts of irritation and anger natural?

We live in a world where uncomfortable emotions like worry, stress, anger, rejection, hurt, jealousy, resentment are being called natural.

This chain of emotions means we are creating a disturbed mind, diseased body and conflicting relationships.

If we want to keep our thoughts pure and posi-

tive, we need to check the quality of information we are taking in. In the name of news and entertainment, the quality of energy coming from media today is questionable.

We routinely take in vibrations of terror, violence, hatred, ridicule and manipulation, so we even see them reflecting in our destiny. Like food is the nourishment for the body, information is for the soul. Information is the basis of our emotional and mental health.

We are what we read, watch and listen. The next time we receive a message on social media, let us check if it is a right diet for our emotional health.

If not, let us delete without reading them.

Reading and sharing information of crime, criticism, bias, satire, creates a deep karma of radiating negative energy.

We need to be in an environment of pure vibrations every day for spiritual progress. We decide not to create anger, hurt or hatred, but fail because our sanskars get influenced by the low vibrations around us. Vibrations are created by people; many of who believe that anger, jealousy, competition are natural. To empower ourselves and transform, we need to be amidst divine vibrations like meditation rooms for some time daily.

1. Every thought I create whether I am awake or asleep, creates my energy field, and this is the energy I have to offer in every interaction.

2. Check - Am I thinking too much? What is the quality of my thoughts? Whenever I want to change any thought, am I able to do it easily?

3. When the quality of thoughts is right, the speed is slow. When it is negative or waste thinking, the quantity increases. The mind thinks too much, and we feel that it is not in our control. 4.

Let us start building a beautiful relationship with our self. Check what are the critical thoughts we have about our self. Gently change the quality of every critical thought to acceptance and love.

Swimming camels of Kutch face mounting challenges Bhuj (Gujarat) In the land of contrasts that Kutch is, winter is the lean feeding season for its unique breed of Kharai camels. These camels, unlike the kind most of us are familiar with, are typically dependent on the mangroves for their food, and during monsoons, they swim to the mangrove islands in hordes and stay there for days altogether.

The sight of swimming camels, as one can imagine, is spectacular, but faced with challenges such as rapid industrialisation in the coastal areas, and mangrove destruction, their population is dwindling, making it a threatened breed.

The Kharai camels are held with respect by the Rabari and Jat communities - the two tribes which own and handle the animals - and until a few years ago they did not even sell its milk or wool. For income, they depended on selling the male camels to traders who used them for transportation. With the advent of small commercial vehicles that can go deep into small towns and villages, camels are not used as much - one of the many reasons why these tribes are struggling socio-economically today.

The biggest reason, however, is restricted access to the mangrove islands, or Bets as they are called locally, and mangrove destruction.

For eight months in a year, the Kharai camels are completely dependent on the mangrove islands, spending weeks together on these masses. They eat the saline plants and the mangrove species and drink rainwater accumulated in depressions on these islands. During winter, their handlers from the Jat community - Rabaris are typically the owners - graze them on the dry land.

The 2001 Bhuj earthquake saw massive devastation in Kutch, and as re-building efforts gained tempo, there began steady industrialisation along the coastline. There was a spurt of salt and cement factories.

Mahendra Bhanani of Sahjeevan, an NGO that has been working on the welfare of pastoralists and the Kharai camel for years now, said that industries typically block the natural creek in an area and create bunds that do not allow the natural tidal water to come in. This dries up the mangroves, and once that happens, it's easier for heavy machinery to uproot them so that creation of saltpans is easier. Jetties do the same, blocking the water route of

the camels permanently. coastal industries on mangroves is industries are generally detrimental However, with two power plants G.A. Thivakaran, chief principal habitat fragmentation, closing feed- to mangroves". coming up on either side, its access to the waters was cut off by a canal and conveyor belts built by the companies running the power plants. As a result, the handlers had to walk the camels a much longer distance around in order to reach the sea. Some breeders gave up, while others moved away from the village. So from around 2,500 camels about a decade back, less than 200 remain in the village today.

According to a survey carried out

by Sahjeevan, Kutch had 2,200 Kharai camels five years ago. In 2018, the number dwindled to 1,800. Gujarat, as a whole, has about 4,500 Kharai camels left.

The immediate question looming over the pastoral communities and their camels is of sustenance and for this, organisations like Sahjeevan have been lobbying hard scientist and head of the Coastal ing creek systems, shipping which The effect of such industrialisa- at different levels. The National and Marine Ecology Division of the cause gradual degradation, changes tion on the Kharai camel has been Bureau of Animal Genetic Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology, in water hydraulics due to dredging grave. In Tunda vandh, a coastal Resources (NBAGR) declared the said that, in Kutch, mangroves are and other landform modifications," village in Mundra, there was a time Kharai camel a separate breed only predominantly distributed in three he said. when almost every family owned recently, in 2015. This, say experts, coastal stretches - Jakhau-Kori, Besides these, other factors such Kharai camels. Dominated by the gives a boost to research on this Mundra and Kandla-Surajbari. as obstruction of near-shore cur- Rabari tribe, the residents remem- unique animal that exists comfort"Ironically, in all these places rents, increased sediment load in ber instances when, during high ably in dryland and coastal ecosysindustries are being aggressively the water column, and physical tide, the sea water would flow into tem. Declaring it 'threatened' also developed. The general impact of destruction means that "coastal the boundary of their homes. means more efforts are now made

for its protection.

In 2016, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also put camel milk on its list of animal products that can be marketed for human consumption.

This was good news for the Kharai camel breeders, but Usman, an owner, said that the market for camel milk is still poor.

"People prefer cow's milk or buffalo milk because it has more fat content. A camel gives only about two litres of milk a day, and people pay only Rs 15-20 per litre," he said. This scenario, said Bhanani, will change soon when Amul, a prominent milk brand, among others, goes to the market in early 2019 with camel milk. It is slated to be sold for Rs 51 per litre.

"Camel milk is said to have therapeutic properties. It is good for diabetic patients. Once milk companies start sourcing camel milk from the breeders - including the Kharai camel breeders - it will improve their socio-economic condition," Bhanani said. Marketing Kharai camel wool products is another income-generating activity the NGO is working on with the communities. For the "ship of the desert", or in this case, "and of the sea", all hope is not lost yet.

NEW DELHI Granted, election season is upon us. But is that any reason to make the goods and services tax (GST) more complicated than it already is? While the rate rationalizations announced last December by the GST Council made sense, one can't say the same about the decisions taken at the 10 January meeting, when another cess was added, states given more discretion to decide between two GST exemption limits, and the composition scheme expanded. It may be politically expedient to keep traders and informal businesses happy at election time, but the price to pay is embedding greater complexity in a scheme that is already messy.

At the January meeting, the GST Council extended the composition scheme to small service providers. On turnovers up to ?50 lakh, the tax is 6%. The threshold limit for compulsory registration was raised from ?20 lakh to ?40 lakh, but states can retain the older threshold limit. Kerala, which was ravaged by devastating floods last year, was allowed to levy a cess of 1% on internal sales for two years.

In one meeting, the GST Council has added more to the complexity than in all the previous meetings put together. The assumption that once the teething troubles are over the tax will be simpler than ever is no longer true. Consider what has changed. If earlier there was a one nation, one tax rate, now Kerala will have a different tax rate for goods and services sold within the state.

Would it not have been more sensible to carve out disaster-related grants from the central cess already in place instead of creating a new cess-and a bad precedent?

Consider, also, the other decision of raising the threshold for GST registration. If every state is going to decide its own threshold, this will act as a vicarious incentive for small businesses to locate on the other side of a border if the exemption limits there are higher. Ideally, the composition scheme should not be seen as a permanent fixture, for what it does is incentivize companies to remain small. This is exactly the kind of folly we encouraged earlier when we defined small units by turnover and capital

and encouraged them to remain small just to obtain excise concessions and preferential tendering norms. GST is going down the same dubious path of exemptions.

These exemptions do not ultimately benefit small units, as big buyers will not want suppliers who do not offer the benefit of input tax credit set-offs. To obtain orders from

large companies, small and micro units will have to underbid substantially to compete with the rest. They will also be tempted to keep turnover low by underreporting incomes. This is hardly something to cheer.

A small company that keeps splitting into smaller units to remain in the composition scheme is hardly going to invest in productivity or pay proper wages to workers.

Every exemption breaks the GST supply chain and discourages the seamless flow of input tax credits. Far from really making things easier, we are privileging evasion and complexity. The benefits we are supposedly offering to the informal sector adds to their problems, as they will have to maintain multiple books of accounts to stay under the threshold in one company or in multiple companies created for the same purpose.

Clearly, this trend needs to be reversed and the goal must be to steadily phase out the composition scheme. The only way to do this is by making the filing of returns easier

and easier. Compliance should be a breeze.

Consider what is happening at the income tax department, where plans are afoot to give assessees pre-filled forms, with details captured from the AS-26 tax statements and other information already with the tax department. All the assessee has to do is add any missing detail and file the return

as it is. Returns can then be processed in days rather than months.

This should be the stretch goal for the GST Network and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs to adopt in the coming years. In this vision, invoices, tax-paid data and other details should come filled in for the GST assessee and input tax credits should be automatically computed and accepted as correct. The ideal should be the creation of a small app that does everything from generating invoices to paying taxes and filing returns through simple clicks of the button. The goal is to reduce heartburn and toil at the assessee end, so that palliatives such as composition schemes become unnecessary.

In the short term, it would be far better for the GST Council to provide a large number of trained returns filers for free to all informal sector assessees, so that they can opt to become regular assessees rather

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

than remain composition scheme junkies forever. The cost of providing free-filing facilities will be more than made up by higher collections and will help erase the

fear of filing returns and harassment by the tax department.

GST has miles to go before it can be labelled as the "good and simple tax" that

CMYK

CMYK

9 GST's great leap backward on account of political expediency BUSINESS

The City Standard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoped it would become. The January decisions were a leap backwards for no good reason beyond political expediency.

GST reform needs to reduce the compliance burden on taxpayers New Delhi: India had taken a giant leap towards a new order in its taxation history on 1 July, 2017. The first year was full of doubts and dilemmas. Complexity was further added by numerous notifications and circulars, which cannot always be tracked by the masses. All the steps so far taken by the government in making the goods and services tax (GST) simpler are welcome. But there is still a long way to go and the GST law is yet to be made simpler.

As on date, traders, tax payers and tax practitioners are facing problems with the complexity of GST. If this law is made simpler and user-friendly, it is going to be the reform of the decade and will boost our economy.

The new GST registration threshold limit is a farce. If one has to supply goods or services of even one rupee to any central or state government, then GST registration is mandatory. This makes the exemption limit pointless.

GST implies additional operational costs for small businesses. In a developing country like ours, not all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be able to afford the cost of computers and accountants required to comply with GST. It is too difficult to assign maximum retail price (MRP) to handmade products such as local shoes and Banarasi saris.

Most small artisans are illiterate and, therefore, are unable to write MRP on their products and/or do any paperwork. Small businesses with low turnover and outside GST face trust issues.

Buyers demand invoices from even those sellers who are

exempted from GST. Without proof of certificate of GST exemption, small shop owners find themselves stranded and immobile.

A simplified composition scheme has been provided up to a turnover of ?1.5 crore.

However, it discriminates against supplier of services other than restaurants as it has not been made applicable to them. The Indian economy is majorly driven by SMEs. It will be unfair to expect small-scale business firms to make the transition to an online IT platform and expect no errors in return filing. It is an uphill task for the majority of our working population, which has little hands-on experience with IT solutions. The cost of its deployment is also a major concern for MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises). The government is looking to shore up revenues to the tune of ?1 trillion per month. It would be interesting to see if stern measures are taken against tax evaders and firms involved in profiteering. The present form of GST appears to deliver little on promises. It seems the reform was rolled out with very little homework both at operational and technical ends. The GST Council needs to take note that a policy must be designed to reduce the compliance burden on the taxpayers. Compliance strategies must include compulsory education and assistance programmes and risk-based audit programmes. It must also run a communications campaign that enlightens businesses, consumers and important intermediaries of the various effects, as well as the benefits of GST.

Jet-setting Davos elite frets about climate Growing unemployment, The WEF is trying hard to "green" its annual event

A die-hard environmentalist and head of a polluting company walk into a conference centre... The World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos is one of the few places where environmental activists attend the same events as the private jet crowd, and get a chance to try to convince them to change their ways faceto-face.

To come or not to come to the swanky forum in the Swiss Alps? That is the question that Greenpeace asks itself each year.

Coming is "not for us a given, because this is a group of elites who have gotten us into the lot of messes that we have around the world right now," the environmental organisation's executive director Jennifer Morgan told AFP. Last year, US President Donald Trump came to address the WEF just months after announcing he would abandon the Paris climate agreement.

This year, Brazil's new far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro -- another climate sceptic -- headlined the event, to the chagrin of NGOs who have warned about the impact his economic development projects will have on the Amazon rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Despite her misgivings, Morgan is attending this year's event alongside the likes of chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall, veteran wildlife documentary maker David Attenborough and former US vice president Al Gore.

They have their work cut out for them: from the oil industry to the agrifood business, there are plenty of executives walking the WEF halls who have yet to be fully convinced of the merits of converting to renewable energy and alternatives to plastic.

But although the Davos elite told a WEF survey that they are more worried than

ever about climate change, selling them on shifting to a more environmentally friendly approach may not be easy, judging from the record number of private jets chartered for this year's event.

The company Air Charter Service fore-

cast nearly 1,500 private jet flights over the week to airports near the ski resort.

That is up from more than 1,300 aircraft movements seen at last year's forum, indicating the convenience of flying privately continues to outweigh any concerns about the outsized carbon footprint it involves.

The WEF meanwhile is trying hard to "green" its annual event, providing electric limousines to transport many of the big names between events, while it strongly recommends that others bundle

up and brave the icy streets on foot.

All plastic straws have been banned, plates are made of recyclable cardboard and soda bottles are all in recyclable glass.

"The Forum is committed to reducing

and compensating for the event's carbon footprint," read signs sprinkled around the conference area.

WEF organisers insist they are making the annual forum environmentally sustainable, offsetting the carbon emissions generated by private aviation as much as possible through their own initiatives on the ground.

And the programme is full of sessions with titles like "Plastic pollution: an end in sight?" alongside a screening of Attenborough's documentary "Our

India's Lehman genie is out of the bottle again

CMYK

IL&FSIL&FS CRISISBANKS First, it was the IL&FS Group that ran out of money. Now that the bankrupt Indian infrastructure lender-operator has been sequestered from creditors, the country's securitization industry is on borrowed time.

It all began on Tuesday with S&P Global's Indian affiliate, Crisil, downgrading Jharkhand Road Projects Implementation Co.'s annuity-backed bonds to D after it skipped interest and principal payments. It's a strategic default on an instrument rated AA just last week.

The borrower had money. It reneged on the obligation because the IL&FS parent and 348 group companies have been allowed by the country's bankruptcy tribunal to block creditors while a governmentappointed board sorts out the $12.8 billion debt load.

What makes Jharkhand's default disturbing is that investors believed its securitized debt would be unaffected by the parent's bankruptcy.

These bonds were legally backed by annuity income from the Indian state of Jharkhand. That assurance was

the basic premise on which they invested in the structured debt obligation in the first place.

Now this illusion has been shattered, let's look at the implications.

Page 38 of the debt prospectus from 2017 lists the order in which Jharkhand's project cash flows must be used, with payments for senior debt ranking behind taxes, construction costs, and operations and maintenance-related obligations. So hopefully, the physical assets will continue to be maintained and a set of perfectly serviceable roads won't slip into what the World Bank once termed India's culture of "build, neglect, rebuild."

However, that's where the good news ends because the damage to India's shadowbanking industry is incalculable. Most gray market lenders don't finance roads and bridges, but advance money raised from deposit-taking banks and money-market mutual funds to small businesses and micro-finance borrowers, as well as against home and vehicle ownership.

Their wholesale borrowing costs spiked in the aftermath

of IL&FS defaults.

Since their assets are mostly doing just fine, and certainly a lot better than conventional banks' big-ticket advances to India Inc., the shadow financiers started to package small loans for sale to the likes of State Bank of India. The whole point of the exercise was to create pooled assets that would survive the originator's bankruptcy. Jharkhand's default has removed that comfort. Last quarter's record $3.7 billion monthly run rate of Indian securitization deals is suddenly at risk.

When IL&FS started to blow up in September, I warned that this was India's mini-Lehman moment. A fairly swift rescue by the authorities managed to contain a full-blown crisis of confidence. But the Jharkhand default has put the genie of mistrust out of the bottle again. ICRA, the local affiliate of Moody's Investors Service, on Tuesday put the AA and AAA ratings of six Indian bond funds on rating watch because of their exposure to securities debt raised by Jharkhand and other IL&FSlinked special purpose vehicles.

Planet".

After years of lobbying, the message is starting to sink in, according to Marco Labertini, head of environmental group WWF. "I think many this year who are coming to Davos understand that the conservation of the environment ... is not any more a nice-to-do or a nice-to-have thing, it's actually fundamental for the sustainability of their business," he told AFP. "Climate change, extreme weather, floods, drought, crop failures, overfishing, deforestation, are all issues that are affecting their bottom lines, their businesses."

Some executives are sold on the message.

"I think all businesses should start doing something," Ken Allen, head of DHL Express, said following a screening of "Our Planet", where dramatic images of icebergs high as skyscrapers crashing into the sea left many visibly shaken.

"Nothing can change without legislation, but it should start with us," he said, before heading off to a meeting with an expert on alternatives to plastic.

Bolsonaro meanwhile told the crowd he believed environmental and development policy issues "should go handin-hand".

Greenpeace's Morgan was not convinced.

"There is a lot of double-speak going on," she said.

If the WEF really wants to make a difference, she said, they should "get all the energy guys" around the table to discuss "how you decarbonise."

"That's not happening here, and it's at best a lost opportunity and at worse a lack of taking responsibility for the problem that this group has caused for the world."

a big reason to worry!

NEW DELHI

Almost 11 million Indians lost their jobs during 2018, reported the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).

Vulnerable groups from rural regions were the worst hit by job losses last year.

India is losing jobs even as its economy grows fast.

The Opposition has decided to make this the foremost election issue, but the problem is not of the ruling party's sole making. The demographic disaster has been built over decades.

The CMIE report shows that the number of unemployed has been steadily increasing in the country. The number of employed recorded in December 2018 was at 397 million, which is 10.9 million less than the figure of 407.9 million seen a year ago at the end of December 2017. With people in both rural and urban India hit, most of the job losses were reported from the previous regime. What has the Opposition to gloat about or criticise the present Modi regime? Who is losing these jobs in such numbers: The uneducated, wage labourers, agricultural labourers and small traders.

The latter were also the worst affected post-demonetisation.

Around 3.7 million salaried lost their jobs in 2018. Around 6.5 million rural women lost their jobs, whereas the urban women lost 2.3 million. Rural

India accounts for two-thirds of India's population and also accounted for 84 per cent job losses. A careful study of the pattern of job losses and the profile of the affected tells us that: it is a woman who loses it.

Particularly it will be a woman of the rural India who is uneducated and engaged as a wage labourer or a farm labour or is a small-scale trader and is aged either less than 40 years or more than 60 years. All the same the country's employment rate has shot upto 7.4 per cent in December 2018.

The rate has increased sharply from the 6.6 per cent clocked in November and is the highest unemployment rate we have seen in 15 months. So now is

the time to rise Modi's two crore jobs promise to question him? The World Bank has a different take however. In its report of South Asia Economic Focus series, the World Bank extracted data from more than 60 surveys and censuses since 2001 to document job creation in India. It tells us that India's employment rate was 50 per cent in 2015.

The rate has increased with the economic growth, dispelling notion of jobless growth.

Specially, the World Bank calculates that a 1 per cent increase in growth of India results in 5,40,000 more jobs on average.

However, this is inadequate, both in terms of quality and quantity. The figures also reveal that India's employment rate is significantly below other countries with similar income per capita. To catch up with those countries, India needs to create 13.5 million jobs a year.

In 2019 elections 133 million first time voters step into the polling booths. Coupled with their counterparts of the 2014, they will number 300 million.

The total electorate is around 850 million and this young section is quite significant. The results will be decided by them.

The role of a manager has to change in 5 ways VIENNA First, let's fire all the managers" said Gary Hamel almost seven years ago in Harvard Business Review. "Think of the countless hours that team leaders, department heads, and vice-presidents devote to supervising the work of others."

Today, we believe that the problem in most organizations isn't simply that management is inefficient, it's that the role and purpose of a "manager" hasn't kept pace with what's needed.

For almost 100 years, management has been associated with the five basic functions outlined by management theorist Henri Fayol: Planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling.

These have become the default dimensions of a manager. But they relate to pursuing a fixed target in a stable landscape.

Take away the stability of the landscape, and one needs to start thinking about the fluidity of the target. This is what's happening today, and managers must move away from the friendly confines of these five tasks. To help organizations meet today's challenges, managers must move from: Directive to instructive When robots driven by artificial intelligence (AI) do more tasks like finish construction or help legal professionals more efficiently manage invoices, there will be no need for a supervisor to direct people doing such work. This is already happening in many industries -workers are being replaced with robots, especially for work that is more manual than mental, more repetitive than creative.

Restrictive to expansive Too many managers micromanage. They

don't delegate or let direct reports make decisions, and they needlessly monitor other people's work. This tendency restricts employees' ability to develop their thinking and decision makingexactly what is needed to help organizations remain competitive.

Managers today need to draw out every-

Truly breakaway thinking gets its spark from the playful experimentation of many people exchanging their views, integrating their experiences, and imagining different futures.

Repetitive to innovative Managers often encourage predictability-they want things nailed down, sys-

one's best thinking. This means encouraging people to learn about competitors old and new, and to think about the ways in which the marketplace is unfolding.

Exclusive to inclusive Too many managers believe they are smart enough to make all the decisions without the aid of anyone else. To them, the proverbial buck always stops at their desk. Yet, it has been our experience that when facing new situations, the best managers create leadership circles, or groups of peers from across the firm, to gain more perspective about problems and solutions. Managers need to be bringing a diverse set of thinking styles to bear on the challenges they face.

tems in place, and existing performance measures high. That way, the operation can be fully justifiable, one that runs the same way year in and out. The problem with this mode is it leads managers to focus only on what they know-on perpetuating the status quo-at the expense of what is possible.

Problem solver to challenger Solving problems is never a substitute for growing a business. Many managers have told us that their number one job is "putting out fires," fixing the problems that have naturally arisen from operating the business. We don't think that should be the only job of today's manager.

Rather, the role calls for finding better

ways to operate the firm-by challenging people to discover new and better ways to grow, and by reimagining the best of what's been done before. This requires practising more reflection - to understand what challenges to pursue, and how one tends to think about and respond to those challenges.

Employer to entrepreneur Many jobs devolve into trying to please one's supervisor. The emphasis on customers, competitors, innovations, marketplace trends, and organizational performance morphs too easily into what the manager wants done today-and how he or she wants it done. Anyone who has worked for "a boss" probably knows the feeling.

The job of a manager must be permanently recast from an employer to an entrepreneur. Being entrepreneurial is a mode of thinking, one that can help us see things we normally overlook and do things we normally avoid. Thinking like an entrepreneur simply means to expand your perception and increase your action-both of which are important for finding new gateways for development.

And this would make organizations more future facing - more vibrant, alert, playful-and open to the perpetual novelty it brings.

We want managers to become truly human again: to be people who love to learn and love to teach, who liberate and innovate, who include others in the process of thinking imaginatively, and who challenge everyone around them to create a better business and a better world. This will ensure that organizations do more than simply update old ways of doing things with new technology, and find ways to do entirely new things going forward.

CMYK

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND

LIFE STYLE

The City Standard

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

10

High-fibre diet lowers risk of death, Shopping in 'unhealthy'

non-communicable diseases

Eating up to 30 grams of naturallyoccurring dietary fibre -- such as whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits -- daily may prevent the risks of developing non-communicable diseases, finds a review of studies published in the journal The Lancet.

The results suggest a 15-30 per cent decrease in all-cause and cardiovascular related mortality; and reduced incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke, Type-2 diabetes and colorectal cancer by 16-24 per cent.

Increasing fibre intake is associated with lower bodyweight and cholesterol, compared with lower intake or synthetic and extracted fibre.

"Our findings provide convincing evidence for nutrition guidelines to focus on increasing dietary fibre and on replacing refined grains with whole grains. This reduces incidence risk and mortality from a broad range of Jim Mann, from the University of important diseases," said Professor Otago, New Zealand.

structure in the gut increase satiety and help weight control and can favourably influence lipid and glucose levels.

"The breakdown of fibre in the large bowel by the resident bacteria has additional wide-ranging effects including protection from colorectal cancer," Mann said.

Protection against stroke, and breast cancer also increased. Consuming 2529 grams each day was adequate but the data suggest that higher intakes of dietary fibre could provide even greater protection.

The researchers included 185 observational studies and 58 clinical trials involving 4,635 adult participants.

The study also found that diets with a low glycaemic index and low glycaemic load provided limited support for protection against Type 2 diabetes "Fibre-rich whole foods that require and stroke only. Foods with a low glychewing and retain much of their caemic index or low glycaemic loa.

Natural ways to boost immunity in children NEW DELHI: It is natural for parents to protect their children from any harm, including the endless array of germs they are exposed to every day.

As children grow up, they are continuously exposed to various germs, especially in places such as daycare centres and preschool. Children with low immunity are highly susceptible to various types of infections. The high incidence of infections has led to an increased and inappropriate use of antibiotics, which has further resulted in antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance, a widespread problem, takes places when microbes build resistance against the medications intended to kill them due to overuse. It is one of the world's most pressing public health problems. The best way to tackle this is to build a strong immunity, which naturally protects your child from infections. Dr. Rajesh Kumawat, Head - Medical Services & Clinical Development, The Himalaya Drug Company, shares a few tips that can help boost your child's immunity.

Healthy Diet A healthy diet that comprises all fundamental components like proteins, minerals, vitamins, micronutrients and unsaturated fats in optimum quantity, helps build the immunity required to fight against various infections or diseases in children. Citrus fruits, carrots, green leafy vegetables, beans, strawberry, yogurt, garlic, and ginger help build immunity with their immunity-boosting properties.

Adequate Sleep Sleep deprivation suppresses the functionality of the immune system, which makes

Eating less meat can help mitigate climate change Getting protein from plant sources instead of animals could help meet climate targets and reduce the risk of overshooting temperature goals, scientists say.

A study published in the journal Climate Policy has found that livestock sector could use almost half of the 1.5 degrees Celsius greenhouse gas emission budget allowed by 2030.

Addressing this should be a key part of the strategy to hit climate targets, researchers said.

Helen Harwatt from Harvard Law School in the US proposes a three-step strategy to gradually replace animal proteins with plant-sourced proteins, as part of the commitment to mitigate climate change.

The first step is to acknowledge that current numbers of livestock are at their peak and will need to decline.

The

next step is to set targets to transition away from livestock products starting with foods linked with the highest greenhouse gas emissions such as beef, then cow's milk and pig meat. Finally, assessing suitable replacement products against a range of criteria including greenhouse gas emission targets, land usage, and public health benefits will also help, Harwatt said. She noted that recent evidence shows, in comparison with the current food system, switching from animals to plants proteins could potentially feed an additional 350 million people in the US alone.

Previous studies suggested reducing meat and dairy consumption also provides a range of added benefits such as preserving biodiversity and improving human health.

The study also found that the current livestock population in the world is around 28 billion animals and constitutes the highest source of two major greenhouse gases-methane and nitrous oxide. The production of methane in particular is troublesome, as it has 85 times greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide over a 20-year time frame, researchers said. Methane emissions from the livestock sector are projected to rise by 60 per cent by 2030 -- the same time period over which strong and rapid reductions are needed.

"Given the livestock sector's significant contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and methane dominance, animal to plant protein shifts make a much-needed contribution to meeting the Paris temperature goals and reducing warming in the short term, while providing a suite of co-benefits," Harwatt said. "Failure to implement animal to plant protein shifts increases the risk of exceeding temperature goals and requires additional, and unrealistic, greenhouse gas reductions from other sectors," she added.

What is the right age to own designer bags!

Washington: Haven't you always wanted a bag that not only serves all our needs but makes you stand out from the crowd as well? Turns out, the theory now applies to the kids too!

Recently, beauty mogul Kim Kardashian West bought Louis Vuitton Speedy Mini handbags for all the baby girls in the KardashianJenner clan, including her four nieces, True Thompson, Stormi Webster, Penelope Scotland Disick, and Dream Renee Kardashian and two daughters, North West and Chicago West, this week.

She revealed the same on her Instagram stories, writing, "I got these for all of the baby girls in the fam for Xmas from Japan." She shared a photo of multicolored styles from the label's famous Takashi Murakami collaboration.

It didn't take long for the Internet to react to her action, considering the monogrammed bags in question are not only from a luxury brand but rare vintage styles. Their high price tag only further fueled the fire. While many deemed the extravagant and unnecessary purchase, others did not raise the issue with the idea, especially if one has the means.

"Yeah, because a baby needs a LV bag," one Twitter user lamented.

children susceptible to infections. Adequate sleep is an absolute necessity to rejuvenate the body. Newborns need up to 18 hours of sleep a day, toddlers require 12 to 13 hours, and preschoolers need about 10 hours of sleep.

Hygiene Maintaining hand hygiene before and after each meal, after playtime, handling pets, blowing the nose, using the restroom and arriving home from daycare helps prevent infections in children.

Herbal Solutions Despite taking proper care, children's immunity may be affected.

Consumption of herbal dietary supplements like Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Yashtimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and Guggulu (Balsamodendron mukul) can help children stay healthier as they help build immunity.

"Naturally obtained supplements strengthen the immune system.

Herbs like Guduchi, Yashti Madhu, and Guggulu are natural sources of antioxidants. The antiviral property of Yashtimadhu also helps manage asthma, bronchitis, and chronic cough. The anti-inflammatory property of Guggulu helps reduce inflammation," Dr. Kumawat added.

A combination of herbs may be a safe and effective adjuvant to antimicrobials in the management of recurrent infections. When co-prescribed with antibiotics, herbs may have a role in faster recovery, reduces the duration and cost of therapy, besides preventing reinfections.

locales up BP risk : Study

People who frequently indulge in shopping in "unhealthy" areas as compared to those who visiting "healthy" retail stores, were more likely to be at risk of high blood pressure, say researchers.

The study using Pop-up health check stations in England found a possible link between "unhealthy' shopping centres and the number of cases of suspected or diagnosed high blood pressure.

The research team classified retail outlets as "unhealthy" if they either had a fast-food takeaway, a bookmaker, a tanning salon or a payday loan business.

The health check stations found 72 per cent of those frequenting "unhealthy" shopping centres with high BP. "The least healthy shop-

Best kinds of toys kids should play with, according to experts Can you imagine your childhood spent without toys?

Impossible right! Children, small or big love to play with all kinds of toys, be it indoor or outdoor. Toys can test mobility skills, trigger senses and help kids focus as well.

With so many benefits, the only question remains - how to choose the right kind of toys for them.

Encourage your kids to play!

The right kind of toys can help aid the development of important emotional and cognitive skills in children and at the same time, keep them entertained. Thus, the kind of toys you give your kids can have a huge impact in developing their personality and mental skills. ‌..and keep the phones away!

It's not the adults who are addicted to their phones.

Younger kids are depending on modern gadgets-tablets and smartphones to keep busy, play and study, however, it is hurting their eyes.

Doctors recommend kids having one hour of screen time each day, provided that there is adult supervision. That being said, it's always fun and healthy to play with toys which could benefit little minds and keep their developing brain at its peak. Here are some examples which experts and doctors recommend gifting young kids: Assembly toys When kids play with puzzles or building blocks, which require using their mental, cognitive and motor skills is a very good option. It also helps them sharpen their mathematical ability at a young age.

Pretend play toys It's also important that kids be allowed to think outside the box. And for doing that, the best bet would be to gift them a big empty box that would encourage them to push their creative and imaginative skills. Any kind of toy which encourages kids to use their imagination and create

a scenario is good for developing social skills as well.

Languages and concept games Since kids' brains are still developing and they are at a ripe age to learn to use words and symbols, it is always a good idea for them to play with any kind of card or quiz games which is a good way to develop problem-solving skills.

Bouncing toys Promoting physical activity helps track fitness in kids at a youngage. Toys, such as foam blocks, mini trampolines promote physical activity within the indoor space.

Outside home, indulging in any group sport or activity with kids their age also promotes togetherness and socio-emotional skills.

Action figures Many parents debate before getting their child an action figure, thinking it could promote violence.

However, playing with action figures, for both girls and boys could fuel their imagination and give them a role model to seek inspiration from.

Balls Not only are balls fun to play with, but it is also a very healthy habit to develop as well. They improve the handeye coordination, timing, help maintain weight, fitness.

When kids play with a ball, they also learn important life lessons and values related to victory and losses.

Hand puppets Hand puppets have been used since a long while now. It is not just an activity which promotes family values and communication but also develops social skills. Also, since the puppets don't have a voice of their own, they encourage kids to use their cognitive and coordinating skills to play with the puppets.

ping centres are all within some of the most sociallydeprived areas of the country, so the results of this study exemplify the stark health inequalities that are entrenched across the UK," said Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health.

To reach this conclusion, the team from City, University of London set up the one day Pop-Up health check stations in seven shopping centres across England.

Blood pressure readings were offered 50 per cent of the time to attract potential volunteers with a more comprehensive and familiar health screening.

The difference in the proportion of readings of high blood pressure was also a statistically significant result,

translating into a 72 per cent increased likelihood of suspected or diagnosed high blood pressure being reported in an 'unhealthy' shopping centre relative to a 'healthy' shopping centre.

"The British Heart Foundation also recently called for NHS health staff to take blood pressure checks at gyms, barbershops and football stadiums and offer blood pressure checks in the workplace," said David Crabb, Professor of Statistics and Vision Research who led the research team.

"In our study, over half those recorded as having high blood pressure were aware of having the condition or reported a history of high blood pressure," said the team in a paper published in the journal BMC Public Health.

How fasting can improve your overall health California: Fasting may not be just a religious or political practice. It may actually protect you against age-related diseases and improve your overall health, researchers say. The study, led by a team

Sassone-Corsi, Professor of Biological Chemistry at UCI. "Skeletal muscle, for example, appears to be twice as responsive to fasting as the liver," Sassone-Corsi added.

The research, detailed in the

from the University of California-Irvine (UCI), found that fasting affects circadian clocks in the liver and skeletal muscle, causing them to rewire their metabolism, which can ultimately lead to improved health and protection against age-related diseases.

The circadian clock operates within the body and its organs as intrinsic timekeeping machinery to preserve homeostasis in response to the changing environment.

And, while food is known to influence clocks in peripheral tissues, it was unclear until now how the lack of food influences clock function and ultimately affects the body.

"We discovered fasting influences the circadian clock and fasting-driven cellular responses, which together work to achieve fastingspecific temporal gene regulation," said lead author Paolo

Cell Reports journal, was conducted using mice, which were subjected to 24-hour periods of fasting.

While fasting, the mice exhibited a reduction in oxygen consumption (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and energy expenditure, all of which were completely abolished by refeeding, which parallels results observed in humans.

"The reorganisation of gene regulation by fasting could prime the genome to a more permissive state to anticipate upcoming food intake and thereby drive a new rhythmic cycle of gene expression.

In other words, fasting is able to essentially reprogram a variety of cellular responses," Sassone-Corsi said.

"Therefore, optimal fasting in a timed manner would be strategic to positively affect cellular functions and ultimately benefiting health and protecting against age-associated diseases."

Follow this Yoga Asanas to increase your height Mumbai: There are a lot of people who are not so happy with their height. Even as so many medicines, tablets and powders have been released into the market, nothing has worked for height.

However, you'll be surprised to know that yoga can also be used to increase your height. With International Yoga Day (21st June) around the corner, we bring to you some tricks and tips to add those few extra inches to your height and boost overall body development.

Tadasana The exercise involves stretching all the body muscles from head to toe. This elongation generates posture pressure in all body parts which facilitates the production of the growth hormone.

- Stand erect on the floor with your legs, waist and neck aligned in a straight line. Keep both the feet together, hands on the sides and palm facing the thighs.

- While inhaling, raise both of your arms together in the upward direction, parallel to each other.

- Slowly lift your heels and stand on your toes.

Stretch your body upward as far as possible.

Keep your legs and arms straight.

Vriksh Asana The tree pose works wonders in increasing

height. When the leg is folded and placed over - Slowly lift your legs, buttock and back so that the other thigh, the entire weight is borne by you come up high on your shoulders, support the second leg. This helps in strengthening the back with hands. your muscles. Further, when the neck is flexed - Keep straightening the legs and upwards, the pituitary gland (responsible for spine. Your weight should be supportproducing the growth hormone) gets activated. ed on your shoulders and upper arms.

- Stand with feet together on the floor. Keep - If you feel any strain in the neck come hands at the side and breathe normally. out of the posture. Stay in the posture - Stand up firmly on the left leg and fold the 15 to 30 seconds. right leg at your knees. Bring the sole of the Ustra Asana right foot on the inner thighs.

Also known as the Camel Pose, it - Balance on the left foot and raise involves the backward bending of the both arms over the head, elbows neck which triggers the master (pituunbent and join your palms together. itary) gland. People who suffer from - Hold this posture with the entire fluctuating blood pressure or have body stretched for a few seconds while back injuries should avoid this pose. breathing gently. Repeat the procedure - Sit in vajrasana (kneel on the yoga with the opposite leg. mat). Stand on your knees as you Sarvang Asana and Head stand inhale. Draw in your tail bone towards the pub, as if Together referred to as Shirshasana, both being pulled from the poses involve inversion against gravithe navel. ty. This exerts direct pressure on the pituitary gland.

- Keep your back arched and arms - Lie flat on the back straight, sliding in shavasana your palms over with your your feet. palms facing down- Stay in this ward. posture for a

few seconds, breathing normally.

- Breathe out and slowly come back to the initial pose.

Paschimotan Asana With this pose, pressure is exerted on the back thigh muscles and the neck region. This particular asana shouldn't be practiced by people suffering from slip disc or sciatica.

- Sit on the ground and stretch your legs like a stick.

- While exhaling, bend forward and hold your toes with your hand.

- Keeping the back straight, try to rest the head on your knees.

- Avoid bending your knees and keep breath normally.

Ujjayi Pranayama Rightly referred to as the victorious breath, breathing the right way sends direct vibrations to the concerned gland and helps bring positive changes to one's physical ecosystem.

- Find a comfortable sitting or lying position.

- Make sure that you are breathing in and out through your nose while keeping the mouth shut.

- The inhalations and exhalations should be long and deep.

Febuary 04, Monday, 2019

12

CMYK

CMYK

SPORT

The City Standard

Back-to-back clinical victories extremely pleasing : Kohli

MOUNT MAUNGANUI India captain Virat Kohli once again praised his team for putting in a clinical performance as they registered a comfortable 90-run victory over New Zealand in the second ODI on Saturday.

"We had a par score but bowlers did a great job once again. Back-to-back clinical performances are pleasing for any captain," said Kohli in the post-match presentation.

"I made a conscious effort to up the scoring after second drinks break. There

are still things we have to sort out before the World Cup. Those 15-20 runs could have been crucial but we still reached a good score," he added.

Kedar Jadhav, who came in down the order and chipped in with 22 off just 10 balls, was pleased that the middle-order got some time in the middle.

"Our top order has been in such good form and doing the bulk of scoring. No.5, 6 and 7 are not getting much time as a result. So the team decided to bat first. Shikhar

'Kuldeep Chahal' chemistry Like pacers, spinners too hunt in pairs and that's why Kuldeep Yadav feels the "pangs of separation" when spin twin Yuzvendra Chahal is not operating from the other end during India's limited-overs match-

behaving and how the batsman is playing," Kuldeep, who picked up four wickets in India's comprehensive win in the first ODI against New Zealand, said.

"We (he and Chahal) also use same variations but it confuses the batsman (who is thinking otherwise).

es. Both the wrist spinners have so far played 36 ODIs each and will be key to India's chances in the World Cup in England starting May 30. In recent times, India once again tried the one wrist spinner-one finger spinner experiment but Ravindra Jadeja's failure to trouble the batsmen has again brought the focus back on the chinaman-classical leg spin duo.

"When you don't play, I miss a lot of aspects," Kuldeep was seen telling Chahal during an interview conducted for the fun segment of 'bcci.tv'.

"We understand each other's bowling and also the track. It's not always that we are bowling in tandem.

There are times when you bowl earlier and I come in later, but we talk a lot about how the pitch is

We got a lot of wickets in South Africa, grabbed a few in India and now we are getting a lot in New Zealand," said the UP spinner after the duo accounted for six of the Black Caps dismissals.

The performance was even more satisfying considering that the track at the McLean Park was flat and didn't offer too much assistance for bowlers. "It was a batting wicket with not much turn on offer. The ball was skidding a bit, and it was hitting the bat well. So we had to bowl good areas along with using variations," he said. "When you use a certain kind of variation then it becomes important to pitch it in right areas which makes it effective.

Both me and you did it well," Kuldeep complimented his partner in crime.

NAPIER

and Rohit showed their class and then we had enough experience to take to 320-par score," Jadhav told the media after the second ODI. The Maharashtra batsman highlighted the contribution of MS Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on 33-ball 48. "All our middle-order batsmen are in good touch.

Mahi bhai staying till the last ball always helps. All the experience and power that Dhoni has, it helps us to work around him," Jadhav said about batting with Dhoni.

The spin duo of Kuldeep

and Chahal also got the plaudits from the skipper, "They always bowl to pick wickets and aren't content with figures of 0/40, they would rather take one wicket and concede 60 runs," said Kohli.

Jadhav was also full of praise for the two wrist spinners, saying, "Kuldeep and Chahal are our key assets in the middle overs. We as a team back them totally. They are two talented wrist spin bowlers. Most of the teams find it difficult to score against them and to score,

they have to take risks."

Rohit Sharma was named man-of-the match and he also credited the bowlers for doing an impressive job, "We thought 324 was about par score on this pitch.

Last time when New Zealand and Sri Lanka played, it was a high scoring game. Credit to the bowlers for doing a fine job," said Rohit.

Talking about batting with Dhawan, the vice-captain said that they enjoy a good camaraderie and know each other's game well which makes the job easier.

Asked if the players had started to think about making the 2019 World Cup squad, Jadhav said, "The best 15 will be selected for the World Cup. It doesn't matter what I believe. Everyone is trying to put their best foot forward.

When your are playing for India there is competition, you have to be at the best of your game."

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson meanwhile expressed his disappointment, saying it's the way the team has lost which is the problem.

"It's a little frustrating but credit to India. I felt 324 was a total that could have been chased down here. Our bowlers did well to keep them down to 320-odd but now it is important to focus on the small steps. If we had kept wickets in hand, we could have been in the chase but these are lessons that we need to learn going ahead," said Williamson.

Gambhir, Chhetri and Punia show gratitude after winning Padma Shri NEW DELHI Gautam Gambhir the "human being" aspires to surpass the cricketer, Sunil Chhetri wants to be "hungrier" whenever when he dons the national colours while Bajrang sought blessings from one and all with an aim to scale greater heights after being nominated for Padma Shri awards.

The two-time World champion cricketer, national football captain and reigning Asian Games champion wrestler took to Twitter to express their gratitude.

"It's an honour I accept with gratitude. But it's an honour which also comes with responsibility. I'm living for the day when Gautam Gambhir the human being beats Gautam Gambhir the cricketer. That will be my day, my award to myself," Gambhir wrote on his Twitter page.

Chhetri in a series of tweets thanked his family and fans for their support and also indicated that there is no chance of an international retirement around the corner for the second highest goal-getter (among current players) in international

football after Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Today, I find yet another reason to be grateful. I wouldn't have been honoured with the Padma Shri Award if it hadn't been for the teammates, coaches, staff, masseurs, physios and management that I have had the pleasure of working with across all these years," Chhetri wrote. "This one is also because of mom, dad, Sonam, Bandu, Lamba, Kunaal and all my friends and family who have stood by me through thick and thin, always pushing me on," the Indian captain thanked his immediate family.

In his final tweet, Chhetri indicated that he will continue playing for India.

"I'll end with a promise of being hungrier every single time I step on the pitch for country and club. And trying to be a better human being every single day."

Bajrang wrote: "It's an honour being conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award. This wouldn't have been possible with your (fans) love and blessings.

Please keep blessing me so that I can always meet your expectations."

Dhoni's presence and experience in the Will Messi return final overs helps, says Kedar Jadhav to national team!

MOUNT MAUNGANUI "It is a good thing for any team that more guys are competing for one spot. So every time any guy gets an opportunity, he will know that he needs to perform," said Jadhav, who scored 22 off 10 balls and also took a wicket in India's 90-run win in the second ODI against New Zealand.

Jadhav, who also played a significant role in the ODI series decider against Australia in Melbourne, said that everyone is trying to put their best foot forward and grab that spot in the UK bound squad.

"It's not about what I think about my selection.

Whether I accept it or not, it's not in my hands," said the 33year-old.

"It is the selector's call and the best 15 will go.

Everybody is trying to put their best foot forward and when you play for India, there

is bound to be competition and work around him and he takes "So for most of us, batyou have to be at the top of most of the strike and scores ting at Nos 5 or 6, we don't get your game." most of the runs." to bat, because our top batsmen are too strong and they have been doing bulk of scoring in the last 4-5 years. So it's good that we batted first."

He was all praise for Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who had yet another hundred plus opening partnership. "Shikhar and Rohit have shown class and consistency in the last few years. We had a good (opening) partnership of 150 odd and had enough experience to take the score past 300." Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have now accounted for 12 out of the 20 New Zealand wickets after the completion of first Jadhav said Mahendra Jadhav said that 324 was two games. "Kuldeep and Singh Dhoni shoulders bulk of a par-score on this track after Chahal are our key assets in the responsibility when it the openers provided a good middle overs and as a team, comes to scoring runs during start. we back them totally. Most of the middle and final overs.

"We wanted to bat first the teams find it difficult to "It helps when especially and it started off well. The score against them and eventuif Mahi bhai is there till the kind of top-order batting we ally if we put runs on the last ball. All his experience have, there will be 90 per cent board, then teams have to take and the power in his game, it times when we will get a good risk against them and that helps players like us to just start," Jadhav opined. works for us," said Jadhav.

Buenos Aires: Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he has a "good feeling" about Lionel Messi's possible return to international soccer and will talk to the Barcelona forward about a possible return from his self-imposed exile.

Messi took a sabbatical from the national side after another disappointing World Cup, with Argentina knocked out in the second round after winning just one game in four.

He has not said whether he will return for the Copa America in Brazil in June but the interim coach said at Thursday's draw he was hopeful the inspiring forward might return for a March friendly.

"We will speak with Leo in the days before the March list. When the time is right we will speak," Scaloni told reporters.

"I hope he can be here but more than that, we want him to be happy. I have a good feeling."

Argentina, who are desperate to end a trophy drought that dates back to 1993 when they last won the Copa America, were drawn in Group B for the upcoming tournament, alongside Colombia, Paraguay and invited side Qatar.

Hosts Brazil will play face Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia in Group A, while Uruguay, Japan, Ecuador and reigning champions Chile are in Group C.

Australia's young stars fill big shoes in Brisbane Queensland's an interesting state. Where else would you after all end up with the cows being blamed for allegedly being responsible for the state not accepting the daylight savings time? It apparently upset their body clocks to such an extent that, dairy farms complained it affected their milk supply. There was also the thing about how some housewives complained about their curtains getting faded because of the additional hour of sunlight but we'll leave that for another day.

Brisbane's an even more interesting city. It's one of the few in Australia that seems to have more real estate than open grounds when you look

down from the flight window. And it's real estate and property matters that dominate headlines in newspapers and debates around the city. It is after all the fastest-developing city in the country with good reason.

Development and progress is what Australian cricket is on the cusp of too, or so those concerned will hope for. For, it'd already hit that point of "there's only one way left, which is up" earlier this summer. Losing the Test series to India was just one part of it. It was the hapless nature of their submission, often without a fight - save some parts of Adelaide and the Perth win - that stood out as a sign of just how low they'd sunk.

So Brisbane sort of was a good place to get their transformation underway. And not just because it's also home to the man, Allan Border, who turned it around for them the last time their cricket seemed to be in a quagmire of no return.

There was also a lot of real estate up for grabs in that Australian playing XI going into the Sri Lanka series. The selectors, like those in charge of changing the face of Brisbane's landscape, had already decided to bank on some fresh ideas rather than just look to refurbish the tried and tested. In the end, their bold changes clicked, and handsomely so. The young Australians they'd thrown into the deep end at least swam to shore without a fuss, even if they

still have a way to go before claiming to have come of age. That can wait though. It has to be said that the opposition wasn't the greatest, especially on the most Aussie of pitches in the world, and against a moving pink ball. Sri Lanka is a decent Test team, but they were always going to come a cropper against a quality bowling attack in conditions as alien as it can get for their young batsmen. That they completely surrendered without a fight within two-and-a-half days was as much a result of their incompetence as it was the pressure that the Aussies managed to unload on them. And it was one of the debutants who played an integral role in doing so in the first innings.

CMYK

NEW DELHI Rahul Dravid believes that instant fame and wealth are not the only reasons for a young cricketer to feel entitled as excessive parental attention during formative years could also prove to be equally harmful.

Dravid's comments came in the wake of controversy surrounding the sexist remarks made by Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, who were suspended by the CoA and subsequently had their provisional suspensions lifted.

Dravid refused to agree when suggested that perhaps big money influences a player's character.

"I don't like to equate entitlement with wealth. Yes, it can come with wealth, but I don't think that is the only factor. It can happen from a young age. Sometimes in a lower-income family they see one of the kids is special in cricket so the entire energy of the family is focused towards him or her," Dravid said.

"If everything is sacrificed for that one person, then sometimes that can lead to a sense of entitlement as well. If that starts at a very young age, the kid could feel, "I am special and it is all about me," the former India captain said.

"If the player is going to feel a sense of entitlement irrespective of whether he is rich or poor, then you have a problem.

We face that problem sometimes. At the NCA, a lot of coaches have told me sometimes the best bowlers and the best batsmen are the worst fielders or the worst runners between wickets."

Dravid said parents and coaches play a huge role in the shaping up of a player.

"There are two things that are very important. The first is what kids are taught by their parents and early coaches.

"If people have been told they can fudge their age, that is the start of a problem. You are basically telling the kid it is okay to cheat. For me that is not setting the right example to a young kid at an impressionable age," the India U-19

coach spoke about the age old malaise.

"If a parent is shouting at a coach and blaming a coach or umpire when things go wrong, to a young, impressionable kid, he grows up thinking that is the way things should be done.

"The second key point, I feel, that can help youngsters is the role a senior player plays. Seniors in cricket teams can play a huge role in guiding and helping a youngster - not necessarily with words but by setting the right example."

When asked how much responsibility rests with the BCCI for grooming the players when it comes to their public conduct, the former India captain said it starts from home.

"I don't think you can just pass on the responsibility to just the BCCI and state associations.

Along the way there are many touchpoints for cricketers.

Right from the time the boy or girl starts playing cricket, your attitude towards the game, what is it that you are taught, are very, very impor-

tant," Dravid said.

"Because in a lot of ways they sometimes frame your personality, the way you approach and think about the game.

Young players go through a journey junior teams at the state level, junior teams at the national level, first-class teams, A teams, IPL teams. So there are many places where you can use the opportunity to support and help the youngsters."

Dravid said it is important to realise that sometimes these things can happen.

"Sportspersons and public figures can make mistakes. It is part of learning and growing up."

He insisted that Pandya and Rahul can still emerge as role models, provided they use this tough time to realise their true potential.

"I have no doubt about it. I have coached both of them at various levels. I somehow just don't feel that interview truly reflected the players. Hopefully they will come back better and stronger from this.

"I will say honestly, I do believe that both of them have not yet achieved their obvious potential that they both have, and maybe this might be the catalyst that would lead them to reflect and help them reach the level and potential they can achieve in all forms of the game. If they can do that they can certainly be role models."

Dravid said in the age of social media platforms which make star athletes accessible, they can't really stop them from ignoring it but they do advise to use it smartly.

"Young people getting on those platforms should understand the obvious advantages and the pitfalls. We tell them is look, there are advantages with what you guys are doing, but there are obvious dangers and stuff that can mess up with your mind, which will then not necessarily allow you to focus on the game or will stress you out, affect you mentally, and affect your game. So you've got to be careful that you not let that happen.

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CMYK

Wealth is not only reason that youngsters feel entitled: Dravid