The Asian Chronicle

Vol V, Issue X

16-31 Aug, 2020 Pages 16, Price Rs. 5/Faridabad (NCR)

Vol-V, Issue-X, Published for the period 16-31 August, 2020. Printed & Published by Virender for and on behalf of Karamvir Kamal (Owner) from 2569, Street No. 2, Jawahar Colony, N.I.T, Faridabad, Haryana and printed at Joy Printers, 3G-142, N.I.T. Faridabad-121001, Haryana. Editor Karamvir Kamal* (responsible for selection of news under PRB Act 1867), Sub Editor Bhoomika Mohan. RNI No. HARENG/2016/67803. Executive Office: 431, Saraswati Vihar, Gurugram-122004, Haryana. Contact +91 9212 46 0446, 9899 73 1532, Email: asianchronicleindia@gmail.com, WWW.THEASIANCHRONICLE.COM | WWW.THEASIANCHRONICLE.IN

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Gang rapes of India's daughters India's unorganised sector hit hard by COVID 19

In the wake of the global pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide national lockdown, which has brought the country

Virtual offices invite trouble for employees

An employee shows up shirtless to a virtual meeting with his manager, a woman. In another instance, an employee

Realizing Women’s Economic Potential

Women make up half the human population - and can act as key drivers of global growth and national security.

India After 73 Years of Independence- A brutal true picture On 15th August,2020 India completed 73 years of Independence, yet many minds

Article 370 on one hand COVID 19 on the other Kashmir under double attack

Kashmiris are under double lockdown because of the pandemic on the one hand and the government has restricted the political leaders to participate in the public meeting and discussions on J&K issues. The political parties and the media

Gold prices surge the world over Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

economy Haritha Senthilkumar

COVID- 19 had brought 22 lakh people fall in suffering and 44, 400 deaths in India. This has wreaked economic crisis to all the business across the world. Day by day the gold price drastically rises across the world and the gold market is shattered by the sudden surging.

The shocking price of gold has crossed around 25 percent increment within the first half of the year 2020 from the end of March.

THE INDIA'S CONDITION TO THE SOARING OF PRICE

The most loved ornament Gold by the Indian people began to rise price rapidly from the end of March due to COVID-19 crisis. On looking on the trading of gold into India, the major import into India is gold. The import of gold and goldbars into India is governed by the RBI.As per the RBI circular, import of Gold would be permitted only for entities notified by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) In India, the Kolar Gold Fields (K.G.F.) is a mining region, the Kolar gold mines were nationalized in 1956, and provided a total of over 900 tonnes of gold. They were closed by the Indian government on 28 February 2001 for environmental and economic reasons; food, water and shelter were scarce, and production did not justify the investment. As this region has trespassed, even the gold can't be mined to lower the prices of gold during this pandemic condition.

The COVID-19 had been a big hit to the economic basis across the world so the trade has been halted since March 2020. Also, the exporting countries of Gold to India is UK

and US and the crisis of spreading and fraternity rate is rising day by day and this pandemic condition is the only reason which stopped the entire global market.

As the entire Indian Market depends on the imports, and the failure of imports due to pandemic conditions caused a high rate of Gold in India.

On 8th August, the gold rate hit Rs 52,915.

The analysis over the drastic rising has predicted the rate will be higher than this that can hit Rs 65, 000 by the next year.

THE WORLD MARKET CONDITIONS

In the international market, gold prices were steady, following a sharp decline in the previous session. Spot gold was steady at $2,033.40 per ounce. US gold futures rose 0.7 per cent to $2,042.90.

The future price of gold surged to a nineyear high of $ 1,856.60 per troy ounce in London on Wednesday, inching closer to their record high of $1,920 an ounce hit in September of 2011. One troy ounce is equivalent to 31.1034768 grams.

THE WORLD ECONOMISTS STATES?

“We expect precious metals to trade firm until the number of global cases of Covid-19 is under control or a vaccine is introduced in the market which is still a few months away,” said Nish Bhatt, Founder & CEO, Millwood Kane International.

World Gold Council report said, “It will also continue to reinforce the role of gold as a strategic asset. And we believe that the combination of high risk, low opportunity cost and positive price momentum looks set to support

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gold investment and offset weakness in consumption from an economic contraction.”

“International gold prices have been on the rise in the last a few months and picked up pace amid sharp losses in the dollar, additional stimulus measures and robust investor inflows. Rising virus cases and US-China tensions have also underpinned the gold price,” said Ravindra Rao, Head of Commodity Research, Kotak Securities.

“Rising pandemic cases and escalating USChina tensions continue to lift the safe-haven demand for gold and thus prices of the commodity. However, with the dollar gaining strength after the key US employment numbers and near-record high prices are likely to calm down major buying sentiments,” said Hareesh V, Head Commodity Research at Geojit Financial Services.

SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest goldbacked exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.46 per cent to 1,262.12 tonnes on Friday. “As long as the support of $1980 remains undisturbed, expect rallies to continue with immediate resistance seen at $2080 followed by $2280 levels later. A direct drop below $1880 could negate the outlook and take prices lower,” Hareesh V added.

"Global equity market futures are struggling to make gains today, likely for no other reason than with rising daily COVID-19 cases in the US remaining front-page news, the headlines are proving to be a weighty burden to bear this morning," said Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at AxiCorp.

Henceforth, the stated reason by these economists is right and the real one reason is ‘Rising COVID-19 ' that pushes the economy down worldwide and, ceasing of gold trade caused the surge of its price.

India's unorganised sector hit hard by COVID 19

Pratyasha Mohanty

In the wake of the global pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide national lockdown, which has brought the country to a standstill, affecting lives across the subcontinent, especially those of the unorganised sector. The number of informal sector workers who sought to register for a contributory social security scheme dropped to an all-time low of just 12,500 in July.

The July registrations are far below the monthly average of more than 1,00,000 workers who opted to register with the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM), a pension scheme, in the previous year. This contributory pension scheme, was started as a key to social security measure, that is applicable for the unorganized sector workers in the 18-40 age group and those who earn less than Rs. 15,000 per month.

According to this scheme a worker would pay a monthly contribution between ₹55 and ₹200 and a matching contribution is offered by the government. And the government has promised a ₹3,000 monthly pension once they complete 60 years.

But due to the outburst of this

global pandemic, the figures of July are at the lowest since at least April 2019, for which monthly data is available and is believed to be the lowest since the scheme came into act in February 2019.

The decline came as unorganized sector workers continued to struggle to earn a living because of job

loss and income loss following the coronavirus outbreak. The shutting down of factories and other labour intensive industries meant the loss of livelihood for hundreds of daily wage workers who migrate to big cities from their home towns in search of jobs.

As per the statistics we can see that the cumulative number registered in the last four-and-a-half months is not even 50% of the new registrations in February alone or 20% of the new registrations in October 2019, the best month since it’s enforcement in 2019. In February, the fresh pension registration was little above 189,000, while in October it was over 500,000. In contrast fresh enrolments were 17,000 in April, 19,000 in May, 13,900 in June and 12,560 in July.

The significant decrement is quite obvious in such a situation.

As per a statement by Arup Mitra, professor of economics at the Institute of Economic Growth in New Delhi, “Since end-March we all have seen a huge displace-

ment of informal sector workers of the urban centres. Hundreds of thousands of migrants went to their villages, while those who stayed back in the big cities were struggling to make ends meet because of income loss and job loss. It was a fight for their survival , for a group of people whose earnings and place to live are not fixed. And other than this, the registration problems during lockdown, and lack of a handy address and identity proof may also have contributed to the situation.”

In such a situation where the migrant labourers are unable to return to their home or even not able to get a meal per day, adding to it the fear of the pandemic, and a struggle to take care of the present rather than save for future in the face of uncertainties are among the reasons for the fall in the pension enrolment under the Shram Yogi Maan-dhan scheme. This shows the hardship the unorganised sector (i.e lower rank of the labour market) is facing.

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

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issue

India After 73 Years of Independence-

A brutal true picture in Rajya Sabha as states are opposing certain transport reforms proposed in the amendment bill.

The government needs to restart the process, carve out road safety provisions and create a separate road safety act.The pending bills are to be considered and re-looked at so as to bring the best reforms in transportation.

According to the government reports, 85% of passenger demand is catered to by road transport in the country and two third of this demand is met by buses.

It is a high time that the government launch a national programme on supporting public transport that in our case should focus on buses. Major developed counties around the world have shown successful results over the years of following some kind of national program to support public transport.

The Indian Politics

Bhoomika Mohan

Bhoomikamohan88@gmail.com

On 15th August,2020 India completed 73 years of Independence, yet many minds linger around one silent question echoing deep down their hearts, ‘Are we really free?’. Do women, especially, feel free even after 73 years of Independence? Is the ‘free’ air safe to breathe? Is the ‘land of freedom’ not a landfill site?

India are for suburban rail, because it is owned and controlled by Indian Railways.

Buses carry more than 90% of public transport in Indian cities. Indeed, most Indian cities have no rail transport at all. Even in most of the largest cities, Rail service carries less than a third of public transport passengers.

This is one subject that could take an encyclopaedia to wrap up.

Since Independence, India has witnessed 17 bloodless changes of power, showcasing the strength of its democracy driven values. It has the largest number of elected persons in the world because of the Parliament and a threetier Panchayati Raj system across the country.

On state level, who hasn’t seen the iron rods protruding out of the trucks while driving on highways and even inside cities? This method of transporting is very dangerous and have caused many accidents in the past years.

Supreme court has already banned trucks from carrying protruding rods but there is rarely any ground reality check.

Extreme corruption can be witnessed in the police department. The license process which is handled by RTO is heavily dependent on 'agent system'. To procure a new license, all one has to do is pay a certain amount to the agent and he “takes care” of the entire process.

The ministry of road transport and highways in the past, have tried to amend the legislation by first developing the Road Transport & Safety Bill and then coming up with the amendments to the MVA, 1988. The bill was passed by Lok Sabha in April 2017. It is stuck

Politics is the means to effect change. All countries and societies effect change all the time; politics is the means to bring about that change. However, in reality people don’t really indulge in politics, they indulge in making political choices and gather groups that agree with them, to elect the leader of their choice. Politics should only be what the leaders indulge in before and after being elected.

People elect leaders with expectations in their eyes but does the elected leader really reflect what the people want or is it mostly about what that leader wants, often for his own reasons?

If facts be checked, majority of the Indian people still live in rural India under poor living conditions and with little to no education of matters outside their areas of residence.

Yet, 98% of the people who would fall in this category are responsible for choosing a government which will legislate over the future

Waste management over years

India in last year achieved a massive accomplishment, completing 100 per cent household electrification in 25 states. According to a government release, only about 10.48 lakh households in Assam, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, and Chhattisgarh are left to be electrified.

But does the ground report tally with the government release?

India’s tallest rubbish mountain in New Delhi is on course to rise higher than the Taj Mahal in the next year, becoming a fetid symbol for what the UN considers the world’s most polluted capital. The garbage has accumulated at such an extent that if left untreated, it is expected to rise higher than Taj Mahal in upcoming years.

Growing population and a rapidly rising demand for electricity in both rural and urban areas, has put an overwhelming pressure on the ecosystem. There is a downward flow of funds from the government to the respective authorities but some factors of corruption and administrative imbalances seem to fail the purpose.

This is evident from the fact that, by the end of last year, there were less than 200 recyclers and dismantlers of e-waste registered with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India.

This indeed is a highlight on everything which is yet to be worked upon in This sector.

The Indian transport system

The best statistics for public transport in

of the country.

We see vote bank politics being practiced in its worst form every year, year after year.

It is so common to see votes being bought and sold in its crudest form. Votes are garnered through threat or at gunpoint.

Politics played at the grass root level is indeed nasty, coercive and corrupt. Electing representatives to the Panchayat is often based on clan and kinship.

Older parties like the Congress and BJP have shown signs of intolerance, as have new age parties like AAP. This is indeed a good sign but almost all the time, people speaking up are shut by the insiders. All parties are guilty of quashing dissent in any form. What is a worrying trend is that several parties are resorting to violent means whenever questioned by the people or members of their own parties.

Democracy in India is a thin patina on a deep crust of feudalism. The overlords change but the concept of overlordship remains the same. This is something that all sections of societies complain loudly about, until they are in a position to become the new overlords. Then they swiftly and smoothly move into the same positions and ways of life.

Thus, when the Britishers left, the posh clubs did not even find it necessary to change any rules including dress codes and the practice of summoning “bearers” by ringing bells.

The white collar jobs remained white collared. The way of lifestyle remained the same.

It was engraved inside of the subjects over a period of 200 years. India got the maps and flags in a matter of months in 1947, but the societies and peoples are still less free than Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders who also got freedom in around same years.

In its 72 years of independence, India has several achievements to its credit. We have built a modern economy (second fastest growing economy in the world), we remained a democracy while still being able to lift millions out of poverty, we have become a space and nuclear power and developed a robust foreign policy.

The purpose of this analysis is only to highlight the sections of improvement, especially those where each participant of society can come together to play their respective parts. mThe Green Revolution in India in 1960 saw an increase in food grain production, with development of high-yielding varieties of wheat, proving that if society hold hands firm they can bring about the necessary change in only a short span of time. mThe ChipkoAndolan was a forest conservation movement in India that was yet another proof of people coming together.

This work of writing is a call to action. Seventy-two years ago, on this day, India took baby steps to become one of the largest democracies in the world, and it has become one. Today, for yet another time, people of our nation should come together to join hands to eliminate the societal evils and let free air of freedom flow.

news Diesel sales fall by 19% in the first part of august comparatively since last month

TAC NEWS

India’s diesel consumption has plummeted during the first two weeks of August 2020 indicating the extension of regional lockdowns anda slumped economy.

The hike in prices seems to be adding fuel to the fire and it could well be a long time before the crippled economy rises to its usual heights while revoking the diesel sales.

According to the provisional sales data of state-run oil companies that control 90% of the market, the demand for diesel dropped by 19% whereas for petrol it increased by 2%.The sales of jet fuel fell 2% and of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) slid 6.5 per cent.

The sharp drop in diesel demand comes on top of the 12.5% drop witnessed in July over June. In the same period, petrol sales had dropped by 1%.Compared to August 2019, diesel sales in the first two weeks of August 2020 are down by 22.5%, petrol is down by 5.5%, jet fuel is down by 66% and LPG is down by 8.5%.

Fuel sales rose briskly during the months of May and June after a substantial collapse in April due to the nationwide lockdown but effort towards recovery went in vain as the salesagain started slipping in July.

Diesel, contributing 40% of the country’s total demand for oil, is widely used by trucks for transporting goods, running machines to irrigate farms and in industrial use for operating heavy machinery, to name a few. Failing diesel sales mean lower industrial and construction activity in the country, thus affecting the demand for other daily use materials resulting in the hiking of prices. Petrol sales appear to have endured the test of time and until more employees return to physical offices, the demand is unlikely to rise much.Restricted air traffic has kept the demand for jet fuel demand at bay. The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in all areas and the nation is struggling to keep its head out of the water.

Experts predict the demand for diesel and petrol may gain ground to the pre-Covid-19 levels by January-February subject to the revival of the economy.Falling domestic fuel demand and an oversupplied export market have prompted refiners to cut runs. The run rate at Indian Oil Corp, the nation’s largest refiner, has dropped to 75% from 93% in early July and its chairman, S M Vaidya, expects run rates to stay around 70-75% for the rest of the year.

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

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Article 370 on one hand COVID 19 on the other Kashmir under double attack

meeting among the regional parties to talk about the issue but the police converged in his resident and put up barricades in front of the gate.

The source states that other political leaders were under political arrest and they were not allowed to attend the meeting. The social activists and the senior journalists of the state are also under curfew. The centre owes an explanation to the state says the political parties.

Akshaya Jayakumar

Kashmiris are under double lockdown because of the pandemic on the one hand and the government has restricted the political leaders to participate in the public meeting and discussions on J&K issues. The political parties and the media of the state are silenced by the Indian government.

Most of the Kashmir’s mainstream political leaders are under house arrest since Article 370 was undone on 5th of August 2019.

There was a dispute in the state because of the cancellation of the special benefits enjoyed by the state from other states of Indian constitution. Because the dispute, the central government had restricted the important political leaders of Kashmir to be under house prison for a while until the public accepts removal of Article 370. To control the wrath of the people that would result in the riot, the government had announced curfew in Kashmir.

There are other restrictions to the state like non-availability on working of 4G, restriction to public meetings and many more.

Why the special status was removed?

Article 370 was introduced in the Indian Constitution in1954 and adopted by the state after two years in 1956. The permanent residents of the state enjoys the special benefits like they have the right to create their own rules, they need not abide by certain rules of Indian

Amnesty’s inference on the issue

constitution and most importantly the state enjoys a benefit of land reforms. The natives of the state can only buy or own the properties of the land. The state was a Muslim dominant valley that did not encourage other minorities to migrate to the state. The natives revolted against the government about the issue since 1989.The permanent residents of the state, fears the new settlements encouraged by the government might leads to the demographic change in the valley. BJP government in its election manifesto 2019 stated that the government with take efforts in unity of J&K along with other states of the country. Amit Shah, the president of BJP stated in the parliament 2019 that Article 370 is the root cause for the terrorist attacks in

Kashmir. So the government had decided to remove the special benefits enjoyed by the states.

Unheard voice of Kashmiris

The political leaders like MehboobaMutfi, former Chief Minister of Kashmir, his detention period is formally extended by three months. Farooq Abdullah, the president of People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Member of Parliament and his son Omar Abdullah, the vice-president of PDP were released from the arrest in the month of March. But they were not allowed to attend any public discussions in the parliament. On the one year anniversary of Article 370, Mr.Farooq had arranged for a

Amnesty International has requested the National Human Rights Commission of India to open the office of NCW in J&K. It has given other suggestions to restore 4G, to release all the political leaders, journalists and social activists who are the representatives of the state’s issues. Avinashkumar, Amnesty International India executive director states, “Over the last year, the government of India has been systematically dismantling all the avenues for justice for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. With zero representations, arbitrary use of some of the india’s more stringent laws, verbal orders of detention and crippling of local mediamost of this disproportionately higher in Kashmir- it’s been a complete year since we have heard the people of Jammu and Kashmir speak.” The scholars, political parties and the media who are the representatives of the people are locked up where the voice of the Kashmiris is left unheard in today’s scenario.

Facebook fails to check hate speech citing business concerns Rhythima Agrawal

Facebook has come under scrutiny after a report by an American newspaper; The Wall Street Journal claimed that the social media platform Facebook was biased in removing hate speech posts of a BJP leader and its group members. The move came after Facebook’s public policy director Ankhi Das refused to apply the hate speech rules to BJP leader T. Raja Singh and three others for instigating violence through their post. Das feared that the move could hurt Facebook’s interest in the country.

Referring to the hate speech posts

by Singh, the current and former employees of Facebook stated that Das opposed strict intervention which is seen as a part of broader favouritism by the social media giant towards the ruling party in India. However, the Company spokesperson responded to the allegations. Andy Stone, Facebook

Spokesperson, said that Das had raised concerns about the political fallout that would result from designating Singh: a dangerous individual. He further added that her opposition wasn't the sole factor in determining the company's decision to let the BJP leader remain on the platform. The spokesperson of Facebook said that they are considering the decision to ban Singh.

The US newspaper claimed that Das had helped the BJP in their election campaign. In April 2019, before voting began, Facebook announced it had taken down inauthentic pages tied to Pakistan's military and the Congress party but did not disclose

that it also removed pages with false news related to the BJP. In addition to it, it did not remove Singh and BJP leader Anant Kumar Hegde's post until Wall Street Journal pointed at those posts. In its defence, Facebook said that it prohibits hate speech content and enforces the policies globally.

Professor Sudhir Krishnaswamy, the vice-chancellor of National Law School of India University and the only Indian member of Facebook's new Oversight Board, declined to comment. He said, "I'm a part of the Independent Oversight Board. I do not represent or speak for FB”. He further added that the board would begin working in 6-8 weeks. Meanwhile, a political slugfest has broken between the leaders of the ruling party and Congress.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the BJP controls Whatsapp and Facebook in India. Shashi Tharoor, a Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on IT and

Kerala MP said, "Our parliamentary committee will consider testimony under the topic 'safeguarding citizens' rights & prevention and misuse of social/online news media platforms. The subject is squarely within the IT CMT's mandate & Facebook".

However, a minister from the BJP was quick to hit back. Ravi Shanker, the minister of IT and telecom, said that Congress does not have the right to question the BJP when Congress party was caught `red-handed' in the attempt to `weaponise data' before the 2019 elections.

Once again the BJP leaders are justifying their wrongdoings by asserting and blaming the earlier misdeeds of Congress. It is a new kind of plea emerging in the contemporary Indian politics to justify the wrongdoings by comparing with the past misdeeds of other political parties. In any case it would be interesting to see Facebook’s stand in this situation.

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

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issue

Realizing Women’s Economic Potential Nishica Choudhary

Women make up half the human population and can act as key drivers of global growth and national security. As USAID believe that investing in gender equality and women’s empowerment can help eradicate extreme poverty, build vibrant economies, and unlock human potential on a transformational scale.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right. It is also a keystone of a prosperous, modern economy that provides sustainable inclusive growth. Recognising that gender equality is essential for ensuring that men and women can contribute fully for the betterment of societies and economies at large, G20 Leaders first committed to “women’s full economic and social participation” in Los Cabos in 2012.

Despite the headway the world has experienced over the years in terms of a substantial increase in access as well as the availability of new applications and more affordable handsets, there are still significant challenges to overcome in ensuring women are included in the transformation to a digital enabled society. Ensuring women can efficiently adopt new digital technologies would benefit worldwide productivity and social development. A better digital inclusion of women will also significantly improve their financial inclusion.

Why difficult?

m Bridging the digital gender gap not only requires infrastructure investments but also making digital technologies more affordable, as cost remains one of the key obstacles for women to access the Internet. m Women often lack collaterals required by traditional financial institutions to prove their creditworthiness. m Hurdles to access, m lack of education as well as inherent biases. m Socio-cultural norms curtail women and girls’ ability to benefit from the opportunities offered by the digital transformation.

Reliance Foundation on Wednesday said it has partnered US Agency for International Development (USAID) to launch the W-GDP WomenConnect Challenge across India this year with an aim to bridge the gender digital di-

“Societies that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful.”

often do not have equal access to the capital and business networks they need to sustain and expand their businesses. m To fund efforts to support women who want to start and scale up their businesses m To create prosperity and stability for their families and communities.

Enabling Environments

Women’s economic empowerment also involves changes to laws, policies, practices and norms that have historically limited women’s potential. m To identify and reduce policy, legal and regulatory barriers to women’s participation in the economy m To promote improved practices that increase women’s economic empowerment. vide in India.

The Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) challenge supports private sector-led approaches that close the gender digital divide, expand business opportunities, and empower women. “...At the heart of this partnership, is our shared goal to help bridge both the gender divides and the digital divide in India," Nita Ambani, founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, said.

In February 2019, the US government launched the W-GDP initiative that seeks to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025 by focusing on three aspects-women prospering in the workforce, women succeeding as entrepreneurs and women enabled in the economy. It leverages on new innovative fund and scaling private-public partnerships, and has so far reached 12 million women across the globe.

His partnership was announced at a W-GDP event on Tuesday, Ivanka Trump, advisor to the president of the United States, said, “The WGDP Fund was created to source and scale the most innovative programs to advance women’s economic empowerment. We are leveraging the resources and expertise of the U.S. government and the private sector so that activities have enduring, deep effects on the communities they reach.”

The initiative focuses on three pillars:

Pillar One: Advancing workforce development and vocational education to ensure women have the skills and training necessary to secure jobs.

Pillar Two: Promoting women’s entrepreneurship and providing women with access to capital, markets, technical assistance and networks.

Pillar Three: Striving to remove the legal, regulatory and cultural barriers that constrain women from being able to fully and freely participate in the economy.

Workforce Development

Workforce development and skills training for women and girls help pave the way for economic empowerment. m To improve women’s and girls’ access to quality education and training — m Including training with educational opportunities closely linked with employer needs. m Lead to higher-paying, middle-skill jobs including high -growth, in-demand occupationssuch as those jobs in the STEM fields.

Women Entrepreneurs

Women entrepreneurs are an emerging worldwide market force and an important source of innovation and job creation. However, they

AGENDA FOR ACTION

m Extend networks and digital access (e.g. through satellite) to rural areas m Promote access to and affordability and use of connected digital devices (e.g. smart phones, tablets, laptops), especially for low-income individuals m Boost availability and promotion of e-banking and mobile money, especially to women and other disadvantaged categories m Increase online safety. m Implement awareness campaigns tackling socio-cultural norms and biases and stereotypes. m Design prizes and incentive schemes for companies and organisations actively implementing gender- neutral policies linked to measurable targets m Foster networking and gender inclusion in entrepreneurial and innovative activities.

Thus, policies aimed at reducing gender gaps in digital inclusion will further empower women by preventing and reducing gender inequalities on labour markets and improving women’s financial inclusion.

Despite the headway the world has experienced over the years in terms of a substantial increase in digital access, there are still significant challenges to overcome in ensuring women are included in the transformation to a digital society and leapfrogging productivity and social development.

Adani Group’s plan to acquire stake in Mumbai airport hits another road-block

Manikya Dheeren

Adani Group had in March 2019 agreed to acquire 13.5 per cent stake of South African company, Bidvest for Rs 1,248 crore. However, GVK Group blocked the deal claiming the right of first refusal. But GVK couldn't bring money to the table to buy Bid Services Division Mauritius' (Bidvest) stake and the matter went to court.

Adani Group is in talks to acquire a 50.5 per cent stake held by GVK Group in Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) and another 23.5 percent of minority partners, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), and Bidvest Group, two sources with knowledge of the matter said.

The spokesperson of both Adani and GVK refused to comment.

Billionaire Gautam Adani's Adani Group is in talks to buy out GVK NSE -0.83 % and some of its partners in the Mumbai Airport as it aims to become the country's biggest private airport

operator.

Adani Group had in March 2019 agreed to acquire 13.5 per cent stake of South African company, Bidvest for Rs 1,248 crore. However, GVK Group blocked the deal claiming the right of first refusal. But GVK couldn't bring money to the table to buy Bid Services Division Mauritius' (Bidvest) stake and the matter went to court.

With GVK Group's finances under strain, it has now come around to the idea of selling the stake to Adani Group, they said.

ORDINARY BUSINESS

1. To consider and adopt the audited financial statements (including the consolidated financial statements) of the Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2019 and the Report of the Board of Directors (‘the Board’) and the auditors thereon.

2. To appoint a director in place of Mr. G V Sanjay Reddy (DIN 00005282), who retires by rotation

and, being eligible, seeks reappointment The Adani Group’s plans to acquire stake in the Mumbai airport has hit another roadblock with a tribunal restraining Bid Services Division (Mauritius) from selling its 13.5% stake in the airport till arbitration proceedings are completed, sources said.

The order comes after India’s apex court had last month directed the tribunal to decide by January 27 on whether the GVK Group is in a position to buy Bidvest’s stake in Mumbai International Airport (MIAL).

In October, debt-laden GVK Group entered into an agreement to sell 79 percent of its stake in GVK Airport Holdings for Rs 7,614 crore to the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Canada's Public Sector Pension (PSP) Investments, and state-owned National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). Proceeds from this transaction were to be used by GVK to primarily retire the debt obligations of its

holding companies. It is not known if GVK got all the funds from the deal.

Sources said the investor consortium of NIIF, ADIA, and PSP Investments has agreed to give a 'carve-out' to the promoters of GVK, the Reddy family, so as to allow them to sell stake in MIAL. Multiple teams are working on the Adani-GVK transaction, one of the sources said adding a preliminary announcement could come within weeks.

The development comes after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last week charged the GVK Group with siphoning off funds totaling Rs 705 crore. It is charged with causing a loss of Rs 310 crore to the exchequer by entering into fake work contracts on the land given by the government to MIAL. With the six non-metro airports and MIAL, Adani Group will become the largest operator of airports other than state-run AAI, which runs most of the airports.

While proceedings on the matter will continue, the share purchase agreement signed between Adanis and Bidvest in March 2019 can no longer be executed, a lawyer with knowledge of the matter said. Bidvest has the option to appeal this order in the Delhi High Court, he added.

The arbitration tribunal is yet to decide whether the deposit of over Rs 1,250 crore made in an escrow by GVK Airport Holdings, which currently holds 51.5% stake in MIAL for the purchase of Bidvest’s shares is compliant with its earlier order. The current order is subject to GVK’s compliance of the September order passed by the tribunal.

“We are happy that the honourable tribunal has ruled in our favour. Currently, we are in discussions with our lawyers for the future course of action and hence it will be a bit premature to share any further details,” a GVK spokesperson said in response to FE’s queries.

Gang rapes of India's daughters Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

nation Ria Syal

It's such a shame, to hear about gang rapes, harassment cases worldwide. It's not a shame for the victim's parents, perhaps for the monsters hidden under the masks of innocent faces. But we live in a male dominant society, where preference is given more to a male child than a female. Females are told from the starting of their birth, to remain in a societal boundary and do not cross that ever. This situation mostly arises, due to a lack of proper education and knowledge, mostly in rural areas.

What is meant by the term 'Rape'?

The term Rape means when someone forcefully, typically without the permission of the other person forces to have sexual intercourse (sometimes, victims are raped so brutally that it may cause their death). Rape is the fourth most crime committed against women in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2018 annual report, 33,356 rape cases were listed across India in 2018.

India has been portrayed as one of the "countries with the lowest per capita rates of rape".

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to Yogi AdityaNath, UP government over alleged gangrape and murder of a minor 13-year-old girl in Lakhimpur Kheri, in Kanpur and faulty behavior against a minor miss by a policeman.

Firstly, talking about the case of the 13-yearold girl belonging to a scheduled caste, who was brutally raped and killed while she had gone to relieve herself in the farmland of one of the perpetrators.

“Reportedly the victim was tortured before strangled to death. It is mentioned in the news report that there is a toilet in the victim’s house but it’s not functional. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and DGP, Government of UP, calling for detailed reports in the matter within six weeks includ-

ing disbursement of the statutory relief as per rules framed under provisions of the SC/ST (POA) Act to the family of the victim, action taken against the guilty and the status of status of the FIRs registered in the matter,” the NHRC stated.

NHRC added that both the cited have been arrested by the policemen. “The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kheri has reportedly stated that the FIR has been registered under relevant sections of IPC and POCSO Act. He has further added that the National Security Act will be slapped against the accused who were arrested by the police within few hours after the incident,” the NHRC stated in a report.

NHRC has also continued that "the UP Chief Secretary is expected to sensitize the

district authorities in the State to create awareness that the toilets should not be constructed for mere fulfillment of the government records, they are to be actually made functional.”

In fact, NHRC has found it suitable to send a copy of the report item to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, which is the Head Ministry for the Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan. “It is expected from the Ministry to issue the guidelines to all the States and Union Union Territories to ensure that the toilets are not only constructed but also used to make the country clean and save the women from the heinous crimes committed by anti-social elements when they go out to relieve themselves.

He is also expected to respond within six weeks,” the NHRC said.

6

The body has also taken Suo Moto notice of a media report that an Inspector of Govind Nagar police Station, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh asked a 16 years old girl to dance in place of filing an FIR upon the nephew of her landowner who has been bothering her.

“The Commission has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a detailed report within six weeks in the matter including action taken against the delinquent police officer and the status of the FIR registered on the complaint submitted by the victim's family. Reportedly, the girl's family earns livelihood by doing some Jagran parties etc and they had tried to lodge a complaint against the nephew of their landlord accusing him of molesting the girl besides forcibly evacuating them from the rented portion of the house, a few days ago,” the NHRC stated.

“According to the media report, the Circle Officer of Govind Nagar, Kanpur has denied the allegations stating that there is no substance in the charges and prima facie, it appears that the girl has made the video viral in order to create pressure on the police. He has also stated that an investigation into the matter is underway”, the NHRC has specified in its statement.

The government needs to take several emergency measures against such brutal and disheartening cases. Measures should be taken in keeping in mind, that the criminals should think millions of times before committing such shameful cases. The fear of the post-consequences which could occur after committing such crimes, should be fitted in the filthy brains of such perpetrators. The government should create awareness through campaigns for minor children to educate efficiently in such circumstances. Strict actions should be taken against such police inspectors(criminals) and they should be tortured mentally and physically too in order to make them realize.

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan- The biggest nation wide campaign

Akshinta Das

Swach Bharat Abhiyan was a nation-wide campaign from 2014 to 2019, to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management (SWM) in urban and rural areas in India. The objectives of the mission also included eradication of manual scavenging, generating awareness and bringing about behavioral change regarding sanitation practices, and augmentation of capacity at the local level. Initiated by the Government of India, the mission aimed to achieve an ‘open defecation free’ India by 2nd October 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The mission aimed at progressing towards target 6.2 of Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN in 2015.

The campaign’s official name is in Hindi. In English it translates to

“Clean India Mission”. The campaign was officially launched at Raighat New Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is India’s largest cleanliness drive to date with 3 million government employees and students participating in 4,043 cities, towns and rural communities.

At a rally in Champaran, the Prime Minister called the campaign Satyagrah se Swachagraha in reference to Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagrah launched on 10th April 1916.

The mission was split into two: rural and urban. In rural areas “SBM Gramin” was financed and monitored through the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation at the village level, whereas “SBMUrban” was overseen by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

As part of the campaign, volunteers known as Swachagrahis or “Ambassadors of Cleanliness” promoted indoor plumbing and community approaches to sanitation

(CAS) at the village level. Other activities included real-time monitoring and updates from NGO’s such as The Ugly Indian, Waste Warriors and SwaCH Pune(Solid Waste Col-

lection and Handling).

According to the dashboards maintained by respective ministries, more than 100 million individual household level toilets have been constructed in rural areas, and 6 million household toilets in urban areas. In addition, nearly 6 million community and public toilets have also been constructed in the urban areas. Consequently, 4,234 cities and more than 600,000 villages across the country have declared themselves open defecation free (ODF).

Further, more that 81.5 thousand wards in urban areas now have100% door to door collection of solid waste and nearly 65 thousand wards practice 100% segregation of waste at source. Of the nearly 150 thousand metric tonnes of solid waste generated in urban areas, 65% is being processed.

An independent survey released

by Quality Council of India in Au-

gust 2017, reported that overall national rural "household access to toilet" coverage increased to 62.5% and usage of toilets to 91.3%, with Haryana topping the national ranking with 99% of households in rural areas covered and usage of toilets of 100%.[64] World Health Organization (WHO) has in its report stated that at least 180,000 diarrhoeal deaths were averted in rural India since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission.[65] According to a survey carried out in 2018 and published in 2019 by National Statistical Office (NSO), 71% of rural households had access to toilets as of 2018. Though this was at odds with the Indian government's claim in 2019 that 95% of rural households had access to toilets, NSO's numbers still indicated a significant improvement over the situation during the previous survey period in 2012, when only 40% of rural households had access to toilets.

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Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

review

A book that explores the secret life of plants

Book Details

Genre: Non-fiction, Botany, Environment, Nature.

Publication Date: 2nd April, 2020 Publisher: Self published.

Enlightening and Instructive," The Secret of Plants in the environment" by Rishikesh Upadhyay sets itself up as a perfect guide for better understanding of the challenges faced by plants in the biosphere.

We all are well acquainted with various types of plants in our surroundings but are we truly aware of the harmful or stressful factors that a plant gets exposed to?

At the crux, the plot inscribes some eye opening facts about plants. Plants are sessile organisms that are unable to move but face the challenge of ever-changing or adverse environments. The study of the development of environmental changes in tolerant plants is fundamental for the maintenance and streamlining of high crop yields and plant adaptation in natural environments. The identification of genes that lead to changes or stress tolerance is urgently needed for the growth and development of plants in their natural environment.

Further exploration reveals that the author is a connoisseur of Botany. He addresses environmental concerns and presents scientific data, applied information about the different types of stress situations and plant adaptation to changing environments, including the positive and negative effects of stress on the growth of crops, the beginning stages of plant life cycles, and plant output and seeks to discuss the impact of environmental changes or stress on plant life, environmental stress physiology, and adaptation mechanisms. It also highlights the impact of environmen-

tal stresses on plants and crops under changing environments and gives a comprehensive overview of how plants respond to such environments.

Early-career scientists, Students of Bachelor of Science, Masters of Science, research scholars or any other professionals engaged in pursuing environmental science to an advanced stage, teaching and research on environmental-related subjects are encouraged to read this book thoroughly so that they can discover the extraordinary diversity of the plant world as it deals with some important aspects of environmental change or stress as the main issue affecting the survival of plants at the early stages of their life cycle.

The author goes beyond the basics to explain his readers everything they might want to know about plants which embraces plant's response to radiation, their adaption to biotic components, drought and heat adaption in plants, influence of magnetic field and many more.

Rishikesh Upadhyay's comprehensive writing style packed with sumptuous photos and crystal clear illustration represents an investment in time that returns dividend of wonder for his readers.

The title and the cover of the book are completely apt to the storyline.

Looking for an easier, knowledgeable yet engaging way to know about plants and their secret life? Go grab a copy of this book.

Purchase link

https://www.amazon.in/dp/1648509207

About Author

Rishikesh Upadhyay, also known as

R.K. Upadhyay is an Assistant Professor, researcher and an author who loves learning and teaching. He is currently a faculty member of Plant Environmental Physiology and Chemistry at a local government college affiliated to Assam University, Silchar, India.

Reviewe by

Barnali Chakraborty

Count on these easy hair styles to glam up your look

TAC Feature Desk: It’s time to jazz up your dull day with a beautiful hairstyle if you have been bored of your daily look.

Even when staying home, you can add that little extra to your look and try something new. Whether you have an urge to keep your hair open or just in dire need of tying it up, here are some easy hairstyles that you

braid, your cross them under. From the front, it looks pretty simple. The loose pieces along the hairline also soften the look.

style for any event. Dress it up with a barrette or go accessory-free and secure it with bobby pins. Either way, this style is minimal effort for maximum payoff.

Braided up do

Voluminous pony

This style looks great on curly, wavy, or

now, the half-up half-down hairstyle are our favourite. They look polished and are effortless. They are perfect for a lazy hair day.

They’re also versatile for any hair length or texture. Pull some hair from the front and pin them back with bobby pins. You can add pearl bobby pins and create a twist, too. can try.

Messy braid

Messy braid or Dutch side braid is perfect for those with curly hair. It is also called a reverse or inside-out braid. To create this style, one must braid their hair just like a French braid, but in reverse. Instead of crossing the sections over, as in a French

straight hair. Braided up dos are a rage during wedding seasons. This style can be casual and messy, or you can do a neater and tighter braid for your virtual meetings. By twisting the braided up do, you can create a gorgeous side bun or the usual low bun.

Half up and half down

Of all the hair trends that are ‘in’ right

Side swept curls

There’s something elegant about big, bouncy curls. If you’re looking for a voluminous hairstyle, look no further than your curling wand. Instead of leaving your hair in curls around your face, pulling them to one side instantly creates a sophisticated effect.

Side-swept curls are not only pretty but also fit for any occasion. Keeping the hair sideswept is a quick way to elevate your hair-

Women prefer to wear their hair in a high pony. Voluminous ponytail will make your hair from blah to beautiful without much effort. This hairstyle adds length, volume, and style without any extensions or heated styling tools. This hairstyle is best for women with thin hair. You just have to make one pony inside of the other and backcomb the upper pony. Backcombing is a popular way to add volume. Just make sure you have the correct brush.

religion

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

Karbala: A Guiding Light for Humanity and the Essence of Islam

An incident that occurred more than 1400 years ago that is commemorated every year, how could its fervour and zeal never fade away? All over the world people prefer to start their new year with celebration but why a section of community choose to begin their year with grief? What do these people gain by mourning over the same incident every year? Every single year the millions of people gathering to pay homage to Hazrat Imam Hussain (a.s) like a personal loss, like a death in their family on Arbaeen seems to be on the rise. Undoubtedly this pain is enriching their lives in some way, but how?

8

Revisiting the historical incident by making a small azakhana(sacred place for mourning) where we keep the alams of martyrs, narrating the events through hadees, nauha and mourning, is not merely the expression of our deep respect and love for Imam Hussain(a.s), but a blessing that makes us look inward and reexamine our life in the light of lessons from Karbala. When people gather to recall and cry over the brutality meted out to Imam Hussain (a.s) , his family and followers, it unconsciously imbues a profound impact on one's character and thinking.

The beauty of this pain that moves a soul to tears not only softens the heart but enhances the virtues of empathy, compassion and humanity.

Drawing from personal experiences and memories from childhood till date, I make a humble attempt to write on the essence of Muharram though it's impossible to capture it in words.

Dr Farah Naqvi

Standing steadfast with truth and humanity

Karbala not only teaches us the significance of having values and principles to guide our life but to stand steadfast to it come what may. Centuries ago Yazid ibn Muawiya akin to current ISIS asked for a pledge of allegiance from Imam Hussain (a.s), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad(pbuh). Imam Hussain(a.s) refused to support the tyrant ruler and his unjust practices that were against the tenets of Islam. His refusal to support the so-called caliph led to the

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Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

religion

incident of Karbala, where Imam Hussain (a.s) along with his family and followers were brutally massacred by the army of Yazid. The martyrs included his five-yearold daughter Sakina(a.s) and his six-month old child, Ali Asghar(a.s). Imam Hussain(a.s) could have saved himself and his family by compromising on his principles but he chose to embrace death rather than siding with an oppressor. Commemorating the event serves as an inspiration to stand with the righteous and speak against any form of tyranny. A true Muslim and follower of Imam Hussain(a.s) refuse to be a silent spectator of injustice or discrimination in any form and is driven by purity of conscience and love for humanity.

Etiquette of sabr or patience in testing times

Talking about the creation of man and the human being the Quran states, 'We have indeed created man in the best of moulds (Quran, 95:4)'; meaning that God has created man in the most beautiful and excellent manner. The Quran is for all human beings, and it addresses not only Muslims but all people, including the members of other religions (Quran, 3.64). The seventy-sixth surah of the Quran is 'Al Insan' that emphasizes the point that human beings have been sent into the world to be tested. All of us in life go through our share of trials and tribulations, and how we respond to the challenging events of our life influence our thoughts, personality and behavior.

The battle of Karbala embodies the heights of cruelty in the history of humanity and the patience (sabr) demonstrated by Imam Hussain(a.s) sets an example for us to follow.

One by one members of his family, beloved son, brother, nephew and followers got killed by the Yazid army butImam Hussain(a.s) did not yield to the evil designs and provocations. He breathed his last surrendering himself to his creator choosing to die in prostration 'Sajde e Shukr'. The barbaric pain meted out to Imam Hussain(a.s) and his family cannot be described in words, but his behaviour in such trying times gives us a lot to ponder and imbibe in our life. Recounting and crying over the pain doesn't make us feel helpless or weak but strangely function to strengthen the soul to deal with life hardships with patience. No wonder majlis is organized by momineens not only during Muharram or Arbaeen but whenever someone dies in the family. Even the most tragic loss falls short before the masayeb(narration of the painful events) of Imam Hussain(a.s) inculcating in the person the virtue of enduring pain with patience and faith.

Brotherhood and compassion

According to the Qur' anic view, all human beings are of the same origin, 'O mankind!

Be careful of your duty to your Lord who created you from a single soul(Quran, 4.1).'

It further states that 'Achieving honour and high position in the sight of Allah is through righteousness (taqwa), not the superiority of race (Quran, 49.13).' This beautiful verse from the Quran makes the point that it's a person's amaal or deeds that makes him superior or closer to Allah. Still, we see a rise in hate crimes stemming from religious or ideological differences. Extremist Islamic groups perceiving themselves as all-knowing and superior killing people peacefully praying in mosques or bombing unarmed innocent people are terrorists maligning the

name of Islam with their wrongful interpretation.

For Islam is a religion of peace and our beloved Imam Hussain(a.s) taught us not only to be kind and compassionate to our fellow brethren but even to those who see us as enemies. He was after all the son of HazratAli (a.s) who openly edified that, 'Man is either your brother in faith or equal in humanity.' An example of this is seen when Hurr the general of the enemy army on his way to obstruct Imam Hussain(a.s) ran out of water. Despite knowing them to be his enemies, Imam Hussain(a.s) served water to him, his people and even his horses. The Yazid's army kept Imam Hussain(a.s) and his family captive without water for days before killing them on 10th of Muharram. On realizing his mistakes, the conscience of Hurr filled him with repentance. He sought forgiveness and chose to be on Imam Hussain’s (a.s) side, making him one of the 72 martyrs of Karbala. This behaviour of Imam Hussain(a.s) inspires one to be compassionate towards all. The response of Hurr teaches us that in life when presented with situations where we have to make a decision that may be ethically and morally right but doesn't conform to the majority; one should opt to side with the truth even if it is in the minority or leaves you alone.

Courage

Post the battle of Karbala, Yazid men took the women and children as prisoners tying them with chains making them walk through towns and cities in Damascus and Kufa. On reaching the Palace of Yazid looking at the severed head of her brother Imam Hussain(a.s) on a spear being shown to his five-year-old daughter Sakina (a.s) in a crowd full of jeering people, lady Zainab(a.s), demonstrated unflinching courage by keeping her calm and bravely confronted and questioned the actions of Yazid. Her questions and sermons left the

crowd speechless and restless. The apparent victory of Yazid was transformed into an eternal defeat where even after winning the battle they felt disgraced. Zainab(a.s) exemplifies the strong women who even after enduring immense pain, witnessing her loved ones martyred before her eyes refused to be silent. Adorning the leadership role, speaking fearlessly, she carried forward the legacy of her brother Imam Hussain(a.s) and saved Islam. It is due to the efforts of this great lady that Yazid is remembered for his shameless acts, Imam Hussain(a.s)is seen as a symbol of Humanity and Islam as a religion that propagates peace.

Spiritual elevation

'The origin of man is dust (Quran, 3.59; 30.20; 35.11)' and the first human body was brought to existence by turning that dust into mud, and passing it through various stages. The human being is thus a part of nature, and all the elements that exist in nature also exist in the human body. As per the teachings of Islam, humans have both negative and positive sides that influence one's behaviour. The animalistic side of humansdistances us from goodness, and the spiritual side distances us from thematerial world.

The hope for enriching and enhancing the positive side in us comes from this verse in Quran that says 'So, when I have made him and have breathed into him of my spirit.(Quran, 15.29; 38.72)' The next question comes as to how does the Quran elaborate on the spirit of Allah?

The spirit of Allah is exemplified in the 99 names of Allah. Some of them being Ar Raheem(bestower of mercy), As Salam(the giver of peace), Al Adl (the just), Al Lateef(the most gentle), Al Wadood (most loving), Al Haqq(the absolute truth), Al Barr(the source of goodness), and As Saboor (the forbearing and patient).

The examples set by Imam Hussain(a.s) that is commemorated each year provides an opportunity for spiritual elevation and nur-

turing the aforementioned spirit within us.

Even in the face of harsh cruelties, the Ahlulbayt (the family of prophet)maintained their honour, refusing to be overpowered by negative emotions like anger, retaliation, despair, hate and loss of patience. Muharram is replete with such examples. One instance worth mentioning here is of Imam Sajjad(a.s) son of Imam Hussain(a.s) who was being taken as a prisoner to the court of Yazid in Damascus. A man came forward and abused the Imam saying, 'Tell me who has come out successful you or Yazid?'

Without getting angry, Imam Sajjad (a.s) replied, 'When you hear the Azaan you make your own decision as to who is successful and who is a failure.'

The event of Karbala is embedded with examples of most ideal human relationships and extreme brutalityin the history of mankind. There is a reason people recreate the pain and wish to pass on the wisdom acquired from it to their coming generations; as it infuses one with humanitarian thinking, love for all, courage, will power, loyalty, patience, sacrifice, faith and victory of truth over falsehood. To conclude, Karbala is not just an event in history but a movement against terrorism, standing up against oppression and a way of life.Perhaps this is the reason that the love for Imam Hussain(a.s)is not confined to any single community but by all those who believe inhumanity.

References: Holy Quran

(Dr. Farah Naqvi is a writer, academician and behavioural scientist. To read more about her work please visit her website: https://farahnaqvi.com)

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

travel

10

Mesmerizing experience of the ruined city 'Hampi'

and Omlet. I was carrying Assamese traditional breakfast items and some cookies and fresh fruits as well. After the breakfast, we finally set off to explore Hampi.

Visit to the group of Monuments

The Vijaya Vithala Temple (Temple timing- 8:30 AM to 5 PM on all days) is 29 kms away from the resort which took almost an hour to reach. This partially ruined 15th century's Temple is considered to be the most famous structure in Hampi. One can walk or hire a rickshaw from the main gate to go to the Temple. Inside the vast area, one can see Pushkarani (the sacred water tank), King's Balance (an annual rare balance scale), Kuduregombe Mandapa, the big stone chariot and musical pillars of the Temple. Coming out of the Temple, my eyes caught sight of the beautiful shops outside selling local crafts and jewellery. Bought a beautiful anklet and had some slices of freshly cut watermelon to beat the heat of the sun.

From Vijaya Vithala Temple we set off towards the Lotus Mahal (Lotus Mahal timing - 8 AM to 6 PM on all days) which is a 20 minutes drive from there. The Mahal resembles the shape of the lotus and the surrounding area is covered with many shady trees

Pooja Hazarika (Pai) "Travelling - it leaves you speechless and turns into a storyteller." - Ibn Battuta (Moroccan Scholar) Travelling temporarily disconnects us from our normal routine and connects us with different people and different cultures, thus ensures peace of mind and creates memories for lifetime and a tale which has something special to share.

The travel bug had been biting us since so many days and finally we (my husband Dinesh and I) got 4 days off our busy schedule at work. It had been many days that we had planned to visit Hampi - a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the state of Karnataka.

Beginning of a soulful journey to Hampi :

Dinesh and I always love to go for long drives and most of the times, we prefer to travel by our own car because travelling by car has many advantages : nWe are free to decide when and where to go. nThe travel needs less planning. nWe can spend less money for food (if we carry some) nWe can take much more things with us.

We can visit more places of interest.

Before coming to Mumbai, we were in Hyderabad. It was a lucid, breezy early morning of 21st January, 2019 that we set off in our little car to explore the beautiful Hampi. Hampi has been described by UNESCO as 'austere grandiose site' (severe magnificent site) of more than 1600 surviv-

ing remains of the last great Hindu Kingdom in South India. We would have missed a lot had we not paid a visit to this 'Lost City' which is 385 kilometers (approx. 8 hours) from The City of Pearls, Hyderabad.

Note: The best time to visit Hampi is from October to February. On the Go:

We were driving with Google Map as our ongoing guide. Driving for about 1 hour, we suddenly noticed that the grey morning was turning into a bright golden and we enjoyed a soft sunrise on the go.

After rolling into the state of Karnataka, the far away windmills on both sides of the road soothed our eyes. At times, we saw people on sides of the road drying up chillies on the field. Those faces are still alive on my eyes. The people appeared tobe simple and contended with a happy-go-lucky attitude. We also crossed many villages on our way, of which mud houses were located in the shadows of big trees. People on the sides of the roads were selling us fresh coconuts and watermelon.

Finally Hampi

We went far inside the village in the place called Narayanpet to find ourselves in a street which leads to the woods. And before the woods began, the tyres rolled down to the beautiful Leo Wooden Resort on the bank of the Tungabhadra River. A beautiful wooden cottage had been booked from before which has a view to cherish for lifetime. It was really a serene place, very picturesque, far from the humdrum of the society and was ideal to spend some relaxing time.

It was almost evening when we reached

the resort, so we thought of taking rest and not going out anywhere, as Dinesh was little tired of driving all the way. The beautiful Tungabhadra was flowing by our cottage and we sat by its side during the sunset hours to enjoy the calm environment in nature's lap.

Note: Leo Wooden Resort. Address : Narayanpet, Hampi.

Important amenities provided: Free car parking, open-air swimming pool, space to play cricket, badminton etc, restaurant, A.C., bathroom amenities.

Exploring Hampi : Day 1

The restaurant of Leo Wooden which was built above the river, already soothed my eyes. I was in a hurry to have breakfast in that amazing ambience. We ordered coffee

providing a cool ambience to the palace.

Lotus Mahal should be a sure set destination in the list while visiting Hampi. The Mahal is surrounded by some other monuments such as The Elephant Stable (domed structure with 11 chambers as houses of the King's elephants), Queen's Palace, Queen's Bath (empty pond with numerous balconies which was once filled with fragrant water) and the Hazara Rama Temple.

By the time we felt that we should have our lunch then. Then we searched for the nice Tree Line.

Restaurant which is 1.8 kms from the Lotus Mahal. We had some really delicious and clean food there.

We then started off towards The Shree Krishna Temple (Temple timing : 6 AM to 6PM) which is 6 minutes drive from there.

By its side, there is the famous Lakshmi Narasimha Temple (Temple timing : 6 AM to 6 PM) in which the specialty of the sculp-

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Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

ture is that it is the largest monolith statue in Hampi. We could see that the most unique feature of the statue is the bulging eyes of Narasimha.

Near the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, there located The Badavi Linga (timing : 5 AM to 9 PM) which is a shrine of Lord Shiva having a height of 3 metres. The Shiva Linga stands intact even today and is a fascinating place to visit. From here, we had a 4 minutes drive to see the ruins of Hampi Bazar (timing : 6 AM to 11 PM) which was once the centre of flourishing trade during Vijayanagara empire. Then we went ahead approximately 600 metres to enjoy the sunset at the sunset point of Hemakuta.

Day 2 was equally fascinating

Next morning, on waking up, we could witness the beautiful sunrise on the bank of Tungabhadra from our cottage's balcony and we after having our coffee walked down the river and sat on the stunning huge rocks to enjoy the peaceful majestic morning and had some really good time. There we planned to visit the Virupaksha Temple and then go to Hyatt Place Hampi for lunch. So we set off towards Virupaksha Temple ((Temple timing : 9 AM to 1 PM & 5 PM to 9 PM))a 14th century temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is worshipped even today.

The temple has been considered as the most sacred sanctuary over the centuries.

A breezy day it was. We found ourselves meandering through a road which has rock mountains on both of its sides. I felt so pleasant all the way. After driving for about 1 and a half an hour, we reached a beautiful, green township (Vidyanagar Township) inside which we could see the Hyatt Place. We had a glimpse of the calm ambience and of course, enjoyed a delicious lunch.

A rejuvenating stroll in Hippie Island

On our way back from Hyatt, we planned to go to Hippie Island which is famous for having a chilled out vibe across the Tungabhadra River and is also known for lodges and tourist huts which are offered at quite reasonable prices. This super relaxing retreat has shacks and cafes which serve awesome food. These shacks and cafes are a joint venture by Indians and foreigners. We parked the car aside and walked hand in hand smiling at the happy hippie faces and tasted some German cookies and croissants along with refreshing cups of coffee. Yes, they were delicious!

Things to be kept in mind while visiting Hippie Island

nOne can hire a moped or a bullet to roam about. nEnough cash has to be carried as credit/debit cards are not accepted at all the places there. nThere are centres for yoga classes. nNot all the places in Hippie Island have a good mobile network connection.

Straight from the Hippie Island, we drove towards the resort. Leo Wooden has a splendid open-air swimming pool and has enough space to exercise yourself with games and sports. Dinesh played cricket for a little while and then we had some refreshing quite time in the pool until late evening.

Bidding adieu to Hampi

Now its time to leave! We woke up early, had coffee and drove out of the resort. Didn't really want to get out of that peace, but life in Hyderabad was waiting. I was telling myself, "I will miss this place, the stunning rocks, the chirping birds, the silent river".

Driving for about half an hour, Dinesh stopped the car in front of a small local tea stall in the village where we had some fresh & hot Talippattu and Wada (Karnataka's tasty breakfast options) with some mouth watering chutneys and headed straight towards home.

Hampi left a sweet memory in us. We were returning with tranquil refreshment and retreating back towards the busy life again.

social

NON USE OF THE WORD 'ABORTION' IN INDIAN LAW Priya Aswini | Legal Practitioner priyaswini93@gmail.com

Abortion was a crime, for which the mother as well as the abortionist could be punished except where it had to be induced in order to save the life of the mother. This strict law had been observed in the breaceh all over the country. This breach of law, which went unnoticed, was one of the major factors for the untimely death of pregnant mothers. Moreover, during the then prevailing circumstances medical facilities were not adequate.

In recent years, health services have expanded and the services of hospitals are being availed by all classes of society. Doctors have often been confronted with gravely ill or dying pregnant women whose pregnant uterus have been tempered with a view to causing an abortion and consequently have suffered very severely. In order to save the pregnant women's health, strength and sometimes life, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill was introduced.

Have you ever conjectured why the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP), 1971, or the law in abortion in India does not use the word ‘abortion’? Can there be any reason for the law makers to choose the phrase ‘medical termination of pregnancy’ over the term ‘abortions’? Is this not a question to be in our mind?

Well, we often talk about the abortion procedures and laws, but have we ever had the notion of the non use of this word in Indian Laws? While some accredit the curious choice of words to the old babalaas of using technical argot in laws, the real reason behind it is something different.

The steady use of the term ‘medical termination of pregnancy’ is aimed at clinching that abortion laws in the country aren’t framed as granting women a choice or a right to undergo safe abortions, but as procedures to protect the doctors against prosecution for conducting abortions.

Let us date back to 1960s, the time when abortions were strictly illegal under Section 312 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and ‘causing miscarriage’ of a woman was a crime punishable with imprisonment up to three years and/or a fine. But we always know, law is there to save us and to guard us. So, framing of the MTP Act, rests the decision of undergoing a medical termination solely on the doctor’s opinion, also points to lack of autonomy for women, as laid down in Section 3 of the Act. Pregnancies can be terminated by registered medical practitioners where the pregnancy is not more than 12 weeks.

And if the pregnancy is more than 12 but less than 20 weeks, at least two medical practitioners are of the opinion that the continuance of the preg-

Can there be any reason for the law makers to choose the phrase ‘medical termination of pregnancy’ over the term ‘abortions’? Is this not a question to be in our mind? nancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or of grave injury to her physical or mental health, or there is a substancial risk that if the child were born, it would suffer from su h physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. Pregnancy of any women who is less than 18 years or who is mentally ill person can be terminated only with the consent in writing of her guardian. Thus, even though this provision makes abortion legal to a certain extent, the decision to grant the same only rests on the doctor’s opinion.

According to the Indian Penal Code of the 19th century, which is still in force, abortion is a crime. In those days, healthcare, medicines and diag-

nostics were primitive. Sonography was not used in medical practice. The law has not kept pace with medical advances. The MTP Act carved out an exception to the provisions of the penal code, thus legalising abortions till 20 weeks.

In defiance of the landmark cases ruling for choice, no change in law

In landmark cases such as Suchita Srivastava v. Chandigarh Admin and Devika Biswas v.

Union of India, the Supreme Court has held a woman’s reproductive autonomy to be her fundamental right to privacy, and has said that the decision to have or not have a child should be hers alone, devoid of any state intervention. However, so far, there has not been any visible change in the MTP Act to give effect to these judgments.

Further, an amendment has also been proposed that would increase the upper limit in applying for abortions to 24 weeks, but none of the provisions of the amendment Bill refer to granting autonomy or agency to women over their own bodies in terms of making their decision to abort.

How many ever women have sealed their mouth being captioned "Abortion karaye", they just need to know now, that abortion is not illegal. It surely is legal in India since 1971.

From the side of law, The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, is responsible for the legalisation of abortion.

opinion

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

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Transparent Taxation to Benefit the Honest Tax Payer In an attempt to reform the tax laws in the country, on the 12thof August 2020, PM Narendra Modi brought forth the ‘Transparent Taxation - Honouringthe Honest’ scheme in the country for the benefit of all honest taxpayers as the government hopes to rebuild the pandemic-struck economy.

Through an online video conference to the nation, he highlighted the many

towards making the laws, rules and policies pertaining to the tax system. In the financial year 2012-13, 0.94% of all tax returns were under scrutiny. In 2018-19, this figure fell to 0.26%, thereby reducing case scrutiny about four times the usual. In the last 6 years, India has been subject to the evolution of a new governance model in tax administration. There has been a decrease in complexity, taxes, litigation, and an increase in transparency, tax compliance and trust on the taxpayer.

"Effort is to make tax system seam-

things that are wrong with the tax laws that seem out of place and the possible solutions which would give a new face to the tax system in the country.

Having three salient features namely: faceless assessment, faceless appeal and taxpayers charter, the scheme is aimed at maintaining a friendly approach towards tax payments in the country while also inspecting them in the best way possible with the help of artificial intelligence. He said that faceless assessment & taxpayers charter will be underway starting the same day, whereas faceless appeal services will be available from September 25,2020. The income tax department currently employs technology to do its bidding but the use of artificial intelligence and data science will take it up a notch higher making it a streamlined, sophisticated system.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the government had adopted a peoplecentric and public friendly approach

less, painless and faceless. Honest taxpayers play an important role in nation development," he said. He pointed out that this move has encouraged and is in accordance with the government’s motto of “minimum government, maximum governance”. He also stated that this will strike a balance against the differences between tax payers’ responsibilities and the government’s duties while ensuring a hassle free process, easing compliance for both parties. He described it as a policy oriented, strategic governance for the people.

Sajeeda Feroz

He said, “This is an experiment of New India’s new governance model, and the country is rendering positive results. People have realised that shortcuts will no longer exist and that there shouldn’t be any room for adopting wrong measures.”He also insisted that all people should realize their sense of duty towards the country and follow the laid down rules. He declared that initially theprimary goal was in relation to banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured and funding the unfundedand so from today, the new journey: honoring the honest will be incorporated as well which would go a long way in nation building.

He mentioned that the 'taxpayer charter’would play an integral part in the development of the country. It is a framework with the rights and responsibilities of both tax officers and taxpayers which will soon be implemented.He voiced out that although the number of taxpayers has increased by 25 million in the last year, only 15 million people in the country pay their taxes and considering the fact that India is a country of 1.3 billion people this was way too low. He also insisted that for the country to be selfreliant everyoneshould honestly come forward and pay their taxes without fail in accordance with their capability adhering to the norms.

As far as the faceless appeals were concerned he said, “These teams will be chosen randomly and could belong to any city. Until now, all tax-related matters of a city are dealt with by the Income Tax department in that city.

Now with the help of Artificial intelligence, scrutiny will be done by any randomly chosen IT officer anywhere in the country”. This meant that any officer form any part of the country will be handed the appeal and their identity wouldn’t be published thus nullifying territorial jurisdictions. It also meant that the taxpayer need not visit the income tax office for the assessments or appeals and everything can be done from home electronically with the help of technology.

The change comes with the promise of abolishing corrupt practices such as settling notices through acquaintances and giving a sense of fairness and fearlessness to the honest taxpayers of the country. Previously income tax notices were susceptible to harassing taxpayers. This lead to the boom of the black and white money conditioned scenarios. The taxpayers will hereby be recipients of reasonable and respectable treatment.Henceforth, the officials in the Directorate General of Income Tax (Investigation) and the Principal Commissioner of I-T/Chief Commissioner of I-T (TDS) will be the only qualified

authorities for approving survey actions to collect information for scrutiny and assessment. Thus the department would keep away from unnecessary litigation and the officials would be relaxed from the energy otherwise spent on moving around the country owing to transfers and postings.

The policy driven governance had come about due to four reasons - narrowing the grey areas of discretion; having faith in the general public; limiting human interface by use of technology; and awarding efficiency, integrity and sensitivity in the bureaucracy. He also said that laws should be easy to follow for maximum compliance thus reducing confusions and speeding up the process.The income tax department has simplified norms for start-ups and introduced pre-filling of income tax returns to make it easier for individual taxpayers to adhere to the norms.

The tax system needed fundamental and structural reform because it was brought in when India was under colonial rule, and that;economic reforms in the past were done under compulsions or pressure which did not yield desired results.“For us reforms mean reforms based on policy, reforms that are holistic and not piecemeal and one reform forming the base for other,” he said.

“Reform is a continuous process.”

The government’s front foot was proactive introduction of policy-based holistic reforms, which would become the basis of further reforms. On account of continuous reforms, on the ease-of-doing-business, India’s ranking had improved from 134th to 63rd position thus instilling confidence and brining in foreign investments despite the pandemic hit situation.

The government has incorporated various tax reforms during the last six years including a reduction in corporate tax last year from 30% to 22% for existing companies and 15% for new manufacturing units, eliminating dividend distribution tax and faceless assessment.

The IT department has also taken several tax-payer friendly measures over the years. It launched the direct tax ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme to hasten the resolving of pending tax disputes. Earlier, the government would handle disputes involving over ₹10 lakh. However, the limit has now been affixed to ₹1 crore at the High Court and ₹2 crore at the Supreme Court.

Also, the tax rates have been reduced for individuals. “There is no tax on income up to Rs 5 lakh. Tax slabs for income higher than Rs 5 lakh have also been reduced. India is now among the nations with lowest corporate tax,” he added.

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

13

Hry bags two National awards for hygiene & sanitation

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Dushyant Chautala unfurling the national flag on the occasion of 74th Independence Day celebrations at Gurugram.

Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister, Mr. Anil Vij said that the state has received two National-level awards owing to the outstanding work done by the Department with regard to hygiene and sanitation. He congratulated the people of the state, employees and officers of the Urban Local Bodies Department for this.

Sharing more details, Mr. Vij said that a survey to evaluate sanitation was conducted between January 4 to January 31, in 4,242 cities of the country. In this survey, several initiatives were taken, including the beautification of the city, sanitation, upkeep of community toilets, and garbage disposal policy were

This ranking has been done among the states with less than 100 Urban Local Bodies

reviewed. Haryana has scaled up to second position this year from ninth position last year in this survey. This ranking has been done among the states with less than 100 Urban Local Bodies. Taking a leap ahead when it comes to sanitation, Charkhi Dadri has received the award for Fastest Mover City. Charkhi Dadri has received this award at the 11th position while competing with North Indian cities with

haryana

a population of 50,000 to 1 lakh. It has inched up from 850th rank last year to 11th rank this year.

Elaborating on the other cities which have been ranked Mr. Vij said that four cities of the state have been ranked among the top 100 in this survey. Karnal has been ranked 17th, Rohtak 35th, Panchkula 56th, and Gurugram 62nd. Along with this, Karnal has received three stars and Rohtak have received one star in the garbage-free city rating. He said that it is expected from the Urban Local Bodies Department of all cities to pay attention to the hygiene of their area so that Haryana ranks first next year.

Inquiry ordered for fire incident at MCF

Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister, Mr. Anil Vij has ordered an inquiry into the fire that broke out in the account branch of the Municipal Corporation, Faridabad.

The Regional Commissioner Faridabad, will investigate the entire matter and will submit his report in 15 days.

As per the order issued by the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department had said that before this fire incident, the government had already issued an inquiry for alleged financial irregularities of crore of rupees in the Corporation, but in the meantime the fire broke out in the accounting branch. For this reason, a thorough investigation will be conducted in this matter.

New National Education Policy to be imple- Free cattle-sheds for BPL mented for self-reliance of country’s youth families under MGNREGA

Haryana Governor, Mr. Satyadeo Narain Arya called upon the Vice-Chancellors and Academicians to take initiative in implementing the new National Education Policy in an effective and speedy manner so that the younger generation becomes self-reliant with change in the education system in the country and the state. Mr. Arya was addressing the Vice-Chancellors and Academicians at Digital Conclave organized by Haryana State Higher Education Council.

He said that the people associated with the education sector will be responsible to implement the new National Education Policy, which will produce good students, businessmen and good citizens in the process of re-creation of India.

He said that the basic objective of education in the National Education Policy is to prepare people with good skills, technical knowledge, and expertise.

There is immense potential for rapid benefits of New Education Policy and

promotion of education in the state of Haryana, because the entire infrastructure related to education in Haryana is already strong.

Mr. Arya said that the basis of progress and future of any country is a strong education system. With this objective, the National Education Policy 2020 has been prepared after 34 years. This Education Policy is the cornerstone of India's innovation. The aspirations of 130 crore people have been reflected in this education policy.

He said that for the first time in the country, 6 percent of GDP has been allocated for education in order to continuously intensify research, new innovations and employment-oriented programs, under National Education Policy. Naturally, there will be immense development of infrastructure related to education in the country in future, he added.

The Governor said that earlier there was a herd mentality regarding educa-

tion where everyone wanted to make their children doctors, lawyers, and engineers, but now with the new National Education Policy new avenues will open up that will lead to development of the nation. The self-esteem of teachers has also been taken care of in the National Education Policy. While on one hand, students have been linked to the worldclass system, on the other hand, special provision of training etc. has also been made for teachers to enhance their skills.

Mr. Arya said that the new education policy will be completely job oriented.

Even skill proficiency in higher education has been made mandatory. He congratulated all the Academicians who attended the four-day conclave.

Chairman, Haryana State Higher Education Council, Mr. B K Kuthiala, who chaired the Conclave, said that the New Education Policy was concurrent with the times and the nation. He also appealed to all the Academicians to implement this policy with full responsibility.

Strict action against culprits in illegal Road Tax collection

While taking immediate cognizance of a fraud case, Haryana Transport Minister, Mr. Mool Chand Sharma directed the officers concerned to take strict action against the person who had allegedly committed fraud in the name of depositing Motor Vehicle Tax (Road Tax) online. A case regarding this was also registered against the accused in Bawal Police Station. He has also asked the officers of Regional Transport Authority (RTA) of the respective districts to keep a constant watch on people committing such frauds.

The Transport Minister said that some people have opened private shops (kiosks) in Rajasthan, Uttar

Pradesh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, mainly states sharing border with Haryana for submitting motor vehicle tax online. They take money from the vehicle owners and make a false receipt and do not deposit money in the treasury of the State Government. He further added that such vehicle drivers are caught only during checkings on way otherwise such irregularities are difficult to catch. Due to this, the government faces losses and the vehicle owners too are cheated.

Elaborating on it further, Mr. Mool Chand Sharma said that a similar case has come to light in Bawal of Rewari district. A person

has complained of such a fraud wherein he has stated that on August 18, he had got a tax of Rs 8,500 deducted for Rajasthan at a shop. The alleged accused gave him a receipt after taking money.

However, when the bus reached Jaipur, during the checking, no record of the said receipt was found and the receipt turned out to be false.

The Transport Minister said that an investigation will be conducted on such private shops at places where they are functioning and strict action will be taken against them whenever cases of tax evasion or fraud with vehicle owners comes to light.

Haryana Government is taking extensive steps for people living below the poverty line (BPL). On the directions of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Dushyant Chautala, the Rural Development Department has decided to construct free cattle-sheds for poor cattle-rearers under MGNREGA scheme.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that Haryana is one of the leading states in the country in the field of agribusiness and the State Government intends to encourage people having small agricultural holdings to take up animal husbandry business along with agriculture so that their income can increase. In view of this, the State Government has de-

cided to construct free cattlesheds for scheduled castes, widows, households headed by women, BPL and farmers with small holdings as per their preference.

Mr. Dushyant Chautala said that 10,000 sheds will be constructed by September 30, 2020 and there is a target of constructing 40,000 such cattle-sheds by March 2021 for which an amount of Rs 200 crore will be spent.

He said that even today there are many poor families who do not have sheds for their animals, due to which they have to suffer a lot.

While the animals of the poor will be protected by this scheme, the needy people will also get employment for constructing sheds, he added.

Complete lockdown on weekends for non-essential services

In order to contain further spread of Coronavirus (nCov) in the state, Haryana Government has decided to close all public and private offices except those dealing with essential services and all shopping malls and shops in the market area, except those dealing with essential goods and services on Saturday and Sunday throughout the territory of Haryana.

Sharing more details, an official spokesperson said that all other Na-

tional Directives and SOPs issued

by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for COVID-19 management that are currently in force shall continue to be strictly followed. These orders shall remain in force till further orders.

It is hereby clarified that this order will have no effect on public and private transport and on tests/exams being conducted by Haryana Public Service Commission and Haryana Staff Selection Commission.

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

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14

Independence Day celebrated across the state with zeal & enthusiasm Ministers and officers of the State Government unfurled the National Flag at functions held at various places in the State and conveyed the message of patriotism to the people of the state.

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, hoists flag at GGM

TAC NEWS: The 74th Independence Day was celebrated with zeal

and enthusiasm throughout Haryana. During the celebrations

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Dushyant Chautala, hoisted the flag at Gurugram on the occasion of 74th Independence Day and paid homage to the martyrs of the country. Mr. Dushyant Chautala presented Scootys on behalf of Hero MotoCorp to100 women achievers across the state at the Independence Day celebrations held in Gurugram.

He also thanked Hero MotoCorp for boosting the morale of women by offering. 42 Corona warriors who did well in Gurugram district were also honoured at the ceremony. After the ceremony, the Deputy Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of 17 projects related to rural development in the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex itself.

Apart from this, on the occasion of Independence Day, a blood donation camp was also organized in the community center of Sector 15

American Airlines workforce to diminish by 40000 owing to pandemic

Lakshmi Prabha Swaminathan

On Tuesday, American Airlines asserted that its workforce will diminish by 40,000 which also comprises the involuntary cuts of 19,000, as the epidemic situation of COVID-19 has been commenced to reflect on air travel from coming month of October, despite the government broadens aid for an airline employee payrolls. About $25 billion is being obtained by the Airlines in the U.S government inducement funds in the month of March when the lockdown prevails meant to wrap payrolls and to safeguard the jobs through September 2020. While the money drives out without any of the travel recoveries in the scenery, Union and airlines have been lobbying for another $25 billion in Washington, though the talks lagged as the Congress strived to attain the agreement on a relief package of the broader COVID-19.

Stock bring down of America has been crawling down the other shares of the airline, moreover, about 140,000 employees are

being worked in America before the epidemic situation. Doug Parker, the chief executive and President Robert Isom confessed that the one probability of preventing reluctant cuts is a government aid extension in a memo to the employees where they also added retains the support of a tremendous bipartisan.

In the midst of the four-day Republican National Convention, there arrives an allegation where the American President Donald Trump is striving to recover the impetus against the backdrop of the epidemic which has been assassinated over 175,000 Americans life and elicited a recession which had been witnessed the millions of job loss. Airlines insisted that the industry is being necessary to a quick comeback economically. Planned job by the Texas-based Ameri-

cans dents the comprise of about 17,500 discharges of the workers of union which encompasses 8,100 flight attendants, 1,500 management positions and 1,600 pilots.

In line with lots of intentions is the pilot furloughs while the flight attendant numbers are elevated than expected. On the basis of the existing distress levels, Americans are intending to climb less than 50% of its normal record in the fourth quarter with the reduction to only a quarter of the grade 2019. Last week it was about restraining the flights to the 15 minor cities of the US in the month of October without more federal assistance, a necessary level of drifting certainly. Among the distinct large US cities, United Airlines has been transmitted the notices of potential furloughs to 36,000 employees where it is being hoped to avoid the reluctant cuts this year, said the Southwest Airlines. On Monday, Delta Air Lines proclaimed that the furloughs of about 2,000 pilots, rather confessed the numbers may be decreased in case if they approve to a minimum pay cut.

Part-1, Gurugram in memory of the martyrs of Galvan Valley of Ladakh.

Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr. Gian Chand Gupta hoisted the flag in Ambala

Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr. Gian Chand Gupta while hoisting the flag in Ambala said that it is because of the sacrifices made by the martyrs and freedom fighters that we are able to breathe freely.

We need to strengthen our resolve to protect society and nation, following the path of service and struggle as preached by the freedom fighters. The Speaker said that today we have gathered to realize the glorious and happy moments of 74th Independence Day of the country. India gained independence on this day in 1947 after a long struggle. Independence Day is a symbol of unity, honour and dedication of our country. Today the nation is expressing its gratitude to all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for their motherland. The heroic sons of Mother India wrote this glorious tale of independence in 1947.

Education Minister, Mr. Kanwar Pal hoisted the flag in Faridabad

Haryana Education Minister, Mr. Kanwar Pal said that the country got independence after a long struggle. Many heroes sacrificed their lives to achieve this. He said that this time the Independence Day celebrations are being celebrated amid COVID-19 Pandemic but under the leadership of Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, the country has put a tough fight against this Pandemic with patience and restraint. This is the reason that the death rate of COVID-19 infected people in India is very low compared to western countries and the recovery rate of the country is also increasing continuously. The present State Government has given transparent governance by adopting zero tolerance policy against corruption. New schemes have been launched for the welfare of farmers and labourers, upliftment of youth and for the empowerment of women. Using information technology, government is working towards e-governance and the year 2020 is being celebrated as 'Susashan Sankalp Varsh'.

30kg Charas Diversification in Agriculture seized from Key Tool for improving ecoNepal Border in Charkhi Dadri nomic condition of farmers

Haryana Police have seized 30 kg 182 gram of charas being smuggled in a car into the state from Nepal Border in Charkhi Dadri district.

Three persons were arrested in this connection.

A spokesperson informed that the seizure was made by a CIA team late last night near Morwala village at Delhi road in the district. Initial investigation revealed that accused had brought contraband from Nepal Border and was heading towards Hisar.

He said that acting on tipoff about smuggling of drugs in a car, police established a naka and started conducting checking of vehicles coming from Delhi side. Soon after the team signaled a Santro car to stop and when frisked, it recovered charas weighing 30 kg 182 gram from the possession of three persons riding in the car.

The three car borne youths were identified as Vinod aka Bangar, Parveen aka Makku and Nishant.

Case under provisions of NDPS Act was registered and further investigation is on to find out their contacts in drug-peddling.

Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Mr. J.P. Dalal diversification in agriculture is the key tool for improving the economic conditions of farmers of the country. If the farmer of the country will be prosperous, self-reliant and prosperous only then the country will move on the path of progress.

The Minister said this while addressing Agriculture Scientists and farmers in a webinar on diversification and new technologies in agriculture organized by the organized Forestry Department of the College of Agriculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar.

The theme of the webinar was 'Diversity in Agriculture: Innovative Programme for Improving Livelihoods of Farmers'. The Convener of this programme was Director, Forestry Department, Dr. R.S. Dhillon while Dr. Virendra Dalal was the coordinator. As many as 1517 farmers and agricultural scientists registered themselves in the programme.

Appreciating the farmers, Mr. Dalal said that in the

prevailing COVID-19 Pandemic, the farmers have made significant contribution in the storage of food grains in the country. Mr. J.P Dalal further emphasized that crop diversification; seeds of improved varieties, advanced technology developed by the university will help increase the income of farmers. Today, the farmers need to increase the fertility status of the land with the adoption of organic farming, crop residue management, integrated pest and fertilizer management, water conservation, reducing the expenditure in farming by using natural resources. Through this, farmers can become employers instead of seeking employment. He said that farmers can benefit by gaining expertise in marketing and setting up farmer produce groups.

Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

haryana 15 KMP Expressway to be repaired Hry to lead in implementing the new Education Policy

by September 2020

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Dushyant Chautala directed the officers that the Six Lane KundliManesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway pits should be filled by September 30, 2020, to prevent accidents.

Elaborating on it further he said that the repair work of the expressway should not only be completed within the stipulated time but should be of superior quality as well. He has also instructed the officers to shift the statues built on this expressway to ensure that accidents do not occur due to them. It is pertinent to mention here that that the maintenance work of the KMP Expressway is with the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC).

The Deputy Chief Minister had especially diverted his route and inspected the Expressway on August

17, 2020 after a halt at Delhi so that he was aware of the condition of KMP Expressway. He had reached the Expressway from Farukhnagar via Gurugram and inspected the expressway till Kundli. During this, the Deputy Chief Minister found the expressway poorly maintained with uneven road and pits at many places.

He marked the areas where the road was broken and noted it. While inspecting the road the Deputy Chief Minister found the soil accumulated at the edges of the road. It was also found that at many places statues had been installed on the sides of the road which tend to divert the attention of the driver and can cause accidents.

On reaching Chandigarh, the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Dushyant Chautala summoned the officers of HSIIDC to his office and informed them about the condition of

Safai Karamcharis to get risk allowance against Corona

Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister, Mr. Anil Vij has directed the officers of the Department to prepare a proposal for giving risk allowance to the Safai Karamcharis.

During a meeting with the officers and representatives of the Safai Karamchari Union, Mr. Vij said that Safai Karamcharis are the backbone of every society. The Union met the Minister regarding their demands.

The Minister assured the Safai Karamcharis that he would consider their demands sympathetically.

The minister said that in view of Corona if any safai karamchari passes away due to Corona virus while on duty then he will be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. He further added that Haryana is among the few states to provide such compensation. The Union has put up several demands such as to close liquor vends, abolish diminishing cadre etc.

the road and areas where it was broken from the points he had noted, which was surprising for the officers as well. He expressed displeasure over the pits and poor condition of the road of the Expressway. He directed HSIIDC officers to immediately start the repair work of this KMP Expressway so that the possibility of road accidents could be averted. He further directed the officers to look out for possibilities of installing statues on this route around the toll-plaza, where the speed of vehicles is low. He said that there is a possibility of accidents on the expressway due to broken roads and statues as the vehicles are plying on high speed on this route. He said that the goal of the government is to save the precious lives of the people by reducing road accidents along with comfortable travel.

essary education and skills to empower 21st century India and to take the country to new heights of development and to empower the citizens with maximum opportunities. He said that there has been no change in the education system in the last 34 years and people continued to give priority to professions like doctors, engineers, or lawyers. So far there was no attempt to know about the interest, talent, and desires of students, but in the new policy, special consideration will be made keeping in mind the aptitude of the individual, he added. He said that this policy has been formulated by adopting a holistic approach according to the kind of education that the country needs in the 21st century.

Bio-diversity park coming up in 100 acres in Aravali

A bio-diversity park will be developed in the Aravalli mountain range on about 100 acres of Panchayati land of village Kasan in Gurugram district, Haryana. For this, the Gram Panchayat has passed a resolution in the Gram Sabha. Forests, Education and Tourism Minister, Mr. Kanwar Pal visited the village and the area where the proposed park will be developed.

Mr. Kanwar Pal also visited the already developed Biodiversity Park in the area of Municipal Corporation near village Nathupur while coming from Faridabad to Gurugram. He also visited the Mangar Bani reserved forest area.

After planting saplings in the proposed Biodiversity Park area in village Kasan, Forest Minister then attended a programme organized by the forest department in the temple complex located nearby and interacted with the

Sarpanches of the selected villages over the issue of increasing greenery in these villages. He also invited suggestions from the Sarpanches. He appreciated the initiative taken by the Kasan village and said that other villages in this district should also come forward to develop gardens on their Panchayati land.

5 lakh incentive for Olympic and Paralympics qualifiers

Haryana Government has approved a scheme to give an incentive amount of Rs. 5 lakh in advance to the players who have qualified in the Olympic and Paralympics Games, so as to help them to do advance preparations before these competitions.

On request of Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Sandeep Singh, Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has approved this scheme which is going to benefit the players preparing for the Olympics to be held in 2021.

Expressing gratitude to-

Haryana Education Minister, Mr. Kanwar Pal said that Haryana will be the leading state in implementing the new National Education Policy-2020 in the country as all the infrastructure related to education in the state is already strong.

He said that he had the opportunity to participate in a webinar in Chandigarh along with academicians from northern states.

Heads of various Departments and Vice-Chancellors of various Universities gave very important suggestions for the implementation of Education Policy.

A four-day digital conclave of Vice-Chancellors of State Universities is underway at Haryana Raj Bhavan, as well.

He said that this Policy will provide the youth with the nec-

wards, Mr. Manohar Lal, Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Sandeep Singh said that earlier the players were given an incentive amount of Rs. 15 lakh after they had played Olympics and Paralympics.

While at the time of preparing for these competitions, players remained in great need for this incentive as during the preparations a healthy diet and many other things are needed, which cost a lot.

Therefore, while understanding this, Mr. Manohar Lal, on the request made by

sports department has approved this scheme of giving Rs. 5 lakh as an advance incentive to the players who have qualified in the Olympics and Paralympics.

The outstanding amount will be made available to them after they will play Olympics.

The Sports Minister informed that the State Government is going to bring many other new schemes for the players before the games to be held next year, which will help thousands of players to shape their future.

He further informed that the Haryana Government has approved development of gardens on Panchayati land. This will not only increase the green cover in the area and improve the environment but the ground water level will also rise and enhance Panchayat income too. He informed that gardens are being

developed on about 1000 acres of land in districts of North Haryana like Karnal, Yamunanagar, and Panchkula etc.

Forest Minister said that all of us should take responsibility for planting saplings, growing them and taking care of them and for this full cooperation will be given by the Forest Department.

Although the Forest Department can develop nurseries to provide plants, give information about plant care, but it is also the responsibility of the people to plant more and more trees.

Later, addressing the media persons, Mr. Kanwar Pal said that Haryana has 3 percent reserve forest, which now has been targeted to be increased to 20 percent. For this, 125 million saplings will be planted in the State this year and 1100 villages of the State have been selected for this plantation.

4Ts: The basic mantra to fight Corona While appreciating the unwavering efforts of officers, who have kept Haryana on the forefront in tackling COVID-19, the Haryana Chief Secretary, Mrs. Keshni Anand Arora has directed all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to lay stress on the 4Ts – Tracing, Tracking, Testing and Treatment so as to keep a tab on the spread of the COVID-19.

Underlining that adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and social distancing norms is a pre-requisite to contain the spread of Coronavirus, Mrs Keshni Anand Arora said that the Disaster Management Act, 2005 should be followed in true spirit and SOPs also should be followed meticulously in all the districts especially during any public protests or gatherings.

The Chief Secretary gave the directions dur-

ing the meeting of Crisis Coordination Committee (CCC) through video conferencing. The Chief Secretary said that the state needs to be cautious as there is a surge of cases in the adjoining states.

Moreover, the labour is returning from their home states to work.

The administration and health authorities should focus on RT-PCR testing and only after utilizing the RT-PCR testing to the fullest it can be supplemented by Rapid Antigen testing kits. Testing of labour returning to work is also important, she added. The Chief Secretary was apprised during the meeting that the fatality rate of Haryana is 1.14 per cent and the authorities concerned were working to reduce it to 1 per cent. She was also informed that the state positivity rate has also improved to 5.62 per cent.

Virtual offices invite trouble for employees Faridabad (NCR) 16-31 August, 2020 www.theasianchronicle.com

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An employee shows up shirtless to a virtual meeting with his manager, a woman. In another instance, an employee takes a screenshot of his female colleague. In another incident, a manager insists his female colleague to attend a meeting at 11 p.m. and switch on the video mode so that he can see her properly.

When she finally does, she realizes he is intoxicated.

Amid COVID-19, millions of people moved from their offices and started working from home to protect themselves from the ongoing pandemic. The employees working from home did not realize that they were inviting supervisors, colleagues, clients and customers into their living rooms or bedrooms unknowingly. Though the camera and internet helped build an informal work environment, it has also brought home an old disease that is yet to be cured; workplace sexual harassment.

A study by ComplyKaro Services showed that a business magazine named India Inc reported a 14% increase in sexual harassment complaints in 2017 as compared to 2018. The discussions on Whatsapp among the office employees

asking about the type of clothes have replaced long stares in the office. Instead, unwelcome calls or messages at odd hours have become more common, and sexist remarks have moved to the virtual workspace.

In March and April, Cohere Consultants saw cases like the pressure on women colleagues to turn on video after office hours, taking screenshots during video calls

without permission and circulating them on social media, use of sexist or abusive language in con-calls and cyber stalking. A lawyer agrees that the perpetrators are in a position of power which gives them an advantage over the victim. Masooma Ranalvi, a lawyer says that the bigger problem is that people don't realize what the perpetrators are doing is wrong, because most harassment means physical touch.

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Many companies are guiding their employees against online harassment through sessions and workshop by guiding them to recognize and avoid unwanted gestures and behaviors during virtual meetings. Various companies have blacklisted certain behavioral actions. PhonePe, NatWest Group India, Razorpay, and Wakefit.co have blacklisted behaviors like; using inappropriate language or gestures during virtual meetings, making sexually colored remarks, and unwarranted requests for video calls after office hours.

Razorpay, a Bangalore-based payment startup is training employees about behaviors which have to be avoided in a remote working environment. Certain changes have been made to the remote working guidelines to include sections that cover the prevention of sexual harassment. Anuradha Bharat, People operations head at Razorpay said, "Managers are also receiving training on various scenarios that can occur and how they can be dealt with".

Wakefit.co, a Bangalore-based startup, is creating virtual content to drive awareness around sexual harassment in a remote working scenario." We have initiated discussions and training around situa-

tional examples so that employees know what to do if such situations arise", said Chaitanya Ramalingegowda, cofounder of the Bengaluru-based mattress and sleep solutions startup.

The Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act of 2013 defines sexual harassment as inappropriate physical behavior, including gestural and verbal. The provisions of the PoSH Act apply to the virtual office too. The prohibition of POSH was enacted to ensure safe working spaces for women and to build work environments that respect a working woman's right to equality of status and opportunity An expert suggested a solution to deal with virtual sexual harassment.

Anupama.V, a legal consultant and chief trainer at Upceed Consulting Services said that the companies should change their sexual harassment policies and clearly include the term' work from home'.

She added that companies need to inform employees of procedures to redress cases arising out of working remotely. "The government needs to be more active at the level of enforcement. It is the obligation of companies to take care of their employees, especially right now when they are isolated and don't know what to do", said Anupama.

State govt. to monetise land parcels to meet budget shortfalls due to Corona

Shivani Shukla

Facing revenue shortfalls due to the Covid19 induced lockdown, several state governments are in talks with global industrial and warehousing park operators to monetise land parcels to help meet budget shortfalls.

IndoSpace, the real-estate arm of Everstone group said that it has partnered with Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to

develop industrial and warehousing parks.

Other state governments actively seeking to monetise lands are Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

“State governments should work on policy and implement simple processes to attract investors. Some state governments like Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have it. Karnataka has come up recently with a specific policy and simplified process,

while a few others like UP and West Bengal are also proactively working on them,” said R K Narayan, Chief Operating Officer, Allcargo Logistics and Industrial Parks.

ET recently reported that the Delhi government has initiated one of the biggest land monetisation exercises in India in recent times, putting up 10 million square feet of land for commercial development, hoping to generate revenue upwards of Rs 6,000 crore.

“Industrial land banks available over long lease are used by state governments to attract foreign investors and developers which lead to incremental investment and job creation opportunities,” said Rajesh Jaggi, Vice Chairman – Real Estate, Everstone Group.

“Additionally, state governments also offer incentives for specific locations/sectors to attract investments by the potential investors in their respective states,” he said.

According to property consultants, the ‘Make in India’ push, race to attract companies looking to move out of China, and GST revenue shortfalls due to the Covid disruption are some of the reasons state governments are actively looking to provide favourable policies to corporates.

“Some southern states have done well in the past by providing favourable policies for land utilisation. Apart from generating revenue, the industrial land development also generates employment for locals, which is politically

important,” said Mudassir Zaidi, executive director (north), Knight Frank India.

Based on the initial discussions with the industries, Gujarat government said that there would be more land allotment this year than last year.

“We want to encourage more and more industries to come to Gujarat, set up their units here, which can generate employment opportunities in the state. Recently, the state government has allotted more than 5 lakh square meters of land to 961 GIDC plots,” said MK Das, Additional Chief Secretary in the Government of Gujarat.

Uttar Pradesh is also coming up with land banks along the Yamuna Expressway in NCR and is in talks to create a toy manufacturing hub, MSMEs and apparel park near the upcoming Jewar airport.

Haryana recently allotted 180 acres of land near Gurgaon for Rs 550 crore to Amperex Technology Ltd (ATL), a manufacturer of rechargeable lithium ion polymer (LIP) batteries. The state is in the process of monetising more land for building warehousing and industrial hubs.

“Recently, we have seen that the government is willing to allot land and is easing the process of acquisition. Things have changed in three years,” said AbhijitMalkani, country head of ESR India, an international logistics developer.